It was a weeknight. We were a half dozen guys in our late teens, hanging around “the flat” — as usual. The flat was poorly furnished, which, after some time, grew tiresome. We wanted action.

We got in a car, big enough for all of us to crowd into — and off we went, in search of adventure. We soon found ourselves at Blue Gum Corner, a place named after the huge old blue gum tree that stood by there, a well-known local landmark. It stands at a minor crossroad leading to our town. The trunk is tall and smooth with no handholds for climbing. About six metres from the ground the first branch sticks out over the road. We parked beneath the huge old tree and discussed what we might do. All of a sudden we hit upon an idea — a hanging! I was chosen as “hangee”.

The plan was quite simple. As I stood upon the roof of the car, the rope(绳子) was threaded down my jacket through my collar and down one leg of my jeans. I put my foot through the loop at the bottom. There I hung, still. The boys rolled about laughing until, a car, I hear a car! Before they ran to hide in the nearby field, they gave me a good push so that “the body” would swing as the car drove by.

To our disappointment, the car simply turned off for town without even slowing. The boys came out of their hiding places and we discussed the situation. Surely they had seen me, hadn’t they? Then we heard another car. The act was repeated, but still without any obvious reaction. We played the game about five or six times, but as no one seemed to notice, we abandoned the trick.

What we did not know was that every car that had passed had unquestionably seen “the body” and each one, too scared to stop, had driven directly to the local Police Station. Now at that time of the night, the local policeman was sound asleep in his bed, so the first person sent to the scene was the traffic officer that happened to be on duty that particular night. He had been informed that some person had been killed, by hanging, at Blue Gum Corner. When he arrived, the body was gone! And he was hearing “unnatural sounds” from the surrounding area. As far as he knew, some fierce animal was hiding in the field before him, possibly dragging a body behind him — and we thought we were scared!

He went to his radio and made a call that really began to worry us. I lay so close that I could hear every word. He called for the “armed police” and a “dog team, better make it two” and he had a “serious situation” at Blue Gum Corner. Then the police officer arrived. After a briefing from the traffic officer he decided not to go into the field until armed police and dog teams arrived. Now two spotlights were on the field and none of us could move.

As luck would have it, police cars cannot leave their spotlights on all night without charging their batteries. So, after a time, the two officers began lightening the field by turns, allowing us the opportunity to move on our fours for freedom. One by one, we all managed to steal away and make our way home. Behind us we left what must have looked like a small city of lights, police cars, roadblocks, barking dogs, armed officers and an old rope hanging from a tree.

When I think back to that night, to that tree, to what the drivers of the cars think happened, to what police believe happened, and to what I know happened, I am reminded of a simple truth — our eyes see darkness and light, color and movement, our ears hear only vibrations(振动) in the air. It is how we explain these vivid pictures that shapes our “reality”.

1.The boys made the “hanging” plan in order to ______.

A. make a fool of the police B. draw public attention

C. seek fun and excitement D. practise acting skills

2.Seeing that no car passing by stopped, the boys must have felt ______.

A. discouraged B. proud C. annoyed D. confident

3.Why was the traffic officer sent to the scene of “hanging”?

A. Because a fierce animal kept the traffic in disorder.

B. Because the local policeman was not available at that time.

C. Because some naughty kids ware playing a terrifying game.

D. Because many scared drivers turned directly to him for help.

4.The boys managed to escape from the field when ______.

A. the two police cars were being charged

B. the police officer was taking over the duty

C. the traffic officer was making a call for help

D. the two spotlights were not working together

5.What is conveyed in the passage?

A. Actions speak louder than words.

B. The truth lies beneath the surface.

C. Experience is the best teacher.

D. To see is to believe.

6.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Blue Gum Tree

B. A Body Found Hanging

C. Escape to Freedom

D. A Disappointing Experience

Three Japanese tourists taking a holiday in Australia got stuck when their GPS told them they could drive from the mainland to an island, failing to mention the 15 kilometres of water and mud in between.

As they drove their hired car from Moreton Bay in Queensland to nearby North Stradbroke Island, they started to notice the firm gravel(沙石)surface they were driving on giving way to the renowned bay mud.However, being confident that their GPS would direct them to a road soon, they decided to plough on, managing to travel around 500 metres before their Hyundai Getz(现代汽车)was up to its axles tires in mud.To make matters worse, the tide started to come in and soon forced them to seek help and abandon the vehicle.Just four hours later the car was trapped in two metres of water —— to the great amusement of onlookers on the shore and passengers on passing boats and ferries.

Yuzu Noda, 21, said she was listening to the GPS and “it told us we could drive down there.It kept saying it would navigate us to a road.But we got stuck…there’s lots of mud.” She and her travel companions Tomonari Saeki, 22, and Keita Osada, 21, instead had to give up their plans for a day trip to the island and headed back to the Gold Coast of a lift from the RACQ tow truck(吊车)driver who was called to the trapped car.No such luck for the hired car though – after assessing the situation, no attempt was made to recover it.The students from Tokyo, who are due to return home tomorrow, said the experience would not put them off returning to Australia for another visit.“We want to come back to Australia again.Everyone is very nice, even today.” Ms Yuzu said.

Remaining excited, Mr. Tomonari joked that the car may have got stuck because it was built in Korea.“Maybe if it was Japanese it would be okay,” he said.He added, “It has rained every day on our six day holiday.Hopefully next time we come back it will be sunny.” The car was covered by insurance, but the tourists will have to pay up to about $1500 in extra charges.

1.The three Japanese tourists got stuck because ______.

A.there was no way to the island

B.their GPS was broken during their journey

C.their GPS had given the wrong information

D.their car was made in Korea instead of Japan

2.They didn’t abandon their car until ______.

A.there came the tide

B.they got stuck in the mud

C.some onlookers went to save them

D.they managed to travel around 500 metres

3.How did these Japanese students get back?

A.They had to walk back to their living place.

B.They had to repair their GPS and drove back.

C.They had to take a lift from the tow truck driver.

D.They had to turn to passengers on passing boats and ferries.

4.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A.The car was left where it was trapped.

B.The passengers saved these students in the end.

C.Mr. Tomonari got very frustrated after the journey.

D.The car was covered by insurance so they didn’t have to pay any money.

There are many factors which may have an influence on adults and children being able to lead a healthy life.

1. Often, both parents work outside the home. Children are expected to take on more responsibility at home to help their parents. They also have sports and leisure activities as well as school expectations.

The business also adds another factor: They need to use cars to get from one place to another quickly. 2.Computers, DVDs, CDs, television, Play-Stations and X-boxes have become major leisure activities, rather than traditional more active pursuits. This has led to a lifestyle of less exercise.

.3. Unfortunately, they also promote fast food which fits easily into busy lifestyles. It is much more convenient at times to buy a quick takeaway rather than prepare a meal. The media constantly bombard (轰炸) their audience with “ perfect” body images, the need to buy the most fashionable clothes, the most up-to-date computer games, the best places to visit and the best things to do.

Environments vary. 4. This can be harmful to people who suffer from breathing difficulties. Environments where passive smoking is unavoidable make it difficult to lead a healthy life.

.5. Any person who wants to be healthy will find a way to be healthy---if he/she is motivated enough!

A. The media provide entertainment and information.

B. Advertisements play an important role in people’s life.

C. We may be exposed to pollution, such as cigarette smoke.

D. Nowadays, people are very busy.

E. People are living in a bad air environment.

F. The important one is motivation or the desire to be healthy.

G. Today society places a lot of emphasis on technology.

There are the two simple words, “if” and “what”. These two words can be used in many sentences and questions by themselves, but if you put them together, it forms a serious question, “What if…?”

This question will bring you back to a certain time in your life when you made a choice. You may not be happy with that choice today and often think about why you did it, but you made the decision because it was the best choice at that specific moment in your life. Now, years later, you start to think about that specific choice you made. You mentally struggle with yourself and consider if you could choose again, what would you do? Would it be totally different?

I truly believe if you want something very much, you can do it and achieve it , because “Where there is a will, there is a way.” You can correct the mistakes of your decisions for the past, go out and find happiness in the right decisions for your future. It is never too late to do anything in life.

【写作内容】

1. 以约30个词概括上文的主要内容。

2. 以约120个词就“人生努力永不晚”谈一谈你的看法,内容包括:

(1) 你对人生努力的理解;

(2) 举一个“大器晚成”的例子;

(3) 你对实例的评价或看法。

【写作要求】

1. 作文中可以使用实例来支持你的论点,也可以参照阅读材料的内容论述,但不得直接引用原文中的句子;

2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

【评分标准】

概括准确,语言规范,内容合适,篇章连贯。

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