I am a writer. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke(唤起) an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with.

Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have described it to people as “broken” English. But feel embarrassed to say that. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness. I’ve heard other terms used, “limited English,” for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions(认识)of the limited English speaker.

I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s “limited” English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is ,because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. And I had plenty of evidence to support me: the fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.

I started writing fiction in 1985. And for reasons I won’t get into today, I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as “broken”, and what I imagine to be her translation of her Chinese, her internal(内在的) language, and for that I sought to preserve the essence, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure: I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show; her intention, her feelings, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.

1.By saying “Language is the tool of my trade”, the author means that ______.

A. she uses English in foreign trade B. she is fascinated by languages

C. she works as a translator D. she is a writer by profession

2.The author used to think of her mother’s English as ______.

A. impolite B. amusing C. imperfect D. practical

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 3?

A. Americans do not understand broken English.

B. The author’s mother was not respected sometimes.

C. The author’ mother had positive influence on her.

D. Broken English always reflects imperfect thoughts.

4.The author gradually realizes her mother’s English is _____.

A. well structured B. in the old style

C. easy to translate D. rich in meaning

5.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The changes of the author’s attitude to her mother’s English.

B. The limitation of the author’s perception of her mother.

C. The author’s misunderstanding of “limited” English.

D. The author’s experiences of using broken English.

The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smartphone, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic (怀旧的)skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful---both in school and in life.

Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.

Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate.

In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to know well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active which helps us access our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas.” Berninger said.

Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe(转换) “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “mind’s eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot(发现) spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct then over time.

“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”

1.What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?

A. The absence of blackboard in classroom.

B. The use of new technologies in teaching.

C. The lack of practice in handwriting.

D. The popular use of smartphones.

2.Berninger’s study published in 2009 ___________.

A. focused on the difference between writing by hand and on a computer.

B. indicated that students prefer to write with a pen and paper.

C. found that good essays are made up of long sentences.

D. discussed the importance of writing speed.

3.Which of the following best shows the role of spelling?

A. Spelling improves one’s memory of words.

B. Spelling ability is closely related to writing ability.

C. Spelling benefits the translation from words into ideas.

D. Spelling slows down finding exact words to express ideas.

4.What does “mind’s eye” in paragraph 5 mean?

A. Window. B. SoulC. Picture. D. Imagination.

5.What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?

A. Computers can help people with their choice of words.

B. Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching.

C. Handwriting still has a place in today’s classrooms.

D. Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade.

Blind imitation (模仿)is self-destruction. To those who do not recognize their unique worth. Imitation appears attractive: to those who know their strength. Imitation is unacceptable.

In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook, I used recipes (菜谱) and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else’s way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child’s bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without relying on them.

In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously (下意识地) hold poor role models. If, as a child, you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the weak choices of others.

In the field of entertainment, our culture glorifies celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.

Blessed is the person willing to act on their sudden desire to create something unique. Think of the movies, books, teachers, and friends that have affected you most deeply. They touched you because their creations were motivated by inspiration, not desperation. The world is changed not by those who do what has been done before them, but by those who do what has been done inside them. Creative people have an endless resource of ideas. The problem a creator faces is not running out of material; it is what to do with the material knocking at the door of imagination.

Syudy your role models, accept the gifts they have given, and leave behind what does not server. Then you can say,” I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors” tragedies and tory, and know that they are cheering on.

1. Imitation proves useful when you .

A. know you are unique

B. lose the balance of life

C. begin to learn something new

D. get tired of routine practice

2. To avoid the bad result of imitation, we should________.

A. forget daily fear and pain

B. choose the right example

C. ask others for decisions

D. stay away from stars

3. Acording to the author. The world moves on because of those who are .

A. desperate to intruence others with their knowledge

B. ready to turn their original ideas into reality

C. eager to discover what their ancestors did

D. willing to accept others’ ideas

4. The trouble a creator faces is .

A. the lack of strong motivation

B. the absence of practical ideas

C. how to search for more materials

D. how to use imagination creatively

5. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A. To highlight the importance of creatively.

B. To criticize the characters of role models.

C. To compare imitation with creation.

D. To explain the meaning of success.

阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

Born in 1949, Diana Nyad took an early interest in swimming as a sport and was a Florida State High School swimming champion. Like many young athletes, she had Olympic dreams, but a serious illness kept her from competing in the Games. The disappointment didn’t stop her from going forward. Instead, she became interested in marathon swimming. A brilliant athlete, she was well-conditioned for spending long periods of time in the water. As a long-distance swimmer, she would compete against herself and the obstacles presented by distance, danger, cold, and exhaustion.

For ten years Nyad devoted herself to becoming one of the world’s best long-distance swimmers. In 1970, she swam a ten-mile marathon in Lake Ontario, setting the women’s record for the course. In 1972 she set another record by swimming 102.5 miles from an island in the Bahamas to the coast of Florida. Then she broke a third record when swimming around Manhattan Island in 1975.

Nyad attempted to swim the distance between Florida and Cuba in 1978. Though the span of water is less than 100 miles wide, it is rough and dangerous. After battling the water for two days, she had to give for the sake of her own health and safety. Even so, she impressed the world with her courage and strong desire to succeed. For Nyad her strength of purpose was just as important as reading Cuba. That is how she defined success. It did not matter that her swim came up short; she believed she had touched the other shore.

When Nyad ended her career as a swimmer, she continued to try new things---travelling the world as a reporter, writing books and giving public speeches about her life. Diana Nyad works to inspire others, just as she did when she swam the waters of the world.

1.What prevented Nyad from taking part in the Olympic Games? (No more than 5 words)

__________________________________________________________________________

2.What does the underlined word “obstacles” mean? (1 word)

___________________________________________________________________________

3.What achievement did Nyad make in 1970? (No more than 10 words.)

________________________________________________________________________________

4.Why did Nyad believe that she had touched the other shore? (No more than 10 words)

___________________________________________________________________________

5.Please explain how you are inspired by Nyad. (No more than 20 words)

_______________________________________________________________________________

假如你是某外国语学校学生李华，第九届金砖国家峰会（The Ninth BRICS Summit)将在你居住的城市举办。组委会现正在招募志愿者，你希望成为其中一员。请按要求用英文给组委会写一封信。内容包括：

1.个人情况：年龄、性别；

2.个人条件：英、法语爱好，关注时事、政治和经济，善于交际，乐于助人，熟悉本地；

3.本人承诺：提供最佳服务。

注意：1.词数100左右

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Sir and Madam,

My name is Li Hua._________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

Sometimes when I’m flying from one speaking engagement to another, I find myself sitting next to someone who's quite talkative. This is often a pleasant experience for me because I’m a people-watcher. I learn so much by watching and listening to the people I meet and see every day. I’ve heard stories of sadness and others of delight, fear and joy, and others that would rival those on “Oprah” and "Geraldo”.

Sad to say，there are times when I’m sitting next to someone who just wants to vent(发泄） his temper or inflict(强加）his political views on an audience for 600 miles. It was one of those days. I settled in, as my seatmate began his speech on the terrible state of the world with the time worn, “You know, kids today are...” He went on and on, sharing vague notions of the terrible state of teens and young adults, based on watching the six o’clock news rather selectively.

When I gratefully got off that plane and finally made it to my hotel in Indianapolis, I bought the local paper and went to have dinner in the hotel. There, on an inside page, was an article I believe ought to have been the front-page headline news.

In a little Indiana town, there was a 15-year-old boy with a brain tumor. He was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy(化疗）treatments，As a result of those treatments, he had lost all of his hair. I don’t know about you, but I remember how I would have felt about that at his age ---I would have felt awkward and ashamed.

This young man’s classmates willingly came to the rescue: all the boys in his grade asked their mothers if they could shave their heads so that Brian wouldn’t be the only bald boy in the high school. There, on that page was a photograph of a mother shaving all of her sons’ hair with the family looking on approvingly. And in the background, a group of similar bald young men.

No, I don’t despair about kids today.

1.From the passage we can infer the author's job is .

A. meeting talkative people

B. the commitments concerning speaking, like lecturers

C. a psychologist

D. to cope with complaints

2.The word “rival” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by .

A. oppose B. compete against

C. object to D. match

3.What's the author’s attitude towards his seatmate?

A. Favorable. B. Critical.

C. Indifferent. D. Satisfied.

4.The author's purpose in telling the news about the 15-year-old boy is .

A. to show his disappointment in kids today

B. to praise the diseased boy’s bravery

C. to draw people’s attention to care for such people

D. to display his confidence and faith in today’s teens

Here are some undiscovered places around the world, which will surely impress you.

Byblos, Lebanon

This quiet settlement north of Beirut in Lebanon has been around a really long lime. Today, its rich history is well-represented in its ruins, which include ancient temples and tombs and Neolithic houses. Three sites in particular steal the show: the restored Roman amphitheatre (圆形剧场）, the grand 12th century Crusader castle, and the beautiful]y restored medieval open market.

Carreg Cennen, Carmarthenshire, Wales

The ruins of Carreg Cennen must be among the most noticeable sites in Wales. Carreg Cennen is defended by two drawbridges and three gate towers, although it hasn’t seen much action since it was partly damaged in 1462, during the Wars of the Roses. However, one rare feature of the castle is unchanged. Ifs the stone passage that leads down to a natural cave underneath.

Providence, Rhode Island, US

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US. Its capital, Providence, has many of the attractions. Ivy League member Brown University and the famous Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) give the city a strong student influence. Up on College Hill, east of the Providence River, are streets lined with 18th century wood framed houses.

Sequoia National Park, California, US

Not content with having the worlds tallest (coast redwoods) and oldest (bristlecone pines), California is also home to the largest tree—the giant sequoia (红杉树). It grows only to its lull size in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many of these trees are found in the Yosemite National Park, but for more quality time with the trees, it's best to head south to the far less known Sequoia National Park, which gets a quarter of Yosemite’s visitor numbers.

1.What do Byblos and Carreg Cennen have in common?

A. They were once destroyed in the history.

B. They are defended by two drawbridges.

C. They are most famous for their temples.

D. They are located in the same country.

2.If you’re interested in old house made by woods, you’d go to the place in .

A. Lebanon B. California

C. Rhode Island D. Carmarthenshire

3.Who would most probably go to Sequoia National Park?

A. People who love walking in streets.

B. People who are interested in visiting castles.

C. People who want to feel a strong student influence.

D. People who are interested in tress.

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the world.

B. Yosemite National Park is located in California.

C. The Carreg Cennen castle has been totally changed. v

D. The medieval open market in Byblos has never been destroyed.

If your child constantly moves when he's doing math homework or insists on listening to music while studying, take heart. Although it may seem like he’s trying to drive you crazy, he’s probably just using the strategies that help him learn.

“I like to study at a desk in silence, and my daughter can’t think that way. She likes to bounce around on a ball with music in the background,” says author Maureen McKay, whose website, Optimistic Outcomes, provides tips based on a child’s learning style for parents. “Sometimes kids are just doing what works for them.”

Three basic learning styles are auditory, kinesthetic(肌肉运动知觉的), and visual ones. Auditory learners prefer listening to explanations to reading them and may like to study by reciting information aloud. This type of learner may want to have background music while studying, or they may be distracted by noises and need a quiet environment to study. Kinesthetic learners learn by doing and touching something. They may have trouble sitting still while studying, and they are better able to understand information by writing it down or doing hands-on activities. Visual learners process new information by reading, looking at graphics, or watching a demonstration. Children with this learning style can grasp information presented in a chart or graph, but they may grow impatient listening to an explanation.

Most people use a combination of styles but have a clear preference for one. Understanding your child’s learning style can reduce homework frustrations and make it easier for families to communicate, says McKay. She observed different learning styles while working as a teacher’s assistant, and she started researching strategies for working in different learning styles when her daughter began having trouble in elementary school.

Because her daughter had difficulty listening in class, McKay looked for exercises to strengthen listening skills. Her daughter is now doing well in middle school, and she owes her success to the fact that her teachers and parents came to understand her unique style of learning.

1.What does the underlined part “take heart” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Take care. B. Work hard.

C. Don't worry. D. Don't mention it.

2.It's implied in the passage that McKay's daughter studies in .

A. both auditory and kinesthetic styles

B. a kinesthetic style

C. both visual and auditor’s styles

D. a visual style

3.According to the passage, McKay would agree that .

A. parents should explore their children's learning styles.

B. teachers should reduce their students’ homework

C. students always enjoy trying different learning styles

D. schools are giving up their traditional teaching methods

4.In the case of her daughter, McKay .

A. helps a lot with her homework

B. teaches her in person at school

C. lets her read many books

D. values her personal learning style

If ever a drink were invented to satisfy the thirst of social media, this may be it.

With its fantastic name, bright pink and blue twist topped with a pillow of whipped cream, Starbucks’ new Unicom Frappuccino(独角兽星冰乐) practically asks to be posted on social media.

And a glimpse at Twitter shows Unicom Frappuccino is indeed gaining attention.

So what's in it? As Starbucks describes it: “A sweet dusting of pink powder, mixed into a Frappuccino with mango syrup and layered with a pleasantly sour blue drizzle. It is finished with vanilla whipped cream and a sprinkle of sweet pink and sour blue powder topping.”

A look at the ingredients reveals a list less fantastic. The pink powder is actually sugar and "Fruit and Vegetable Color.”

Starbucks advertises the drink “,as rare as a unicorn." But unicorn food is actually a thing. The BBC reports, it's fashionable to post pictures of rainbow colored food which reminds of the fairy tale creature.

Rainbow sushi, anyone?

As for the Unicorn Frappuccino, Lori Aquino said the drink caught her eye on social media. Then people at work were talking about it. “I saw it was coming out today, so I decided to try it,” Aquino said at a Washington D.C. Starbucks. “I'll probably put it on Snapchat or Instagram.”

She bought one to share with her two coworkers.

And the opinion?

“It’s kind of nasty,” Aquino said.

Letitia Winston agreed: "Nope. That will not be something I come looking for."

But Moriam Animashaun was more forgiving. "It's not bad,” she said, “It's just really sweet.”

A 16-ounce medium, or a grande in Starbucks speak, comes in at 410 calories, 59 grams of sugar and 16 grams of fat.

One thing the women agreed on was the drink’s appearance. “It’s pretty," said Animashaun.

“It looks nice," agreed Winston.

And in the age of likes, snaps and tweets, the fantasy image may be all that matters.

The Unicom Frappuccino is available April 19 through April 23 at participating stores in the United Stales, Canada and Mexico.

1.What do we learn about Starbucks’ new Unicom Frappuccino from the passage?

A. The customers are attracted to try it by its fantastic name only.

B. Lori Aquino first learned about the drink from her coworkers and then saw it get popular on social media,

C. You can purchase a Unicom Frappuccino at any Starbucks store in North America from April 19 to April 23.

D. The author may agree that the fantasy image helps the Unicorn Frappuccino gain great popularity.

2.What was Lori and her co-workers’ reaction after they tasted the Unicom Frappuccino themselves?

A. They thought it was good value for the money.

B. They thought it lived up to their expectations,

C. They agreed that the look of the drink was attractive.

D. They thought it was the very drink they were looking for.

3.Which do you think is most probably the title for this passage?

A. Unicom Frappuccino is Coming Soon

B. Unicorn Frappuccino is Getting Popular

C. Unicom Frappuccino: A Digital Age Drink

D. Unicorn Frappuccino: An Eye-catching Healthy Drink

There are some injuries that are common to all types of extreme sports. The following are some of the important things to do to prevent extreme sports injuries. 1. But they can definitely minimize the risk of injuries.

Warm up.

2. They include a combination of cardiovascular(心脏血管的)exercises, strength drills and stretching. Cardiovascular exercises increase body temperature, heart rate and blood circulation, which is required for further movement of the body. Strength drills increase the stamina of the body, while stretching warms up the muscles preparing them for sudden forceful movements. 3. It also plays an important role in boosting the team spirit for a team sport. A warm-up session should last for at least 20 minutes and it can extend up to half an hour.

Avoid overworking.

There are some people who do not exercise their body for the sport on a regular basis and perform a week's task in a day or two. 4. They do not realize the effect of overworking during the performance and keep doing it until they feel extremely tired. Apart from the actual sport, one should also avoid overdoing the warm-up exercises before the activity.

5.

Just as warming up is essential before any rigorous(充满活力的) physical activity, cooling down the body after playing a rigorous sport is also a significant part of physical conditioning. When you are done with your sports session, you can conclude with some walking, jogging or light running. Slight stretching exercises, focusing on specific muscles, will also be useful for cooling down the body.

A. Cool yourself down.

B. Look for a coach to train you.

C. These people are likely to suffer from extreme sport injuries.

D. However, there are no perfect methods which can assure you 100% safety.

E. Along with physical preparation, warming up prepares you mentally to begin a sport.

F. You should also be careful about your clothing selection for warmth and protection.

G. Warm-up exercises are very important before you begin any sports practice.