Born in a fishing village in Japan, Fujiyama, 25, recalls a childhood dominated by health concerns. Doctors told his parents that he had a hole in his heart and “they didn’t think I had a lot longer to live”. But during a later visit to the doctor, his family learned the hole had closed. “Somehow I was cured and I became a normal kid,” Fujiyama says. “And I had a second chance.”

During his second year at the University of Mary Washington, he volunteered in Honduras with a campus group and was struck by the extreme poverty he saw—barefoot children collecting cans and sleeping in the streets. Fujiyama realized he could help give other children their own second chance.

Today, his organization, Students Helping Honduras, brings education and community projects to children and families in need.

He started by telling his friends about his experience and collecting spare change at his two campus jobs. “When I had my very first meeting, only two people showed up,” he says. “I knew I had to keep fighting.” He persuaded his younger sister, Cosmo, to join the cause. “She’s dynamite,.” He says. “When she talks in front of a crowd, she can move mountains. Knowing that she was behind it, I knew I could do anything.” Since 2006, the siblings’ organization has grown to 25 campuses and raised more than $750,000 to fund projects, including the construction of two schools and the establishment of scholarships to help young women attend college.

Fujiyama says students are deeply committed to the organization. They raise money and then travel to Honduras to help building houses. While Fujiyama spends his summers in Honduras working alongside volunteers, he spends a large portion of the year on the road visiting colleges to raise funds. Cosmo Fujiyama, 23, lives in Honduras full time to coordinate（协调）the group’s building efforts on the ground.

Students Helping Honduras is working with community members of Siete de Abril to build a new village. Many of the families lost their belongings in Hurricane Mitch in 1998. A lot of them didn’t have access to clean water or health care, and they didn’t have a school. Fujiyama’s group helped build 44 homes in the village named “Sunshine Village”. The organization is also raising funds to build a water tower, an eco-friendly sanitation system and a library.

1.At the beginning of his organization, ________.

  A. Fujiyama was supported by many friends     B. things didn’t go on smoothly

C. Fujiyama had little idea of Honduras         D. many famous people joined in

2.We can infer that Fujiyama is a _______ man.

  A. diligent         B. mean           C. sympathetic        D. cheerful

3.The underlined word “siblings’ ” can be replaced by __________.

  A. brothers’        B. brother and sister’s        C. friends’        D. couple’s

4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

  A. Help the people in need

B. Students lend a hand in America

C. Fujiyama helps build “Sunshine Village”

D. Fujiyama gives poor people in Honduras a second chance

 

First Lady Michelle Obama urged students to visit China at the "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad forum at Howard University in 2011.
President Barack Obama announced the "100,000 Strong" Initiative （倡议） during his 2009 visit to China. The program aims to increase and diversify the number of American students studying in China by making studying abroad more affordable.
During the event at Howard, Mrs. Obama spoke about the importance of studying abroad, something she never did while in college. "Studying in countries like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects（前景） in the global market. The fact is that with every friendship you make and every bond of trust you establish you are shaping an image of America projected to the rest of the world," she said.
David Marzban from Pepperdine University recalled a time when he formed a cross-cultural bond with a complete stranger at a restaurant near Fudan University in Shanghai. He noticed a young chef signaling him to come over. "He presses the play button on his media player and starts singing 'California Dreaming' and wants me to sing along with him," Marzban said. "At this time I knew a great friendship had started during my first two weeks in China."
Nicole Baden, a senior communications major at Howard University, recalled how her time in China really helped her master the language. "You have to experience the culture while learning the language to really master it and to understand why things are how they are compared to your own culture," Baden said.
Mrs. Obama encouraged students to set aside concept that studying abroad is for rich kids only or for those attending certain schools. In addition, the first lady announced that the Chinese government is giving 10,000 "Bridge Scholarships" to cover costs for American students and teachers studying in China.
Students from several schools attended the forum. 12-year-old Sarah Davis, who studied in China last summer, said she was very excited to hear Michelle Obama talk about the country. “I love Chinese. Out of all the languages I’ve learned, Chinese is the most difficult and interesting,” she said.
【小题1】The examples mentioned in the passage mainly indicate that _____.

A．the US students’ life in China is helpful and worthwhile

B．all students of the US are living a comfortable life in China

C．Chinese young people are friendly to foreigners

D．it isn’t realistic for some US young people to study in China

【小题2】What can we infer from the passage?

A．Baden came to China to study the differences between English and Chinese.

B．Poor children from America have no opportunity to study in China.

C．David Marzban made a Chinese friend in an unexpected way in China.

D．Michelle Obama called on US students to study in China at a government meeting.

【小题3】What is the best title for the passage?

A．The US has an ambitious program for Americans studying in China.

B．Michelle Obama encourages American students to study in China.

C．More American students plan to study in China.

D．China is attracting more and more international students.

A

Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1990s. She began singing in church. Soon, her rich deep voice became widely known in the area. Marian Anderson received many honors and awards during her life. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in nineteen sixty—three. Marian Anderson died at the age of ninety—six. Experts say she is remembered not only for the quality of her voice, but also because of the way she carried out her right to be heard.

B

Movie director Robert Altman died in November 2006, in Los Angeles, California. He was eighty—one years old. During his fifty-year career, he made some of the most influential movies of modern times.

C

Ann Richards died in September 2006 at the age of seventy-three. At her funeral service, leaders from around the country gathered to celebrate her life. Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the service. He said Ann Richards helped create a world where young girls could be scientists, engineers and police officers. He said she was a great woman with a big heart and big dreams.

D

Journalist R.W. Apple died in October 2006 at the age of seventy—one. Earlier this month his friends and family gathered in Washington, D.C. for a large memorial service. Famous writers, politicians, and cooks told about his warm personality, sharp intelligence, and extraordinary energy. After the service, guests enjoyed fine foods provided by some of the best cooks in the area.

E

William Styron died in November 2006 at the age of eighty—one. His stories are filled with rich language and complex moral questions. Many of his books try to understand the evil actions of people. Later in life William Styron suffered from severe depression. After recovering, he wrote honestly and bravely about his experience in “Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness.” He received great praise for educating people about the difficulties of mental illness.

F

Ruth Brown was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1928 and died in October 2004. Brown recorded many rhythm and blues hits in the 1950s. She also fought for musicians rights. In 1988, Atlantic Records agreed to pay her and thirty-five other musicians the money they owed them for using their songs for twenty years.

请阅读下列有关的信息, 然后匹配上面的美国名人。

As a young woman, she worked as a teacher and raised four children. She and her husband were very involved in local politics. Then one day, she decided to run for officer herself—and she won. She served first as country commissioner, then as Texas state treasurer. In nineteen ninety she was elected governor. She fought for equal rights, environmental protection and laws to restrict guns. She created a government in which women, Hispanics, and African-Americans played important roles.

“MASH”, was released in nineteen seventy. It tells about a group of American medical workers in a temporary military hospital in Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s. It questions the rules of the military establishment in a way that was sharply funny and intelligent; “Nashville” came out in nineteen seventy—five. It provides a complex look at changes in the country music industry. Many of his thirty—three films were nominated for Academy Awards, including “The Player” and “Gosford Park”

She learned traditional music at her Christian religious center. But she liked the popular jazz and rock music of the time even more. She left home at a young age to build a career in music. Soon, she became known as “the girl with the tear in her voice” because of her emotional way of singing. Her popular songs helped build the Atlantic Records company and she continued performing for the rest of her life until she died recently at the age of seventy six.

He is known as Johnny, wrote about many subjects, from politics and war to food and drink. During his forty—three years writing for the New York Times newspaper, he enjoyed a rich and eventful career. He was the paper’s chief reporter in cities like London, Moscow, Lagos and Nairobi. He covered events such as the Vietnam War, the Iranian revolution and the Gulf War. He reported on ten presidential elections. And, his opinions on fine foods, travel and the world’s best restaurants were very influential.

He wrote “Lie Down in Darkness” published in nineteen fifty—one when he was only twenty-five. It is about a troubled young woman who kills herself. It established him as a great new voice in American literature; he also wrote “The Confessions of Nat Turner” in nineteen sixty-eight which told about a nineteenth century slave revolt in the southern state of Virginia; and “Sophie’s Choice ” won the American Book Award in nineteen eighty. It is a tragic story about a woman and her children who were sent to a Nazi death camp in Poland during World War Two.

 

    Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. He had been failing since first grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.

    Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break he was punished for failing to turn in his homework! Still, he did not study.

    In the middle of the first term of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things.  His heart was in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. 

One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.

    “Steve!” he turned to look at her.

         “Pay attention!”

         Steve locked his eyes on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.

         “You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated.

         “...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”

         She just stared at Steve, as the class turned around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.

         After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn’t do his homework even as the punishments became more severe.

         “Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.

         You’re smart enough! You’ll see a change!” Nothing happened.

         “Give yourself a chance! Don’ give up on your life!” Nothing.

         “Steve! Please! I care about you!”

         Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM!

         Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon.  He, quickly, gathered up his camping things, this time including his schoolbooks. Determined, he headed for the woods.

The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He expected her smile to turn on him. It did not.

         Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart beating within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn’t resist another look at the lovely woman.

         Miss White’s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a bright smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!

From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! And he continued this course throughout his school life.

         After high-school Steve entered the Navy, and he had a successful military career.  During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves.

         You see, it’s simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.                          

1. How did Miss White’s expression change when she got Steve’s paper?   

         A. satisfied —shocked —surprised —puzzled            B. puzzled —surprised —shocked —satisfied

         C. surprised —puzzled —shocked —satisfied                  D. surprised —shocked —satisfied —puzzled

2. Which of the following statements is NOT right according to the passage? 

A. Steve fell in love with Miss White at the first sight of her.

B. Steve’s parents were so addicted to drinking that they paid little attention to Steve’s life.

C. Steve would rather stay in the woods to keep himself away from his home.

D. Having being punished many times, Steve determined to work hard and passed his first test.

3. Which of the following can serve as the best title for this passage?

         A. The difference a teacher can make                               B. The school life of a stubborn boy

         C. The importance of family education                               D. The skills of being a good teacher

 

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy. He was the oldest of five children in his family. His father was a wool weaver. He helped his father with the weaving, but he always wanted to sail the seas.

He didn’t get to school very much, but he learned to read and write Spanish during his travels. He also taught himself Latin because all the geography books were written in Latin. Some people thought he was trying to prove the world was round, but this is not true. He wanted to find a short way to get to the Indies by ship.

He was a Christian and wanted to tell the story of Christ to the people he would find in the far-away lands. He also wanted wealth for himself and for Spain, and he wanted to be famous. He tried for eight years to get King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to supply him with ships and money.

They left Spain on August 3, 1492 and sailed toward the west. After many days, the sailors had covered a long distance on the sea and were ready to turn around for home when they saw land, an island Columbus named San Salvador. He thought he had found the Indies and called the people he saw there “Indians”. When they got to Cuba, he thought he was in Japan. The world was a lot larger than he thought.

On Christmas Eve, the Santa Maria was wrecked near Haiti. Columbus built a fort(城堡) and left 40 men to hunt for gold. Then he returned to Spain on the Nina. The people of Spain welcomed him as a hero. He made three more voyages across the ocean. His 13-year-old son, Ferdinand, went with him on the fourth voyage.

Columbus did not become rich as he had hoped. At the end of his life he only had a pension the king and the queen had given him because he was the first to reach the New World. He spent the last few months of his life in bed because of the pain of arthritis(关节炎). Columbus not only discovered a New World, but he led the way for other explorers.

1.Columbus taught himself Latin because _______.

A． he wanted to prove the earth was round.

B．he wanted to find a short way to the Indies by sea.

C．he found Latin was very useful at that time.

D．he wanted to travel around the world.

2.How was Columbus able to make his voyage to the west?

A．He was supported by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

B．He worked hard for eight for to save enough money for his voyage.

C．The king and the queen helped him with money and ships.

D．Many people supported him with money and food for his voyage.

3.Why did Columbus call the local people in Salvador “Indians”?

A．Because he thought he had arrived in Japan.

B．Because he thought he looked like in the Indies.

C．Because he thought it was a wealthy place.

D．Because he thought he had arrived in the Indies.

4.From the fifth paragraph we can infer that “Santa Maria” and “Nina” must be the names of_________.

A．trains

B．ships

C．cities

D．women

5.From the text we know that ________.

A．Columbus lived a difficult life in his later life.

B．Columbus was considered as a hero all his life.

C．Columbus didn’t get the wealth as he had hoped for.

D．Columbus was the first person to travel round the world.