I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty two. I can vaguely remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is. It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people. It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind. I believe in life now. I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise. I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.

Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality. The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never easy. I was bewildered and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.

The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself. That was basic. If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and become a chair rocker on the front porch for the rest of my life. When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.

It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance. It had to start with the most elementary things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was mocking me and I was hurt. "I can't use this." I said. "Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around." The words stuck in my head. "Roll it around! "By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball. At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball. We called it ground ball.

All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to learn my limitations. It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.

1.We can learn from the beginning of the passage that __________________.

A. the author lost his sight because of a car crash.

B. the disaster strengthened the author's desire to see

C. the disaster made the author appreciate what he had.

D. the author wouldn't love life if the disaster didn't happen.

2.What's the most difficult thing for the author?

A. Building up assurance that he can find his place in life.

B. To find a special work that suits the author.

C. Learning to manage his life alone.

D. How to adjust himself to reality.

3.According to the context, "a chair rocker on the front porch" in paragraph 3 means that the author

A. was paralyzed and stayed in a rocking chair.

B. would sit in a rocking chair and enjoy his life.

C. would sit in a chair and stay at home.

D. would lose his will to struggle against difficulties.

4.According to the passage, the baseball and encouragement offered by the man

A. inspired the author.

B. hurt the author's feeling.

C. gave the author a deep impression

D. directly led to the invention of ground ball.

5. According to the passage, which of the following is CORRECT?

A. The author set goals for himself but only invited failure most of the time.

B. The author suggested not trying something beyond one's ability at the beginning.

C. Because of his limitations, the author tried to reach one goal at a time.

D. The bitterness of failure prevented the author from trying something out of reach.

The Brown Bear

My wife Laura and I were on the beach,with three of our children,taking pictures of shore birds near our home in Alaska when we spotted a bear. The bear was thin and small,moving aimlessly.

Just a few minutes later,I heard my daughter shouting,“Dad!The bear is right behind us!” An aggressive bear will usually rush forward to frighten away its enemy but would suddenly stop at the last minute. This one was silent and its ears pinned back—the sign(迹象) of an animal that is going in for the kill. And it was a cold April day. The bear behaved abnormally,probably because of hunger.

I held my camera tripod(三脚架) in both hands to form a barrier as the bear rushed into me. Its huge head was level with my chest and shoulders,and the tripod stuck across its mouth. It bit down and I found myself supporting its weight. I knew I would not be able to hold it for long.

Even so,this was a fight I had to win:I was all that stood between the bear and my family,who would stand little chance of running faster than a brown bear.

The bear hit at the camera,cutting it off the tripod. I raised my left arm to protect my face;the beast held tightly on the tripod and pressed it into my side. My arm could not move,and I sensed that my bones were going to break.

Drawing back my free hand,I struck the bear as hard as I could for five or six times. The bear opened its mouth and I grasped its fur,trying to push it away. I was actually wrestling(扭打) with the bear at this point. Then,as suddenly as it had begun,the fight ended. The bear moved back towards the forest,before returning for another attack—the first time I felt panic.

Apparently satisfied that we caused no further threat,the bear moved off,destroying a fence as it went. My arm was injured,but the outcome for us could hardly have been better. I’m proud that my family remained clear?headed when panic could have led to a very different outcome.

1.The brown bear approached the family in order to .

A. catch shore birds

B. start an attack

C. protect the children

D. set up a barrier for itself

2.The bear finally went away after it .

A. felt safe

B. got injured

C. found some food

D. took away the camera

3.The writer and his family survived mainly due to their .

A. pride

B. patience

C. calmness

D. cautiousness

请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。

注意:每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。

Socrates-an ancient Greek philosopher

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher, who helped to shape Greek beliefs. The ideas he created are present in our culture today.

Socrates was a person full of curiosity. From the time he was a young man, Socrates searched for wisdom and truth. He gained wisdom by asking questions. Many people in Athens thought that they had answers. Socrates asked them questions and argued with them about different topics. He did not think they had the knowledge they claimed to have.

Socrates challenged false ideas people had about things like justice, love, or courage. He would break down the ideas people held.Then he built new and more accurate ideas. Socrates felt that this was what philosophy was all about. Since then, many great philosophers have used this method to find truth.

Throughout his life, Socrates showed no interest in money. He was also not interested in material items. Socrates would allow groups of men to listen to him speak. And he would never take money from them. He always wore the same clothes whatever the season. Socrates argued that his life was better because he had no material wealth. He felt he enjoyed his food more. he said he was stronger and healthier because he was not affected by the weather. He believed happiness came not from having more but from wanting less.

By the end of the fifth century B.C Athens was not a great city anymore. Politicians betrayed Athens. Socrates had made many people angry over the years. He had always expressed his opinions when he thought laws and policies were wrong. Athens had a new group of political leaders in power, who didn't want to hear Socrates‟comments” about them. They thought Socrates had a bad influence on the young people of Athens. Socrates was also accused of not worshipping the right gods. Charges were brought against Socrates.The politicians wanted to condemn Socrates to death. Socrates’ friends told him to leave Athens. They thought this was the only way for him to save his life. Socrates refused. He did not behave as most people in his situation would.

Socrates said that he had always lived by the rules of Athens and he would continue to do this.He insisted on standing trial for his "crime". Socrates knew he was not guilty of anything. The reason why he was charged was because he was different from others. Although people respected him, he also had made many people angry, so the jury(陪审团)said Socrates was guilty.

When faced with the death penalty, a person could leave Athens forever. Most people chose leave rather than die. Socrates was not like most people. Instead of telling the jury that he would go, he told them he deserved a reward. Socrates believed he had done a great service by making people think. Socrates said that he tried to "persuade every one of you not to think of what he had but rather of what he was, and how he might grow wise and good." The jury did not change its mind. Socrates was executed. He died when he drank hemlock, which is poisonous.

Socrates was the first great Greek philosopher. He also helped to shape other philosophers that came after him. Plato, who got his start by studying with Socrates, and Aristotle, who studied with Plato, also changed Western civilization. Asking questions to discover the truth is still practiced today. And schools even today still teach this method to students.

Socrates-an ancient Greek philosopher

Brief introduction

Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher whose ideas still 1._______ in our culture today.

Unique personalities

a 2._____ person who gained wisdom by asking question.

a simple person who3.______ spiritual health to material wealth.

a courage person who presented a 4.______ to false ideas.

a thoughtful person whose new and accurate ideas 5. _______ other philosophers to seek truth.

Unfair accusations

He always 6._____ on laws and policies.

He didn’t show 7.______ for the right gods.

Glorious death

8.______ form others, he chose to die rather than leave.

Faced with death, he was committed to 9._______ people into thinking deeply.

Great 10.___

Socrates was pioneer of Greek Philosophy.

Asking questions to discover the truth is still practiced today.

完形填空

A Love Note To My Mom

When I was a little girl, I would often accompany you as you modeled for fashion photographers. It was years later that I finally understood what role modeling ________in your life. Little did I know you were _______every penny you earned to go to _______school.

I cannot thank you enough for _______you told me one autumn afternoon when I was nine. After finishing my homework. I wandered into the dining where you were buried _______ piles of law books. I was_______ .Why were you doing what I do—memorizing textbooks and studying for _______ ? When you said you were in law school, I was more puzzled. I didn’t know. Moms_______be lawyers too. You smiled and said,“In life, you can do anything you want to do.”

As young as I was ,that statement kept _______in my ears. I watched as you faced the _______ of completing your studies, starting companies with Dad, while still being a _______and a Mom of five kids. I was exhausted just watching you_______.With your words of wisdom in my _______ mind, I suddenly felt unlimited freedom to dream. My whole world _______ .I set out to live my life filled with_______, seeing endless possibilities for personal and professional achievements.

Your words became my motto. I _______ found myself in the unique position of being either the first woman doctor in Maryland Rotary _______one of the few women chief medical reporters in my field. I gained strength every time I said , “Yes, I’ll try that.”

Encouraged by your _______ , I have forged ahead (毅然前行) with my life’s journey, less afraid to make mistakes, and _______ meeting each challenge. You did it, and now I’m_______it. Sorry, got to run. So much to do, so many dreams to live.

1.A. found B. play C. kept D. provided

2.A. saving B. making C. donating D. receiving

3.A. business B. fashion C. law D. medical

4.A. what B. that C. which D. where

5.A. at B. to C. upon D. under

6.A. amused B. worried C. puzzled D. disappointed

7.A. role B. tests C. positions D. shows

8.A. must B. ought to C. need D. could

9. A. ringing B. blowing C. falling D. beating

10.A. choices B. chances C. challenges D. changes

11.A. professor B. doctor C. reporter D. model

12.A. in danger B. in action C. in trouble D. in charge

13.A. weak B. powerful C. youthful D. empty

14.A. came back B. closed down C. went by D. opened up

15.A. hope B. hardship C. harmony D. sadness

16.A. constantly B. shortly C. hardly D. nearly

17.A. and B. but C. or D. for

18.A. description B. statement C. praise D. introduction

19.A. secretly B. curiously C. carelessly D. eagerly

20.A. doing B. considering C. correcting D. Reading

No one knows exactly how many disabled people there are in the world,but estimates suggest the figure is over 450 million.The number of disabled people in India alone is probably more than double the total population of Canada.

In the United Kingdom,about one in ten people have some disability.Disability is not just something that happens to other people:as we get older,many of us will become less mobile,hard of hearing or have failing eyesight.

Disablement can take many forms and occur at any time of life.Some people are born with disabilities.Many others become disabled as they get older.There are many progressive(逐渐的)disabling diseases.The longer time goes on,the worse they become.Some people are disabled in accidents.Many others may have a period of disability in the form of a mental illness.All are affected by people’s attitude towards them.

Disabled people face many physical barriers.Next time you go shopping or to work or visit friends,imagine how you would manage if you could not get up steps,or onto buses and trains.How would you cope if you could not see where you were going or could not hear the traffic?But there are other barriers:prejudice(偏见)can be even harder to break down and ignorance represents the greatest barrier of a11.It is almost impossible for the able-bodied to fully appreciate what the severely disabled go through,so it is important to draw attention to these barriers and show that it is the individual person and their ability,not their disability,that counts.

1.The first paragraph mainly points out that ______________.

A. there are many disabled people in the world

B. the number of disabled people in India is the greatest

C. India has much more disabled people than Canada

D. it is impossible to get an exact figure of the world’s disabled people

2.The key word in paragraph 4 is _______________.

A. disability B. ignorance

C. prejudice D. barriers

3.The last word of the text“counts”most probably means ____________.

A. is most important

B. is considered

C. is included

D. is numbered

4.Which of the following statements is NOT true? ________________.

A. even the able-bodied may become disabled in some way

B. the disabled prefer to be ignored by the able-bodied

C. prejudice against the disabled should be removed

D. The disabled make up about 10 percent in the UK’s population

5.it can be concluded from the passage that ______________.

A. we should try our best to prevent disablement

B. physical and metal barriers are equally hard to break down

C. we should take a proper attitude towards the disabled

D. all of us will be disabled at a certain time of our life

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Bananas

Bananas belong to the most popular fruits in the world. They were first grown in tropical (热带的) India and Southeast Asia over 4,000 years ago, and then brought to North Africa and the Middle East.

What is a banana plant like?

Although bananas grow like trees they are actually plants. They are made up of stalks (茎) that are covered with big leaves. A stalk can be about 30 cm thick. 1. It has up to 20 long and wide leaves. Bananas hang in clusters (串) from the plant. Each cluster can carry about 10 to 20 bananas.

2.

In many tropical parts of Africa, South America and Asia, bananas are a main food for the population. They contain potassium, which can lower your blood pressure, prevent heart diseases and reduce the risk of other diseases. 3. In addition to 75% water, a banana contains sugar, proteins and vitamins. It gives you quick energy and can be digested easily.

The harvest of bananas

Bananas are harvested while they are still green. These green bananas are taken to the nearest port, where they are put on container ships. When the bananas arrive at their destination, they are loaded onto trucks or railway cars and brought to sellers who store them in special ripening rooms. 4.

Economic value of bananas

Bananas are the fourth most valuable food crop in the world, after wheat, rice and corn. They are important for the economy of tropical countries. About 140 million tons of bananas are harvested every year. 5. The biggest banana-producing countries in the world actually need most of the fruit themselves.

A. Bananas as a basic diet

B. Different types of bananas

C. A banana plant can grow up to 6 meters in height.

D. Bananas have many other nutrients that people need.

E. However, only a small percentage of the actual production is exported.

F. Bananas are endangered by temperatures below zero and strong winds.

G. Then it takes about five days to get the yellow colour and taste we all know.

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