For most people, graduation day is exciting. My graduation day, _______ was not.

I remember that weekend two years ago. My family and my friends had come to watch our class walk across that _______. But like everyone in my graduating class, I had watched the economy _______from bad to worse during my senior year. We graduates had _______ but very limited prospects(前景). Numerous applications were _______ and I knew that the next day, when my lease(租约)ended，I would no longer have a place to _______ “home”.

The weeks _______ were not easy. I drove to California to find work. But what I thought would _______ me a week dragged into two, and then four, and 100 job applications later, I found myself _______ I was before.

Days _______ like weeks, weeks like months and those many months seemed _______. The most ______ part was no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t seem to make any _______.

Then I began to write. Something about putting words on a page made everything seem a little clearer – a little brighter. Something about writing gave me _______.

I put my frustration into a children’s _______, one story of which was about a(n) ______, a little fish, who, fighting in a “river”, _______ to give up his dream. I kept on writing. And then one day, _______ any sort of writing degree or contracts in the writing world – just a lot of hard work and perseverance – I was offered a publishing contract for my first book! After that, things began to be in _______ soon. I was offered a second book deal. Then a few months later, I got an interview with the Walt Disney Company and was hired shortly after.

The lesson of the story: Work hard, give it time and don’t give up. Often our dreams lie in wait just a little further upstream. All we need is the _______ to push beyond the “river”.

1.A. therefore    B. however    C. otherwise    D. besides

2.A. period    B. moment    C. stage    D. line

3.A. go    B. become    C. keep    D. appear

4.A. exams    B. papers    C. documents    D. degrees

5.A. successes    B. surprises    C. wonders    D. failures

6.A. live    B. call    C. stay    D. move

7.A. ahead    B. early    C. before    D. ago

8.A. give    B. pay    C. take    D. spend

9.A. who    B. where    C. what    D. how

10.A. followed    B. floated    C. fell    D. felt

11.A. meaningless    B. helpless    C. endless    D. hopeless

12.A. interesting    B. surprising    C. amazing    D. frustrating

13.A. effort    B. progress    C. sense    D. affect

14.A. hope    B. dream    C. future    D. strength

15.A. story    B. magazine    C. book    D. journal

16.A. hero    B. poet    C. writer    D. actor

17.A. replied    B. responded    C. returned    D. refused

18.A. without    B. except    C. through    D. among

19.A. sight    B. action    C. place    D. order

20.A. love    B. courage    C. sympathy    D. kindness

Snowblind--it’s a frightening word. Thankfully, it’s a condition that is totally preventable.

Snow blindness is a painful, temporary loss of vision due to overexposure to the sun's UV rays. Essentially, snow blindness is caused by a sunburned eye.

1.Though it is commonly called snow blindness, the condition can (and often does) occur in the absence of snow.

The terms "snowblind" and "snow blindness" have become popular because snow is highly reflective of ultraviolet radiation. 2.Also, skiing, mountain climbing and snowboarding usually take place at relatively high altitudes, where the sun's UV rays are stronger. Combined, these factors can double your risk of getting sunburned eyes, compared with being outdoors at lower altitudes in the summertime.

3.Television journalist Anderson Cooper experienced snow-free snow blindness first-hand a few years ago when he spent a couple hours on a boat in Portugal without sunglasses and ended up "blind for 36 hours," according to his report of the incident.

Not only can you become snowblind without snow-- it can happen without sunlight, too! 4.For example, sun lamps can cause temporary "snow" blindness if proper eye protection is not used.

5.To relieve pain or discomfort from snow blindness, stay indoors and wear sunglasses. Keep your eyes well-moistened with artificial tears. For additional relief, use over-the-counter pain relievers. Be sure to use only pain relievers you know you can take without worry of an allergic reaction. You also may find that placing a cool, dampened washcloth over your closed eyelids is comforting.

A. You don't need snow to become snowblind

B. It will likely affect those traveling in snowy conditions

C. To prevent snow blindness on the slopes, wear sunglasses

D. Sometimes it occurs from man-made sources of ultraviolet radiation

E. In fact, snow can reflect over 80 percent of the UV rays that fall upon it

F. Snow blindness is scary, but usually it's temporary, and there are ways to relieve the discomfort

G. But water and white sand also are highly reflective of the sun's UV rays, thus increasing the risk

The past ages of man have all been carefully labeled by anthropologists (人类学家). Descriptions like "Palaeolithic (旧石器时代的) Man". "Neolithic (新石器时代的) Man",etc. neatly sum up whole periods. When the time comes for anthropologists to turn their attention to the twentieth century, they will surely choose the label "Legless Man". Histories of the time will go something like this:"in the twentieth century, people forgot how to use their legs. Men and women moved about in cars, buses and trains from a very early age. There were lifts in all large buildings to prevent people from walking. And the surprising thing is that they didn't use their legs even when they went on holiday."

The future history books might also record that we were deprived (剥夺) of the use of our eyes. In our hurry to get from one place to another, we failed to see anything on the way. Air travel gives you a bird's-eye view of the world. When you travel by car or train, an unclear picture of the countryside constantly smears the windows. Car drivers, especially, are mixed with the urge to go on and on: they never want to stop. The typical twentieth-century traveler is the man who always says "I've been there." You mention the remotest, and someone is bound to say "I've been there"-meaning, "I drove through it at100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else."

When you travel at high speeds, the present means nothing: you live mainly in the future because you spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other place. But actual arrival, when it is achieved, is meaningless. You want to move on again. By traveling like this, you suspend all experience. The traveler on foot, on the other hand, lives constantly in the present. For him traveling and arriving are one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step he makes. He experiences the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body. At the end of his journey he feels a delicious physical tiredness. He knows that sound, satisfying sleep will be his: the just reward of all true travelers.

1.Anthropologists label man nowadays "Legless Man" because _____.

A. people prefer cars, buses and trains

B. people use their legs less and less

C. lifts prevent people from walking

D. people travel without using legs

2.According to the passage, what might make people lose the right of using their eyes?

A. the modern means of transportation.

B. A bird’s-eye view of the world.

C. The unclear sight from the vehicles.

D. The fast-paced life style.

3.From the passage, we know traveling at high speeds means _______.

A. appreciating beautiful scenery    B. experiencing life skills

C. focusing on the next destination    D. feeling physical tiredness

4.What does the author intend to tell us?

A. Modern transportation devices have replaced legs.

B. Traveling makes the world a small place.

C. Human’s history develops very fast.

D. The best way to travel is on foot.

Sports are the base of my life, next to my mother who raised me when my dad left us. I have been into sports since I was six years old. I have known many coaches and heard hundreds of their tips, but they usually focused on drills to develop my skills and reach the next level of play.

When I was in Senior Two, I met the new school basketball coach, Brian Pawloski. I thought I was certain to be selected for the school team since I had been in it the year before. I showed up to the tryouts and put out about 90% effort since I thought I, d make it with no problem. That was a big mistake.

Brian Pawloski is the hardest-working coach I have ever met. He didn’t expect 100% effort, he expected 200% effort. One example： he once made us do 40 suicide drills for the 40 lay-ups (投篮) we missed in a game. Some think this is crazy, but it isn’t. After this conditioning practice, as we were getting a cup of cold water to drink, I said, “Coach, that was the best practice I ever had.” I was completely sincere. This man was and is the person who influenced me most at my high school. He expects us to be excellent not just on the court but in the classroom. If I am not working on basketball, I am reading a book that he thinks will help us better understand life’s challenges, including Wooden, Coach, and The Screwtape Letters.

In the first two years I slacked off, not putting forth my full potential. Now, unlike the coaches of my youth, this man was interested in how he did off the court. He always made sure I kept up with my studies and was able to be trusted. I can honestly say that no other coach has given me so much advice on how to succeed in basketball, but more importantly, in life. My school is lucky to have such a great person to teach, coach and influence their students. I will always remember my high-school basketball days as one of the hardest times I have ever worked in my life not only in basketball but in my growth as an individual.

1.Different from other coaches, Coach Brian ______.

A. concentrated on skill training

B. trained the team to the edge of death

C. expected the team to do well in their studies

D. asked the team to do more reading than training

2.The underlined phrase “slacked off” in the last paragraph probably means ______.

A. paid no attention    B. showed no interest

C. had less passion    D. made less effort

3.In the author’s eye, Coach Brian is ______.

A. strict and helpful

B. hardworking and honest

C. skilled and cruel

D. professional and serious

I was born on the 17th of November 1828, in the village of Nam Ping, which is about four miles southwest of the Portuguese Colony (殖民地) of Macao, and is located on Pedro Island lying west of Macao, from which it is separated by a channel of half a mile wide.

As early as 1834, an English lady, Mrs. Gutzlaff, wife of a missionary to China, came to Macao. Supported by the Ladies’ Association in London for the promotion of female education in India and the East, she immediately took up the work of starting a girls’ school for Chinese girls, which was soon followed by the opening of a boys’ school.

Mrs. Gutzlaff’s comprador(买办) happened to come from my village and was actually my father’s friend and neighbor. It was through him that my parents heard about Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school and it was doubtlessly through his influence and means that my father got me admitted into the school. It has always been a mystery to me why my parents should put me into a foreign school, instead of a traditional Confucian school, where my big brother was placed. Most certainly such a step would have been more suitable for Chinese public opinion, taste, and the wants of the country, than to allow me to attend an English school. Moreover, a Chinese belief is the only avenue in China that leads to political promotion, influence, power and wealth. I can only guess that as foreign communication with China was just beginning to grow, my parents hoped that it might be worthwhile to put one of their sons to learning English. In this way he might become an interpreter and have a more advantageous position to enter the business and diplomatic world. I am wondering if that influenced my parents to put me into Mrs. Gutzlaff’s School. As to what other sequences it has eventually brought about in my later life, they were entirely left in the hands of God.

1.How was the author admitted to Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school?

A. Through his father’s friend’s help.

B. Through his own efforts to exams.

C. Through his father’s request.

D. Through Mrs. Gutzlaff’s influence.

2.Why did the author’s parents put him into an English school？

A. An English school was more influential.

B. Foreign trade with China was developing fast.

C. It met with Chinese public opinion.

D. He could become a successful interpreter.

3.What did the author think of his parents’ decision to put him into an English school?

A. It was skeptical.    B. It was mysterious.

C. It was thoughtful.    D. It was wonderful.

请你以“How to be popular”为题，写一篇英语短文。词数100左右，文章的题目和开头已给出，不计词数。

要点提示：1．衣着干净、整齐，保持微笑；

2．诚实，乐于助人；

3．懂得与他人合作；

4．其它。

How to be popular

Most people would like to be popular with others，but what is the secret to achieve popularity? In fact，it is very simple．

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

短文改错

Dear Mr White,

I am writing tell you a piece of good news. Last week our school hold a Spoken English Competition. I stood out in the competition and won a first place. In my view, it is your kind help which has helped me gain the achievement. During your spare time, you often spent such much time helping me with your spoken English that I made rapid progress. In the competition, I followed your advices on how to behave, which led to my success. I’m grateful to you for your help and decide that I will make up more efforts and try to make great progress in the future.

I’m looking forward to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

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。

For many young people, 1. (go) to university is one of the most important 2.(stage) of their lives. It is the time when young people will move out of 3. (they) home to live with other people, often strangers. 4.(especial) in the US, people often travel very far from home to study. It is a time to be 5. (dependence).

At university, you 6. (teach) by lectures and professors who are leading figures in their study. The opportunity to learn from and to discuss with them is 7. drives some people to apply to university. Students are required to choose a major that they wish to study. Apart 8.the academic benefit, life at university can also allow students 9. (develop) their interests in many fields.

Therefore, university is a place 10.you attain knowledge, to develop your values and accept those who may be different.

When most of us get a text message on our cell phone from an unknown person, we usually say “sorry, ______number!” and move on. But when Dennis Williams ______a text that clearly wasn’t intended for him, he did something ______.

On March 19, Dennis got a group text ______ him that a couple he didn’t know were at the hospital, waiting for the ______of a baby.

“Congratulations! But I think someone was mistaken,” Dennis ______. The baby was born and update texts were ______ quickly from the overjoyed grandmother, Teresa. In her ______, she didn’t seem to realize that she was ______ the baby’s photos with a complete stranger. “Well, I don’t ______you all but I will get there to take pictures with the baby,” replied Dennis before asking which room the new ______were in.

Much to the family’s surprise, Dennis stuck to his ______ ! He turned up at the hospital ______  gifts for the new mother Lindsey and her baby boy. Lindsey’s husband was totally ______ by the unexpected visit. “I don’t think we would have randomly invited him over but we ______ it and the gifts.”

Teresa ______ a photo of the chance meeting on a social networking website ______ by the touching words: “What a ______ this young man was to our family! He was so ______ and kind to do this.” The post has since gained the______ of social media users all over the world, receiving more than 184,000 shares and 61,500 likes in just three days.

1.A. unlucky    B. wrong    C. new    D. secret

2.A. copied    B. translated    C. received    D. printed

3.A. reasonable    B. practical    C. necessary    D. special

4.A. informing    B. reminding    C. convincing    D. warning

5.A. wake-up    B. arrival    C. growth    D. recovery

6.A. predicted    B. interrupted    C. responded    D. repeated

7.A. passing down    B. setting out    C. coming in    D. moving around

8.A. excitement    B. anxiety    C. opinion    D. effort

9.A. comparing    B. sharing    C. discussing    D. exchanging

10.A. accept    B. bother    C. believe    D. know

11.A. patients    B. doctors    C. parents    D. visitors

12.A. dream    B. principle    C. schedule    D. promise

13.A. opening    B. collecting    C. bearing    D. making

14.A. astonished    B. relaxed    C. discouraged    D. defeated

15.A. appreciate    B. need    C. admit    D. expect

16.A. found    B. posted    C. developed    D. selected

17.A. confirmed    B. accompanied    C. clarified    D. simplified

18.A. pity    B. problem    C. relief    D. blessing

19.A. sweet    B. calm    C. smart    D. fair

20.A. sympathy    B. trust    C. control    D. attention

Why should you read every day?

When was the last time you read a book? If you're one of countless people who don't make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out. Reading has many benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

Mental Stimulation

Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of Alzheimer's and Dementia. 1.. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy.

Wider Knowledge

Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. 2..

Stress Reduction

No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other problems, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. 3.. And an interesting article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, allowing you to relax.

4.

When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story— the rest of the world just falls away. Try reading for 15 to 20 minutes before work, and you'll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you get to the office.

Tranquility(安宁)

5.. Reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and bring about a sense of calm,while reading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from certain mood disorders or mental illnesses.

A. Stronger thinking skills.

B. Improved focus and concentration.

C. A well-written novel can transport you to other worlds.

D. Reading a good book can also bring about great inner peace.

E. That's because keeping your brain active prevents it from losing power.

F. Reading books is also important for learning new languages and cultures.

G. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to deal with your future challenges.