Most people hate change, which is sad since we often go through intense changes in life. And for some of us, even the smallest changes can upset our day. So the question is: Why do most of us find making adjustments to our lives so hard?
Fear of change is nothing new. Over a century ago, the Parisians were unhappy over a particular addition to their city: the Eiffel Tower. In fact, the citizens were so angry about the plans for the tower that they protested its construction. As strange as it may seem, their anger was completely natural. They were given no choice about the huge change that was going to be made, so they became angry.
But we get upset over changes even when we do have a say in the matter and think about them carefully. Changes are brought about every day by the decisions we make: which school to attend, which job to take, whom to marry. Voluntary changes also make most of us uneasy because we don’t know how those changes will affect our future.
People have discovered that the key to overcoming the fear and anger associated with change is to be flexible(可弯曲的). When they are flexible, people can adapt to new situations more easily. Being flexible is especially important in the 21st century as technology makes change occur faster than ever before. Those who oppose change, especially with technology in the workplace, may find themselves out of a job.
When change comes, and you have no choice but to face it, embrace it. A positive attitude helps a lot. In fact, the change may turn out to be the best thing for you. That new job you got may end up being much better than your old one. You may make the best friends of your life in the new city you moved to. Don’t merely focus on how you feel about change; instead decide to accept the change. The change is the reality, and it’s up to you whether the change will be a success or a failure. You never know – your next change may be your life’s Eiffel Tower!
【小题1】Why did the building of the Eiffel Tower make the Parisians unhappy?

【小题1】It took me a few weeks to get used to my new __________. (surround)
【小题2】It was their first meeting and Richard was determined to make an __________. (impress)
【小题3】We will surely take this matter into__________at tomorrow’s meeting.(consider)
【小题4】After a long journey, the children were all e__________(精疲力竭的).
【小题5】The audience was carried away by his i_________ (鼓舞人心的)speech.
【小题6】She ___________(测量，打量) the stranger with her eyes.
【小题7】John seemed __________ (感到困惑的)about what the question meant.
【小题8】There is too much ___________ (暴力) on TV.
【小题9】Mr. Li is devoted to his work and he is a  __________ (值得尊敬的) teacher.
【小题10】A truck went out of control and c_______ (碰撞) into the back of a bus.

In England three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop. They studied the information on the post sign and decided which bus to take. About five minutes later the bus they wanted came along. They prepared to get on. Suddenly people rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted insulting remarks about the foreigners. The bus conductor   came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus so that the first person who arrived at a bus-stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to ensure a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your hosts. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man apparently（显然地）shaking his head at another and assume (认为) that he is disagreeing. But in many parts of India a rotating (旋转) movement of the head is a gesture that express agreement or acceptance. Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty. In that country you shake your head to express “yes” — a nod means “no”.
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when sitting talking to someone, even at an important meeting. Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand, however, could cause offence (冒犯). It is considered too informal an attitude for such an occasion. Also when in Thailand avoid touching the head of an adult — it’s just not done.
Attitudes to women vary considerably（相当地）around the world. In Japan, for example, it is quite usual for men to plan evening entertainments for themselves and leave their wives at home.
Knowing about customs and attitudes is useful when you are travelling, but you also need to know the language used to express different degrees of formality (礼节).
【小题1】The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed because __________________.

American author Mark Twain once noted that “life would be surely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.” Twain’s words were only one of many complaints about aging. The ancient Greek poet Homer called old age “hateful”, and William Shakespeare termed it “terrible winter”.
Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world before he died around 323 B.C., may have been looking for a river that healed the ravages of age. During the 12^th century A.D., a king called Prester John ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth.
But the name linked most closely to the search for a fountain of youth is 16^th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. He thought it would be found in Florida. In St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., there’s a tourist attraction. It is said to be the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon discovered soon after he arrived in what is now Florida in 1513. However, elderly visitors who drink the spring’s water don’t turn into teenagers.
But the tale of the search for a fountain of youth is so appealing(有吸引力的) that it survives anyway, says Ryan K. Smith, a professor of history. “People are more attracted by the story of looking and not finding than they are by the idea that the fountain might be out there somewhere.”
Still, a few grains of truth have helped to support the story. Kathleen Deagan, a professor of archaeology, says a graveyard and the remains of a Spanish mission dating back to St. Augustine’s founding in 1565 have been discovered near the so-called fountain of youth. Michelle Reyna, a spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, says the fountain has been a tourist attraction since at least 1901 and may have been attracting visitors since 1860.
【小题1】According to the passage, who searched for a fountain of youth?

完形填空（共20小题，每小题1．5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出适合填入对应空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to  26  in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me. They don’t act in the  27  ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is too  28  for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of   29  .
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a question to ask you. Is there  30  between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice. She didn’t answer immediately. She  31 her head and continued to sew the quilt.
I was very worried because I thought I had  32  her. I was  33  and I didn’t know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words:
“Susan,” she said thoughtfully, “Look at this thread．Sometimes it  34  , but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt   35  . If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread．It can hardly be seen     36  , but it’s really there. Love is  37 .”
I listened carefully but I  38  her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly  39  seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked  40 . It seemed both of them had had a serious illness. After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father   41  on the country road．
“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.
“Susan, don’t  42  me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom.”  43  his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and  44 . But from this experience, I understand that love is just  45  in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.