When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled , and even worse, the rest nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be . Only geniuses can become writers.” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so that I burst into tears. That night I wrote a short poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I tasted ; I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that was fine with me.
During the next two years, I sold dozens of poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿) with my published works. I never my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again because they were dream .
I had four children at the time. While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start another book. Crying Wind, which became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became required in native American schools in Canada.
In the year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I , what degrees I have and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars for six years ago. I do all the housework and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right but I’ve succeeded. Writing is ; it’s fun and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.
1.A. unkindly B. happily C. willingly D. crazily
2.A. curious B. depressed C. excited D. silly
3.A. unlucky B. ashamed C. moved D. unconfident
4.A. sad B. innocent C. disappointing D. puzzling
5.A. puzzlement B. expectation C. astonishment D. disappointment
6.A. coldness B. failure C. success D. prejudice
7.A. furnished B. linked C. combined D. filled
8.A. remembered B. concluded C. described D. mentioned
9.A. killers B. makers C. designers D. creators
10.A. writer B. reporter C. publisher D. manager
11.A. working on B. going on C. turning on D. putting on
12.A. writing B. reading C. selling D. buying
13.A. busiest B. unluckiest C. worst D. highest
14.A. worked B. attended C. admitted D. participated
15.A. easy B. hard C. convenient D. practical
阅读下面的短文，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
Many students fail to perform well in an exam not because they lack ability, but because of the unique pressure of the exam room—the tense atmosphere, the ticking clock on the wall, the teacher walking around, and the thought that their future will be decided by the exam.
It’s not just students who will face pressure. Human beings are competitive animals and we decide to evaluate each other, whether in exams, in job interviews or even on romantic dates, so all of us occasionally get nervous. Removing pressure from life is an impossible dream.
However, there are some ways which can help reduce our pressure. It turns out that we are far more likely to overcome the pressure when we are as familiar as possible with the situation we are about to face. Of course, even when we are well-prepared, we may still feel nervous, but at least we will be more equipped to deal with our nervousness than if we have failed to prepare. Furthermore, we may also benefit from reminding ourselves that the big moment is not that big after all from a different perspective. Even a huge exam is not as important as a loving family, or good health.
【写作内容】
1. 以约30个词概括这段短文的内容；
2. 然后以约120个词谈谈你对“压力”的看法， 内容包括：
（1）正确面对压力的重要性;
（2）作为高三的学生，你通常面临哪些压力？
(3) 你在生活和学习中应对压力的措施。
【写作要求】
1、在作文中可以使用自己亲身的经历或虚构的故事，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；
2、作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
【评分标准】
概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，篇章连贯。
请你根据以下信息，写一篇英语短文，向外国朋友介绍春节。
【写作内容】
名称： 春节（中国最重要的传统节日）；
时间： 每年农历正月初一到十五之间；
节前： 打扫房子，帖春联（the Spring Festival Couplets）, 买花；
除夕夜： 无论离家多远，这天家庭成员都会赶回来吃团圆饭，其中饺子最受欢迎，人们相信可以带来好运；
正月初一：人们穿新衣服，探亲访友，互相祝福“新年快乐”，给孩子们压岁钱（lucky money）;
春节期间的活动：舞龙舞狮（中国传统的民间艺术，可追溯到两千年前）。
【写作要求】
只能使用5个句子表达全部内容。
【评分标准】
句子结构准确，信息内容完整，篇章结构连贯。
阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。把答案填涂在答题卡上相应的题号的答案标号上，如答案是E把AB同时一起涂黑，如答案是F把 CD同时一起涂黑。
首先请阅读下列六种家用电器的介绍：
A. Morphy Richards Coffee Maker
It has a programmable timer, so you can wake up to the smell coffee. The easy-clean filter(过滤器) and anti-drip device make it simple to maintain(保养).
B. Philips Juicers
It gives you all the juice thanks to its patented micro-mesh filter and powerful 700W motor. The extra-large feeding tube easily takes whole fruits and vegetables.
C. Panasonic Bread Makers
It is perfect for small living spaces. You’ll enjoy wonderful fresh bread at the time you choose. It has a digital 13-hour timer, which is great for cooking a loaf overnight ready for breakfast.
D. KDWTTB10 Compact Dishwasher
Stylishly designed in black, it is as good looking as it functions. It promises to leave your dishes sparklingly clean, again and again!
E. Russell Hobbs Regency Kettle
Its features: a rapid boil 3 KW concealed element for last boiling and easy cleaning; blue illumination when boiling; and double water gauges(测量仪) for ease of viewing when filling.
F. Hoover Optima 6 kg Washing Machine
It features a unique “teardrop” door design and is user-friendly, which makes laundry days a little easier. Additional features include a countdown digital display.
以下是用户体验，请匹配与之对应的家用电器。
1.It is a great size for a small kitchen. I think its sleek black design is much more stylish than my old machine. You select the temperature setting your requirements and then shut the door and press the start button. It is very handy. It wipes clean easily as well. It also has an effective drying cycle so items are very dry. The anti flood device gives me much more security and the performance has been brilliant.
2.I think it’s amazing. It looks great. It also cleans great. It has more than enough settings for all your wash needs and is extremely quiet during all washing cycle, even on the 1600 spin. With 1600 rpm speed of spin, the clothes are almost dry when they come out! It leaves the contents spotlessly clean. The big door is very handy if you want to wash duvets(羽绒服). I do love this washing machine!
3.You get what you pay for and it’s not expensive. With an otherworldly light, it tells you how long the pot’s been sitting on the warmer. And after an hour, it shuts itself off. In my experience, the biggest problem is that there is no way you can make a full pot of coffee unless you like it incredibly weak.
4.I have not been disappointed with it. The flip-top lid makes it easy to fill. The large transparent “window” makes it easy to see how much you are putting in—so you can choose the number of cups. It looks great, boils quickly and holds plenty of water. The blue light up display when boiling is a fun feature. I think it’s a good kettle and definitely worthy money.
5.All I have to do is put the ingredients into its pan and select my type and the time when I want it finished. If you want to wake up to fresh loaf, you have to work out how many hours it will be between the time you switch it on and the time you want it to be ready. Meanwhile, the recipe that comes with it is very accurate and after three and a half hour you’ll have the most tasteful bread you ever tried.
Most young people enjoy some forms of physical activity. It may be walking, cycling, swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be a game of some forms—football, basketball, hockey, golf or tennis. It may be mountaineering.
Those who have a passion for climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risks in high mountains? This astonishment is caused, probably, by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their leisure.
Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, as others, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of different kinds which would be dangerous to ignore, but it is this freedom from man-made rules that makes mountaineering attractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.
If we compare mountaineering with other more familiar sports, we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. We should be mistaken in this. There are, it is true, no “matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a rock face linked by a rope on which their lives may depend, there is obviously teamwork.
The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of nature. His sport requires high mental and physical qualities.
A mountain climber continues to improve in skills year by year. A skier is probably past his best by the age of thirty. But it is not unusual for men of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in the Alps. They may take more time than younger men, but they perhaps climb with more skills and less waste of effort, and they certainly experience equal enjoyment.
1.What sports are popular among people in winter in the passage?
A. Soccer and golf. B. Skiing and skating.
C. Cycling and hockey. D. Mountaineering.
2.The underlined word “passion” in Paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ______.
A. strong emotion B. good way
C. better feeling D. enough affection
3.Mountaineering is a sport, not a game because_______.
A. it has man-made rules
B. it is too dangerous for climbers
C. it can’t bring people joy or leisure
D. it is free for climbers to use their own methods
4.We know from the passage that _______.
A. mountaineering has no appeal for people
B. physical quality is more important than mental one for climbers
C. a mountain climber passes his best by the age of thirty
D. it is possible for an old man of fifty or sixty to climb the Alps
5.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Sports in winter B. Team work in climbing
C. Mountaineering D. The quality for mountaineering
The computer keyboard helped kill shorthand—a system of rapid handwriting, and now it’s threatening to finish off handwriting as a whole. When handwritten essays were introduced on the SAT exams for the class of 2012, just 15% of the most1.5 million students wrote their answers in cursive(草写字母). The rest? Block letters.
And those college hopefuls are just the first edge of a wave of US students who no longer get much handwriting instructions in the primary grades, frequently 10 minutes a day or less. As a result, more and more students struggle to read and write cursive.
At Keene Mill Elementary School in Springfield, all their poems and stories are typed. Children in Fairfax County schools are taught keyboarding beginning in kindergarten. Older students who never mastered handwriting say it doesn’t affect their grades.
There are those who say the culture is at a crossing, turning from the written word to the typed one. If handwriting becomes a lost form of communication, does it matter?
It was at University Virginia that researchers recently discovered a previously unknown poem by Robert, written in his unique script. Handwritten documents are more valuable to researchers, historians say, because their authenticity(真实性) can be confirmed. Students also find them more fascinating.
The loss of handwriting also may be a cognitive(认知的) opportunity missed. Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better—a lifelong benefit.
It doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills. At some schools in Prince George’s County, elementary school students use a program called Handwriting Without Tears for 15 minutes a day. They learn the correct formation of manuscript letters through second grade, and cursive letters in third grade.
There are always going to be some kids who struggle with handwriting because of their particular neurological(神经系统的) writing, learning issues or poor motor skills. Educators often point to this factor in support of keyboarding.
1.What is the author concerned about after 2012 Sat exams?
A. Keyboarding. B. Shorthand. C. Handwriting. D. Block letters.
2.A poem by Robert mentioned in the passage is used to ____________.
A. prove how valuable handwriting is
B. explain what a famous poet he is
C. show how unique his poem is
D. stress how fascinating the documents are
3.The example of Handwriting Without Tears helps to argue that _____________.
A. the schools are responsible for the loss of handwriting
B. the loss of handwriting is a cognitive opportunity missed
C. it doesn’t take much to teach better handwriting skills
D. the culture is turning from the written word to the typed one
4.According to the author, when is a perfect time to learn handwriting?
A. Kindergarten. B. Primary school.
C. High school. D. College.
5.What is the author’s attitude towards this debate?
A. Devotion. B. Encouragement. C. Critical. D. Objective.
