A few years after Mom died, Dad handed me a plastic bag. That evening, I ________ the bag to find dozens of shells, each one ________ in white tissue paper（纸巾）and having Mom’s handwriting.
The shells were pretty ________, but to Mom, they were evidence of her endlessly magical life and ________ me of the seashore trip with her. She was 61 when she ________ these shells, and already showing ________ of the lung disease. We knew something was ________ and Mom needed an adventure. She suggested a dinner and a movie. But two friends and I had bigger ________.
Mom had been to the ocean only twice, but she ________ the seashore. Her kitchen was decorated（装饰） with souvenirs from those two trips. I told Mom that we would ________ for Jersey Shore. Mom was so ________ that she screamed and Amber, her dog was ________ to jump onto the floor.
One of my favorite ________ on the road was a discussion about movies. Mom often got the titles wrong. “Ohhhh,” she said, “what was that movie about a teacher at the boys’ school?” Before anyone could ________, she shouted, “The Dead Man’s Poet!” I looked back and saw a back seat full of ________. “Mom,” I said. “You mean Dead poets Society?” “That’s it!” Mom yelled. ________ filled the car.
Once we got to Stone Harbor, she began to ________ the trip, greeting strangers and spending hours gathering shells. The morning we left, I found her photographing every inch of her bedroom. “I don’t ever want to ________ this,” she said.
For a long time, Mom’s shells stayed ________ in a drawer. Last month, I ________ them again while searching for something else. I put them in a visible place as a reminder from a mother who never lost her sense of wonder.
1.A. receivedB. openedC. checkedD. packed
2.A. foldedB. includedC. trappedD. covered
3.A. hardB. commonC. heavyD. big
4.A. remindedB. requiredC. informedD. warned
5.A. movedB. boughtC. collectedD. found
6.A. causesB. riskC. signsD. record
7.A. wrongB. missingC. strangeD. boring
8.A. tasksB. changesC. dreamsD. plans
9.A. understoodB. trustedC. lovedD. respected
10.A. waitB. headC. lookD. pay
11.A. encouragedB. relaxedC. determinedD. excited
12.A. frightenedB. embarrassedC. disappointedD. pleased
13.A. debatesB. thoughtsC. memoriesD. questions
14.A. concentrateB. continueC. adviseD. answer
15.A. confusionB. worryC. sadnessD. peace
16.A. PrideB. LaughterC. ShoutsD. Challenges
17.A. enjoyB. organizeC. supportD. take
18.A. decideB. forgetC. believeD. keep
19.A. lostB. unexpectedC. unknownD. buried
20.A. hidB. washedC. discoveredD. prepared
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。
The benefits of keeping a journal(日志)
If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keep a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me. 1. Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.
♦ It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea and lost it later because you didn’t write it down? 2. But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. If I am away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.
♦ It helps you review all the lessons you’ve learned. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you’ve learned and the ideas you’ve gotten. 3. You can use the ideas to propel yourself forward.
♦ 4. After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you’ve gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past have been realized today.
♦ It helps you expand your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it. 5. In the end, you will expand your ideas.
A.I often experienced that myself.
B.It trains you to express your thoughts.
C.It allows you to see your progress over time.
D.Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.
E.Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.
F.And to be honest, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without it.
G.Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Traveling by bicycle is a very popular means of transportation throughout China. China has a huge population, and it is said that there is at least one bicycle for every two people within the country. Of course, many people in China ride bicycles purely for sport or exercise, but it’s also a much more commonly accepted means of everyday transportation, as compared to countries such as the United States.
If you are living for a long period of time in China, chances are you will want to purchase your own bicycle so that you can use it whenever you want for transportation or just for the enjoyment of riding. Even if you don’t use a bicycle for everyday transportation, owning one can be a great way of enjoying some of the trails in the rural areas, just for fun. However, if you are just visiting China, renting a bicycle can be a more convenient choice.
It is important to choose the correct bicycle for your use. You’ll find that in China, the one-speed style of bicycle is extremely popular. These bicycles are great if you want to ride around in the city to see the sights. They are quite comfortable and easy to ride. You can often rent a bicycle for an entire day for around $15.
However, if you wish to ride on some of the rural paths, a mountain bike style would be a better choice. They are great for different kinds of road surfaces, providing for a safer ride. If you are planning to have a desire to tour and still be able to carry packages with you, then a touring bike would be the best choice. These are generally the most expensive to rent, but are extremely handy for carrying packages and even some of your luggage along with you.
1.The first paragraph probably tells us that ________.
A. riding bicycle is very popular to Chinese people
B. Chinese people use bicycles only for transportation
C. Americans use bicycles only for sport and exercise
D. Riding bicycles is the main means of transportation
2.If you are traveling in Beijing you’d better ________.
A. buy a bikeB. borrow a bikeC. steal a bikeD. rent a bike
3.Which of the following is the advantage of the one-speed bicycle?
A. It’s worth at least 15 dollars.
B. You can’t ride it in the countryside.
C. It is easy for you to travel in the city.
D. You have to return it the next day.
4.You would like to own a touring bike probably because ________.
A. you have to ride on the road in the countryside
B. you have some packages to carry while traveling
C. you want to enjoy the sights in the big cities
D. it is suitable for all kinds of road surfaces
Many people believe that you lose the ability to learn new languages as you get older. Language experts, however, will tell you that you’re never too old to learn a new language. As you get older, it can be more difficult to learn a new language, though.
Children and adults learn new languages in different ways. For children, language is their life. They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities. Adults, on the other hand, are already part of a language community. Learning a new language means becoming part of another language community, and adults rarely get the chance to practice as much as young children do.
Moreover, children learning a new language are expected to make mistakes. This gives them freedom when learning to be daring and confident. Adults, however, often feel pressured to be perfect when learning a new language. This can discourage many people and make it even harder to learn a new language.
When young children learn a new language, they come to see various languages as a “normal” part of society. This mindset （思维模式） helps them embrace learning a new language without feeling like they’re doing something unusual or “too hard”.
So if you want to learn a new language, go for it! It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language!
1.By “Language is their life”, the author means that children ________.
A. can’t live without language
B. lead a happy life every day
C. practice a new language a lot
D. are taken good care of adults
2.What may make it hard for the old people to learn to a new language?
A. They are afraid of being laughed at.
B. They usually have too many interests.
C. They think making mistakes is natural.
D. They always make all kinds of mistakes.
3.Which of the following shows the difference between children and adults in learning a new language?
A. The behaviors they have.
B. The learning attitudes.
C. The future plans they have made.
D. The materials they are using.
4.According to the author, a new language ________.
A. can never be learned by the old people
B. can be grasped by the old people easily
C. can be understood only by the old people
D. can be learned by both the old and the young
Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio, USA and died on January 30, 1948. Together with his brother, Wilbur, he was the first airplane builder. The brothers created the first controlled, powered and heavier-than-air human flight.
His parents were Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner and besides the two famous brothers they had five children. One day after a trip his father brought as a gift a small helicopter. The kids loved it and as they played daily with it after a while it broke. The brothers managed to create a new one. Wright even let go his plans of attending Yale. He spent his time helping his ill mother and reading in his father’s library.
In 1884 the family decided to move to Dayton and they remained there until the 1870’s. A printing press was built by the two and Wilbur was an editor. In 1892 they started being fascinated by the aeronautical （航空的） events of that time. Then they started to create an airplane and Wilbur was considered the head of the team. They were the inventors of “three axis-control”, which permitted the pilot to steer the aircraft’s balance.
In 1900 they had their first attempts to make a functional glider（滑翔机）— of course it didn’t have a pilot. After three years they thought of introducing an engine to the glider. At first, their patent(专利) application was refused in 1903, but after one year it was accepted.
Orville’s first flight lasted 12 seconds and had 36.5 meters. He was responsible with the public shows near Washington in the United States. On September 9, 1908 his flight was 62 minutes and 15 seconds long and the success was huge.
1.What might make Wright brothers interested in the plane?
A. The pleasant trip.B. Catherine’s education.
C. The political events.D. Their father’s gift.
2.Wright didn’t go to Yale probably because ________.
A. he had to create a plane
B. he didn’t have enough money
C. he would like to learn by himself
D. his mother asked him to stay at home
3.The underlined word “steer” (in Paragraph 3) probably means ________.
A. keepB. driveC. learnD. enjoy
4.This passage tells us about ________.
A. the plane’s history B. Milton and his children
C. Orville Wright’s life D. the development of science
Keeping the kids busy over the school holidays can be discouraging and cost parents a lot. But we’ve found some cheap and cheerful ways to enjoy family time this Easter from free days out to fun-filled theme parks which won’t cost us much. We’ve done the homework so you can get started on having a great time.
Theme Parks
♦Save from 10% to 25% off the price of tickets for Legoland in Windor by booking in advance online. A family of four can save up to ₤45.90 on a one-day ticket, paying ₤137.70.
♦Book seven days in advance and save ₤43 off the price of a family of four tickets for Drayton Manor Theme Park. Call 0844-472-1950 or book online and you’ll pay ₤65 on the day.
♦You can pick up a family of four ticket for a day at Alton Towers in Staffordshire for ₤43.80 off the day price.
♦Save ₤16 off the price for a family trip to The Making of Harry Potter by buying a family ticket (two adults and two children) online. Family of four ₤101, compared to ₤117.
Activities
Students looking for a cut-price trip to see the animals can save 15% off the ticket price at Bristol Zoo and pay ₤12.71 rather than the full adult price ₤14.53. Teens should show their identity as students.
Freebies
Let your kids discover what it’s like to be an animal on the African Plain in the ocean. Or, they can learn to love leaf beetles or become a scientist for the day at the Natural History Museum in London.
1.Which of the following theme parks can save you most on Easter Day?
A. Alton Towers.B. Legoland in Windsor
C. Drayton Manor Theme Park.D. The Making of Harry Potter.
2.How can tourists enjoy a cut-price trip at Bristol Zoo?
A. By showing their birthdays and birthplaces.
B. By showing their family addresses
C. By showing their driving licenses.
D. By showing their students’ cards.
3.Who is the text mainly intended for?
A. The students.B. The scientists.
C. The families.D. The kids
