阅读理解

　　Award-winning author Emma Donoghue’s latest book, Room, is a unique and amazing story about a boy’s experience living in a small, windowless room with his mother．The 11’ x 11’ space between the walls of the room is actually all the boy knows because he was born there and has never left．Room will horrify, surprise, sadden, and finally delight you．Attracted from the start, readers of all sorts won’t want to put Room down．

　　◆First published in the U．S．in September 2010

　　◆Publisher：Little Brown

　　◆321 pages

　　Literary master Ian McEwan returns with Solor, a novel about a Nobel prize-winning physicist．The physicist’s personal life is in a mess as his fifth marriage breaks, but this time he actually loves his wife and wants to make things better．Solar is a funny story, completely unusual and as good as anything the writer has ever written．

　　◆Published in March 2010

　　◆Publisher：Knopf Doubleday

　　◆304 Pages

　　One Day by David Nicholls was an international bestseller before it was released in the U．S．in June．Although it is well written and funny at times, don’t be fooled－this isn’t a good-feeling romantic comedy．If you decide to read it, be prepared for some heavy moments．

　　◆Published in the U S in June 2010

　　◆Publisher：Vintage Contemporaries

　　◆437 Pages

　　Fall of Giants by Ken Follett is the first book in a new trilogy(three books)that will take readers through the major events of the twentieth century by following five families．In Fall of Giants, most of the action centers on World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution．Although Fall of Giants is more than 1000 pages and has many characters, the story is remarkabby connected．

　　◆Published in September 2010

　　◆Publisher：Dutton

　　◆1008 pages

阅读理解

　　A gentle breeze blew through Jennifer’s hair．The golden red sun was setting．She was on the beach, looking up at the fiery(火红的)ball．She was amazed by its color, deep red in the middle, softly fading into yellow．She could hear nothing but the waves and the seagulls flying up above in the sky．

　　The atmosphere relaxed her．After all she had been through, this was what she needed．“It’s getting late,” she thought, “I must go home．My parents will be wondering where I am．”

　　She wondered how her parents would react, when she got home after the three days she was missing．She kept on walking, directing herself where she spent every summer holiday．The road was deserted．She walked slowly and silently．Just in a few hundred meters she would have been safe in her house．

　　It was really getting dark now．The sun had set a few minutes before and it was getting cold, too．She wished she had her favorite sweater on－it kept her really warm．She imagined having it with her．This thought disappeared when she finally saw her front door．It seemed different．Nobody had taken care of the outside garden for a few days．She was shocked：her father was usually so strict about keeping everything clean and tidy, and now…It all seemed deserted．She couldn’t understand what was going on．

　　She entered the house．First, she went into the kitchen where she saw a note written by her father．It said, “Ellen, there is some coffee ready．I went looking．” Ellen was her mother but － where was she? On the right side of the hallway was her parents’ room．She went in．Then she saw her．Her mother, lying on the bed, was sleeping．Her face looked so tired, as if she hadn’t slept for days．She was really pale．Jennifer would have wanted to wake her up but she looked too tired．So Jennifer just fell asleep beside her．When Jennifer woke up, something was different．．．she wasn’t in her mother’s room and she wasn’t wearing the old clothes she ran away in．She was in her snug bed in her pajamas(睡衣)．

　　It felt so good being back home．Suddenly she heard a voice, “Are you feeling better now,? You know you got us very, very scared．”

阅读理解

　　You know how wonderful you are, and you know that others know how wonderful you are, but what do you do when admiration crosses over the line into jealousy(嫉妒)? For most teens there will come a day when you realize that one of your friends is jealous and that this jealousy is hurting your friendship．When this happens it can seem like there is nothing that you can do, but the good news is that there is．Don’t let jealousy spoil your relationships．Handle it head on and you might be back to normal much sooner than you think．

　　It can be hard to walk up to a friend and ask them what the problem is, but if you want to save your friendship you’ll have to do just that．Don’t approach them and ask why they are jealous of you(unless of course you want to appear totally proud), just take some time alone with them and let them know that you’ve been feeling like there’s been something coming between you．If they refuse to respond, then use the opportunity to explain how you have been feeling．Chances are that something you say will strike a nerve and your friend will open up as well．

　　When you figure out what is annoying your friend, ask him or her what(s)he thinks would make the situation better．If, for example,(s)he says that(s)he feels like(s)he doesn’t get to spend any time with you because of your being off with your new friends from the swim team, then maybe you could invite her along the next time or block off one day a week for just the two of you．Remember, though, that whatever solution you decide on should be a compromise(和解)．Don’t limit your own talents or opportunities simply because your friend is unhappy．Try instead to include him or her in your new life and see how that works out．

　　Even the best of friendships can be tinged(略带着)with jealousy．This destructive emotion is rarely productive and can turn best friends into worst enemies．Before taking extreme action, chat with your jealous friend to see if the two of you can work out a compromise．If you can’t, be prepared to know exactly how far you will go to keep your friend and how far you won’t．

阅读理解

　　If you need additional help to gain the high level of English language necessary for academic study, Taylors English Language Preparation(TELP)is the perfect solution．Throughout your TELP studies you will be an active language learner．You will be surrounded by opportunities to communicate in English, with friends, teachers, families and local people．You will gain English language skills which you will keep for life．

　　Strong English language skills are necessary for success in your chosen Taylors program．The TELP program, delivered in 12 week terms, is specifically designed to provide language training for academic study．Our teachers are fully trained English Language Teaching professionals, who will assist you in a caring and supportive classroom atmosphere．

　　·Language studies

　　·Formal writing styles

　　·Note taking

　　·Assignment writing

　　·Intensive listening

　　·Reading

　　Upon completion of TELP, you do not take an IELTS test before you begin our High School or Foundation programs．

　　Taylors College has been assessed as operating at a high standard, in keeping with NEAS standards for English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students(ELICOS)．A recent report commented favourably on the quality and commitment of staff and the impressive student management systems and procedures in place．

　　Students are encouraged to enroll(注册)at the start of a term; however, TELP courses allow for entry every four weeks．

　　·17 January－8 April

　　·11 April－1 July

　　·4 July－23 September

　　·26 September－16 December

　　·19 December－13 January 2012

阅读理解

　　A round of applause, please, for the Indian man who recently sang for 80 hours straight, setting a new Guinness world record．It’s an impressive feat, to be sure, but let’s just hope he still has a voice．According to Indian newspapers, Rajesh Burbure has been told to keep silent for several days so his vocal cords can heal．

　　It was reported that Burbure and his family are in a celebratory mood．“It’s a proud moment for all of us,” his wife told DNAIndia．com．

　　I, on the other hand, am unable to share their enthusiasm．Don’t get me wrong：I hope the 35-year-old Burbure lives forever, sells a million records and becomes an international celebrity．But his record－singing for 80 hours straight－is about as meaningful as most of the other curious but crazy feats listed in the Guinness Book of World Records．

　　Granted, I’m not qualified to speak on the subject．I’ve got no world records to my name, and I never expect to have any．Then again, maybe I am qualified to speak for those of us who have better things to do than train for years to sing an 80-hour medley of pop songs．

　　But let’s not just blame poor Burbure．He’s not the only person chasing meaningless reputation．The Guinness Book of World Records is full of the names of people who at one time grew the longest hair, or built the biggest bicycle, or baked the largest cheesecake．

　　To all of these enterprising souls I ask, simply, “What was it all for?”

　　Congratulations! For all of your painstaking effort, you became a footnote in a thick book that no one reads, except for you and the person who will eventually surpass you, with one more hour of singing, a few more centimeters of steel or a few more pounds of cheese．

　　After all, records are made to be broken．

阅读理解

　　A woman named Emily renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office was asked to state her occupation．She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself．

　　“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a …”

　　“Of course I have a job,” said Emily．“I’m a mother．”

　　“We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation…‘housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder．

　　One day I found myself in the same situation．The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title．“What is your occupation?” she asked．

　　The words simply popped out．“I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations．”

　　The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair．

　　I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire．

　　“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “Just what you do in this field?”

　　Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research(what mother doesn’t), in the lab and in the field(normally I would have said indoors and out)．Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities(any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day(24 is more like it)．But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money．”

　　There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out．

　　As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up(受鼓舞)by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants－ages 13, 7, and 3．

　　Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model(a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern．

　　I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable(不可缺少的)to mankind than “just another mother．”

　　Motherhood…What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door．

阅读

　　Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave like wild animals．They will soil your house, destroy your belongings, bark excessively, fight other dogs and even bite you．Nearly all behavior problems are perfectly normal dog activities that occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing．The key to preventing or treating behavior problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect its normal behavior to outlets that are acceptable in the domestic setting．

　　One of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself is to train it to obey．Obedience(服从，顺从)training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem．Training opens up a line of communication between you and your dog．Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want it to do．

　　Training is also an easy way to establish the social rank order．When your dog obeys a simple request of "come here, sit," it is showing obedience and respect for you．It is not necessary to establish yourself as top dog or leader of the dog pack by using extreme measures．You can teach your dog its subordinate(次要的)role by teaching it to show submission(屈从)to you．Most dogs love performing tricks for you to pleasantly accept that you are in charge．

　　Training should be fun and rewarding for you and your dog．It can enrich your relationship and make living together more enjoyable．A well-trained dog is more confident and can more safely be allowed a greater amount of freedom than an untrained animal．

阅读

　　In recent years, especially during the 1960s, there was much discussion about “the brain drain(排干，流失),” which dealt with the problem of students and learned people who left their own countries for other countries that offered better chances for study, research, and employment．For example, according to a report from U．N．, between 1962 and 1966 more than 50 percent of all engineering graduates of Iran and 14 percent of Iranian scientists left their country for work abroad．Over 30 percent of Chilean engineers and 15 percent of Turkish physicians also went to work in other countries．Probably the greatest brain drain occurred among young scientists who had gone abroad to study．Many of them had planned to return to their countries to teach but chose to remain in more industrialized nations where they were able to continue their work and their research in fields in which there were no job possibilities at home．The countries that attracted most of these scientists were the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia．

　　Recent studies show that the brain drain to the United States may be decreasing．Many foreign scientists are going home again, and in some cases American scientists are leaving the United States for employment in other countries．The main reasons are that good jobs are becoming fewer here, money for national research has been sharply cut, and university fellowships reduced too．However, in the field of medicine the drain to the United States still goes on．Today more than one of every five American doctors is foreign – born, and several thousand foreign doctors immigrate to the United States each year．Over eighty countries have asked the State Department to send students who are skilled in important fields such as medicine back home when their study programs are over．

阅读

　　What’s on TV?

　　6∶00

　　Channel 3

　　Let’s Talk! Guest：Animal expert Jim Porter

　　Channel 5

　　Cartoons

　　Channel 8

　　News

　　Channel 9

　　News

　　7∶00

　　Channel 3

　　Cooking with Cathy Tonight：Chicken with mushrooms

　　Channel 5

　　Movie A laugh a Minute(1955)James Rayburn

　　Channel 8

　　Spin(旋转)for Dollars!

　　Channel 9

　　Farm Report

　　7∶30

　　Channel 3

　　Double Trouble(comedy)The twins disrupt the high school dance

　　Channel 9

　　Wall Street Today．Stock Market Report

　　8∶00

　　Channel 3

　　NBA Basketball．Teams to be announced

　　Channel 8　Movie At Day’s End(1981)Michael Collier, Julie Romer．Drama set in World War II

　　Channel 9

　　News Special “Saving Our Waterways：Pollution in the Mississippi”

阅读

　　While I was waiting outside my wife’s office building for her to get out of work, I saw a beggar coming my way from across the parking lot．

　　“I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money,” I thought．

　　He didn’t．

　　He came and sat in front of the bus stop, but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to ride the bus．After a few minutes he spoke．“That’s a pretty car,” he said, pointing to my car．He was ragged(衣衫褴褛), but he had an air of dignity about himself．

　　I gave him a smile and continued cleaning my car．

　　He sat there quietly as I worked．The expected asking for money never came．As the silence between us widened, it seemed that a voice inside me said, “Ask him if he needs any help．” I was sure that he would say “yes”, but I listened to the inner voice．

　　“Do you need any help?” I asked．

　　He answered in three simple but meaningful words that I shall never forget．We often look for wisdom in great men and women, and we expect it from those of higher learning and achievements．I expected nothing but a dirty hand from him, but he said three words that shook me．

　　“Don’t we all?” he said．

　　I was feeling high, successful and important above a beggar in the street, until those three words hit me like a shot．

　　Don’t we all?

　　I needed help．Maybe not for a bus fare or for a place to sleep, but I needed help．I reached in my wallet and gave him not only for a bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day．Those three little words still ring true．No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have achieved, you need help, too．No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help．