Norman Cousins was a businessman from the United States who often traveled around the world on business. He enjoyed his work and traveling.

Then, after returning to the United States from a busy and tiring trip to the Union of Soviet So­cialist Republics( USSR)，Mr. Cousins got sick. Because he had pushed his body to the limit of its strength on the trip, a chemical change began to take place inside him. The material between his bones became weak.

In less than one week after his return, he could not stand. Every move that he made was pain­ful. He was not able to sleep at night.

The doctore told him that they did not know how to cure Mr. Cousins ’ problem and he might never get over the illness. Mr. Cousins, however, refused to give up hope.

Mr. Cousins thought that unhappy thoughts were causing bad chemical changes in his body. He did not want to take medicine to cure himself. Instead，he felt that happy thoughts or laughter might cure his illness.       .'

He began to experiment on himself while still in hospital by watching funny shows on television. Mr. Cousins quickly found that 10 minutes of real laughter during the day gave him two hours of pain -free sleep at night.

Deciding that the doctors could not help him, Mr. Cousins left the hospital and checked into a hotel room where he could continue his experiments with laughter. For eight days，Mr. Cousins rested in the hotel room watching funny shows on television，reading funny books，and sleeping whenever he felt tired. Within three weeks，he felt well enough to take a vacation to Puerto . Rico where he began running on the beach for exercise.

After a few months，Mr. Cousins returned to work. He has laughed himself back to health.

1.Why did Norman Cousins get sick?

A．He did not rest enough.	B．He traveled too much.
C．His body chemistry changed.	D．All of the above.

2.What part of his body was affected by the illness?

A．The bones in his feet.

B．His mind when he slept.

C．The material between his bones.

D．His stomach.

3.What did Mr. Cousins think caused his illness?

A．Bad food.	B．Too much laughter.
C．Unhappy thoughts.	D．The doctors.

4.Where did Mr. Cousins go in order to cure himself?

A．To a hotel room.

B．To the beach.

C．To the hospital.

D．To the USSR.

5.How long did it take before Mr. Cousins went back, to work?

A．A few weeks.

B．A few months.

C．A few hours.

D．A few years.

 

 

第三部分  阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2分，满分40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Christopher Thomas, 27, was a writer by night and a teacher by day when he noticed he was always tired and was losing weight fast. Diagnosed with diabetes(糖尿病), Thomas would need to inject himself with insulin(胰岛素) three times a day for the rest of his life or risk nerve damage, blindness, and even death. And if that weren't bad enough, he had no health insurance.

After a month of feeling upset, Thomas decided he'd better find a way to fight back. He left Canton, Michigan for New York, got a job waiting tables, nicknamed himself the Diabetic Rockstar , and created diabeticrockstar.com, a free online community for diabetics and their loved ones—a place where over 1,100 people share personal stories, information, and resources.

    Jason Swencki’s son, Kody, was diagnosed with type diabetes at six. Father and son visit the online children's forums(论坛) together most evenings. "Kody gets so excited, writing to kids from all over," says Swencki, one of the site's volunteers. "They know what he's going through, so he doesn't feel alone."

Kody is anything but alone: Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 24 million diagnosed cases. And more people are being diagnosed at younger ages.

    These days, Thomas's main focus is his charity（慈善机构）, Fight It, which provides medicines and supplies to people—225 to date—who can't afford a diabetic's huge expenses. Fight-it.org has raised about $23,000—in products and in cash. In May, Thomas will hold the first annual Diabetic Rockstar Festival in the Caribbean.

    Even with a staff of 22 volunteers, Thomas often devotes up to 50 hours a week to his cause, while still doing his full-time job waiting tables. "Of the diabetes charities out there, most are putting money into finding a cure," says Bentley Gubar,  one of Rockstar's original members. "But Christopher is the only person I know saying people need help now."

1. Which of the following is true of Christopher Thomas?

A.  He needs to go to the doctor every day.

B.  He studies the leading cause of diabetes

C.  He has a positive attitude to this disease.

D.  He encourages diabetics by writing articles.

2. Diabeitcrockstar.com was created for _________.

   A. diabetics to communicate          B. volunteers to find jobs

   C. children to amuse themselves       D. rock stars to share resources.

3. According to the text, Kody ______.

A. feel lonely because of his illness

B. benefits from diabeticrockstar.com

C. helps create the online kid’s forums

D. writes children’s stories online

4. What can we learn about Fight It?

A. It helps the diabetics in financial difficulties.

B. It organizes parties for volunteer once a year.

C. It offers less expensive medicine to diabetics.

D. It owns a well-known medical website.

5. The last paragraph suggests that Thomas ______.

A. works full-time in a diabetes charity      B. employs 22 people for his website

C. helps diabetics in his own way           D. ties to find a cure for diabetes

 

完形填空

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

I’m a straight-A student and have been my whole life .When you come from a family of educators, it just seems 　36　 .

With high academic standards and a competitive 　37 , I don’t just like losing and I also can’t 　38 it. I need to beat the 　39 students, perfectly in everything. I’ve even gone so far as to define myself by my 　40 , saying how outstanding I am. If I don’t get the grade I 　 41 then I am lost.

　 Today I was sitting in class trying to 　42 the last minutes studying for a test in which I had to get full marks. 　43 the girl behind me started talking to me, I tried to listen 　44 while still glancing at my study sheet 　45 .When I thought the conversation required it, I smiled, nodded and 　46 . And then I found myself wishing she would be 　47 so I could study .After a while, she said, “You know, you’re a really good 　48　 . You’re so easy to talk to.” I froze.

　 I replayed the praise in my head before smiling and accepting it 　49 . But inside, I knew it wasn’t true .She’d made every effort to have a conversation and I wasn’t even trying to 　50 .

　 I passed the test excellently despite my 　51 of lost study time, but the one thing I needed to learn most wasn’t on that test. I had 　52 being the best student so that I had failed at just being normal. So what 　53 to me most? What I have is all about my personal 　54　 and about me being too self-centered. There can only be so many scholars, but there is 　55 enough sympathy. I want that to be what matters to me --- sympathy.

36.　　　　 A. usual 　　　　　　 B. helpless 　　　　　　 C. unfortunate 　　　　　　 D. natural

37.　　　　 A. spirit　　　　　　　 B. sport　　　　　　　　　 C. school　　　　　　　　　　　 D. market

38.　　　　 A. take　　　　　　　　 B. recommend 　　　 C. stand　　　　　　　　　　　 D. help

39.　　　　 A. ordinary　　　　　 B. top　　　　　　　　　　 C. handsome 　　　　　　　 D. strong

40.　　　　 A. strength　　　　　 B. appearance　　　　 C. grades 　　　　　　　　　　 D. tricks

41.　　　　 A. invent 　　　　　　 B. expect 　　　　　　　 C. copy 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. hide

42.　　　　 A. save 　　　　　　　 B. spend　　　　　　　　 C. collect 　　　　　　　　　　 D. cost

43.　　　　 A. When　　　　　　　 B. After 　　　　　　　　 C. Because 　　　　　　　　　 D. Before

44.　　　　 A. rudely 　　　　　 B. bitterly 　　　　　　　 C. excitedly 　　　　　　　　 D. politely

45.　　　　 A. in no time　　　　 B. on time C. for a long time D. now and then

46.　　　　 A. refused 　　　　　 B. worked 　　　　　　 C. agreed　 　　　　　　　　 D. waited

47.　　　　 A. quiet　　　　　　　 B. gentle　　　　　　　　 C. pretty 　　　　　　　　　　 D. safe

48.　　　　 A. talker　　　　　　　 B. listener 　　　　　　 C. lecturer　　　　　　　　　　 D. teacher

49.　　　　 A. angrily　　　　　　 B. carelessly 　　　　　 C. disappointedly 　　　　 D. gladly

50.　　　　 A. alarm 　　　　　　 B. gather 　　　　　　　 C. participate 　　　　　　　 D. shout

51.　　　　 A. fear　　　　　　　　 B. joy 　　　　　　　　　 C. worry 　　　　　　　　　　 D. possession

52.　　　　 A. given up　　　　　 B. focused on　　　　 C. complained of 　　　　 D. dreamed of

53.　　　　 A. happens 　　　　 B. matters 　　　　　　 C. appeals 　　　　　　　　　 D. devotes

54.　　　　 A. success　　　　　 B. failure　　　　　　　　 C. depression　　　　　　　　 D. health

55.　　　　 A. always 　　　　　 B. ever　　　　　　　　　 C. much　　　　　　　　　　　 D. never

This is a story  that happened 15 years ago but it has always stayed with me since then.On the way back from work every evening,more often than not there would be a homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway.He always waved at every car,he was always happy and smiling and sometimes almost dancing.Every day after work when I got there，I would quickly roll down my window and give him the coins.Occasionally the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day.His answer would always be the same，“I’m blessed！”.
It amazed me that even in his situation of being homeless he was so positive，and his answer would remind me of how blessed I was.A single mother of four amazing kids,with a place to call home and with a job to provide for my kids.Then one day I was called into my boss’s office and was told that I was being laid off due to the economy.Needless to say that on my was home that day I was very sad and upset.I didn’t remember to look for my spare change and keep it ready like I usually did.I wasn’t feeling the joy as I got off the ramp where the homeless man would be.Yet there he was as alway，as l turned the ramp.He set his eyes on me，while still smiling and waving at others.
While I was waiting for the red light to turn，he strolled over to my car.He had a big smile he looked me straight in the eyes and said “today I will give you a dollar”.He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill.I was blown away.I burst into tears.I wanted to jump out of my car and hug him！
You see that day he gave me more than a dollar bill，he taught me a valuable lesson.No matter  what material things are taken  from you，no one can take away your choice to be joyful.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly concerned？

A．A dollar bill from a homeless person.

B．A blessing coming from a homeless person.

C．A woman who lost her job due to the economy.

D．A homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway.

【小题2】From the lst paragraph，we know the homeless man is         .

A．optimistic

B．brave

C．Iazy

D．kind-hearted

【小题3】After leaving the boss’s office，the author         .

A．felt relaxed to get rid of the tiring job

B．still felt joyful when coming off the ramp

C．took it for granted that she was fit for her job

D．didn’t put some change aside to give to the man

【小题4】The underlined phrase“blown away”in the 3rd paragraph most probably  means
       .

A．completely defeated	B．wholly blown down
C．really amazed	D．murdered by gunfire

【小题5】It can be inferred from the passage that         .

A．material things are the most important in life

B．people should be encouraged to beg by smiling

C．the author’s ride home that dog was smooth sailing

D．we should wait others’help when faced with challenges

Many American schools have a student exchange program with foreign countries. Along with this program,there is usually another one called the“American Host Family”program.As its name suggests,the program gets American families involved in foreign students’ lives in America and offers homes for them.

Foreign students generally welcome such an opportunity to have a“family”here,but there are also those who prefer to stay“homeless”.

Many American families volunteer to host foreign students.However,if there is a shortage of host families,schools also get in touch with local people and introduced foreign students to them.

The“American Host Family”program changes in lengths of time.It can go from a few days to a few years,depending on each individual school.After the first year is over,it is up to foreign students and their“families”to decide if they want to stay together as a“family”.American families can host as many foreign students as they like.They can either have several students or just one at a time.Many families start with new students each year while still keeping in touch with the old ones.Schools usually leave it to foreign students and their host families to decide their activities after both sides meet.

My school, however, holds activities every year. On major holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas,foreign students are usually invited to their thomes for dinner.Even schools that do not have host family programs often arrange students to get together with American families on these special holiday occasions.

It is typical that a host family invites its foreign daughter or son over,and they cook the student’s home food together,Undoubtedly,Chinese students are usually considered good cooks,whether or not they are really qualified for such praise at home.Although many Chinese students rarely cooked at home,they often have a hard time making their American friends believe that they cannot cook.It often happens when a Chinese student promises to cook a Chinese meal for his host family,he usually sees a little crowd expecting him:friends or relatives are also invited over for the“special”Chinese food!

The best title of the passage might be           .

  A.Studying in the U.S.

  B.The“Host Family Program”in the U.S.

  C.The“Student Exchange Program”in the U.S.

  D.Activities in American Schools

What’s the purpose of the“American Host Family program”?

  A.To bring foreign students closer to American life.

  B.To provide homes for foreign students.

  C.To make greater progress in the study of foreign students.

  D.To supply“sons”or “daughters”for American families.

What can we know about the program from the fourth and fifth paragraphs?

  A.Its time,the number of students and families.

  B.Its activities,the number of schools and students.

  C.Its lengths of time,the number of students and activities.

  D.The number of students,the lengths of time and important holidays.

We can know from the last paragraph that           .

  A.foreign students must prepare their home food for their host family

  B.not all Chinese students are good cooks in the eyes of Americans

  C.it is good manners to invite relatives or friends to taste foreign food

  D.Americans are very interested in foreign food