On a cold winter day in Denver, I waited in line to see my hero, Jack Canfield, the co-author of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and the author of The Success Principles. What Jack had become was a version of what I wanted to be.

During his talk, Jack took out his wallet, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and said, “Who wants this?”

Hands shot up in the audience; people leaned forward to see whom Jack would choose. But I ran up the stairs to the stage and grabbed the bill from his hand. He turned to me and said, “Yes, that’s it! Instead of waiting around for opportunities, simply take the initiative and create what we want!”

After this week, I asked for his personal e-mail address and sent him e-mail sharing my views and dreams. He kindly e-mailed back simple encouragement such as “Keep thinking and playing bigger; it’s much more fun that way. Love, Jack.” Then I got occupied with other things in life and I stopped e-mail Jack.

A year later, my dream gradually faded. I had this idea if I got back in touch with Jack. I e-mailed him again and again but got no response. As I sat down at my computer to check my e-mail for the fifth time in 15 minutes, an inspiration came like lighting: What was I doing? Was I waiting for the prize of life? I knew I needed to do something about all this waiting. I was going to write a book, which I would call “Waiting for Jack”!

It all sounded good, but then reality hit. Some nights I cried and wanted to give up. I wrote and rewrote. Even though I could feel the fear, I did it anyway. Fortunately, three years later, Waiting for Jack turns out a best-seller on Amazon!

We all have a “Jack” for whom we wait—whether it’s a person, a place or a thing. Now I would like to ask you: what are you waiting for?

1.From the first paragraph we can learn that the author _________.

A. wanted Jack to autograph her book

B. wanted to be as successful as Jack

C. wanted to make friends with Jack

D. wanted to get help from Jack

2.It can be inferred from the passage that Jack Canfield is probably a person who ________.

A. enjoys playing a lot

B. likes showing off his wealth

C. seldom takes risks

D. welcomes challenges in life

3.How did the author lose contact with Jack?

A. She and Jack had an argument.

B. She had no time to contact Jack.

C. Jack was too proud to get along with.

D. She was too upset with her broken dream.

4.What might be the theme of the book Waiting for Jack?

A. The disappointment of waiting for her hero Jack.

B. The need to keep waiting for the prize of our life.

C. The importance of taking action to achieve a goal.

D. The harm of blindly worshipping others as heroes.

Our room was on the second floor but you could still hear the roar of the ocean and see the stars at night. I used to take long walks along the water. The food in town was wonderful and the people were very friendly. The area was very quiet and peaceful, and fairly deserted.

The last evening of our vacation, however, we all heard strange footsteps following closely behind us as we were walking up to our room in the holiday centre. We turned around and noticed a fairly young man moving very rapidly across the beach and getting closer to us. He was tall and wore a baseball cap. We couldn’t see his face and he was approaching us very rapidly. The man’s actions made my dad very nervous. Dad warned us that we’d better try to make it to our hotel room as quickly as possible. I didn’t like my dad’s voice; I could hear fear in it. It was late and we were all alone. We didn’t have any cell phones on us. I never saw Dad as worried as he was then and I knew that something was terribly wrong. The sense of fear started to overwhelm Mom and me. We had had such a good time in town. Now, the night was rapidly turning into a dangerous situation.

We could hear the man’s footsteps getting closer. Dad’s face was almost pale. The so-called intruder (侵入者) had moved nearer and nearer when all of a sudden, the nearby vending(自动贩卖) machine started going crazy and spitting out cans of soda! The noise actually scared the intruder and he ran out of sight. My parents were shaking, but we all turned around to see who had put money into the vending machine downstairs, and actually saved us, but no one was around at all. Not a soul.

It’s one vacation I will never forget.

1.Where did the author spend her vacation?

A. Near a lake.B. At the seaside.

C. In a village.D. In a mountain.

2.What happened on the last evening of their vacation?

A. They were followed by a stranger.

B. Their cell phones were missing.

C. Their money was stolen.

D. They lost their way.

3.The underlined word “overwhelm” in Paragraph 2 means ________.

A. controlB. moveC. exciteD. impress

4.What helped them get out of the trouble?

A. Their quick action.

B. Other people’s kind help.

C. The young man’s warning.

D. The noise from the vending machine.

For as long as they can remember Jynne Martin and April Surgent had both dreamed of going to Antarctica. This winter, they each made it to the icy continent as guests of the National Science Foundation (NSF). But they didn’t go as scientists. Martin is a poet and Surgent is an artist. They went to Antarctica as participants in the NSF’s Artists and Writers program. The NSF is the government agency that funds scientific research in Antarctica. But it also makes it possible for artists, including filmmakers and musicians, to experience Antarctica and contribute their own points of view to our understanding of the continent.

The mixing of science and art in Antarctica isn’t new. Some of the earliest explorers brought along painters and photographers. Edward Wilson was a British painter, doctor, and bird expert who journeyed with Robert Falcon Scott on two separate Antarctic expeditions more than 100 years ago. Herbert Ponting was a photographer who also accompanied Scott on one of those expeditions. In hundreds of photos, Ponting captured the beauty of the continent and recorded the daily lives and heroic struggles of the explorers.

Today’s scientists write articles for scientific journals. Unlike the early explorers’ journals, scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand. Writers in Antarctica work to explain the research to the public. Peter Rejcek is editor, writer, and photographer for the Antarctic Sun, an online magazine devoted to news about the U.S. Antarctic Program. Rejeck began his career in the Antarctic in 2003 by spending a year at the South Pole. He has returned every year since,interviewing,scientists about research at Palmer,McMurdo,and South Pole stations.

There are also scientists in Antarctica who work hard to explain their research to the public. Scientist Diane McKnight wrote The Lost Seal,a children’s book that explains the research she and others are doing in an unusual ice-free area in Antarctica called the Dry Valleys.

Antarctica is full of stories and wonders that are scientific, historic and personal. People such as Martin, Surgent, Rejcek, and Diane McKnight are devoted to bringing those stories to as many people as they can. “Some people are going to be scientists,some people are going to be journalists,some people are going to be artists,but we can all work together.” says Surgent, “to celebrate,this extraordinary place.”

1.What do we know about the NSF?

A. It is a government agency.

B. It only funds scientists in Antarctica.

C. It encourages the understanding of human nature.

D. It enables the mixing of science and art for the first time.

2.Why didn’t some earliest explorers bring writers along?

A. Writers were not funded at that time.

B. Writing can’t capture the beauty of the continent.

C. Writers were not interested in popularizing science.

D. Early explorers ’journals can be easily understood by the public.

3.By mentioning Diane McKnight, the author may try to suggest that ________.

A. scientists should explain their research to children

B. writers are not necessary since scientists can tell stories as well

C. telling stories to children is more important than knowing the truth

D. no matter what role we play, we can work together to appreciate Antarctica

4.What would be the best title for this article?

A. Antarctica: A Land for All

B. The NSF: A Program for All

C. Antarctica: A Land of Beauty and Stories

D. The NSF: A Program for Artists and Scientists

Being Left-handed in a Right-handed World

The world is designed for right-handed people, but why does a tenth of the population prefer the left? 1.

The answer to it remains a bit of a mystery. Since scientists have noticed that left-handedness tends to run in families, it’s assumed that left-handedness has a genetic(基因的) component to it. 2. In fact, identical twins, who share the same genes, can sometimes prefer to use different hands. There are also plenty of theories on what else might determine which hand you write with, but many experts believe that it’s kind of random.

Historically, the left side and left-handedness have been considered a negative thing by many cultures. 3. In some areas, the left hand became known as the “unclean” hand. In many religions, the right hand of God is the favored hand. For example, Jesus sits at God’s right side. God’s left hand, however, is the hand of judgement. Various activities and experiences become rude or even signs of bad luck when the left hand becomes involved. In some parts of Scotland, it is considered bad luck to meet a left-handed person at the start of a journey. 4.A person giving directions will put their left hand behind them and even physically try to point with their right hand if necessary. In some Asian countries, eating with the left hand is considered impolite.

5.People come to realize that left-handedness is natural. People even noticed that many famous people are left-handed, including Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Charlie Chaplin. Some researchers find out that lefties are more creative and can deal with abstract thinking better. The left-handedness is more easily adaptable to the right-handed world as well. Being left-handed is no longer a sad story now; instead, it is a wonderful gift or maybe it is something you should take pride in.

A.In other words, left-handers are born that way.

B.Left-handedness used to be regarded as a disability.

C.The unfavorable associations of the use of the left hand among cultures are varied.

D.Why do they prefer to use their left hand rather than their right hand for ro-utine activities?

E. Why do some parents force their left-handed children to become right-handed when writing?

F. In Ghana, pointing, gesturing, giving or receiving items with the left hand is considered rude.

G. Fortunately, nowadays most societies and cultures no longer reject left-handedness like before.

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、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。

Elaine was a saleswoman,who drove all over the city five days a week.When all the freeway lanes were at a dead stop, she would drive quickly along the emergency lane.While driving she usually ________ on her cell phone. Drinking a soda or eating a sandwich—her hands, legs, and mouth were always ________ while she was driving.

Last night she got ________ in Friday evening rush hour. She was going to be ________ for her date. She was already ________ when things seemed to be getting worse and all the traffic stopped. Elaine drove ________ over to the emergency lane.Soon she saw the red flashing lights in the mirror. She had to ________ her car. A good-looking officer walked up.“Officer, I’m pregnant.I have constant morning sickness.I’m just trying to get to the nearest store to buy my ________” She looked at the officer with ________ eyes.

He looked at her pitifully, then said ________.“Okay,ma'am. Take the first exit you come to.I hope you'll be feeling better.”

The officer walked back to his car and Elaine drove on. This was the second time that ________ had worked for her.She had one more thing to do before she got home. She had to mail a package.When she got to the shopping mall at 7 pm,no parking was ________,except for the handicapped(残疾人的) space. Elaine drove right into it.It would only be a minute,and she told ________.All she had to do was ________ the mailbox store,get the package ________,and pay the clerk.

Fortunately, there was no ________ in the store.Everything was done so ________ that she was whistling while she walked back out to her car.Then she stopped ________.There was an envelope on the windshield.She opened it slowly.She knew ________ it was,but not how much it was.She screamed when she saw the ________.A dog started barking.

1.A.dependedB.carriedC.talkedD.sold

2.A.fullB.openC.freeD.busy

3.A.hurtB.stuckC.annoyedD.punished

4.A.lateB.readyC.excitedD.mad

5.A.satisfiedB.angryC.exhaustedD.calm

6.A.unwillinglyB.immediatelyC.guiltilyD.gratefully

7.A.stopB.startC.discardD.speed

8.A.gasB.ticketC.medicineD.package

9.A.proudB.aggressiveC.addictedD.innocent

10.A.softlyB.rudelyC.strictlyD.skeptically

11.A.officerB.excuseC.driverD.mistake

12.A.adoptableB.adaptableC.acceptableD.available

13.A.the clerkB.the guardC.the workerD.herself

14.A.take outB.get outC.run intoD.push into

15.A.weighedB.boughtC.repairedD.paid

16.A.carB.lineC.policeD.service

17.A.quicklyB.slowlyC.strangelyD.quietly

18.A.talkingB.drivingC.thinkingD.whistling

19.A.howB.whyC.whatD.that

20.A.letterB.orderC.amountD.invitation

Join in the holiday fun at the Powerhouse this month linked to our new exhibition. Evolution & Revolution: Chinese dress 1700s to now. DON’T FROGET our other special event, the Club Med Circus School which is part of the Circus (马戏团)! 150 years of circus in Australia exhibition experience!

Chinese Folk Dancing: Colorful Chinese dance and musical performances by The Chinese Folk Dancing School of Sydney. Dances include:the Golden stick dance and the Chinese drum dance. A feature will be the Qin dynasty Emperor’s court dance. Also included is a show of face painting for Beijing opera performance.

Sunday 29 June and Wednesday 2 July in the Turbine Hall, at 11.30 am & 1.30 pm.

Australia Chinese Children’s Arts Theater: Well-known children’s play experts from Shanghai lead this dynamic youth group. Performances include Chinese fairy tales and plays.

Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 July in Turbine Hall, at 11.30 am & 1.30 pm.

Chinese Youth League: A traditional performing arts group featuring performance highlights such as the Red scarf and Spring flower dances, and a musician playing Er Hu.

Sunday 6 to Tuesday 8 July in the Turbine Hall, 11.30 am to 1.30pm.

Kids Activity: Make a Paper Horse: Young children make a paper horse cut-out. (The horse is a frequent theme in Chinese painting, including a kind of advancement.) suitable for ages 8-12 years.

Saturday 28 June to Tuesday 8 July in the Turbine Hall, 12.30 pm to 1.00pm.

Club Med Circus School: Learn circus skills, including the trapeze, trampolining and magic. Note only for children over 5. There are 40 places available in each 1 hour session and these must be booked at the front desk, level 4, on the day.

Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 July at 11.30 am & 1.00 pm.

Enjoy unlimited free visits and many other benefits by becoming a family member of the Powerhouse. Our family memberships cover two adults and all children under the age of 16 years at the one address.

Members receive Powerline, our monthly magazine, discounts in the shops and the restaurants, as well as free admission to the Museum. All this for as little as $50.00 a year! Call (02)9217 0600 for more details.

1.When can you watch the Chinese drum dance?

A. On July 2.B. On July 3.C. On July 6.D. On July 8.

2.To learn the magic tricks, you can go to ________.

A. Kids Activity

B. Chinese Youth League

C. Club Med Circus School

D. Children’s Arts Theatre

3.What is required if you want to enjoy free visits to the Museum?

A. Calling (02) 9217 0600.

B. Gaining family membership.

C. Coming for the holiday fun.

D. Paying Powerline $50.00 a year.

4.What is the main purpose of the text?

A. To attract visitors.

B. To present schedules.

C. To report the performances.

D. To teach kids Chinese arts.

I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

Kate and I stayed roommates for rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1.What made Kate so angry one evening?

A. She couldn’t find her books.

B. She heard the author shouting loud.

C. She got the news that her grandma was ill.

D. She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed.

2.The author tidied up the room most probably because ________.

A. She was scared by Kate’s anger

B. She hated herself for being so messy

C. She wanted to show her care

D. She was asked by Kate to do so

3.What might be the best title for the story?

A. My Friend KateB. Hard Work Pays Off

C. How To Be OrganizedD. Learning To Be Roommates

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