It is well known that the Japanese people’s love of fish is almost as a bee’s interest in honey. As fish populations were decreasing, fishing companies were forced to fish further and further away from the shore. Then they had a big challenge－how to keep the fish fresh for longer. So they decided to keep the fish stored in freezers on the boats. But the public did not like frozen fish. So again the fishing companies had a new bigger challenge. What they decided to do was to have fish tanks on their boats. After catching fishes, they would put them in the tanks and keep them living there until they got back to shore. But in this protected environment, lacking predators (掠食者)，the fish stopped moving around. The Japanese public felt these dull fish did not taste fresh, which had an unpleasant effect upon sales. Once again the fishing companies had an even bigger challenge ...
Stop for a minute! Before we go any further, I would like to ask “What are your challenges? How do you handle an unexpected challenge?” May I think it this way that you should try to attack your challenges? Conquer（战胜） them with a Swiss Army knife. Take the most proper and simple tool that you can adopt to deal with your situation.
Now back to our story. How did the Japanese finally figure out the fresh fish problem？Sharks! You might think the same. Sharks were caught and put into the tanks with other fishes. Don’t sharks eat fish? Well, they do eat a few fish, but they did also keep more fish active and alert (警觉的). The fish stay fresh because they are challenged.
Now, try to keep yourself fresh by finding your own shark to offer yourself a challenge in your own business and career.
1.The main reason for the fishing company to fish in the far sea was that .
A. the fish resource near the shore was on the decrease
B. the fishes farther away from the sea tasted fresher
C. people would prefer eating fresh fishes to less fresh ones
D. it was getting harder and harder to keep fishes fresh
2.Which of the following statements is true?
A. Japanese people love honey as much as a bee does.
B. The fish kept in tanks didn’t sell well because of their taste.
C. The fish stored in the protected environment tasted the best.
D. The fish kept in tanks didn’t taste fresh because they died before reaching the restaurant.
3.The underlined part of the last paragraph means “ .”
A. If you went fishing, you might do as the fishing companies did
B. Try to find a big shark, and you will meet your challenge
C. To succeed in life, you should always be ready to meet challenges
D. Sharks are usually compared to the challenges in people’s life
4.The purpose for the author to write the passage is to .
A. tell the readers “no pains, no gains”
B. tell the readers how the Japanese keep the fish fresh
C. advise readers to look for challenges to make progress
D. advise readers to find something difficult to do
Packaging is an important form of advertising. A package can sometimes motivate someone to buy a product. For example, a small child might ask for a breakfast food that comes in a box with a picture of a TV character. The child is more interested in the picture than in the breakfast food. Pictures for children to color or cut out, games printed on a package, or small gifts inside a box also motivate many children to buy products—or to ask their parents for them.
Some packages suggest that a buyer will get something for nothing. Food products sold in reusable containers are examples of this. Although a similar product in a plain container might cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free. However, the cost of the container is added to the cost of the product.
The size of a package also motivates a buyer. Maybe the package has “Economy Size” or “Family Size” printed on it. This suggests that the large size has the most products for the least money. But that is not always true. A buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit.
The information on the package should provide some answers. But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement. The words and pictures do not tell the whole story. Only the product inside can do that.
1.The underlined words “a buyer will get something for nothing” (Paragraph 2) most probably mean that _________.
A. a buyer will not get what he wants B. a buyer will gain more than he loses
C. a buyer will get what he pays for D. a buyer will get something useful free of charge
2.Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. On seeing a well-designed container, a buyer often neglects（忽略）what is inside it.
B. A buyer is also attracted by the size of the container.
C. Children are often made to buy a product by its package with attractive pictures.
D. Packaging is often a successful advertisement.
3.What suggestion does the author give in the passage?
A. The best choice for a buyer is to get a product in a plain package.
B. A buyer should get what he needs most.
C. Do not buy the product which is sold in a glass or dish.
D. A buyer should know that the quality of a container has little to do with the quality of the product.
Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores (杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering, I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn’t sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.
My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper … On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition（过渡）, that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.
A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students were going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my new found “happiness” and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That’s all. My bags were packed and by the door.
The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.
Now, it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment (责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most importantly, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I’ve gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!
1.What did the writer expect to do after he retired?
A. To stay away from busy schedules. B. To write some great books.
C. To do some voluntary work. D. To plan for his future.
2.Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?
A. He missed his students in that country. B. He couldn’t refuse his colleague’s favor.
C. He was concerned about the people there. D. He was not satisfied with his retired life.
3.Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A. My Retired Life. B. Being the Head of a High School.
C. My Attitudes towards Life. D. An Experience of Being a Volunteer.
4.What does the writer think of his retired life now?
A. Disappointing. B. Troublesome. C. Promising. D. Meaningful.
阅读下面短文, 从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)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。
When I was about 13, my father would take me on short outings on Saturdays. On the way home, Dad _1_ stopped at the Dairy Queen for 10-cent ice creams. I couldn’t _2_ it, but I could pray from the _3_ we started heading home to that corner where we would either go straight for the ice cream or _4_ and go home empty-handed. That corner _5_ either mouth-watering excitement or _6_.
On one special day, we were heading home, and again I was praying for the _7_ sound of his offer. It _8_. “Would you like an ice cream today?” “That sounds great, Dad!” But then he said, “How would you like to _9_ today?”
Twenty cents! My mind reeled(震惊). I could afford it. I got a weekly allowance of 25 cents, plus some _10_ for odd jobs(零活). But _11_ it was my money, ice cream wasn’t a good use of it. In a fit of _12_, I said, “Well, in that case, I guess I’ll _13_.” My father just said, “Okay, Son.”
But as we headed home, I realized how wrong I was and begged him to _14_. But he just said, “That’s okay, we don’t really need one.” I felt _15_ for my selfishness and ungratefulness. He didn’t mind, or _16_ act disappointed.
I _17_ that generosity（慷慨）goes two ways and gratefulness sometimes costs more than “thank you”. On that day gratefulness would have cost 20 cents and it would have been the _18_ ice cream I’d ever had.
I’ll tell you one more thing. We _19_ another trip the next week. As we _20_ the corner, I said, “Dad, would you like an ice cream today? My treat.”
1.A. never B. hardly C. frequently D. strangely
2.A. expect B. mention C. wait D. get
3.A. month B. day C. weekend D. moment
4.A. finish B. drive C. turn D. return
5.A. indicated B. meant C. suggested D. instructed
6.A. anger B. shame C. happiness D. disappointment
7.A. funny B. surprising C. interesting D. beautiful
8.A. came B. spoke C. went D. flew
9.A. serve B. treat C. buy D. provide
10.A. extra B. limited C. little D. easy
11.A. after B. while C. when D. although
12.A. sadness B. regret C. curiosity D. selfishness
13.A. accept B. pay C. pass D. eat
14.A. turn back B. keep up C. stop by D. give in
15.A. unsatisfied B. awful C. frightened D. crazy
16.A. even B. never C. only D. somehow
17.A. knew B. learned C. acknowledged D. found
18.A. dearest B. worst C. cheapest D. best
19.A. made out B. prepared for C. went on D. took up
20.A. crossed B. left C. saw D. approached
—Her rude reply really annoyed me.
—________, Ellen. Things will work out.
A. Don’t mention it B. I don’t think so C. No problem D. Take it easy
When _______ comes to saving energy, big changes start with small steps, like turning off the lights.
A. that B. this C. it D. one
