A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves --- the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.

We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.

This “self-talk” helps us motivate ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”

Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clear will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh（刻薄的）and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.

Words possess power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.

Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem（自尊）and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.

60．The main idea of the first paragraph is that______.

A. words have a lasting effect on us　 B. inspiring words give us confidence

C. negative words may let us down　 D. not sticks and stones but words will hurt us

61．There is no sense for us to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because _____.

　　　 A. almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves

　　　 B. talking to ourselves always gives us courage

　　　 C. we can benefit from talking to ourselves

　　　 D. it does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone

62．The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also timely ______.

　　 A. remind ourselves　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. praise ourselves

　　　 C. make ourselves relaxed　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. give ourselves amusement

63．The author would probably hold the view that ______.

　　　 A. encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers

　　　 B. negative words may stimulate us to make more progress

　　　 C. people tend to remember friendly words

　　　 D. it is better to think twice before talking to others

A．Set a good example to others

B．Have a sense of teamwork

C．Remember your goal

D．Be responsible for the team

E．Be a quick thinker

F．Have a great inner strengt

61.

      Wanting to know what makes a good leader is already the first step to achieving your goal.However，there is always room for improvement.A leader might be the head of the organization or team，but he or she cannot function well without teamwork.Unfortunately，a lot of leaders let their positions get into their heads.They move without discussing with the rest of the team.What makes a good leader is a sense of teamwork.Although you might be the one calling the shots，you can’t completely ignore the people you’re responsible for.

62.

Quick thinking is a necessary leadership skill.Most of the time，this is what saves the day.A good leader must know how to act swiftly and must encourage quick thinking among his or her people.The success of a group has a lot to do with both the leader and the team.It’s never just about one person only.As long as you remember what your goal is，you’ll be alright.And these additional tips on what makes a good leader will help you become a better person.

63.

Another important factor of what makes a good leader is strength.Whether it’s strength in making a decision or strength in facing challenges，a good leader knows not to show weakness.A good leader doesn’t cower (退缩) from the enemy.He or she doesn’t fear challenges or difficulties；but instead，he or she deals with them head­on.

64.

A good leader sets a good example for his or her subordinates (下级)．If you’re very particular about tardiness (缓慢)，then you have to make sure that you’re always on time.If you have strong feelings against cheating，then you yourself should not be tempted to cheat.Set a good example for the people in your team.Actions speak louder than words.

65.

A good leader takes responsibility.He or she doesn’t try to figure out a way to ignore the mess that might have been created.Instead，a good leader faces the problems and difficult situations and deals with them as they come.Being responsible also means avoiding disaster and making the right decisions.Keep in mind that you’re responsible for the rest of your team.

Last summer I went through a training program and became a literacy volunteer (扫盲志愿者). The training I received, though excellent, did not tell me how it was to work with a real student, however. When I began to discover what other people's lives were like because they could not read, I realize the true importance reading.

    My first student Marie was a 44-year old single mother of three. In the first lesson, I found out she walked two miles to nearest supermarket twice a week because she didn't know which bus to take. When I told her I would get her a bus schedule (时刻表) , she told me it would not help because she could not read it. She said she also had difficulty once she got to the supermarket because she couldn't always remember what she needed. Since she did not know words, she could not write out a shopping list. Also, she could only recognize items by sight, so if the product had a different label (标识), she would not recognize it as the product she wanted.

    As we worked together, learning how to read built Marie's self-confidence (自信心), which encouraged her to continue in her studies. She began to make rapid progress and was even able to take the bus to the super-market. After this successful trip, she reported how self-confident she felt. At the end of the program, she began helping her youngest son, Tony, a shy first grader, with his reading. She sat with him before he went to sleep and together they would read bedtime stories. When his eyes became wide with excitement as she read, pride was written all over her face, and she began to see how her own hard work in learning to read paid off. As she described this experience, I was proud of myself as well. I found that helping Marie to build her self-confidence was more rewarding than anything I had ever done before.

    As a literacy volunteer, I learned a great deal about teaching and helping others. In fact, I may have learned more from the experience than Marie did.

1．What did the author do last summer?

    A. She worked in the supermarket.

    B. She helped someone to learn to read.

    C. She gave single mothers the help they needed.

    D. She went to a training program to help a literacy volunteer

2．Why didn't Marie go to the supermarket by bus at first?

    A. Because she liked to walk to the supermarket.

    B. Because she lived far away from the bus stop.

    C. Because she couldn't afford the bus ticket.

    D. Because she couldn't find the right bus.

3．How did Marie use to find the goods she wanted in the supermarket?

    A. She knew where the goods were in the supermarket.

    B. She asked others to take her to the right place.

    C. She managed to find the goods by their looks.

    D. She remembered the names of the goods.

4．Which of the following statements is true about Marie?

    A. Marie could do things she had not been able to do before.

    B. Marie was able to read stories with the help of her son.

    C. Marie decided to continue her studies in school.

    D. Marie paid for her own lessons.

阅读理解

Last summer I went through a training program and became a literacy volunteer (扫盲志愿者). The training I received, though excellent, did not tell me how it was to work with a real student, however. When I began to discover what other people's lives were like because they could not read, I realize the true importance reading.

    My first student Marie was a 44-year old single mother of three. In the first lesson, I found out she walked two miles to nearest supermarket twice a week because she didn't know which bus to take. When I told her I would get her a bus schedule (时刻表) , she told me it would not help because she could not read it. She said she also had difficulty once she got to the supermarket because she couldn't always remember what she needed. Since she did not know words, she could not write out a shopping list. Also, she could only recognize items by sight, so if the product had a different label (标识), she would not recognize it as the product she wanted.

    As we worked together, learning how to read built Marie's self-confidence (自信心), which encouraged her to continue in her studies. She began to make rapid progress and was even able to take the bus to the super-market. After this successful trip, she reported how self-confident she felt. At the end of the program, she began helping her youngest son, Tony, a shy first grader, with his reading. She sat with him before he went to sleep and together they would read bedtime stories. When his eyes became wide with excitement as she read, pride was written all over her face, and she began to see how her own hard work in learning to read paid off. As she described this experience, I was proud of myself as well. I found that helping Marie to build her self-confidence was more rewarding than anything I had ever done before.

    As a literacy volunteer, I learned a great deal about teaching and helping others. In fact, I may have learned more from the experience than Marie did.

1．What did the author do last summer?

    A. She worked in the supermarket.

    B. She helped someone to learn to read.

    C. She gave single mothers the help they needed.

    D. She went to a training program to help a literacy volunteer

2．Why didn't Marie go to the supermarket by bus at first?

    A. Because she liked to walk to the supermarket.

    B. Because she lived far away from the bus stop.

    C. Because she couldn't afford the bus ticket.

    D. Because she couldn't find the right bus.

3．How did Marie use to find the goods she wanted in the supermarket?

    A. She knew where the goods were in the supermarket.

    B. She asked others to take her to the right place.

    C. She managed to find the goods by their looks.

    D. She remembered the names of the goods.

4．Which of the following statements is true about Marie?

    A. Marie could do things she had not been able to do before.

    B. Marie was able to read stories with the help of her son.

    C. Marie decided to continue her studies in school.

    D. Marie paid for her own lessons.

A．Join local club to get some advice

B．Take a partner along

C．A good way for hiking

D．Let somebody know your detailed plan

E．Take along some basic equipment

F．Take along enough water and foo

61.

If you are hiking through wild places，the possibility of getting lost or injured becomes very real.You should think about carefully whether or not you are wise to head out on your own.Taking a partner along can have many advantages，especially if that partner is an experienced hiker.As  “two heads are better than one”，if you do get lost or run into difficulty，you’re much less likely to be panic if you have somebody with you to help solve the problem or even save your life.

62.

As a new hiker you should certainly follow clearly marked and well travelled routes.However，it won’t take you too long before you’re ready to take some more adventurous hiking and，at that point，there might be a lot of unknowns and you may need some help.For this reason you should always tell somebody where you’re going and when you will expect to return.

63.

It’s a good idea to always carry a basic survival kit (救生包) with you and your local hiking club will be able to give you excellent advice on the kinds of items you should take with you.The things we’re talking about here might include matches and a lighter，a first aid kit，a sharp knife and a flashlight.It’s also a good idea to have a map and compass with you and a fully­charged cell phone.

64.

      Water is clearly necessary because you may dehydrate (脱水) even over a short period of time on a hot day.Natural water sources may look clean but they can make you sick quickly.You  should remember，however，that water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon，so take enough but not too much.Also take along enough food with you.

65.

It’s all too easy when you get out into the wilderness  to  get  carried  away，with  your  own enthusiasm (热情) and try all kinds of things，but you will quickly realize it is stupid.Joining your local hiking club will allow you to get some advice and information on hiking，including such things as which are the best hiking boots to buy.