After winning a big game, athletes are often asked how they attained that success. Most say their achievement is the result of grueling hard work and intense practice. Usually athletes say how hard it is to win the big games. At the opposite end of the spectrum, however, is the fact that losing the big game, or, in my case, all the games, can be even tougher.
From the spectators' point of view, last year's basketball season for my high school team was nothing short of an embarrassment. And while 0 and 20 is certainly nothing to be proud of, that season had a bigger impact on me than any other, and probably more than any season since.
As a team captain, I knew it probably wouldn't be the easiest year, but did I ever think we would lose every game? Of course not. Since six of our top players had graduated, it was clear that we were a young team who would struggle. The struggle began earlier than expected, though, as our team's starting center was suspended for the season, and two key members decided to quit after two weeks. At some point, quitting probably passed through every player's mind, but, in the end, we all stuck it out, vowing to work even harder.
Then there came a time when even our own coach had given up on us. Personally, I felt like it was no longer worth giving my all. I thought, if even the coach doesn't believe in us, why should I? But just as my hope began to fade, a teammate called a meeting. He said, "Nobody thinks we're going to win, and heck, we may not, but, as teammates and friends, we owe it to each other to give it our all every game."
Sure, it was a little cliché(陈旧的), but it was that moment that taught me how to be a leader. It hit me then that I may have been a captain, but I, like others in my position, certainly didn't deserve the role. As a leader you can never quit on the team who looks up to you. It is one thing to be named captain and feel great and go through the motions, but it is quite another to be a real captain and make sure everyone works to their potential all the time.
I am sure it is great to go through high school without losing and bringing home awards. But in all honesty, I relish the fact that my team lost every game last year. It may not help me to become a better basketball player, but it already has made me a better leader, and person.
77.What was the biggest problem with the author's team last season?
A. Several key members were unable to play the games.
B. Their coach no longer wanted to instruct them.
C. There were no actual leaders on the team.
D. Most of players lost hope and wanted to quit.
78.In the text, the author seems to suggest that a good leader should _______.
A. be confident about himself
B. make sure everyone goes all out
C. work hard to win the games
D. feel great about his team
79.By saying "we owe it to each other to give it our all every game." (Paragraph 4) the teammate means that all of them should ________.
A. be responsible for the losses
B. try their best on the court
C. feel thankful for what they've done
D. get together to win every game
80.What is the main idea the author aims to express in the text?
A. Success is the result of hard work.
B. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
C. One can learn something from the failure.
D. A real leader should never give up.
Liverpool city council want to clear the city of fat pigeons. They say that people are feeding the birds, which makes them fat. The pigeons get bigger because their normal diet would consist of seeds and insects, not high-fat junk food they are eating in the city centre.
The council want people to know that everyone who feeds the pigeons is responsible for the streets being so crowded with these birds. They hope to encourage the birds to move away from the city centre and into parks and open spaces.
Ten robotic birds have been brought into the city centre to scare the pigeons away and visitors are asked not to give the pigeons any food. The mechanical birds－known as "robops"－will sit on the roofs of buildings. They can be moved around to different locations. They look like a peregrine falcon, which is a bird that kills pigeons. They even make noises and flap their wings to scare the pigeons. They hope that the pigeons will go away before the city becomes the European Capital of Culture in two years.
73.Pigeons in Liverpool get fat because they eat________.
A. birds B. seeds C. insects D. high-fat junk food
74.What do Liverpool city council try to do?
A. They want the pigeons to move out of the city centre.
B. They want people to feed the pigeons with healthy food.
C. They want people to keep the pigeons at home.
D. They want to keep robotic birds instead of pigeons.
75.The robotic birds are used to________.
A. make the city colorful B. drive away the pigeons
C. help feed the pigeons D. show people directions
76.This passage is most probably a(n)________.
A. notice B. news report C. short story D. advertisement
As we all know, nature has supplied every animal except man with some covering for his body such as fur, feathers, hair, and shells as a thick hide. But man has nothing but a thin skin.
If someone were to ask you, "Why did human beings start to cover their bodies with clothes?" most would answer, "To keep themselves warm, of course."
It is only when we begin to think about it a little that we realize that clothes are worn for a great many reasons that have nothing to do with our need for warmth at all.
For example, we wear clothes to some degree in order to decorate ourselves－to make ourselves, if possible, look more dignified (尊严) or nicer.
Clothes of a special kind are often worn to show that the wearer has authority or power. The individual wearing them is treated with respect because he occupies a certain office. The judge on the Bench, for example, might look a very ordinary and unimpressive figure without his wig and gown. Clothes are an important part of ceremony, whether it is connected with belief, the law, parliament, and royalty, the fighting forces or the state. How very different the Queen's Coronation ceremony (加冕仪式) would have looked without the robes, coronets and the cloth of gold.
Sometimes, even in some modern countries people wear some article of clothing, or some jewel, because they believe that it will bring them luck or protect them from evil or illness, or because it is connected with their beliefs.
None of these reasons for wearing clothes－to decorate ourselves, to show our position in the world, for ceremonial purposes, for "luck", to give ourselves dignity and authority－have anything to do with our need for warmth.
65.From the passage we know that wearing clothes is man's basic necessity to________.
A. protect skin B. show beauty C. keep warm D. bring luck
66.According to the passage, the judge wearing special clothes on the Bench________.
A. looks nicer B. looks different C. shows wealth D. shows power
67.Even in modern countries, sometimes people wear certain clothes because________.
A. they believe that they will get protected from bad luck and illness
B. it has something to do with their wealth
C. they want to show their power
D. they enjoy wearing such kind of clothes
68.The author's purpose in writing this article is to tell us that clothes are worn________.
A. for ceremonial occasions B. for many other reasons besides warmth
C. to keep people impressive and nicer D. to show people's authority or power
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分,满分40分）
When Chato's barking didn't stir Jerrica Seals, the recently adopted dog triednibbling on the teenager's leg, to get the girl out of her burning house.
No one was hurt. Fort Myers firefighters responded at about 7 a.m.
Five people lived in the Garcia home. That was neighbor Janice Hamilton's main concern when she looked out of her window Friday and saw the flames. "I just threw my pants on to run outside and make sure they knew how many people lived there," Hamilton said. "It was scary."
"Seals called me screaming," said Leticia Vega, 36, the sister of Seal's boyfriend, Javier Garcia, 23, who owns the home. "She said the dog woke her up barking, jumped on the bed and bit her on the leg."
It is said that Garcia's brother brought Chato home several weeks ago after the animal wandered onto a Lehigh Acres construction site. Since then, Vega said, Chato had been mostly quiet－until it mattered. "He doesn't usually bark." Vega said. "He's real friendly."
According to deputy fire chief Steve Clyatt, possibly the fire started because of an inadequate extension cord used on a window air conditioner. More than half of the home was burned down. There was extensive smoke and water damage in the remainder of the structure. Estimates for repair costs were unavailable. "I'd say it's unlikely they will recover this, but I've been surprised before," Clyatt said.
61.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Janice Hamilton Helps Save Neighbors
B. Firefighters Put Out House Fire
C. Dogs Saves Teen Girl From House Fire
D. Family Needs Help Due To House Fire
62.The underlined word "they" in the third paragraph most probably refers to________.
A. other neighbors B. Hamilton family members
C. Vega and her brother Garcia D. the firefighters
63.By saying "I'd say it's unlikely they will recover this, but I've been surprised before." in the last paragraph, Clyatt means________.
A. it's a wonder that Seals survived the fire B. the house was badly damaged
C. such a bad fire was seldom seen D. Chato is a very clever dog
64.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned?
A. The person who called the firefighters. B. The possible cause of the accident.
C. The relationship between Seals and Garcia. D. The owner of the house.
第二节：完成句子（共10小题；每小题1.5分,满分15分）
阅读下列各小题,根据括号内的汉语提示,用句末括号内的英语单词完成句子,并将答案写在答题卡上的相应题号后。
31.Tom________________（被人控告行窃）in the supermarket and was sent to the prison.(accuse)
32.Henry,________________ (由姑妈抚养长大), turned out to be a great scientist. (bring)
33.________________(被称作)as the Heaven in China is Hangzhou City. (refer)
34.________________ (已经失败了很多次) , the young scientists still kept on making his experiments in chemistry. (fail)
35.________________(尽管天气很恶劣), the soldiers insisted on training every day. (as)
36.________________(究竟是什么) Joe can't find in the bathroom? (that)
37.If he________________(没有忙于做) with his experiment, he would have helped me with my English. (busy)
38.Water, ________________ (看似简单), makes life possible. (seem)
39.Polluted water is not allowed to be piped into rivers ________________(未经处理). (deal)
40.________________ (他一回来), he went straightly to the boss and beat him black and white.
(arrival)
I saw Mary dancing at Kate's birthday party and on that______she was really excellent.
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A．scene |
B．situation |
C．position |
D．occasion |
