Flowers only bloom(开花) when they are planted in the right soil. That is also true for me.
I first moved to Foxboro, Massachusetts, as a single mother with my baby daughter, Darcy. I was drawn to its New England beauty, friendly people and rich history. It happened that there were a lot of forsythia(连翘) bushes around the house in which I lived just like my childhood home. I joined St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where I taught the Sunday school. At church, I met my second husband, Dean. For more than 25 years, I bloomed in Foxboro, and I had another two children.
Then, when Darcy was a few years out of college, she moved to Alameda, California, to be near friends. I missed her badly. A year later my beloved husband Dean had deadly cancer. He only made it eight months. My heart was broken. Later I moved to Alameda with my children. It was a beautiful Victorian island, and I was grateful to spend more time with Darcy. I even attended a church and made a few friends there. Still, I couldn’t help but miss Foxboro. It had everything and everyone I loved.
One spring day, when I was walking by a school, something yellow caught my eyes. Forsythia bushes! They made me homesick and I kept back my tears. “I miss you, Foxboro,” I whispered. Then I went into a shop and looked at some ceramic(陶瓷的) pots lined up on a shelf. A large white one seemed to catch my attention. “That’ll be perfect in my living room,” I thought.
I turned it over to look at the price. Instead I found these words: “New England Pottery, Foxboro, Massachusetts.” A piece of artwork, from my second hometown, was right here. It was able to spread across the country and so were forsythia bushes. I took it as a sign that I can bloom, right where I am.
1.From the text we learn that the author ____.
A．gave birth to three children in Foxboro
B．planted forsythia bushes around her house
C．got to know her second husband at church
D．worked as a middle school teacher in Foxboro
2.The author moved to Alameda so that she could ____.
A．have more time together with Darcy
B．forget the sorrow at her husband’s death
C．visit her children at Alameda College frequently
D．enjoy the beautiful scenery on the Victorian island
3.When the author saw forsythia bushes at a school she _____.
A．wanted to buy a ceramic pot to put them in
B．thought of her life in Foxboro
C．felt they would look great in her living room
D．believed they were real art work
4.Why does the author compare herself to flowers?
A．Because she wanted to show she likes flowers.
B．Because she can live in any place that is right like flowers.
C．Because she moved across the country just like flowers.
D．Because girls are like flowers that are blooming.
I studied engineering after enjoying top marks, as high school came relatively easy. Then university life came!
I thought that I must have some learning disorder, as it seemed that everyone else was absorbing the material and making progress while to me it was an insurmountable(不能克服的) struggle. There were never enough hours in the day and weekend to attend the lectures, study the lessons and then do the assignment.
During my darkest hour I called home to speak to my father: “Dad, I don’t think I can handle this.” My father then said something, which cut through me like a knife: “There is no returning home. If you quit, then you are on your own.”
I hung up thinking what a terrible heartless thing to say. Then, I determined to somehow gut it out(坚持到底). There seemed to be no other choices available! Soon afterwards, I noticed a sigh posted in a campus common area stating: “Studying Skills” with a place & time to meet. It said that “there is help available”. I attended that meeting! I soon discovered there were several others in a similar situation and that everyone wanted to help each other get through this challenging first term. I soon found a study partner, who helped me a lot, and I was grateful to him for his kind help.
Yes, it was still a very challenging first year, but I found the needed strength and support to get through it. In fact my father has been helping me since then, but he has done it in another way. I know now in my heart that he did the very best help he could to help me fly. Thanks Dad for the push!
1.The story happened when the author _____.
A．just came to the new high school
B．was in his first term in university
C．was in the last year of high school
D．had been in the university for one year
2.What was the author’s problem?
A．His father refused his request of returning home.
B．His father said some terrible words to him.
C．He found the course difficult to understand.
D．He could not understand his teachers.
3.How did the author get through his challenge successfully?
A．He got help from his father in another way.
B．He changed the place and time for study.
C．He joined those who helped each other.
D．He paid more attention to study.
4.Which of the following is the most suitable title for the text?
A．Differences between high school and university
B．My time in university
C．The importance of being strict with children
D．Push from my father
请你根据以下提示，结合生活中的一个事例，用英语写一篇短文。
Never be afraid of making mistakes. Actually, making progress is making mistakes. Mistakes reveal（揭示、显示） where success lies.
注意：（1）无须写标题，不得照抄英语提示语；
（2）除诗歌外，文体不限；
（3）文中不得透露个人姓名和学校名称；
（4）词数120左右。
完成句子（共10小题；每小题2分，满分20分）
1.Something terrible ___________________ if Tom wasn’t coming to eat in his restaurant as he always did. (happen)
要是汤姆不像往常那样到他的餐馆来吃饭，一定是发生了什么可怕的事。
2.So whether life will continue on the earth for millions of years to come will depend on ______________. (solve)
所以，在未来的数百万年中，生命能否在地球上延续取决于这个问题能否得到解决。
3.It is hard work as well as determination _________________________. (lead)
努力工作和决心使得他成功。
4.__________________, I will be right here waiting for you. (be)
无论你在哪里，我都会在这里等你。
5.My brothers can’t attend the party__________________ at Tom’s house at present, because he is preparing for his examination. (hold)
我的哥哥不能参加此刻正在汤姆家举行的晚会，因为他正在为考试做准备。
6.People may __________________ that Charlie was taught to sing as soon as he could speak and dance as soon as he could walk. (find)
人们可能会感到惊奇，查理刚会说话时大人就教他唱歌，他刚会走路时大人就教他跳舞了。
7.My teacher told us that ____________ would win us more friendships and bring us more chances. (modest)
老师告诉我们，谦虚会为我们赢得更多的友谊并给我们带来更多的机会。
8.A large number of people _____________ the importance of the environmental protection up to now. (realize)
如今，许多人已经意识到了环境保护的重要性。
9.______________, this kind of pear was soon sold out at the market. (taste)
口味甜，这种梨很快在超市里销售一空。
10.The fact ______________________as his brother made it necessary for him to lose weight. (twice)
他是他哥哥的两倍重，这个事实使得他有必要减肥。
When I was seven years old my mom was diagnosed(诊断) with cancer. For this type of cancer the survival rate was low. My family was extremely upset and shocked. I was too young to understand. I had no idea that everyday with my mom had to be the absolute best because we didn’t know if it would be our last. I didn’t understand why everyone was suddenly taking time out of their busy lives to come over and sit on our couch.
The doctors told us my mom might survive with surgery(外科手术). But it could also kill her. She agreed to have it. The surgery was scheduled for the day after the Columbus Day. The day before the surgery I had off from school, and my mom planned the best day of my life. The day began with her waking me up saying, “Kate, I have a surprise for you. Come see.” The surprise was a doll I had wanted for the longest time. Throughout the day, she told me everything that she thought I would need to know to grow up and be a good person; she told me to be the best I could be and that I would always make her proud. The day was filled with laughter. For the first time in a long time I could see she was happy. Really happy.
The day passed and the next day, it was time for the surgery. There were no tears; I think I understood that I could lose my mom, because they did tell me she could die. We waited all day for news from the doctor. Everyone jumped when a door opened or anyone walked into the waiting room. Finally the doctor came in, and the news was what we had prayed (祈祷) for.
The experience that my family went through was truly a roller coaster. I will never forget that day together, and how her illness pulled our family closer. I understand now how lucky we were. I truly appreciate life and honor my mom for being so strong.
1.After the author’s mother fell ill, people _____.
A．took turns to look after the author
B．tried to spend more time on their work
C．spared more time to stay with the mother
D．asked the doctors to operate on the mother at once
2.It can be inferred that the author’s mother ______.
A．tried to show her love to her daughter before the operation
B．didn’t agree to have the operation
C．had always been happy before the operation
D．was very nervous the day before the operation
3.What is the third paragraph mainly about?
A．How the doctors operated on the mother.
B．How the family prayed for the mother.
C．How the mother struggled against cancer.
D．How the family waited for the operation result.
4.What does the author mean by the underlined sentence in the text?
A．Life is always full of hardships.
B．Life is full of both pain and happiness.
C．Life is always filled with pleasure.
D．Life is fair for everyone all the time.
Marie Curie was a Polish-born physicist and chemist and one of the most famous scientists of her time. Together with her husband Pierre, she won the Nobel Prize in 1903, and another one in 1911.
Marie Sklodowska was born in Warsaw on 7 November 1867, the daughter of a teacher. In 1891, she went to Paris to study physics and maths at the Sorbonne where she met Pierre Curie, professor of the School of Physics. They married in 1895.
The Curies worked together studying radioactivity(放射性), building on the work of the German physicist Roentgen and the French physicist Becquerel. In July 1898, the Curies announced the discovery of polonium(钋). At the end of the year, they announced the discovery of another, radium(镭). The Curies, along with Becquerel, won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903.
Pierre’s life was cut short in 1906 when he was knocked down and killed by a carriage. Marie took over his teaching post, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne, and devoted (献身于) herself to continuing the work that they had begun together. She received a second Nobel Prize, for Chemistry, in 1911.
The Curies’ research was important in developing X-rays in surgery. During World WarⅠ, Marie helped fixed X-ray equipment, which she herself drove to the front lines. She helped train doctors for the International Red Cross.
Although she achieved much success, men scientists in France were still against Marie, and she never received any financial help from her work. By the late 1920s her health was beginning to become worse. She died on 4 July 1934 from her dangerous research. The Curies’ eldest daughter Irene was a scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
1.All the following people contributed to Marie’s first Nobel Prize EXCEPT _____.
A．Irene B．Pierre C．Becquerel D．Roentgen
2.We can know from the text that Marie’s work______.
A．won her respect from men scientists
B．brought her some financial help
C．had a bad effect on her health
D．had no influence on her children
3.Which is the right order of the following events?
①Marie became a teacher at the Sorbonne.
②Marie helped train doctors.
③The Curies discovered polonium.
④The Curies won the Nobel Prize for Physics.
⑤The Curies discovered radium.
A．①④⑤③② B．③⑤④①② C．⑤④①③② D．②③⑤①④
4.Which of the following about Marie is NOT true?
A．She married at the age of 28.
B．Her parent was a teacher.
C．She was the first woman teacher at the Sorbonne.
D．She helped the International Red Cross fix X-ray equipment.
