The truth is______he doesn’t work hard enough.

A. why　 B. what　 C. that　　 D. which

For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st.

At home, he asked his mom:“Am I more stupid than other kids? How can I always fall behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.”Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.

She tended to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.

Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time that she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.

Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class at the top national university he attends. After university his teachers and peers fully expect him to have a promising career.

Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience. It concerned that holiday his mother had prepared for them:“Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The clumsy seagulls are far slower and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these clumsy birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls. ”

56. The story mainly conveys the message that        .

  A. competition between students is good for society

  B. only rankings show intelligence of a child

  C. parents should build up children’s self-respect

  D. children take competition among them to heart

57. From the 2nd paragraph, we can see that the mother        .

  A. saw the negative effects of the ranking system

  B. decided to help with her son’s homework

  C. knew her son was weak in his study

  D. felt sorry for her son’s bad behavior.

58. We can infer from the passage that        .

  A. the son knew intelligence didn’t mean anything

  B. the mother was not strong enough to face the truth

  C. the mother was careful to protect her son’s self-respect

  D. the son would forget his rankings soon after leaving high school

59.Which of the following has the similar meaning with the underlined word“outdid”?

  A. was equal to                          B. did better than

  C. laughed at                            D. worked harder than

For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.

    She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.

Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.

    Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”

1. From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.

   A. knew her son was not bright enough

   B. saw the negative effects of the ranking system

   C. decided to help with her son’s school work

D. was troubled by her son’s low rankings

2.The mom was glad she didn’t give an answer at first because ______.

   A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon

   B. she felt intelligence doesn’t mean everything

   C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth

   D. she wanted to avoid another blow to her son’s self-respect

3.The story conveys the message that ______.

   a. only rankings show intelligence

   b. hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings

   c. parents should see children’s strengths and encourage them

   d. competition between students is good for society

   A. bc                B. cd               C. abc              D. bcd

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the story?

   A. How important are rankings?

   B. Little birds and seagulls

   C. The answer Mom gave

   D. Hard work pays off!

For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.
　 She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.

Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
　 Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”

56. From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.
A. knew her son was not bright enough
B. saw the negative effects of the ranking system

C. decided to help with her son’s school work

D. was troubled by her son’s low rankings

57. The mom was glad she didn’t give an answer at first because ______.
　 A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon
　 B. she felt intelligence doesn’t mean everything
　 C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth
　 D. she wanted to avoid another blow to her son’s self-respect
58. The story conveys the message that ______.
　 a. only rankings show intelligence
　 b. hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings
　 c. parents should see children’s strengths and encourage them
　 d. competition between students is good for society
　 A. bc 　　　　　　 B. cd 　　　　　

C. abc 　　　　　 D. bcd
59. Which of the following would be the best title for the story?
　 A. How important are rankings?
　 B. Little birds and seagulls
　 C. The answer Mom gave
　 D. Hard work pays off!

（天津市蓟县下营中学2010届高三第一次模拟）

A

Pete Rose, the famous baseball player, whom I have never met, taught me something so valuable that changed my life. Pete was being interviewed in spring training the year he was about to break Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record. One reporter asked, “Pete, you only need 78 hits to break the record. How many at-bats（轮到击球）do you think you’ll need to get the 78 hits?” Without hesitation, Pete said, “78.” The reporter yelled back, “Ah, come on, Pete. You don’t expect to get 78 hits in 78 at-bats, do you?”

Mr. Rose calmly shared his rule in life with all the reporters who were anxiously awaiting his reply. “Every time I step up to the plate, I expect to get a hit! If I don’t expect to get a hit, I have no right to step in the batter’s box in the first place! If I go up hoping to get a hit, then I probably don’t have a prayer of getting a hit. It is the positive expectation that has gotten me all of the hits in the first place.”

When I thought about Pete Rose’s rule and how it was applied to everyday life, I felt a little embarrassed. As a business person, I was hoping to make my sales meet the quotas（定额）. As a father, I was hoping to be a good dad. As a married man, I was hoping to be a good husband.

The truth was that I was an adequate salesperson, I was not so bad as a father, and I was an okay husband. I immediately decided that being okay was not enough! I wanted to be a great salesperson, a great father and a great husband. I changed my attitude to one of positive expectations, and the results were amazing. I was fortunate enough to in a few sales trips, I won Coach of the Year in my son’s baseball league, and I share a loving relationship with my wife! Thanks, Mr. Rose!

36. Which of the following sayings can most appropriately be used to describe Mr. Rose’s rule?

A. He who doesn’t want to be a general can’t be a good soldier.

B. Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.

C. If you work hard enough, your dreams will come true.

D. Rome was not built in one day.

37. What can be inferred about Pete Rose from the passage?

A. He was generous to share all his rules with everyone.

B. He got all the hits he wanted because of good luck.

C. He set himself a goal of being the best.

D. He liked to dream of something impossible.

38. By saying “I was an adequate salesperson”（Para. 3）the writer probably means “______”.

A. he could make adequate money as a salesperson

B. he didn’t do an excellent job as a salesperson

C. he was good enough to be a salesperson

D. he knew how to sell goods in a proper way

39. Which of the following is NOT a role of the writer?

A. A teammate of Rose.                         B. A salesman.

C. A father.                                  D. A baseball coach.

40. Why does the writer thank Mr. Rose at the end of the passage?

A. Because Mr. Rose showed him how to be a successful salesperson.

B. Because Mr. Rose taught him to face life with positive expectation.

C. Because Mr. Rose trained him to win Coach of the Year for his son.

D. Because Mr. Rose gave him advice on managing a happy family.