Jeffrey Bezos, founder, president and chairman of the board of Amazon.com, was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His mother’s ancestors were early settlers in Texas, and over the generations had acquired a 25,000 acre farm at Cotulla. Jeffrey spent most summers of his youth working with his grandfather on their farm.
Jeffrey showed intense and varied scientific interests at an early age. He set up an electric alarm to keep his younger sisters and brothers out of his room and changed his parents’ garage into a laboratory for his science projects.
After he graduated from Princeton University with a degree in computer science and electrical engineering, Jeffrey Bezos found employment on Wall Street, where computer science was increasingly in demand to study market trends. He rose quickly, becoming a senior vice president, and looked forward to a bright career in finance, when he made a discovery that changed his life, and the course of business history.
In 1994, there was still no internet commerce to speak of. One day that spring, Jeffrey Bezos observed that Internet usage was increasing by 2300 percent a year. He saw an opportunity for a new circle of commerce, and immediately began considering the possibilities.
Bezos founded Amazon.com in 1994, setting up the original company in his garage. The company was called Amazon for the seemingly endless South American river with its numberless branches. It started as an online bookstore but soon diversified to all kinds of products. His work with Amazon eventually led him to become one of the most excellent dot-com entrepreneurs. He was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 1999. In 2008, he was selected by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Leaders. Bezos’ Amazon has become “the Earth’s biggest anything store”. Amazon.com is now called “one of the smartest strategies in business history”.
Today, Jeffrey Bezos lives north of Seattle and is increasingly concerned with charity activities. “Giving away money takes as much attention as building a successful company,” he said

  1. 1.

    In his childhood, Bezos ______.

    1. A.
      had to work with his grandfather on their farm all day long
    2. B.
      showed great interest in science
    3. C.
      didn’t get along well with his brothers and sisters
    4. D.
      wanted to become a businessman
  2. 2.

    Jeffrey changed the course of business history because he______.

    1. A.
      looked forward to a bright career in finance on Wall Street
    2. B.
      considered the possibility of setting up an original company
    3. C.
      founded a new form of commerce that developed fast later
    4. D.
      was the first to speak of Internet commerce
  3. 3.

    Which of the following isn’t mentioned in the passage?

    1. A.
      How hard Bezos studied in Princeton University
    2. B.
      “Amazon.com” only sold books in the beginning
    3. C.
      Bezos not only devoted his life to Internet commerce but also to charity
    4. D.
      The reason why Jeffrey Bezos decided to found Amazon.com
  4. 4.

    It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

    1. A.
      it was Bezos’s grandfather on the farm who helped him a lot
    2. B.
      Bezos invented e-commerce to win the world fame overnight
    3. C.
      Bezos has a sharp business mind and a kind heart
    4. D.
      Bezos aimed at setting up “the Earth’s biggest bookstore”

Nearly a quarter-century after a German boy threw a message in a bottle off a ship in the Baltic Sea, he’s received an answer.
A 13-year-old Russian, Daniil Korotkikh, was walking with his parents on a beach when he saw something lying in the sand.
“I saw that bottle and it looked interesting,” Korotkikh told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “it looked like a German beer bottle and there was a message inside. ”
It said, “My name is Frank, and I’m five years old. My dad and I are traveling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you.” The letter, dated 1987, included an address in the town of Coesfeld.
The boy in the letter, Frank Uesbeck, is now 29. His parents still live at the letter’s address.
The Russian boy and the German man met each other earlier this month through an internet video link. The Russian boy said he did not believe that the bottle actually spent 24 years in the sea. He believed it had been hidden under the sand where he found it for a long time.
Uesbeck was especially happy that he was able to have a positive effect on a life of a young person far away from Germany. “It‘s really a wonderful story,” he said. “And who knows? Perhaps one day we will actually be able to arrange a meeting in person. ”

  1. 1.

    What is this passage mainly about?

    1. A.
      Traveling on a ship
    2. B.
      A beautiful beer bottle
    3. C.
      Message in a bottle
    4. D.
      Meeting an old friend
  2. 2.

    When the German boy threw the bottle into the sea, ________________

    1. A.
      he was going back home
    2. B.
      he was traveling to Denmark by ship with his dad
    3. C.
      he was walking with his parents on a beach
    4. D.
      he was already 29 years old
  3. 3.

    According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE?

    1. A.
      Korotkikh’s parents still live in the town of Coesfeld
    2. B.
      The German boy did not believe that the bottle actually spent 24 years in the sea
    3. C.
      Frank Uesbeck and Daniil Korotkikh have met each other in person
    4. D.
      Daniil Korotkikh and Frank Uesbeck have got in touch with each other
  4. 4.

    Why was Uesbeck very happy when he got the information of the 24 years’ beer bottle?

    1. A.
      Because he could have a new friend
    2. B.
      Because the two boys could surf the internet together
    3. C.
      Because he could have a positive influence on a life of a young person
    4. D.
      Because he finally got what he had lost

When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to themselves, many put friends ahead of homes, jobs, cloth and cars.
A true friendship carries-a-long history of experience that determines who we are and keeps us connected. It is a treasure we should protect. Unfortunately, the better friends you are, the more probably you’ll have disagreements. And the result can be what you don’t want an end to the relationship.
The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended First, don’t let your pride get in your way. Most of us can forgive each other when differences are brought out in the open . second, apologize when you’re wrong – even if you’ve been wronged. Over the course of a friendship, even the best people make mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the wronged person takes the lead and apologizes. When you apologize, give your friend a chance to admit that he has been wrong. Third, see things from your friend’s point of view. And finally, accept that friendships change as our needs and lifestyle change. Making friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the natural ups and downs that have an effect on all relationships . My suggestion: Consider friendship an honor and a gift , and worth the effort to treasure and nurture

  1. 1.

    What would be the best title for the text?

    1. A.
      Easy Ways to Make Friends
    2. B.
      Ups and Downs in Friendship
    3. C.
      How to Mend a Troubled Friendship
    4. D.
      How to Take the Lead in Making Friends
  2. 2.

    The “wronged person” underlined in the text refers to a person           

    1. A.
      who has been mistaken for another
    2. B.
      who has been blamed unfairly
    3. C.
      who has treated friends badly
    4. D.
      who has admitted his mistakes
  3. 3.

    According to the text a friendship can last long only if             

    1. A.
      we have much in common
    2. B.
      we know our friends’ mistakes
    3. C.
      we treat our disagreements wisely
    4. D.
      we have know one another for long
  4. 4.

    What should we do if we follow the author’s second suggestion?

    1. A.
      Stick to our own prints of view
    2. B.
      Avoid making mistakes
    3. C.
      Make an apology first
    4. D.
      Change our lifestyles

Edgar felt quite excited at the thought of his first swim of the summer. With the sun shining down so strongly, the sea was certain to be warm enough. He walked quickly along the sea-front towards the steps that led on to the sands. He smiled cheerfully at the passersby. He had just smiled and raised his hat to an elderly lady when a man with a camera caught his arm and stopped him. Edgar heard a little buzzing noise from the camera.
“Your photograph, sir, in glorious colour in just one moment if you please,” said the man in one breath. Then the buzzing stopped, and he held the photograph in his hand and was waving it to and fro. In a moment he handed it over, and Edgar saw the bright blue splash of his shirt half filling the picture.
“Seventy pence, sir,” the man said. “It’s the bargain of your holiday.”
“Seventy pence,” Edgar repeated, mildly. “For this?” He stared at the photographer.
“They’re normally eighty-five, sir, but for a single subject I make a cut-price offer. It’s the best value you’ll get in Chadwell.”
“You’ll have to make a better offer,” Edgar said. It was a good photo though, he thought, so bright and clear. His hat was held high, and he was smiling broadly at the old lady, whose arm and handbag came into a lower corner. He had had no idea that he was being snapped. He thought he was really quite a good-looking chap.
“That’s as good as any studio job that would cost you pounds,” said the cameraman. “It’s better in a way because it’s so natural. Only seventy pence, sir.”
“I’ve never paid so much for a snap in my life. It simply isn’t worth that kind of money. It’s not as if I need the thing. Look, I’ll give you twenty-five.”
“No, I can’t do that. Each of these instant colour shots costs me 50p — that’s the price of the blank frame, so you see…”
“Criminal, criminal,” Edgar broke in. “You want a profit of forty per cent. Well, not at my expense, I’m afraid. I’ll give you your 50p and that’s that.”
“Let me see, then.” The man suddenly took the photograph out of Edgar’s hand. “I can’t waste any more time with you. It’s 70p or I keep it.”
“Keep it,” Edgar said. He turned, looked out to the sea, and then walked quickly away

  1. 1.

    Why do you suppose Edgar was in Chadwell?

    1. A.
      It was his hometown
    2. B.
      He was there on holiday
    3. C.
      He was in the making of a film
    4. D.
      He was there to have his photograph taken
  2. 2.

    Edgar smiled at and raised his hat to the lady because ________

    1. A.
      he thought he recognized her
    2. B.
      he wanted the photograph to be amusing
    3. C.
      she was having her photograph taken
    4. D.
      he was feeling excited and cheerful
  3. 3.

    The photographer lowered his price to 70p because __________

    1. A.
      Edgar wanted to bargain for the photo
    2. B.
      Edgar couldn’t afford to pay the normal price
    3. C.
      Edgar was the only person in the photo
    4. D.
      there was only one copy of the photo
  4. 4.

    What did Edgar think of the photo?

    1. A.
      He thought it made him look like a criminal
    2. B.
      He liked it but thought it was too dear
    3. C.
      It annoyed him because he hadn’t expected it
    4. D.
      He thought it was a bargain at the price
  5. 5.

    We can infer from the passage that _______

    1. A.
      Edgar was an indifferent but good-looking man
    2. B.
      Edgar smiled at the photographer because he was being photographed
    3. C.
      the photographer was actually a criminal
    4. D.
      Edgar didn’t buy the snap at length

When you travel in South America, you’d better pay attention to the following three kinds of dangerous South American animals.
Piranhas(水虎鱼)
Although only a small number of piranhas are considered to be dangerous to humans, the red-bellied piranha is definitely one of those. Evidence has shown that a large group of piranhas can absolutely eat a herd of large animals crossing the river, leaving only bones. This fish lives in the freshwater streams of South America, and they can smell the blood from far away and launch attacks swiftly. It is said that they are only dangerous to humans if the water volumes are less and lower.
Anacondas(水蟒)
This South American monster of a creature often appears in the films or your nightmares!They have weighed over 230 kilograms. It is often considered to be the biggest snake in the world. You certainly don’t want to get caught alone with this snake due to its method of attacking and killing its victim. It is indeed a remarkably different brand of snake type as it regularly coils(缠绕)around all over its target, increasing the pressure until eventually its victim dies. Its jaws are powered by large muscles that produce enough power for its over 100 sharp teeth to pass through the thick skin of an crocodile. They don’t have poison. Sometimes they prefer to camouflage themselves so they look like their surroundings and swiftly draw back when humans are near.
Golden Poisonous Frogs
The golden poison frog might be the most-deadly of the South American animal, which is protected by means of poison. This very small frog, less than 55 mm in length, packs enough punch(效力)to take down a pair of African bull elephants. This apparently harmless frog has always been known to have killed people who have touched it directly. It’s also been noted that chicken and dogs have died by contacting things on which a golden poison frog had wandered! In intense colors, they normally look attractive to their targets

  1. 1.

    What can we learn about piranhas from the passage?

    1. A.
      Piranhas are the most dangerous animals
    2. B.
      Piranhas like to live in the deep seabed
    3. C.
      Piranhas may attack human beings when the water level is low
    4. D.
      Piranhas only attack human beings when they cross the river in groups
  2. 2.

    How does an anaconda kill its victim according to the passage?

    1. A.
      It often uses its poison to kill its victim
    2. B.
      It often uses its strength to kill its victim
    3. C.
      It kills its victim mainly using its powerful teeth
    4. D.
      It kills its victim with the help of other snakes
  3. 3.

    The underlined word “camouflage” in Paragraph 3 means “________”

    1. A.
      hide itself by appearing like the surroundings
    2. B.
      terrify and capture the enemy by making much noise
    3. C.
      move around to search for delicious food
    4. D.
      give off harmful gas to kill the targets
  4. 4.

    Chicken and dogs are mentioned in Paragraph 4 to show that ________

    1. A.
      no animals can survive the poison of the golden poison frog
    2. B.
      they like to wander along the path of the golden poison frog
    3. C.
      the golden poison frog likes eating them most
    4. D.
      the poison of the golden poison frog is deadly

To many web-building spiders, most of whom are nearly blind, the web is their essential window on the world: their means of communicating, capturing prey(猎物), meeting mates and protecting themselves. A web-building spider without its web is like a men cast away on an island of solid rock,totally out of touch and destined to

starve to death.
So important is the web to an orb-web spider's survival that the animal will continue to construct new webs daily even if it is being starved. For 16 days the starving spider builds completely normal webs. Then, as the animal gets scrawnier(憔悴的), it constructs a wider-meshed web using fewer strands(线). Such webs would only trap larger prey, which is more economical from the perspective of a starving spider.
The spider stores energy by recycling web protein. It simply eats its own web each evening and reuses it to produce new silk. In studies with radioactively,labeled materials, it was found that 95 percent of web protein reappears in the next day' web. Most of the energy needed for web-building is used in walking over the strands as they are laid down.
Scientists are impressed by the adaptability of the spider's highly preprogrammed brain, which is larger for its size than the brain of any other invertebrate(无脊推动物).If web-building is interrupted, or if some of the existing strands are destroyed,the spider simply goes back to see where the web is left off and then finishes building a normal web. One spider will finish building the incomplete web of another. 

  1. 1.

    Which of the following best expresses the main ideas of the passage?

    1. A.
      Secrets of Spiders' Adaptability
    2. B.
      Importance of Webs to Spiders
    3. C.
      Secrets of the Spiders' Life
    4. D.
      Spiders' Highly Preprogrammed Brain
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

    1. A.
      Most spiders will stop conducting webs when hungry
    2. B.
      One Web-building spider usually conducts one web
    3. C.
      Web-building spiders will probably die without their webs.
    4. D.
      Web-building spiders have good eyesight
  3. 3.

    A spider conducts a wider-meshed web when______.

    1. A.
      it is 16 days old
    2. B.
      it is getting weaker
    3. C.
      it has fewer wends
    4. D.
      it hunts for food
  4. 4.

    A spider's ability to finish an incomplete web proves that______.

    1. A.
      it has a highly preprogrammed brain
    2. B.
      it reuses its web protein to reproduce new silk
    3. C.
      the web is everything for a spider
    4. D.
      it is able to rebuild a destroyed web

My parents were in a huge argument, and I was really upset about it. I didn’t know who I should talk with about how I was feeling. So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at my best friend’s house. Though I knew I wouldn’t tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to getting out of the house. I was in the middle of packing up my things when suddenly the power went out in the neighborhood. Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on.
I was really disappointed because I felt that we did not have much to talk about. But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark. I went to his room and told him that I’d stay with him until the power was restored. He was quite happy and said, “Great opportunity(机会)”
“ What is ?” I asked.
“ To talk, you and I,” he said. “To hold a private little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad, and what we’re going to do with ourselves now that we’re in the situation we are in.”
“But we can’t do anything about it, Grandpa,” I said, surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same “boat” as I was.
And that’s how the most unbelievable friendship between my grandfather and me started. Sitting there in the dark, we talked about our feelings and fears of life—from how fast things change, to how they sometimes don’t change fast enough. That night, because the power went out, I found a new friend, with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains, whatever they may be.
Suddenly, the lights all came back on. “Well,” he said, “ I guess that means you’ll want to go now. I really like our talk. I hope the power will go out every few nights!”

  1. 1.

    I wished to get out of the house because ______.

    1. A.
      I was angry about my parents’ quarrel(争吵)
    2. B.
      I found nobody to share my feelings with
    3. C.
      I wanted to escape from the dark house
    4. D.
      I planned to tell my friend about my trouble
  2. 2.

    Grandpa was happy to see me because ______.

    1. A.
      he could discuss the problem with me
    2. B.
      he had not seen me for a long time
    3. C.
      he was afraid of darkness
    4. D.
      he felt quite lonely
  3. 3.

    What can be inferred from the passage?

    1. A.
      The grandchild was eager to leave
    2. B.
      They would have more chats
    3. C.
      The lights would go out again
    4. D.
      It would no longer be dark

Real-life Friends
Most people know the saying: A man's best friend is his dog; and that Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. However, dogs can’t offer advice or make you a cup of tea when you need one; and precious stones are cold comfort when you need a hug, and a shoulder to cry on.
What are Friends?
There are many ways to describe a friend. Friends are the family you can choose for yourself. Friends are a much better medication(医疗)than medication is, and people who spend time with friends are happier with their lives as they are less lonely.
A good friend will put you to bed when you’re lost consciousness. Ensure you’re not laid on your back, and remember to remove your shoes. You should be able to tell a true friend anything without being judged by them.
How do Friendships Begin?
This is an easy question. Find someone else who has similar interests with you. You now have another person to talk to about your shared interest but remember they like to talk too, so be prepared to shut up and listen once in a while. Hopefully they will have other friends and will introduce you to them, thereby expanding your circle.
Friendships which begin due to location, for example, next-door neighbors or school classmates, rarely survive transitions such as moving to other neighborhoods, schools, colleges, jobs, immigration, and so forth. Attend a school reunion and you’ll wonder what on earth you ever had in common with these people other than your age, although it is possible to have a friendship with someone you met at school. Mutually maintain it, and eventually become godparent or “uncle” to each others’ children.
How Friendships are Maintained
To have a friend you must also be a friend and be prepared to be there for them should they need you. Failure in this respect would label you a fair-weather friend and you would most probably be abandoned.
Boundaries
Like every other relationship you have in your life, there are boundaries you shouldn’t cross with your friends. One of those is money: Don’t lend to your friend and don’t ask for a loan yourself.
Friends are unpaid counselors(顾问),but phoning them at 2 am because you’re awake and would like a chat is not a good idea. Neither is phoning them at 10 am if you know they’re a shift-worker. Friends are people who need some space and quiet time. Generally, it all boils down to mutual respect and understanding.
It’s not a good plan to interrupt your friend while they’re on a date/on holiday/attending an orchestral recital/at a funeral.
Trust
Trust is the most vital element in any relationship. If you’re not trustworthy then you probably don’t deserve friends, so try to remember that you promised to see that dull film with them or applaud them at their first attempt at a karaoke or an Open Mic night. If you have promised to look after their clothes while they go for a bet, then make sure you do. You might like to carry enough cash to help them out too, as you never know when that situation might be reversed.
Don’t lie to your friend: if they know you well they’ll know you’re lying or will at least be suspicious. If you find out something that you know will hurt your friend, be tactful(圆滑). Do they need to know? Would they appreciate knowing? Can you tell their mum so she can break the news? Cowardly, yes, but mums usually have a much better way with words. Remember, if you do decide to tell them and it’s painful, they will probably need some time alone, after lashing out at(抨击)the closest thing—you. In that case, play the waiting game. Then don’t beat them up about it afterwards.
A Friend for Life
Strong friendships can last a lifetime with care and consideration. The benefits are multi-folds; you’ve got someone to share birthday cake with, and especially for single people, a pub meal or a trip to the cinema is no fun alone, is it? Plus it’s always nice to know there’s someone there for you, as you’re there for them, through the bad times as well as the good. Altogether now: Oh I get by with a little help from my friends. Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

  1. 1.

    According to the passage we can learn that good friends should be______.

    1. A.
      paid counselors
    2. B.
      money lenders
    3. C.
      good listeners
    4. D.
      next-door neighbors
  2. 2.

    The author brings in the topic by ______.

    1. A.
      giving negative examples
    2. B.
      raising a relative question
    3. C.
      describing a natural fact
    4. D.
      explaining what friends are
  3. 3.

    The underlined phrase “a fair-weather friend” in Para 6 probably refers to a friend who ______.

    1. A.
      likes only fine weather
    2. B.
      will always stand by you
    3. C.
      likes to make friends in fine weather
    4. D.
      will run away from you when you need help badly
  4. 4.

    What can be inferred from the passage?

    1. A.
      The more friends you have, the happier you will be
    2. B.
      Medication is also a better way to maintain strong friendships
    3. C.
      You may lose a friend if you are always telling lies to him or her
    4. D.
      We should only make friends with those having similar interests
  5. 5.

    From the last paragraph we can learn that the author______.

    1. A.
      doubt whether there are true friends and friendship
    2. B.
      has lost a lot of good friends without any reasons
    3. C.
      has already benefited a great deal from his friends
    4. D.
      has been tired of making friends with single people
  6. 6.

    Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      How to make friends
    2. B.
      Friends and friendship
    3. C.
      Ways to maintain friendship
    4. D.
      Boundaries of friends

Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook(小溪);Someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter — a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter —a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors(祖先) of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell

  1. 1.

    Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?

    1. A.
      Places where people lived
    2. B.
      People’s occupations
    3. C.
      Talents that people possessed
    4. D.
      People’s characters
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably _______

    1. A.
      owned or drove a cart
    2. B.
      made things with metals
    3. C.
      built houses and furniture
    4. D.
      made kitchen tools or contains
  3. 3.

    Suppose an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named _______

    1. A.
      Donald Greenwood
    2. B.
      Leonard Carter
    3. C.
      George Longstreet
    4. D.
      Beatrice Smith
  4. 4.

    The underlined word “descendants” in the last paragraph means a person’s _______

    1. A.
      later sponsors
    2. B.
      later generations
    3. C.
      friends and relatives
    4. D.
      colleagues and partners
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