What time is it? Most people are pretty accurate in their answer. And if you don’t know for sure, it’s a very likely that you can find out. There may be a watch on your wrist, there may be a clock on the wall, desk, or computer screen; or maybe you’re riding in a car that has a clock in the dashboard (仪表板).

Even if you don’t have a timepiece of some sort nearby, your body keeps its own beat. Humans have an internal clock that regulates (调节) the beating of our heart, the pace of our breathing, the discharge (排出) of chemicals within our bloodstream, and many other bodily functions.

Time is something from which we can’t escape. Even if we ignore it, it’s still going by, ticking away, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. So the main issue in using your time well is, “Who’s in charge?” We can allow time to slip by and let it be our enemy. Or we can take control of it and make it our ally.

By taking control of how you spend your time, you’ll increase your chances of becoming a more successful student. Perhaps more importantly, the better you are at managing the time you devote to your studies, the more time you’ll have to spend on your outside interests.

The aim of time management is not to schedule every moment so we become slaves of a timetable that governs every waking moment of the day. Instead, the aim is to make informed choices as to how we use our time. Rather than letting the day go by, largely without our awareness, what we are going to discuss next can make us better able to control time for our own purposes.

56. The underlined word “ally” in Para. 3 more likely means somebody or something that is _________.

   A. your slave and serves you            

B. your supporter and helps you

   C. under your control and obeys you 

D. under your influence and follows you

57. The author intends to tell us that time _____________.

   A. could be regulated by a timepiece such as a clock or a watch

   B. could be managed by the internal clock of human bodies

   C. should be well managed for our own interest

   D. should be saved for outside interests

58. In the next part, the author would most probably discuss with you ________.

   A. how to keep up with the times       B. how to make up for lost time

   C. how to have a good time           D. how to make good use of time

Here’s a quick reminder to all of you when you get stuck in a moment. Yesterday I skipped breakfast because I got up late. Because of the busy school work, I forgot my lunch. When I was finally thinking of buying my lunch, a person in need asked me if I could spare him some cash, so I decided to give him some money.

Then later in the evening, I was heading home anxiously for dinner. However, I got a call from my mom. She said that she had to work late and wouldn’t be able to prepare dinner for me. Even though there was no food in the house, I told my mom not to worry as I would surely find myself something to eat.

While I was still processing this sudden set of changes in my food choice for the day, I passed a young man with a broad smile handing out samples of crackers(薄脆饼干) at the gate of a supermarket. He gave me a packet and then said, “How about you taking some more for school tomorrow?” In response to that, I returned a warm smile to him and opened up my bag. He gladly filled it. I was excited.

Whether you call it luck or fate, I just wanted to say that somewhere out there somebody came along carrying a pocket of hope in his heart and shared a piece of with me! Somebody out there will one day do the same for you.!

1. The author anxiously went home for dinner in evening because __________.

A. his mother was waiting for him to have dinner

B. his mother promised to prepare dinner for him

C. he hadn’t had breakfast or lunch

D. he didn’t like food in restaurants

2. What’s the time order of the following events that happened to the author?

a. Gave money to person in need

b. Learn he had to organize his own dinner

c. Went home hurriedly for dinner

d. Got a lot of crackers

A. b—d—a—c    B. a—c—b—d      C. a—d—b—c     D. d—c—a—b

3. The purpose of the passage is to _________.

A. advise us to study hard at school.     B. show that life is full of unexpected things

C. suggest that people take three meals every day   D. tell us there is always hope

阅读下列短文，根据所读内容在表格中的空白处填入恰当的单词。

         注意：每个空格只填一个单词。

         Some people believe that greed and selfishness has become the basis of modern society, and we should return to the old traditions of family and community then we will have a better life．To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?

         In this fast-paced world, many values are undergoing major changes．While people traditionally prioritize caring, sharing and generosity in life and work, modern people seem to be more self-absorbed and self-concerned．

         Modern people act selfishly to survive the harsh competition of life．They say that it is a jungle out there．To survive, you have to fight with whatever means that come handy．Obviously greedy and selfishness go perfectly well with such ideas．In a company, employees do everything they can to get better pay and higher position, even at the cost of colleagues．We are in any way advocating any selfish conduct．It is just that people are pressured to act in a certain way due to outside influences．

         In spite of common practice, it is hard to conclude that modern society is built on greed and selfishness, both of which are not newly invented vocabulary．In ancient times people also did greedy and selfish things though such behaviors were more condemned then．But we can not ignore the fact that people in the past lived a relatively more isolated life and faced less pressure compared with their modern counterparts．

         Are we happier to share with others and be generous to them? There is no fixed answer either．Some people take great pleasure helping and giving to others while others feel happy doing the opposite．But I personally think that people should not be too selfish．Caring for others can actually encourage the development of a mutually beneficial relationship．

         In conclusion, modern people appear to be more self-centered than those in the past due to strong outside pressure．However, we should encourage people to know the importance of being caring and generous and to build a mutually beneficial relationship with others．

         Are Modern People Becoming More Selfish?

My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it’s Christmas again. They can’t see that we live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren’t much good. But Johnny and children can’t see this. What a pity it is that our neighbours have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we’ve saved isn’t nearly enough.

The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn’t eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer(下水道). Why , is it only because they have money? There is more to happiness than money in the world, isn’t there?

Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn’t rich, but she knows things. She understand people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I’d like to see the children will be like Miss Jackson when they grow up.

This passage mainly suggests that the writer _______.

A. is easy to get along with　　　　　　

B. is unhappy with the life they are living

C. is good at observing and understanding　　

D. is never pleased with her neighbours

What do you think of McGarity girl?

A. She is proud and hungry.            B. She is selfish and cruel.

C. She is lonely and friendless.          D. She is unhappy and misunderstood.

In this text, the writer tries to tell us that _______.

A. money is the key to everything　　

B. the more money you have, the less happy you’ll be

C. there is something more important than money

D. when talking to people we should look into their eyes

Pick out the one that does NOT describe the writer’s view on money.

A. Why, is it only because they have money?

B. There is more to happiness than money.

C. Miss Jackson isn’t rich, but she knows things.

D. The money we saved isn’t nearly enough.

It was starting to get dark and Bobby turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the setting sun’s rays reflecting off something along the roadside. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime(一角钱). Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment.

As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw.

His excitement quickly turned cold when the salesperson told him that he couldn’t buy anything with only a dime.

He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother’s Christmas gift. The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cents offering. Then he said to him, “You just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.”

The sound of the door closed as the last customer left. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel cold and afraid. Suddenly the shop owner came out. There, before Bobby’s eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby’s heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box. “That will be ten cents, young man.” The shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime.

Sensing the boy’s reluctance(勉强), the shop owner added, “I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?”

When the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out of the door that the owner was holding, Bobby heard the shopkeeper say, “Merry Christmas, son.”

1.Bobby feel that he was rich?

    A. Because he found a purse with many dollars

B. Because he found some money on the way home.

C. Because he was given a bunch of flowers

D. Because he found some hidden treasure.[来源:ZXXK][来源:学+科+网Z+X+X+K]

2.What can we infer from the third paragraph?

    A. Christmas gifts were always very expensive

B. The salesperson’s words greatly disappointed Bobby.

C. Bobby was tired of trying one shop after another

D. The salesperson was trying to cheat Bobby.

3.While waiting for the shop owner in the flower ship, Bobby           .

    A. was full of excitement and joy

B. was very thankful to the shop owner

C. felt he had been cheated by the owner

D. was not sure whether the owner would accept his offering