A Leap（跳跃）to Honor

Leaping on a narrow balance beam(平衡木) is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.

To perfect her skills, Lola ________ for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls. That’s especially impressive, ________ she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift (转移) constantly. She often sees double and can’t ________ how far away things are.

When she was little, her mom _________ that even though she couldn’t see _________, she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the ______ right away and gymnastics became her favorite.

Though learning gymnastics has been more ______for her than for some of her tournaments(锦标赛), she has never quit(放弃). She doesn’t let her ______ stop her from doing anything that she wants to. She likes the determination(决心) it takes to do the sport. Her biggest ______is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to ______your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go,” says Lola.

To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most ______ for anyone because it’s only four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t ______ the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10 — her highest score yet.

Lola doesn’t want to be ______ differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision ________. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her ______ attitude.

Lola never thinks about______. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her______ is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to _________ what she’s learned to other kids when she grew up.

Lola is______of all her hard work and success. She says it has helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her ______ for others is “just believe yourself ”.

1.A. runs B. teaches C. trains D. dances

2.A. since B. unless C. after D. though

3.A. tell B. guess C. fancy D. predict

4.A. doubted B. remembered C. imagined D. noticed

5.A. deeply B. well C. ahead D. carefully

6.A. task B. sport C. event D. show

7.A. boring B. enjoyable C. difficult D. unsatisfying

8.A. talent B. quality C. nature D. condition

9.A. doubt B. advantage C. challenge D. program

10.A. examine B. express C. open D. trust

11.A. fearful B. harmful C. unfair D. inconvenient

12.A. fall down B. fall over C. fall off D. fall behind

13.A. greeted B. treated C. served D. paid

14.A. pains B. stresses C. injuries D. problems

15.A. positive B. friendly C. selfless D. devoted

16.A. defending B. quitting C. winning D. bargaining

17.A. standard B. range C. view D. goal

18.A. go through B. pass by C. hand down D. give out

19.A. proud B. tired C. ashamed D. confident

20.A. plan B. advice C. reward D. responsibility

Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has good heart, but always feared applying for a new job.

One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to the interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of the car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, “Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It’s the least I could do. Please. I insist.” Jimmy agreed.

Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applications waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease(油腻物) on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer’s office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, “Do you really need to be interviewed?” Jimmy’s heart sank. “With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?” he thought to himself.

Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy’s surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company.

“Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you’d be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!” Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job.

1.Why did Jimmy apply for a new job?

A. He wanted a higher position

B. He was bored with his job

C. He was out of work

D. He hoped to find a better boss

2.What did Jimmy see on the way to the interview?

A. An old man’s car broke down

B. A wild man was pushing a car

C. A terrible accident happened

D. A friend’s car had a flat tyre

3.Why did the old man offer Jimmy a ride?

A. He was thankful to Jimmy

B. He needed a traveling companion

C. He always helped people in need

D. He was also to be interviewed

4.How did Jimmy feel on hearing the interviewer’s question?

A. He was sorry for the other applicants

B. The interviewer was very rude

C. He regretted helping the old man

D. There was no hope for him to get the job

In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell secondhand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments(装饰物) and household goods, sometimes even in clothes．

The furniture may often be “antique”(古董), and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salesroom, where one piece might well be so1d for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long dead hands which polished that wood, of those now—closed eyes which once 1ooked at these pieces with love.

The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well. Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town’s main trade.

There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death.

Although the British do not worship their ancestors(祖先), they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down. They are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted.

1.What is the small town on the border between England and Wales famous for?

A. Its sheep. B. Its bookshops. C. Its cinema. D. Its castle

2.Secondhand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because _______.

A. they are too expensive for average buyers

B. they remind you of the original owner

C. they are now neglected

D. they are sold for charity

3.What does the underlined word “them” (Paragraph 4) refer to _____?

A. Junk shops B. Profits from shops

C. Small household pieces D. Old houses

What’s on?

Electric Underground 7.30pm－1.00am Free at the Cyclops Theatre

Do you know who’s playing in your area? We’re bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract(合同)? If so, come early to the talk at 7.30pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer.

He’s going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce you music.

Gee Whizz 8.30pm-10.30pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope

Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He’s the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7.00pm for drinks and snacks(快餐).

Simon’s Workshop 5.00pm-7.30pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage

This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years’ experience of teaching comedy(喜剧). His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.

Charlotte Stone 8. 00pm-11.00pm Pizza World

Fine food with beautiful jazz music; this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta(面食). Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.

1.Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?

A. Jules Skye. B. Gee Whizz. C. Charlotte Stone. D. James Pickering.

2.At which place can people of different ages enjoy a good laugh?

A. The Cyclops Theatre B. Kaleidoscope C. Victoria Stage D. Pizza World

3.What do we know about Simon’s Workshop?

A. It requires membership status. B. It lasts three hours each time.

C. It is run by a comedy club. D. It is held every Wednesday.

4.When will Charlotte Stone perform her songs?

A. 5.00pm-7.30pm. B. 7.30pm－1.00am.

C. 8.00pm-11.00pm. D. 8.30pm-10.30pm.

Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.

In the early 16th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, king of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out.

Though the belief in the merit(优点) of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War II. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea: clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far?

Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children off touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease. On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist(免疫学家), encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground.

1.The kings of France and England in the 16th century closed bath houses because .

A. they lived healthily in a dirty environment

B. they thought bath houses were too dirty to stay in

C. they considered bathing as cause of skin disease

D. They believed disease could be spread in public baths

2.Which of the following best describes Henry IV’s attitude to bathing?

A. Curious B. Afraid C. Approving D. Uninterested

3.How does the passage mainly develop?

A. By following the order of time. B. By making comparison.

C. By providing examples D. By following the order of importance.

4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passages?

A. To call attention to the danger of dirt.

B. To introduce the history of dirt.

C. To present the change of views on dirt.

D. To stress the role of dirt.

篇章结构（根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。）（共5小题，每小题2分，满分10分）

Rules on how to be a fit kid

Being fit is a way of saying a person; a person eats well, gets a lot of physical exercise, and has a healthy weight. 1. . If you're a kid who wants to be fit, here are three rules to live by.

(1) Eat a variety of foods.

You may have a favorite food, but the best choice is to eat a variety. 2. . Taste new foods and old ones you haven’t tried for a while. Some foods, such as green vegetables, are more pleasing the older you get. Shoot for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day—two fruits and three vegetables.

(2) 3.

What does it feel like to be full? When you’re eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full. Sometimes, people eat too much because they don’t notice when they need to stop eating. 4.. And over a period of time, overeating can lead to unhealthy weight gain.

(3)Limit screen time

What’s screen time? It’s the amount of time you spend watching TV or DVD5, playing video games, and using the computer. The more time you spend on these sitting-down activities, the less time available for active stuff, like basketball, bike ridin g and swimming. 5.

These rules aren’t magic. However, follow them most of the time and you can become a fit kid sooner or later.

A. Drink water and milk.

B. Try to spend no more than 2 hours a day on screen time.

C. Eating too much can make you feel uncomfortable.

D. If you eat different foods, you’re more likely to get the nutrients your body needs.

E. Listen to your body.

F. Ask your parents to help you do your favorite activities regularly.

G. There’re a lot of discussions these days about fit kids.

I’ve been ______(diet) since the birth of child.

It is _____(稀少的)for us to see such a sight.

I am _________(急切地)waiting for your reply.

Can you think of any English proverbs________(connection) with health?