Years ago, when I started looking for my first job, wise advisers said,“Barbara, be enthusiastic!Enthusiasm will take your further than any amount of experience.”How right they were!
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm,”wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson.It is the paste that helps you hang on there when the going gets tough.It is the inner voice that whispers,“I can do it!”when others shout,“No, you can't!”It took years and years for the early work of Barbara McClintock, a geneticist who won the 1983 Nobel Prize in medicine, to be generally accepted.Yet she didn't let up on her experiments.Work was such a deep pressure for her that she never thought of stopping.
We are all born with wide-eyed, enthusiastic wonder and it is this childlike wonder that gives enthusiastic people such youthful air, whatever their age.At 90, cellist(大提琴家)Pablo Casals would start his day by playing Bach(巴赫).As the music flowed through his fingers, his bend shoulders would strengthen and joy would reappear in his eyes.As author and poet Samuel once wrote,“Yeas make the skin old, but to give up enthusiasm makes the soul old.”
Enthusiastic people also love what they do, regardless of money, title or power.Patricia Mcllrath, retired director of the Missouri Repertory Theater in Kansas City, was once asked where she got her enthusiasm.She replied, “My father, a lawyer, long ago told me, I never made a penny until I stopped working for money.”
If we can't do what we love as a full-time career, we can do it as a hobby.Elizabeth Layton of Wellsville, Kan, was 68 before she began to draw.This activity ended her sadness that had troubled her for at least 30 years, and the quality of her work led one critic(评论家)to say,“I am persuaded to call Layton a genius.”
We can't afford to waste tears on“might-have-beens”.We need to turn the tears into sweat as we go after“what-can-be”.We need to live each moment whole-heartedly, with all our senses-finding pleasure in the sweet smell of a backyard garden, the simple picture of a six-year-old, and the beauty of a rainbow.
(1)
The passage mainly shows us ________.
[ ]
A.
enthusiasm is the basic element of everything
B.
enthusiasm helps us to succeed to a greater degree
C.
enthusiasm makes us experience more life
D.
we can do nothing without enthusiasm
(2)
From the example of the Nobel Prize winner Barbara McClintock, we may find ________.
[ ]
A.
enthusiasm can encourage us in difficult times
B.
enthusiastic people always get a deep pleasure from work
C.
you can't make any achievement if you have no enthusiasm
D.
enthusiastic people are sure to gain great fame in the end
(3)
The underlined sentence in Paragraph Three suggests ________.
[ ]
A.
time and tide wait for no man
B.
we grow old as time goes on
C.
people feel young with enthusiasm
D.
our soul becomes old with enthusiasm
(4)
The sentence“I never made a penny until I stopped working for money.”In Paragraph Four refers to“________”.
[ ]
A.
I wouldn't work unless I could make money
B.
I believe that my work will be rewarded
C.
Working for money is what I love to do
D.
Working for money makes no money at all
(5)
The main idea of the last paragraph is ________.
[ ]
A.
we should try heart and soul to win what we want
B.
enthusiasm can give us pleasure, though we have to sweat
Experienced actor Zhang Guoli went on extreme diet to better fit into his new role in“Jian Guo Da Ye”, a big budget film celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The television-film begins at the end of World War Ⅱ and is based on real events that took place during the years leading up to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.It focuses on the birth of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body.
Zhang Guoli, famous for a series of ancient emperor roles, played the Kuomintang(KMT)leader Chiang Kai-shek.Zhang was reported to have reduced his food intake and eating only one meal each day, to better look like this historical figure.
The result was obvious and he lost 5.5 kg in half a month.
Sina.com reported, Zhang first refused to play the role for the big difference between his image and Chiang Kai-shek.
Despite Zhang's wavering confidence at the beginning, his friends believed that he could do it.Vivian Wu Junmei, a Chinese actress who became internationally known for her role in the Oscar-winning film“The Last Emperor”, said Zhang Guoli not only resembles Chiang in appearance but also in spirit.
“I think what really makes Zhang Guoli successful is not his look but the resemblance in spirit.The way he deals with some details in his acting is very captivating.”Vivian Wu added she could not think of anyone else who could do the role better.
Vivian Wu, also the star of“The Soong Sisters”, played a much more mature Madame Chiang Kai-shek(Mayling Soong)during the period of 1945~1949.
(1)
The purpose of producing the film“Jian Guo Da Ye”is ________.
[ ]
A.
to make more money and gain more awards
B.
to celebrate the 60th anniversary of PRC
C.
to provide more entertainments and amusements
D.
to promote the declining image of the movies
(2)
The period set in the film is ________.
[ ]
A.
from the end of World WarⅠ to the foundation of PRC
B.
from the end of World WarⅡ to the foundation of PRC
C.
from the start of Anti-Japanese War to the foundation of PRC
D.
from the start of the Liberation War to the foundation of PRC
(3)
The reason why Zhang Guoli went on diet was that ________.
[ ]
A.
he wanted to make his new role more cool and attractive
B.
he wanted to win more votes if the film went to the Oscar
C.
he wanted to better resemble the historical figure
D.
he wanted to replace the role of Vivian Wu in the film
(4)
The underlined word“wavering”in the passage means ________.
[ ]
A.
nervous
B.
calm
C.
hesitating
D.
serious
阅读理解
In ancient Egypt,the pharaoh(法老)trented the poor message runner like a prince when he arrived at the palace ,if he broubht good news ,However ,if the exharsted runner had the misrlrtune to buing the pharaoh unhappy news ,his head was cut off
Shades of that lpirit priad ovie today’s cknversntions,Once a friend and Ipack up some peanut butter ane sandwiches for an outing As we walked light-heartedly out the door ,pienie basket in hand ,a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and saie ,Oh boy ,bad dny for a picnic the weatherman says it’s going tl raim I wanted to strike him on the race with the peanut butter and sandwiches not for his stupid weather report for his wsile
Several months ago Iwas racing to fcatcb angty A’s I breathlessly put my handfrul of cash acrlss the Greyhound ckunths the sales ager said with a brond smile.Oh that bus lsft rive minrtes ago Dreams of head cutting
It’s not the news thst makes ,someone angry It’s the unsympathetic attitrde with which it’s delivered Everyone must give bad mews from time to time ,and winning professilnalas di it ‘swith the prope attitude A doctor advising a paticnt she needs an operation dose it in a caring way Aboss infonning an employee he didn’t get job takes on a sympathetic tone Big winners know ,when delivering ang ban news they should share th feeling of the receiver.
Unfortumately, many peple are not aware of this?you re tired from a long flight, has a hotel clerk cheerfully said that your room isn’t ready ye?When you had your heart set on the toast beef ,has your waiter mimily told you that he just seuved the last piece?It makes you as traveler or diner want to land your fist fight on their unsympathetic faces.
Had my neighbor told me of the upcoming rainstorm with sympathy, I would have appreciated his warning.Had the Greyhound salesclerk sympathetically infored me that my bus had already left, I probably would have said, “Oh ,that ‘s all right.I’ll catch the next one.” Big winners, when they bear bear new ,deliver bombs with the emxtion the bombarded(被轰炸的)person is sure to have.
(1)
In Paragrph 1,the writer tells the story of the pharaoh to ________.
[ ]
A.
make a comparison
B.
warm-hearted
C.
not considerate
D.
not helpful
(2)
From“Dreams of head-cutting!”(Paragraph 3),we learn that the writer ________.
[ ]
A.
was mad at the sales agent.
B.
was reminded of the cruel pharaoh
C.
wished that the sales agent would have had dreams.
D.
dreamed of cutting the sales agent’s head that night.
(3)
What is the main idea of the text?
[ ]
A.
Delivering bad news properly is important in communication.
B.
Helping others sincerely is the key to business success.
C.
Receiving bad news requires great courage.
D.
Learning ancient traditions can be useful.
阅读理解
While everyone knows that NBA center Yao Ming will become a father this summer, the big buzz(流言)in China is about whether the baby will be an American.
The Shanghai native's personal life is closely followed by his many fans at home, from his 2007 Shanghai wedding to fellow basketball player Ye Li to last month's reports the couple is expecting a baby girl in July.
The 2.25-meter star, sidelined this season with a broken left foot, recently returned to the USA with Ye, encouraging speculation that the baby will be born there.
Yao's baby would automatically be an American citizen if born in the US.
However, Chinese law does not recognize double citizenship.
A few say it would be a betrayal of China and that the Chinese team could be denied a future basketball star.
But most support Yao and don't care which country claims the baby.
“Yao Ming is individual, not a political tool,”said one comment on popular basketball Website Hoop China.
“He has the right to choose where his child is born and what kind of medical care and education will be available to her.His child's citizenship has nothing to do with loyalty.”
Yao and his camp have been tight-lipped on the pregnancy(怀孕)and have not issued any public statements on the matter.
It is not clear if Yao and his wife are indeed planning to have the baby in the US or how they will handle any citizenship issues.
Yao's spokesman Zhang Mingji refused to make notes on the baby, saying it was a private matter.
Many Chinese famous persons-including actress Gong Li and director Chen Kaige-have in recent years been criticized for becoming naturalized citizens of other countries.
Chinese are subject to strict visa requirements and some of the famous persons argued it was easier to travel internationally with passports from countries like Singapore or the US.
(1)
What makes the Chinese puzzled and interested in is ________.
[ ]
A.
when Yao will have a baby
B.
when Yaao will recover from his injury
C.
what nationality Baby Yao will have
D.
who looks after Yao since he is injured
(2)
The underlined word“betrayal”in paragraph 6 can be replaced by ________.
[ ]
A.
love
B.
distance
C.
hate
D.
disloyalty
(3)
For most fans of Yao they ________.
[ ]
A.
are against his choice of claiming his baby for America
B.
think it's Yao's freedom to choose his baby's nationality
C.
are for Yao's decision of becoming an American at once
D.
are not interested in his decision
(4)
From the passage we know Yao ________.
[ ]
A.
has decided to give birth to the baby in America
B.
has recovered and will return to the sports in a week
C.
has decided to spend more time in film
D.
hasn't expressed his clear idea to the public at all
(5)
Some famous people are being scolded(责骂)because they ________.
[ ]
A.
care little about the environmental problems now
B.
have become other foreign country's citizen
C.
refuse to donate to the poor in China
D.
decide to only make money in foreign countries
阅读理解
Book 1 Elixir
written by Eric Walters
Twelve-year-old Roth becomes a friend of Dr.Banting and his assistant, Mr.Best, who are in search of a cure for diabetes(糖尿病).She finds herself torn between her sympathy for the animals being experimented on and her friendship with Banting and Best.
Book 2 George Washington Carver
written by Elizabeth Macleod
Meet the “Peanut(花生)Specialist”, George Washington Carver, the inventor and professor who made over 325 products out of peanuts.Through his agricultural research, he also greatly improved the lives of countless black farmers in the southern United States.See also Macleod's Albert Einstein:A Life of Genius.
Book 3 The Inuit Thought of It:Amazing Arctic Innovations
written by Alootook Ipellie & David MacDonald
Explore more than 40 ideas necessary to Inuit survival.From ideas familiar to us today to inventive concepts that shaped their lives, celebrate the creativity of a remarkably intelligent people.Also see other books; The Chinese Thought of It by Tingxing Ye and A Native American Thought of It by Rocky Landon and David MacDonald.
Book 4 Made in Canada:101 Amazing Achievements
written by Bev Spencer
What things do we use daily that have a Canadian connection? Here are 101 common things that were invented in Canada or by a Canadian, including the Blackberry, alkaline(碱性)batteries and the Blue Box recycling program.
Book 5 Newtonand the Time Machine
written by Michael McGowan
Ten-year-old boy Newton has invented a time machine to see dinosaurs up close.But it disappears on a test run with his two huge friends, King Herbert and Queen Certrude, can he save them before time runs out?
(1)
Which of the following best describes Roth's feeling in Book 1?
[ ]
A.
Painful.
B.
Curious.
C.
Frightened.
D.
Disappointed.
(2)
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Animals are mentioned in Book 1 and Book 5.
B.
Book 3 introduces 40 inventive concepts.
C.
Alkaline batteries were invented by Dr.Banting.
D.
George Washington Carver was a black farmer in the US.
(3)
In Book 5, King Herbert and Queen Gertrude are ________.
[ ]
A.
Newton's human friends
B.
the names of the time machine
C.
two dinosaurs
D.
the inventions of the time machine
(4)
If you are interested in native Americans, you may read the book by ________.
[ ]
A.
Elizabeth Macleod
B.
Eric Walters
C.
Rocky London & David MacDonald
D.
Bev Spencer
阅读理解
HANGZHOU, China-Millions of Chinese basketball fans who were upset about the retirement of Yao Ming, are excited to see another even more shining star, Jeremy Lin, rising from the N.B.A and becoming a household name all across China.
“We are amazed by Lin Shuhao's magic performance and should cheer him on, ” one Internet user wrote.
“His sport shirts have sold out, even including the counterfeit(仿制品)ones, ” said Zheng Xiaojun, a 24-year-old clerk.
Lin's amazing success over the last month has caught the imagination of the Chinese.He has been particularly popular here in northern Zhejiang province, from which his grandmother went to Taiwan in the late 1940s.
Cai Qi, a well-known micro blogger, posted a message on micro blog over the weekend stating that Lin's hometown is Jiaxing, a city near Hangzhou where Lin's grandmother grew up.
Cai Qi's nephew Yu Guohua, a 56-year-old factory worker, is Lin's closest relative still living in northern Zhejiang.He said in a telephone interview that Lin had come to play basketball with the Jiaxing High School team last May and had been surrounded by admirers.
Yu said he did not have a chance to meet Lin in the crowd, but managed to speak with his family.“His father was very suportive of Lin's playing basketball, but his grandmother was not, for fear he would be injured,”Ye said.
Lin may owe his height, 6 feet 3 inches, to his grandmother's family, Yu said.Chen Weiji, the father of Lin's grandmother, was well over 6 feet and all of Chen's children were tall as well, he said.
The N.B.A.believes that 300 million people in China play basketball.The retirement last year of Yao Ming took its main Asian draw away from the N.B.A.But Lin's appearance has helped the league remain a hot topic of Chinese online chatter.
(1)
Why does Lin Shuhao appeal especially to people in northern Zhejiang?
[ ]
A.
He was born in Zhejiang.
B.
His sports shirts are made in Zhejiang.
C.
He once visited Zhejiang.
D.
His grandmother grew up in Zhejiang.
(2)
We can learn from the text that ________.
[ ]
A.
Lin once played on Jiaxing High School team
B.
Lin's grandmother didn't expect him to be a player
C.
All Lin's relatives moved to Taiwan 60 years ago
D.
Lin's father loved playing basketball
(3)
Lin's success in N.B.A has ________.
[ ]
A.
attracted more Chinese children to play basketball as a career
B.
helped his hometown develop sports shirts business
C.
drawn Chinese people's attention back to the league