阅读短文，按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration for millions through her story of faith, determination and hope. And now her story has become a major movie which is entitled Soul Surfer.
On October 31, 2003, at the age of 13, Bethany was attacked by a 15-foot tiger shark while surfing just off the shore of Hawaii. Bethany said, “It came out of the blue. I had no warning at all; not even the slightest sign of danger on the horizon. The waves were small and inconsistent, and I was just kind of rolling along with them, relaxing on my board with my left arm dangling (悬摆) in the cool water. I remember thinking, ‘I hope the surf picks up soon...’”
“That’s all it took: a split second. I felt a lot of pressure and a couple of lightning fast tugs (猛拽). Then I watched in shock as the water around me turned bright red. Somehow, I stayed calm. My left arm was gone along with a huge piece of my surfboard...”
Her friends had to get her to the beach, which took 20 minutes of paddling. After losing more than 40 percent of her blood and making it through several surgeries, Bethany was well on her way to recovery due to an unbelievably positive attitude. In January 2004, Bethany made her return to surf competition and with no intention of stopping, Bethany continued to enter and shine in competitions. Initially, she adopted a custom-made board that was longer and slightly thicker than standard and had a handle for her right arm, making it easier to paddle, and she learned to kick more to make up for the loss of her left arm.
Just over a year after the attack, she took first place—winning her first National Title. Now she competes with the world’s best and travels the globe.
1.What kind of story does the author want to tell us? (no more than 10 words)
2.What is the meaning of the underlined part in Paragraph 2? (no more than 10 words)
3.According to the passage, how did Bethany make a recovery? (no more than 10 words)
4.Why did Bethany learn to kick more when she started surfing again? (no more than 10 words)
5.How does Bethany’s story inspire you to overcome difficulties in life? Put it in your own words. (no more than 25 words)
Most people aren’t good at creative problem solving for two reasons: (1) They are not trained in how to be creative. (2) They don’t understand group strength well enough to harness（驾驭）their power to maximize group creativity.
A key element of creativity is applying existing knowledge to a new problem. The more people getting involved in solving it, the more knowledge there is to work on it. Unfortunately, research shows that the traditional brainstorming methods fail to achieve that goal. When groups get together to exchange ideas, they actually come up with fewer ideas overall than if they each had worked alone.
To fix this problem, you should consider the two stages of group problem-solving: divergence（分散）and convergence（集中）. Divergence happens when the group considers as many different potential solutions as possible. Convergence happens when the various proposed solutions are evaluated and reduced to a smaller set of candidate solutions to the current problem.
The essential principle of group creativity is that individuals working alone diverge, whereas group members working together converge. In groups, once a member states a potential solution, that makes others think about the problem similarly. That is why groups working together diverge less than individuals working alone.
Therefore, be aware of when to diverge and when to converge. For example, early in the problem-solving process, have group members work alone to write down statements describing the problem. Then get them back to discuss their descriptions. The group discussion will lead everyone to accept one or a small number of these statements to work on—this is healthy convergence.
When starting to generate solutions, you again want divergence. Have people work alone to start. Then collect people’s initial ideas and send them around to others and allow the divergence to continue as everyone individually builds on the ideas of other members.
Finally, let the group discuss the resulting ideas. This discussion will gradually lead the group to converge on a small number of candidate solutions.
This simple method works effectively, because it respects what individuals and groups do best.
1.Research shows that the traditional brainstorming methods ______.
A.actually limit group creativity
B.greatly encourage group creativity
C.enable people to form more ideas together
D.prevent people’s involvement in the problems
2.According to Para. 4, when a member presents an idea, others tend to_____.
A.think the other way round
B.follow his way of thinking
C.be more confident in their own ideas
D.be less willing to share their own ideas
3.What should group members first do early in the problem-solving process?
A.Discuss the problem. B.Simplify the problem.
C.Put down group statements together. D.Write down their individual descriptions.
4.How can each group member make changes to his initial solution?
A.By adding in collected evidence. B.By reorganizing his own words.
C.By drawing on others’ ideas. D.By making his statement briefer.
5.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A.To advocate a way to make group thinking more effective.
B.To demonstrate the difficulty in organizing group thinking.
C.To highlight the differences between divergence and convergence.
D.To show the advantage of group thinking over individual thinking.
When I was 17, I read a magazine article about a museum called the McNay, once the home of a watercolorist named Marian McNay. She had requested the community to turn it into a museum upon her death. On a sunny Saturday, Sally and I drove over to the museum. She asked, "Do you have the address? ""No, but I'll recognize it, there was a picture in the magazine. "
"Oh, stop. There it is!”
The museum was free. We entered, excited. A group of people sitting in the hall stopped talking and stared at us.
"May I help you?" a man asked. "No, "I said. "We're fine.” Tour guides got on my nerves. What if they talked a long time about a painting you weren't that interested in? Sally had gone upstairs. The people in the hall seemed very nosy(爱窥探的), keeping their eyes on me with curiosity. What was their problem? I saw some nice sculptures in one room. Suddenly I sensed a man standing behind me. "Where do you think you are? " he asked. I turned sharply. "The McNay Art Museum!" He smiled, shaking his head. "Sorry, the McNay is on New Braunfels Street." "What’s this place?” I asked, still confused. "Well, it's our home." My heart jolted(震颤). I raced to the staircase and called out, "Sally! Come down immediately! "
"There's some really good stuff(艺术作品) up there." She stepped down, looking confused. I pushed her toward the front door, waving at the family, saying, "Sorry, please forgive us, you have a really nice place." Outside, when I told Sally what happened, she covered her mouth, laughing. She couldn't believe how long they let us look around without saying anything.
The real McNay was splendid, but we felt nervous the whole time we were there. Van Gogh, Picasso. This time, we stayed together, in case anything else unusual happened.
Thirty years later, a woman approached me in a public place. "Excuse me, did you ever enter a residence, long ago, thinking it was the McNay Museum?"
"Yes. But how do you know? We never told anyone."
"That was my home. I was a teenager sitting in the hall. Before you came over, I never realized what a beautiful place I lived in. I never felt lucky before. You thought it was a museum. My feelings about my home changed after that. I've always wanted to thank you."
1.What do we know about Marian McNay?
A.She was a painter.
B.She was a community leader.
C.She was a museum director.
D.She was a journalist.
2.Why did the author refuse the help from the man in the house?
A.She disliked people who were nosy.
B.She felt nervous when talking to strangers.
C.She knew more about art than the man.
D.She mistook him for a tour guide.
3.How did the author feel about being stared at by the people in the hall?
A.Puzzled. B.Concerned.
C.Frightened. D.Delighted.
4.Why did the author describe the real McNay museum in just a few words?
A.The real museum lacked enough artwork to interest her.
B.She was too upset to spend much time at the real museum.
C.The McNay was disappointing compared with the house.
D.The event happening in the house was more significant.
5.What could we learn from the last paragraph?
A.People should have good taste to enjoy life.
B.People should spend more time with their family.
C.People tend to be blind to the beauty around them.
D.People tend to educate teenagers at a museum.
The killdeer, a small bird known for its high-pitched ( 声调高的) call, could lead to the cancellation of one of Canada’ biggest music festivals.
The first hint of trouble for Ottawa’s Bluesfest, an outdoor festival that draws around 300,000 people each year, came last week after workers at the site found one of the birds.
It had laid four eggs nearby, effectively claiming the main stage area as its nesting ground. “This is one of the most challenging problems we’ve been presented with, but we feel we can work through this,” said Mark Monahan, executive director of the festival.
“Anything that changes the schedule has a major effect, so we’re taking it very seriously.” The discovery meant that government officials rushed to protect the nest and the eggs, hiring a security guard to watch over them 24 hours a day. Environmentalists were also brought in.
“We don’t know when the eggs might hatch,” said Monahan. What is known is that the young killdeer will likely leave the nest soon after they are hatched, leading many to hope that the eggs hatch in the next day or so.
The festival is now seeking permission from Environment Canada to relocate the nest some 50 meters away or take it to a wildlife center.
Moving the nest would also ensure the bird and its young would be protected during the festival’s 11-day run, said Monahan. It’s highly likely that the festival’s thousands of attendees would cause huge problems for the bird and its eggs.
Monahan was confident that the festival would go on as planned, however.
“Most of the people we’re working with are looking for a positive solution,” Monahan said. “There is no one saying that the festival can’t go on.”
As news of the dilemma spread, it left residents divided. Some supported the bird, saying that moving the nest might result in the eggs being abandoned.
Others expressed annoyance that protecting the eggs of the small bird, which is widespread across North America, was risking an annual festival that contributes millions of dollars to the local economy.
The killdeer’s tendency to build its nest in open fields or flat areas has caused issues in other areas of the US: earlier this year, construction on a health center in Wisconsin was temporarily stopped after a killdeer and its four eggs were discovered.
1.What can we learn about Bluesfest?
A.It is the first music festival in Canada.
B.It is an important event for music lovers.
C.It is a music festival held every two years.
D.It is a challenging outdoor activity in Ottawa.
2.What was especially challenging for Bluesfest this year?
A.Pressure from the government.
B.Disagreements with the public.
C.The need to protect the bird’s eggs.
D.The lack of experience in hosting the event.
3.How did the festival plan to deal with the problem?
A.Move the nest to another place.
B.Ask government officials for help.
C.Seek advice from environmentalists.
D.Hire security guards to protect the eggs.
4.What was Monahan’s attitude toward hosting the festival?
A.Negative. B.Positive.
C.Unsure. D.Indifferent.
5.The underlined word “dilemma” is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A.a difficult situation
B.an extreme situation
C.a dangerous situation
D.an encouraging situation
Fallingwater is a house built over a waterfall in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, designed the house in 1935. It instantly became famous, and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
Guided House Tour
This tour features all the major rooms of the house and lasts about one hour. Photography is not permitted during this tour. The Guided House Tour allows children six-year-old and older to enjoy the house with their parents.
Adults — $$ 20.00 with advance purchase
— $$ 23.00 when purchased on site
Youth (ages 6〜12) — $$ 14.00 with advance purchase
— $$ 17.00 when purchased on site
Daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, except Wednesday.
In-Depth Tour
The tour is best if you desire a greater understanding of what Wright was seeking to create with his masterwork. The number of visitors on each tour is limited and photography is permitted for personal use only. Children nine years and older may accompany adults on this tour.
$ 65.00 per person (Available by advance ticket purchase only)
Daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunset Tour
As afternoon turns to evening, the changing light allows you to see Fallingwater from an entirely new perspective. The number of visitors is limited and photography is permitted for personal use only. Children under nine-years-old are not permitted on this tour.
$ 110.00 per person (Available by advance ticket purchase only)
May, June, & September — Saturdays at 4:30 pm
July & August — Fridays and Saturdays at 4:45 pm
Brunch Tour
The guests join their guide for brunch before they leave. Children nine years and older may accompany adults on this tour. Please allow three hours total for this experience.
$ 115.00 per person (Available by advance ticket purchase only)
May through September — Saturdays & Sundays at 9:00 am
1.Today ______ is a National Historic Landmark.
A.Frank Lloyd Wright B.a house in Southeastern Pennsylvania
C.Fallingwater D.a famous architect
2.How much will a father and his two children (one is 9, the other is 15) spend if they buy the Guided House Tour tickets ahead of time?
A.$ 48 B.$54
C.$ 63 D.$ 51
3.Where can a couple with an eight-year-old girl make a tour?
A.Guided House Tour. B.In-Depth Tour.
C.Brunch Tour. D.Sunset Tour.
4.What can we know about Sunset Tour?
A.The number of visitors is not limited. B.It is not accessible in August.
C.It is only open for teenagers. D.The ticket isn’t available on site.
5.What do the four tours mentioned have in common?
A.They encourage advance tickets B.They offer brunch free of charge
C.They forbid visitors taking photos D.They have the same price of tickets
“Look,it’s Baldy!” A boy shouted in my direction across the playground. Even though I was used to regular insults (侮辱) because of the ______ on my head, it was ______ horrible to hear. I sighed as I headed back to the class.
When I was just 20 months old, I suffered serious _____ after a bowl full of hot oil fell on my head. I was ______ to hospital and had to stay there for weeks while the doctors ______ to save my life. “Holly’s very ______ to be alive,’”they told Mum and Dad. “But she’ll be ______ with scars on her head, and of course her hair won’t grow there. ”
As a child,I cared much about my scars,so I ______ wore a scarf to cover them up when I left home. ____ I didn’t,people would call me horrible names like Baldy. Although my friends were always comforting me, they never _____understood how it felt.
Then through the hospital I was ____ to a children’s burns camp, where children like me can get any help. There, I ____ 14-year-old Stephanie, whose burns are a lot more serious than mine. But she is so ____ that she never lets anyone put her down.“You shouldn’t _____ what people say about what you look like because we're not different from anyone else, Holly,” she ____ me. “And you don’t need to wear a scarf because you look great _____ it! ” For the first time in my life I could speak to someone who’d been through something _____ .So weeks later, at my 13th birthday party, ____ by her bravery, I gave up my scarf and showed off my scars. It felt amazing not having to ______ away behind my scarf.
Now,I am____ of what I look like and much happier, because I have realized it is your personality(个性) that decides who you truly are.
1.A.hat B.scarf C.scars D.cuts
2.A.still B.just C.never D.seldom
3.A.hunger B.cold C.defeats D.burns
4.A.rushed B.led C.invited D.forced
5.A.learned B.fought C.returned D.decided
6.A.happy B.lucky C.lonely D.poor
7.A.pressed B.occupied C.left D.painted
8.A.possibly B.usually C.finally D.nearly
9.A.Although B.Since C.If D.Before
10.A.correctly B.roughly C.easily D.really
11.A.promoted B.introduced C.reported D.carried
12.A.met B.recognized C.remembered D.caught
13.A.honest B.strong C.active D.young
14.A.write down B.agree with C.pass on D.listen to
15.A.promised B.encouraged C.ordered D.calmed
16.A.in B.for C.without D.beyond
17.A.similar B.strange C.hard D.important
18.A.allowed B.required C.guided D.inspired
19.A.hide B.give C.keep D.put
20.A.sick B.aware C.tired D.proud
