Bill Bowerman was a track coach. He wanted to help athletes run faster. So he had learned how to make running shoes. He had also started a shoe company with a friend. It was 1971. Running shoes at the time were heavy.They had spikes (鞋钉) on the sole (鞋底). The spikes tore up the track and slowed down runners.
To make a lighter shoe, Bill tried the skins of fish. To make a better sole, he wanted to replace the spikes. Bill dug through his wife Barbara’s jewelry box. He hoped to find a piece of jewelry with an interesting pattern. He would then copy the pattern onto the new soles. Nothing worked. Bill was defeated.
Then, one Sunday morning, Barbara made Bill waffles (华夫饼) for breakfast. Bill watched her cook.
He studied the criss-cross pattern on a waffle iron.
Inspiration struck. The pattern on the waffle iron was just what Bill was looking for. The squares were flatter and wider than sharp spikes. The pattern would help the shoes hold any surface without tearing into it.
When Barbara left the house, Bill ran to his lab. He took the liquid chemicals that, when mixed, would harden into the sole of a shoe. He poured the mixture into the waffle iron---and the Waffle Trainer was born.
Bill’s company put the Waffle Trainer on market in 1974. It was a huge hit. Maybe you’ve heard of that company---it's called Nike. And today it's worth around $100 billion.
It was the waffle iron that had changed the course of Bill’s life---and helped turn Nike into a well-known name. Today, the waffle iron is kept at Nike headquarters. It serves as a reminder that if we keep trying, we can find a solution to even the most difficult problems. And those solutions can come from unlikely places, even the breakfast table.
1.What shortcomings did the old-style running shoes have?
A. They were hard to wear. B. They were too large.
C. They were impractical. D. They were easy to break.
2.Where did Bill get the inspiration to invent the famous Waffle Trainer?
A. From the skins of the fish. B. From his wife’s jewelry.
C. From the color of the iron. D. From his wife’s cooking.
3.What can we learn from Bill’s success?
A. A cheer wife is the joy of life. B. Two heads are better than one.
C. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. D. A bad workman quarrels with his tools.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Waffles and Nike B. Inspiration and Invention
C. A Great Inventor D. A Well-Known Company
Music Festivals
1.Why do people in the Buku Music Festival need to catch up on their sleep?
A. Sleep during the night is difficult. B. Buku has a post-industrial setting.
C. The performances will last overnight. D. The tickets for the festival are very expensive.
2.Which music festival can you find sports programs?
A. Buku Music Festival. B. Horizon Festival.
C. Gasparilla Music Festival. D. Golden Plains Festival.
3.Where is the Golden Plains Festival held?
A. On a mountain. B. In a downtown square.
C. In a music hall. D. In an open-air theatre.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.According to the speaker, how should the speech be?
A. Simple and clear. B. Funny and short. C. Detailed and educational.
2.How can one be more confident?
A. By practicing. B. By making an outline. C. By taking control of the situation.
3.What does the speaker talk about at last?
A. Details. B. Manner. C. Audience.
4.What does the speaker suggest people begin their speeches with?
A. Self-introduction. B. A piece of music. C. An interesting story.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why does the man think his company is understanding?
A. It offers him chances to work abroad. B. It allows him to take a long holiday.
C. It gives him money to afford his trips.
2.What did the man do this morning?
A. He returned from a tour. B. He checked his website. C. He made a travelling list.
3.When can a country be added to the man’s list?
A. After he changes planes at the country’s airport.
B. After he spends one night in the country.
C. After he visits a famous building there.
4.What is the purpose of the man’s travelling?
A. To meet other travelers. B. To stay with his girlfriend.
C. To feel the culture of the place.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Who is making the call?
A. Debra. B. Thomas. C. Jim.
2.What problem does the woman have?
A. She doesn’t know where to take a bus. B. She can’t find Jim in his office.
C. She can’t find her way.
3.What does the man suggest doing?
A. Walking to Alder Street. B. Heading north on 24th Street.
C. Keeping riding two more stops.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.When does the man have Language Development?
A. On Tuesdays and Thursdays. B. On Wednesdays and Fridays.
C. On Mondays and Thursdays.
2.What can we learn about the man?
A. He is free on Wednesday afternoons. B. He has to get up early on Mondays.
C. He has a busy schedule this term.
