For years, I’ve been fighting against what feels natural to me because I felt pressure

g because it was hard or inconvenient. If we want light, we must conquer darkness. Perseverance can sometimes equal genius in its results. “There are only two creatures,” says a proverb, “who can surmount the pyramids — the eagle and the snail.” If I were a boy again, I would soon school myself into a habit of attention: I would let nothing come between me and the subject in hand. I would remember that a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once. The habit of attention becomes part of our life, if we begin early enough. I often hear grown-up people say, “I could not fix attention on the sermon or book, although I wished to do so.” And the reason is, the habit was not formed in youth. If I were to live my life again, I would pay more attention to the cultivation of the memory. I would strengthen that faculty by every possible means, and on every possible occasion. It takes a little hard work at first to remember things accurately; but memory soon helps itself, and gives very little trouble. It only needs early cultivation to become a power. If I were a boy again, I would cultivate my courage. “Nothing is so mild and gentle as courage, nothing so cruel and pitiless as cowardice,” says a wise author. We too often borrow trouble, and anticipate evils that may never appear. “The fear of ill exceeds the ill we fear.” Dangers will arise in any career, but presence of mind will often conquer the worst of them. Be prepared for any fate, and there is no harm to be feared. If I were a boy again, I would look on the cheerful side. Life is very much like a mirror: if you smile upon it, it smiles back upon you; but if you frown and look doubtful on it, you will get a similar look in return. Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but of all that comes in contact with it. “Who shuts love out, in turn shall be shut from love.

(1)The narrator likes to be young and does not want to grow up.

(2)With the proverb “There are only two creatures who can surmount the pyramids — the eagle and the snail.” the author means to illustrate that perseverance can make magic.

(3)We can make the habit of attention become part of our life by not trying to skate in two directions at once.

(4)Presence of mind is the best way to conquer the worst of dangers.

(5)Life is very much like a mirror because you are treated in the same way as you treat others.

ublic and the money made helps that charity to continue its valuable work. Charity shops are usually run by volunteers, people giving their time voluntarily to help the charity. Shopping in charity shops has many benefits, for the charity, and for the shopper! I like buying things in charity shops for many reasons which I am going to share with you. Firstly, items sold in charity shops are generally a lot cheaper than in high street stores. Yes, this is because they are used, but, having volunteered in a charity shop myself, I know that only really good quality items get put out to sell to the public. You can always find a bargain in a charity shop, from a new top to a pair of shoes, a handbag to a piece of jewellery. Secondly, if a charity shop has a lot of donations coming in, they generally change the stock on a daily basis, which means that there is always a variety of items to choose from. I’m always impressed that I can go into the same charity shop two days in a row and some of the stock will have been changed. Thirdly, you can find interesting treasures in charity shops. Especially when it comes to bric-a-brac items. There was once a very old fashioned sewing machine donated to the charity shop I volunteered in, and it was worth quite a bit of money, but it was sold the same day for five pounds! You will be very surprised with what you can find. Finally, knowing that the money you are spending in charity shops is going to a good cause is a great reason to shop there. There are many charities in the UK which rely on charity shops to fund what they do. The main ones in the UK are Sue Ryder Care which need money to keep their homes open, Cancer Research UK, the RSPCA and Oxfam. I would recommend shopping in charity shops, even very occasionally, because you never know how big a difference buying one small thing might make!

(1)Charity shops in the UK are run in the same way as other shops.

(2)The author of the article loves shopping in charity shops because she was short of money.

(3)Since the items in charity shops are usually used, they are no good.

(4)Charity shops in the UK get funds from the government.

(5)The author suggests people go shopping in charity shops to make a difference.

, all of which are the masterpieces of the ancient Chinese people. Nowadays we are still 1 () how such great constructions were created in ancient times 2 () any modern technology and machines. The Great Wall The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous human 3 () . More precisely, the Great Wall is not only one wall; it consists of many walls constructed in different 4 () over the past two millenniums. The “newest” and the best preserved part is the wall built in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Ming Great Wall is a large and complicated frontier defense of the Ming Imperial State, stretching 5 () 6,700 kilometers from east sea to west desert. It is one of the world’s 6 () miracles in human history. The Grand Canal The Grand Canal (or Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal) is the longest 7 () river in the world and also one of the oldest canals in the world. The canal shows 8 () ancient China led the world in technologies of water conservancy and shipping. It goes 9 () Beijing in the North to Hangzhou in the South, links five great rivers and has a total length of 1794 kilometers. The 10 () was built in the Spring and Autumn Period more than two thousand years ago, completed in the Sui Dynasty (581–618), and prosperous in Tang and Song dynasties. It took a straightforward route in the Yuan Dynasty, and dredged during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Grand Canal’s flourishing time lasted for over 1779 years.

(1)第1空

A. doubting

B. amazed

C. worried

D. happy

(2)第2空

A. with

B. by

C. through

D. without

(3)第3空

A. buildings

B. creativity

C. projects

D. imagination

(4)第4空

A. ages

B. dynasties

C. times

D. years

(5)第5空

A. approximately

B. generally

C. exactly

D. hopefully

(6)第6空

A. great

B. greatly

C. greatest

D. largest

(7)第7空

A. natural

B. beautiful

C. northwards

D. artificial

(8)第8空

A. that

B. which

C. when

D. where

(9)第9空

A. through

B. from

C. at

D. in

(10)第10空

A. brook

B. lake

C. canal

D. reservoir

he welfare, or the well-being, of its citizens. Such a government provides for its citizens’ physical, material and social needs rather than the people providing for their own needs. The purpose of the welfare state is to create greater economic equality or to ensure at least a certain minimum standard of living for all citizens. Types of Benefits Provided A welfare state provides education, housing, sustenance and healthcare for its citizens. It also provides benefits such as pensions and unemployment insurance, and it provides equal wages through price and wage controls. This type of government provides public transportation, childcare, social amenities such as public parks and libraries and so on. Some of these things are paid for through government insurance programs, and others are paid for by taxes. Systems Used Most advanced nations are not true welfare states, although many provide at least some social services or programs. In some countries, these goods and services generally are available only to people who meet certain eligibility requirements. This type of system is frequently referred to as a "safety net" that is designed to help people who are in need. Most often, these systems will provide basic needs such as food and housing. A welfare state is socialist in nature. It redistributes wealth by more heavily taxing the middle and upper classes to provide goods and services for the needy. Even countries that don’t practice socialism, however, typically will offer at least some form. of safety net. Difficulties Experienced One problem associated with welfare states is the difficulty in creating an efficient system. Some countries are unable to provide equitably for all of their citizens. The rationing of goods and services also becomes a problem when too many people depend on the welfare state to provide for their basic needs. Another problem is that many people who are capable of providing for themselves have no motivation to improve their lives because they can rely on the government to provide for them. This often breeds resentment by people who do work and are taxed more heavily to pay for the support of people who do not work.

(1)Which of the following is not provided by a welfare state?

A. Housing.

B. Public transportation.

C. Full health insurance.

D. Unemployment insurance.

(2)Which of the following is not true about the purpose of the welfare state?

A. To help people who are in need.

B. To motivate people to improve their lives.

C. To create greater economic equality.

D. To ensure a certain minimum standard of living for all citizens.

(3)In a welfare state people are usually able to _______.

A. go to college without worrying about their tuition

B. live well without having to work

C. avoid paying taxes

D. get help with their basic needs

(4)One of the problems associated with welfare states is _______.

A. that few people rely on the system

B. that people don’t want to rely on the system

C. taxing the people who work more heavily than those who do not work

D. making it unnecessary for people to work

(5)Which of the following is true about a welfare state?

A. A welfare state redistributes wealth.

B. All the advanced nations are welfare states in the strictest sense.

C. Welfare states are socialist countries.

D. Citizens can all be made happy by their welfare system.

remely close. Economies and cultures have been connected by a global network. It's due to the positive effect of globalization that one has easy access to countries that are located even in the extreme corners of the world. Globalization has initiated an entire new way of thinking. Businesses have expanded and economies are developing at a rapid pace. The global way of thinking has contributed to the growth of the entire society. The impact on education has been extremely positive in providing holistic learning to inquisitive students. The entire system of education of the world has been transformed. Study programs have been updated and new areas of learning have been introduced. Today a student can choose from plethora of career options and acquire appropriate training for the same. Also as a consequence of globalization, many new educational institutes have come up. However, globalization has also encouraged overall competition. To face the growing competition, several students are drawn to the global system of education that nurtures them into competent personalities and trains them to face the professional challenges of this competitive global world. Global education, apart from imparting good quality learning in various fields of interest, inculcates a sense of independence and responsibility amongst the youth. Leaving their homes, traveling to a new land and handling all expenses transform. an immature adolescent into a self-reliant confident individual. International education broadens knowledge perspectives and encourages innovative thinking. Students are inspired to think out of the box and handle professional crisis in a rational manner. Today's tech savvy world requires qualified individuals who have the knowledge of advanced technologies that are being invented at a rapid pace. This certified qualification is provided by various institutes of repute located all over the world. A student who is pursuing his study abroad can learn different languages, interact with students coming from different backgrounds and also explore a new place apart from acquiring world class standards of education from a team of professional experts. Education abroad empowers inquisitive students to understand global issues of importance and also define their role in contributing to betterment of society. Overseas education is an opportunity to think freely and critically about matters of global interest.

(1)The passage mainly deals with _______.

A. the relationship between globalization and world education

B. the ideal of globalization

C. the benefits of global education

D. the new opportunities to study abroad

(2)Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Globalization has made our world smaller.

B. It's easier for people to travel around the world.

C. The influence of globalization over education is undesirable.

D. Globalization has changed people's way of thinking.

(3)Which of the following is suggested?

A. The global education system has been changed.

B. Students have more choices when they choose to learn.

C. Educational courses have been kept up to date.

D. Competition is sharper due to the consequence of globalization.

(4)All of the following can help make young people more independent and responsible except_____.

A. facing the growing competition

B. staying in a new place

C. dealing with expenses alone

D. living all by themselves

(5)The best word for describing the author's attitude toward globalization is_____.

A. indifferent

B. enthusiastic

C. scared

D. favorable

cities around the world every year. With various speakers – also from various parts of the globe – all the speeches are uploaded to their website, for everyone to see. TED conferences invite speakers to give presentations on a variety of topics. The different speakers are usually experts in their field and talk about new ideas and recent developments that are important to their work. The speakers are often also well-known, with people such as Microsoft giant Bill Gates and world-renowned chimpanzee expert, Jane Goodall, having given talks. There are many talks on environmentalism, for example, and on international development, aid work, and how to help poor people with all sorts of new innovations. There are a number of talks about education and education reform. and topics that are in the news are often featured, such as the recent NSA spying revelations. While the talks cover a wide variety of topics, all speakers have a strict time limit – each presentation must last no longer than 18 minutes. As with all organizations, however, TED has had its downs as well as ups. The organization has been criticized for taking intelligent, upstanding members of the scientific – and other – communities and turning them into mere entertainers. Perhaps a bigger and more significant criticism of the organization is that it is incredibly elitist. Those who attend must be very privileged with tickets for TED events costing some US$6000 (or more). However, ted.org, the organization’s website, is where the many fascinating talks become accessible to everybody who has an Internet connection. Every weekday, a new video is uploaded from a TED event, allowing people from around the world to listen to the talks for free. At only 18 minutes, even if the video is not that interesting, you know you are not going to waste too much time. Most TED talks are in English but there are talks available in other languages, too. Plus, most of the English-language talks also have the option of subtitles in various languages and, as a result, the site is excellent for practicing English and learning new vocabulary, particularly in a topic that you find interesting and enjoyable. With so many choices of subject, the videos are often much more exciting than the listening comprehension exercises used in many classes.

(1)Which is not true about TED’s mission?

A. To offer knowledge.

B. To provide a platform. for exchanging ideas.

C. To change the world.

D. To create an elitist community.

(2)Who speaks at TED?

A. Bill Gates.

B. Jane Goodall.

C. Various experts.

D. Environmentalists.

(3)Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. TED is held yearly.

B. TED is free to attend.

C. Videos of TED talks are free to access.

D. TED has been welcomed universally.

(4)What is not a criticism of TED?

A. The talks are short.

B. Experts are turned into entertainers.

C. It is attended only by the privileged.

D. The tickets for TED are too expensive.

(5)What cannot be found at ted.org?

A. Talks in English with subtitles in some other languages.

B. Talks on listening comprehension.

C. Talks on NSA spying revelations.

D. Talks on education reform.

essence of a harmonious society is affluence, the development of a country should go from being moderately well-off into being well-off and affluent; from having big gaps in income to narrowing gaps; from dealing with poverty to eliminating poverty. In a harmonious society people at all levels respect each other. Labour, knowledge, technology and capital are all factors of wealth creation, which can make profits and should be respected so long as they have made contributions to society. A harmonious society should see honest, friendly and harmonious relationships and just, fair and open competition between social members, regions and departments. In such a society, competition will optimize the distribution of resources, foster technological progress, develop social productivity and raise overall national strength. A harmonious society advocates an overall, co-ordinated and sustainable development concept, making the interests of different sectors balanced. So long as we follow this scientific development concept, we can get rid of social unrest and the destruction of natural resources that generally occurs in developing nations. During this period, we should pay attention to the relationship between humanity and nature, properly protect natural resources, reduce pollution and make efforts to raise the quality of the environment in order to realize sustainable development. A harmonious society should also see great improvements in morals and education. The strategy of invigorating the nation by education should be followed and elementary education and higher education universalized. Various academic theories should flourish. China has attached much importance to education, particularly compulsory education. The central government has planned fee exemptions and subsidies for students in 592 poor counties included in the national poverty-relief programme by 2007. Some experts want to extend the policy to poor families both in urban and rural areas. In addition, a harmonious society is also manifested by the gradual improvement of the legal system and standardized social management. A harmonious society is a society with the rule of law, where there is ordered market competition, strict market management and standard market behaviour. We have much work to do in these areas.

(1)This passage is to_______.

A. inform

B. narrate

C. argue

D. describe

(2)The passage mainly deals with_______.

A. how to turn a society into a harmonious one

B. how enjoyable to live in a harmonious society

C. how much work we have to do to make our society harmonious

D. what a harmonious society is like

(3)We can learn from the passage that _______.

A. in a harmonious society, income gaps possibly will be bigger

B. there is still poverty in a harmonious society

C. most important of all, a harmonious society is characterized by prosperity

D. people's living standards will remain the same as economy develops

(4)Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Only labor and capital make profits in a harmonious society.

B. Knowledge and technology can also make contribution to society.

C. Knowledge and technology should be respected more in a harmonious society.

D. Labor, knowledge, technology and capital are not all important in wealth creation.

(5)What can people enjoy in a harmonious society except _______.

A. good interpersonal relationships

B. fierce competition

C. scientific, sustainable development and better environment

D. progress in morals, education, the legal system and standardized social management

A.表现

B.感染

C.再现

D.艺术