"I didn't hear them call my name," explained Shelley Hennig to Active Teens (AT) as she talked about that exciting moment on national television when she won the honor of Miss Teen USA 2004. "Are you ready?" is what she heard. Then she said, "I shook my head no, and then they said ‘yes’ and it was announced again."
It was four days after that life changing moment for the seventeen-year-old high school student from Destrehan, Louisiana----she was still on cloud nine．
"I was so shocked! I never believed that it could actually really happen." Present in the audience(观众)that day were: her mother and father, older brother, her friends, and her dance teacher.
Understanding why members of her family and her friends would be there, AT asked why her dance teacher had traveled so far to see her compete (比赛)."She's always been my role model．I've danced with her since I was six. She's been through so many difficulties and came through them all. I've learned to get over bad life's experiences and learned how to move on because of her."
One of those bad life's experiences for Shelley happened three years ago when her brother Brad was killed in a drunk driving accident. He was 18. She found writing helped her get through the rough days. She said, "I write a lot about my brother. I write a lot, a lot, a lot...”
As Miss Louisiana Teen, she traveled around the state speaking to teens (青少年) about the dangers of drinking and driving. In her role as Miss Teen USA, Sheiley will continue to speak to youth about safe driving, in addition to many other things to help the youth.
When AT asked Miss Teen USA if she had any advice for our readers, she said, "Don't let anyone change you. Hang out with people that make you feel good about yourself. That way, it is easy to be yourself."
1.What do the words “on cloud nine” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.frightened B.very happy
C.troubled D.very angry
2.Shelley takes her dance teachers as a role model mainly because she is .
A.strict B.friendly
C.determined D.experienced
3.How many children did the Hennigs have according to the text?
A.1. B.2.
C.3. D.4.
4.What did Shelley often do after she became Miss Louisiana Teen?
A.She visited drunken drivers.
B.She made speeches on safe driving.
C.She gave dance performance.
D.She helped other teens with their studies.
5.What suggestion does Shelley give to the teens?
A.Meet friends whenever possible.
B.Be yourself with the support of friends.
C.Go easy on yourself and others.
D.Have a good role model.
Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony but places tend to be called names as points of reference by people. Then an organized body steps in and gives the place a name. Frequently it happens that a place has two names: One is named by the people and the other by the government. As in many areas, old habits die hard and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.
Many roads and places in Singapore（新加坡）are named in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations. Thus we have names such as Stamford Road and Raffles Place. This is in keeping with traditions in many countries ---- in both the West and the East.
Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. Perhaps they were named to promote friendships between the two places or it could be that the people who used to live there were originally from the places that the roads were named after. The mystery is clearer when we see some of the roads named in former British bases. If you step into Selector Airbase you will see Piccadilly Circus ---- obviously named by some homesick Royal Air Force personnel.
Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example, “Base Basah” means “wet rice” in Malay（马来语）. Now why would anyone want to name a road “Wet Rice Road”? The reason is simple. During the pioneering days, wet rice was laid out to dry along this road.
A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes. There is “Circular Road” for one. Other roads may have part of their names to describe their shapes, like “Paya Lebar Crescent”. This road is called a crescent（月牙） because it begins on the main road, makes a crescent and comes back to join the main road again.
1.We learn from Paragraph 1 that _____.
A.the government is usually the first to name a place
B.many places tend to have more than one name
C.a ceremony will be held when a place is named
D.people prefer the place names given by the government
2.What does the underlined phrase “die hard” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.Change suddenly. B.Change significantly.
C.Disappear mysteriously. D.Disappear very slowly.
3.Which of the following places is named after a person?
A.Raffles Place. B.Selector Airbase.
C.Piccadilly Circus. D.Paya Lebar Crescent.
4.Bras Basah Road is named _______.
A.after a person B.after a place C.after an activity D.by its shape
5.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Some place names in Singapore are the same as in Britain.
B.Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes.
C.The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.
D.Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers.
Double Trouble
When I was eight, I wanted a toy and needed $10 to buy it. But, as usual, I was broken. I decided to ask my 11-year-old sister, Kathleen, for a loan. I went to her room, _______her for the cash. Laughing, she agreed to_______ me the money, but added, “I will charge you 10 percent compound interest every ______until you pay me back.”
“Compound interest---what’s that?” I asked.
“Well, interest is what you call the_______money borrowers have to pay back on a loan,” she explained. “Compound interest means that the interest payments get bigger and bigger the______you take to pay back the loan. To repay the loan, you will need to give me $11 after one month. If you wait two months to pay me back, your______ will grow from $10 to $11. So I’ll be charging you interest on $11. Then I will add that interest to the $11 you already owe me, for a _____of $12.10. That’s what you’ll owe after two months.”
“Sure. I get it,” I said. Though truthfully, I was getting ______.
Kathleen lent me the money, and I bought the toy. My birthday came a month later, and my mom gave me $10. _____,that was just the amount I needed to buy another toy I wanted ______. I put off paying my sister for a month. After another month, I_______about the loan.
Several months later, on Christmas morning, my sister and I each found a $02 bill in our stockings. I was just putting it into my pocket ______Kathleen tapped me on the shoulder.
“Sorry, kiddo. That’s mine. I’m ______on your debt.”
“Huh?” Then I remembered the loan. “Hey! How can it be that much? I ______borrowed $10.”
“True,” she said, “but interest has been compounding for eight months. Now you _____me $21.43.” She paused, then added. “You can pay me the $1.43.”
I ______to believe that a $10 loan could more than double so quickly. Much to my ______, my sister got her pencil and tablet and showed me exactly how it all added up.
My head _____as I tried to keep track of Kathleen’s ______, but this time, I got the basic idea of compound interest. I ______the hard way that borrowing money can be “double trouble” in no time.
1.A.blaming B.begging C.searching D.preparing
2.A.pay B.send C.lend D.hand
3.A.month B.year C.week D.day
4.A.little B.same C.enough D.extra
5.A.shorter B.longer C.more D.less
6.A.cash B.saving C.note D.debt
7.A.total B.cost C.number D.bill
8.A.encouraged B.shocked C.confused D.satisfied
9.A.Gradually B.Obviously C.Unfortunately D.Hopefully
10.A.seriously B.anxiously C.secretly D.desperately
11.A.forgot B.knew C.talked D.cared
12.A.after B.until C.while D.when
13.A.carrying B.collecting C.relying D.focusing
14.A.normally B.nearly C.only D.really
15.A.owe B.offer C.take D.give
16.A.decided B.refused C.pretended D.managed
17.A.relief B.delight C.annoyance D.regret
18.A.turned B.nodded C.stuck D.hurt
19.A.calculations B.excuses C.directions D.discoveries
20.A.explored B.learned C.explained D.questioned
I can _______the house being untidy, but I hate it if it’s not clean.
A.come up with B.put up with
C.turn to D.stick to
--- You could always put the decision off a little bit longer.
--- _________ If I leave it much longer I might miss my chance.
A.That’s reasonable advice
B.Isn’t it a good idea?
C.Do you think so?
D.I can’t agree more
It sounds like something is wrong with the car’s engine. ________, we’d better take it to the garage immediately.
A.Otherwise B.If not
C.But for that D.If so
