C

True End of an Era

SURPRISE, surprise---David Beckham is in the news again! Sure, the England football star was never one to shy away from the headlines. But this time it seems people are talking as much about what Beckham is not doing as what he is.

Beckham won’t be playing for England at the 2010 World Cup in South AfricA． An injury he picked up while playing for AC Milan will likely rule the 34-year-old out for four months. It could be a sad end to the career of a player who has given his all to England since his debut (首次登场) in 1996. But rather than feeling sorry for the loss, some people are finally calling for us to move on from the Beckham obsession (着迷).

“The romantic wish of him seizing the day and inspiring England to glory was poppycock (胡扯),” according to an editorial in the Guardian. It argued that Beckham is past his best and would only have played a minor role at the World Cup anyway. But you might not have guessed it from the reaction of the rest of England.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent Beckham a “get well soon” message, and a Scottish poet even wrote a poem about the injury, comparing Beckham to the Greek hero Achilles.

But is it possible to forget about Beckham? Over his career Beckham has embodied (体现) everything the English like to think is good about their country. Beckham was never the most naturally gifted of footballers, but he reached the top through hard work and determination. He never gave up, even when things looked hopeless. And even as a superstar, he never forgot where he came from.

For this, the English took him to their hearts. Not a day goes by without seeing Beckham’s name in the newspapers, but the reality is his fantastic career is coming to the enD．Of course, it is sad that he’ll miss the World Cup, but this is a chance for England to find a new hero.

As a global icon(偶像) we will certainly miss him playing for England in South Africa this summer. But I think it’s time we finally give Beckham a break from the headlines.

Choose the best answer:

66．Which of the following may not be a result of Beckham’s injury?

A．Not being able to take part in the 2010 World Cup in South AfricA．

B．Not being able to play for England for four months.

C．People forgetting him.

D．This injury perhaps ending his career.

67．______ gave Beckham a negative evaluation.

A．Gordon Brown              B．An editorial in the Guardian

C．A Scottish poet              D．Most British people

68．Which is not the reason for it being hard for people to forget Beckham?

A．He has embodied British good characteristics and traits (特征).

B．He is one of the most naturally gifted footballers.

C．He is determined to achieve his goals.

D．He always remembers his country.

If you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they become weak. When you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows this. Yet there are many people who do not seem to know that one’s memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by exercising it regularly. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong.

If a friend complains that his arms are weak, we know that it is his own fault. But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame, or that he is just unlucky, and few of us realize that it is really his own fault. Not all of us can become very strong or very clever, but all of us can improve our memory by the same means — practice.

Have you ever noticed that people who cannot read or write usually have a better memory than those who can? Why is this? Of course, because people who can’t read or write have to remember things: they cannot write them down in a little notebook. They have to remember dates, prices, names, songs and stories, so their memory is exercised all the time.

So if you want a good memory, learn from those who cannot read or write: practise remembering.

1. According to the passage, few people know that _____.

A．arms or legs become weak if they are not used for some time

B．when they start using their arms or legs again, they slowly become strong again

C．a person’s memory becomes weak if he does not practise remembering things

D．it is their own fault if their arms or legs are weak

2. The author thinks that if a person has a poor memory, _________.

A．it is his own fault

B．his parents are to blame

C．he is just unlucky

D．his arms must be weak

3. From Paragraph 3, we can learn that _________.

A．people who can’t read are cleverer than those who can

B．people who can’t write are cleverer than those who can

C．a little notebook helps people who cannot read or write get a better memory

D．people who practise remembering regularly have a better memory

4.  The passage mainly tells us ____________.

A．how to get our arms and legs stronger

B．how to improve our memory

C．how to read and write

D．how to remember dates and prices

Well, Mrs Evans, I’ve done my best to look after David. I’ve tidied his room up every day, got him a meal together whenever he needed one and made sure he’s always had a clean shirt to put on. It’s not been easy, with two of my own to worry about, as well. David had the best of attention, I must say. But now because I asked him to give up bringing that American friend to his home he has got quite and unfriendly. He comes in at all hours and his behaviour—well, it’s quite hard to put up with—and it’s all because of this friend. I’m sure he’s a bad influence. You see, David is a visitor and doesn’t fully understand our ways.

He used to study most evenings. He’s got through quite a bit of work. He did up his room quite nicely, with bookshelves and large posters. He’d ask Mr Smith and me up for a drink and cheer us up with songs from his country. He’s very good at the guitar, you know.

I don’t want to appear as if I’m running after him, but it’s about time we made it up. I’m sure he’s upset because I blame him for that. It might be a good idea to take him out for a meal, perhaps even with his friend. I don’t know whether it will do any good but we can try. I’m glad I’ve had this little chat with you, Mrs Evans, and I’ll let you know how I get on.

1.David is          .

A．Mrs Smith’s pet                    B．Mrs Smith’s son

C．a visiting student                       D．a singer

2.Mrs. Smith wants to make up(化解) the quarrel by _______.

    A. cooking a meal                       B. inviting David and his friend out

    C. running after David                  D. giving them drinks

3.David’s present attitude to Mrs Smith is         .

A．very attentive       B．unfriendly       C．cheerful     D．excited

第一节  回答问题（共3小题；每小题2分，满分6分）

阅读下面短文，根据第58至第60小题的具体要求，尽可能简要回答问题，并将答案转写到答题卡上。

If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault. But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame, and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can’t read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering.

58. What is the main reason for one is poor memory? (回答词数不超过8个)

59. What will happen if you do not use your arms or legs for some time? (回答词数不超过5个)

60. What is the best title for this passage? (回答词数不超过6个)

 Derrius Quarles, 19, had an unhappy childhood. But the Chicago teen didn’t give up. He tried his best and won $1 million in college scholarships (奖学金)! Now Derrius is a successful college student with a bright future.

    When Derrius was 4, his father was killed. His mother couldn’t take care of him because of taking drugs. Derrius and his 9-year-old brother sometimes had to steal food to eat. Derrius felt different from other kids. In seventh grade, Derrius went to live in a foster home (寄养家庭). His foster parents weren’t nice to him. They told him that he’d never be anything in life.

    Derrius didn’t do his best in school. The summer after ninth grade, that changed. Derrius had signed up for a biology class. He didn’t go to class the first day. On the second day, he showed up late. His teacher took him outside. She told him he was smart, but that he was wasting his potential (潜力). The talk inspired him and he planned to prove that he could be anything if he worked hard enough.

    Adults at a summer program helped Derrius find out about scholarships he could earn to pay for college. In his senior year, Derrius filled out lots of applications. He told his friends, “You’re not going to see me for a long time.” Derrius’s hard work paid off. He won more than $1 million in scholarships! He has a lot to be proud of. But he’s most proud of helping others. Derrius gives speeches to teens, telling them how to find scholarships. In high school, Derrius got help buying a computer. He wanted to help others who needed them. Last year, he gave two laptops to high school students. There’s a lot of work in his future. Derrius doesn’t mind — hard work has got him where he is today. He knows it can take him anywhere.

1.From Paragraphs 2 and 3, we can learn that Derrius _____.

    A. always studied hard in school

    B. lived in the same foster home with his brother

    C. hated his parents very much

    D. was encouraged a lot by his biology teacher

2.The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refers to _____.

A. great success    B. a scholarship

C. hard work        D. a computer

3. What kind of person do you think Derrius is?

A. Lazy but kind-hearted.

B. Selfish and naughty.

C. Confident but troublesome.

D. Determined and generous.

4.What does the author want to tell us?

    A. The way to win a scholarship to a college.

    B. The importance of family background.

    C. Never forget people who have helped you.

D. Hard work pays off sooner or later.