Just a couple of hours ago, I was on the plane, ready to fly home from London. The flight had been delayed by a few hours so it felt good to be so close to take-off. I had my iPod in place and a new book to read. Then, over the loudspeaker came the pilot’s voice: "The ground crew has found a metal instrument in one tire. We regret that we must cancel this flight."
The passengers’ reactions that announcement led to were interesting. One man close to me began to argue with a flight attendant. A couple in another row complained loudly. A businessman in a black suit actually kicked the seat in front of him. Yet some passengers responded differently. An elderly gentleman smiled as he helped others take their bags down from the overhead compartments (隔间). A teenager, rather than trying to rush off the plane like most of the other passengers, stopped to help a woman with a disability. The lady sitting next to me laughed and said: "Hey, it’s not the end of the world..." before she made a call to her kids and shared her adventure with them. The wisest among us have a remarkable ability to maintain grounded when times get tough.
No life is perfect； mine certainly isn’t. We all must face challenges, both large and small. You and I have the power to choose to rise above the external circumstances. We always have the choice to be strong and kind when things fall apart.
That’s grace under pressure. My seatmate was right — things could have been so much worse. Anyway, I am safe. I have my health. I have two wonderful children. I have work I love and so much to be grateful for. Sure I now have to wait a few hours to catch the next flight home.
1.What caused the passengers’ different reactions directly?
A.The loudspeaker. B.The delay of the flight.
C.The ground crew’s fault. D.The pilot’s announcement.
2.Who turned his anger on the seat?
A.The teenager helping the disabled. B.The old man taking bags down.
C.The man in a dark suit. D.The man close to me.
3.What did the woman sitting next to the author do?
A.She assisted a disabled woman.
B.She made a phone call to her family.
C.She helped others carry their luggage.
D.She told moving stories to her children.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A.Our life is full of ups and downs.
B.It is natural to be scared under pressure.
C.We should help each other in times of difficulty.
D.We should be positive and calm when life is hard.
EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA
HOT ATTRACTIONS
◆RIVERBANKS ZOO&GARDEN
It is home to more than 2,000 animals and one of the nation’s most beautiful botanical gardens. With more than 350 species from around the world, Riverbanks is one of the largest mid-sized zoos in the country.
Hours: 9:00a.m.—5:00p.m. daily.
Admission: Adults(13—61) — $19.95
Children(2—12) : $16.95
◆EDVENTURE
The South’s largest children’s museum has 300 exhibits to inspire children to experience the joy of learning. Where else but EdVenture can children drive a real fire truck, anchor the news or visit another country?
Hours: Monday — Sunday :9 a. m. — 5 p. m.
Admission: Members Free
Children and Adults: $ 11. 95
◆SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM
The stories of South Carolina come alive through the exhibits and collections of the State Museum. Plus, a new 4-D theater provides popular movies that excite all ages. Museum members are invited to night-sky observing and more on Tuesday nights!
Hours: Mon. , Wed. - Fri. : 10 a. m.-5 p. m., Tues. :10 a. m. -10 p. m., Sat.: 10 a. m. -6 p. m., Sun.: noon -5 p. m.
Admission: Adults (13 -61) : $ 8.95
Children (3 - 12): $ 6. 95
◆SALUDA SHOALS PARK
Saluda Shoals Park is a sensitive riverfront park that invites visitors to experience the treasures of the Saluda River through exceptional educational and cultural opportunities.
Fun-filled Family Activities Nightly! (except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas night)
Free for activities: apply with Holiday Lights admission ($ 20/car; $ 40/15-passenger vehicle; $ 60/bus).
1.Which attraction best suits a child interested in broadcasting news?
A.EdVenture. B.The State Museum.
C.Saluda Shoals Park. D.Riverbanks Zoo & garden.
2.How much should a young couple with a 4-year-old son pay to enjoy various plants and animals?
A.$ 24.85. B.$ 20.
C.$ 56.85. D.$ 35.85.
3.Which of the following is available to all tourists in the State Museum?
A.Having a fantastic visual feast at 1:00 p. m.
B.Visiting the exhibits on Sunday morning.
C.Enjoying free family activities every night.
D.Observing the amazing night sky on Tuesday nights.
假定你是李华，一年前在伦敦做交换生时曾住在Mrs Jones家里，得到其热情周到的关心和照顾。下周一将是她六十岁生日，请写一封信祝她生日快乐，内容包括：
1．写信目的；
2．回顾过去得到的关照；
3．邀请对方有空来你的家乡做客。
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。
Dear Mrs Jones,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
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，每句中最多有两处。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（∧），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仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I read an interesting story last week. One day, a diver is enjoying the sea 20 feet below its surface. He noticed a man at same depth, but without any equipments. The diver went below other 20 feet, and the man joined in him a few minutes later. She went below 20 feet again, and after several minutes, the man following him again. This confused the diver, but he took a blackboard out and wrote, “How on earth are you able to stay this deep with nothing to help you?” The man took the blackboard, rubbed that the diver had written and wrote, “I’m drowned, you fool!”
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Do you like coffee, rain, street markets, jazz musicians or shopping 1. (center)? All of these can be found in Seattle.
Seattle is the hometown of Starbucks (星巴克) and is the setting for the TV series Grey’s Anatomy. The weather is 2. (fair) warm for a northern city in America. Although it gets cold in winter, it seldom 3.(snow).
Seattle feels 4. home to me because one of my best friends is in the city. During the winter holiday, I visit the friend in Seattle every year. We often spend much time 5. (shop) in downtown stores. We buy coffee and things we like.
My friend and I have a favorite Korean restaurant 6. (call) Blue Stone. Whenever we have a long day of touring downtown, we end the day at this restaurant. Their bibimbap (石锅拌饭) brings much 7. ( please) to us because it is so 8.( taste).
Seattle is really 9. attractive city with beautiful sights both in the daytime 10. at night. When the sky is clear, you can see the Cascade Range from the city and it is wonderful. Therefore, if you plan to take a trip to the USA, I will advise you to visit Seattle!
I woke with a racing heart. Today would be my ______ parent-teacher meeting.
Akif was a happy, good-natured boy. He was ______ to his classmates and he didn’t misbehave. His _______however, was always late. i gave him effort grades when I could, but the problem was getting ______. By November, despite messages left on the home answering machine, it was time to meet the ______. Akif’s work was ______ in most subjects, so other teachers joined the meeting. I was grateful I wouldn’t be ______.
Akif’s father entered the classroom uncertainly. His blue sweater, oversized and misshapen, hung on his ______ body. He walked in nervously, quickly sitting in one of the empty desks we’d arranged in a circle for the ______ .
We welcomed him and were beginning introductions when his thin hand went into the air to ______ us. In a shaky voice, he asked to ______ first. He poured out his ______. Akif was his youngest child. He worked two full-time jobs to ______ his family. The more he spoke, the more I understood what he was trying to say: He ______ himself for Akif’s struggles.
He said, “I can’t give him the ______ he deserves. I keep telling him he must ask his teachers for _______with his schoolwork.”
Then he stopped. He covered his face with his hands. “I would be forever ______ if you could give Akif help,” he said as tears rolled down his cheeks.
I forgot all about being a first-year teacher. I ______ Akif’s father that we would help his son succeed. For the first time, I saw his face relax with ______ . Then he bowed his head and thanked me deeply. That parent-teacher meeting ______ me in powerful ways, not only as a teacher, but also as a person and eventually a parent.
1.A.last B.first C.next D.extra
2.A.equal B.similar C.kind D.strange
3.A.schoolwork B.message C.payment D.growth
4.A.worse B.better C.easier D.rarer
5.A.students B.teachers C.neighbours D.parents
6.A.useful B.accurate C.incomplete D.impossible
7.A.awake B.alone C.away D.alive
8.A.large B.real C.perfect D.thin
9.A.debate B.meeting C.performance D.lecture
10.A.greet B.teach C.stop D.follow
11.A.play B.leave C.finish D.speak
12.A.story B.plan C.anger D.wisdom
13.A.visit B.find C.support D.join
14.A.blamed B.excused C.thanked D.asked
15.A.respect B.attention C.freedom D.praise
16.A.love B.power C.credit D.help
17.A.proud B.curious C.grateful D.careful
18.A.promised B.advised C.reminded D.warned
19.A.worry B.pity C.humour D.relief
20.A.troubled B.changed C.witnessed D.controlled
