We started in 1993 with a simple idea: that people could help each other by sharing stories about their lives. For years people had told our founders, motivational speakers Jack and Mark, inspiring stories about themselves. Jack and Mark included these stories in their talks, and their audiences repeatedly asked if they had ever been published.” That story about the boy and the puppy—is that in a book anywhere?” a parent asked Jack. “That story about the boy with the amputated(截肢)leg who became a tennis star, I need to read that to my staff,” a manager told him. Jack was asked repeatedly, “ Is that story in a book anywhere?”
Eventually Jack and Mark decided their audiences must be on to something, so they collected the best 101 stories they’d been told in a book. They called it Chicken Soup for the Soul because they wanted it to provide comfort just like their grandmother’s cooking.
They took the book to New York, hoping to sell it to one of the big publishers but every single one turned them down. The project appeared to have stalled until they met Peter Vegso, the owner of a small health and wellness polisher in Florida named HCI. Peter read some of the stories and loved them, so he decided to give the book a chance, becoming Chicken Soup for the Soul’s founding publisher.
Never, in Jack and Mark’s wildest dreams had they imagined what the book would become. Chicken Soup for the Soul turned into one of the most popular and loved books ever published, selling 11 million copies around the world. Readers asked for more stories so we published a “second helping” of Chicken Soup for the Soul and a third after that, Today, we’ve published more than 250 books, which have become the best-selling trade paperback book series of all time.
1.What droved Jack and Mark to publish these inspiring stores?
A. The rich source of good stories.
B. The good chance to be famous.
C. The benefits from the book.
D. The demand of audience
2.How did the title of the book come from?
A. The taste of chicken.
B. The way of cooking
C. The purpose of the book.
D. The experiences of children.
3.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “stalled” in Paragraph 3?
A. Stopped.
B. Failed.
C. Succeeded.
D. Progressed.
4.What do we know from the last paragraph?
A. The wildest dreams of two people.
B. An unexpected success of a book
C. An introduction to a series of books.
D. Calling on people to buy a best seller.
A little boy discovered what looked like a map to an unknown place. He soon realized it was the beginning of an exciting treasure hunt.
He found two pieces of paper along with the mysterious map. One was written with the instructions, “FIND THE WORDS.” The other piece of paper had several strange symbols scattered all over it.
Dad, fortunately, was there to help his son figure out the mystery. He folded up the paper with the symbols on it, and together they formed a message, which had another set of instructions, “UNDER STEPS.” The smart little boy knew exactly what to do so he went to look under the steps of his house. Without too much effort, he found a box below the staircase.
It didn’t take him long to figure out what to do next: open it up! Inside the box were some very interesting objects, including another piece of a treasure map and two broken pieces of paper. These were the most interesting finds because they contained what appeared to be a collection of letters on them. Finally, they knew where the treasure was from the letters: IN THE BUSH UNDER YOUR YARD.
After searching all over the yard, following several clues and wondering where everything would lead, the pair finally found what they had been looking for. And it was exactly what you would want after such an adventure: a treasure box!
The pair pulled it out of the ground and cleaned away all the dirt. The dad put the box in front of his son, and the little boy couldn’t contain his excitement. So he opened it up and finally found out what was inside.
Inside was more treasure than any little boy could ever want. There were hundreds of coins and all sorts of pirate treasure, including what looks like a pearl necklace and some silver dishes.
1.What led the little boy to start his treasure hunt?
A. His father’s encouragement
B. A possible treasure map.
C. His nature of curiosity.
D. Attraction of treasure.
2.How did the little boy and his father finally determine the exact treasure place?
A. By following the symbols on the paper.
B. By folding up the map.
C. By searching their yard.
D. By listing the letters on the paper.
3.Where did the little boy find the treasure?
A. In the bush.
B. Under the steps.
C. Under the ground.
D. In a box below the staircase.
4.How did the little boy feel about his finding?
A. Overjoyed.
B. Disappointed.
C. Grateful.
D. Unworthy.
Summer is approaching and the following books can accompany you during the hot season.
◆And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner
The smell of fresh-cut grass. The coldness of ice cream on your tongue. The sound of crickets(蟋蟀) at night, This romantic feast for senses is as much a celebration of the season as it is a summer bucket list! Attractive illustrations(插图)and descriptive text warm your heart and inspired play like never before.
Available from Amazon. $11.28
◆Three Little Words by Amy Novesky
Dery’s “Just keep swimming!” message of perseverance is perfect for any one who has ever felt like they were drowning. Follow Dory an unforgettable adventure as she finds her way in this beautiful watercolor adventure of friendship and survival.
Available from Amazon. $12 06
◆There Might be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi
Meet Suki. She’s a small dog with a big fear of the beach. When a rescue is in order, Suki saves that the day, proving that there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. Quite possibly the perfect picture book for anxious kids fearful to try new experiences, this timeless treasure opens the door to calming dialogues and messages of bravery and victory.
Available from Amazon. $11.84
◆Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
You know that feeling when you’re as excited as you are scared to make a leap? That’s how Jabari feels about his first jump off the diving board. He knows how to swim. He knows jumping off sure looks fun. But does he have what it takes to take a try? With some gentle encouragement from his loving father, Jabari jumps.
Available from Amazon. $11.26
1.What can you enjoy in the book And Then Comes Summer?
A. Swimming skills.
B. Fun of summer.
C. Art exhibition.
D. A lovely dog.
2.What do There Might be Lobsters and Jabari Jumps have in common?
A. They have the same prices.
B. Their characters do the same sports.
C. They can be bought in different places.
D. Their characters succeed in ridding fear.
3.Which book describes the experience of learning to swim?
A. And Then Comes Summer
B. There Might be Lobsters
C. Three Little Words
D. Jabari Jumps
请阅读下面文字,并按照要求用英语写一篇150 词左右的文章。
（写作内容）
1. 用约30个词概括上述利用排名（ratings）进行消费的现象；
2. 谈谈你如何看待消费排名，然后用2-3个理由或论据支撑你的看法。
（写作要求）
1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；学科￥网
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；
3. 不必写标题。
（评分标准）
内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。
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请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
注意：请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。每个空格只填一个单词。
How Arts Promote Our Economy
When most people think of the arts, they imagine the end product, the beautiful painting, a wonderful piece of music, or an award-winning performance in the theater. But arts groups bring broader value to our communities. The economic impact of the arts is often overlooked and badly judged.
The arts create jobs that help develop the economy. Any given performance takes a tour bus full of artists, technical experts, managers, musicians, or writers to create an appealing piece of art. These people earn a living wage for their professional knowledge and skills.
Another group of folks is needed to help market the event. “If you build it they will come” is a misleading belief. Painters, digital media experts, photographers, booking agents and promoters are hired to sell tickets and promote the event. According to the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition, arts agencies employ more than 10,000 people as full-or part-time employees or independent contractors.
A successful arts neighborhood creates a ripple effect（连锁反应）throughout a community. In 2005, when the Bishop Arts Theatre was donated to our town, the location was considered a poor area of town. After investing more than $1 million in reconstructing the building, we began producing a full season of theater performances, jazz concerts, and year-round arts education programs in 2008. Nearly 40 percent of jazz lovers live outside of the Dallas city limits and drive or fly in to enjoy an evening in the Bishop Arts District.
No doubt the theater has contributed to the area’s development and economic growth. Today, there are galleries, studios, restaurants and newly built work spaces where neighbors share experiences, where there is renewed life and energy. In this way, arts and culture also serve as a public good.
TeCo Theatrical Productions Inc. made use of Bloomberg’s investment of $35,000 to get nearly $400,000 in public and private sector support during the two-year period. Further, Dallas arts and arts-based businesses produce $298 for every dollar the city spends on arts programming and facilities. In Philadelphia, a metro area smaller than Dallas, the arts have an economic impact of almost $3 million and support 44,000 jobs, 80 percent of which actually lie outside the arts industry, including accountants, marketers, construction workers, hotel managers, printers, and other kinds of art workers.
The arts are efficient economic drivers and when they are supported, the entire small-business community benefits.
It is wrong to assume arts groups cannot make a profit. But in order to stay in business, arts groups must produce returns. If you are a student studying the arts, chances are you have been ill-advised to have a plan B. But those who truly understand the economic impact and can work to change the patterns can create a wide range of career possibilities.
Arts as an economic driver | Our communities 1. from arts in terms of economy. |
2. of arts’ promoting our economy | Arts activity demands a(n) 3. effort. It involves creation, performance, and 4.. ★Artists make a living through their creative work. ★Others get paid by marketing the event. |
Arts have a gradually spreading 5.. They could help promote other industries whether they lie inside or outside arts. ★Besides tickets, some jazz lovers will pay their 6. to and from the events. ★Arts contribute to cultural development when people gather together to share their experience and renew their energy. | |
Investment in arts could produce potential 7. economic results. ★TeCo used a $35,000 art investment to attract an overall support of $400,000. ★In Dallas, one dollar invested in arts could harvest and extraordinary return of nearly $300. ★In Philadelphia the arts have created about 35,000 job opportunities for workers 8. arts industry. | |
Art students making a good living | With these 9. in mind, art students need not worry about their career and have a(n) 10. plan. |
Children as young as ten are becoming dependent on social media for their sense of self-worth, a major study warned.
It found many youngsters(少年）now measure their status by how much public approval they get online, often through “likes”. Some change their behaviour in real life to improve their image on the web.
The report into youngsters aged from 8 to 12 was carried out by Children's Commissioner (专员) Anne Longfield. She said social media firms were exposing children to major emotional risks, with some youngsters starting secondary school ill-equipped to cope with the tremendous pressure they faced online.
Some social apps were popular among the children even though they supposedly require users to be at least 13. The youngsters admitted planning trips around potential photo-opportunities and then messaging friends—and friends of friends — to demand “likes” for their online posts.
The report found that youngsters felt their friendships could be at risk if they did not respond to social media posts quickly, and around the clock.
Children aged 8 to 10 were "starting to feel happy" when others liked their posts. However, those in the 10 to 12 age group were "concerned with how many people like their posts", suggesting a “need” for social recognition that gets stronger the older they become.
Miss Longfield warned that a generation of children risked growing up "worried about their appearance and image as a result of the unrealistic lifestyles they follow on platforms, and increasingly anxious about switching off due to the constant demands of social media.
She said: "Children are using social media with family and friends and to play games when they are in primary school. But what starts as fun usage of apps turns into tremendous pressure in real social media interaction at secondary school."
As their world expanded, she said, children compared themselves to others online in a way that was "hugely damaging in terms of their self-identity, in terms of their confidence, but also in terms of their ability to develop themselves".
Miss Longfield added: "Then there is this push to connect—if you go offline, will you miss something, will you miss out, will you show that you don't care about those people you are following, all of those come together in a huge way at once." "For children it is very, very difficult to cope with emotionally." The Children's Commissioner for England's study—life in Likes—found that children as young as 8 were using social media platforms largely for play.
However, the research—involving eight groups of 32 children aged 8 to 12—suggested that as they headed toward their teens, they became increasingly anxious online.
By the time they started secondary school—at age 11—children were already far more aware of their image online and felt under huge pressure to ensure their posts were popular, the report found.
However, they still did not know how to cope with mean-spirited jokes, or the sense of incompetence they might feel if they compared themselves to celebrities(名人) or more brilliant friends online. The report said they also faced pressure to respond to messages at all hours of the day—especially at secondary school when more youngsters have mobile phones.
The Children’s Commissioner said schools and parents must now do more to prepare children for the emotional minefield(雷区) they faced online. And she said social media companies must also "take more responsibility". They should either monitor their websites better so that children do not sign up too early, or they should adjust their websites to the needs of younger users.
Javed Khan, of children's charity Bamardo's, said: "It's vital that new compulsory age-appropriate relationship and sex education lessons in England should help equip children to deal with the growing demands of social media.”
“It’s also hugely important for parents to know which apps their children are using.”
1.Why did some secondary school students feel too much pressure?
A. They were not provided with adequate equipment.
B. They were not well prepared for emotional risks.
C. They were required to give quick responses.
D. They were prevented from using mobile phones.
2.Some social app companies were to blame because ________.
A. they didn't adequately check their users' registration
B. they organized photo trips to attract more youngsters
C. they encouraged youngsters to post more photos
D. they didn't stop youngsters from staying up late
3.Children's comparing themselves to others online may lead to ________.
A. less friendliness to each other
B. lower self-identity and confidence
C. an increase in online cheating
D. a stronger desire to stay online
4.According to Life in Likes, as children grew, they became more anxious to ________.
A. circulate their posts quickly
B. know the qualities of their posts
C. use mobile phones for play
D. get more public approval
5.What should parents do to solve the problem?
A. Communicate more with secondary schools.
B. Urge media companies to create safer apps.
C. Keep track of children's use of social media.
D. Forbid their children from visiting the web.
6.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. The influence of social media on children.
B. The importance of social media to children.
C. The problem in building a healthy relationship.
D. The measure to reduce risks from social media.
