A couple often went shopping together. They both liked teacups. One day they saw a beautiful teacup in a store. As they picked it up, it suddenly spoke.
"I haven't always been a teacup. Once I was red clay. My master rolled(揉、搓) me over and over and I shouted, but he only smiled."
"Then I was placed on a rolling wheel and suddenly I went around and around. 'Stop!' I cried, but the master only nodded."
"Then he put me in the oven. I had never felt so hot. I could see him through the opening and I could read his words, 'Not yet.' "
"Finally the door opened, and he took me out and put me on a shelf. Then he brushed me and put me back into the oven. This time it was twice as hot. I begged. I cried. I could see him through the opening nodding his head, saying, 'Not yet.' "
"Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I was ready to give up, but the door opened and I was taken out and placed on a shelf. Later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.' I said, 'That can't be me. It's becautiful!' "
" 'I want you to remember,' he said, 'if I had just left you without rolling, you'd have dried up. If I had stopped rolling you around on the wheel, you would have been out of shape. If I hadn't put you in the oven, you would have broken. If I hadn't brushed you all over, you would not have any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that oven for the second time, you wouldn't be kept for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first started with you."
1.On the rolling wheel, when the red clay asked him to stop, the master ________.
A.stopped rolling it at once B.only smiled
C.shouted at it angrily D.only nodded
2.Which of the following shows the right process of making the teacup?
a. It was put into the oven for the first time.
b. It was put on a rolling wheel and went around.
c. The master took it out and brushed it all over.
d. It was put back into the oven again.
e. The master rolled the red clay over and over.
A.e, c, a, b, d B.e, b, c, a, d C.e, b, a, c, d D.e, c, b, a, d
3.The master brushed the teacup all over to make it become ________.
A.hot B.hard C.colorful D.soft
4.From the last paragraph, we can infer that ________.
A.the master knew how to make the teacup B.the master disliked the teacup
C.the teacup will dry up if it is rolled D.the teacup will be on sale
5.What lesson does the passage mainly teach us?
A.Beautiful look won't be refused by people.
B.Don't give up any chance in front of you.
C.Caring about others makes the world wonderful.
D.Going through hard time can make you better.
Dear Daniel,
I feel that I've grown up and should make my own decisions, but my parents disagree. My mom still helps me choose what clothes to wear. My dad asks me to pay attention only to study. I know they do this out of love, but I feel controlled. What should I do?
Amanda
Dear Amanda,
Your parents sound very strict. It's hard to believe that your mom chooses what you wear. Are you a Barbie doll?
Try to take the first step when possible. Dress yourself before your mother has a chance to come in and choose your clothes. If she asks you to change, tell her you'll be late for school.
You should also talk to her. Ask about her choices: What makes a set of clothes acceptable or unacceptable? Tell her you will follow her rules, but you want to make the choices. You are not in first grade. You are a young lady in high school.
As for your father, it's difficult to argue with his mind. After all, he is not totally wrong. How strict is he? Does he lock you up with your textbooks? Are you allowed to have a hobby? Are you allowed to have a smartphone? Are you allowed to hang out with friends?
Such strict parents should know the law of diminishing returns (收益递减). A weightlifter, for examplc, can only lift for an hour or two each day. If she does more, her muscles will not become stronger. She will just get tired. She may even hurt herself!
Our brains also have limits. Some violin teachers say you should only practice a new skill for 15 minutes each day. Our brains need to relax and understand new information. Our brains also have a basic need to socialize (社交). Ask your father: what is the meaning of so much studying if it makes you feel unhappy?
Stay strong.
Daniel
1.Why did Amanda write the letter?
A.To ask for some advice. B.To fight against her parents.
C.To talk about her family rules. D.To make friends with Daniel.
2.Daniel finds it ________ that the mother decides on Amanda's clothes.
A.boring B.important C.unbelievable D.funny
3.The underlined word "limits" means "________"in Chinese.
A.猜想 B.极限 C.决断 D.潜力
4.The examples of "weightlifter" and "violin teachers" tell the parents ________.
A.to give the kids more praise B.to hang out with the kids
C.not to protect the kids too much D.not to push the kids so hard
What do you usually do while waiting for someone? The descriptions below might say something about you.
A B C D
A. You walk around, rubbing your hands.
B. You stand still, looking at your watch.
C. You cross your arms, looking impatient.
D. You stand staring into the distance, thinking.
Analysis
☆ If your answer is "A":
You are short-tempered. You are energetic but sometimes careless. You make friends with all your heart. But sometimes you may hurt others because of your quick tongue.
☆ If your answer is "B":
You are patient and very strict with yourself. You work hard. When your friends have trouble, you will try your best to help them.
☆ If your answer is "C":
You are strong-minded. You stick to your own views, but are also good with people. You can make others agree with you.
☆ If your answer is "D":
You have great patience. You're very nice to others. However, you may be too nice.
This quiz is just for fun. Don't take it seriously.
1.If your answer is "A", you may hurt others because of your ________.
A.warm heart B.cold action C.bad behavior D.quick tongue
2.Which one will make an effort to help friends out of trouble?
A.The person who chooses "A". B.The person who chooses "B".
C.The person who chooses "C". D.The person who chooses "D".
3.If Nick crosses his arms while waiting for someone, he is ________.
A.short-tempered B.strict C.strong-minded D.patient
4.After reading the passage, we can know it is ________.
A.an exam B.a quiz C.an ad D.a notice
A college teacher once gave a lively class to his students.
He began by holding up a glass _______ some water in it. He held it up for all to see, and asked the students, "_______ do you think this glass weighs?"
"50g!" "100g!" "125g!" the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the teacher, "but my _______ is what would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
"Nothing," the students said.
"OK. What would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?" the teacher asked.
"Your arm would begin to_______” said one of the students.
"You are right. Now, what would happen if I held it up for a _______?"
"You might have muscles (肌肉) stress. You could_______ move the arm," said another one.
"You might have no _______ in the arm, or paralysis (瘫痪),"said a naughty student,"You _______ go to the hospital for sure!"
"Very good. But during this period, did the weight of the glass _______?" asked the teacher.
"No," the students said.
"Then what ________ the arm ache and the muscles stress?"
The students were ________.
"No one knows?" the teacher asked, "Well, can you tell me how to________ it?'
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students.
"Exactly!" said the teacher."The problems of life are something like this. Think of them for a few minutes in your________ and you seem OK. Think of them for a long time and you begin to hurt. Think of them even longer and you will not be able to do anything. It's important to think of the challenges in your life,________ it's even more important to 'put them down' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are ________—you wake up every day fresh and strong and can solve any problem that comes your way!"
1.A.by B.on C.with D.to
2.A.how many B.how much C.how long D.how far
3.A.question B.idea C.answer D.plan
4.A.lose B.die C.stay D.hurt
5.A.day B.summer C.year D.century
6.A.hardly B.quickly C.widely D.usually
7.A.matter B.problem C.sense D.secret
8.A.needn't B.can C.shouldn't D.must
9.A.stop B.happen C.change D.arrive
10.A.sent B.caused C.tried D.repeated
11.A.in need B.in silence C.in danger D.in time
12.A.take off B.hear from C.deal with D.get into
13.A.arm B.body C.head D.mouth
14.A.but B.and C.so D.or
15.A.worried B.lucky C.nervous D.relaxed
—__________
—I am. I want this pair of shoes, please.
—Sure. That's ¥180.
A.Do you sell jackets? B.Who's next, please?
C.Is there a shop near here? D.What can I do for you?
All children are __________ the day when they can go back to school.
A.looking up B.taking care of C.taking out D.looking forward to
