Crazy is our new normal. With two teenage boys and three little boys, our family is restless- to the baseball field, track field (田径场) and piano lessons. Even though we've limited（限制） each boy's activities and try our best to spare some time for the family, it seems that we're always in a hurry.
"Accept it. Roll with it," my husband, Lonny, says, "It's going to be like this for a while."
He is right. It's likely that life will continue to go forward before it slows down. But I remembered the peaceful, quiet days that our family used to enjoy. I missed long walks through the park when we held the boys' little hands. I wished for lazy Saturday afternoons under the tree in our backyard. I wanted to go back a few years, when busyness was the exception and not the rule（惯例）．
One night, after a particularly ful day and evening games, our family gathered on the porch (门廊) for ice cream. Two parents, two teens, and three small boys sat on one old swing and a couple of rocking chairs. We were together, in one place, for a short period of time.
The moon was full. The Mississippi River, flowing past our home, was smooth as glass. I put my own arms around the son who sat on my lap and breathed in deeply his little-boy smell -dirt and sweat. My heart was peaceful and satisfied.
I realized that though crazy is our new normal, happiness is as usual. They may look different from before, but they are still there - even if they're in the form of a single moment on the porch. Maybe I just need the eyes to see.
1.What does the writer mainly talk about?
A．Her tiredness of her busy life.
B．Her family's struggle for a better life.
C．Her new feelings about the present life.
D．The pleasure of staying with her children.
2.Which of the following could best describe the writer's present life?
A．Busy and boring. B．Busy but happy.
C．Crazy and terrible. D．Normal but exciting.
3.Which of the following is NOT true?
A．The writer has five sons.
B．There is at least one child learning to play the piano.
C．The husband likes the present life.
D．The writer used to live a peaceful and quiet life.
4.Which of the following might the writer agree to?
A．Happiness is everywhere, but we have to discover it.
B．Life is nothing but sadness, busyness and hurry.
C．Parents should do more for their kids' better life.
D．Life in the countryside is attractive, wonderful, and sweet.
Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs. They loved each other and played together so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their houses.
One evening, Brownie’s family noticed that their dog hadn’t returned home. They went looking for him, but with no success. Brownie didn’t show up the next day, and by the next week he was still missing.
Curiously, Spotty showed up at Brownie’s house alone. He barked loudly. But busy with their own lives, Brownie’s family just ignored (忽略) their neighbor’s nervous little dog.
Finally, one morning Spotty refused to take “no” for an answer. He followed Ted, Brownie’s owner, everywhere he went. He barked, then rushed towards a nearby empty lot and back, as if to say, “ Follow me!”
Finally, Ted followed the dog across the empty lot. The dog led the man to a tree a half-mile from the house. There Ted found Brownie alive. One of his legs was crushed (夹住) in a trap. Ted wished he had taken Spotty’s earlier appeals (求助) seriously.
Then Ted noticed something amazing. In a circle around the injured dog, he saw a lot of dog food. They were the remains of lots of meals.
Spotty had been visiting Brownie every day. He had stayed with Brownie to protect him, snuggling(依偎) with him at night to keep him warm and nuzzling(用鼻子爱抚) him to keep his spirits up.
1.What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?
A．Brownie and Spotty didn’t like their owners.
B．Brownie was missing for three days.
C．Brownie’s family didn’t love him.
D．Spotty probably knew where Brownie was.
2.According to the story, which of the following is TRUE?
A．Spotty barked loudly at Ted because he was scared.
B．Ted followed Spotty because Spotty asked him to.
C．Spotty succeeded in escaping from the trap.
D．Brownie had nothing to eat that whole week.
3.The underlined phrase “keep his spirits up” in the last paragraph probably means______.
A．feed him B．praise him C．comfort him D．protect him
4.What does the story aim to tell us?
A．Dog is man’s best friend. B．Even dogs can have strong friendship.
C．Dogs are one of the cleverest animals. D．Dogs have a special way to look for help.
When you are feeling unhappy or forget how great you are, these are six ways to make you feel good about yourself.
☆ Look in the mirror and say to yourself,“I am a special person and there's no one in the world like me. I can do anything!" It may not sound so good, but it really works!
☆ Do something nice for someone. Helping others always makes you feel good.
☆ Smile! Be friendly to people you meet. Look for the good things in your friends and family.
☆ Learn something new! Have you always wanted to decorate your own room or learn how to swim? Go for it! New challenges（挑战）are fun and give you a sense of accomplishment（成就）when you have finished.
☆ Read and start a diary, Turn off the TV and let your imagination fly! Write you’re your thoughts, dreams or anything you want! Writing always helps to express your feelings.
☆ Stay with your family. We all need our family time. Talk with your Mum or Dad or maybe even your cousin.
1.This passage may be taken from_______.
A．a science book B．a story book C．a magazine D．school rules
2.According to the passage, when you are helping others, you will________.
A．feel nice B．be sure
C．be special D．be remembered
3.According to the passage, which can't you do when you are feeling unhappy?
A．Try to be kind to others. B．Learn something new and challenge yourself.
C．Stay out alone. D．Try to write down anything you want.
4.Which is the best title for the passage?
A．Do Your Best B．Six Ways to Feel Good about Yourself
C．It's Never Too Late to Learn D．Always Smile to Your Life
Nowadays it is found that school students hardly have any sports. Is it because they have no 1 in sports? It may not be the fact. They often say they have 2 more important things to do.
What are these important things? Examinations! They have to get themselves ready for the most important School Certificates of Education Examination（毕业会考），and also to deal with the tests and the exams in school. So many of them become bookworms.
In the summer holidays after the Examination they could do 3 they like, but at the moment, they have to 4 all their time to the preparation. So studies have prevented them from going in sports.
Because of the pressure（压力） 5 their parents and teachers, they have to work harder and spend most of their time on books. Many parents 6 their children to pass this examination in order to get a stepping stone for higher studies or better jobs. As for the 7 themselves, they want to get good results so that they can get their studies better. So it is necessary that they give up their school activities, especially sports.
Indeed, every school cannot go 8 physical training, for a quick mind seldom goes along with a weak body. It is well said, "All work and no play 9 Jack a dull（迟钝的）boy." In one word, without a strong body, you can never do anything better, let alone a great success in 10 .
1. A．lesson B．time C．interest D．place
2. A．very B．other C．few D．much
3. A．something B．which C．anything D．nothing
4. A．spend B．take C．cost D．give
5. A．from B．of C．in D．to
6. A．force B．want C．make D．let
7. A．students B．teachers C．parents D．examinations
8. A．for B．after C．with D．without
9. A．turns B．makes C．gets D．brings
10. A．sports B．exams C．training D．life
- Mr Smith, please teach me how to draw on the computer today.
- Oh, no._______. You have to get familiar with the keyboard first.
A．Learn to walk before you run B．It's never too old to learn
C．A good beginning is half done D．The early bird catches the worm
Kate was not sure_______.
A．that she should go through the third gate
B．if she should go through the third gate or not
C．which gate should she go through
D．which gate she should go through
