What will you be doing when you are 26 years old? Studying at university or working for a living? Take a look at what Albert Einstein was doing at the age of 26.

100 years ago, Einstein was working in Switzerland. His hobby was physics. Without much money or help, he wrote five papers(论文) for a physics magazine. Three of these greatly changed the study of physics and our understanding of space, time, light and matter(物质). His most famous work is on the Theory of Relativity(相对论). Einstein was given the Nobel Prize for his discoveries. Although he also did many other things later, the years 1905 has been called Einstein’s “Year of Wonders”. It has been 100 years since then. Because of this, the UN has named 05 the World Year of Physics.

Today, over fifty years after Einstein’s death, a question is asked,  “ Will there ever be another Einstein?” It may take a long time. After all, Einstein was born more than 200 years after Sir Isaac Newton, another great scientist. Besides, physics is a different field now, and education is different, too. Even if you can’t be the next great scientist, it is still helpful to remember some of the things that made Einstein great. He thought independently(独立地) and read widely. He left with us a formula(公式) for life: If A is a success in life, then A="X+Y+Z." X is work, Y is play, and Z is keeping your mouth shut.

1.The year 1905 is known as Einstein’s “Year of Wonders” because           .

2.Why hasn’t there been another scientist as great as Einstein?

3.The UN has named 05 the World Year of Physics because           .

4. What does Einstein’s formula for life mean?

One day, Raul was miles away from the small ranch（牧场）house in a large valley. Everything seemed to be all right，yet he felt strange and somewhat uneasy. The wind had picked up，and angry，dark clouds __1__ across the sky. He could smell the rain coming. And it did. __2__，the lightning flashed through the clouds, nearly __3__ Raul. The thunder（雷声）was so loud that he buried his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. Then he heard it. Hoofbeats（蹄声）. He __4__. There before him stood a tall, white horse. An old man stared down at him from its back.

“Wh-wh-who are y-y-you?" asked Raul. “My name is Gray Cloud,” the old man answered__5__．"Come with me.”

Raul followed on his horse. A __6__ feeling came over him. All __7__ them the rain was pouring down，__8__ not a drop fell on them. They seemed to be __9__ back toward Raul' s home. Raul lost track of time. Then all at once he found __10__ at the ranch gate. The old man turned his horse，waved his hand, and smiled. Lightning flashed again. The old man and his horse were __11__

Raul's father ran out across the yard to __12__ him. "We have been __13__ sick about you. Are you okay? Hurry. Let's get in out of the __14__．”

"Wait,” said Raul. "Have you ever heard of an old man called Gray Cloud?"

"Can't say I…wait. I believe my great-grandfather used to tell stories about a man called Gray Cloud. He died a long time ago. They say he was __15__ by lightning during a terrible thunderstorm. Why do you ask?"

1. A. dropped       B. fell               C. rolled             D. covered

2. A. Suddenly      B. Strongly           C. Quickly           D. Hardly

3. A. beating        B. blinding           C. burning            D. touching

4. A. looked up      B. woke up           C. lay down           D. sat down

5. A. lazily         B. angrily             C. coldly             D. slowly

6. A. natural        B. common            C. strange            D. bad

7. A. around        B. beside              C. through           D. above

8. A. yet           B. for                 C. so               D. or

9. A. walking       B. leading             C. heading           D. returning

10. A. them         B. themselves          C. him              D. himself

11. A. gone         B. left                C. followed          D. lost

12. A. see           B. meet               C. beat             D. ask

13. A. waited        B. thought             C. worried          D. excited

14. A. yard          B. wind               C. grass            D. rain

15. A. defeated       B. caught             C. damaged         D. struck

Generation next is usually a powerful unknown. Sometimes called Generation Y, sometimes called the Millennials (千禧代), this group of 16-to-25-year-olds live in a world of high-tech advances, increasing racial diversity and economic growth. And it is a generation expected to affect major social change.

    "This is us," said Katie Stroud,16 from South Carolina, US. "This is how we are. Take it or leave it."

    The problem is, they're proving hard to define.

    "This group is unique," said Ken Shin, a sociology professor at the University of South Carolina. "They have different values. They're more informed. They're more tolerant."

    Generation Y is expected to do great things -- to move beyond thought to action.

    "As a generation, they are the strongest and most intelligent," said Joyce Fields, a professor at Columbia College in South Carolina.

    Generation Y has grown up in a digital, instant-messaging age. DVDs, iPods and cell phones are just part of everyday life for this Interact-surfing generation.

"I feel that we're very smart," said Shawn Rumph,18, of Columbia, S.C. "Look at all the technology we have to help us learn."

    Since they have grown up in good times, for Generation Y, success and wealth are almost certain. Their attitude, therefore, shows that they're optimistic and materialistic, Fields said.

    Richard Perry, an 18-year-old University of South Carolina student, agrees that Generation Y is materialistic. "Everybody is into new stuff," he said.

    To marketers selling soda, music, clothes and computers, members of Generation Y look like human dollar signs.

    With a "buy now, pay later" mentality, this group is assaulted with Web ads and TV commercials aimed at getting them to part with their and their parents' money.

    Despite the insistence on having modem-day conveniences, in many ways Generation Y is traditional, experts say. Getting an education and having a family are important.

    Besides, some Generation Y members say they are comfortable with racial diversity and expect discrimination to disappear.

    Elizabeth Pope,16, of South Carolina, said Generation Y probably will elect the first female or minority-race president.

    In any ease, Fields is confident in Generation Y. "I think we're in good hands."

1. In this passage, how many such optimistic young people are mentioned?

A. Four         B. Five          C. Six D. Two

2. Which of the following characteristics of Generation Y is NOT mentioned by Joyce Fields?

A. the strongest                     B. more tolerant

    C. the most intelligent              D. optimistic and materialistic

3. What does it mean by "Everybody is into new stuff."?

    A. Generation Y is in the direction of wealth.

    B. Generation Y has different social values.

    C. Generation Y is during a period of being lost.

D. Generation Y is interested in new things.                   

4. According to the passage, what's the attitude of the experts towards Generation Y?

    A. suspicious     B. sympathetic    C. optimistic     D. pessimistic

5. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A. People of Generation Y are more informed and more tolerant.

    B. DVDs, iPods and cell phones are all of everyday life for Generation Y.

    C. Success and wealth are almost certain for Generation Y.

    D. In many ways people of Generation Y are traditional, though.

三，阅读理解(共15小题；每小题2分,满分30分)

阅读下列短文,从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。

During his college years, Rogers spent his summer holidays at an Idaho logging camp (伐木场). When Roy, the manager, had to leave for a few days, he put Rogers in charge. "What if the workers refuse to follow my orders?" Rogers asked. He thought of Tony, a worker who was always giving the other men a hard time. "Fire them," Roy said. Then, as if reading Rogers’ mind, he added, "I suppose you want to fire Tony if you get the chance. I’d feel bad about that. Tony is the most reliable worker I’ve ever had. I know he complains a lot, but he comes first and leaves last. There has not been an accident on the hill where he works for eight years." Rogers took over the manager’s job the next day. He went to Tony and spoke to him, "Tony, did you know that I’m in charge today?" Tony didn’t show any respect or interest. "I was going to fire you because you once gave me a hard time, but I want you to know I’m not," he told Tony, adding what Roy had said. When Rogers finished, tears streamed down Tony’s face. That day Tony worked harder than ever before —and he smiled for the first time! Rogers went back to school after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony again. He was in charge of one of the largest logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he managed to become so successful. Tony replied, "If it were not for that time you spoke to me back in Idaho, I would not be myself today. That one minute changed my whole life." Have you got one minute to appreciate someone? It can make a difference for a lifetime.

1. Which of the following statements about Tony is TRUE?

A. He didn’t care about his work.

B. He never showed respect to his co-workers.

C. Nobody liked Tony because of his bad temper.

D. He worked hard but he always complained.

2. The manager’s attitude towards Tony is _____.

A. strict      B. doubtful   C. satisfied      D. negative

3. Rogers changed his mind and didn’t fire Tony because _______.

A. Tony smiled at him

B. he learned more about Tony’s work

C. Roy didn’t give him the power to fire anyone

D. Tony didn’t give him a hard time anymore

4. What can we learn from Tony’s success?

A. It’s never too late to learn.           

B. Well begun is half done.

C. It’s necessary to work with a wise boss.

D. It’s important to recognize others’ good qualities.

I never thought I would have a life-changing experience at Wal-Mart.

Although my thoughts were only on speed, the checkout line I was standing in wasn't moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced toward the cashier.

There stood a man in his seventies, wearing glasses and a nice smile. I thought, well, he's an old guy!

For the next few minutes I watched him. He greeted every customer before scanning the items. Sure, his words were the usual, "How's it going?" But he did something different--he actually listened to people. Then he would respond to what they had said and engage them in brief conversation.

I thought it was odd. I has grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of robotic conversational habit. After a while, you don't give any thought to the question and just mumble something back. I could say, "I just found out I have six months to live," and someone would reply, "Have a great day!"

But that wasn't the end.

He gave them the change, walked around the counter, and extended his right hand in an act of friendship. He looked the customers in the eyes. "I sure want to thank you for shopping here today," he told them. "You have a great day. Bye-bye."

The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless. There were smiles and some sheepish grins. All had been touched by his simple gesture--and in a place they never expected. They would gather their things and walk out, smiling.

Of course, he did the same to me and I got to know his name--Marty.

Who was that guy? It was as if Sam Walton had come back from the dead and invaded this old guy's body.

 I had never walked away from that shop feeling like that.

1.What was most customers' reaction to Marty's behavior?

A. They thought it priceless.

B. They thought it awful and odd.

C. They felt somewhat offended.

D. They were in some way moved.

2.The checkout line the writer was standing in moved slower than expected because______

A. the cashier did more than scanning the items

B. the cashier couldn't work as fast as others

C. there were some big purchases

D. the writer was not patient enough

3.What can we infer about Sam Walton?

A. He might be Marty's father or grandfather.

B. He might have died while working in the market.

C. He might be friendly and devoted to Wal-Mart.

D. He might have come back from the dead once before.

4.According to the writer, when common people ask you "How's it going?"

A. they are just practicing their conversation ability

B. they are inquiring about your private information

C. they don't expect to hear any negative answers

D. they don't really care what you may answer

5.What does the writer intend to express through the text?

A. Our everyday life is always full of surprises.

B. Being different is a good way of doing business.

C. A little positive action can make a big difference.

D. Most customers enjoy being treated this way.