The summer of 2012 was full of reports of extreme weather: one of the warmest years on record in the US, the wettest summer in the UK, and the worst drought (旱灾) in East Africa. In short, extreme weather seems to be becoming the new normal. Weather extremes are not that extreme any more. Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires are the new reality of a warming world.

And this should not come as a surprise. Scientists have been warning for years that as the planet heats up, we will have to deal with more dreadful weather. Although not every extreme weather event is the result of climate change, scientists are now much more confident about connecting weather events with climate change. In 2011, the UK had a warm November. Researchers say that it was at least 60 times more likely to happen because of climate change than because of natural changes in the earth’s weather systems.

All the news shows that climate breakdown is occurring faster than most climate scientists had expected. But isn’t it too expensive to stop the climate from changing? Well, yes it costs. So everything is just as usual. It would be wrong to believe that to let things continue as they always do is the cheap choice. Instead, it is very expensive. Just one example: droughts in the US, Russia and the Ukraine sent food prices to a record high. According to the World Bank, the price for corn increased by 113% in some markets in Mozambique and in Sudan. This is the kind of cost that often gets ignored.

I believe intelligent climate action can help create new opportunities for jobs in Europe, for encouraging creativity and competitiveness, for spending less money on energy.

1.According to the passage, in 2012 _____.

A．the UK had a warm November              B．the US had many wildfires

C．the UK had a dry summer                 D．East Africa had little rain

2.The author mentions the increase of food prices in Paragraph 3 to _____.

A．show a lot of people are hungry

B．prove food prices are very changeable

C．prove we’re paying for extreme weather

D．show it’s expensive to stop the climate from changing

3.Which of the following statements does the author probably agree with?

A．Proper climate action will be useful.

B．Europe is providing limited job opportunities.

C．It’s everyone’s duty to protect the environment.

D．Everyone needs time to get used to extreme weather.

We were on the way from Hutchinson to Chicago for a short spring break. For many years I had wanted to take my family on the train. We all had been to Chicago four years ago, and the kids loved it. Chicago is one of my favorite cities, too, so the thought struck me again last fall to ride the train to Chicago. Of course, flying would have been faster. But I don’t think flying is easier, especially these days, with all the security and waiting in lines at airports.

Though we were tired in the middle of the night, the kids got on the train with the exhilaration of this adventure. “We’re moving,” my son William shouted happily with big eyes as the train began to pull away from the Hutchinson station.

I removed my shoes and lay down to try to finish my night’s sleep. The sleeper car would have better enabled that, but the ordinary train seats were not too bad. An airline flight is a more miserable experience for me: not enough room, two hours of pain with my knees almost touching my chin, the hard seatback in front cracking my kneecaps (膝盖) with every move of the body planted in front of me. On the train I could almost outstretch all of my 6-foot-2-plus body in the generous legroom.

The journey didn’t feel at all as long as it was. We all found the train ride a joy. The car ride would have felt every minute of 13 hours. But on the train you are free to walk around, sit in the observation carriage for a while and enjoy the scenery out the windows, have a nice meal in the dining car, read a book, or play a board game.

In short, the train is all about enjoying the trip, which isn’t something I do so much when traveling by airline or by car, when the trip seems more of a mission (任务) to get there than an experience to enjoy along the way.

Chicago offers much to do for a family. This time, getting there was half the fun.

1.We can learn from the first paragraph that _____.

A．the kids love the train journey

B．Chicago is one of the kid’s favorite cities

C．the author didn’t enjoy the long train journey

D．it was the first time that the kids were taken on the train

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

A．Excitement.        B．Relaxation.         C．Tiredness.         D．Worry.

3.In the third paragraph, an airline flight experience is mentioned to show _____.

A．an airline flight is easier                  B．a train ride is too long

C．an airline flight is miserable                D．a train ride is more comfortable

4.Which of the following words best describes the whole family’s feeling about the train journey?

A．Moved.           B．Delighted.         C．Disappointed.      D．Nervous.

Q: My daughter is a junior in high school and has been on an individualized education program since fourth grade. She plans to go to college and intends to finish with a master’s degree. Her performance in general is fairly good, but test scores are very low. She has held many leadership and volunteer positions. We have been advised to have her write an essay about how her learning disability is a barrier that she has to get over. Will that help or hurt her chances for admission?

---- Deborah

A: First let me answer the question on low standardized test scores (ACT/SAT). There are hundreds of colleges that are “test optional” which means students can choose not to release their test scores in the application process. Admission decisions at these colleges for students who do not submit their test scores are made based on other factors. A list of test optional colleges can be found at fairtest.org. It is important, however, to make sure that the college is the right fit academically regardless of the test optional policy.

You also asked if your daughter should write about her disability and if this would hurt her chances of being admitted. Please know that colleges do not deny admission based on disability. “Disclosing” a learning disability in a personal statement within the college application can certainly help. By writing a personal statement, students can potentially demonstrate, for example, their understanding of the challenge they face. They might also prove an improved grade trend in that subject area, and show interest in more complex courses in spite of this disability. More importantly, a student disclosure can show self-confidence, motivation and an understanding of the disability.

---- Ms. Kravis

1.What do we know about Deborah’s daughter?

A．She is applying for a master’s degree.

B．She is very active in her high school.

C．Her disability prevents her studying well.

D．She has difficulty getting over her learning disability.

2.The underlined word “demonstrate” in the last paragraph probably means “_____”.

A．show             B．develop           C．gain              D．change

3.What is Ms. Kravis’ attitude towards one’s declaring his/her learning disability?

A．Supportive.        B．Critical.           C．Doubtful.          D．Unconcerned.

4.According to the passage, Mr. Kravis is probably _____.

A．an editor                              B．a school leader

C．a psychological doctor                    D．an educational expert

There are numerous similarities between Muhammad Ali and his 23-year-old daughter Laila. She is the only one of his nine sons and daughters to have those genes that led to the ring (拳击场). Her father’s great status had nothing to do with Laila’s decision to pursue a boxing career. She has always been proud of his achievements, but he was never a great man to her ---- just dad.

What attracted her to take up boxing was the unusual sight of two women in the ring on the television screen when she was about to watch a Mike Tyson fight five years ago. She was very excited and said to herself, “I can do that.”

Laila’s father would prefer her not to take up the dangerous sport. Johnny McClain, her husband and manager (former boxer himself) feels the same way. Even though both the men in her life worry about her, they’re 100 percent supportive. “They don’t want me to get hurt,” she says.

Long before entering the ring, Laila was a fighter. Being the daughter of an outstanding boxer made her an easy target for high school kids to see how tough she was. They, not she, failed in the test. For the public, her biggest test took place last summer in the New York State when she took on Jacqui Frazier Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, her father’s most famous opponent (对手) during the 1970s.

That fight provided the biggest shot in the arm that women’s boxing has received. News reporters poured in. Some called it “Ali/Frazier – Generation II”. No match involving women had ever attracted so much attention. Laila had a narrow victory in the fight.

Like it or not, she accepts the fact that she is the face of female boxing. And she hopes that her name and fame will help get the public to take it more seriously.

The name Ali has and always will bring her attention. But she is determined to make her own mark on opponents’ faces as well as in boxing history books. She says, “I want women’s boxing to get its due respect.”

1.Laila took up boxing because of _____.

A．her father’s great status                 B．a Mike Tyson fight

C．her admiration for her father              D．her interest in boxing

2.From the passage we can know _____.

A．Laila’s husband is still a boxer now

B．Laila wants to make contributions to the sport of boxing

C．Laila’s husband doesn’t think boxing is a dangerous sport

D．when Laila was in high school, she often failed in the fight with other kids

3.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．That fight proved that Laila was a person of physical power.

B．That fight made female boxing more popular.

C．That fight provided people with a good change to enjoy themselves.

D．Laila made her first public appearance in that fight.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．A female boxer ---- Laila Ali                B．The best-known fight

C．Ali/Frazie ---- Generation II                D．Muhammad Ali and his daughter

Visiting a new place can be a scary experience for a lot of people because it could include speaking in a language that most people are not comfortable with ---- English. So how can you keep away form this kind of situation? Learn how to speak English fluently. Here are 4 English speaking tips you must know to become a more confident English speaker.

1. Listen first.

One of the best English speaking tips is to listen carefully to understandable English EVERY DAY. Most people turn to textbooks to study English grammar rules, but you cannot learn the correct English pronunciation of the words merely by reading them. You do not need to learn grammar in detail because this can prevent you from speaking English fluently.

Instead, listen to how native English speakers pronounce and observe their mouth movements. Also watch English shows and movies to build on your English accent and improve your vocabulary.

2. Practice makes perfect.

Studies show that you’ll probably spend three months of practice every day in order to have strong mouth muscles. Read aloud in English for 15 to 20 minutes a day in front of the mirror, which helps in accent reduction and improves your English communication skills.

Also, practice with your friends and family. Talking with a good English speaker can help improvise (即兴发挥) your usage of words and formation of sentences.

3. Think in English.

One of the most effective English speaking tips is to think in English. What most English learners do in the early stages of learning is that they think of what they have to say in their native language, translate and then say it in English. This can be mentally tiring.

If your goal is to speak English fluently, you need to learn “thinking” in English. Make up the sentences in English as you think about them before saying them. With practice, you will be able to respond automatically in English.

4. Be more confident.

All these English speaking tips will be in vain if you are not that confident in your English speaking skills. It is quite natural to commit errors when learning a new language.

Try to relax if you’re speaking in English. When you speak at a normal speed, you’ll discover that you will be able to pronounce the words correctly and people will understand you. Most of the time, the person you are talking to is not even aware of your errors.

In a word, learning English does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of time, effort and practice. Don’t get too frustrated and never give up. Follow these English speaking tips and practice daily. Soon, you would learn to speak English fluently as if it is your own language.

English speaking tips you must know

---We've spent too much money recently.

---Well，it isn't surprising. Our friends and relatives ______ around all the time.

A．are coming        B．had come         C．were coming       D．have been coming

______ earlier online survey showed that ______ majority of Chinese believe Yuan Longping deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to fighting against world hunger.

A．An; the           B．The; a            C．An; /             D．The; the

______ there are living creatures in the outer space as those on Earth hasn’t been proved so far.

A．When            B．How              C．If                D．Whether

It ______ me all of a sudden that I had left my key to the car in the office.

A．thought           B．struck            C．happened         D．occurred