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 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 is that_________.
A. the fish resource near the shore was decreasing
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.The relationship between fishes and sharks is similar to that between_________in nature.
A. dogs and cats B. monkeys and mosquitoes
C. wolves and antelopes D. children and lions
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. suggest readers looking for challenges to make progress
D. advise readers to find something difficult to do
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meeting, 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 was 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 important, 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.The underlined part “the tables have turned”(Paragraph 5) means that the writer_________.
A. improved the situation in his school
B. felt happy to work with students again
C. became a learner rather than a teacher
D. changed his attitude toward his retired life
4.What does the writer think of his retired life now?
A. Disappointing B. Troublesome C. Promising D. Meaningful
第二节 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A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was Thanksgiving morning. In the crowded kitchen of my small home I was busy preparing the traditional Thanksgiving turkey 36 the doorbell rang. I opened the front door and saw two small children in rags huddling together inside the storm door on the top step.
“Any old 37 , lady?” asked one of them
I was 38 . I wanted to say “no” until I looked down at their feet. They were wearing thin scandals(便鞋), wet with heavy snow.
“Come in and I’ll 39 you a cup of hot cocoa.”
There was no conversation. Their wet scandals 40 marks upon the floor. I 41 them cocoa and bread with jam to fight against the cold outside. Then I went back to the 42 and started again on my household budget.
The silence in the front room struck through to me. I 43 in. The girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked 44 a flat voice, “Lady, are you rich?”
“Am I rich? Mercy, no!”
I looked at my shabby(寒酸的) slipcovers. The girl put her 45 back in its saucer(茶碟) carefully and said.
“Your cups match your saucers.”
Her 46 was hungry with a need that no amount of food could supply. They left then, holding their bundles of papers against the wind. They hadn’t said “Thank you”. They didn’t 47 to. They had done 48 that. Plain blue pottery cups and saucers were only worth five pence. 49 they matched.
I 50 the potatoes and stirred the meat soup. Potatoes and brown meat soup, a roof over our heads, my man with a good steady job—these things 51 , too.
I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy prints of small scandals were still 52 upon my floor. Let 53 be for a while. I want them there 54 I forget again how 55 I am.
36.A. while B. as C. when D. until
37.A. clothes B. books C. shoes D. papers
38.A. busy B. confused C. impatient D. free
39.A. cook B. make C. do D. give
40.A. left B. kept C. held D. wiped
41.A. sent B. took C. served D. showed
42.A. study B. bedroom C. living room D. kitchen
43.A. turned B. gave C. looked D. checked
44.A. at B. in C. with D. to
45A. food B. spoon C. toast D. cup
46.A. voice B. coat C. story D. memory
47.A. expect B. know C. need D. mean
48.A. less than B. more than C. rather than D. other than
49.A. And B. So C. Then D. But
50.A. tasted B. peel C. washed D. cut
51.A. separated B. matched C. were the same D. were different
52.A. strange B. new C. deep D. wet
53.A. it B. them C. that D. one
54.A. in case B. as if C. although D. in order that
55.A. happy B. lucky C. rich D. moved
His appearance has changed so much that you _____ not recognize him.
A. must B. need C. may D. ought
When_________different cultures, we often pay attention only to the differences without noticing many similarities.
A. compared B. being compared C. comparing D. having compared
. Professor Lee is considering going to teach in Shenzhen, where he can get paid_________.
A. as five times much B. as much five times
C. much as five times D. five times as much
