We don’ t always get a second chance to achieve our dreams. But some people are lucky, like Matthew McConaughey. Once almost unknown, the actor has recently found himself back on the list of the best actors in Hollywood. His new movie Interstellar is just another sign that his career reinvention has been an incredible success. “The film relies on McConaughey’ s performance to hold together the emotional story of a father and his daughter against the background of space travel and the end of the world,”Forbes commented.

But only years ago, the Texas native was often the butt of jokes(笑柄)about being too handsome. In 1993, after meeting with director Richard Linklater, McConaughey starred in Dazed and Confused. And a Hollywood career was born, mostly in romantic comedies. For a long time, the whole world believed McConaughey was just a handsome guy with comic talent.

But McConaughey stopped starring in that type of movie, and began to use his looks differently. Slowly he built up his reputation as a serious actor. In 2013, McConaughey was offered to play an AIDS activist in Dallas Buyers Club. The role saw the normally muscular actor losing 50 pounds in order to appear sick. His performance won him an Oscar for Best Actor.

The actor gave thanks to someone he has always looked up to as a hero during his Oscar acceptance speech. When he was 15, the actor said, he decided that his hero would be himself in 10 years. But 10 years later, he pushed the deadline ahead another decade. Then 10 years later, another decade.“My hero’ s always 10 years away,” he said. “I’ m never going to attain that. That keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing.”Or perhaps constantly chasing the chance to be his own hero has given him a second chance to follow his dreams.

1.Why was McConaughey often the butt of jokes in his early career?

A. He was limited to handsome roles.

B. He was unknown to the audience.

C. He played in romantic comedies.

D. He was handsome and emotional.

2.What role won Mc Conaughey an Oscar for Best Actor?

A. A caring father. B. An AIDS activist.

C. A serious buyer. D. A strong hero.

3.What can we learn about McConaughey?

A. He was born in Hollywood.

B. He has become a hero of his own.

C. He wasn’ t famous until recently.

D. He isn’ t content with his achievements.

4.Which of the following can be the best title?

A. McConaughey, a Romantic Comedian

B. McConaughey, a Man Making a Hit

C. McConaughey, a Man Daring to change

D. McConaughey, Handsome and Talented

On Tuesday, Apple’ CEO, Tim Cook, announced the Apple Watch. It is like a normal watch, but it can do all the things a mobile phone does — and more.

At US $349, the Apple Watch is expensive. Some people doubt that they will become as successful as smartphones. However, it seems that it will open another door for the use of computers. The watch taps you whenever a new message comes in. It prepares answers to questions you receive from friends. It checks your health. “It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made,” Cook said.

If the Apple Watch becomes popular, it will change the way the world communicates with computers. “It might not only be a change for Apple, but for the whole industry,” says technology expert, Daniel Ives.

How does it work?

The Apple Watch has a speaker that users can both hear and feel. You can press the side button to communicate with people quickly and easily. The Apple Watch also introduces health and fitness apps(应用程序)that can help people lead healthier lives.

You can try it.

According to Matt Vella, a writer for TIME magazine, the watch is “the most thrilling product since the iPad.”

After actually trying the watch, he says: “ There’s a lot we don’t know about the Apple Watch. How long will its battery last? How exactly will it connect with the iPhone? But wearing the watch answers some other questions. It is very comfortable. You can easily forget you are wearing the Apple Watch.”

1.What does the underlined sentence probably mean?

A. The Apple Watch will be successful as the Smartphone.

B. Contrary to popular belief, many people dislike the Apple Watch.

C. Some people don’t think the Apple Watch will be as popular as smartphones.

D. Some people think the Apple Watch will be more popular than smartphones.

2.Who is Tim Cook according to the passage?

A. An officer . B. An editor.

C. A writer. D. A teacher.

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. The Apple Watch has a speaker.

B. The Apple Watch can check your health.

C. You can send messages with the Apple Watch.

D. The Apple Watch doesn’t need a battery.

4.What does Matt Vella think about the Apple Watch?

A. Beautiful. B. Exciting.

C. normal D. Expensive.

5.This passage is about ________.

A. how to choose the Apple Watch

B. why people buy the Apple Watch

C. a new product

D. a new method

There’s a small town in the central part of England called Gotham. Some say it’s a town of fools. Others say all the villagers are wise. Let me tell you about the people of Gotham so you can decide for yourself.

Long ago, England was ruled by a cruel king named John. One day, the people of Gotham heard that King John and his men would soon be riding through their town.This worried the villagers, for they knew the greedy king would demand food and accommodation for his men. What’s more, if he saw anything to his liking, he would surely take it.

A town meeting was called. After much discussion, the townspeople decided to cut down a number of huge trees to block the roads leading into Gotham. When King John and his men reached the outskirts of the village, they could not pass. Angry, King John ordered his men to go into the town and punish the villagers.

When the king’s officers finally made their way over the trees, they found a village of fools. Some say that was because the people of Gotham had a plan—they had decided to act like fools since they had never heard of anyone being punished for being a noodlehead. Others say that’s just the way they were.

In the village, the king’s men encountered a man riding a donkey. The man was bent over because he carried a huge bag of grain on his own shoulders. He looked exhausted. One of the king’s men approached him and asked, “Why, in heaven’s name, are you carrying that bag? Why don’t you just put it behind you on your donkey’s back?”

“You see,” replied the man from Gotham, “my donkey is feeling poor today. It’s bad enough that she has to carry me, so I decided to lighten her burden by carrying the bag myself.”

The king’s men said, “But sir, don’t you see that if you’re riding on top of the donkey, she’s

still carrying the weight of the bag?” The man didn’t reply. He just looked at the king’s men as if they were crazy and went on his way. The king’s officers giggled at the foolishness of the man. Before long, they passed a pond where they found a number of villagers in the midst of a great argument. Two of them were holding a big eel. “Quiet down,” commanded one of the king’s men. “What’s the problem here?”

One of the villagers stepped forward and said, “Last year we took all the extra fish we [caught and put them in this pond so they would multiply. But this year when we came back, all we caught was this one huge eel. Obviously it has eaten all of our fish! Since then, we have argued long and hard over how to punish this bad eel. But we have finally agreed on the perfect punishment. We are just about to drown the eel in this very pond!” The king’s officers couldn’t believe their ears. Drown an eel whose home is in the water? These men were sillier than the first man they met!

Before long, they reached the center of the village, where they were in for another surprise. There they found the rest of the townspeople building a towering stone wall. When the soldiers inquired what was going on, one of the villagers replied, “Every spring a cuckoo comes to live in our village. It always brings warm weather. When it leaves, the cold weather returns. Last year we decided that if we could get the cuckoo to stay here all year, we would always have warm weather. We built this stone wall, but it obviously wasn’t high enough because the bird flew away. This year we’re determined to build it so high that the cuckoo can’t escape.”

The king’s officers had heard enough. They couldn’t bring themselves to punish such stupid people. They returned to King John and told him all about the fools of Gotham. Whether it’s fair or not, the people of Gotham have been known as fools ever since.

What do you think? Were the villagers of Gotham wise or foolish?

1.This story is most like___________.

A. a news article B. a folktale

C. realistic fiction D. historical fiction

2.The story is set in___________.

A. A city B. A forest

C. A royal palace D. A small village

3.Why do the townspeople cut down the trees?

A. To make room for their crops.

B. To block the roads to the village.

C. To create a gift for the king’s men.

D. To build accommodation for the king’s men.

4.The townspeople are worried about the king’s visit because he will___________.

A. laugh at them

B. cut down their trees

C. take anything he wants

D. want to move to their town

5.Based on the story, why might the townspeople be considered wise?

A. They trick the king’s men into thinking they are fools.

B. They think ahead by putting their extra fish into a pond.

C. They make sure their donkeys are healthy enough to work.

D. They realize the importance of warm weather to their crops.

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