Everybody knows the saying “Two steps forward and three steps back”. That described my life pretty well as a single mom. I was raising two teenagers on a teacher’s aide’s salary. It wasn’t nearly enough to cover the bills, so I moonlighted as a waitress. Every time I thought that I had found a solution to my money worries, something would fall through and I would end up feeling worse off than before.
The next evening at the restaurant I tried on my apron, wishing I could be home with my kids. I walked up to my first table. Around it was a cheerful older couple. The woman gave me a smile that warmed me. I couldn’t help but notice her unusual glass ring. “What a beautiful ring,” I said. We chatted for a minute then I took their order and left. When I came back with their drinks, the woman held out her ring. “I would like to give this to you,” she said.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t,” I said, embarrassed.
She gently placed the ring in my hand and closed my fingers around it. “It’s yours,” she said. “Please accept it and your things are going to be okay.” Right there at their table in the middle of the restaurant I broke down in tears. “Thank you for giving me hope,” I said.
Long after that night, that sense of peace stayed with me. I knew the right job would come in time. Nine months later it did. I got a better position at another school and I started waitressing at a restaurant where I was allowed to spend more time with my kids.
Now in these tough times, I have money worries again, but they don’t get me down. I know things will turn out okay. And when I wear that unusual glass ring, I’m reminded I’m not alone.
1.From the saying “Two steps forward and three steps back”, it means the writer_______.
A.liked stepping forward and backward
B.had difficulty raising her family
C.couldn’t walk regular like other people
D.wanted to look for a better job
2.The writer worked as a waitress in the restaurant in order to_______.
A.live with her children
B.serve the older couple
C.search for a glass ring
D.make more money
3.Hearing the woman’s words, the writer felt .
A.moved
B.embarrassed
C.puzzled
D.successful
4.From the fifth paragraph we can know the writer believed that_______.
A.her children loved her very much
B.she could find a better restaurant
C.the glass ring would bring her good luck
D.it was easy to get a right job
5.Now the writer’s attitude toward her life is_______.
A.positive B.disappointed
C.proud D.worried
Five Booming Careers in Health Care
Loving what you do is great, but knowing your career will be there tomorrow is even better. And when it comes to booming fields，the health care industry is one that's primed(准备好) for growth.
Want to prepare to take your place in the health care field？Check out these five indemand health care careers.
Career 1 Medical and Health Services Manager
If you want to take your leadership skills into the growing health care field，consider pursuing a career as a medical and health services manager.
As a medical and health services manager you might plan，direct，and organize health services in an entire health care facility，or a specific department or clinical area，says U.S. Department of Labor. Daily duties could include handling a facility's finances，creating work schedules，and making sure that health care services are delivered efficiently.
Career 2 Medical Assistant
If you are interested in working in a doctor's office，consider preparing for a career in the indemand field of medical assisting.
As a medical assistant，you could play a role in helping patients' visits go smoothly from when they first walk in the door. Your duties might include measuring vital signs，assisting the physician with examinations，recording health information，and scheduling appointments，according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Career 3 Registered Nurse
Ready to put your helpful nature to use in the largest health care field？Look into prepping(准备) to pursue a career in registered nursing.
As a registered nurse，you could work closely with patients by providing care，education，and emotional support. You might give patients medicines and treatments，observe their conditions，or perform diagnostic(诊断的)tests，says the U.S. Department of Labor.
Career 4 Physical Therapist (理疗师)Assistant
Want to enter an indemand health care field where you could really play a handson role in helping patients restore their physical functionality？If so，a career as a physical therapist assistant could be a good fit.
Under the supervision of a physical therapist，you could help patients regain movement as they recover from injuries，illnesses, or surgery. Your role in the rehabilitation process could include assisting patients with techniques(massage[按摩]，stretching)and therapeutic methods like electrical stimulation and mechanical traction，says the U．S. Department of Labor. Career 5 Pharmacy Technician(药剂师)
Prefer a health care career that is less handsome? Consider pursuing a career in the growing pharmacy technician field.
Pharmacy technicians can be responsible for counting pills，filling prescriptions，providing customer service，and fulfilling administrative tasks under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist，according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
1.As a medical assistant，your duties might NOT include ________.
A.scheduling appointments
B.providing customer service
C.assisting the physician with examinations
D.recording health information
2.Which of the following is TRUE about a physical therapist assistant?
A.His / Her duty might include measuring vital signs and recording health information.
B.His / Her function includes assisting patients and providing customer service.
C.He / She could play a practical role in helping patients restore their physical functionality.
D.He / She can help patients gain movement as they are in the illness.
3.What does the underlined word “rehabilitation” mean?
A.The process of recording somebody's name on an official list.
B.The process of cutting a part of a person's body in order to remove or repair a damaged part.
C.The process of helping somebody to have a normal life again after they have been ill for a long time.
D.The process of improving or becoming stronger.
4.The author writes the passage mainly to ________.
A.advocate five booming careers in health care
B.persuade you to go into five booming careers in health care
C.introduce five booming careers in health care
D.classify health care into five careers
In New York, Ma witnessed the Alibaba Group opening on the New York stock exchange with the largest initial public offering (IPO，新股发行) in American history. “Alibaba, the world’s largest Internet commerce company makes China equal to the US in the rapidly increasing global competition for technological innovation (创新) and economic transformation ” commented the South China Morning Post.
It has also made Ma China’s richest man with a fortune of around $25 billion (153 billion yuan), reported Reuters.
It’s reported that Ma’s rags-to-riches journey is just as spectacular as his Internet empire. Ma failed the national college entrance exams twice before he was finally in Hangzhou Normal University on his third attempt and failed in finding a suitable job several times. Also, Mr. Ma is a big believer in perseverance, which was proved in his English study experience.
However, it was his vision and goals that launched his career.
During a short trip to the US as an interpreter in 1995, Ma first experienced the Internet. He believed in the Internet’s business potential when few other Chinese people did. He started Alibaba in his Hangzhou apartment, with 17 friends and $60,000 of funds. At the time, when e-commerce was unheard of in China, “I called myself a blind man riding on the back of blind tigers,” he once said, according to The Guardian. His unusual ideas earned him the nickname “Crazy Jack Ma”.
Indeed, Ma is different. Although he is very thin and about 160cm tall, “Ma is yet animated and forceful, said The Guardian. “He is funny, creative, and a compelling (引人注目的) speaker.
Ma told Time magazine that he was “old for the Internet”. He started to slow down and looked around. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ma “plans to open a tai chi club with the actor Jet Li, build an entrepreneur (企业家) university in Hangzhou and continue to work on several environmental projects.”
1.What made him into e-commerce industry?
A.His foresight and ambitions.
B.His English learning experience.
C.His belief in perseverance.
D.His 17 friends and $60,000 funds.
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 mean?
A.Ma is a blind man riding on a blind tiger.
B.Ma had no confidence in his business future.
C.Ma knew little about e-commerce.
D.Ma had not enough money at that time.
3.What’s the personality of Ma Yun according to the passage?
A.Funny and competitive.
B.Determined and creative.
C.Rich and different.
D.Attractive and believable.
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.The Development of Alibaba Group
B.Ma Yun’s Personal Life
C.Ma Yun’s Crazy Success
D.E-commerce in China
“ON a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?”
Baymax, the plus-sized white robot, asks the question each time he detects (探测到) his patient’s pain. Considering that he is hardly like a typical Marvel superhero, how could this robotic caregiver from Big Hero 6 have stolen viewers’ hearts and taken home this year’s best animation Oscar?
Set in fictional San Fransokyo, the film follows Hiro, a 14-year-old robotics genius (天才). After his brother dies, he goes on a journey to save his city from an evil masked man with his brother’s invention, Baymax.
Baymax was named “Disney’s most straightforwardly adorable (萌的) character” in years by The Telegraph. He has a pure white pear-shaped body and stumpy elephant legs. And his eyes –just two black dots with a line through them – can blink (眨眼) quickly or slowly. Baymax’s physical appearance “works with his personality because he’s purely good and naive (天真的),” co-director Don Hall told The Hollywood Reporter.
Sometimes Baymax is awkward. Moving in tight spaces gets challenging with his potbelly (大肚子). And when his batteries run low, he behaves like an amusing drunk. “This means that he is not at all intimidating (令人生畏的) and is easy to like,” commented The Straits Times in Singapore.
Baymax is a comforting friend, the kind that perhaps everyone needs.
After he diagnoses (诊断) Hiro with feeling sorrow, he says: “Physical comfort helps too,” and pulls Hiro into a hug. He pats his head, saying: “There, there.”
The team’s car crashes into the water at one point, and they have to walk shivering (颤抖) back home. Baymax notices that everyone’s body temperatures are low, so he turns on his internal heaters. Everyone cuddles (依偎) up with him. “This is like spooning (拥抱) with a warm marshmallow (棉花糖),” says Fred, one of the characters.
One minute, he is used as a bouncy castle (充气城堡), and the next he transforms into a superhero.
To fight against the villain, Hiro upgrades Baymax so that the robot can attack and fly. The robot has a hard time figuring out these new skills, but after he realizes that Hiro is happy with his improvement, he immediately becomes an expert. “The treatment is working,” he says.
Tencent Entertainment calls the amazing Baymax a “perfect companion”. “He is quiet, clumsy, and adorable. But at important times, he steps up and stops at nothing to protect his friends from harm, even if it means that he has to sacrifice his life. This is an idealized (理想化的) relationship in harsh reality,” the site commented.
1.What does Baymax do when he discovers Hiro is sad?
A.He tries to amuse him by behaving awkwardly.
B.He leaves him alone.
C.He comforts him with a hug.
D.He advises him to go for a walk.
2.Which of the following adjectives best describe Baymax?
A.Considerate and selfless.
B.Adorable and humorous.
C.Clumsy and cautious.
D.Brave and proud.
3.What is the article mainly about?
A.The plot and background of the movie Big Hero 6.
B.The friendship between Hiro and Baymax in Big Hero 6.
C.The reasons for the popularity of Baymax from Big Hero 6.
D.What sets Big Hero 6 apart from other animation movies.
4.Which of the following is TRUE about Baymax?
A.Baymax’s awkwardness actually makes him more adorable and popular.
B.Baymax was invented by Hiro, a robotics genius.
C.Baymax’s physical appearance doesn’t quite match his personality.
D.Baymax looks like a typical Marvel superhero.
阅读理【解析】
共20题 每题2分 共40分
Should parents ever hit their children?
Research suggests many of us are likely to respond “no”, and public support for spanking(打屁股) has been falling over the years．But surveys also show that 75 percent to nearly 90 percent of parents admit spanking their child at least once．
I was raised in a zero-tolerance home for disrespect, and my parents often turned to physical punishment．And, no, I don't feel I was damaged by it．
Nothing is more annoying than watching ill-mannered behavior from children．
But there is data to suggest that a return to old-school spanking isn't the answer．
Two years ago, Newsweek reported that it had found data suggesting that teens whose parents used physical punishment were more likely to become aggressive．
Murray Straus, professor at the University of New Hampshire in America, has studied the topic of children and spanking for decades．He said that children who were physically punished have lower IQs than their peers．It may be that children with lower IQs were more likely to get spanked, but the punishment may have been counterproductive (反作用的) to their mental development, as well．
Some researchers make the argument that occasional open-handed smacks (用巴掌打) on the bottom are not only harmless but can have some benefit．
Last year, Marjorie Gunnoe, a psychologist at Calvin College, studied teens who have never spanked．There are a greater number of children growing up without ever having been physically punished．Gunnoe’s research suggests they don' t turn out any better than those who were sometimes spanked．
There are some parents who simply cannot control their tempers(脾气)．But I still believe that the best parents are the ones who are able to offer fair and firm discipline without ever turning to physical punishment．
1.According to the first three paragraphs, the author was probably hit by her parents when_______.
A.they were dissatisfied with her grade
B.she showed no respect for the elder
C.they cannot control their temper
D.their discipline turns out to be not strict enough
2.According to Murray Straus, children who are physically punished _____.
A.are less aggressive toward others when they get older
B.have slower physical development
C.benefit from occasional spanking
D.may develop lower IQs than their peer
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
A.40 percent of children grow up without ever being spanked
B.Children who suffer less physical punishment are better students
C.Occasional open-handed spanking on the bottom are mentally harmful
D.Researchers disagree over whether smacking is mentally harmful to children
完形填空：共20题 每题2分 共40分
As I got up today, I smelt fresh coffee. I woke up to a cup of it with some biscuits on my bedside table. This reminded me of , the old school and college days, when mom used to wake me up by serving a cup of coffee. The taste is still so in my memories.
A thought hit me, "I was in bed, so who prepared this coffee for me? Is it a dream?"
I pinched(掐)myself, ouch... that hurt, which meant I was not I walked out of the room with the cup of coffee, my roommate. I asked him whether he prepared that for me, and the answer was YES.
I was relaxed somehow my heart wanted him to say NO, because I wanted to be in a that my mom prepared it for me. The whole reminded me of mom and I her at that moment.
On my way to my office, I was thinking about those days when mom used to cook my meal. I could not any single day when I slept without food. But now, I no longer the food mom cooked.This very thought tears to my eyes and I decided to call up mom. I reached the office and gave her a call.
The first thing she asked was, "Is everything all right?" I was . And I thought, "How the time has ."
When I was with her, I used to call her after every hour when I was out with my friends. In those days she asked me what was wrong, as she knew that it was my habit. My call at this point of the day to her meant that I was in .
Time has changed, she is still the same, and it is who have changed.
1.A.drink B.find C.prepare D.cook
2.A.home B.comfort C.warmth D.kitchen
3.A.smelling B.cooking C.steaming D.pouring
4.A.deep B.heavy C.fresh D.recent
5.A.funny B.possible C.realistic D.sudden
6.A.thinking B.dreaming C.working D.reacting
7.A.in place of B.in favor of C.in search of D.in case of
8.A.and B.but C.or D.so
9.A.sense B.relief C.sorrow D.belief
10.A.scene B.loss C.care D.matter
11.A.hated B.expected C.missed D.questioned
12.A.last B.every C.tasty D.complete
13.A.check B.count C.remember D.cover
14.A.pack B.finish C.imagine D.enjoy
15.A.brought B.caused C.pushed D.raised
16.A.careless B.speechless C.rootless D.homeless
17.A.influenced B.passed C.flied D.changed
18.A.never B.still C.often D.almost
19.A.peace B.surprise C.trouble D.progress
20.A.my roommate B.she C.the situation D.I
