The first time I saw Carlos I would never have believed he was going to change my life. I had my arms full of books and I was tearing into the classroom when I ran into something solid. It was Carlos.
“My, you’re tall,” he said.
Of course, the class began to laugh. Angry, I walked to my seat without a word.
I glanced back to see if Reed Harrington was laughing with the rest. That would be the last straw. But Reed was studying chemistry and did not seem to be aware of anything else. I didn’t know why I considered Reed my friend. Maybe just because he was a good two inches taller than I. Anyway, every time I blew out my birthday candles and made a wish, it was for a date with Reed Harrington. “Take that seat,” Mr. McCarthy told the proud newcomer Carlos, pointing to the only empty one, in the back of the room.
Carlos smiled broadly. “But I need a couple of dictionaries.” Again the class laughed, but now they were laughing with Carlos, not at him. He had been here only 10 minutes and already he had them on his side.
It was the school elections that made me think of Carlos again. Reed Harrington was voted president and Carlos vice president. “How come?” I kept asking myself. “How come this shrimp(虾) who’s only been in town for a little over a month gets to be so popular.”
So on that morning, I stopped Carlos and said, “It doesn’t seem to bother you—being short.” He looked up at me. “Of course I mind being short. But there isn’t anything I can do about it. When I realized I was going to have to spend my life in this undersized skin, I just decided to make the best of it and concentrate on being myself.” “You seem to get along great,” I admitted. “But what about me? Nobody wants to date a girl taller than he is.” “The trouble with you is you’re afraid to be yourself. You’re smart. And you could be pretty. In fact, you might be more than pretty.” I felt myself turning red...
【小题1】
Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．The writer cared much about Reed’s attitude.

B．Carlos isn’t popular with the classmates.

C．The writer is always confident with herself.

D．Carlos always makes fun of the writer.

【小题2】
From the passage, we can conclude _______________.

A．Carlos is as tall as the writer

B．Carlos fell love with the writer later

C．the writer is very tall

D．Reed, Carlos and the writer became good friends later

【小题3】
What can we use to describe Carlos’ character?

A．Handsome and proud	B．Humorous and confident
C．Diligent and helpful	D．Hardworking and popular

【小题4】
What’s the best title of the passage?

A．A girl and a boy.	B．My shortcomings.
C．My helpful classmates.	D．A change in my life.

Honesty, my mum always used to tell me, is the best policy. Of course, this didin’t include her when she told me that if I didn’t eat all my vegetables Father Christmas would find out and wouldn’t give me any presents.
But when it comes to medicine, I had assumed it was important to always be honest with my patients. After all, the doctor patient relationship is based on trust, and therefore honesty is essential, Or so I thought.
I had just started working in geriatrics(老年病科). Mr. McMahon was brought in when his baby was faound very swollen. I took a medical history from his daughter would accompanied him in the ambulance. She’d been his main carer for years. I stood looking at him as she gave a detailed history. “Has he lost any weight recently?” I asked, “Well, it’s funny you should mention that, but yes.” She said slowly. There was silence for a few moments. “Why? What are you worried about?” she asked, I hesitated. She was obviously very involved in his care and it was only fair that I told her the truth. “Well, we need to prove it’s not cancer.” I said and talked briefly about some of the tests I was going to order.
Half an hour later, a nurse called me: “Mr. McMahon’s daughter broke down－she said you told her he had cancer.” My heart sank. By the time I arrived at the ward, my consultant was already there, explaining that we still had to run lots of tests and that it was by no means confirmed that he had cancer. I stood silently at the end of the bed. My consultant was obviously angry with me and as we left Mr. McMahon, she turned to me. “Why on carch did you do that?” she asked to disbelief. I looked at her andbit my hp. “She asked me what I was worried about and I told her.” I said, hanging my head. “And give her more to worry about?” replied my consultant. “You don’t say the word ‘cancer’ until it’s confirmed. Even if you suspect it, think very carefully before you tell people.”
As it turned out, it wasn’t cancer. But I did learn that when somecone is stressed and worried about their loved one they’re sometimes selective in what they hear－and as a doctor it’s important to be mindful of this. In being truthful, I’d made the situation worse.
【小题1】.The purpose of the first two paragraphs is to show that the author        .

A．misunderstood the doctor-patient relationship
B．was anxious to receive Christmas gifts
C．regarded honesty as the best policy	D．had an unhealthy eating habit

【小题2】The author’s consultant was angry with him because         .

A．he told the daughter what he suspected.

B．he delayed running the necessary tests.

C．he failed to confirm the parent’s disease.

D．he forgot what the consultant had advised.

【小题3】The author hung his head (the underlined part in Para.4) because he was feeling    

A．guilty

B．hurt

C．disappointed

D．helpless

【小题4】.What lesson has the author learnt from his experience?

A．Learning form parents is necessary.

B．Jumping to a conclusion is dangerous.

C．Telling the truth may not always be the best solution.

D．Selecting pleasant words may not be the perfect policy.

It’s 5:00 in the morning when the alarm (闹钟) rings in my ears. I roll out of bed and walk blindly through the dark into the bathroom. I turn on the light and put on my glasses. The house is still as I walk downstairs while my husband and three kids sleep peacefully. Usually I go for a long run, but today I choose my favorite exercise DVD insanity. Sweat pours down my face and into my eyes. My heart races as I face my body to finish each movement. As I near the end of the exercise ,I feel extremely tired, but a smile is of my face. It’s not a smile because the DVD is over , but a smile of success from pushing my body to its extreme limit.
Some people enjoy shopping, smoking , food, work, or even chocolate. But I need exercise to get through each day. Some shake heads when they see me run through the town. Others get hurt when I refuse to try just one bite of their grandmother’s chocolate cake. They raise their eyebrows, surprised by my “no thank you,” or by my choice to have a salad. Over the years , I have learned it’s okay to just say “no.” I shouldn’t feel sorry for refusing food that I don’t want to eat.
So what drives me to roll out of bed at 5:00 a.m.? What gives me the reason to just say to ice cream?  Commitment.  A commitment to change my life with a way that reduces daily anxiety, increases self –confidence and energy, extends life and above all improve my body shape. This is the point where a smile appears on my face as I look at myself in the mirror or try on my favorite pair of jeans that now fit just right. It’s through commitment and sweat that I can make a difference within myself inside and out.
【小题1】
Why is there a smile on the author’s face in the morning?

A．Because she sees her family sleeping peacefully.

B．Because she finishes her favorite exercise

C．Because she enjoys the interesting DVD

D．Because she feels a sense of achievement

【小题2】
Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 2?

A．She doesn’t treat others politely

B．She likes to make others surprised

C．Others don’t understand what she does

D．Others try to help her by offering her food

【小题3】
What does the underlined word “commitment” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Good health

B．Firm belief

C．A strong power

D．A regular half

【小题4】
What can we learn about the author from the text?

A．She acts in a strange way

B．She wants to look different from others

C．She aims to develop a good body shape

D．She has difficult getting along with others

Violin prodigies (神童), I learned, have come in distinct waves from distinct regions. Most of the great performers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were born and brought up in Russia and Eastern Europe. I asked Isaac Stern, one of the world’s greatest violinists the reason for this phenomenon. “It is very clear,” he told me. “They were all Jews and Jews at the time were severely oppressed and ill-treated in that part of the world. They were not allowed into the professional fields, but they were allowed to achieve excellence on a concert stage.” As a result, every Jewish parent’s dream was to have a child in the music school because it was a passport to the West.
Another element in the emergence of prodigies, I found, is a society that values excellence in a certain field to nurture (培育) talent. Nowadays, the most nurturing societies seem to be in the Far East. “In Japan, a most competitive society, with stronger discipline than ours,” says Isaac Stern, children are ready to test their limits every day in many fields, including music. When Western music came to Japan after World War II, that music not only became part of their daily lives, but it became a discipline as well. The Koreans and Chinese as we know, are just as highly motivated as the Japanese.
That’s a good thing, because even prodigies must work hard. Next to hard work, biological inheritance（遗传） plays an important role in the making of a prodigy. J. S. Bach, for example, was the top of several generations of musicians, and four of his sons had significant careers in music.
【小题1】     Jewish parents in Eastern Europe longed for their children to attend music school because ________.

A．it would allow them access to a better life in the West

B．Jewish children are born with excellent musical talent

C．they wanted their children to enter into the professional field

D．it would enable the family to get better treatment in their own country

【小题2】     Nurturing societies as mentioned in the passage refer to societies that ________.

A．are highly motivated in the education of music

B．treasure talent and provide opportunities for its full development

C．encourage people to compete with each other

D．promise talented children high positions

【小题3】     Which of the following contributes to the emergence of musical prodigies according to the passage?

A．a natural gift.	B．extensive knowledge of music.
C．very early training.	D．a prejudice-free society.

【小题4】     Which of the following titles best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

A．Jewish Contribution to Music	B．Training of Musicians in the World
C．Music and Society	D．The Making of Music Prodigies

“I Went Skydiving at 84!”
As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of a woman to do that. I got a taste of that dream in 2011,when my husband arranged for me me ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday. But the experience turned out to be very dull. Around that time ,I told my husband that I wanted to skydive. So when our retirement community（社区）announced that they were having an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream.
In the essay, I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr. did it at age 80. Why not me? I was just 84 and in pretty good health. A year went by and I heard nothing. But then at a community party in late April 2009, they announced that I was one of the winners. I just couldn’t believe it.
One june 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered in the area close to where I would land while I headed up in the airplane. My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience. The plane was the noisiest one I had ever been in, but I wasn’t frightened—I was really just looking forward to the experience. When we reachen 13,000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane. When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe. For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then everything got calmer. We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute（降落伞）, then we just floated downward fo zhout five minutes. Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt—much better than the hot air ballon. I was just enjoying it.
Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life. I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don’t stop living just because you are 84 years old. If there’s something you want to experience, look into it. If it’s something that is possible, make it happen.
【小题1】
What happened to the auther in 2001?

A．She flew an airplane

B．She entered a competition

C．She went on a hot air balloon ride

D．She moved into a retirement community

【小题2】
The author mentioned George Bush Sr. in her essay to       .

A．build up her own reputation

B．show her admiration for him

C．compare their health conditon

D．make her argument persuasive

【小题3】
How did the authou feel immediately after she jumped out of the plane?

A．Excited

B．Scared

C．Nervous

D．Regretful

【小题4】
What did the author enjoy most when she was skydiving?

A．The beautiful clouds	B．The wonderful view
C．The company of Jay	D．The one-minute free fall

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was one of the most private women in the world, yet when she went to work as an editor in the last two decades of her life, she revealed（展现）herself as she did nowhere else.
After the death of her second husband, Greek shipping magnate（巨头）Aristotle Onassis, Jacqueline’s close friend and former White House social secretary Letitia Baldrige made a suggestion that she consider a career（职业）in publishing. After consideration, Jacqueline accepted it. Perhaps she hoped to find there some idea about how to live her own life. She became not less but more interested in reading. For the last 20 years of her life, Jacqueline worked as a publisher’s editor, first at Viking, then at Doubleday, pursuing（追求）a late-life career longer than her two marriages combined. During her time in publishing, she was responsible for managing and editing more than 100 successfully marketed books. Among the first books were In the Russian Style and Inventive Paris Clothes. She also succeeded in persuading TV hosts Bill Moyer’s and Jose Campbell to transform their popular television conversations into a book, The Power of Myth. The book went on to become an international best-seller. She dealt, too, with Michael Jackson as he prepared his autobiography（自传）, Moonwalk.
Jacqueline may have been hired for name and for her social relations, but she soon proved her worth. Her choices, suggestions and widespread social relations were of benefit both to the publishing firms and to Jacqueline herself. In the books she selected for publication, she built on a lifetime of spending time by herself as a reader and left a record of the growth of her mind. Her books are the autobiography she never wrote. Her role as First Lady, in the end, was overshadowed by her performance as an editor. However, few knew that she had achieved so much.
【小题1】We can learn from the passage that Jacqueline _________

A．because fond of reading after working as an editor

B．was in charge of publishing 100 books

C．promoted her books through social relations

D．gained a lot from her career as an editor

【小题2】The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that_________

A．Jacqueline ended up as an editor rather as First Lady

B．Jacqueline’s life as First Lady was more colorful than as an editor

C．Jacqueline was more successful as an editor than as First Lady

D．Jacqueline’s role as First Lady was more brilliant than as an editor

【小题3】What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Jacqueline’s two marriages lasted more than 20 years

B．Jacqueline’s own publishing firm was set up eventually

C．Jacqueline’s views and beliefs were reflected in the books she edited

D．Jacqueline’s achievements were widely known.

【小题4】The passage is mainly______________

A．an introduction of Jacqueline’s life both as First Lady and as an editor

B．a brief description of Jacqueline’s lifelong experiences

C．a brief account of Jacqueline’s career as an editor in her last 20 years

D．an analysis of Jacqueline’s social relations in publishing

For five days, Edmonton's Downtown Park is transformed into one huge stage where artists are able to share their talents, and where people are able to celebrate and enjoy themselves .Since is beginning in 1980,the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been commemorating(纪念）the true feeling of what folk music is all about and that's the traditional togetherness(友爱）that is felt when people gather to share stories and feelings through song.
This year will be the sixth year when volunteer Riedel will be offering up her time to the festival. "People coming off a busy spring and summer have a moment of relaxation." Riedel said. "It's really easy to relax, and it's great seeing family and friends have fun together." These families and friends come from all different kinds of musical tastes. People who take pleasure in Blues are there, so are people who love Bluegrass. This festival does its best to develop everyone's musical interests.
With so many years of experience, the festival has become a well-oiled machine, and does whatever it can to make attendees feel as comfortable as possible. There are free water stations throughout the venue(举办地)for people to fill up their travel cups. When people buy food, reusable dishes are given a $2 plate fee, but that is returned when the plate is brought back.
The festival has completely sold out of tickets, and in record time .But with big names such as Van Morrison and Jacob Dylan, it’s easy to see how that was going to happen. The festival has completely sold out of tickets, and in record time, so using the same Park and Ride system or Edmonton Transit is highly recommended .A bike lock-up area is provided and will be available Thursday until Sunday one hour before the gates open until 45 minutes after the gates close.
The Edmond Folk Music Festival begins on Wednesday, Aug 4 with Van Morrison plaything the special donation fund concert, and will finish up on Sunday,Aug 8.
【小题1】 The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is held mainly to ___________

A．gather people with different musical tastes.

B．remind people of the real sense of folk music.

C．exhibit the good voices of great talent in folk music.

D．collect old stories of folk music.

【小题2】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passenger?

A．Riedel has volunteered for the festival for at least developed 5 years.

B．It’s hard for people to appreciate Blues.

C．It costs people a little to fill up their cups from water station.

D．People have to pay a visit to for a plate of food.

【小题3】
We can learn from passage that

A．people can get tickets easily for the festival.

B．the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is well organized .

C．driving one ‘s own car to the festival is highly recommended.

D．bikes are available at the festival from Wednesday to Sunday.

【小题4】
What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Folk Music of Blues.

B．One Festival for All.

C．Festival for Family Gathering.

D．Edmonton’s Downtown Park

The Coalition for the Homeless is an organization that seeks to address the needs of the homeless population in the United States. It is a network of offices, some of which provide food and houses for the homeless population, and some of which fight for the passing of laws that of over two hundred million people living in the United States,up to three million are homeless—and the number is still growing. Since the late 1970s,fast rising house prices,large cuts in government supported housing programs, and economic recession(经济衰退)have made it impossbile for many Americans to meet housing costs. Sadly, this has resulted in a number of persons being forced to leave their homes and/or unable to find new affordable homes. According to another research,families with children appear to be the fastest-growing part of the homeless population, making up 39% of it.The old idea of a homeless person,that of the single man who gets drunk all the time,is no longer true. A much lager part of the population now finds itself homeless. Even worse, once a person becomes homeless, he often finds it impossible to find a job,since most employers require anyone who wants a job from them to provide a home address on a job applicaton.
【小题1】
The word “address” in the first line probably means          .

A．talk about

B．deal with

C．fight for

D．write to

【小题2】
How many people are homeless in the U.S. according to the Coalition studies?

A．39% of the population.	B．200 million people.
C．About 3 million people.	D．About one-fifth of the population.

【小题3】
Homeless people often have difficulty finding a job because________.

A．they have no home addresses

B．they mostly have a drinking problem

C．they aren't supported by government programs

D．they often don't have enough work experience

【小题4】
What is the main cause of the rising number of the homeless in the U.S.?

A．The passing of new housing laws.

B．The fast growth of family size.

C．The slow construction of houses.

D．The ever-rising price of housing.

About 21,000 young people in 17 American states do not attend classes in school buildings.
Instead, they receive their elementary(初等)and high school education by working at home on computers.The Center for Education Reform says the United States has 67 public “cyberschools.”and that is about twice as many as two years ago.
The money for students to attend a cyberschool comes from the governments of the states where they live. Some educators say cyberschools receive money that should support traditional public schools. They also say it is difficult to know if students are learning well.
Other educators praise this new form of education for letting students work at their own speed. These people say cyberschools help students who were unhappy or unsuccessful in traditional schools. They say learning at home by computer ends long bus rides for children who live far from school.
Whatever the judgement of cyberschools,they are getting more and more popular. For example, a new cyberschool called Commonwealth Connections Academy will take in students this fall. It will serve children in the state of Pennsylvania from ages five through thirteen.
Children get free equipment for their online education. This includes a computer,a printer,books and technical services. Parents and students talk with teachers by telephone or by sending emails through their computers when necessary.
Students at cyberschools usually do not know one another. But 56 such students who finished studies at Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School recently met for the first time. They were guests of honor at their graduation.
【小题1】What do we know from the text about students of a cyberschool?

A．They have to take long bus rides to school.

B．They study at home rather than in classrooms.

C．They receive money from traditional public schools.

D．They do well in traditional school programs.

【小题2】What is a problem with cyberschools?

A．Their equipment costs a lot of money.

B．They get little support from the state government.

C．It is hard to know students' progress in learning.

D．The students find it hard to make friends.

【小题3】Cyberschools are getting popular became    

A．they are less expensive for students

B．their students can work at their own speed

C．their graduates are more successful in society

D．they serve students in a wider age range

【小题4】We can infer that the author of the text is     .

A．unprejudiced in his description of cyberschools

B．excited about the future of cyberschools

C．doubtful about the quality of cyberschoois

D．disappointed at the development of cyberschools

I got my first driver’s license(执照)in 1953 by taking driver education in my first year at Central High School in Charlotte,North Carolina. Four years later when it was time to renew my license I was a married woman. Henry and I were living in Baltimore, Maryland. Two weeks before my 20^th birthday, Henry drove me to the motor vehicle office on a hot July afternoon. When I got to the office and showed to the man behind the counter my North Catrolina driver’s license,ready to renew, the man told me that I was under age by Maryland law since I was not yet 21. “Mr. Henry Smith, your husband, will have to sign for you,” he said.
I argued,pointing to a very lage belly(肚子)of mine,”I am married. I am having a baby. Why should I have to have someone sign for me to drive?” He answered coldly, “It’s the law, madam?”
Henry encouraged me to calm down,just go ahead and get the license and be done with it “No.” I said. I refused to have him sign for me. So I left without a Maryland license.
I called the North Carolina Motor Vehicle Office and renewed my NC license by mail-using my name Susan Brown. And thus it was for the next twelve years. Since Henry was in the army I could drive under my home state license. By the time Henry left the army we were once again living in Maryland, and I had to take the Maryland driver’s exam. Since then I just go in and renew every four years-sign the name Susan Brown,have my new picture taken, and walk out with a license to drive.
【小题1】
Susan got her first driver's license           .

A．before she got married to Henry	B．when she was twenty years old
C．after she finished high school	D．when she just moved to Maryland

【小题2】
Susan failed to renew her license the first time in Maryland because          .

A．she was forbidden to drive by Maryland law

B．she lacked driving experience in Maryland

C．she was to give birth to a baby soon

D．she insisted on signing for herself

【小题3】
We can infer from the text that in the U.S.          .

A．American males should serve in the army

B．different states my have different laws

C．people have to renew their licenses in their home states

D．women should adopt their husbands' family names after marriage