The Pathfinder

When we found him, he was a sorry sight. His clothes were torn, his hands bleeding. Before we reached him, we saw him fall. He lay a moment. Then he pulled himself to his feet, walked unsteadily a few yards through the woods and fell again.

After we got him out, we went back to find the gun that he had thrown down. His tracks showed that for two days he had circled in the forest, within 200 yards of the road. His senses were so dulled by fear and tiredness that he did not hear the cars going by or see the lights at night.

We found him just in time.

This man, like others before him, had simply been frightened when he knew he was lost. What had been a near disaster might have turned out as only a pleasant walk, had he made a few preparations before he stepped from the highway or off a known path.

Whatever sense of direction that a man may have, it’s still largely a question of observation. A skilled woodsman always keeps an eye on his surroundings. He notes that the shape of a mountain, the direction water flows through a swamp, and the way a tree leans across a path. With these in mind, he may be turned around many times, but he is seldom lost.

There are exceptions, of course, and once in a while a man does come across some strange problem that puts him into the “lost” situation. A rainstorm or sudden blizzard may catch him without a compass (指南针) in his pocket. Darkness may find him in a rough area, where travel is dangerous without a light.

When this happens, the normal first reaction (反应) is the fear of being laughed at as a result of his poor knowledge in the woods. He may also be concerned about the inconvenience that he will cause his friends when he doesn’t show up. This false pride may lead him to keep on the move in a false effort to find his way against all difficulties.

The person who thinks ahead is seldom in great danger. He’ll be safe if he observes carefully, thinks ahead, and remains calm.

1.The author suggested that if the man had not been found, he would have ________.

A. been shot by a gunB. become confused

C. been attacked by wild animalsD. been in great danger

2.According to the passage, if a person gets lost in the forest, at the very beginning, he would _______.

A. worry about being laughed at

B. push himself to find his way out

C. feel it is convenient to ask for help from his friends

D. be concerned about being frightened by wild animals

3.When a person tries to find his way in the woods, _________ is the most important.

A. intelligenceB. observation

C. directionD. chance

4.The author tells the story of the lost man as an example of people who _________.

A. go into the woods by themselves

B. don’t know how to signal for help properly

C. are frightened when they think they are lost

D. notice everything when stepping from the highway

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco,California is one of the world's most beautiful bridges. It is also one of the most visited places in the world. Vehicles(车辆) cross the bridge an average of 41 million times each year.More than 1,800 hundred million vehicles have used the bridge since it opened more than 70 years ago.

The bridge was painted “International Orange” because that color went well with the natural surroundings. The color also is easier to see in the heavy fog that often covers the area. But the Golden Gate Bridge was not named for its orange color. It was named for the body of water that it crosses,the Golden Gate Strait.

The Golden Gate Strait is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The Golden Gate Bridge links the city of San Francisco with Marin County, California.

Planning for the bridge began in the 1920s when the area around San Francisco was growing. People living in the area needed another way to get to the city besides small ferries(渡船).

Joseph Strauss was the chief engineer for the project. Work began in 1934. Mr. Strauss demanded the strongest safety protections in the history of bridge building. These included the first use of “hard hats” to protect the workers' heads and special glasses to protect their eyes.

A special safety net was suspended(挂) under the bridge. This net saved the lives of 19 men during the construction. However, 11 other workers were killed when they fell from the bridge through the net. Still,this was a new safety record for the time.

The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937. It extends 1,280 meters across the water. The total length is 2,737 meters. It was the largest suspension bridge(吊桥) in the world until 1964. That is when the Verrazano Narrows Bridge opened in New York City. Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is the ninth longest suspension bridge in the world.

1.The Golden Gate Bridge was named after ________.

A.the local climateB.the color of a paint

C.its natural surroundingsD.the strait it crosses

2.How did people cross the Golden Gate Strait before the bridge was built?

A.By plane.B.By road.C.By boat.D.By train.

3.The purpose of suspending a special safety net is to ________.

A.prevent workers from falling

B.make construction easier

C.protect the environment

D.save building materials from falling

4.What do we know about Joseph Strauss?

A.His safety measures were not of practical value.

B.He attached importance to the workers' safety.

C.He built the first suspension bridge in the world.

D.He demanded strong measures to ensure the safety of the bridge.

Beliefs form a big part of our lives. Successful people have always believed that they can be and will be successful in their lives, such as Michael Phelps. Many of us have seen Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals in a single Olympic Games. That has created a history for himself. Many people have admired his success and the first reaction in their mind will be, “Wow, how I wish I could be like him!” Have you ever wondered what brought him success?

In fact, anyone can achieve what they have wanted to achieve. It is about beliefs. Everyone is a born winner. It is this belief that drives an individual to be successful in his or her own field. All successful individuals have strong beliefs and it is one of the bases for their success. If we start to believe in ourselves, the things that we can achieve will definitely give us a pleasant surprise.

Other than having a strong belief, it is the attitude that drives the individual to create their own history. The devotion towards themselves and the drive must also be present. Imagine having a strong belief in oneself and having a poor attitude towards life. Then how would that individual turn out to be? One’s attitude comprises the drive, the devotion and the desire to achieve his goals. If one has strong beliefs about the goals that he can achieve and he displays good attitudes towards them, it would be no surprise to anyone that he will be able to achieve his goals.

Start believing in yourself and you will achieve your goals and with the right positive attitude, you will definitely be able to create the miracle that you have always dreamt of.

1.Which of the following is the best summary of Paragraph 2?

A. Good begun is half done.

B. Where there is a will, there is a way.

C. No pains, no gains.

D. God helps those who help themselves.

2.The underlined word “comprises” in Paragraph 3 most probably means ________?

A. serve asB. belongs toC. stands forD. consists of

3.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. attitudes can be learned from one’s parents

B. copying other’s behaviors is a good way to succeed

C. only strong beliefs can’t ensure you a promising future

D. attitudes can only be learned through one’s success

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Differences Between Beliefs and Attitudes

B. The Nature of Beliefs and Positive Attitudes

C. Relationship Between Beliefs and Attitudes

D. The Power of Beliefs and Positive Attitudes

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