Life Struggle
Once upon a time, there was a kind old man who loved everything. One day while walking through the woods the ______ old man found a cocoon of a butterfly. He took it home. A few days later, a small ______ appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it ______ to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop ______ any progress. It appeared ______ it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no ______. Then the man decided to ______ the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and ______ the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then appeared ______.
But it had a swollen body and small,______ wings. The man continued to ______ the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge an ______ to be able to support the body.______ happened! In fact, the butterfly ______ the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and wrinkled wings. It never was ______ to fly.
The man did not understand that the restricting ______ and the struggle required for the butterfly to ______ the tiny opening were Nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ______ for flight from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our ______. If we were allowed to go through our life without any ______, it would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.
1.A. nice B. cruel C. serious D. small
2.A. butterfly B. opening C. body D. worm
3.A. hoped B. decided C. refused D. struggled
4.A. taking B. owning C. making D. putting
5.A. as if B. even if C. only if D. if only
6.A. longer B. more C. farther D. less
7.A. beat B. help C. kill D. throw
8.A. cut across B. cut up C. cut down D. cut off
9.A. willingly B. happily C. easily D. difficultly
10.A. wrinkled B. strong C. skillful D. comfortable
11.A. decorate B. watch C. praise D. fly
12.A. require B. expect C. encourage D. expand
13.A. Something B. Anything C. Nothing D. Everything
14.A. took B. spent C. cost D. paid
15.A. glad B. free C. afraid D. able
16.A. cocoon B. time C. space D. stage
17.A. get across B. get through C. get in D. get down
18.A. helpful B. accessible C. ready D. careful
19.A. communication B. dream C. childhood D. life
20.A. difficulty B. income C. regrets D. appointment
Tips for Staying Sharp
It’s not abnormal to feel out of it from time to time or perhaps you’re feeling a bit sluggish (迟钝的) when it comes to remembering things. If you’re worried about your forgetfulness, try out these five tips to stay sharp.
Feed your brain.
1. If you decide to eat sugary foods that are heavy with fats then expect to feel lazy and have no energy. But if you decide to eat fruits, vegetables and make other healthy eating decisions you’ll find that you’re full of energy.
2.
Challenge yourself constantly—whether it is puzzles, reading, cooking or other tasks that will keep your mind working. If your mind is always learning new things and active, you’ll realize that it’s much easier for you to learn new things and to function. Remember your brain is a muscle and if you want to get the most out of it, you must use it.
Stay fit.
Being in good health and staying in shape is a big part of staying sharp. Your body will only give you what you put into it.3. However, if you put forth the effort into being healthy then your body will expel (释放) the energy you need to achieve your goals.
Ensure enough sleep.
Be sure to get the necessary amount of sleep that your body needs to function on a daily basis. According to studies, sleep helps strengthen and recover your memories.4. Therefore, you can improve your ability to focus and avoid distractions.
Socialize more.
Conversations require individuals to stay aware and active.5. Therefore, it’s necessary in life for you to keep your mind sharp.
A. Never worry.
B. Never stop learning.
C. You are what you eat.
D. Keep fit and study well.
E. Your body won’t give you the energy you remember if you are lazy.
F. It also helps your body build up an energy reserve.
G. Social interaction will help you develop multitasking, problem solving and other skills.
Friendship is one of the basic bonds between human beings. While the characteristics of friendship might vary from one country to another, people from all cultures not only enjoy friends but need them.
Many studies have shown that teenagers who have no friends often suffer from psychological disorders. It has been shown that teenagers, perhaps more than any other age group, need companionship and a sense of belonging. The negative consequences of loneliness have also been observed among the elderly. The death of a spouse often leaves a widow or a widower totally bereft. If, however, they are surrounded by friends and relatives and if they are able to express their feelings, they are more likely to recover from their grief.
“No man is an island.” In other words, we are all parts of society. We all need the love, admiration, respect and moral support of other people. If we are fortunate, our friends will provide us with all of these necessary aspects of life.
As most people observe, there are many levels of friendship. The degree or intensity of friendship varies depending on the personality of the individuals involved and the context of the relationships. Outgoing persons enjoy being surrounded by many people whereas shy persons are perhaps content with fewer but more intense friendships.
Everyone is not equally open with all their friends. The degree of closeness is determined by many factors. Close friends can be formed at any stage in one’s life but they are usually very rare. Not very many people have more than a few really close friends. Regardless of the level of closeness, all friendships are based on reciprocity (互惠), honesty and a certain amount of love and affection.
1.Who are more likely to suffer from psychological disorders without friends?
A. Teenagers. B. Adults.
C. The elderly. D. A couple.
2.What does the sentence “No man is an island” really mean?
A. No man is willing to live on an island.
B. Man usually doesn’t go to an island
C. Everyone is related with our society.
D. Our society is just like an island.
3.What can we learn about outgoing people?
A. They like being alone.
B. They are fond of making friends.
C. They have intense friendships.
D. They have fewer close friends indeed
4.What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?
A. The formation of close friends.
B. The number of real friends.
C. Honesty, love and affection.
D. Factors to determine the degree of closeness.
Persuasion is to convince someone to agree with you, just like art which also calls for special techniques to accomplish. According to the ancient Greeks, there are three basic tools of persuasion: ethos, pathos and logos.
Ethos is a speaker’s way of convincing the audience that he is trustworthy, honest and reliable. One common way a speaker can develop ethos is by explaining how much experience or education he has in the field. After all, you’re more likely to listen to advice about how to take care of your teeth from a dentist than a fireman.
Pathos is a speaker’s way of connecting with an audience's emotions. For example, a politician who is trying to convince an audience to vote for him might say that he alone can save the country from a terrible war. These words are intended to fill the audience with fear, thus making them want to vote for him. Similarly, an animal charity might show an audience pictures of injured dogs and cats to make the viewers feel pity, so they will be more likely to donate money.
Logos is the use of facts, statistics or other evidence to support your argument. An audience will believe you if you have convincing data to back up your claims. Presenting this evidence is much more persuasive than simply saying “believe me”.
Although ethos, pathos and logos all have their strengths, they are often most effective when used together. So, the next time you listen to a speech, watch a commercial or listen to a friend try to convince you to lend him some money, be on the lookout for these ancient Greek tools of persuasion.
1.What is the purpose of persuasion?
A. To advise somebody to support you.
B. To help someone have special skill
C. To convince somebody to realize his aim.
D. To talk someone into being honest.
2.What is a speaker’s way of convincing the audience to trust him?
A. Pathos. B. Ethos.
C. Logos. D. Education.
3.What do a politician and an animal charity have in common?
A. Both prevent themselves from being hurt.
B. Both save people from terrible wars.
C. Both make the audience support them.
D. Both persuade people to donate money.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Convince the Audience
B. Three Basic Tools of Persuasion
C. Believe Me
D. Strength of Persuasion
I have forgotten the name of an old lady in my home town when I was a twelve-year-old boy. Yet it dwells in my memory that she taught me a lesson in forgiveness that I shall never forget.
On a winter afternoon, a friend and I were throwing stones onto the roof of the old lady’s house. As a result, the stone headed straight for a small window. We knew we were in trouble. We ran faster off her roof.
I was too scared about getting caught to be concerned about the old lady with the broken window in winter. However, a few days later, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune. She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer able to act comfortably.
I made up my mind to save my paper delivery money. In three weeks I had the seven dollars and put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost for repairing it. After that, I walked up to the old lady’s house secretly, and put the letter I didn’t sign through the letter hole. My soul felt relieved and I could have the freedom of, once again, looking straight into the old lady’s kind eyes.
The next day, I handed the old lady her paper and she thanked me for the paper, giving me a bag of cookies she had made herself. I thanked her and continued to eat the cookies while walking.
After several cookies, I felt an envelope and pulled it out of the bag. When I opened the envelope, I was shocked. Inside were the seven dollars and a short note that said, “I’m proud of you.”
1.What does the underlined word “dwell” refer to?
A. Appear. B. Change.
C. Happen. D. Exist.
2.What happened when the author and his friend were throwing stones?
A. The roof of the old lady’s house was broken.
B. The stone broke a small window of the old lady’s.
C. The old lady broke into her house secretly.
D. The old lady gave him a bag of cookies.
3.How did the author feel about his breaking the old lady’s window?
A. Lucky. B. Discouraging.
C. Regretful. D. Annoyed.
Four Wild Animal Species Were Endangered
Maybe you can still see them at the zoo. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing alright in the wild.
Tigers
All six tiger species are endangered, with Suatran tigers and South China tigers at a seriously endangered status. The main reasons for their population decline are illegal hunting and destroyed habitats, as humans clear forests to gather timber and build roadways. Only about 3890 tigers presently live in the wild.
Ground squirrels
That’s right, even squirrels are endangered, specifically the San Joaquin ground squirrel. Native to California, USA, these guys have been disappearing since 1979 on account of the construction and human developments going through their habitat. Their total population is unknown, but it could be anywhere between 124000 and 4130000.
Giraffes
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently put giraffes at a vulnerable status, the level just before endangered. The giraffe population has declined 40 percent in the last 30 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and illegal hunting. Some giraffes are killed just for their tails, which are considered status symbols in Africa.
Asian elephants
The main threat to Asian elephants, one of the most intelligent animals, is their shrinking habitat. As the human population grows, people invade their land to build roads and railway tracks. Elephants in Myanmar are at an especially high risk for being captured and traded or used illegally in the tourist industry. Fewer than 50000 are left on the entire continent.
1.Why is the population of tigers becoming smaller?
A. People hunt illegally and destroy their living spots.
B. It is difficult for tigers to fit in with their environment.
C. The forests are not suitable for their living.
D. The tigers are a threat to the residents nearby.
2.What’s the main reason why some animals are in danger according to the passage?
A. Climate changes. B. Human activities.
C. Lack of food. D. Serious pollution.
3.The tails of are regarded as status symbols in Africa.
A. tigers’ B. ground squirrels’
C. giraffes’ D. Asian elephants’
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A. The giraffe population has increased greatly in the last 30 years.
B. The number of squirrels is between 124000 and 4130000.
C. Elephants in Myanmar are completely caught and even killed.
D. The present situation of endangered animals is worrying.
