When we talk about superstitious（迷信的）beliefs , the beliefs associated with Friday the 13th , no doubt , deserve a special mention . In fact , such is the fear associated with this date that people just can’t seem to stick to their daily routine on this day . The data from Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute suggests that somewhere around 17 to 21 million Americans are affected by the fear associated with this day , i.e. the combination of Friday and 13 . Even worse , the financial losses caused on this day amounts to as much as US$800 million every year .
As we flipped through the pages of history , we realized that Friday the 13th bears the brunt of bad luck associated with number 13 , the unluckiest number , and Friday , the unluckiest day of the week . Number 13 has always been considered unlucky , mainly as a result of it being associated with various occurrences in mythology . While some associate it with the instance of Norse mythology , in which the god of joy and gladness – Balter , was killed in a dishonest manner by Loki – the god of discord and mischief , who was the 13th guest , others associate it with the Last Supper , in which the 13th guest was Judas , who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver .
Similarly , Friday has also been a sign of bad luck to many people , with incidents like Jesus being crucified（在十字架上钉死）on this unfaithful day , contributing to this belief . It is also widely believed that Cain killed Able on this very day of the week . The fear of Friday the 13th is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobia , the former combining the words frigga , meaning Friday , and triskaidekaphobia , meaning the phobia of number 13 . Over the period , the belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day has just become one of the most widely accepted superstitions , which consequently causes much blind panic and unreasonable fear in the world .
1.What does Friday the 13th refer to according to passage ?
A. The 13th Friday of a year .
B. The fear of the number 13 on Fridays .
C. A fixed date of a year that can bring bad luck .
D. The 13th day of a month falling on a Friday .
2.We can learn from the passage that __________ .
A. superstition is more popular among the uneducated
B. religion is an important contributing factor to superstition
C. Numbers are believed to bring people bad luck in history
D. The belief of Friday the 13th is based on folk stories
3.What will the author most probably talk about next ?
A.Arguments for and against the belief of Friday the 13th
B.Reasons why Friday the 13th is widely accepted
C.Stories about the bad luck brought by Friday the 13th
D.Appropriate attitude towards Friday the 13th
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The psychology of superstition
B.The history of a common superstition
C.The origins of Friday the 13th
D.Influences of Friday the 13th
Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life . You don’t need statistics to understand the Dane’s happy lot . Walk around any Danish town and you’ll experience some of the most harmonious civic spaces anywhere . Their intimate scales and perfect transport systems combine the rich history and bold modern lines of the built environment to delight the eye , and the locals’ manners and sense of humor is refreshing .
Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is a remarkable city with well-preserved medieval streets , renowned art galleries , Michelin-starred restaurants and a healthy business center . Finding something to do is never a problem and if all else fails , just admiring the streets with a hotdog in hand is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours .
Beyond the capital and the bigger cities , Denmark offers a mix of lively towns such as Ribe and Odense plus rural countryside , medieval churches , Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century villages .
The coastline of Denmark with its sand dunes and greenery is a sight that always attracts visitors . So , no matter what time of year you’re in Denmark , you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to the nearest beach .
It’s hard , in short , to find fault with the place . The visitor’s most heartfelt complaint is usually the cost of visiting Denmark . True , it is not a cheap destination , but no more so than the UK , and which nation’s public transport system would you rather use ?
Cheer yourself up by thinking of the country’s remarkable organization and clockwork railway timetable as being financed by the extremely high taxes paid by your hosts . When viewed in this way , this first-rate destination seems like good value , and you get the fairy tales thrown in for free : the Danish royal family is genuinely loved and respected by the vast majority of its citizens , not least handsome Prince Frederik , his beautiful Australian-born princess-bride , Mary , and their young family .
1. Which of the following words can best describe Danes ?
A. Polite and humorous .B. Happy and romantic .
C. Kind and friendly .D. Out-going and humorous .
2.The writer implies in the last two paragraphs that __________ .
A. Visiting the U.K. will cost less than travelling in Denmark .
B. The transport system in the UK can’t equal that in Denmark .
C. People in Denmark pay high taxes to welcome visitors .
D. The Danish royal family plays an important role in politics .
3.How does the passage mainly develop ?
A. By providing examples . B. By making comparisons .
C. By giving descriptions .D. By following time order .
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage ?
A. To introduce Danish culture .
B. To show the attractions of Denmark .
C. To share experiences of travelling in Denmark .
D. To describe the happy life people live in Denmark .
Roughly half of college students will have some degree of depression at some point during their time in school . Even more startling , 6.2 percent of college students surveyed in 2012 considered suicide and 1.3 percent attempted it , according to an American College Health Association study released this spring . If you’re feeling depressed on campus , you may find the following tips helpful .
Exercise : Physical activity releases endorphins – chemicals that produce an overall positive feeling within the body , which fight depression naturally . Mental health experts claim that exercise is a solution to those feeling mild or moderate depression . However , for those severely depressed , simply doing sports is not enough .
Use school counseling services : Campuses don’t employ mental health experts simply to throw thousands of dollars down the drain . Their job is to help students , so experts recommend you use them . Most students , however , are hesitant to take a trip to their college’s counseling center , fearing being laughed at by peers . As a result , some schools like Texas Christian University , are testing students for mental health problems when they get sick and visit the campus health clinic .
Take advantage of technology : Staying in touch with family members and friends from childhood and high school has become easier than ever with the coming of Facebook and video chat services like Skype . While mental health experts insist that it’s important to make friends in your new environment and be involved in the college community , it’s also significant to keep in touch with the people you knew before college .
Go to sleep : Following a fairly regular sleep pattern can defend you against depression . In college , many students’ sleep patterns are irregular thanks to late-night studying and partying , which is harmful to their mental health . Research strongly suggests that sleep is the key to learning and memory formation .
1.According to the passage , physical activity __________ .
A. is regarded as the best way to fight depression
B. contributes to the release of endorphins
C. can’t help the seriously depressed students
D. improve people’s ability to learn and memorize
2.It can be inferred from the 3rd paragraph that __________ .
A. employing mental health experts on campus is a waste of money
B. students with mental health problems can’t get on well with others
C. going to college’s counseling center for help requires a lot of courage
D. sick students in Texas Christian University must take psychological tests
3.Taking advantage of technology is encouraged because it ____
A.enables students to get involved in college life
B.helps students stay in contact with others
C.offers students a way to make new friends
D.provides a way to avoid getting bored
4.which of the following can NOT help one reduce depression?
A.Taking exercise regularly every week
B.Chatting with old friends with Skype
C.Turning to mental health experts for advice
D.Holding parties deep into the night to relax
Dear Dad ,
Today I was at the shopping mall and I spent a lot of time reading the Father’s Day cards . They all had a special message that in some way or another reflected how I feel about you . Yet as I selected and read , it occurred to me that not a single card said what I really want to say to you .
You’ll soon be 84 years old , Dad , and you and I will have had 55 Father’s Days together . I haven’t always been with you on Father’s Day but I’ve always been with you in my heart .
You know , Dad , there was a time when we were separated by the generation gap . You stood on one side of the Great Divide and I on the other .
The Father-Daughter Duel shifted into high gear（档位）when you taught me to drive the old Dodge and I decided I would drive the 54 Chevy whether you liked it or not . The police officer who sent me home after you reported the Chevy stolen didn’t have much tolerance for a stubborn 16 year old , while you were so tolerant about it , Dad , and I think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life .
Our relationship picked up when I married a man you liked , and things really turned around when we began making babies right and left . Somewhere along the line , the generation gap disappeared . I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together , rather like a fine wine .
But the strangest thing happened last week . I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car . It didn’t immediately occur to me that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and fragile behind the wheel of that huge car . It was rather like a slap in the face delivered from out of nowhere . Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day .
I guess what I’m trying to say , Dad , is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today . Honoring a father on Father’s Day is about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking . It’s about loving someone more than words can say , and it’s wishing that it never had to end .
I love you , Dad .
Love ,
Jenny
1.What caused Jenny to write the letter ?
A. Getting along well with her father .
B. Being away on previous Father’s Day .
C. Visiting a card exhibition at a mall .
D. Failing to find a satisfactory card .
2.What does the underlined phrase “ turned around ” in Para. 5 mean ?
A. Because better .B. Changed unexpectedly .
C. Went worse .D. Progressed unsteadily .
3.What can we learn from Para. 6 ?
A. Jenny seldom saw her father drive that huge car .
B. Jenny had never realized her father’s being weak .
C. Jenny’s father slapped her on the face somewhere .
D. Jenny knew her father’s real age from that day on .
4.Jenny wrote her father this letter to __________ .
A. inform him of their conflicts
B. apologize for her being stubborn
C. express her genuine love to him
D. remind him of the early incident
Life is short . Are you doing what you love ? Are you living your passion ?
If not , why ? I am guessing most people will answer that with “ I have a mortgage（按揭）, and three kids to . ” In the real world people have responsibilities . They have to make . You aren’t supposed to be happy with your job but you do it because you have to .
To be frank , they are wrong . You can take of your responsibilities and also be happy with your job . We spend over 1/3 of our day , at least five days a week our jobs . This is a lot of time to be wasting on something we don’t , is it not ? Why not spend that time doing something you truly are about for 50 hours a week instead of something that lacks ?
Love What You Do. Do What You Love .
1.A. confusion B. call C. criticism D. question
2.A. care B. support C. grow D. keep
3.A. sacrifices B. complaints C. donations D. comments
4.A. notice B. pride C. care D. advantage
5.A. dealing B. performing C. realizingD. hunting
6.A. concern B. know C. enjoy D. achieve
7.A. certain B. skilled C. curious D. passionate
8.A. enthusiasm B. truth C. meaning D. use
A 6-year-old girl asked her mother , “ Can flowers speak ? ”
“ Oh , my dearie , if flowers can’t speak , how the spring is , and who will look around it ? ”
The little girl smiled with .
At the age of 16 , the girl asked her father , “ Can the stars in the sky speak ? ”
“ Oh , my daughter , if the stars can speak , the sky will be noisy , and who will for the peaceful heaven ? ”
The little girl smiled with satisfaction again .
At the age of 26 , the girl had become a mature female . One day she asked in her husband , a diplomat , “ Was the way I and spoke appropriate at the grand party last night ? ”
“ Great ! ” the diplomat had no of flattering（恭维）, “ When you spoke , it was like the melodious music ; though you spoke so much , it was not ; when you were silent , you were like a fragrant lotus flower ; though quiet , it involved everything … Sweetheart , can you tell me how you it ? ”
His wife said with a smile , “ At the age of 6 , I learned from my mother as a teacher to dialogue with nature . At the age of 16 , I learned from my father as a writer when to speak and when not . Before I you , I learned from historians , philosophers , writers , musicians and diplomats what kind of speech I should when I meet different kinds of people . Honey , I have also thoughts , wisdom , courage and love from you ! ”
1.A. beautiful B. cool C. normal D. lonely
2.A. happiness B. relaxation C. satisfaction D. excitement
3.A. leave B. long C. search D. look
4.A. detail B. private C. person D. advance
5.A. behaved B. played C. worked D. drank
6.A. effect B. reason C. intention D. mood
7.A. unnecessary B. unclear C. unbearable D. unavoidable
8.A. prove B. prepare C. make D. find
9.A. when B. where C. who D. how
10.A. countered B. met C . sought D. visited
11.A. have B. make C. announce D. apply
12.A. regained B. developed C. received D. chose
