Winter plays a vital part in nature’s cycle teaching us through plants that “all good things must come to an end” over time. However, rebirth and restoration often brings a greater glory and appreciation for the natural beauty around us.
Each day when I take my bike for a spin around the city streets, I am reminded that technology also teaches us lessons, specifically when the bicycle chain unavoidably slips out of gear (齿轮), refusing to shift properly, the hand brake-lines keep reacting faulty and some man-made things need repair or replacement. “Winter is coming.” For many, this means a time to oil up, repair and adjust equipment. In the case of my two-wheel transportation, some people have suggested, “Why don’t you just get a new bike for safety’s sake?” My unwillingness, however, stems from loyalty, fond attachment. Also, I hold a belief that I should be a bit patient and resourceful, simply replacing worn-out parts when required.
However, as I try to swing my legs over the seat while getting on the bike, my legs and joint (关节) do not respond quickly and reliable like before. A few months ago, after hiking the Great Wall on an overnight camping trip, I realized I needed more rest and restoration than ever. My heart rate beat violently, and every muscle in my tired body screamed for relief. Admittedly, these pains were nothing like having a broken limb, or surgery. Yet, the world suddenly seemed to be very unfriendly. I keep telling myself “winter is coming.” and soon I can hibernate (冬眠) getting much needed rest.
Actually, we all need to take a break from training routines, hard jobs, and frequently repeated tasks, to restore (修复) our bodies and minds. Nature shows us the way. Patience pays off when you attend to your gardens with faithful attention to each of nature’s jewels. Hopefully, as we grow, each of us learns the art of repair, restoration, and patience. Perhaps, you will discover the glory of rebirth after winter, being reborn and restored to even more powerful magnificent glory.
1.Why does the writer refer to his shabby bike in the passage?
A.To introduce the topic.
B.To show he is so attached to it that he is unwilling to change it for a new one.
C.To show he has learned a lesson from it.
D.To inform he loves cycling it around the city.
2.What is conveyed by the word “winter” in the passage?
A.All good things must come to an end.
B.It is essential to keep a balance between work and life.
C.Patience pays off and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
D.We should learn the art of repair, restoration and patience from nature.
3.How does the writer get his idea across to the readers?
A.By making comparisons. B.By giving examples.
C.By analyzing and summarizing. D.By using metaphor (暗喻).
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A.The Cycle of Nature B.The Vital Role of Winter
C.The Art of Nature D.The Lessons from Nature and Life
Faces, like fingerprints, are unique. Did you ever wonder how it is possible for us to recognize people? Even a skilled writer probably could not describe all the features that make one face different from another. Yet a very young child or even an animal, such as a pigeon can learn to recognize faces. We all take this ability for granted.
We also tell people apart by how they behave. When we talk about someone’s personality, we mean the ways in which he or she acts, speaks, thinks and feels that make that individual different from others.
Like the human face, human personality is very complex. But describing someone’s personality in words is somewhat easier than describing his face. If you were asked to describe what a “nice face” looked like, you probably would have a difficult time doing so. But if you were asked to describe a “nice person”, you might begin to think about someone who was kind, considerate, friendly, warm, and so forth.
There are many words to describe how a person thinks, feels and acts. Gordon Ports, an American psychologist, found nearly 18,000 English words characterizing differences in people’s behavior. And many of us use this information as a basis for describing, or typing, his personality. Book worms, conservatives, military types people are described with such terms.
People have always tried to “type” each other. Actors in early Greek drama wore masks to show the audience whether they played the villain’s or the hero’s role. In fact, the words “person” and “personality” come from the Latin word “persona”, meaning “mask”. Today, most television and movie actors do not wear masks. But we can easily tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” because the two types differ in appearance as well as in actions.
1.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.People may have different personalities.
B.People differ from each other in appearance.
C.People can learn to recognize human faces.
D.People can describe all human features of others.
2.The reason that it is easier to describe one’s personality in words than ones face is that ________.
A.many words are available to describe personality
B.a person’s personality is easily distinguished
C.people’s personalities are very much alike
D.a person’s face is more complex than his personality
3.We learn from the passage that people are classified according to__________.
A.their way of wearing masks
B.their way of speaking and playing
C.their knowledge and behavior
D.their physical appearance and personality
Dannis was waiting at the airline ticket counter when he first noticed the young woman with shiny black hair pulled tightly into a knot. She wore black boots of soft leather. Dannis struggled to see her face, she was ahead of him in line, but it was not until she bought her ticket and turned to walk away that he realized her beauty, which was fair-skinned and big-eyed. She seemed aware that he was staring at her and lowered her gaze abruptly.
When next he saw her, Dannis was buying a magazine and became aware someone was pushing him. At first, he was startled (受惊吓的) that anyone would be so close as to touch him, but when he saw who it was, he smiled.
“Busy place,” Dannis said.
She looked up at him and blushed. Wordlessly, she moved away and joined the crowds in the terminal.
Dannis was at the counter with his magazine, but when he reached into his pocket for his wallet, the pocket was empty. Where could I have left it? His mind was racing, the credit cards, the cash, the identification card... “The girl who was so near to me!” he said to himself. All at once he understood she had stolen his pocket. What shall he do?
Dannis gritted his teeth. When glancing around for the police, suddenly, he spotted the black-haired girl, seated against a front window of the terminal. She seemed absorbed in a book.
“Where is my wallet?” he yelled. The black-haired girl glanced up from her reading, with a confused look on her face. Dannis glared at her and shouted, “You stole my wallet!” The crowds began to gossip. The girl turned deadly pale, looking so restless that words failed her. A strange silence hung in the air. Abruptly, she leaped from the seat and tried to escape from the crowds.
Dannis grabbed her by the arm. At exactly that moment, a policeman approached them and asked about what happened. Dannis hastened to explain it while the girl frowned with a shake of her head. After further enquiries, the policeman took out a wallet and handed it to Dannis, adding that someone had found it in the toilet.
1.While waiting at the airline ticket counter, why did Dannis stare at the black-haired girl?
A.He suspected that she was a thief. B.He was attracted by her.
C.He was wondering if he had met her before. D.He wanted her to help him to buy the ticket.
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.The black-haired girl tried to escape from the crowd for fear of gossip.
B.The black-haired girl admitted the fact that she had stolen the wallet.
C.Dannis forgave the black-haired girl at last.
D.Dannis found his wallet in the toilet.
3.At the end of the story, Dannis may probably feel __________towards the black-haired girl.
A.sympathetic B.skeptical C.startled D.embarrassed
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What was the destination of the speaker’s most recent trip?
A.Indonesia. B.Italy. C.The U.S.
2.What was the best-known eruption according to the speaker?
A.Krakatoa. B.Santorini. C.Vesuvius.
3.What is the speaker mainly talking about?
A.The history of a town. B.Travel experiences. C.His work.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A.A missing pet. B.A late package.
C.A wrong food order.
2.Who is Tommy?
A.The woman’s son. B.The woman’s pet. C.The woman’s boss.
3.What is wrong with the delivery drivers?
A.They are ill.
B.They are out for lunch.
C.They have left the company.
4.What will the woman get the money for according to the man?
A.Her lost item. B.Delivery costs.
C.Her time spent on the phone.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What has the woman’s aunt forbidden her to do?
A.See the dolls. B.Talk about the dolls. C.Touch the dolls.
2.What does the woman’s aunt think of the dolls?
A.They are uncomfortable. B.They are very valuable. C.They are old-fashioned.
3.How does the man probably feel at the end?
A.Very worried. B.Quite surprised. C.A little embarrassed.
