A
Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”
The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead.
The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.”
The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.
“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”
1. What puzzled the grandson most was ________.
2. Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?
3. What lesson can we learn from the story?
4. What can be the best title for the text?
B
There is a famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment.
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which brings us to the cell phone.
The most common complaint about cell phones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cell phone’s interruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cell phones, and this is by and large(大体上)a healthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realize my phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion of being unreachable is not a new concept—we have “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cell phones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cell phone devotees（信徒）, myself usually included, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phones away, or curse(咒骂) the day they were invented.
But we don’t and won’t, and there really is no need. All that’s required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it. In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt (轻视)for the rings of our own phones.
A cell phone call deserves no greater priority than a random word from the person next to us，though the call on my cell phone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg—who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I’m better off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.
5. What is the point of the anecdote about the poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?
6. What does the writer think about people telling “white lies” about their cell phones?
7. According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cell phones?
8. What does the last paragraph imply?
C
Dear all,
Please read Professor Hume’s email about his next lecture on Rosa Parks.
Susan Miller
Secretary
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Dear Susan,
Please forward this message to students of my history class.
Besides the life story of Rosa Parks in the textbook, the students are also required to read the passage below and some related stories that can be borrowed from the school library.
Ted Hume
The early experiences of Rosa Parks(1913-2005), long known as the “mother of the civil rights movement,” were not different from those of many African-Americans at that time. The black woman, however, turned the course of American history in December 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. “By sitting down, ” remarked John Lewis, “She was standing up for all Americans.”
Among the numerous awards Parks received in her life were the Presidential Medal of Freedom(1996) and the Congressional Gold Medal(1999).
Parks died on Oct. 24, 2005. At St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Montgomery, a large crowd including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice celebrated her life. Rice said she and others, who grew up when the political activities of Parks held public attention, might not have realized her impact on their lives, “but I can honestly say that without Mrs. Parks, I probably would not be standing here as Secretary of State.”
After her casket(灵柩) was placed at the Capitol, U.S. President Bush, members of Congress and ordinary Americans paid their respects. In American history Parks is the first woman to lie in state at the Capitol, a very high regard usually reserved for Presidents of the United States.
9.What is the main purpose of Susan’s email?
10.What does the underlined word “forward” mean?
11.The political impact of Rosa Parks lies in the fact that she ___________.
12.How was Rosa Parks treated after her death?
D
YOU CAN'T DO IT EVEN IF IT HURTS NOBODY
Who do you think breaks the law in our society? If you believe that only tough guys commit crimes, you may have to think again. Unlike in the movies, we can't divide the world into bad guys and model citizens. Real life is much more complex. In the same way that diseases range from the common cold to fatal forms of cancer, crimes vary in degree. For example, smoking in an elevator will inconvenience people, but much less than threatening them with a gun.
In addition to breaking the law themselves, people tolerate various levels of crime. Why can we tolerate some crimes? It may be that, by seeing others do something, we accept it more easily. For instance, most people will find it easier to speed on a highway when everybody else is driving over the speed limit. When people celebrate a sports championship, if they see someone breaking store windows, they might start breaking windows themselves or even steal from the store. So the people around us influence how much law-breaking we can tolerate.
We must also wonder whether seeing violence on television or reading about it in the newspapers every day makes us tolerate crime more than we should. We become used to seeing blood on the news on television, or in full color in newspapers and magazines. Because we see thousands of dead people on TV, maybe we just try to ignore the situation behind the violence .If so many citizens tolerate violence and crime, or even commit crimes themselves, it may simply be because of the human mind. Our minds may not care about specific laws. Instead, our minds may have a system of values that usually prevents us from hurting other people to improve our own lives. Yet, when it comes to respecting the rights of a mass of anonymous (不知名的)individuals, we might not be so responsible. While most people would not steal a wallet containing $50，they may not mind cheating on taxes, because cheating on taxes does not hurt anyone person. It hurts society, but "society" remains an abstract idea that is not as real as a neighbor or a friend's friend.
When we realize that many people have misunderstandings of law-breaking, we could think it is surprising that so many people have a criminal record. How could we improve the level of honesty in our society? Would strict laws help make our society better? Probably not. Honesty will have to come from social pressure: in the family, at school, on the job, each and every one of us can encourage honesty by showing which behavior is unacceptable. And teaching respect should become everyone's responsibility.
13. According to the author, "Real life is much more complex." probably means ______.
14. People tolerate violence and crime because ______.
15. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
16.根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中的两项为多余选项。
Muzak
The next time you go into a bank, a store, or a supermarket, stop and listen. What do you hear? 1 It’s similar to the music you listen to, but it’s not exactly the same. That’s because this music was especially designed to relax you, or to give you extra energy. Sometimes you don’t even realize the music is playing, but you react to the music anyway.Quiet background music used to be called “elevator music” because we often heard it in elevators. But lately we hear it in more and more places, and it has a new name “Muzak”. About one-third of the people in America listen to “Muzak” every day. The music plays for 15 minutes at a time, with short pauses in between. It is always more lively between ten and eleven in the morning, and between three and four in the afternoon, when people are more tired. 2 .If you listen to Muzak carefully, you will probably recognize the names of many of the songs. Some musicians or songwriters don’t want their songs to be used as Muzak, but others are happy when their songs are chosen. Why? 3 .Music is often played in public places because it is designed to make people feel less lonely when they are in an airport or a hotel. It has been proven that Muzak does what it is designed to do. Tired office workers suddenly have more energy when they hear the pleasant sound of Muzak in the background. 4 . Supermarket shoppers buy 38 percent more groceries. 5 . They say it’s boring to hear the same songs all the time. But other people enjoy hearing Muzak in public places. They say it helps them relax and feel calm. One way or another, Muzak affects everyone. Some farmers even say their cows give more milk when they hear Muzak!
A. Muzak is played in most of the big supermarkets in the world.
B. They get as much as $4 million a year if their songs are used.
C. The music gives them extra energy.
D. Muzak tends to help people understand music better.
E. Factory workers produce 13 percent more.
F. Music is playing in the background.
G. Some people don't like Muzak.
18.阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
You are never too old to try to make your dreams come true.This could be Mary Moe's motto ---- the 1 (express) that best represents her spirit. Mary Moe 2 ( do) a lot during the past 91 years. For much of that time, she wanted to fly, 3 never had the chance --- until now. Mary Moe may look like 4 average grandmother. But she is not. She just learned how to fly an airplane, a dream she has had 5 she was a little girl. Growing up, she 6 (inspire) by two American pilots:Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. They became her inspiration. Lindbergh made the solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Five years later, Earhart became the first woman 7 (make) the flight. But Mary Moe could not find time to make her dream come true. At age 34, 8 was just too busy – busy fighting cancer. She was also busy with her job in advertising and busy raising her family. Everything seemed to be working 9 Mary.Then, at age 91, her wish 10 (final) came true. The new polite says it is never too late to spread your wings and try something new.
19.短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下短文。短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧), 并在此符号下面写出该加的词。删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改： 在错的词下划一横线, 并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：
1、每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2、只允许修改10处, 多者(从第11处起) 不计分。
DearTom,
Iam delighted that you have passed the exam successful. What you have gained arethe result of your hard work. How time flies! It’s two years since you come tostudy Chinese in Beijing . In the passed two years, you have helped us a lot,without that we couldn’t make great progress in English.
Beforeyou leave, many classmate and I intend to hold a farewell party for you, hopethat you can remember the wonderful time we spent together. By the way，theparty will be held on this Saturday evening in my house. We can take the No.1bus at the hotel gate and get off bus at the Booking Building, I will be theremeeting you .
Weare looking forward to your coming.
Yourssincerely
LiHua
阅读下面短文。从短文后各题所给的四个选项（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。
If you have a watch, don't repair it! I know it . Once I had a beautiful watch. And this watch perfect time. But one night it happened that I forgot to it up. Next morning I went to a watchmaker as I wanted my perfect watch to by the exact time. The watchmaker examined my watch and said: "The regulator (校准器) is to be pushed up your watch is four minutes ".
I tried to stop him, tried to him understand that my watch kept perfect time, but he did not listen to me and pushed the regulator.
My beautiful watch began to gain time. It faster and faster day by day. By the end of the second month it all the clocks and watches of the town far behind.
What did I have to do? To take it to another watchmaker to be regulated. I expected him to regulate the watch immediately he asked me to come in a week's time. When at last I took my watch from him it began to down. And I began to be late for trains, business appointments and even missed my dinners.
Now I went to watchmaker. While I waited for him to repair my poor watch, he it to pieces and said that he could finish this work three or four days. I could do nothing
but . That time my watch went for half a day and then stopped.
So I kept my watch from one watchmaker to another for a considerable period of time.
And as a result of it the cleverest man in the world could not the time by my watch. The thing was getting . My watch had two hundred dollars originally but I paid for repairs more than two hundred. At last I decided to buy watch, which I did.
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20.书面表达
假如你是李华，你的英国好友爱德华来信说将要在“五一”小长假期间到中国自驾游，向你咨询中国交通规则方面的问题。请根据以下提示给他写一封回信。
要点：
1. 出发前仔细检查车况。
2. 靠右行驶，注意道路两侧的限速标志。3. 饮酒驾车会被警察拘留，扣车并罚款。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结语已为你写好。不记入字数。参考词汇：扣车clamp