For years I have had no idea what I have been doing with my life. I was a 30-year-old lawyer(律师) in New York. But being a lawyer was never my dream or goal in life. I honestly wanted to be a writer. I have a great imagination and would write amazing stories in my head. But I always knew that being a writer was never possible for me because it was a better financial decision to stay a lawyer.

Recently, I couldn’t fall asleep at my usual time of 10 p. m. and when I did fall asleep I had the same dream over and over again. The dream starts with me in the ocean trying to go for a swim and I’m searching for something, but I start to drown(溺水) and have no control over my body. Then a light shines through the waters and when I look up all I can see is myself in a bright white room writing a novel. Then I hear a voice say repeatedly, “Now is the time to try something new!”

It wasn’t just a dream;it was my opportunity to make something good out of my life. That afternoon, I quit my job at the law firm and I couldn’t have been any happier. My life started at 30, and every day since that point I haven’t stopped enjoying life. I started to write and have been on the best-sellers(畅销书) list for the last two months. Things have definitely turned around.

Change is a good thing; it gives us an opportunity to take a chance. So my two favorite words I live by and so should you are “change and chance”.

1.From the first paragraph, we can know that ________.

A. a lawyer is likely to earn more than a writer

B. it is unlikely that the author becomes a writer

C. the author is a 30-year-old lawyer at present

D. the author prefers to be a lawyer rather than a writer

2.The second paragraph mainly talks about the author’s ________.

A. strong desire to become a writer

B. difficulty in sleeping at night.

C. wish to have a swim in the waters

D. terrible swimming experience in the ocean.

3.The best title of the text might be _________.

A. Change and Choice B. Lawyer or Writer

C. Change and Chance D. Risk or Opportunity

“How do you account for your remarkable achievements in life?”Queen Victoria of the UK asked Helen Keller. “How do you explain the fact that even though you were both blind and deaf,you were able to achieve so much?”

Ms.Keller's answer is a tribute(致敬)to her kind teacher.“If it had not been for Anne Sullivan,the name of Helen Keller would have remained unknown.”

According to speaker Zig Ziglar,Annie Sullivan was no stranger to hardship.She was almost sightless herself and was,at one time,diagnosed as hopelessly “insane” by her caregivers.She was locked in the basement of a mental institution.Occasionally,Annie would violently attack anyone who came near.Most of the time she generally ignored everyone in her presence.

An elderly nurse believed there was hope,however,and she made it her work to show love to the child.Every day she visited Annie,and she left cookies for her and spoke words of love and encouragement.She believed Annie could recover,if only she were shown love.

Eventually,doctors noticed the change in the girl.Where they once witnessed anger and hate,they naw noted a gentleness and love.They moved her upstairs where she continued to improve.Then the day finally came when this seemingly “hopeless” child was released.

Anne Sullivan grew into a young woman with a desire to help others as she,herself,was helped by the kind nurse.It was she who saw the great potential in Helen Keller.She loved her,disciplined(约束)her, played with her, pushed her and worked with her until the flickering candle that was her life became a beacon(灯塔)of light to the world.Anne Sullivan worked wonders in Helen's life;but in was a loving nurse who first believed in Little Annie and lovingly transformed an uncommunicative child into a kind teacher.

“If it had not been for Anne Sullivan,the name of Helen Keller would have remained unknown.”But if it had not been for a kind and dedicated nurse,the name of Anne Sullivan would have remained unknown.

1.What does the underlined part “account for” probably mean?

A. show B. prove

C. explain D. present.

2.What do we know from the Third paragraph?

A. Sullivan had very normal behavior.

B. Sullivan was ignored by everyone.

C. Sullivan was kept away from her parents.

D. Sullivan was believed lo have a mental problem.

3.What would be the best title for the next?

A. The Power of Love B. Making a Difference

C. A Good Teacher D. Remarkable Achievements

Whenever Michael Carl, the fashion market director at Vanity Fair, goes out to dinner with friends, he plays something called the phone pile game: Everyone places their _______ in the middle of the table; whoever looks at their device(设备) before the check arrives _______ for dinner.

Brandon Holley, the former editor of Lucky magazine, had trouble _______ her mobile phone when she got home from work. So about six months ago, she _______ putting her phone into a milk tin the moment she walked in. It remains there until after dinner.

And Mare Jacobs, the fashion designer, didn’t _______ to sleep close to a noisy phone. So he _______ computers and phones from his bedroom—a house rule he _______ with audiences during a screening of his film Disconnect.

As smartphones _______ to make their way into our lives, and wearable devices like Google Glass _______ our personal space even further, users say these disconnecting ________ are improving their relationships—and their brains.

“Disconnect is something that we all ________,” Lesley M.M.Blume, a New York writer, told the New York Times. “The expectation that we must always be ________ to everyone...creates a real problem in trying to ________ private time. But that private time is more important than ever.”

A popular, method for ________ is to choose a box for your cellphone, like Ms.Holley. “________ my phone is lighting up, it’s still a distraction(分心的事物), so it goes in the ________.” she said.

Others choose new ________. “No screens after 11 pm.” said Ari Melber, a TV host. “I found the evenings were more ________, and I was sleeping better.” he said.

“Sleep is a big factor, which is why Peter Som, a fashion designer, doesn’t want to sleep ________ something that is full of photos and emails.” said Mr. Som, who keeps his phone charging in the living room overnight. It ________ a head?clearer.

1.A. wallets B. handbags C. watches D. phones

2.A. pays B. waits C. prepares D. reaches

3.A. examining B. ignoring C. charging D. finding

4.A. stopped B. forgot C. began D. suggested

5.A. hate B. want C. expect D. refuse

6.A. banned B. lost C. collected D. adjusted

7.A. talked B. agreed C. provided D. shared

8.A. intend B. choose C. continue D. happen

9.A. defend B. threaten C. improve D. occupy

10.A. techniques B. practices C. manners D. achievements

11.A. learn B. consider C. accept D. need

12.A. dependable B. available C. convenient D. appealing

13.A. figure out B. save up C. set aside D. take up

14.A. connecting B. distributing C. entertaining D. disconnecting

15.A. Unless B. If C. Since D. Although

16.A. box B. room C. pocket D. bag

17.A. games B. orders C. steps D. rules

18.A. flexible B. urgent C. relaxing D. upsetting

19.A. far from B. next to C. beyond D. within

20.A. definitely B. rarely C. finally D. originally

1. 在你班上谁更擅长科学,男孩还是女孩? Nowadays, girls start to show more interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, according to a recent study by Cambridge Occupational Analysts (COA), UK.

In the study, last year, 2. over .20,000 students who were in their final year in high school were surveyed. The number of girls considering university courses in STEM subjects has been larger than that of boys. Over a fifth of the girls surveyed said they were considering related jobs, such as engineering and technology. Interest has also risen in mechanical (机械学的) engineering, electrical engineering and the sciences.

3. 对于英国的妇女,这是一个重要的改变。 In the past, there were not nearly as many women as men studying STEM subjects or working in STEM related fields. Only 13% of people who graduated from university with STEM degrees were women. Now, there are about 22%. 4.In the past, only one eight of the STEM jobs were held by women. This was partly because of the stereotype (刻板印象) that men are more suited to this work than women. Now it has been changed. Over 20% of the engineers are women in the UK.

In fact, STEM subjects are fun and exciting. Studying science can benefit (使……受益) girls. “It opens girls up to fascinating careers,” Niki Yates, manager of GSK’s UK Business, told The Daily Telegraph. She says 5.it is important to encourage young women to do these jobs. They will receive higher pay in these areas. More women in work also helps the economy grow.

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