【题目】I would like to talk about a very dear friend of mine, whose name was Peggy. She died at home last night at the age of 83. She was my first badminton coach and probably the best friend I’d ever had.

I met her at 12 when she coached an after-school badminton program. She saw my potential, but I thought she was a little frightening so I didn’t go back to the program. She went to my house to ask me back. I did go back and that was the beginning of my badminton “career”. She brought me to tournaments and encouraged me. At the time my mother was drinking heavily and badminton kept me out of trouble and focused on a positive pursuit.

Peggy was a person who had the qualities of honesty and integrity. She was devoted to her family and was married for over 50 years. She loved her children and was so happy to become a grandmother with the addition of Merissa to the family. She loved to have fun and play games. Another true love of her life was cats; she had one cat that lived 22 years. Before she died she had 10 cats and they brought her great joy and comfort. She also loved the Montreal Canadiens, and she supported them and often watched them play hockey games.

She wasn’t a celebrity; she was a homemaker who was proud to provide a happy home for her family. She was a loyal and dedicated friend to many. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary or to send a Christmas card. Speaking of Christmas she was an expert on Christmas and decorations. She was able to prepare this year’s tree and had hoped to spend this Christmas with her family but it wasn’t meant to be.

I had the privilege of speaking to her just a couple hours before she passed away and she told me that her life wouldn’t have been the same without me and I am grateful for that and I feel the same.

【1】 Paragraph 3 tells us that Merissa __________________.

A. is Peggy’s grandchild

B. is the name of Peggy’s cat

C. lived 22 years

D. didn’t get along well with Peggy

【2】 The underlined part “Montreal Canadiens” refers to ____________.

A. a hockey team

B. a group of cats

C. a music group

D. an interesting game

【3】 Which of the following statements about Peggy is TRUE?

A. She was once coached by the author.

B. She died before this year’s Christmas.

C. She was unmarried when she died.

D. She died at the age of 50.

【4】It’s implied in the passage that the author __________________.

A. thought Peggy was friendly at first

B. got out of her drinking problem thanks to Peggy

C. hadn’t talked to Peggy for a long time before she died

D. thought her life would have been different without Peggy

【题目】 “Let’s Talk” :The Free Advice Project

A few weeks ago, I took a walk around Washington Square Park. I met all the usual people:street performers, the Pigeon Guy, a group of guitarists singing in harmony. But off to the side, sitting on a bench was a woman doing something vastly different—giving free advice.

A week or two later, I set up an interview with her and we discussed her project at length.

Lisa Podell, 32, started the Free Advice Project this past May. It began as an experiment;she sat in Washington Square Park for a day with a sign that read “Free Advice” as a simple way to reach out to people. Podell was astonished at the strong response.

Podell admits that she was doubtful at first, but now she describes the project as mutually (相互地) beneficial. People learn from her—but she also learns from them. She says that the majority of those who come to her are dealing with some pretty heavy issues, and they expect her not only to listen, but also provide real answers.

Having worked as a full time teacher and now as an adolescent advisor, Podell believes that talking things out is an important in the decision-making process.

Sometimes, people walk around all day, keeping their problems in their own head and thinking about them in the same way. Podell simply strives to provide people with perspective.

I asked if there is a future plan for the Free Advice Project. Podell said she would like to promote it to each public space in New York, which would be carried out by various volunteers across the city.

It was truly inspiring to meet someone with such a big heart, especially in New York—where it is sometimes very hard to find anybody to listen.

【1】 In what way was Podell different from other people in the park? (No more than 6 words) (2 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

【2】 What do people in need expect Podell to do? (No more than 10 words) (3 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

【3】According to Podell, what should people do when making decisions?

(No more than 6 words) (2 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

【4】 How would Podell promote her project in New York? (No more than 15 words) (3 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

【题目】A firm handshake could be a sign of a longer life expectancy (预期寿命), according to British researchers. Scientists at the Medical Research Council found that elderly people who could still give a firm handshake and walk at a quick pace were likely to outlive their slower peers.

They found simple measures of physical capability like shaking hands, walking, getting up from a chair and balancing on one leg were related to the life expectancy, even after accounting for age, sex and body size. The study is the first to provide a comprehensive (综合的) view of the existing data from 33 studies. “These measures have been used in population-based research for quite a long time,” said Rachel Cooper of the Medical Research Council’s Unit for Lifelong Health and Aging. “They may be useful indicators for subsequent health.”

Cooper, whose study appears in the British Medical Journal, said more studies are needed to clarify whether the measures would be helpful to doctors as a screening tool. “I wouldn’t suggest that we roll them out into clinical practice tomorrow, but it is possible that they could be used in the future,” she told the media.

The researchers examined 33 studies involving tens of thousands of people, most of whom were aged over 60 but living in the community rather than in hospital or care homes. The researchers found that those with the strongest hand grasps tended to live longer than those with weak grips. The death rate over the period of the studies for people with weak handshakes was 67 percent higher than for people with a firm grip.

The slowest walkers were nearly three times more likely to die during the study period than swifter walkers. The people who were slowest to get up from a chair had about double the death rate compared to the quick risers.

“Those people in the general population who have higher physical capability levels are likely to live longer,” Cooper said.

【1】 Which of the following are measures of physical capability according to the passage?

a. shaking hands b. balancing c. getting up

d. weight lifting e. walking

A. a, b, c, e

B. a, c, d, e

C. b, c, d, e

D. a, b, d, e

【2】 What does Cooper think about the measures of physical capability?

A. They are of little help to doctors.

B. They can’t be used as a screening tool.

C. They can be applied to medical practice.

D. They are potentially beneficial to people.

【3】 What can be inferred from the passage?

A. People who walk quickly and shake hands firmly have a lower death rate.

B. People with the strongest hand grasp are more outgoing.

C. Most of the people who received the study live in the community.

D. People who always sit are more likely to die than those who stand.

【4】 In which part of a newspaper would you most probably find this passage?

A. Sports.

B. Health.

C. Economics.

D. Culture.

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