Donna is 19 years old and loves animals, which is why I'm always happy to leave my dog with her when I go on holiday. Donna also helps to train hunting dogs, but recently, her boyfriend told me, she returned home from a farm in tears after being told to hit some dogs.

“She wasn't being asked to hit them because they didn't behave well，” he said. “She was told to punch these puppies with a closed fist simply to let them know who is the boss，” Donna refused. Good for Donna. In my view, you hit an animal for only two reasons: as a way to teach it an important lesson to protect it from danger, such as not into the road; or because you like hurting animals.

Last summer, I attended a horse race. I don't know much about horses, but I was alarmed when I saw a horse with a huge ulcer (溃疡) on its legs. “Surely this horse won't race？” I asked. I was very surprised that nobody in the crowd seemed concerned.

The horse began the race, but later it fell heavily. It had broken its leg. The hext thing I saw was its dead body in a bag, being driven past. No one seemed to care, except those who had bet on it. I know people care for horse racing, but do they really care for horses? I doubt it.

Oh, but it's a tradition, I hear you say. Wouldn't the world be a boring place if we didn't occasionally hit, shoot and chase animals? Traditions are made by man and can be unmade. It was once acceptable to kill servants when their master died, to visit the mental hospitals to laugh at the patients or to watch public execution (执行死刑)．

Nor should it be forgotten that in our progress to a more civilized world, animals have played an important role they have fed us, carried us, worked for us, rescued us, died for us and sometimes just saved us from loneliness. Surely by now they deserve our kindness. At the very least, they deserve our respect.

1.Donna was asked to hit the young dogs because ________.

A. they misbehaved

B. their owner disliked them

C. people on the farm enjoy hurting them

D. it was a way to train them to obey people

2.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Strike. B. Stroke.

C. Scold. D. Pump.

3.What is the author's purpose in telling the readers the story about the horse?

A. To explain the traditional horse race to readers.

B. To prove that the weak horse can't win in the race.

C. To show that animals are treated unfairly by humans.

D. To say that people care more for horses than horse racing.

4.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. People no longer watch killing criminals in public.

B. The author cannot accept anyone who hits the animals.

C. It was a traditional practice to kill servants for their dead master.

D. The author thinks it is possible to change the traditions made by man.

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

You often plan for our holidays for a long time so that you can spend the period happily every year. As is often the case, your holiday plans came to nothing, or you don't want to see anyone, or you don't really know how to spend the holidays. _1.__

Give your time.

Volunteering is an activity that most of the experts suggested for people spending the holidays alone, offering your time at a nursing home or homeless shelter. __2.

Connect with strangers.

_3.__ A meaningful chat with a cashier, a good deed for another－these connections can lift your spirits, especially if you're apart from friends and family. You do yourself harm when you believe that love only unfolds between you and someone “special” to you.

_4.__

If you're feeling lonely and longing to see family and friends who are absent for the holidays this year, you can create special plans to meet them another time or during the next holiday season. Not only will this be something positive to look forward to, but it's an actionable plan that could relieve some loneliness down the road.

But don't be addicted to unhappy thoughts.

The key here is mindfulness. __5._ If you remain present and mindful and begin to listen to your thoughts about being lonely, you might discover that the thoughts are telling a one?sided story, and one that might not totally be true.

A. Plan for a future time to see family.

B. Acknowledge that you're unhappy.

C. Below are tips for enjoying the holidays on your own.

D. Try different ways to avoid those negative thought surrounding you all the time.

E. Even if you're not serving soup, there are other simpler connections to be made with strangers.

F. If you find yourself caught in that cycle of emotionally charged, negative thoughts about loneliness, stop and acknowledge these feelings.

G. It's not bad to think about yourself and your feelings, and helping others can give you a healthy and important break to consider the larger world around you.

完形填空，阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

The Lost Letter

I was doing well as a department head in a Mumbai firm, but my relationship with the boss had become tense. Not wanting to put up with this, I ____ rather impulsively(冲动地). But with no other job offer in hand, I soon became ____.

Then, one morning, an ad I spotted ____ a person like me, and at an ideal location. I phoned a friend, a placement agent, for tips. “I don't think you ___ the bill，” he said. “They'd prefer MBAs with experience in international business, so don't waste your time.” My wife ____. “Go by your instinct，” she said. “You've got nothing to ____.”

So, carrying my ____ typed CV and covering letter in an envelope on which I had ____ both“To and From” addresses, I ____ a packed train to get to Mumbai's post office. Getting off the train, I ____ the crowd out of the station and on to the street. Suddenly, I noticed, my ____ was missing!

I rushed back to the ____. The train was still there. A search of the compartment in which I travelled drew a blank. I ____ impatiently for the train to pull away. It hadn't fallen ____ the tracks either.

The ____ thing to do was to go home, make a new CV and covering letter and mail it. But losing the envelope was like a bad ____， so I gave up.

Three weeks passed. I received a ____， inviting me for a meeting with the company's managing director. I was surprised. I soon got the job, and worked there as general manager ____ I took voluntary retirement in 2012.

I still think about my ____reaching its addressee(收件人). I imagine someone found it. He or she might have asked others on the train. Finding no claimant and realizing it would be ____ to a fellow citizen, the finder took it to a post office, stuck the stamps and mailed it. To that unknown friend, I want to say: Thank you for a little act that proved to be so big for me.

1.A. escaped B. resigned C. struggled D. objected

2.A. hesitant B. aggressive C. lazy D. anxious

3.A. convinced B. attracted C. sought D. employed

4.A. fit B. pay C. charge D. receive

5.A. declared B. suggested C. disagreed D. warned

6.A. concern B. lose C. reward D. select

7.A. neatly B. quickly C. poorly D. slowly

8.A. signed B. printed C. marked D. written

9.A. chose B. booked C. boarded D. found

10.A. joined B. watched C. heard D. organized

11.A. wallet B. envelope C. ticket D. bag

12.A. hall B. home C. conductor D.platform

13.A. waited B. looked C. prepared D. prayed

14.A. on B. down C. over D. off

15.A. difficult B. regular C. logical D. last

16.A. accident B. chance C. luck D. sign

17.A. letter B. notice C. document D. request

18.A. since B. though C. until D. unless

19.A. message B. complaint C. information D. application

20.A. cautious B. important C. sensitive D. useful

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Have you ever heard that we humans use only ten percent of our brains? This myth holds 1. certain appeal because if it 2. (be) true, then we could instantly become ten times 3. (intelligent) just by firing up that sleepy majority of the brain!

The idea that we use only a small fraction of the brain dates back to animal experiments in the 19th century. When scientists 4. (stimulate) a specific part of the brain, the animal moved 5. leg or tail. And some scientists assumed that large parts of the brain were simply useless.

Then, in the early 20th century, scientists observed that stimulating certain regions of the brain had no physical effects, which are called the “silent cortex”. Today we know that in humans, much of the “silent cortex” is actually devoted to complex activities 6. language, learning, and imagining.

Actually, even 7. we sleep, many areas of the brain are extremely active. Would you be smarter if your entire brain constantly worked to maximum capacity? 8. (interest) enough, the opposite is probably true. The less brain activity you need to perform a 9. (give) task, the more the brain as a whole is capable 10. doing.

短文改错

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号()，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2．只允许修改l0处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

My friend Li Hua used to be rather poor in English, especially his terrible and strange pronunciation. Hardly could he make him understood when speaking English. Bearing a heavy load in mind, he felt desperate and upset. He dared not speak English at class. When asked questions, she was always nervous and embarrassed. The classmates always make fun of him, saying that he was speaking Japanese! Once I met him in the corridor. I told him that his pronunciation was very special and a kind of like Obama's. Believing what I said, he got greatly inspired. He spared no effort to practice speak English every day. Now, he can speak English fluent with a perfect accent.

Recently, he told me that it wasn't long after he knew that I just told a little white lie then but he appreciated badly, without which, he said, he couldn't have achieved such great progresses.

假如你是新华中学学生会主席李华，学校安排你给即将到你校任教的外籍教师Peter推荐(recommend)一名学生助手(assistant)。请根据以下要点给他写封推荐信：

1. 欢迎Peter的到来；

2. 推荐韩梅为学生助手；

3. 韩梅的基本情况(17岁，高二学生，学校十佳学生之一)；

4. 韩梅的优势(电脑技术、沟通能力、英语水平等)。

注意：

1. 词数100左右；

2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

City College Union Inc

Secretary/Typist

The Union is a student-run organization with a permanent staff of 20. Typing speed: at least 60 wpm.

The ability to take shorthand dictation and a working knowledge of filling procedures are essential requirements.

The basic salary for the position is $ 18,500 per year.

Enquires to R. Barbar 387-5075.

Emu Airline

Secretary

Emu Airline is now offering a part-time position for a secretary.

The position offers at least 20 hours' work a week, with a view to full-time work in the future.

Monthly salary is about $ 1,400.

Phone 899-3264 for an appointment.

Word Processor

Operator (full-time)

We need an operator to work in an office associated with the building industry. Only experienced operators are expected to apply.

Starting salary: $ 17,950 yearly.

Apply in writing to:

The Personnel Officer Hill Morgan Pty Ltd 38 Green Hill Rd. Kensington 2033.

Sewing Machinist Wanted

Jeans Industry

We are an expanding clothing company located south of the city. Our products include jeans, skirts, shorts and so on. We are looking for sewing machine operators

The factory works a 38-hour week over 4-5 days. Wages for this are $ 18,050 per year. Wages and conditions are in line with the current industrial award.

If you are interested, come over and pick up an application form from Ripper Jeans, 23 North Ave, Beaudesert.

1.What can we learn from the above advertisements?

A. Their companies are introduced in detail.

B. They all want people for their respective positions.

C. Each is looking for experienced employees.

D. There exist large income gaps between the four posts.

2.The attractiveness of the post in Emu Airline is_____.

A. its good salary

B. its nice working conditions

C. its promising future

D. its free flying

3.If you want to be a sewing machine operator you may contact this company by_____.

A. phone B. email C. visit D. fax

If you live in a big city, there are many things to drive you crazy on your daily route, and it’s not just overcrowded subway trains.

Vicky Zhao is a mainlander working in Hong Kong. For her, one thing she can’t put up with is people standing on the wrong side of the escalator(自动扶梯) in subway stations. “Escalators help us move faster and save time. It isn’t a place to rest,” the 24-year-old says. “I often see tourists block the way with their suitcases or chatting on the escalators during rush hours. It annoys me to no end.”

Admitting she is not the patient type, Zhao says things are much better in Hong Kong than in cities on the mainland where “stand right, walk left” signs are often ignored.

The logic behind the “stand right, walk left” escalator etiquette(礼仪) seems obvious. Even though you may want to catch your breath while you’re transported up or down, you should still consider others and leave enough space for people in a hurry, so that they can run and catch the train.

Many cities’ escalators, including London’s and Beijing’s, use the “stand right, walk left” system to speed up the flow of people. (Australia is an exception and you should stand on the left side instead.) But some cities discourage people from moving on escalators out of safety reasons. In Hong Kong’s subway stations there are regular announcements asking people to “stand still” on escalators. Even so, most people in this fast-paced city observe the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.

But the people who stand on escalators defend themselves by telling the walkers not to be so impatient. The BBC quotes one stander as saying: “If the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and there’s nowhere to move, I see these same people complaining about not being able to pass.”

Whatever the escalator etiquette is in the place you live or visit, do what most people are doing and always be mindful of others: leave enough space between each other, don’t stay at the end of the escalator, and if someone is blocking your way, a simple “excuse me” is enough.

1.In the second paragraph, the underlined word “It” refers to_____.

A. the author’s living in the big city of Hong Kong.

B. being crowded on the subway trains in rush hours.

C. people’s blocking the way or chat on the escalators.

D. people’s standing on the right side resting.

2.When on the escalator, a majority of local people in Hong Kong_____.

A. stand still as the railway stations require.

B. ignore the “ stand right, walk left” signs

C. use the stairs instead of escalators.

D. follow the “stand right, wail left” etiquette.

3.What can be inferred from the 6th paragraph?

A. Not everyone follows the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.

B. The BBC is against the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.

C. People should be patient and take the stairs if possible.

D. People shouldn’t complain about the crowded escalators.

4.Which of the following statements is the writer’s opinion?

A. People should stand right no matter where they are.

B. People should do as the Romans do and consider others.

C. People should do as they like on the escalators.

D. People should be seriously criticized when they block the way.

The Royal Mint has chosen Beatrix Potter’s thieving Peter Rabbit as the first character from children’s literature ever to appear on a UK coin.

Peter, pictured in the blue jacket that he is forced to abandon in the garden of Mr McGregor when he is caught stealing vegetables, is captured on a special, coloured edition of a 50p coin available from now. The Royal Mint, which described Peter as “the most recognizable of Potter’s creations, and one of the most cherished from children’s literature”, will release uncoloured versions of the coin in change later this year.

Three more of Potter’s characters will also be committed to currency later this year, as part of celebrations marking 150 years since the children’s author’s birth. The images have been created by coin designer Emma Noble, who said it was “amazing to be given the opportunity to work with such famous and treasured literary characters”.

Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, featuring Peter and his better-behaved siblings (兄弟姐妹) Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, was the first of her stories to be published, released in 1902 by Frederick Warne & Co. Potter would go on to follow it with a series of much-loved stories which remain popular today, from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.

1.Which character from children’s literature can be found on the UK coin?

A. Jemima Puddle-Duck

B. Squirrel Nutkin

C. Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail

D. Peter Rabbit

2.According to the passage, the coins will be released by the Royal Mint to_____.

A. celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter

B. celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Peter Rabbit

C. celebrate the first publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit

D. promote the sales of Beatrix Potter’s works

3.Which of the following statement is true?

A. Peter Rabbit is one of the most recognized literary characters in UK.

B. The Tale of Peter Rabbit mainly features his better-behaved siblings.

C. It was Emma Noble who created Peter Rabbit, the famous literary character.

D. Uncoloured versions of the Peter Rabbit coin are available now.

4.Where is this passage probably taken from?

A. An autobiography B. A children’s book

C. A travel guide D. A news report

Understanding one's own history is important for young people's learning and development. Students are often asked to write a story about their own family's history or about a special person in their family. But too rarely do students focus on the history of their own community or their own people, in a way that helps them to understand why they find themselves in a particular situation.

When people understand their own history, they are able to grapple with the influence of the social structures that sometimes limit the possibilities in their lives. Taking this approach opens the door for young people to be managers of their own learning and development as they understand why they find themselves where they are. ,

Many people I have been talking to about this issue agree that not only schools but also public bodies and families have failed to educate young people about their own history. And I know from my own experience how difficult it was for my father to talk about his family's experience in 1944.This may be a reflection of the sadness that people feel about that history and not wanting to make it a burden on their young people. But in today's situation, those I spoke with now clearly see that as a mistake.

If our society is ever to find a way to properly deal with the influence of our own history, including what has happened to our Native American, African-American and Latino friends, our schools must step up to help young people understand their own stories. Families and related social bodies must do the same.

1.According to Paragraph 1, a good knowledge of our own history can help us_____.

A. become good at writing stories

B. make our influence on the society stronger

C. gain a good understanding of our present situation

D. understand the importance of learning and development

2.What does the underlined phrase "grapple with" in Paragraph 2 mean?

A. Manage. B. Recover.

C. Exercise. D. Determine.

3.It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that the author's family's experience in 1944 was_____.

A. interesting B. surprising

C. harmful D. painful

4.The passage mainly encourages us to_____.

A. write our own stories

B. learn our own history

C. understand the importance of history

D. have a proper attitude towards history