“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
You probably heard those lines in grammar school, but do you really agree that harsh(严厉的) or negative words do not harm us? Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said.
We may not say words to hurt others, but the way we interpret (解释) them and how we say them may cause great harm. Here’s an example:
An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him: the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone! The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said, “Congratulations! King! You will live many more years. In fact, you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King!”
Both interpreters gave the same interpretation, but there was a huge difference in the way they said it.
Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words, but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive?
People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm, but have you ever known anyone who is a naysayer? They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person? Remember: words have power. Use them wisely.
1.The author mentions the story of the ancient king to show that _____.
A. one dream sometimes has different explanations
B. good words can bring good luck to people
C. people should be careful when talking to a king
D. different ways of saying things have different effects
2.The underlined word naysayer in the last paragraph refers to a person who always _____.
A. has a negative attitude
B. likes to be praised
C. talks big
D. likes to repeat what others say
3.According to the text, how can people understand each other better?
A. By sharing different life experiences
B. By accepting different habits.
C. By properly using words
D. By recognizing different values.
4.The passage mainly talks about ______.
A. the power of words
B. the cruelty of the king
C. how to understand others
D. how to build good relationships
In a book called Magnificent Obsession, by Lloyd C. Douglas, a description is given of people helping others but doing it secretly. When difficult problems worried an individual(个人), friends nearby would meet to discuss possible solution(解决方案) without the individual knowing their actions. When a solution was agreed upon, one or two of the friends would carry out the plan and solve the problem secretly, to the great delight of the worried individual. The helpers would stand by privately(私下地), content with their success. No reward was given to the problem solvers, not even a sincere “thank you”, because they were never known.
This concept is popular today but in a different way. The phrase “pay it forward” is now used when one person helps another. However, the person helped may not be able to repay the person or group that helped them. So rather than return the favor to their helpers, they are supposed to help someone else in the future, which means they pay it forward. It is a sense of responsibility which makes us want to give back in equal measure to the one who has helped us. But, in this case, the responsibility turns to helping someone in the future.
Suppose your elderly grandmother pays part of your schooling. She may tell you there is no need to repay her because it is a gift from someone who loves you very much. Nothing would please her more than to have you use her money to get a good education.
You may never be able to repay her for such a gift. However, she not only gave you some money, but she provided you with an example that you should also help other people who need it.
People with serious needs are everywhere. Many are children who need better clothes, more books and even better schools. Some are elderly people who can’t afford their medicine or a doctor’s care. Consider how you can “pay it forward” rather than pay money back to your grandmother.
1. The helpers in the book “Magnificent Obsession” were not rewarded because ______.
A. they hadn’t solved the problems thoroughly (彻底地)
B. they had solved the problems secretly
C. they were friends of the worried individual
D. they expected to be paid back in the future
2.The underlined word “pay it forward” means _______.
A. to repay someone who has helped you
B. to pay someone else who needs help
C. to help someone who has helped you
D. to help someone else who needs help
3.What does the writer suggest with the example of “your elderly grandmother”?
A. We should learn to respect our grandparents.
B. We should work hard to get a good education.
C. We should also lend a hand to other people in need of help.
D. We should never forget to repay people for their help.
4. From the passage we know_______.
A. everybody needs help
B. more children need help than elderly people
C. it costs a lot of money to “pay it forward”
D. nowadays many people help others without being repaid
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute.” answered a weak, elderly voice. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase. I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man,” she said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way.” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry.” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice（临终医院）. I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter（计价器）. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. At dawn, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.” We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You have to make a living.” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark. “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
1. The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to .
A. show she was familiar with the city
B. see some places for the last time
C. let the driver earn more money
D. reach the destination on time
2.The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he .
A. wanted to do her a favor
B. shut off the meter by mistake
C. had received her payment in advance
D. was in a hurry to take other passengers
3. What can we learn from the story?
A. Giving is always a pleasure.
B. People should respect each other.
C. An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
D. People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.
后出生的学生，思想特殊、行为方式和价值观令人担忧。假如你是一名90后出生的学生李华，请根据下表中所提供信息以“Do trust us—a generation born in the 90s”为题写一篇英语演讲稿，以消除人们的忧虑。
90后的境遇 | 面临更多的升学和就业烦恼，所处环境竞争更加激烈。 | |
人们的忧虑 | 1．注重自我，轻视合作，…… 2．缺乏毅力，容易气馁，…… 3．盲目追求，渴望成名，…… | |
我们的长处 | 有勇气来面对挑战，…… （请考生联系自己拟定内容，再列举两至三点。） | |
注意：
1．对所给要点，逐一陈述，适当发挥，不要简单翻译。
2．词数120左右。开头和结尾已经写好，不计入总词数。
3．演讲稿中不得提及考生所在班级及本人姓名。
4．参考词汇：盲目：blindly 毅力:perseverance
Good afternoon, everyone!
The topic of my speech today is “Do trust us—a generation born in the 90s”.
Living in an environment full of fiercer competition, we are faced with more problems in entering higher schools and getting employed.
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Thank you for your listening.
短文改错（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两赴，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（八），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均限一词。
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Lisa,
There is nothing wrong with you and this boy be friends and studying together. Of course a boy and a girl can be good friend. Ending your friendship with this boy would be stupid thing to do. You would lose a good friend and someone to study for.
Teenagers are like to gossip, and they often see something which isn't real. Perhaps your classmates can understand your friendship with the boy. However, there has no reason to stop it. My advice is to ignore your classmates. That way you will show us that you are much grown-up than they are.
Yours,
Miss Wang
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Dear Gill,
Do you remember me telling you about a health farm I've seen advertised? Well, I've looked at the ad again must say that it looks fantastic. Now I'm hoping to persuade you _1. (join) me there for a weekend!
The rooms you stay in sound really luxurious and apparently they all have an access 2. the garden All the meals are offered at a 3. (reason) price and you can also get room service if you want. The brochure says that what you do is 4. (entire) up to you. You can have programs specially 5. (design) to suit you or you can just ask the staff to make a few 6. (suggest) about activities to do. You can use any of the sports and leisure facilities as much as you like, and the brochure also 7. (mention) lots of other activities
every day 8. don’t worry,as nobody will watch you do anything, you could just spend the whole time 9. (relax) in the sauna if you want! There's a terrific offer on at 10. moment: weekends costing only half the normal price although that only for certain dates. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Best wishes,
Sue
