Inspiration can be a strange thing. You never know when it might ___, and sometimes it can come from the most __ places.
I recently read about an author named Nnedi Okorafor. When she was in college, she had a serious spine disorder （脊椎病）.The doctor told her that a simple operation could __ it. But when she woke up from her _____, she found that she couldn't move her legs and was in great pain.
Okorafor got well later. But before she recovered, she saw ___ things in her hospital room. She imagined her ___ as a wild animal that ___ her from the shadows （阴影）. But she also imagined a woman who could actually fly. This ____ woman inspired her and helped her __ her pain. "I felt myself become ____," she wrote in her book Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected.
We __ know where we might find the inspiration to create. As a ____, most of my inspiration comes from other people's music. But I also find ___ in other places. Books, movies and even just moments in everyday life can ___ new creations. For example, I recently watched the movie Blade Runner again. I've seen it plenty of times before ___ it's one of my favorite movies. But this time, for some reason I saw it ___. I decided to make music that could create the same feeling as the ___ It's not completed yet, but the music I'm working on now is deeply __ by the movie's setting and characters.
Anything can ___ us. You just have to be ___ to catch inspiration when it hits.
1.A.pass B.exist C.strike D.help
2.A.attractive B.unexpected C.familiar D.dangerous
3.A.save B.overcome C.control D.treat
4.A.dream B.operation C.shock D.recovery
5.A.terrible B.confusing C.strange D.fortunate
6.A.pain B.sadness C.fear D.anger
7.A.bit B.observed C.discovered D.hunted
8.A.magical B.confident C.violent D.curious
9.A.experience B.stand C.forget D.suffer
10.A.smarter B.busier C.quieter D.greater
11.A.even B.only C.never D.still
12.A.musician B.director C.performer D.writer
13.A.characters B.ideas C.materials D.themes
14.A.lead to B.star in C.focus on D.build up
15.A.although B.unless C.until D.because
16.A.subjectively B.particularly C.differently D.smoothly
17.A.story B.movie C.song D.scene
18.A.limited B.supported C.influenced D.disturbed
19.A.benefit B.impress C.approach D.inspire
20.A.ready B.free C.calm D.careful
Making a Good First Impression
It's important to make a good first impression with people. Whether they're a customer or a potential friend, you want them to think highly of you. If they don't, you're not likely to make much progress moving forward. 1. Before you've even opened your mouth, people have already formed an opinion of you based on your body language. With that in mind, it's a good idea to change how you present yourself to ensure you're not giving off a bad atmosphere.
♦ It's all in the face.
Any honest and fair person is going to be looking at your face when you're talking to them. Of course, that means whatever is going on up there will be picked apart more than anything else you do. 2. In the right circumstances, it will express warmth and show you to be welcoming, something that's unbelievably important for the first impression. Moreover, make sure to keep eye contact as often as possible・ It shows that you're focusing on them, especially when they're talking.
♦ 3.
So many of us close our arms without thinking about it，but that's one of the biggest no-nos when it comes to first impressions. Standing there with your arms folded is going to set you apart from the crowd for all the wrong reasons. 4. This will drive people away from you very quickly and make a poor first impression.
♦ Show your interest.
5. The wrong movements or positions can signal that you don't care what the other person has to say. Fortunately, there are non-verbal cues (暗示）you can make which will show your interest without going overboard. These include things like leaning forward and giving purposeful nods. Small gestures like this show that you're taking part in the conversation and not invested （投入的）in something happening over their shoulder.
A.Open up your body.
B.Stand close to others in conversation.
C.Show your interest when others are talking.
D.However, there's more to the first impression than what you say.
E.Body language shows whether you're interested in someone or not.
F.It gives people the impression that you're bored and don't want to be there.
G.Make sure that you smile as often as possible if it's acceptable in the situation.
Even though they're not the most exciting things in the world, plants have attracted us ever since the days of early humans. They may not do any tricks or greet us when we come home at night like a dog would, but that doesn't mean they're any less interesting than animals.
However, just when we thought we knew everything we could about them, a recent study found that plants may have a secret ability that has gone unnoticed all this time.
According to the study by Australian biologist Monica Gagliano, published in the journal Oecologia, plants may be able to "hear” sounds . To come to this conclusion, Gagliano and her team planted pea seedlings （幼苗）in a pair of different Y-shaped pots with two arms. The first pot's arms led to fresh water, while the other's led to either dry soil or a sealed （密封的）plastic tube containing flowing water. Naturally, the first pot's seedlings grew toward the water. What's surprising, however, is that the second pot's seedlings grew toward the sealed water supply but not the soil.
"They just knew the water was there even if the only thing to discover was the sound of it flowing inside the pipe, ” Gagliano told Scientific American . She believes that plants are able to use their leaves to discover sound waves, which make tiny vibrations （振动）as they're produced. This could explain why so many people believe that singing or playing music to their plants helps them grow. “ I had a plant that I used to wash the leaves of once a week and sing to," plant lover Heather Goodall told BBC News. "It grew from being about 2 feet tall to 7 feet tall in just a couple of years."
So, does this mean we should start treating our plants like pets? Not necessarily, although perhaps it does mean we should give them more respect. "I would like to see plants accepted more as the amazing and interesting living beings, and less as just a source of human nutrition," Fatima Cvrckova, a scientist at Charles University in the Czech Republic, told BBC News.
1.What did Gagliano find in their study?
A.Plants can recognize the sound of water.
B.Sound can change the direction plants grow toward.
C.Plants can tell the difference between various sounds.
D.Different plants can discover sounds in different ways.
2.What do plants use to hear sound according to Gagliano?
A.Their roots B.Their flowers
C.Their fruits D.Their leaves
3.Why does the author mention Heather Goodall's example?
A.To show a different way of growing plants.
B.To inspire people to sing to their plants often.
C.To prove that music plays a role in plant growth.
D.To stress the importance of treating plants like pets.
4.What would Cvrckova probably agree with?
A.Plants are just a source of human nutrition.
B.There is still a lot we do not know about plants.
C.Plants are unbelievable and deserve more respect.
D.Most people do not care enough about their plants.
My husband came across the program from his father's high school graduation 90 years ago. It was the Class of 1928 and their class motto （格言）was, "Build for character, not for fame. "
I'm pretty sure society has done quite the opposite to that one. These days, we have people who are famous for simply being famous. They haven't done anything particularly impressive, but they do take great selfies （自拍照）. We are all crazy about fame these days, mainly thanks to social media. All we want is for people to follow us, friend us, like us or share our posts. We are nearly mad about fame.
"Build for character, not for fame. ” is based on the belief that one is looking up and ahead. That's an encouraging idea, especially today, when most of us have our heads down, looking at the screens of our smartphones. Looking ahead and building for character takes thought and intentionality （意向性）. One can be intentional in building for fame as well, but fame often relies heavily on the right timing and connections as well as the creation of a base of fans and supporters. Character isn’t decided by the ideas of others. Character is built with self-discipline （自律）and a willingness to learn from difficulties. Character grows inside and needs no praise.
Fame depends on people looking at you, while character is who you are when no one is looking. Fame often comes with jealousy （嫉妒）--a feeling that time is running out or that someone better than you is coming to steal your fans. Character is marked by feeling fulfilled and being generous . There is satisfaction that comes with the reward of achievements, but at the same time, good character willingly holds the door open for others who are also hoping to achieve.
This graduation season, speakers will tell new graduates to get out there and build a better world. The best way is to build character, the kind that runs deep and can carry you through lifers storms. Build character with courage, justice （公正） and strength. Build character by respecting yourself and others . Build character with kindness, hope and love. Build for character and you will build a better world .
1.What does the author think of people nowadays?
A.They're mad about achievements.
B.They want to be famous very much.
C.They're trying to build for character.
D.They like doing everything impressive.
2.What does “ building for character" require people to do?
A.Connect with others at the right time.
B.Mind their behavior when being looked at.
C.Behave themselves and learn from hardships readily .
D.Look ahead and accept other people's advice willingly.
3.The underlined word "fulfilled" in Paragraph 4 probably means “________".
A.content B.confident
C.famous D.comfortable
4.Why does the author value "building for character”？
A.It inspires people to achieve more.
B.It enables us to build a better world.
C.It allows graduates to get a good job.
D.It helps us again respect from other people.
An 82-year-old Chinese female pilot has set a record in the country's airline industry after flying a small plane for 40 minutes in Beijing. Miao Xiaohong, one of China's second batch （一批）of female pilots, controlled the Tecnam P2010 plane to take off, turn, climb, dive and land safely at the Shifosi Airport in Pinggu District of Beijing.
In 1956, Miao Xiaohong, who graduated from a high school in Jinan, won a position in the second batch. She graduated from the flight school in 1958. In the following years, she flew many important missions （任务）.In 1963, she undertook a mission to airdrop materials for the flood-stricken areas in Hebei Province. Poor visibility （能见度）prevented her locating the target areas as the clouds were about 100 meters above the ground, but she managed to finish the task.
In 1989, she retired and started her writing career. When she collected materials for her books, she found that many aged pilots in other countries still flew, and she had the idea to return to the sky. To prepare for the flight, she walked 3 ,000 steps every day and moved her arms to meet the requirements for high-altitude flight during the past two months. Different from past flights for missions, this time her goal was to enjoy the flight. She said that it was exciting and fresh. " Seeing the boundless blue sky unfold in front of me, I feel it is very open," she said.
The trainer said that Miao Xiaohong could finish 30 hours of flight to get a license for commercial flight. She said, "My physical condition is good enough to finish the 30-hour flight but it is not so important for me to get such a license. After achieving my dream of returning to the sky, I hope to encourage young women to join the airline industry. I'm 82 years old and I can fly again. You, the young people, can fly and will fly better than me."
1.What can we learn from the airdrop mission carried out by Miao Xiaohong?
A.She was a very brave pilot.
B.She had excellent flying skills.
C.She suffered from poor eyesight.
D.She usually completed hard tasks.
2.What made Miao Xiaohong have the idea of flying a plane at the age of 82?
A.Her deep love for flight.
B.Her wish to set a flying record .
C.The requirements of her books.
D.The influence of other aged pilots .
3.Which of the following words can best describe Miao Xiaohong?
A.Faithful B.Energetic
C.Determined D.Promising
4.What might be the best title for the passage?
A.Returning to the blue sky
B.Coming to join in the flight
C.Managing to finish difficult tasks
D.Improving yourself to set a record
Pizza Inn
Pizza Inn is a pizza restaurant chain that specializes in American-style pan pizzas. Pizza Inn prices are similar to other large pizza chains except for the fact that they only offer pizzas in medium and large sizes. Pizza Inn offers pizzas in 4 different crusts （酥皮）：Thin Crust, New York Pan, Italian Crust and Triple Cheesy Stuffed Crust. The restaurant also offers other kinds of typical Italian food.
Freddy's
Freddy's is a fast casual restaurant chain that specializes in various sandwiches and burgers as well as frozen custard （蛋奶沙司）. Freddy's prices are about averages . Besides frozen custard, Freddy's also has a few varieties of beef and chicken burgers and sandwiches . They also have 3 different hot dogs: regular, Chicago-style and chili cheese .
A & W
A & W is a fast-food restaurant chain that is known for their own brand of root beer. A & W prices are competitive with the rest of the fast-food industry. Although A & W sells burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and frozen treats, most people go there for their famous root beer.
Hopdoddy
Hopdoddy is a fast casual chain specializing in burger and beer combinations. Their burgers are advertised as being made from the freshest ingredients （食材）. Hopdoddy prices are higher than those of an average fast-food burger shop. Part of that is simply because of the quality of ingredients used to create the food. Although they are mainly known for their burgers, they also offer various other things such as salads, sides and milkshakes .
1.How is Pizza Inn different from other large pizza chains?
A.Its prices are lower.
B.It doesn't offer small pizzas .
C.Its pizzas are more delicious .
D.It doesn't serve frozen treats.
2.What is the most popular in A & W?
A.Root beer. B.Burgers.
C.Hot dogs. D.Sandwiches.
3.Why are Hopdoddy burgers more expensive?
A.They are unique in taste.
B.They are combined with beer.
C.They are made in limited numbers.
D.They are made from high-quality ingredients .
