The other day I heard a few local musicians talking:
“I hate all the terrible pianos in this town. I hate that rubbish they play on the radio. They can’t even understand a bit of music.”
“I’m never playing in that club again. Too many drunks and nobody listens to us.”
But, one younger musician said, “There are a few clubs that book my band a few nights a month, and I’m trying to find other places to play. I’m also looking to book a few summer festivals this year.”
I’ve heard that you are the average of the five people whom you spend the most time with, or to put it another way, you are who your friends are.
Attitudes are important. Whether they’re positive or negative, they’re rubbing off on you. If you’re around people who complain about lack of work and about other musicians, or blame others, and you play the role of victim , chances are you will start to as well. So it’s time to take a look at the people you call “friends”.
This is an easy exercise: Make a list of the people who you hang out with, and simply stop spending time with the negative people on your list. Set a new standard for yourself and don’t become friends with people who fall below that standard.
Keep successful people around you and your own chances for success will be much better. Ask them how they do it. Ask if they will help you get the work you’re looking for, or maybe give you some advice to help you on your career path.
1.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. A friend in need is a friend indeed
B. How to make friendship last forever
C. You are who your friends are
D. Friends are the most important in one’s success
2.The underlined sentence “they’re rubbing off on you” in Paragraph 6 means ______.
A. they’ll push you ahead
B. they’ll influence you
C. they’ll cover your shortcomings
D. they’ll help you achieve your goal
3.By taking the exercise mentioned in Paragraph 7, you can ______.
A. improve a lot in making more friends
B. come to the right way of making friends
C. develop a better relationship with your friends
D. arrange the time with your friends properly
4.The passage is mainly written for ______.
A. musicians
B. managers
C. negative people
D. people wanting to succeed
When Christopher Columbus landed on the then unnamed Costa Rica in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means “rich coast” in Spanish.
Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country’s second most important export.
Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors.
Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans.
1.What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. How Columbus found Costa Rica.
B. How Costa Rica got its name.
C. What the Costa Ricans wore.
D. What language the Costa Ricans spoke.
2.The Costa Ricans may NOT paint their houses ______.
A. pink and red. B. grey and black
C. blue and green. D. yellow and orange
3.From December to February, school children in Costa Rica ______.
A. have lessons every day
B. have their examinations
C. help their parents pick coffee beans
D. go to separate schools
4.This passage is mainly about ______.
A. Christopher Columbus
B. Costa Rica
C. some products from Costa Rica
D. the education of Costa Rica
A father with Parkinson's disease was arrested as he watched the Olympic cycling road race because he failed to smile or look as if he was enjoying himself.
Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier, claims that he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed just as cyclists passed by. His worried wife Nicola only found out he was being held after she reported him missing when he did not turn up for their daughter's ninth birthday party. The 54yearold man had his fingerprints, DNA and mugshot taken before being questioned about why he did not appear to be enjoying the event on July 28. Police said Mr. Worsfold, who was held for over five hours, was arrested because of his manner，his state of dress and his being too near to the course. A spokesman added that the arrest was necessary to avoid a breach(破坏) of the peace because he was standing near a group of protesters(抗议者)．
But Mr. Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2010, said that one of the symptoms of the disease is muscle rigidity, which can cause his face to become expressionless. “I was sitting minding my own business”， he told a local newspaper. “Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this sevenfoot wall, threw me to the floor and handcuffed me, so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement. It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson's disease.”
Mr. Worsfold has since asked for a letter of not being guilty from police. The officers who made the arrest have apologized to him.
1.Which word can be used to replace the underlined word “mugshot” in the second paragraph?
A．Clothes. B．Photos. C．Measures. D．Tools.
2.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Worsfold's wife was immediately informed of his being arrested by the police.
B．Worsfold was arrested because he was extremely dangerous.
C．Worsfold enjoyed the cycle race though he saw it between the feet of people from the pavement.
D．Worsfold was arrested because of his clothes as well as his facial expression.
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A．The officers must have been punished for Worsfold's arrest.
B．Worsfold has an expressionless face and probably looks strong.
C．The officers apologized to Worsfold after one day's arrest.
D．Worsfold was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago.
Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to ____ how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I ____ that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and ____ friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was ____， nothing about my term in France was what I ____.
The moment I arrived in Paris, I was ____ by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting ____ I received some shocking news from my program coordinator(协调人): there had been a death in my host parents' extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to ____ out of one family's house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I'd have a ____ this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation(诱惑) to ____ my native language, I asked not to be ____ with an Englishspeaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I ____ myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian(巴西人) the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs! In just a few hours, we knew we'd be good friends for the rest of the ____.
I left France with many ____， so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always ____ to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends ____ France we enjoyed together. I love how people ____ seem so different, but end up being so ____. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn't just to respect the French people ____ to respect all people，for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful ____.
1.A.discuss B．express C．announce D．argue
2.A.approved B．knew C．warned D．denied
3.A.stubborn B．anxious C．universal D．interesting
4.A.boring B．upsetting C．exciting D．promising
5.A.expected B．liked C．doubted D．feared
6.A.sponsored B．witnessed C．greeted D．supported
7.A.until B．when C．since D．while
8.A.move B．travel C．walk D．rush
9.A.housekeeper B．leader
C．roommate D．colleague
10.A.learn B．appreciate C．speak D．master
11.A.combined B．fitted C．involved D．placed
12.A.added B．introduced C．devoted D．adapted
13.A.term B．week C．month D．vacation
14.A.presents B．suitcases C．stories D．dreams
15.A.surprised B．disturbed
C．embarrassed D．concerned
16.A.analyzing B．exploring
C．describing D．investigating
17.A.need B．shall C．must D．can
18.A.generous B．independent
C．similar D．distant
19.A.and B．but C．or D．so
20.A.instructions B．friendships
C．facts D．data
(2013·山西高三诊断)Red Sorghum was adapted from Mo Yan's 1986 novel of the same name, ________ to life a visual landscape of red sorghum and a fiery ________ sun.
A．brought; setting B．bringing; setting
C．having brought; set D．bringing; set
(2013·北京东城区高三教学统一检测)According to the new law, the people found ________ “harmful” advertisements on the streets will be punished strictly.
A．put up B．to put up
C．putting up D．having put up
