When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Doctor Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd ever known. He never yelled at us for playing in his yard, but was always very kind.

When Doctor Gibbs wasn't saving lives, he was planting trees. He had some interesting theories about planting trees. He believed in the principle: "No pain, no gain". He hardly watered his new trees, which flew in the face of conventional wisdom. Once I asked why and he told me that watering plants spoiled them because it made them grow weaker. He said you had to make things tough for the trees so that only the strongest could survive. He talked about how watering trees made them develop shallow roots and how, if they were not watered, trees would grow deep roots in search of water. So, instead of watering his trees every morning, he'd beat them with a rolled-up newspaper. I asked him why he did that, and he said it was to get the tree's attention.

Doctor Gibbs died a couple of years after I left home. Every now and then, I walked by his house and looked at the trees that I'd watched him plant some twenty five years ago. They were all tall and strong.

I planted a couple of trees myself a few years ago. Two years of attending these trees meant they grew up weak. Whenever a cold wind blew, their branches trembled. Adversity(逆境) seemed to benefit Doctor Gibb's trees in ways comfort and ease never could.

Every night before I go to bed, I check on my two sons. I often pray that their lives will be easy. But lately I've been thinking that it's time to change my prayer. I know my children are going to meet with hardship. There's always a cold wind blowing somewhere. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots, so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we won't be torn apart.

1.With the trees planted, Doctor Gibbs often ________.

A. kept watering them every morning

B. beat them to make them grow deep roots

C. talked to them to get their attention

D. paid little attention to them

2.Which prayer does the author wish for his sons?

A. Have an easy life, without too much to worry about.

B. Be able to stand the rain and wind in their lives.

C. Have good luck, encountering less hardship in their life.

D. Meet people like Dr Gibbs in the future.

3.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A. Prayers for my sons B. Doctor Gibbs and his trees

C. Growing roots D. Watering trees

A recent documentary produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation has caused a stir in China and in the UK.

The documentary, titled Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School revolves (以……为主题) around five Chinese teachers who are sent to teach 50 UK teens at a school in Hampshire.

The teachers instruct the students for a month. The pupils are then tested, and the results are compared to the ones of those who have continued in the regular UK education system. The idea is to see if the Chinese method improves academic performance.

The Chinese teachers use their own teaching methods but receive strong resistance from the students. A clip from the documentary online shows some problems, with Chinese teachers calling their students lazy and lacking in discipline(纪律), while the students say the high pressure and harsh teachers are driving them crazy.

This has aroused a new debate in both China and the UK, with some arguing the teenagers need more regulation and discipline. Others say Chinese methods encourage note learning instead of independent thinking. For instance, Chinese language teachers should do more than pass on knowledge about words and characters. They should inspire students, helping them feel the sentiment from Chinese literature. This is a higher level of teaching.

Yang Dongping, dean of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, says, “The Chinese teaching methods are designed to strictly train the majority. Foreign teaching methods, however, are more natural and relaxing, and designed to inspire students' interest in learning. Education methods are based on culture. That is why a successful education method in one place may not work that well when simply 'transplanted' into another place.”

Yang Dongping says, “The documentary does reflect some problems rooted in traditional Chinese teaching methods. Nobel Prize winner, Yang Zhenning, gave a very fair comment on this issue. He said the Chinese-style education method works for most ordinary qualified students effectively, helping them reach high standards. However, it may compromise the training for high-potential outstanding students.”

1.What is the purpose of 50 UK teens' being instructed by five Chinese teachers?

A. To test the effectiveness of Chinese teaching method.

B. To help the school improve their teaching efficiency.

C. To do some practical research into the UK education system.

D. To test the intelligence of the UK teens.

2.What's the meaning of the underlined work "harsh" in the fourth paragraph?

A. Very attractive. B. Quite friendly.

C. Rather cold. D. Extremely strict.

3.According to the report, Chinese teaching methods should focus more on ________.

A. passing on knowledge B. encouraging independent thinking

C. regulation and discipline D. training the majority strictly

4.Yang Zhenning's comment implies that traditional Chinese teaching methods are ________.

A. good for Chinese students of all levels

B. helpful to students of high standards

C. good for most ordinary qualified students

D. helpful to high-potential outstanding students

Parents who help their children with homework may actually be bringing down their school grades. Other forms of parental involvement, including volunteering at school and observing a child's class, also fail to help, according to the most recent study on the topic.

The findings challenge a key principle of modern parenting where schools expect them to act as partners in their children's education. Previous generations concentrated on getting children to school on time, fed, dressed and ready to learn.

Kaith Robinson, the author of the study, said, “I really don't know if the public is ready for this but there are some ways parents can be involved in their kids' education that leads to declines in their academic performance. One of the things that was consistently negative was parents' help with homework.” Robinson suggested that may be because parents themselves struggle to understand the task. “They may either not remember the material their kids are studying now, or in some cases never learnt it themselves, but they're still offering advice.”

Robinson assessed parental involvement performance and found one of the most damaging things a parent could do was to punish their children for poor marks. In general, about 20% of parental involvement was positive, about 45% negative and the rest statistically insignificant.

Common sense suggests it was a good thing for parents to get involved because “children with good academic success do have involved parents”, admitted Robinson. But he argued that this did not prove parental involvement was the root cause of that success. “A big surprise was that Asian-American parents whose kids are doing so well in school hardly involved. They took a more reasonable approach, conveying to their children how success at school could improve their lives.”

1.The underlined expression “parental involvement” in Paragraph 1 probably means ________.

A. parents' participation in children's education

B. parents' expectation on children's health

C. parents' control over children's life

D. parents' plan for children's future

2.What is the major finding of Robinson's study?

A. Modern parents raise children in a more scientific way.

B. Punishing kids for bad marks is mentally damaging.

C. Parents are not able to help with children’s homework.

D. Parental involvement is not so beneficial as expected.

3.The example of Asian-American parents implies that parents should ________.

A. spend more time improving their own lives

B. set a specific life goal for their children

C. help children realize the importance of schooling

D. take a more active part in school management

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。

How to Love Your Parents

Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.

1.A gentle “good morning” and “I love you” will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents, we might still wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world.

Respect them more and cherish these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them for when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.2.

Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don’t get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it’s cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.3.Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.4.Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in this way or another.

Some people simply may not be able to love their parents.5.Seek help if you are being abused in any way. Parents do not have a right to harm you.

E. Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can.

F. Please remember parents are as important as friends.

G. There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example.

As the saying goes, roses given, fragrance in hand. I am always in the _______of giving money to every beggar or homeless person I pass by. My friends say it is not good to _______. We may come across beggars or homeless people begging every day and all beggars have their ability to survive. It _______ them that I never listen.

On a _________day, my friend and I were walking to the _______ when I passed a beggar lady. I had seen her several times before and had always given her a few _______. That day, I gave her 2 Euros. I was waiting for the bus and reading a book when I _______ to see that lady standing in front of me. She _______ me a piece of paper covered in a plastic bag to prevent it from getting _______. She stood there, looking at me ________. Putting away my book, I took the paper, which ________ she and her family had to ________ their country because of floods, and she was ________ to support them. She had got a bit of money, but she needed five ________ Euros to get home. I ________ in my pockets and found 20 cents. My friend ________a 5 Euro note. I asked her to give it to the lady, and said that I would ________ the next day. When she got the money, the lady hugged us and said thanks again and again, and went on her way. Later on the bus, I wondered where her home was and ________she had gotten to this country. In her story, I felt that my friend and I would always remain part of it as the ________, who helped her get home on a rainy day. But for me, helping a stranger did bring me happiness, giving me a pleasant ________.

1.A. time B. habit C. trend D. way

2.A. evaluate B. expose C. encourage D. envy

3.A. delights B. attracts C. interests D. annoys

4.A. rainy B. dry C. sunny D. cloudy

5.A. airport B. downtown C. railway station D. bus stop

6.A. cents B. suggestions C. books D. roses

7.A. turned around B. looked down C. looked up D. stood up

8.A. asked B. handed C. bargained D. begged

9.A. lost B. burnt C. wet D. dirty

10.A. eagerly B. clumsily C. cheerfully D. silly

11.A. said B. spoke C. wrote D. told

12.A. miss B. blame C. support D. leave

13.A. hesitating B. exploring C. struggling D. searching

14.A. many B. much C. another D. more

15.A. touched B. fished C. watched D. looked

16.A. took out B. gave out C. handed in D. made out

17.A. take back B. pay back C. come back D. get back

18.A. why B. how C. where D. whether

19.A. lookers-on B. passers-by C. foreigners D. strangers

20.A. situation B. spirit C. mood D. position

It was my first time visiting the United States. Before 1.(leave) for Washington D.C., I downloaded some introductions about some tourist 2.(attract) in the city. Therefore, I knew something about this city before the trip. A lot of things happened during my trip to Washington D.C.. However, what impressed me most was the International Spy Museum, 3. I visited on the 4.(three) day of the trip.

In my spare time, I often watched movies about spies with my parents because I was 5.(extreme) interested in spies. I acquired 6. good knowledge of that after I read the descriptions in the museum. I learned that spies usually 7.(hide) important letters in an umbrella, in a shoe, or even in a pair of ordinary glasses. When they thought they were probably found out, they could have their appearances 8.(change) in a few minutes. They put on fake hair, eyes or teeth. If they had an emergency, in order not to 9.(recognize), they even changed a smaller pair of shoes to change their walking styles. 10. conclusion, it was a nice trip. I had a good time in Washington D.C. and I will remember it forever.

假设你是李华，你的加拿大笔友Daniel来信向你求助。他最近和妈妈闹矛盾，因为妈妈不让他过多上网。他对此很不理解。请你给他写一封回信，要点如下：

(1)建议他向妈妈道歉；(2)说明过多上网的危害；(3)列举一些健康的休闲方式。

注意：(1)词数80左右；

(2)可适当加入细节，以使行文连贯；

(3)开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Daniel,

I’m very sorry to hear that a conflict occurred between you and your mother because of your Internet addiction.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Yours,

Li Hua

My husband hasn’t stopped laughing about a funny thing that happened to me. It is funny now but it wasn’t at that time.

Last Friday, after doing all the family shopping in town, I wanted a rest before catching the train, so I bought a newspaper and some chocolate and went to the station coffee shop—that was a cheap, self-service place with long tables to sit at. I put my heavy bag down on the floor, put the newspaper and chocolate on the table to keep a place and went to get a cup of coffee.

When I came back with the coffee, there was someone in the next seat. It was one of those wild-looking teenagers, with dark glasses and torn clothes, and hair colored bright red at the front, not so unusual these days. What did surprise me was that he had started to eat my chocolate!

Naturally, I was annoyed. However, to avoid trouble—then really I was rather uneasy about him—I just looked down at the front page of the newspaper, tasted my coffee, and took a bit of chocolate. The boy looked at me closely. Then he took another piece of my chocolate. I could hardly believe it. Still I didn’t want to start an argument. When he took a third piece, I felt more angry than annoyed. I thought, “Well, I shall have the last piece.” And I got it.

The boy gave me a strange look, and then stood up. As he left, he shouted out, “This woman is mad!” Everyone stared at me. That was really embarrassing enough, but it was worse when I finished my coffee and got ready to leave. My face went red—as red as his hair when I realized I’d made a mistake. It wasn’t my chocolate he’d been taking. There was mine, unopened, just under my newspaper.

注意：

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2. 所使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；

3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

At that time, I felt that the teenager was really annoying. _________________________________________

______________________________________________

Now I am wondering what the boy thought of me. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Best Companies

Shine United (Madison, Wisconsin)

In the past five years, this Wisconsin-based advertising agency has shared more than $500,000 in profits with its employees through the company's ShineShares program. The agency partnered with the University of Wisconsin's oncology department to develop the Ride, a biking event that benefits cancer research. Employees also get snacks every day, "Beer Thirty" on Thursdays, and Summer Fridays, a program that lets employees leave at noon.

GroundFloor Media (Denver, Colorado)

The key for workers at this midsize public relations firm in Denver is that employees work anytime, anywhere. Headquarters are in a former warehouse downtown, near Coors Field. The offices are spread around the central space that doubles as a wet bar every Thursday when the company's "bear club" brings in a new brew.

Ergodyne (St.Paul, Minnesota)

The St.Paul-based company has grown to operating out of a retired storehouse with plenty of natural light. Rules about dressing? "Wear something." Its purpose? To create cool, comfortable, and tough safety workwear for those who need it to get the job done. Ergodyne has around 50 employees, who enjoy hot dish cook-offs, tickets to sporting events, and at least one happy hour every quarter.

Southwest Michigan First (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

It's family first at this Michigan economic development advising agency. CEO Ron Kitchens says that in the past year, the company has made a push to go green, initially started by the millennial employees who make up half the agency's workforce. A new staff position was created for the purpose of making sure every employee is able to balance working and cheering at their kids' sporting events or going fishing.

1.What's the purpose of the ShineShares program?

A. To raise money for a research.

B. To let employees leave earlier.

C. To share the company's benefits.

D. To partner with a local university.

2.What does Southwest Michigan First encourage their employees to do?

A. To accompany their families.

B. To create new staff positions.

C. To join in cooking competitions.

D. To enjoy themselves in sporting events.

3.Which company allows its staff a flexible working time?

A. Shine United.

B. GroundFloor Media.

C. Southwest Michigan First.

D. Ergodyne.

4.What can we know about the companies mentioned in the text?

A. They offer employees financial support.

B. They care about employees' happiness.

C. They have strict rules about dressing.

D. They have training programs.

We can have conflicts with our important persons like friends, relatives, workmates, etc. But the conflict doesn't necessarily mean that the relationship will be destroyed. In fact, sometimes conflict helps people to let out their silent feelings, allowing them to free their suppressed emotions. However, when in a conflict, we usually get angry and say or do things which aren't linked to the problem at hand. Therefore, it is important that we should try to avoid conflicts through effective communication.

In a heated argument, we usually say things that aren't related to the real problem, and even use rude words to make sure we gain an advantage over the other persons. Then the whole situation goes badly. So we should not separate(隔离) the root cause of the problem and build our discussion around it. This ensures that there are no rude remarks and the situation moves in a positive direction.

It's easy for us to think we're right and if something isn't working out, it surely must be someone else's fault. However, if you aim to solve a conflict, first of all, you should show some respect and allow the other persons to express themselves. Using remarks like, "I understand your concern on this "or "I know you're right at your end", would make the other persons feel more appreciated.

Sometimes some people get too excited and may behave in the wrong way or say something others may not appreciate. This can cause a worse situation. Actually, they should control their emotions and keep calm. This has to be learned through self-control and observing behavior of other people.

The tips mentioned above are useful for most situations. However, we don't rule out the possibility that there are some people who always want to create some sort of trouble for others. You can tell them from others, and putting in an effort to resolve a conflict with them may just not be a wise idea. The best way to deal with these people is to forget them. A famous saying can help you and that is: "You should never fight with a pig; you both get dirty and only the pig likes it."

1.What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A. Conflicts may help us deal with our emotions.

B. Conflicts can improve our relations with others greatly.

C. Effective communication can help us avoid conflicts undoubtedly.

D. The closer two friends are, the more conflicts are between them.

2.When making discussions to solve conflicts, we should ________.

A. know others' personal quality

B. know others' ability of expression

C. avoid showing our disadvantages

D. center on the root cause of the problem

3.The author suggests that when people get too excited, they should ________.

A. behave like other people

B. control the situation

C. learn to keep their head

D. say something unconcerned

4.In the author's opinion, how should you deal with those who always want to create trouble for you?

A. Fight with them.

B. Ignore them.

C. Have a talk with them.

D. Give them something they like.