Success is often measured by the ability to overcome adversity. But, it is often the belief of others that gives us the courage to try.

J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, began writing at age 6. In her biography, she remembers with great fondness when her good friend, Sean, whom she met in secondary school, became the first person to encourage her and help build the confidence that one day she would be a very good writer.

“He was the first person with whom I really discussed my serious ambition to be a writer. He was also the only person who thought I was bound to be a success at it, which meant much more to me than I ever told him at the time.”

Despite many setbacks Rowling persevered in her writing, particularly fantasy stories. But it wasn't until l990 that she first conceived the idea about Harry Potter. As she recalls, it was on a long train journey from London to Manchester that “the idea of Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my immense frustration(沮丧), I didn't have a functioning pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four(delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me.”

That same year, her mother passed away after a ten-year battle with multiple sclerosis, which deeply affected her writing. She went on to marry and had a daughter, but separated from her husband shortly afterwards.

During this time, Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression. Unemployed, she completed her first novel in area cafes, where she could get her daughter to fall asleep. After being rejected by l2 publishing houses, the first Harry Potter novel was sold to a small British publishing house.

Now with seven books that have sold nearly 400 million copies in 64 languages, J. K. Rowling is the highest earning novelist in history. And it all began with her commitment to writing that was fostered by the confidence of a friend !

1.Who believed J. K. Rowling was to be a good writer?

A．Her friend Sean.    B．Her mother.        C．Her daughter.      D．Her husband.

2.Rowling first came up with the idea about Harry Potter         .

A．at the age of 6                          B．on a train journey

C．after her mother's death                  D．in her secondary school

3.She felt frustrated on the train because         .

A．her train was delayed for four hours

B．she didn't have a pen with her

C．her mind suddenly went blank

D．no one would offer her help

4.It can be concluded from Paragraph 5 and 6 that Rowling is         .

A．open-minded      B．warm-hearted      C．good-natured      D．strong-willed

5.The text mainly tells us         .

A．hardship makes a good novelist

B．the courage to try is a special ability

C．you can have a wonderful idea everywhere

D．encouragement contributes to one's success

Many of us spend a great deal of time and energy trying to prove that we are right and others are wrong. Many people believe that it’s their job to  36 others how their positions, statements and points of view are   37  and that in doing so, the person they are correcting is going to somehow   38  it, or at least learn something. Wrong！
Think about it. Have you ever been   39  by someone and said to him, “Thank you so much for showing me that I’m wrong and you’re right.” Or has anyone you know ever   40  you when you corrected him, or made yourself “right” at his 41  ? Of course not. The truth is, all of us   42 to be corrected. We all want our position to be   43  and understood by others. Being listened to and heard is one of the greatest   44  of the human heart. And those who learn to   45  are the most loved and respected. Those who are in the   46  of correcting others are often hated and   47 .
A wonderful way of becoming more peaceful and loving is to practice  48    others the joy of being right--- give them the glory.   49 correcting. When someone says, “I really feel it’s important to…” rather than   50  and saying, “No, it’s more important to…” , simply let it go and allow his statement to   51 . The people in your life will become less defensive and more   52 . They will appreciate you more than you could ever have   53  possible. You’ll discover the joy of joining in and seeing other people’s  54  , which is far more rewarding than a battle of egos（自我意识）. Starting today, and let others be “  55  ” most of the time.

Angelina Jolie says she has a really wonderful time with her partner Brad Pitt, who is an American actor and film producer — and that's why they're still together!  

Jolie __16__ six children with the actor. She was __17__ by America's Parade magazine if their children are the __18__ she and Brad stay together.

“The children certainly tie us together, but a relationship won't __19__ if it's only about the kids,” Jolie replied. “You also must be really interested in each other and have a really, really wonderful, __20__ time together. We do. Brad and I __21__ being together. We enjoy it. We need it, and we __22__ find that special time. We keep connected. We talk about it. It's very __23__ to our family. If Brad and I are strong and happy, then our kids have happy __24__ and that's the best thing we can give them. Brad knows me completely,  __25__ as I am, every part of me. He loves me. The kids love me. Hopefully I'm giving my children the __26__ that they are deeply loved and deeply safe. At the same time we are hopefully __27__ their individuality (个性) as they get to know who they are, and not getting in the way of that. That's why they are six very strong individuals.”

The Oscar­winning star showed __28__ of helping her children develop their individuality is __29__ them to develop their own identities (自我认同感), __30__ she admitted that she can't __31__  the recent controversy (争论) with Brad when she agreed that her daughter Shiloh could cut her hair short and  __32__  like a boy. For example, she usually wears a jacket instead of a skirt.

Angelina added to __33__, “She wants her hair cut like a boy and she wants to be __34__ John for a while. Some kids wear caps and want to be Superman and she wants to be like her __35__.”

16．A. finds　　          B．teaches                 C．raises                    D．hires

17．A. written            B．reported                       C．stopped                 D．asked

18．A. reason             B．intention               C．purpose                 D．result

19．A. break                B．hold                     C．lose                      D．happen

20．A. boring             B．disappointing  C．exciting                 D．surprising

21．A. love                 B．avoid                     C．hate                      D．consider

22．A. never               B．seldom                  C．always                  D．sometimes

23．A. easy                       B．different                C．far                        D．important

24．A. parents            B．classmates             C．relatives                D．neighbors

25．A. mostly             B．only                      C．exactly                  D．simply

26．A. knowledge       B．sense                    C．sight                     D．view

27．A. changing          B．forming                 C．encouraging           D．destroying

28．A. little          B．none                     C．all                        D．part

29．A. forcing            B．allowing                C．warning                       D．refusing

30．A. and                 B．though                  C．because                 D．but

31．A. remember         B．explain                  C．realize                   D．understand

32．A. walk                 B．dress                     C．eat                        D．think

33．A. doctors            B．players                  C．readers                  D．reporters

34．A. mistaken          B．called                     C．recognized           D．made

35．A. brothers           B．sisters                    C．uncles                 D．aunts

The hit movie Notting Hill begins with a famous scene. Hugh Grant bumps (撞) into Julia Roberts and spills (洒) orange juice all over her. After the collision, Grant repeatedly says: “ I am so sorry. I am so sorry.”

His actions in this scene are very British. If Roberts’ character were from Britain then she would probably apologize repeatedly as well—even if the crash were not her fault. But this doesn’t happen in the film, as Roberts is from the US.

A report in The Telegraph last week said that three-quarters of British people apologize when they bump into someone in the street — regardless of whether they are responsible or not. In fact, we Britons use “sorry” in many situations. For example, if we mishear someone, we say “Sorry?” The person we are talking to will also apologize by replying: “No, I am sorry!” This can go on for up to five minutes as we compete over who is the most sorry.

Life is never as simple as “duibuqi” and “meiguanxi”.

How we use “sorry” has changed. Traditionally, “sorry” was used to express deep regret, but a survey in 2007 showed that we use it to mean anything from “what” to “whatever”.

Why are Britons so sorry? Mark Tyrell, a psychology writer in the UK, thinks about our apologetic tendencies are rooted in the British class system. We say sorry because historically the new middle classes in Britain had to apologize for not being working class, but also for not really being upper class. Another theory is that we apologize to avoid confrontation(冲突). For example, if you bump into someone they might get angry. To avoid this we instantly say “Sorry!”.

True manners are about being considerate and the modern day obsession with apologizing show that we are perhaps not as thoughtful as we once were. The word has lost some of its meaning. Do you see my point? Sorry, it might just be a British thing…

1.What can we infer from paragraph 2?

A．In fact Roberts are responsible for the collision.

B．People from the US say “sorry” more than British people.

C．There is no crash happening in the film.

D．British people say sorry even if it is not their fault.

2.Which of the following might Mark Tyrell agree to?

A．British people are sincere while saying sorry.

B．Now more British people say sorry because of the British class system.

C．British people say sorry to avoid quarrels.

D．British people apologize for not working hard.

3.What does the author want to tell us with the passage?

A．British people overuse “sorry” in daily life.

B．British people now say “sorry” in different situations.

C．Middle classes in British are to blame for not being working class.

D．Britons say “sorry” to avoid confrontation.

4.What does the underlined word “collision” in the first paragraph mean?

A．quarrel           B．disagreement      C．crash             D．fight

I really hadn’t meant to yell at them. But that grey afternoon saw it just as my son and daughter were making a terrible mess on the floor in the kitchen.
With a tiresome report to write, I felt bothered at my desk. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my kids were at fault. A voice inside me insisted that I do something quickly.
“Ok, you two here, but what an awful thing you are attempting!” I was shouting angrily. I made for them, while it became evident that the boy wanted no part of me. “Get away from us!” he shouted back, there being an expression of support from his sister.
All of a sudden, I found the fault in myself. Quickly I shaped my hands into pincers and crawled towards them, “Crabby Daddy is here. Ha, Ha, Ha, he likes to yell at children, and then eat them!” My son continued to keep me away, but now he was laughing and crying at the same time. My mission to repair the damage caused by my yelling seemed to work well. Still, I regretted not having controlled myself first in a right way.
Need I let them know how badly they were acting by blaming? This is a lesson that serves myself. It only shows just how to get rid of something (ill-feelings, responsibility…) by blaming others. It’s not my “best self”.
We have to search for our “best self” when with our children. They don’t need perfect parents, but they do need parents who are always trying to get better. Here, I am reminded of the words of a great thinker. “When a man lives with God, his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the book…” Then, in our lifetime, couldn’t we always speak to our kids in such a sweet voice since most of us consider them as the most precious in the world? And before we reach this level, what should we do when we come across various difficult cases with our children?
【小题1】The author couldn’t help yelling at his kids this time probably because________.