Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish chooses to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about thinking is the key to critical(批判性的) thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes（过程）. Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education.
The word “critical” here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one view against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen--beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning.
Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are interested in life and want to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker.
Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning（推理）are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today’s world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure（尺度）of intelligence（智慧）, you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein. Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately made Hoffman feel comfortable by saying, “Please go slowly. I don’t understand things quickly.”
1.Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, _______.
A．it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast
B．we might be controlled by other people’s ideas
C．we will follow the ideas of others naturally
D．we might be fooled by other people’s ideas
2.If you are a critical thinker, you will ________.
A．take one view against another view
B．trust the reports in the newspapers
C．think deeply about different ideas
D．criticize other people for their mistakes
3. In the last paragraph, “something new” suggests that ________.
A．speed can improve intelligence
B．intelligence is not decided by speed
C．the smarter you are, the faster you do things
D．the faster you do things, the smarter you become
Tom arrived at the bus station quite early for Paris bus. The bus for Paris would not leave until five to twelve. He saw a lot of people waiting in the station. Some were standing in line, others were walking around. There was a group of schoolgirls. Their teacher was trying to keep them in line. Tom looked around but there was no place for him to sit.
He walked into the station cafe. He looked up at the clock there. It was only twenty to twelve. He found a seat and sat down before a large mirror on the wall. Just then, Mike, one of Tom’s workmates, came in and sat with Tom.
“What time is your bus?” asked Mike.
“There’s plenty of time yet,” answered Tom.
“Well, I’ll get you some more tea then,” said Mike.
They talked while drinking. Then Tom looked at the clock again. “Oh! It’s going backward(倒行)!” he cried. “A few minutes ago it was twenty to twelve and now it’s half past eleven.”
“You’re looking at the clock in the mirror.” said Mike. Tom was so sad. The next bus was not to leave for another hour. Since then Tom has never liked mirrors.
1.The bus for Paris would leave at____________.
A. 12: 05 B. 11: 55 C. 11: 30 D. 11: 40
2.Tom went into the station cafe because ______.
A. Mike asked him to have a cup of tea
B. he didn’t like to stay with the schoolgirls
C. it was quite early and he could find a seat there
D. he wanted to have a drink with his workmate there
3. ____________, so he was sad.
A. There was something wrong with the clock
B. Tom couldn’t arrive in Paris on time
C. Tom couldn’t have coffee with Mike
D. The train arrived late that day
Tom is a very popular young man. He has many friends. He has got four invitations. Here are his replies.
1.From the replies, we learn that Jim likes _______.
A. going to parties B. listening to pop music
C. dancing with Tom D. playing tennis
2.Tom will go to the dance with_______.
A. Kate B. Susan C. Jim D. Cary
3. Tom will go to Susan’s birthday party _______.
A. on Saturday evening B. this evening
C. on Thursday evening D. on Sunday evening
完形填空（共12分，每小题1分）
阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选项。
Dear Laura,
I just heard you tell an old story of gift giving and unselfish love in your program. You don’t know whether it is true that such unselfish love would happen in today’s world. Well, I’m here to give you 36 .
I wanted to do something very 37 for my fifteen-year-old son, who has always been the perfect child. He worked all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it 38 it looked almost new. I was so proud of him that I bought him the shiniest helmet(头盔)and a riding outfit(全套装备）.
I could 39 wait for him to open up his gift. In fact, I couldn’t sleep the night before. Upon awakening, I went to the kitchen to 40 the coffee, tea, and morning dishes. In the living room was a beautiful keyboard with a 41 :” To my wonderful mother, all my love, your son.”
I was so surprised. It had been a long-standing joke in our family that I wanted a piano so that I could 42 lessons. “Learn to play the piano, and I’ll get you one” was my husband’s promise.
I stood there shocked(震惊的), crying a river, asking myself how my son could 43 this expensive gift.
Of course, the house awoke, and my son was very pleased with my reaction（反应）. Many kisses were exchanged, and I immediately wanted him to 44 my gift.
As he saw the helmet and outfit, the look on his face was not exactly what I was expecting. Then I 45 that he had sold the motorcycle to get me the keyboard.
Of course I was the proudest mother ever on that day, and my feet never hit the ground for a month.
So I wanted you to know, that kind of love is 46 present and lives even in the ever-changing world of me, me, me!
I thought you’d love to 47 this story.
Yours,
Hilary
1.A. hope B. advice C. spirit D. courage
2. A. strange B. similar C. special D. private
3. A. after B. before C. unless D. until
4.A. perhaps B. really C. almost D. hardly
5. A. start B. cook C. set D. serve
6. A. sign B. notice C. word D. note
7.A. give B. take C. draw D. teach
8.A. present B. find C. afford D. order
9.A. tear B. open C. check D. receive
10.A. realized B. remembered C. imagined D. supposed
11. A. only B. still C. ever D. even
12. A. send B. publish C. share D. write
--Could you tell me _______?
--Next week.
A. when John will come back B. when will John come back
C. when John came back D. when did John come back
These photos ______ on the Great Wall last week.
A. take B. took C. were taken D. are taken
