I didn’t think I had a passion(激情). I would sit in front of the TV all day, thinking about nothing but the next show. It was not long ago that I first learned how important having a passion is to life.
That day I went with my mum to drive my sister to the gym. I was bored. Then, as my mum stopped at a red light, someone on the side of the road caught my eye（吸引我的世界）. It was a man dressed in rags (衣衫褴褛). He was homeless. That didn’t interest me, for I had seen many like him before.
But in some ways he was different. This man was not sitting down with a sad expression(表情). He had a radio in his hand and was dancing happily to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious(珍贵)thing he had.
“Mum, why does that man have a radio even thought（尽管） he’s homeless?” I asked.
“He bought it,” she replied. I was still unable to understand.
“But if he’s homeless, why doesn’t he use the money to buy food or clothes? He wasted it on something he doesn’t need.”
“Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren’t the most important things. We need happiness, too.”
The man must care too much about music to buy a radio instead of food clothes. I soon realized（意识到）that happiness is the key to life. Without it, there’s nothing to look forward to.
Since then I’ve never gone a day without thinking of what’s truly important. A home, a meal, clothes—these things are only part of the picture. What’s often forgotten is that we all need a pleasure, a light in a dark day. We all need a passion.
【小题1】How would Sarah spend her days long ago?

On December 5th, 2013, Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, died at the age of 95.

He was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918.When he was a child, he worshiped(崇拜) national heroes very much. After he graduated from the university, he threw himself into the struggle(斗争) for anti-apartheid (反种族隔离制度). He was sentenced to life imprisonment(终身监禁) and was in prison(监狱) for 27 years. In 1994, Mandela became the first black president in the history of South Africa. In his life, he won nearly 100 awards. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

   Mandela also paid close attention to AIDS. He established AIDS Foundation(艾滋病基金）named after him. As we all know that Africans love sports very much. In order to hold the 2010 World Cup, he also did his best, though he was very old and weak. The World Cup of South Africa began on June 11, 2010. This was not only a football match for Africans but something more. It was filled with his strong wish—peace and unity(团结). Mandela got the respect from all over the world. So South African people said, “Our nation has lost its greatest son, our people have lost a father.” Now, the birthday of Mandela, July 18th, became an international festival—the International Mandela Day.

1.Who was Nelson Mandela?

A. Former President of South Africa           B. A football player

C. An AIDS patient                          D. A thief

2.How old was he when he died?

A. 74                                     B. 95                            C. 27                            D.75

3.What does “sentenced” mean in Chinese?                 

A.  句子                      B. 练习                       C.宣判                    D. 暗杀   

4.When is the International Mandela Day?

A. June 18                     B. June 11              C. January 18          D. July 18

5.Which of the following is NOT true about the passage?

A. Mandela was put into the prison because he was a thief.

B. Mandela loved peace and freedom.

C. Mandela got the respect of the world.

D. Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize.

What’s the meaning of “dark horse”? It’s someone who wins when no one expects it.

Han Xiaopeng took China’s first gold on snow. He became an Olympic “dark horse” last Thursday by winning the gold medal in men’s freestyle aerial skiing(自由式滑雪空中技巧) at Turin in Italy. He made two almost perfect jumps for the highest score. Han had never won a world gold medal before, let alone(更不用说) in the Olympics!

“I never thought this would happen,” said the 23-year-old. “I feel like I’m in a dream.” It’s China’s second gold medal at the Turin Olympics. But more important, Han’s gold was the country’s first ever in a snow sport. In 2002, China’s Yang Yang won the gold for speed skating at the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, US.

Just because Han’s win was unexpected doesn’t mean that he didn’t work hard.

Han grew up in Jiangsu Province. Before he started his training on snow, he used to be an acrobat(杂技演员) at a circus. In 1995, a coach found his talent(才能). The coach, Yang Er’qi, said Han had the agility(灵活性) and courage to be a ski jumper. When Yang first took the 12-year-old to northern China, the boy couldn’t swim, skate or ski. But he wasn’t afraid of the high platform(跳台) and kept on training.

Han almost left the sport after hurting his knee months before the Salt Lake Games. In that Olympics he only got 24^th. “I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stood firmly(坚强地) behind me, helping me through,” he recalled.

    Han Xiaopeng worked so hard that he won the gold medal in the Olympics at last. Because of his success, more and more people in China are becoming interested in skiing. We are proud of him and we hope he will have another big success in the next winter Olympics.

(   )61. What does ‘dark horse’ mean? It means _____________.

   A. a horse which is dark                 B. someone who is expected to win

   C. a horse which likes living in the dark     D. someone whose win is unexpected

(   )62. Where did Han Xiaopeng take China’s first gold on snow?

   A. In China   .    B. In Italy.      C. In America.    D. In Australia.

(   )63. What made the coach, Yang Er’qi, choose Han Xiaopeng to be a ski jumper?

   A. He had the agility and wasn’t afraid of the high platform.

   B. He was good at skiing though he was only 12 years old.

   C. He was born in the north of China and liked sports on snow.

   D. He had the talent and he had won a world gold medal before.

(   )64. Which of the following sentences is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

   A. He was 23 when he won the gold medal at the winter Olympics.

   B. He made two almost perfect jumps and got the highest score.

   C. No one had won the gold before Han Xiaopeng at the winter Olympics.

   D. He never gave up even though he had faced many difficulties.

(   )65. What is the best title for this passage?

   A. A Dark Horse at the Winter Olympics      B. A Wonderful Match

   C. A Hopeless Snow Game                 D. An Exciting Horse Race

What’s the meaning of “dark horse”? It’s someone who wins when no one expects it. Han Xiao’peng took China’s first gold on snow. He became an Olympic “dark horse” last Thursday by winning the gold medal in men’s freestyle aerial skiing(自由式滑雪空中技巧) at Turin in Italy. He made two almost perfect jumps for the highest score. Han had never won a world gold medal before, let alone(更不用说) in the Olympics!

“I never thought this would happen,” said the 23-year-old. “I feel like I’m in a dream.” It’s China’s second gold medal at the Turin Olympics. But more important, Han’s gold was the country’s first ever in a snow sport. In 2002, China’s Yang Yang won the gold for speed skating at the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, US. Just because Han’s win was unexpected doesn’t mean that he didn’t work hard.

Han grew up in Jiangsu Province. Before he started his training on snow, he used to be an acrobat(杂技演员) at a circus. In 1995, a coach found his talent(才能). The coach, Yang Er’qi, said Han had the agility(灵活性) and courage to be a ski jumper. When Yang first took the 12-year-old to northern China, the boy couldn’t swim, skate or ski. But he wasn’t afraid of the high platform(跳台) and kept on training.

Han almost left the sport after hurting his knee months before the Salt Lake Games. In that Olympics he only got 24th. “I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stood firmly(坚强地) behind me, helping me through,” he recalled.

    Han Xiaopeng worked so hard that he won the gold medal in the Olympics at last. Because of his success, more and more people in China are becoming interested in skiing. We are proud of him and we hope he will have another big success in the next winter Olympics.

56. What does ‘dark horse’ mean? It means _____________.

   A. a horse which is dark                               B. someone who is expected to win

   C. a horse which likes living in the dark                   D. someone whose win is unexpected

57. Where did Han Xiaopeng take China’s first gold on snow?

   A. In China   .    B. In Italy.      C. In America.    D. In Australia.

58. What made the coach, Yang Er’qi, choose Han Xiaopeng to be a ski jumper?

   A. He had the agility and wasn’t afraid of the high platform.

   B. He was good at skiing though he was only 12 years old.

   C. He was born in the north of China and liked sports on snow.

   D. He had the talent and he had won a world gold medal before.

59. Which of the following sentences is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

   A. He was 23 when he won the gold medal at the winter Olympics.

   B. He made two almost perfect jumps and got the highest score.

   C. No one had won the gold before Han Xiaopeng at the winter Olympics.

   D. He never gave up even though he had faced many difficulties.

60. What is the best title for this passage?

   A. A Dark Horse at the Winter Olympics           B. A Wonderful Match

   C. A Hopeless Snow Game                     D. An Exciting Horse Race