Looking back on my childhood. I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made. Although we were brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon  abandoned their pressed flowers and insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic.    
Before Word War I we spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in, of my room and my toys. Nor do I recall clearly the large  family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a crystal clear memory of dogs, the farm animals, the local birds and above all, the insects.  
I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world, and my enthusiasm has led me into varied investigations. I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil reading about other people’s observations and discoveries. Then something happens that brings these observations together in my conscious mind. Suddenly you fancy you see the answer to the riddle. Because it all seems to fit together .This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books. Which some may light honor, with the title of scientific research.  
But curiosity a keen eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist? One of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline, a quality I lack. A scientist can be made a naturalist. If you can combine the two, you get the best of both worlds. 
【小题1】According to the author, a born naturalist should first of all be _____

A．full of ambition	B．self-disciplined
C．full of enthusiasm	D．knowledgeable

【小题2】The first paragraph tells us that the author _____

A．lost his hearing when he was a child

B．didn’t like his brothers and sisters

C．was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood

D．was born to a naturalist’s family

【小题3】The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he ____.

A．just rends about other peoples observations and discoveries.

B．Lacks some of the qualities required of scientist.

C．Has a great deal of trouble doing mental arithmetic.

D．Come up with solutions in most natural ways.

【小题4】The author can’t remember him relatives clearly because__

A．He didn’t live very long with them

B．He was too young when he lived with them.

C．The family was extremely large

D．He was fully occupied with observing nature.

【小题5】Which of the following statements is true?

A．The author believes that a born naturalist can not be scientist.

B．The author read a lot of books about the natural world and oil industry

C．The author’s brothers and sisters were good at music and languages.

D．The author spent a lot of time working on riddles.

I have always loved kids. However, the children here at Shanti Bhavan are unlike any that I have ever met. They have a strong drive and determination and are thankful for the wonderful opportunity they have been given. While at Shanti Bhavan, I taught 3^rd graders writing, language, and literature, 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th graders public speaking, 9^th and 10^th graders basketball, and piano lessons. I found teaching the children was the most rewarding experience of my life. They are really fast learners and really have an interest in knowledge. It was easy to get on with such polite, well-mannered, and hard-working students. They dream big and I only hope that I can continue to be a part of helping them achieve their goals.
As far as my day-to-day living went, I was perfectly comfortable here and came to consider it as a second home. My room was clean and comfortable and the staff could not have been nicer.
In addition, I really appreciated the support of all the teachers. They were so welcoming and kind that it truly cleared away my fears and culture shock. They often gave me advice and befriended me and I owe much to them for their warmth.
I honestly feel that Shanti Bhavan is the most beautiful place on earth. It has love and learning, and I am very sad to be leaving. I am looking forward to my return to this newly found family as soon as possible. Thank you so much Miss Beena and Mrs. Law for all of your love and support. The experience that I worked with them will always come into my mind. This has been the greatest experience of my life.
【小题1】What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．Kids liked basketball lessons best.

B．Kids at Shanti Bhavan helped the author a lot.

C．The author is a fast learner and dreams big.

D．The author taught different lessons at the same time.

【小题2】What does the author think of the students at Shanti Bhavan?

A．Generous

B．Clever

C．Brave

D．Funny

【小题3】Which of the following words can best describe the author’s day-to-day living at Shanti Bhavan?

A．Lonely

B．Simple

C．Disappointed

D．Comfortable

【小题4】Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The author will come back soon.

B．The author has decided to settle at Shanti Bhavan.

C．The author once felt uneasy at Shanti Bhavan.

D．The author was forced to come to Shanti Bhavan at first.

It was blazing hot, just like most July days. I stepped into a tiny ice-cream shop to cool off with a
chocolate ice-cream. It was an old woman bent over a table near the door. Her back was so badly twisted that her face nearly touched the tabletop. I sat down facing her a couple of tables away.
“Poor woman,” I thought, “What does she get out of life? Why God let people live so long past their prime?”
As I thought, another aged lady entered the shop and sat down with her. Soon the two of them were talking about childhood days. They talked of how little the shop had changed in 70 years... In minutes, the two of them were trembling with laughter.
I looked again at the first woman, then in the mirror on a nearby wall, catching a picture of myself. I was wearing a dirty shirt. She was well dressed in white, her hands sparking with gold rings. I was sad. She was laughing, smiling. I was putting the pieces of my life together. She had millions of wonderful memories to recall. I sat alone. She was sharing the day with a good friend. I was secretly worried about getting old. She was old, but it wasn’t hurting her.
As I left the shop, I thought of my foolish question about God letting people live past their prime. Why, that woman was more alive, more sensitive to life than I was. Age has not bent her spirit.
【小题1】From the passage we know that the ice-shop _________.

A．changed a lot in the past	B．had only a couple of tables
C．started its business 70 years ago.	D．had only women shoppers.

【小题2】What is the meaning of the underlined word “prime” in this passage?

A．miserable life

B．wonderful experience

C．long career

D．time of great strength, beauty, vigor(活力)

【小题3】 The writer implies all of the following except that _________.

A．the old lady had lived a full and satisfying life

B．the writer had more problems than the old lady

C．the old lady was very lonely and sad

D．the old lady had learned to enjoy the simple things in life

【小题4】 Which of the following is the conclusion the writer made about the old lady?

A．She was more alive and sensitive to life than the writer.

B．She considered the young man pitiable.

C．She was to be pitied for her old age.

D．People should not be allowed to live when they are too old.

【小题5】Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?

A．To tell us the life of old people

B．To show that old age does not mean being short of spirit.

C．To show the difference between the old and the young.

D．To make the reader have a pity on the old people.

When Mary Moore began her high school in 1951, her mother told her, "Be sure and take a typing course so when this show business thing doesn't work out, you'll have something to rely on." Mary responded in typical teenage fashion. From that moment on, "the very last thing I ever thought about doing was taking a typing course," she recalls.
The show business thing worked out, of course. In her career, Mary won many awards. Only recently, when she began to write Growing Up Again, did she regret ignoring her mom," I don't know how to use a computer," she admits.
Unlike her 1995 autobiography, After All, her second book is less about life as an　award-winning actress and more about living with diabetes (糖尿病). All the money from the book is intended for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), an organization she serves as international chairman. "I felt there was a need for a book like this," she says. "I didn't want to lecture, but I wanted other diabetics to know that things get better when we're self-controlled and do our part in managing the disease."
But she hasn't always practiced what she teaches. In her book, she describes that awful day, almost 40 years ago, when she received two pieces of life-changing news. First, she had lost the baby she was carrying, and second, tests showed that she had diabetes. In a childlike act, she left the hospital and treated herself to a box of doughnuts (甜甜圈). Years would pass before she realized she had to grow up--again---and take control of her diabetes, not let it control her. Only then did she kick her three-pack-a-day cigarette habit, overcome her addiction to alcohol, and begin to follow a balanced diet.
Although her disease has affected her eyesight and forced her to the sidelines of the dance floor, she refuses to fall into self-pity. "Everybody on earth can ask, 'why me?' about something or other," she insists. "It doesn't do any good. No one is immune (免疫的) to heartache, pain, and disappointments. Sometimes we can make things better by helping others. I've come to realize the importance of that as I've grown up this second time. I want to speak out and be as helpful as I can be."
【小题1】Why did Mary feel regretful?

A．She didn't achieve her ambition.	B．She didn't take care of her mother.
C．She didn't complete her high school.	D．She didn't follow her mother's advice.

【小题2】We can know that before 1995 Mary         。

A．had two books published	B．received many career awards
C．knew how to use a computer	D．supported the JDRF by writing

【小题3】Mary's second book Growing Up Again is mainly about her ________.

A．living with diabetes	B．successful show business
C．service for an organization	D．remembrance of her mother

【小题4】When Mary received the life-changing news, she __.

A．lost control of herself	B．began a balanced diet
C．tired to get a treatment	D．behaved in an adult way

【小题5】What can we know from the last paragraph?

A．Mary feels pity for herself.

B．Mary has recovered from her disease.

C．Mary wants to help others as much as possible.

D．Mary determines to go back to the dance floor.

There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external（外部的） result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language--- all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they go through new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to be faced with the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow.
These feelings of insecurity and self – doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not face and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
【小题1】A person is generally believed to achieve personal growth when______..

A．he has given up his smoking habit

B．he has made great efforts in his work

C．he is interested in making anything new

D．he has tried to determine where he is on his journey

【小题2】In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would______.

A．judge his ability to grow from his own achievements

B．succeed in climbing up the social ladder

C．face difficulties and take up challenges

D．aim high and reach his goal each time

【小题3】When the author says “a new way of being” (para. 3), he is referring to _____.

A．a new way of taking risks

B．a new approach to experiencing the world

C．a new system of adapting to change

D．a new method of finding ourselves

【小题4】For personal growth, the author may not support __________.

A．curiosity and more chances

B．being quick in self – adaptation

C．open – minded to new experiences

D．avoidance of internal fears and doubts

More than a third of the babies born this year could receive a 100th birthday message from whoever happens to be on the throne in the second decade of the 22nd century, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It forecasts that 35% of the 826,000 people born in 2012 will live to become centenarians.
But a long life is not unalloyed good news. David Sinclair, head of policy and research at the International Longevity Centre UK, warned that for many the future may mean social isolation(隔离）as they live longer than friends and members of their families.
"It is of course good news that so many more people are living longer," he said, "but there is a big 'but¹. We will be older, but in worse health, and at high risk of living alone. The other problem is that we are very poor at forward planning. We deal with the problems that are under our noses, but even problems two or three years away seem quite distant enough to put off.When you're talking about forecasts for a time half a century away and more, I see no evidence that we are putting in place the measures to deal with it."
This year there will be 14,500 centenarians in the UK, a number which is expected to increase to 110,000 in 2035.
Women have higher life expectancies than men at every age: the likelihood of a girl born this year reaching her century is estimated to be 39%; for boys the figure is 32%.
The estimated number of female centenarians has risen from 500 in 1961 to more than 10,000 in 2010，a figure which is projected to reach 71,000 by 2035 and 276,000 by 2060.
Men are also living far longer, although their numbers are far fewer. There were an estimated 92 male centenarians in 1961 and just below 2,000 in 2010.
【小题1】The underlined word centenarians probably means people who_____.

A．are born this year	B．live longer than their friends
C．are in poor health	D．are a hundred or more years old

【小题2】From what David Sinclair said, we can learn_____.

A．he doesn't believe so many people are living longer

B．the older we are, the more likely we are to live alone and in poor health

C．the people who are good at forward planning are likely to live longer

D．too distant planning is not always necessary for most of us

【小题3】Which of the following statement is true?

A．About 289，100 people born in 2012 will live to 100.

B．More men will reach their century than women in the future.

C．The number of the female centenarians was 1,000 in 1970s

D．More than 600 people reached their century in 1961.

【小题4】What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．A long life is not always good news.

B．A long life also means social and physical isolation

C．In the future, more people will live to 100 in the UK.

D．It is good to live to 100.

When something goes wrong，it can be very satisfying to say，“Well, it’s so-and-so’s fault.” or “I know I’m late，but it’s not my fault；the car broke down.” It is probably not your fault，but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation，you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner’s key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don’t rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about—creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don’t have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on “whose fault it is.” Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stop on for success.
【小题1】According to the passage, winners        .

A．deal with problems rather than blame others

B．meet with fewer difficulties in their lives

C．have responsible and able colleagues

D．blame themselves rather that others

【小题2】When your colleague brings about a problem, you should         .

A．ask a more able colleague for help

B．blame him for his lack of responsibility

C．tell him to find the cause of the problem

D．find a better way to handle the problem

【小题3】When problems occur, winners take them as         .

A．excuses for their failures	B．barriers to greater power
C．challenges to their colleagues	D．chances for self-development

【小题4】Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．A Winner’s Problem.	B．A Winner’s Secret.
C．A Winner’s Opportunity.	D．A Winner’s Achievement.

It is common and usual to see people freak out when they face challenges in their life. We all pass in different life problems and challenges. No one is free of life problems. Only a dead man faces no problem. As long as you are alive, challenges are everywhere.
How do you face problems and challenges in your life? Problems and challenges are the building blocks of your personality. They make you who you are. Besides, whether what happened in your life builds or destructs you depends on how you look at it. If you take your problems as troubles, they will be troubles and may cause destruction. If you take them as constructive tools, you are going to be built up on them.
Problems are everywhere. No one can avoid them. And they are good too. They open up a different look and opportunity if you are willing to see. When you face troubles, do not frustrate or freak out. Just cool yourself to think in a different direction. Think in a positive way. Every problem has its own good as well as bad sides. Focus on the good one. Look at the bright side.
Besides, there is always a good person, perhaps your mom or dad, or one of your friends, right beside you who can turn everything into your best if you are willing to turn to them. No matter what happens, they will be there to help you. Trust them and they will never let you down. All you need to know is that you are loved wherever you are.
【小题1】What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “freak out” in Paragraph 1?

A．Feel shy.

B．Stay calm.

C．Keep up.

D．Feel upset.

【小题2】In Paragraph 2, the writer implies that ______.

A．problems cause troubles	B．attitude is everything
C．challenges can be avoided	D．personalities are built on failures

【小题3】According to the last paragraph, when we're in trouble, we ______.

A．can only depend on our parents	B．are not alone
C．should only believe ourselves	D．are not confident

【小题4】What’s the writer’s purpose to write the passage?

A．To encourage.

B．To compare.

C．To prove.

D．To explain.

【小题5】What can be the best title of the passage?

A．How to Avoid Problems

B．Challenges Are Everywhere

C．Face Your Challenges Bravely

D．You Are Loved Wherever You Are