It may help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech.At some point in every speech,every speaker says something that is not understood exactly as he has planned.Fortunately,such moments are usually not obvious(明显的) to the listeners.Why?Because the listeners do not know what the speaker plans to say.They hear only what the speaker does say.If you lose your place for a moment,wrongly change the order of a couple of sentences,or forget to pause at a certain point,no one will be any the wiser.When such moments occur,don’t worry about them.Just continue as if nothing happened.
Even if you do make an obvious mistake during a speech,that doesn’t really matter.If you have ever listened to Martin Luther King’s famous speech—“I Have a Dream”,you may notice that he stumbles(结巴) over his words twice during the speech.Most likely,however,you don’t remember.Why?Because you were fixing your attention on his message rather than on his way of speech-making.
People care a lot about making a mistake in a speech because they regard speech-making as a kind of performance rather than as an act of communication(交流).They feel the listeners are like judges in an ice-skating competition.But,in fact,the listeners are not looking for a perfect performance.They are looking for a well-thought-out speech that expresses the speaker’s ideas clearly and directly.Sometimes a mistake or two can actually increase a speaker’s attractiveness by making him more human.
As you work on your speech,don’t worry about being perfect.Once you free your mind of this,you will find it much easier to give your speech freely.
1.The underlined part in the first paragraph means that no one will _______.
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A．be smarter than you |
B．notice your mistakes |
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C．do better than you |
D．know what you are talking about |
2.You don’t remember obvious mistakes in a speech because _______.
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A．your attention is on the content |
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B．you don’t fully understand the speech |
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C．you don’t know what the speaker plans to say |
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D．you find the way of speech-making more important |
3.It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
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A．giving a speech is like giving a performance |
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B．one or two mistakes in a speech may not be bad |
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C．the listeners should pay more attention to how a speech is made |
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D．the more mistakes a speaker makes,the more attractive he will be |
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
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A．How to Be a Perfect Speaker |
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B．How to Make a Perfect Speech |
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C．Don’t Expect a Perfect Speech |
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D．Don’t Expect Mistakes in a Speech |
All her life,my mother wanted busy children.It was very important that her house should remain at all times clean and tidy.
You could turn your back for a moment in my mother’s house,leave a half-written letter on the dining room table,a magazine open on the chair,and turn around to find that my mother had “put it back where it belonged,”as she explained.
My wife,one of her first visits to my mother’s house,placed a packet of biscuits on an end table and went to the kitchen to fetch a drink.When she returned,she found the packet had been removed.Confused(疑惑的),she set down her drink and went back to the kitchen for more biscuits,only to return to find that her drink had disappeared.Up to then she had guessed that everyone in my family held onto their drinks,so as not to make water rings on the end tables.Now she knows better.
These disappearances had a confusing effect on our family.We were all inclined to(有……的倾向) forgetfulness,and it was common for one of us,upon returning from the bathroom,to find that every sign of his work in progress had disappeared suddenly.“Do you remember what I was doing?”was a question frequently asked,but rarely answered.
Now my sister has developed a second-hand love of clean windows,and my brother does the cleaning in his house,perhaps to avoid having to be the one to lift his feet.I try not to think about it too much,but I have at this later time started to dust the furniture once a week.
We have all become busy persons.
1.Which of the following is TRUE about my mother?
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A．She enjoyed removing others’ drinks. |
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B．She became more and more forgetful. |
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C．She preferred to do everything by herself. |
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D．She wanted to keep her house in good order. |
2.My wife could not find her biscuits and drink in my mother’s house because _______.
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A．she had already finished them |
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B．my mother had taken them away |
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C．she forgot where she had left them |
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D．someone in my family was holding them |
3.The underlined part in the fifth paragraph suggests that my sister _______.
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A．is happy to clean windows |
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B．loves to clean used windows |
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C．is fond of clean used windows |
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D．likes clean windows as my mother did |
4.This passage mainly tells us that _______.
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A．my mother often made us confused |
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B．my family members had a poor memory |
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C．my mother helped us to form a good habit |
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D．my wife was surprised when she visited my mother |
Most rain forests lie close to the equator(赤道),where the climate is often mild and there are long hours of sunshine.The warmth of the land heats the air above,causing it to rise and tiny drops of water to fall as rain.The rainfall can reach at least 98 inches a year.This wet,warm world with plenty of sunlight is perfect for plants to grow,so the trees grow fast with green leaves all the year round.The trees themselves also have an effect on the climate.They gather water from the soil and pass it out into the air through their leaves.The wet air then forms clouds,which hang over the treetops like smoke.These clouds protect the forest from the daytime heat and night-time cold of nearby deserts,keeping temperatures fit for plant growth.
Rain forests slightly farther away from the equator remain just as warm,but they have a dry season of three months or more when little rain falls.Tree leaves fall during this dry season and new leaves grow when the wet season or monsoon(雨季) begins.Thus these areas are known as the “monsoon forest”.
Another type of rain forest grows on tropical mountains.It is often called the “cloud forest” because clouds often hang over the trees like fog.
The rain forest is the ideal place for the growth of many different trees.Most of them depend on animals to eat their fruits and spread their seeds.When the fruits are eaten,the seeds inside them go undamaged through animals’ stomachs and are passed out in their droppings.The seeds lying on the forest floor then grow into new trees.
1.The climate of the rain forests near the equator is _______.
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A．mild,wet and windy |
B．hot,rainy and foggy |
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C．hot,wet and cloudy |
D．warm,wet and sunny |
2.We can learn from the passage that _______.
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A．tree leaves are green all the time in the monsoon forest |
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B．there is a dry season in the cloud forest on tropical mountains |
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C．clouds help the plants in the rain forest near the deserts to grow |
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D．the formation of climate in the rain forest has little to do with the trees |
3.According to the passage,_______ play the most important role in the spreading of seeds.
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A．animals |
B．droppings |
C．fruits |
D．winds |
4.This passage is most likely to be found in _______.
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A．a travel guide |
B．a story book |
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C．a technical report |
D．a geography book |
完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36~55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡将该项涂黑。
Lang Lang is a world-class young pianist who grew up in Shenyang.He went to a piano school in Beijing when he was just eight.“You need 36 ,”his father said.“But if you don’t work hard,no fortune will come.”
What made him sad was 37 his piano teacher in Beijing didn’t like him.“You have no talent(天赋).You will never be a pianist.” 38 a nine-year-old boy,Lang Lang was badly 39 .He decided that he didn’t want to be a 40 any more.For the next two weeks he didn’t touch the piano._ 41 ,his father didn’t push,but waited.
Luckily,the day came when his teacher asked him to 42 some holiday songs.He didn’t want to,but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys,he 43 that he could show others that he had talent 44 .That day he told his father 45 he had been waiting to hear—that he wanted to study with a new teacher. 46 that point on,everything turned around.
He started 47 competitions(比赛).In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition,when it was 48 that Lang Lang had won,he was too 49 to hold back his tears.Soon 50 was clear that he couldn’t stay in China forever—he had to play on the world’s big 51 .In 1997 Lang Lang 52 again,this time to Philadelphia,U.S.There he spent two years practising,and by 1999 he had worked hard enough for fortune to take over.After his 53 performance at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival,gigs(特邀演出) in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall started 54 in.Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spots(发现) him,and lets him 55 .
36.A.exercise B.fortune C.knowledge D.wealth
37.A.whether B.why C.when D.that
38.A.Like B.With C.To D.As
39.A.hurt B.weakened C.ruined D.frightened
40.A.singer B.pianist C.conductor D.player
41.A.Hopefully B.Patiently C.Wisely D.Painfully
42.A.play B.sing C.write D.study
43.A.seemed B.admitted C.noticed D.realized
44.A.in all B.above all C.after all D.at all
45.A.that B.what C.which D.when
46.A.From B.At C.Since D.After
47.A.receiving B.accepting C.winning D.beating
48.A.told B.mentioned C.announced D.recognized
49.A.excited B.encouraged C.shocked D.satisfied
50.A.this B.it C.that D.what
51.A.concerts B.tours C.competitions D.stages
52.A.started B.left C.moved D.performed
53.A.successful B.cheerful C.respectful D.meaningful
54.A.pulling B.breaking C.falling D.pouring
55.A.brighten B.shine C.admire D.develop
Cathy,Jason,Kate,Wayne和Frank各自打算订一份杂志。第61至65题是他们的个人情况介绍。阅读下面六种杂志的简介(A、B、C、D、E和F)，选出符合各人需要的最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。
61.A young mother raising her first child,Cathy tries to spend as much time as she can playing with her baby girl.She is eager to get more knowledge of child development and to better understand how young children look at the world.
62.Jason is a successful young businessman.He travels widely and enjoys adventures and challenges.Having been to many different countries,Jason is still looking for new places to visit.His biggest dream is to see every corner of the world before he retires.
63.Smart and pretty,Kate is very popular among her friends.She takes great care of how she looks and has a great interest in fashion and the lifestyle of famous people.Besides,she also enjoys reading articles written specially for young girls.
64.Wayne teaches science in a middle school.He not only wants his students to know more about modern science,but also tries hard to develop a curiosity about nature among his students.He is gathering materials for his students to read.
65.Frank is the father of a 10-year-old boy.He believes that in this fast-developing world parents should prepare their children for lifelong learning at an early age.Therefore,in his opinion,the most important skill for children to learn is to discover things on their own.He is looking for a magazine for his son.
A
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Seventeen Seventeen provides advice and encouragement for masses of young girls.Although its primary focus is fashion and famous people,this teen magazine offers more.Mixed among the latest styles,you’ll find short but interesting articles.Topics range from beauty to the risks of drinking. Price:$22.95($3.83/issue) |
B
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Muse Muse seeks to stimulate,delight,and challenge every curious child between the ages of 13 and 16.Produced by the editors and publishers of Cricket,Muse features articles on space,genetics,lasers,rain forests,computers,physics,math,earth sciences,and almost everything else in the universe. Price:$32.97($3.66/issue) |
C
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WONDERTIME WONDERTIME is a new magazine from the editors of FamilyFun,devoted to helping parents develop children’s love of learning.A blend of how and why,WONDERTIME inspires parents to see the world through the eyes of their children.WONDERTIME mixes playful activities with scientific knowledge about how children develop physically,socially,intellectually,creatively,and emotionally. Price:$10.00($1.00/issue) |
D
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National Geographic Adventurer A new magazine from National Geographic,National Geographic Adventurer is intended for a generation of active men and women who seek new & challenging ways to explore and experience the world.The magazine offers an exciting mix of great photography and interesting articles.Features focus on best adventure stories,travel destinations,sports and more. Price:$14.95($1.50/issue) |
E
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FamilyFun What does family fun mean to you?Crafts?Recipes?Party ideas?FamilyFun magazine dishes up these and more interesting activities in over 180 colorful pages.Aimed at parents with young children,this energetic magazine promises to enrich the lives of families.Reviews of computer games,books,videos,and DVDs,written by experts,help parents feel up to the minute. Price:$9.95($0.99/issue) |
F
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Kids Discover To help children aged 6 to 12 become lifelong learners,each issue of Kids Discover looks into a single topic in science or social studies which children of this age group have a great interest in.The combination of exciting color photography,lovely pictures and informative kid-friendly text engages readers with attractive content. Price:$26.95($2.25/issue) |
I began working in journalism(新闻工作) when I was eight.It was my mother’s idea.She wanted me to“make something”of myself,and decided I had better start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.
With my load of magazines I headed toward Belleville Avenue.The crowds were there.There were two gas stations on the corner of Belleville and Union.For several hours I made myself highly visible,making sure everyone could see me and the heavy black letters on the bag that said THE SATURDAY EVENING POST.When it was suppertime,I walked back home.
“How many did you sell,my boy?”my mother asked.
“None.”
“Where did you go?”
“The corner of Belleville and Union Avenues.”
“What did you do?”
“Stood on the corner waiting for somebody to buy a Saturday Evening Post.”
“You just stood there?”
“Didn’t sell a single one.”
“My God,Russell!”
Uncle Allen put in,“Well,I’ve decided to take the Post.”I handed him a copy and he paid me a nickel(五分镍币).It was the first nickel I earned.
Afterwards my mother taught me how to be a salesman.I would have to ring doorbells,address adults with self-confidence(自信),and persuade them by saying that no one,no matter how poor,could afford to be without the Saturday Evening Post in the home.
One day,I told my mother I’d changed my mind.I didn’t want to make a success in the magazine business.
“If you think you can change your mind like this,”she replied,“you’ll become a good-for-nothing.”She insisted that,as soon as school was over,I should start ringing doorbells,selling magazines.Whenever I said no,she would scold me.
My mother and I had fought this battle almost as long as I could remember.My mother,dissatisfied with my father’s plain workman’s life,determined that I would not grow up like him and his people.But never did she expect that,forty years later,such a successful journalist as me would go back to her husband’s people for true life and love.
1.Why did the boy start his job young?
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A．He wanted to be famous in the future. |
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B．The job was quite easy for him. |
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C．His mother had high hopes for him. |
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D．The competition for the job was fierce. |
2.From the dialogue between the boy and his mother,we learn that the mother was _______.
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A．excited |
B．interested |
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C．ashamed |
D．disappointed |
3.What did the mother do when the boy wanted to give up?
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A．She forced him to continue. |
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B．She punished him. |
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C．She gave him some money. |
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D．She changed her plan. |
4.What does the underlined phrase “this battle”(last paragraph) refer to?
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A．The war between the boy’s parents. |
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B．The arguing between the boy and his mother. |
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C．The quarrel between the boy and his customers. |
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D．The fight between the boy and his father. |
5.What is the text mainly about?
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A．The early life of a journalist. |
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B．The early success of a journalist. |
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C．The happy childhood of the writer. |
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D．The important role of the writer in his family. |
