Troy longed to be a professional basketball player. He had loved the _______ ever since he was a small child. He was also very skilled. However, he had one small _______. He was very short. Although his school coach had suggested that he would never _______ it in the professional leagues, he _______ to give up on his dream.
Troy had several _______ tries at professional clubs. Then he went to a club in Los Angeles and _______ the coach for a try. As usual, he was refused.
“But you haven't even given me a(n) _______ ,” said Troy.
“Why should I?” asked the coach.
“Because one day I am going to be the best player in the world _______ I will be able to help you out,” Troy replied seriously.
The coach smiled at the _______ of the answer.
“Alright kid,” he said.
Troy took part in a short practice match and the coach was ________ at his skills.
“You ________ have a lot of talent,” he said.
After two short years, Troy was a regular for the ________ and had even won the award as the team' s most valuable player. ________ with Troy's help, the team wasn't winning many games and the coach was said to be close to losing his ________ . It was before a game against the New York team that he called Troy into his office for a discussion.
“I have heard that if we lose tonight then I will be replaced as coach,” he told Troy. “I need you to carry the team and win the game. Do you remember your ________ before I signed you?'
Troy nodded. He went on to play the game of his life that evening. The team won the game and won every game that was left that season.
1.A.task B.class C.sport D.place
2.A.doubt B.problem C.dream D.reason
3.A.change B.learn C.hear D.make
4.A.tried B.regretted C.refused D.feared
5.A.unsuccessful B.meaningful C.unfair D.careless
6.A.found B.asked C.forced D.considered
7.A.choice B.instruction C.suggestion D.chance
8.A.and B.but C.if D.as
9.A.influence B.confidence C.interest D.shortness
10.A.annoyed B.disappointed C.puzzled D.surprised
11.A.certainly B.usually C.finally D.possibly
12.A.program B.party C.club D.school
13.A.Again B.Almost C.Even D.Only
14.A.money B.job C.team D.patience
15.A.promise B.purpose C.advice D.secret
How to Protect Wildlife
Wildlife faces threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and other human actions. Although protecting wildlife may seem too hard at times, even small actions can help protect many different animals. 1.
● Create wildlife friendly areas. When trying to make your garden more beautiful, choose plants that can provide food and shelter to native wildlife. This will also help cut down on pollution. 2.
● 3. By using less water and fewer fuels, you will be helping to protect the wildlife around you. Take buses or the subway when you can and turn off electric devices when you’re not using them.
● Buy products that are wildlife-friendly. 4. Keep in mind that some endangered animals are killed by traps, catches or hunters who are after other wildlife within the same habitat.
● Limit family size. Population growth is one of the major factors in habitat destruction. With the rapidly growing population, more and more habitats for wildlife are occupied by humans. 5. In this way, the Earth’s population will stabilize and native habitats can be protected.
A.Live a greener life.
B.Donate money to organizations.
C.Each family should be limited to one or two children.
D.Avoid products that are made from endangered animals.
E.Protecting wildlife from being endangered is every family’s duty.
F.Here are some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions.
G.Build bird houses to your garden or yard to attract and shelter these species.
A research suggests that speaking more than one language may delay different kinds of dementia(痴呆) that is the loss of mental ability. In fact, researchers say, speaking two languages appears to be more important than the level of education in defending against dementia.
A study in India examined the effect of knowing more than one language in delaying the first signs of several dementia. Researchers studied nearly 650 people whose average age was 66. 240 of those studied suffered from Alzheimer's, the most common form of mental decline(下降). 391 of the subjects spoke two or more languages. Researchers found the dementia began about four-and-a-half years later in those who spoke two languages compared to those who spoke only one language. The level of education had no effect on the age at the first sign of dementia.
Thomas Bak, from the Centre of Cognitive Aging at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, who helped to organize the study, suggests that individuals who speak more than one language train their brains by moving back and forth between different words and expressions. He also believes this effort improves what scientists called executive(执行的) functioning, which often weakens in people with dementia. He states that researchers found there was no extra gain in speaking more than two languages.
Mr Bak says it does not appear important whether you learn another language at a young age or later in life. It's not something that “you missed the boat when you do not do it as a baby.” It is something that is still quite useful and powerful when you do it as an adult.
1.The finding of the study is that .
A.learning more than one language can cure dementia
B.the level of education matters in defending against dementia
C.speaking two languages may delay kinds of dementia
D.people who suffer from dementia will lose mental ability
2.The underlined word “subjects” in Paragraph 2 refers to “______”.
A.notices that were put on about the study
B.people who were studied in the study
C.questions that were asked in the study
D.methods that were used in the study
3.According to Mr Bak, ______.
A.when you learn one more language makes no difference
B.people's executive functioning often strengthens with age
C.the more languages one speaks, the less chance of getting dementia
D.it is much easier to learn one more language at a young age
4.This passage may probably be seen in ______.
A.a research plan B.a business magazine
C.a book review D.a health magazine
Growing up, Deka Ismail says she let labels define what she could be. “I was a black girl, from a refugee (难民) family,” Deka said. “It was as if I was only allowed to explore in this predetermined box.”
After a high school chemistry class inspired her to think about a career in science and gave her confidence in the field, Deka learned to live outside labels and began making big plans for her future. Now she is about to begin her freshman year at the University of California, planning to become a professor.
Born and raised in San Diego's City Heights neighbourhood, Deka is the daughter of a Somali refugee couple. While some might say Deka's success happened in spite of her background, she would say differently, that her experiences shaped her and inspired her to be the driven, young scientist that she is today.
When Deka was eight years old, her mother got a job by studying hard back in school in order to support the whole family. That made Deka realize that education could make a difference to one's life. She spent a lot of time in the library reading books, and didn't do many of the things her peers did, like partying or having romantic relationships.
“I always felt like I had to be the perfect girl for my family,” Deka said. “You have to not even do your best but two times better than everyone else. I felt like the whole world was waiting for me to mess up.”
Deka's efforts paid off. The summer before her senior year of high school, she was accepted to the American Chemical Society Project SEED Programme. “She brought both enthusiasm and focus,” Botham, a researcher at this research institute, recalled. “She arrived every day ready to work, ready to learn and ready to tackle new challenges regardless of whether or not she had done anything similar.”
When asked what advice she would give to others like her, Deka warned them not to underestimate themselves. “Don't tell yourself that scholarship is too big or this programme is too competitive or I'll never get into this school, ” she said. “I was not sure whether I could make it until I started seeing the acceptance letters rolling in.”
1.From the passage, we can learn that__ .
A.Deka was adopted by a refugee family
B.Deka spent a lot of time going to parties
C.Deka's experiences drove her to work hard
D.Deka became a professor after graduation
2.Deka realized the importance of education ______.
A.after her chemistry class B.from her mother's experience
C.by reading books in the library D.through working at the institute
3.According to the last paragraph, Deka advised that students be ______.
A.patient B.generous
C.adaptable D.confident
4.What does the story intend to tell us?
A.Hard work leads to success. B.Practice makes perfect.
C.Well begun is half done. D.Life is not all roses.
One-year-old Tallulah turned purple and stopped moving after the sweet became stuck in her throat. Her mum Leigh-Anne said the drama began during a visit to her grandma’s house when her grandparents gave her older kids some sweets.
“Then at about 4:45 pm, Tallulah started to choke—we all went into a panic.”
“It seemed like it went on for ages. Not one of us knew what to do.”
“I rang an ambulance while my grandma and granddad tried to get the sweet to come up.”
“Tallulah was panicking at first but then she started to go purple—she almost had no oxygen left in her.”
With her daughter limp (无力的) and time running out, Leigh—Anne knew she couldn’t afford to wait for the ambulance to arrive.
“The only thing I could think was to go out into the street.” She said.
“I rushed out and screamed for someone to help while my grandma rushed out crying with Tallulah.”
At exactly the moment, Caitlin, who is studying public services at Redcar College, was passing by Queen Street. She said, “I was waiting to go to work when I heard someone screaming for help, so I ran straight over.”
The 17-year-old girl added, “Something just clicked and I went into auto mode. The little girl was completely limp, so I checked her airways and tilted (使倾斜) her over and started hitting her back. I turned her round and tapped on her chest, then after what felt like forever she coughed up the sweet and spat it out.
As soon as she started crying I felt a huge relief. I was just so pleased I was able to help.”
Caitlin was taught her lifesaving skills when she joined the Army Cadets four years ago.
1.When did Tallulah get choked?
A.While eating sweets. B.While enjoying a drama.
C.While having a meal. D.While taking some medicine.
2.Why did the family go out into the street?
A.To buy some needed tools. B.To search for timely help.
C.To get a breath of fresh air. D.To wait for the ambulance to arrive.
3.Which of the following can best describe Caitlin?
A.Brave and selfless. B.Kind and energetic.
C.Determined and generous. D.Quick-thinking and helpful.
4.What may be the best title for the text?
A.First aid skill sounds important. B.Screaming for help makes sense.
C.Eating sweets endangers baby girl. D.Heroic teenager saves baby girl’s life.
Temples have existed for thousands of years. They are the proof of cultures and civilization that existed many years ago. With their excellent architecture and structure they fascinate visitors from around the world.
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in the 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty as his personal temple, where he would pray for good harvest and to make up for the sins of his people. The temple's architecture is quite interesting: Everything in the temple, which represents heaven, is circular whereas the ground levels, which represent the earth, are square. It symbolizes the relationship between the earth and heaven, the human world and God's world, which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony.
Wat Rong Khun “White Temple”
Immediately upon entering the grounds of Chiang Rai's ''White Temple'' in Thailand, you’ll realize this contemporary, unconventional temple stands out, even in a country crowded with places of worship. The White Temple is incredibly different and unique in its architecture, art and design. In fact, it's designed in a very modern way, but still sticking to and respecting the conventional Buddhist principles. This temple is all white with many artistic decorations and statues full of mirrors that create nice silvery/glittering reflections.
Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto is filled with beautiful shrines and temples, but none can be compared to the beauty of Kinkaku-ji. This Buddhist temple has acquired a lot of fame recently and has become one of the most visited places in Japan. Whether you visit during the fall when there are red momiji leaves contrasting the gold, in winter when the gold is topped with pure white snow, in spring with the cherry blossoms, or in summer allowing you to see the beautiful temple's golden reflection—there is never a bad time to visit this beautiful temple.
Golden Temple
The Golden Temple in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism. For the Sikhs, the Golden Temple symbolizes endless freedom and spiritual independence. The site of the temple began with a small lake that was so peaceful that even Buddha came there to meditate (冥想). Thousands of years later, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism also lived and meditated by the lake. The temple itself is decorated with marble sculptures, gilded in gold and covered in precious stones.
1.If you're interested in meditation, you would like to go to _________.
A.Kinkaku-ji B.Temple of Heaven
C.Golden Temple D.Wat Rong Khun “White Temple”
2.What do the four temples in the text have in common?
A.They are all located in Asia.
B.They are all Buddhist temples.
C.They have the same type o£ architecture.
D.They are all suitable to visit all the year around.
3.What's the purpose of the text?
A.To praise the architecture of the temples.
B.To introduce some world-famous temples.
C.To persuade visitors from around the world to come.
D.To inform the long history of the well-known temples.
