My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America. America was where all my mother’s hopes lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China. But she never looked back with regret. There were so many ways for things to get better.
“Of course you can be a prodigy, too,” my mother told me when I was nine. “You can be best at anything.” We didn’t immediately pick the right kind of prodigy. At first my mother thought I could be a Chinese Shirley Temple. We’d watch Shirley’s old movies on TV as though they were training films. My mother would poke my arm and say, “Ni kan” — You watch. And I would see Shirley tapping her feet, or singing a sailor song, or pursing her lips into a very round O while saying, “Oh my goodness.”
Soon after my mother got this idea about Shirley Temple, she took me to a beauty training school and put me in the hands of a student who could barely hold the scissors without shaking. Instead of getting big fat curls, I emerged with an uneven mass of crinkly black fuzz. My mother dragged me off to the bathroom and tried to wet down my hair.
“You look like Negro Chinese,” she complained, as if I had done this on purpose.
In fact, in the beginning, I was just as excited as my mother, maybe even more so. I pictured this prodigy part of me as many different images, trying each one on for size. I was a dainty ballerina girl standing by the curtains, waiting to hear the right music that would send me floating on my tiptoes. I was Cinderella stepping from her pumpkin carriage with sparkly cartoon music filling the air.
In all of my imaginings, I was filled with a sense that I would soon become perfect. My mother and father would adore me. I would be beyond reproach. I would never feel the need to sulk for anything.
But sometimes the prodigy in me became impatient. “If you don’t hurry up and get me out of here, I’m disappearing for good,” it warned. “And then you’ll always be nothing.”
Every night after dinner, my mother and I would sit at the Formica kitchen table. She would present new tests, taking her examples from stories of amazing children she had read and a dozen other magazines she kept in a pile in our bathroom. My mother got these magazines from people whose houses she cleaned. She would look through them all, searching for stories about remarkable children.
The first night she brought out a story about a three-year-old boy who knew the capitals of all the states and even most of the European countries. A teacher was quoted as saying the little boy could also pronounce the names of the foreign cities correctly.
“What’s the capital of Finland?” my mother asked me, looking at the magazine story.
All I knew was the capital of California, because Sacramento was the name of the street we lived on in Chinatown. “Nairobi!” I guessed, saying the most foreign word I could think of. She checked to see if that was possibly one way to pronounce “Helsinki” before showing me the answer.
The tests got harder—multiplying numbers in my head, finding the queen of hearts in a deck of cards, trying to stand on my head without using my hands, predicting the daily temperatures in Los Angeles, New York, and London.
And after seeing my mother’s disappointed face once again, something inside of me began to die. I hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectations. Before going to bed that night, I looked in the mirror and when I saw only my face staring back—and that it would always be this ordinary face—I began to cry. Such a sad, ugly girl! I made high pitched noises like a crazed animal, trying to scratch out the face in the mirror.
And then I saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of me—because I had never seen that face before. I looked at my reflection, blinking so I could see more clearly. The girl staring back at me was angry, powerful. This girl and I were the same. I had new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of won’ts. I won’t let her change me, I promised myself. I won’t be what I’m not.
1.The underlined word “prodigy” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ________.
A.talent B.professor C.leader D.superstar
2.Why did the mother and the girl watch Shirley’s old movies on TV?
A.Because the mother was a fan of Shirley Temple.
B.Because Shirley Temple’s hairstyle was popular among children.
C.Because the girl resembled Shirley Temple in appearance.
D.Because the mother wanted her daughter to be a Chinese Shirley Temple.
3.How did the girl feel about the tests she did every night?
A.She felt confident and finished it smoothly.
B.She got through the tests successfully, but painfully.
C.She failed the tests and began to lose confidence.
D.She eventually sadly found herself ordinary and ugly.
4.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 13 mean?
A.The mother was not sure about the answer and wanted to confirm it.
B.The mother expected her daughter to know the right answer.
C.The answers were more than one and the mother checked them.
D.The mother was so disappointed as to give up her daughter.
5.What might happen after the last paragraph?
A.The girl might try her best to become famous and successful.
B.The girl might follow her heart and do what she really likes.
C.The girl might do whatever her mother asks and becomes a different image.
D.The mother might change her attitude and listen to her daughter’s words.
6.Which of the following can be the best title of the text?
A.Being Myself or Not B.Educational Failure
C.Difficult American Childhood D.Mother’s Experience
Patients and doctors alike have long believed in the healing (治疗) power of humor．It is claimed that humor not only affects patients’ moods，but can actually help them recover faster.
Several studies seem to support this．Patients in better spirits are known to have higher immune cell counts．Some have even claimed to have healed themselves of serious illnesses by reading comics and watching comedies.
Despite all this，many researchers are not convinced． They point out the fact that many sufferings have been known to disappear naturally，with or without a daily dose of laughter．They also say that while optimism in general does seem to be related to better health，it is hard to tell which comes first.
Humor in times of stress，however，clearly makes us feel better．On one level，it takes our minds off our troubles and relaxes us．On another，it releases powerful endorphins，a chemical produced by your body that reduces pain．
There are cases where the appreciation of a good joke is indeed directly related to a person’s health．It can show，for example，whether a person has suffered damage to one particular area of the brain: the right frontal lobe (额叶)．
Scientists confirmed this by having people read jokes and asking them to choose the funniest endings from a list．Subjects with normal brains usually chose endings that were based on a relatively complex synthesis (综合) of ideas．Subjects with specifically located brain damage，however，responded only to slapstick (闹剧) endings，which did not depend on a particular context．When pressed，the brain-damaged subjects saw the logic in the correct endings．They simply did not find them funny.
Of course，humor is largely an individual matter．Next time your friend does not get one of your jokes，there is no need to accuse him of being a lamebrain．However，you might suggest that he lighten up—for the health of it．
1.We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. all researchers have agreed on the healing power of humor
B. people seldom accuse their friends of not understanding jokes
C. the author holds a positive attitude to the healing power of humor
D. reading comics will surely become a popular way of treating diseases
2.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Many researchers are not convinced of the healing power of humor.
B. Patients in bad moods are known to have higher immune cell counts．
C. Optimism in general does seem to be related to better health.
D. People should try their best to cheer up for their good health.
3.Scientists had some people read jokes and asked them to choose the funniest endings from a list to confirm that ________.
A. the brain-damaged people are different from those with normal brains
B. a person with a normal brain usually responds to slapstick endings
C. a person suffering certain brain damage doesn’t appreciate a good joke
D. humor takes our minds off our troubles by releasing powerful endorphins
4.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Which comes first，humor or health?
B. Humor can cure different illnesses
C. People need humor in times of stress
D. Humor contributes to good health
Money matters, no matter who or where you are. So when China’s currency the yuan was devalued (贬值) against the US dollar for three straight days in mid-August, the world felt the effects. As CNN put it: “If China sneezes, the world catches a cold.”
Why does it matter so much?
The exchange rate is the term for the comparison of two currencies. It says how much one currency is worth in terms of (换算) the other.
“Exchange rates play an important role in a country’s level of trade. It is one of the most important determinants (决定因素) of a country’s relative level of economic health,” wrote Jason Van Bergen of Forbes.com. A higher currency makes a country’s exports more expensive and imports cheaper, and vice versa (反之亦然).
Devaluation means the same amount of RMB can be exchanged for fewer USD. For example, on Aug 11, the exchange rate of RMB to USD was 6.23, which meant $1 was worth the same as 6.23 yuan. Two days later, the rate changed to 6.4, meaning the value of RMB had dropped by 2.7 percent.
So what does a weaker currency mean for our lives?
It first affects those who want to travel to, or study in, the US. If your former classmate is leaving for a preparatory (预科) school in the US at the end of August, it now costs about 1,800 yuan more to exchange currency for 10,000 US dollars than it did earlier this month. However, since many currencies have decreased in value, the value of yuan is still relatively high despite the recent devaluation. This means it costs 1,200 yuan less to get 10,000 Canadian dollars now than it did in March.
Even if we don’t have plans to travel abroad, though, we could still be affected. For example, your mother will have to pay more if she buys directly from overseas websites with US dollars. And chances are that imported chocolate and potato chips will soon be a bit more expensive in your local supermarket.
However, the weaker yuan is good news for Chinese exporters. It makes Chinese exports less expensive and it could boost the overseas sales that have been among the main reasons for China’s economic growth during its rise over the past 30 years.
Just as Erik Britton of Fathom, a London-based economic consulting firm, told The Guardian: “We’re all going to feel it: we’ll feel it through commodities (商品), not just from China but from everywhere that has to compete with it; and we’ll feel it through wages.”
“The devalued yuan will force China’s Asian rivals (竞争对手), such as Indonesia and South Korea, to compete even harder,” wrote Heather Stewart, economics editor of The Guardian. “The result may be cheaper Christmas presents.”
1.According to the passage, it can be learned from the passage EXCEPT___________
A.The higher China’s currency is , the less expensive potato chips from America become.
B.In March people spent 1,200 yuan more to get 10,000 Canadian dollars than they do today because Canadian dollars increased in value.
C.China’s currency’s devaluation against the US dollar in mid-August makes students studying in America pay more school fees.
D.People who work in Fathom will be greatly affected on account of the weaker yuan.
2.The passage implies that ___________.
A.The yuan’s devaluation contributes a lot to China’s economic growth .
B.Exchange rates are the most important factor determining a country’s relative level of economic health
C.The yuan’s devaluation has a great impact on all the countries in the world.
D.Chinese exports sell well overseas because of their high quality
3.If the exchange rate of RMB to USD increased from 6.5 to 6.7, how much more percent would you pay when you bought a bag worth $100?
A.2.7 B.5.4 C.20.0 D.3.1
阅读理解
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage？
A. The voyage through the wormhole is a considerable challenge．
B. A team of crime fighters uncovers a criminal plot in Big Hero．
C. President Coin pushes Katniss to protest Peeta．
D. Penguins have to wrestle with problems in District 13．
2.The similarity that exists in the four films is that ________．
A. each of them is a branch of film series
B. all of them are concerned with positive energy
C. they all have the best actors and actresses in the world
D. the four films all have something to do with exploration
Growing roots
When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn’t look like any doctor I’d ______ known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn’t ______ lives, he was planting trees.
The good doctor had some ______ theories on planting trees. He believed in “No pains, no gains”. He never ______ his new trees, which was ______ many people. Once I asked why. He ______ that watering plants spoiled(宠坏)them, and that if you water them, each following tree generation will ______ weaker and weaker. So you have to make things ______ for them. He talked about how watering trees ______ shallow roots, and how trees that weren’t watered had to grow deep roots in ______ of water. I came to understand that he meant deep roots were to be ______. I planted a couple of trees a few years back and I took good care of them. Two years of ______ has resulted in trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot. Whenever a cold wind blows, they ______ and tremble their branches. Funny things about those trees of Dr. Gibbs’. The lack of water seemed to ______ them in ways comfort and ease never could.
I used to ______ for my sons that their lives will be easy. But ______ I’ve been thinking that it’s time to ______ my prayer. I know my children are going to meet _______, and I’m praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is seldom met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots,______ when the winds blow, they won’t be ______ away.
1.A.even B.ever C.never D.hardly
2.A.valuing B.making C.enjoying D.saving
3.A.exciting B.dull C.interesting D.terrible
4.A.watered B.raised C.loved D.sheltered
5.A.against B.beyond C.within D.from
6.A.wondered B.answered C.doubted D.guessed
7.A.grow B.change C.appear D.show
8.A.harmful B.favorable C.tough D.wonderful
9.A.made for B.head for C.allow for D.care for
10.A.charge B.favor C.honor D.search
11.A.treasured B.challenged C.respected D.liked
12.A.education B.information C.preparation D.devotion
13.A.dance B.shake C.spread D.lift
14.A.harm B.raise C.benefit D.hurt
15.A.pray B.apply C.stand D.call
16.A.perfectly B.formally C.obviously D.lately
17.A.attend B.say C.change D.keep
18.A.hardships B.worries C.bosses D.jobs
19.A.or B.so C.and D.but
20.A.given B.sent C.broken D.swept
（题文）（2018·江苏97校联考）—Will Mr. Black pull us through the crisis of money?
—He is ________ and I don’t think he’ll help us with anything.
A. a tough nut B. Jekyll and Hyde
C. the salt of the earth D. a Scrooge
