Last year, I had a hard time: I was ______ by all the colleges I applied to. It’s not that I was a bad ______. So when I got turned down, I got into a______. I thought there was only one path to ______, and I wasn’t on it. While all my friends have many choices, I was left ______ what future I could have.
When my panic ______, I signed in community college. I wasn’t ______. I thought the incompetent teachers would ______ their students’ sleep in class. I was so wrong. The ______ of my professors were so poetic, and my classmates were ______, who could figure out kinds of difficult things.
I decided to give myself a year of ______. Aside from general education, I ______ a range of classes. I know it seems like some ______ classes, but it allowed me to ______ what I want. I used to have this idea that I had to rush to ______ a certain level of success by a certain age. But a year of community college has taught me to ______, and to recognize that things take time to ______. I still hope to transfer to a four-year ______ next year, but when I am a more mature person.
Being around the ______ has made me realize that I’m not late ______. There’s more than one way to get where you want to be.
1.A.accused B.praised C.accepted D.refused
2.A.student B.child C.headmaster D.colleague
3.A.mess B.panic C.trouble D.dilemma
4.A.inspiration B.progress C.success D.destruction
5.A.facing B.predicting C.doubting D.wondering
6.A.faded B.burdened C.balanced D.transferred
7.A.excited B.tired C.worried D.shocked
8.A.offer B.guide C.ignore D.lead
9.A.notes B.methods C.voices D.lectures
10.A.friendly B.intelligent C.excellent D.polite
11.A.experiment B.experience C.effort D.exploration
12.A.bought B.took C.studied D.elected
13.A.random B.suitable C.comprehensive D.basic
14.A.care for B.choose from C.know about D.put on
15.A.expect B.enjoy C.achieve D.finish
16.A.look for B.give up C.turn on D.slow down
17.A.concern B.provide C.satisfy D.adjust
18.A.club B.university C.school D.organization
19.A.children B.workmates C.classmates D.friends
20.A.hardly B.entirely C.generally D.rarely
I want the world to be a better one because I am in it. However, “changing the world” isn’t easy. Here are some great ways to change it for the better.
Smile at Everyone.
1.. Smile at people--the folks on the bus, or the receptionist at the office, for instance. Depending on your culture, you might feel a bit awkward or shy at first. 2.. People would respond brilliantly to a smile. Take it further: Give out free hugs.
Write a Letter to Someone You Love.
If a letter takes too long, write a card or postcard to your parents, or a relative who you don’t see often but who you care deeply about. 3.. Take it further: Write to a sick child, or a stranger in trouble. Your letter or card could make his or her day special.
4..
Being creative is a good way. It’s not necessarily big things-but your poem, painting, special recipe, blog post, etc. may impress others. Take it further: Offer your creative skills to a local youth group, school or retirement home. You could play a game, run a class, organize a concert...
Say “Thank you”.
Saying a heartfelt “thank you” means a huge amount to someone. If you’re a manager at work, take time to thank your men for what they do. 5.. Take it further: Write, phone or email someone in your community to thank them for the role they play.
A. Let them know how special they are to you.
B. Keeping writing will surely improve your social skills.
C. Give it a try anyway!
D. In your family, appreciate your partner, parents or kids.
E. It’s such a tiny thing, but it really does work.
F. Speak less and do more.
G. Create something unique.
The United Nations Environment Program is calling for urgent action to reduce growing risks from chemicals. Better management of chemicals could save millions of lives and billions of dollars. As estimated, 143,000 chemicals are now produced. Yet the report says only a small number of these chemicals have been studied for their effects on human health and the environment. It says death and disability rates are high from the unsafe use of chemical products.
Sylvie Lemmet, director of the UNEP, says poor management of chemicals has a high economic cost. For example, she says the cost is higher than the amount of overseas development aid, or ODA, for health care in sub-Saharan Africa.
She says, “If you look at the estimated cost of poisoning from pesticide (杀虫剂) in sub-Saharan Africa, only the injury and the loss of working time is estimated to be 6.3 billion US dollars in 2009. This is higher than the total ODA that is going to the health part in the same area.”
The UNEP estimates that chemical sales worldwide will increase by around three percent a year until 2050. Chemical production is moving quickly from developed to developing countries. By 2020, chemical production is expected to increase by 40 percent in Africa and the Middle East and 33 percent in Latin America. One of its biggest concerns is pollution of rivers and lakes by pesticide and fertilizer. Other major concerns are heavy metal pollution from the production of cement (水泥) and textiles (纺织品), and dioxin pollution from mining.
The UN report urges the chemical industry and governments to work together to develop safety policies. It says preventing harm costs less than fixing it.
1.The purpose of Paragraph 3 is mainly to indicate that ______.
A.chemicals have a high production cost
B.Africa needs more development aid
C.the use of pesticide causes a great loss
D.the estimated cost of poisoning from pesticide is incorrect
2.Which of the following is NOT a source of danger according to the text?
A.Pesticide. B.Fertilizer.
C.Heavy metals. D.Minerals.
3.According to the text, what is the main reason for the risks from chemicals?
A.The mass production of cement and textiles.
B.Lack of research funds on chemicals.
C.Poor management of chemicals.
D.Contradictions between chemical producers and governments.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.The truth in Sylvie Lemmet’s comments
B.A UN warning about chemical dangers
C.The unpredictable future of chemical industry
D.Preventing is much better than fixing
Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they’ve always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, that reputation may no longer reflect reality.
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there’s much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don’t cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don’t have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There’s also a difference between Paris and the countryside. It’s true that people in Paris don’t cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: “I don’t go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I’m not a fan at all.”
1.According to the passage, nowadays British people ______.
A.cook less at home than the French every day.
B.no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables.
C.are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods.
D.buy more cookbooks than French people do.
2.What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?
A.French women cook less often now.
B.The French prefer ready-made dishes.
C.French women seldom cook on the weekend.
D.Cooking is at the heart of people’s life in Paris.
3.What is Bernard’s attitude towards British food?
A.He would love to try it. B.He shows no interest in it.
C.He considers it worse than before. D.He considers it better than before.
4.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.The history of British food. B.The history of French food.
C.The change in British food. D.The change in French food.
Michael Surrell was the last person who should have run into a burning building－his lungs didn’t function well and were worse recently. But that didn’t stop him.
He had just parked around the corner from his house when he smelled something smoky, and was worrying that his car didn’t work well. At the moment, an urgent call from Alice, his eldest girl, got that across. Shocked and anxious, he then went to the house next door immediately. “Eight-year-old Tiara Roberts is still on the second floor!” one of the women cried. Though the firemen have been called and were on the way, Surrell, then 60, who once experienced such a situation and knew its urgency, ran inside without hesitation. The thick smoke made him almost impossible to breathe. The conditions would have been dangerous for anyone, but for Surrell, they were more serious and life-threatening.
After a few minutes in the smoke-filled house, he came out. Taking a deep breath, he went in a second time. Because the house has a similar design to his, he made it to the second floor. His throat and lungs burned as if he had breathed in fire. The smoke hurt his eyes so that his vision was poorer. Then a soft but clear painful sound could be heard. He crawled (爬) toward the sound, feeling around for any sign of the girl. Finally, he touched a shoe, and then an ankle. She wasn’t breathing. He held her into his arms and stood. He felt the heat of the flames on his cheeks, fought through the burning wood and made their way outside. Surrell put Tiara down on the porch and one neighbor carried out first aid. She coughed and opened her eyes at last.
Tiara survived the fire safely. However, Surrell took extra medication that helped open his airway. “It’s a small price to pay,” he said, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
1.How did Michael Surrell know the fire?
A.He smelled the smoke in the distance. B.He saw the firemen on the way.
C.He heard the call from a woman. D.His daughter telephoned to tell him.
2.Why were the conditions more dangerous for Surrell?
A.Because he was old. B.Because he lacked experience.
C.Because his vision was poor. D.Because he had lung disease.
3.Which word can describe Surrell’s first attempt?
A.Useless. B.Successful.
C.Hopeless. D.Surprising.
4.What can be learned about Surrell while he was saving Tiara?
A.His cheeks were hurt by flames. B.He lost the way to the second floor.
C.He took pains to confirm the girl’s position. D.His first aid knowledge helped save the girl.
After a day’s hiking, a comfortable place to bed down for the night feels like heaven. Here are four best places that offer more than just bed and breakfast. Click the websites for more if you’re interested.
The Old Rectory, Gwynedd
At the foot of Cadair Idris Mountains, the Old Rectory offers good walking around town of Machynlleth. Two of its four attractive lake-view rooms have big, free-standing baths, ideal for an end-of-walk bath.
Walks: An easy 2-mile trail loops around Tal-y-llyn Lake.
• Double from £100 B&B (bed and breakfast), rectoryonthelake.co.uk
Clachaig Inn, Scottish Highlands
This Glencoe inn is a Highlands legend. The 23 rooms are comfortable and simple, but more appealing are the live bands and the bar.
Walks: A gentle 1½-mile woodland route from the inn visits Signal Rock. An exposed 8-mile climb up Buachaille Etive Mòr.
• Double from £106 B&B, clachaig.com
Lee Byre, Devon
This barn house has three bright guest rooms. Owners are keen hikers and can give trail advice or lead guided walks, day and night. Breakfast features fresh-laid eggs and homemade honey.
Walks: Make a circuit across the wetland (11 miles). Hike from Mary Tavy to Wheal Betsy (5 miles).
• Double from £70 B&B; guided day walk £60 per person; guided star hike £30 per person; leebyre.com
Cottage Lodge, Hampshire
Christina Simons, owner of this comfortable hotel, has created several self-guided walking routes direct from the front door. The lodge has 16 rooms, two of which are dog-friendly.
Walks: To Lyndhurst via Standing Hat woods (7 miles), looking out for wild deer. A 3-mile walk through Keyhaven marshes, a good place to see migrating birds.
• Double from £75 B&B, cottagelodge.co.uk
1.Which place best suits walkers who enjoy lake view?
A.The Old Rectory B.Cottage Lodge
C.Lee Byre D.Clachaig Inn
2.What can we know about Cottage Lodge?
A.Dogs are welcome to stay in all rooms there.
B.Walkers might see some wild animals during walks there.
C.Walkers can join in some guided walking at the front door.
D.It offers the lowest price and the most rooms.
3.Where probably is this passage from?
A.A tour guide book. B.A travel website.
C.A lifestyle magazine. D.A local newspaper.
