9．Johnnie Martin was born in a worker's family．His parents lived a simple life，saving money for the day when they could send him to a good university．They had dreamed that their son could get a good（11）Aand live a better life．However，to Johnnie，school lessons seemed like a wall that was impossible to go through．
One day when he was in Grade 11，Johnnie went（12）Aschool psychologist's office to ask for help．
"Johnnie，I've been studying your marks of all the tests at school．I've made a （13）Cstudy of them，"said the psychologist．
"I've been trying hard．"Johnnie was about to（14）B．
The psychologist put his hand on the boy's shoulder，"People have different kinds of talents，Johnnie．There are painters who were（15）Dable to learn maths，and engineers who can't sing on key．Some day you will find（16）Cyou are good at，and when you do，you will make your parents and all of us very（17）Byou．"
Johnnie didn't go to university．He found a job working in the gardens around the town．Soon（18）Camazing happened．His customers began to notice that Johnnie had what they called"green thumb"．The plants he（19）D grew，and the roses blossomed*．People started to accept his （20）Afor gardening，because he had an eye for colour and light．
One day while he was downtown，he happened to（21）Dan unused dirty land behind the city hall．He volunteered to make it into a garden．That very afternoon as soon as he got the permission*，he started the work，（22）Ahe couldn't afford all the tools or the plants that were（23）Dfor it．People gave him young trees．rose-bushes，benches and many other things．Before long，it had become a beautiful little（24）C．
Today Johnnie is the head of the business in gardening．Wherever he and his men go，they（25）Bbeauty before the eyes of people．
One day when he was in Grade 11，Johnnie went（12）Aschool psychologist's office to ask for help．
"Johnnie，I've been studying your marks of all the tests at school．I've made a （13）Cstudy of them，"said the psychologist．
"I've been trying hard．"Johnnie was about to（14）B．
The psychologist put his hand on the boy's shoulder，"People have different kinds of talents，Johnnie．There are painters who were（15）Dable to learn maths，and engineers who can't sing on key．Some day you will find（16）Cyou are good at，and when you do，you will make your parents and all of us very（17）Byou．"
Johnnie didn't go to university．He found a job working in the gardens around the town．Soon（18）Camazing happened．His customers began to notice that Johnnie had what they called"green thumb"．The plants he（19）D grew，and the roses blossomed*．People started to accept his （20）Afor gardening，because he had an eye for colour and light．
One day while he was downtown，he happened to（21）Dan unused dirty land behind the city hall．He volunteered to make it into a garden．That very afternoon as soon as he got the permission*，he started the work，（22）Ahe couldn't afford all the tools or the plants that were（23）Dfor it．People gave him young trees．rose-bushes，benches and many other things．Before long，it had become a beautiful little（24）C．
Today Johnnie is the head of the business in gardening．Wherever he and his men go，they（25）Bbeauty before the eyes of people．
| 11．A．job | B．garden | C．lesson | D．present |
| 12．A．into | B．past | C．along | D．through |
| 13．A．funny | B．public | C．careful | D．similar |
| 14．A．lie | B．cry | C．laugh | D．agree |
| 15．A．always | B．usually | C．sometimes | D．never |
| 16．A．how | B．when | C．what | D．where |
| 17．A．strict with | B．proud of | C．angry with | D．sure of |
| 18．A．nothing | B．anything | C．something | D．everything |
| 19．A．picked up | B．painted at | C．talked bout | D．looked after |
| 20．A．suggestions | B．invitations | C．situation | D．attention |
| 21．A．buy | B．rent | C．clean | D．notice |
| 22．A．but | B．and | C．so | D．or |
| 23．A．common | B．natural | C．possible | D．necessary |
| 24．A．farm | B．lake | C．park | D．market |
| 25．A．find | B．spread | C．collect | D．describe． |
6．
Maciek Czastka was born in Lodz，Poland．He came to China several years ago．So far，he has been working in Chengdu for three years．
"The Belt and Road Initiative（一带一路的倡议）is meaningful，"he said．"Thanks to it，we are offered more chances．"The most powerful support for Chengdu to thrive（兴盛）along the Belt and Road is the Chengdu-Europe express railway（高速铁路）．It provides direct train services between Chengdu and the city of Lodz．Because of the express railway，trains can bring things from China to Europe．At the same time，they can bring back European food，wine，meat and so on．In 2016，a total of 460 trains ran between Chengdu and Europe．The number is expected to grow to 1，000 this year．
Since the Chengdu-Lodz express railway was opened，Chengdu，together with other cities in west China，has developed close trade ties with the European country．Poland is one's of the largest apple producers in Europe．Czastka's company helps farmers in Poland sell their apples to China．More and more European products will be sent to China in the future．
The Belt and Road Initiative is meaning．
Maciek Czastka was born in Lodz，Poland．He came to China several years ago．So far，he has been working in Chengdu for three years．"The Belt and Road Initiative（一带一路的倡议）is meaningful，"he said．"Thanks to it，we are offered more chances．"The most powerful support for Chengdu to thrive（兴盛）along the Belt and Road is the Chengdu-Europe express railway（高速铁路）．It provides direct train services between Chengdu and the city of Lodz．Because of the express railway，trains can bring things from China to Europe．At the same time，they can bring back European food，wine，meat and so on．In 2016，a total of 460 trains ran between Chengdu and Europe．The number is expected to grow to 1，000 this year．
Since the Chengdu-Lodz express railway was opened，Chengdu，together with other cities in west China，has developed close trade ties with the European country．Poland is one's of the largest apple producers in Europe．Czastka's company helps farmers in Poland sell their apples to China．More and more European products will be sent to China in the future．
The Belt and Road Initiative is meaning．
| About Maciek Czastka | ◆Born：（56）in Lodz，Poland ◆Workplace：In Chengdu ◆Working in Chengdu：Since（57）three yearsago |
| The most powerful support for Chengdu | It's the Chengdu-Europe express railway．In 2016，a total of（58）460trains ran between Chengdu and Europe．This year it will grow to 1，000． |
| The advantages of"the Chengdu-Europe express railway" | 1．The Chengdu-Europe express railway provides （59）direct train servicesbetween Chengdu and the city of Lodz． 2．Chengdu，together with other cities in west china，has developed（60）close trade tieswith the European country． |
5．
Once there were two mice．They were friends．One mouse lived in the country，（31）Amouse lived in the city．After many years the Country Mouse saw the City Mouse，he （32）B"Do come and see me at my house in the country．"So the City Mouse went．The City Mouse said，"This food is not good，your house is not good，（33）B．Why do you live in a hole in the field？You should （34）Aand live in the city．You would live in a nice house （35）B stone．You must come and see me at my house in the city．"The Country Mouse went to the house（36）Cthe City Mouse．It was a very good house．Nice food was ready for them to eat．But just as they began to eat they heard a great （37）C．The City Mouse cried，"Run!Run！The cat is coming!"They ran away （38）Aand hid．After some time they came out．When they came out，the Country Mouse said，"I （39）Bliving in the city．I like living in my hole in the field．For （40）Ais nicer to be poor and happy，than to be rich and afraid．"
Once there were two mice．They were friends．One mouse lived in the country，（31）Amouse lived in the city．After many years the Country Mouse saw the City Mouse，he （32）B"Do come and see me at my house in the country．"So the City Mouse went．The City Mouse said，"This food is not good，your house is not good，（33）B．Why do you live in a hole in the field？You should （34）Aand live in the city．You would live in a nice house （35）B stone．You must come and see me at my house in the city．"The Country Mouse went to the house（36）Cthe City Mouse．It was a very good house．Nice food was ready for them to eat．But just as they began to eat they heard a great （37）C．The City Mouse cried，"Run!Run！The cat is coming!"They ran away （38）Aand hid．After some time they came out．When they came out，the Country Mouse said，"I （39）Bliving in the city．I like living in my hole in the field．For （40）Ais nicer to be poor and happy，than to be rich and afraid．"| 31．A．the other | B．other | C．others |
| 32．A．spoke | B．said | C．told |
| 33．A．too | B．either | C．also |
| 34．A．come | B．came | C．comes |
| 35．A．be made of | B．made of | C．making of |
| 36．A．at | B．on | C．of |
| 37．A．sound | B．voice | C．noise |
| 38．A．quickly | B．more quickly | C．the most quickly |
| 39．A．like | B．don't like | C．am not like |
| 40．A．it | B．this | C．that． |
2．A Carpenter's StoryAn elderly carpenter was ready to retire（退休）．He told his boss of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisure life with his wife and family．
The boss was sorry to see his skillful worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor．The carpenter said yes，but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work．He used shoddy workmanship （粗糙的手艺） and low-quality materials．It was an unfortunate way to end a perfect career．
When the carpenter finished his work，his boss came to inspect the house．Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said，"This is your house…my gift to you．"
The carpenter was shocked!
"What a shame!If I had only known he was building my own house，I would have done it all so differently…"The carpenter said to himself．
So it is with us．We build our lives，a day at a time，often putting less than our best into the building．Then，with a shock；we realize we have to live in the house we have built．If we could do it over，we would do it much differently．
But，you cannot go back．Someone once said，"Life is a do-it-yourself project．"Your attitude and the choices you made today，help build the"house"you will live in tomorrow．Therefore，build wisely!
Title：A Carpenter's Story
The boss was sorry to see his skillful worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor．The carpenter said yes，but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work．He used shoddy workmanship （粗糙的手艺） and low-quality materials．It was an unfortunate way to end a perfect career．
When the carpenter finished his work，his boss came to inspect the house．Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said，"This is your house…my gift to you．"
The carpenter was shocked!
"What a shame!If I had only known he was building my own house，I would have done it all so differently…"The carpenter said to himself．
So it is with us．We build our lives，a day at a time，often putting less than our best into the building．Then，with a shock；we realize we have to live in the house we have built．If we could do it over，we would do it much differently．
But，you cannot go back．Someone once said，"Life is a do-it-yourself project．"Your attitude and the choices you made today，help build the"house"you will live in tomorrow．Therefore，build wisely!
Title：A Carpenter's Story
| Passage outline | Supporting details |
| Introduction | An elderly carpenter was asked to build an extra house as a personal favor to his boss （71）beforehe retired． |
| Process of building the extra house | ●He agreed to build he house，but he didn't do it whole-heatedly． ●He was quite （72）skillful，but he didn't try his best． ●He had many good materials，but he used low-quality ones． |
| （73）Feelingsof getting the house as a present | ●He was surprised to get the house as a gift to him． ●He was （74）shamefulfor putting less than his best to build it． ●He would do it much differently if he could do it again． |
| Conclusion | Life is a do-it-yourself project，and no one can go back．So no matter （75）whatyou have chosen to do，try your best to do it well． |
1．Many people do not know what to do in face of a decision，big or small．Most decisions aren't life-changers．But often，the decision isn't between this or that； it's between acting or not．If this challenges you，here are some tips．
Jog or ride a bike to nowhere．Just start moving in hopes of leaving the familiar．Walk down every street or path you can find until you lose your way．Then，see where you end up．Remember what it felt like to wonder where you were going？Try to lose yourself more often．It'll make you better at making a decision．
Sit outside without any technology for an hour．Let yourself get bored．Can you hear the birds singing？The wind blowing？Yourself breathing？Try to do this once a week，then every other day，then every day．One of the reasons we find it hard to make better decisions is that we keep getting attracted to new things．A break from the noise will lead you to the decision you need to make．
Do something that scares you．People who have trouble making decisions fear mistakes．Tell someone you love them．Laugh out loud in a public place．Give a speech to a stranger．And when you do this，remember how you feel When you're sacred by a risky situation the next time，tell yourself that you didn't lie．And try to trust the process in the future．
Some of these things may seem silly，but the more you do them，the more you'll control yourself．It doesn't matter where you're going．Just go．Once you start moving，you can always change direction．
Jog or ride a bike to nowhere．Just start moving in hopes of leaving the familiar．Walk down every street or path you can find until you lose your way．Then，see where you end up．Remember what it felt like to wonder where you were going？Try to lose yourself more often．It'll make you better at making a decision．
Sit outside without any technology for an hour．Let yourself get bored．Can you hear the birds singing？The wind blowing？Yourself breathing？Try to do this once a week，then every other day，then every day．One of the reasons we find it hard to make better decisions is that we keep getting attracted to new things．A break from the noise will lead you to the decision you need to make．
Do something that scares you．People who have trouble making decisions fear mistakes．Tell someone you love them．Laugh out loud in a public place．Give a speech to a stranger．And when you do this，remember how you feel When you're sacred by a risky situation the next time，tell yourself that you didn't lie．And try to trust the process in the future．
Some of these things may seem silly，but the more you do them，the more you'll control yourself．It doesn't matter where you're going．Just go．Once you start moving，you can always change direction．
| The art of making（56）decisions | ||
| Introduction | People often have to decide if they will（57）act． | |
| Tips | Going for a jog or a bike（58）ride | *Start moving to leave the familiar and get（59）lost． *Do it more often and it will make you（60）better at making a decision． |
| Stay outside with（61）no technology） | *Do something outside to get yourself bored． *Be away from the（62）noise for a while daily and you will make better decisions． | |
| Do something that scares you | *Remember your（63）feeling（s） when you do these scary things． *Trust the process in the future． | |
| Conclusion | *The more you do，the more in（64）control you'll feel． *Stop worrying about which（65）way（s） to go and just start moving． | |
20．Paper Cutting and Sky Lanterns
Paper cutting has been around for over 1，500 years．Paper cutting is difficult to do．The paper，usually red，is folded before it is cut with scissors．The most common pictures are flowers，animals and things about Chinese history．During the Spring Festival，they are put on windows，doors and walls as symbols of good wishes and a happy new year．
Sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming．He sent them out to ask for help when in trouble．Today，sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations．When the lanterns are lit，they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see．They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes．
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Paper cutting has been around for over 1，500 years．Paper cutting is difficult to do．The paper，usually red，is folded before it is cut with scissors．The most common pictures are flowers，animals and things about Chinese history．During the Spring Festival，they are put on windows，doors and walls as symbols of good wishes and a happy new year．
Sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming．He sent them out to ask for help when in trouble．Today，sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations．When the lanterns are lit，they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see．They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes．
| Paper Cutting and Sky Lanterns | |
| History of paper cutting | Over（ 61）1，500 years |
| The most common pictures | flowers，（62）animals and things about Chinese history |
| Purpose of sending out （63）sky lanterns | ●to （64）ask for help when in trouble ●used at festivals and other celebrations today |
| Common symbols | （65）good wishes and happiness |