Phillida Eves and her husband Tedd Hamilton weren’t unhappy living in the Galway countryside with their sons, Cian and Oisin, and their daughter, Soracha. “We had a lovely home , a car, lots of friends, and weekends sailing our boat”, says Phillida. “But there’s a line from a poem that goes: ‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’ That says it all for me. We felt that there was more to life.”

So they quit their jobs, took their sons, then aged six and nine, out of school and went to southern Spain where they bought a 15-meter yacht (游艇) and headed up the coast to Barcelona. Soracah was not even three. And they brought along Poppy, the family dog. Now, two and a half years and 10,000 km later, they don’t intend to stop. Tedd is a yacht engineer and can find work in ports. But, says Phillida, a supply teacher(代课老师), “Any family could do this”.

The children are home-schooled using a correspondence course(函授课程). My son had a recent project on the weather. The weather is vital to us. My son knows more than most adults about weather systems, compasses, maps and directions. The weather, for him, means life or death.

Other subjects have become equally vivid. “They’re living geography and history all the time. We’ve sailed round Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, and seen tiny islands we didn’t know. The kids learned about ancient Romans by visiting Rome. One summer off the Italian coast we sailed past a volcano at 2am. We woke the kids. There it was, under the moon, with fire coming out the top―you don’t get that in a textbook.”

But what about social development? Again, Phillida is sanguine. “The children have become much more socially confident since we set out. They play with tones of families of all nationalities on other boats we meet.”

Living for the moment, they believe, is a huge life lesson. “Our children never say they’re bored.” The other day they stopped mid-ocean and the kids swam, 110km from land. “That’s the kind of freedom we want for them,” says Phillida. “That’s the kind of freedom they’ve got.”

1.The couple quit their jobs and took their children traveling because .

A. their children wanted to make friends of all nationalities.

B. they wanted to experience more in their lives.

C. their children wanted completed freedom.

D. they were unhappy with their lives.

2.The underlined word “sanguine” in Para graph 5 is closest in meaning to “ ”.

A. patient B. curious C. excited D. optimistic

3.The author describes the children’s home schooling by .

A. using examples

B. making comparisons

C. following the order of importance

D. describing the changes in space order

4.What can we learn about the family from the text?

A. they plan to stop for a rest.

B. they have toured for more than 3 years

C. they believe any family can do the same thing as they can do

D. They have made several geographical and historical discovers

阅读理解

请认真阅读下列短文, 从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

While Andrew was getting ready for work one Friday morning, he announced to his wife that he had finally decided to ask his boss for a salary raise. All day Andrew felt nervous and anxious as he thought about the upcoming showdown. What if Mr Larchmont refused to grant his request? Andrew had worked so hard in the last 18 months and landed some great accounts for his company. Of course, he deserved a wage increase.

The thought of walking into Larchmont’s office left Andrew weak in the knees. Late in the afternoon he was finally courageous enough to approach his superior. To his delight and surprise, the ever-frugal(一向节俭的)Harvey Larchmont agreed to give Andrew a raise!

Andrew arrived home that evening—despite breaking all city and state speed limits—to a beautiful table set with their best china, and candles lit. His wife, Tina, had prepared a delicate meal including his favorite dishes. Immediately he figured someone from the office had tipped her off!

Next to his plate Andrew found a beautiful lettered note. It was from his wife. It read: “Congratulations, my love! I knew you’d get the raise! I prepared this dinner to show just how much I love you. I am so proud of your accomplishments!” He read it and stopped to reflect on how sensitive and caring Tina was.

After dinner, Andrew was on his way to the kitchen to get dessert when he observed that a second card had slipped out of Tina’s pocket onto the floor. He bent forward to pick it up. It read: “Don’t worry about not getting the raise! You do deserve one! You are a wonderful provider and I prepared this dinner to show you just how much I love you even though you did not get the increase.”

Suddenly tears swelled in Andrew’s eyes. Total acceptance! Tina’s support for him was not conditional upon his success at work.

The fear of rejection is often softened and we can undergo almost any setback or rejection when we know someone loves us regardless of our success or failure.

1.Which of the following statements about the story is FALSE?

A. Andrew was afraid that his request would lead to disaster.

B. Andrew had worked very hard and done his part for the company.

C. Andrew’s boss agreed to his request.

D. One of Andrew’s colleagues had told his wife the good news.

2.Why did Tina prepare a grand dinner for Andrew that day?

A. She was confident of his getting a pay raise.

B. She believed that her husband was the best in his company.

C. She meant to show her support to her husband.

D. She wanted to express her gratitude for his devotion to the family.

3. We can conclude from the text that ______.

A. we should never be afraid to ask for what is due to us

B. work hard and you will be rewarded

C. many fears turn out to be unfounded

D. unconditional love brings courage and strength

完形填空

阅读下列短文,从短文后所给各题的四个选项A, B, C,和D中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Whatever misfortune you face, just hold up your head and face it with a smile! I got to know this from a musical soul.

The other day I was feeling quite , having just been laid off from my job. With so many to pay, I was wondering what was going to happen to my family.

I got off the bus when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the . I walked a bit slower, trying to find out where it was coming from. Through the I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a box next to her.

She was singing songs about love and her sweet voice me a bit. Then I stood there watching her playing, thinking that it must take to perform on her own in front of hundreds of people she didn’t know.

She might have felt my for she occasionally looked in my direction.

By now I was telling myself that I could at least tell her how good she sounded. I walked and put some money in her box and she expressed her thanks with a smile on her face.

I asked her , “Why are you playing the piano in the middle of this crowded place?”

She explained to me that she sees so many people in the world that she is trying to relieve the pain by motivational (激励的) music.

Instead of continuing my way home, I said to her, “I have been going through a time lately, but you’ve made me again.”

“I’m happy that I could be to you,” she replied. “Why are you so sad?”

I told her my story and said, “I’m not so about what to do….”

“You see, here’s the ,” she responded. “When you were walking, your head was down.” She looked me in the eyes and went on, “Don’t look defeated, because comes in different ways and if your head is down you might never see it. You should more … lift your head up.”

I was really by what she said! I did hold my head up and soon got through the difficult time.

So in trouble, just face it bravely and you are sure to overcome your difficulty sooner or later.

1.A. lonely B. relaxed C. frustrated D. breathless

2.A. fare B. bills C. fines D. prices

3.A. listeners B. background C. instrument D. traffic

4. A. trees B. crowd C. buildings D. street

5. A. shocked B. amused C. excited D. comforted

6.A. energy B. courage C. patience D. technique

7.A. presence B. mood C. thought D. appreciation

8.A. aside B. down C. over D. off

9.A. quietly B. eagerly C. seriously D. curiously

10. A. negative B. unhealthy C. positive D. elderly

11.A. sharing B. creating C. enjoying D. teaching

12.A. tense B. wonderful C. crazy D. rough

13.A. enthusiastic B. emotional C. hopeful D. energetic

14. A. helpful B. worthwhile C. useful D. available

15.A. ashamed B. sure C. particular D. anxious

16. A. problem B. situation C. conflict D. condition

17.A. success B. aid C. opportunity D. happiness

18.A. focus B. look C. fight D. smile

19.A. impressed B. moved C. inspired D. satisfied

20.A. however B. whenever C. whoever D. wherever

完形填空

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C 和 D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

My grandmother was an iron-willed woman, the feared head of the family.

When I was five years old, she invited some friends to her apartment for a party. the guests was a neighborhood big shot who was doing well in business. His wife was of their social status(地位). They had a little girl about my age who was spoiled(被宠坏) and very much to getting her own way.

At one point during the party, I my way to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. A minute or two later, the little girl the bathroom door and grandly walked in. I was still sitting down. “Don't you know that little girls aren't to come into the bathroom when a little boy is using it?” I shouted. My shocked the little girl. Then she

started to cry. She tearfully to her parents and my grandmother. Grandmother was waiting for me when I left the bathroom. I received the longest, scolding. After her scolding was over, she and the party continued.

Twenty minutes later, all that changed. Grandmother walked by the bathroom and noticed a flood of water out from under the door. She the bathroom door and saw that the sink and tub were plugged up and that the were going at full blast (拧到最大). Everyone knew who did it. The guests quickly formed a wall around me, but Grandmother was angry that she almost got to me anyway.

My grandfather took me to the window. He was a kind and gentle man, full of wisdom and patience. He raised his voice to anyone, and he never his wife. He looked at me with much curiosity, angry or upset.

“Tell me,” he asked, “why did you do it?”

‘Well, she yelled at me ,” I said earnestly. “Now she's got something to yell about.”

Grandfather didn't speak right away. He just sat there, looking at me and smiling. “Eric,” he said at last, “you are my revenge(报仇).”

1.A.Between B.Among C.Around D.Beside

2.A.aware B.scared C.convinced D.proud

3.A.accustomed B.exposed C.devoted D.connected

4.A.made B.found C.pushed D.blocked

5.A.closed B.opened C.beat D.tapped

6.A.expected B.asked C.supposed D.told

7.A.happiness B.depression C.embarrassment D.anger

8.A.complained B.apologized C.replied D.referred

9.A.biggest B.sharpest C.finest D.funniest

10.A.rang me up B.kept me up C.left me alone D.made fun of me

11.A.moving B.rolling C.floating D.streaming

12.A.pushed open B.pulled down C.shut up D.knocked at

13.A.pipes B.taps C.tubes D.switches

14.A.productive B.thick C.protective D.rough

15.A.so B.too C.as D.very

16.A.in panic B.by the hand C.by surprise D.with anxiety

17.A.often B.sometimes C.always D.rarely

18.A.contradicted B.comforted C.abandoned D.urged

19.A.for sure B.not only C.not at all D.more than

20.A.for something B.for nothing C.without doubt D.with sympathy

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