How to Be a Winner
Sir Steven Redgrave
Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals
“In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes (糖尿病). Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was it – the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn’t difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way. ”
Karen Pickering
Swimming World Champion
“I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success – you can’t follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you’ll be a step closer to achieving them.”
Kirsten Best
Poet & Writer
“When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can’t achieve something. Then, there are other distractions, such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘focus’, either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological (心理的) tool.”
1.What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about?
A. Difficulties influenced his career. B. Specialists offered him medical advice.
Training helped him
defeat his disease. D. He overcame the shadow of illness to win.
2.What does Karen Pickering put on top of her diary?
A. Her training schedule. B. Her daily happenings.
Her
achievements.
D. Her sports career.
3.What does the underlined word “distractions” probably refer to?
A. Ways that help one to focus. B. Words that help one to feel less tense.
Activities that turn one’s
attention away. D. Habits that make it hard for one to relax.
4.According to the passage, what do the three people have in common?
A.
Courage. B. Devotion. Hard
work. D. Self-confidence.
Some people think as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know?
Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbacks (平装本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.
Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全书), though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books, science textbooks, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.
1.It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge
B. cinemas are the best choice in getting information
reading is a cheap way of
learning and having fun
D. newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself
2.What does the sentence “Television has not killed reading, however” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?
A. People only need reading, though. B. Reading is still necessary today.
Reading is more fun than
television. D. Watching television doesn’t help
reading.
3.Which of the following is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?
A. Types of books B. Kinds of dictionaries
Lists of history
books. D.
Collections of stories and poems.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Fewer and fewer people will buy books.
B. A good dictionary should be kept in every home.
Books with hard covers
sell better than paperbacks.
D. More people like TV programs about famous men.
No one could have failed to be moved had he watched the live televised volleyball game between the Chinese and Cuban women’s teams. As we sat before the television set, with our eyes fixed on the screen, we experienced every kind of feeling. When the two teams played neck and neck, we were on pins and needles, anxious as to what would come next, and when our team fell behind, our hearts were in our mouths. Watching the game between those two teams is not only a matter of great joy. For more than that it provides food for thought. Just see how the Chinese women won the game — by their cooperation, by their excellent skill, their effort and strong will. A Chinese saying goes, "When two competent opponents (比赛的双方) meet, the strong-minded one will win." This is the spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team. If every Chinese showed some of the spirit, never losing heart in times of difficulty and remaining clear-minded in times of advantage, then our nation would stand in the vanguard (前列) of the world family of nations, just as the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team has done, is doing and will do.
1.While watching the game, we _____.
A. had feelings of different kinds
B. enjoyed a friendly and wonderful game
clapped and cheered only for the Chinese Women’s Volleyball
Team
D. were eager to know what would happen later on
2.The wonderful game _____.
A. brought us great joy
B. provided us with food for our thoughts
gave us not only great joy but also food for thoughts
D. give us a valuable amusement
3.The author believed that _____.
A. the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team was the strongest
B. China was sure to become stronger and stronger if only we have that spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
the Chinese must remain clear-minded in time of advantage
D. the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team would never be beaten.
4.The best title of the passage might be “_____”.
A. Watching a Close Volleyball Game
B. The Spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
Learn from the Members of the Volleyball Team
D. The Strong - Minded Are the Winners
I chose to study in Madrid because I had a desire to learn Spanish. My first impressions of Madrid were incredible. It was before the New Year that I arrived in Madrid for the first time. While traveling to my Spanish friend’s house in a taxi, I appreciated the buildings along the road which were different from those of my own country.
There are an incredible number of restaurants and bars from all over the world. If you are really into sightseeing, I hope you have rechargeable batteries for your digital camera, because one week really isn’t enough time to see everything here including a number of art, science, and historical museums as well as parks, buildings, and amazing landscapes.
What I liked best about life in Madrid was the fact that if you were frustrated with schoolwork and wanted to have some fun, you can easily go out. The nightlife never seems to stop and the people are all very friendly. You can meet people and practice Spanish while having fun at the same time.
What I liked least was the fact that many people smoked in the streets. Also, coming from the US, I was used to having a big breakfast every morning, but while living with an actual Spanish family, I wasn’t really satisfied with the food in the morning.
I think I have definitely become more independent since I came back from Spain. Living in a big city like Madrid I found that it is necessary to plan ahead and to make a schedule for future. There is so much to see, not just in the Spanish World, but in the European World as well.
1.What’s the purpose of the text?
A. To attract people to tour around Madrid.
B. To show how to enjoy Spanish culture.
To give advice on how to
study Spanish.
D. To describe the author’s life in Madrid.
2.Why did the author suggest taking rechargeable batteries?
A. It’s difficult to deal with the used batteries.
B. It’s not convenient to recharge batteries.
There are few stores that
sell ordinary batteries.
D. You will find lots of places worth taking pictures of.
3.Which of the following in Madrid didn’t please the author?
A. Parks and buildings. B. Restaurants and bars.
Nightlife.
D. Breakfast.
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more 1, waiting for the final school bell. Upon its 2everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.
David was a small boy in ragged (破旧的) clothes. I had often 3what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so 4for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David 5. I can still remember he was always 6a smile and willing to help. He always 7after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He 8just simply smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly 9home.
Weeks passed and the 10over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of 11before the holiday break. I smiled in 12as the last of them hurried out of the door. Turning around I saw David 13standing by my desk.
“I have something for you,” he said and 14from behind his back a small box. 15it to me, he said anxiously, “Open it.” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my 16I saw nothing. I looked at David‘s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’s 17.”
“Oh no, it isn’t,” said David. “It’s full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”
Tears filled my eyes 18I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given 19to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning 20the little empty box set on my desk.
1.A. anxious B.
courageous 
serious D.
sceptical
2.A. warning B.
ringing calling D.
yelling
3.A. scolded B.
wondered realized D.
learned
4.A. irregularly B.
unnaturally untidily D.
improperly
5.A. patient B.
upset special D.
funny
6.A. expressing B.
delivering wearing D.
sharing
7.A. practiced B.
wandered studied D.
stayed
8.A. would B.
should might D.
could
9.A. aim at B.
turn to put off D.
head for
10.A. argument B.
excitement movement D.
judgment
11.A. school B.
year education D.
program
12.A. relief B.
return vain D.
control
13.A. weakly B.
sadly quietly D.
helplessly
14.A. searched B.
found raised D.
pulled
15.A. Holding B.
Handing Sending D.
Leaving
16.A. delight B.
expectation appreciation D.
surprise
17.A. cheap B.
empty 
useless D.
improper
18.A. as B.
until because D.
though
19.A. advice B.
support attention D.
command
20.A. from B.
behind over D.
towards
It was in the new hall ______was just set up last month _______ we held an important meeting yesterday.
A .which,
that B. which, what 
that,
which D. where, that
