We all know everyone needs to sleep. No matter when and how much a person sleeps, he or she needs some sleep to stay a 【1】 . That’s what all doctors thought until they heard about Herpin. Someone said Herpin n【2】 slept in his life. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.

Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some s【3】 of some kind. So they stayed with him and w【4】 every movement he made. However, the result was very s【5】. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw him sleeping.

In fact, Herpin did not even own a b【6】. He never needed one. The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was s【7】 in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They hoped to find out the real reason for it , so they asked him many q【8】.

They found only one answer that might e【9】 his condition. His mother had been injured several days before he was born. As a result, he came to the world a few days e【10】. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure.

Yangzhou is famous for its jade production and long history in jade carving(玉雕). Over thousands of years, jade craftsmen(工匠) have devoted themselves to continuing and developing the ancient traditional skills to create many fine jade articles of various shapes and sizes.

The craft(工藝) of Yangzhou jade carving dated(追溯) from 4,000 BC, during the Xia Dynasty. Due to social development, Yangzhou jade carving was further advanced during the Han Dynasty. Many kinds of excavated jade relics(出土的玉器) showed the growth of jade carving craft over time.

The economic development of the Tang Dynasty led to a new level in Yangzhou jade carving industry. At that time, wealthy families usually had their houses decorated with jade objects. On the other hand, the ordinary people began wearing small jade pieces. At the same time, Yangzhou jade articles and jade carving craft spread all over China.

During the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Yangzhou jade shaping skills reached new heights. In the Qing Dynasty, especially in the time of Emperor Qianlong, the craft reached its peak（頂峰）. Yangzhou had to contribute(貢獻) jade articles(玉器）to the emperor every year. At that time, the artistic style of “mixing the northern grandness with the southern fineness” of Yangzhou jade wares made its first appearance.

After the 1950s, Yangzhou jade carving was brought to life again. Yangzhou stays ahead in the jade industry and has therefore won many national awards. Now there are some famous jade craftsmen living in Yangzhou. With their guidance, Yangzhou jade wares of top quality are being produced, enjoying high praise from both home and abroad.

【1】I have never________ (后悔)the decision to work in West China.

【2】The writer created many famous works in his ________ (四十).

【3】My father is used to ________ (考慮）things carefully before he decides to do them.

【4】From the sixteenth of ________to the seventh of February is our Winter Holiday. (一月)

【5】The products of this company meet the international________ (標準), so they sell well.

【6】I’m ________sorry that you have missed watching the film ‘Fleet of Time’. (true)

【7】The more mistakes he made, the ________ he got. (angry)

【8】Mr Green explained it again and again to make ________ understood. ( he)

【9】As a guide, I must pay attention to all the ________safety during their trip. (tour)

【10】You should not be of great ________ (patient) with your son. He’s only five years old.

My father did well in his business and I went to a good school. He wanted me to get a good job, and live a quiet, pleasant life. But I wanted adventure and an exciting life.

"I want to be a sailor and go to sea," I told my mother and father. They were very unhappy about this.

"Please don't go." my father said, "You won't be happy you know. Sailors have a difficult and dangerous life." And because I love him, and he was unhappy, I tried to forget about the sea.

But I couldn't forget, and about a year later, I saw a friend in town. His father had a ship and my friend said to me, "we are sailing to London tomorrow. Why don't you come with us?"

On September 1st, 1651，I went to Hull, and the next day we sailed for London.

But, a few days later, there was a strong wind. The sea was rough and dangerous, and the ship went up and down. I was very ill，and was very afraid.

"Oh, I don't want to die!”I cried, "I want to live! If I live, I will go home and never go to sea again!"

The next day the wind stopped, and the sea was quiet and beautiful again.

"Well, Robinson," my friend laughed, "How do you feel now? The wind wasn't too bad."

"What!" I cried. "It was a terrible storm."

"Oh, that wasn't a storm," my friend answered, "just a little wind. Forget it, come and have a drink."

After a few drinks with my friend, I felt better. I forgot about the danger, and decided not to go home. I didn't want my friend and family to laugh at me!

I stayed in London for some time, but I still, wanted to go to the sea. So, when the captain(船長)of a ship asked me to go with him to Guinea in Africa, I agreed. And so I went to the sea for the second time.

It was a good ship, and everything went well at first, but I was very ill again. Then when we were near the Canary Islands, a Turkish pirate(海盜)ship came after us. They were famous thieves of the sea at that time. There was a long, hard fight, but when it finished, we and the ship were prisoners. The Turkish captain and his men took us to Sallee in Morocco. They wanted to sell us as slaves(奴隸)in the market. But in the end, the Turkish captain decided to keep me for himself, and took me home with him. This was a sudden and terrible change in my life. This Turkish captain was now my master.

【1】Why did Robinson forget about the sea at the beginning?

A.Because he had no money to own a ship.B.Because he hated to live a dangerous life.

C.Because he wanted to make his parents happy.D.Because he looked forward to getting a good job.

【2】Which is the right time order of what happened in the story?

a. One of Robinson's friends invited him to sail to London.

b. The Turkish captain took Robinson home.

c. A captain asked Robinson to go with him to Guinea.

d. Robinson drank with his friend.

e. A long and hard fight happened.

A.a-d-c-e-bB.d-a-c-e-bC.a-c-b-e-dD.d-c-a-b-e

【3】What did Robinson think of his sea journey?

A.Everything was fine.B.The sea was quiet all the time.

C.The wind was weak.D.Sea life was dangerous at times.

【4】What can we infer(推斷)from the passage?

A.Robinson wanted to serve the Turkish captain.

B.Robinson lived happily with the Turkish captain.

C.Robinson became a slave to the Turkish captain.

D.Robinson made friends with the Turkish captain.

For example, Jim Wilcox works for Consumer Reports. He tested all kinds of headphones. He says that $ 80 Koss Pro headphones provide basically the same quality and comfort as Beats. So why do people pay twice or even 10 times as much for the hottest brands?

Experts say it’s because fashionable, expensive brands send a message. Brands say “I belong” or “I can afford it.”

Some people think that expensive brand names are worth the price. They say that some designer clothes really are top quality and that they last longer than cheaper brands. Some teenagers choose to wear popular brands because these brands make them feel good about themselves.

Alexandra Allam, 17, likes to buy brand-name products. “I’d rather spend the extra money to get something I know I’ll be satisfied with.” she says. Her friend Emmy Swan agrees, saying “As long as you can afford it, it seems reasonable to buy what you want.” But not all teenagers agree. “Spending hundreds of dollars for designer is stupid and unreasonable.” says Daniel Steinbrecher, 16. “It’s fake（假的）happiness.”

People who are against wearing expensive brand names say that many designer brands aren’t any better. “It’s wasteful to buy things just because they are popular.” says Edmund Williams, 15. “You’ll feel better if you buy things because you like them. If you have extra（額外的）money to spend, it would be better to give it to people in need.”

【1】The example of Jim’s report wants to tell us ________.

A.popular brands make people comfortable

B.Koss Pro headphones are better than Beats

C.the hottest brands are of the highest quality

D.less-known brands may offer the same quality as name brands

【2】According to experts, people choose the hottest brands probably ________.

A.for their better qualityB.to show off

C.for their better designsD.to belong to a special group

【3】What does Edmund think of expensive brands?

A.They make him feel confident.B.They are not worth the price.

C.They need to improve their quality.D.They pay too much attention to personal likes.

【4】The text is mainly about ________.

A.how to buy things reasonablyB.the competition between brands

C.the different values of teenagersD.whether expensive brands are worth high prices

Fondly called “tiny houses,” these houses have all living necessities in a small package, including kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Generally under 50 square meters, most tiny houses can hold just one or two people though some say they have the space for more. What’s lost in size is not lost in design as these homes are often quite modern in design.

Besides an attractive appearance, tiny houses can also have practical features(特點). Making the best of urban space, the 72-to-122-centimeter-wide Keret House in Warsaw, the world’s narrowest home, filled in an alley(小巷). The house uses solar power, wind power and rainwater collection to make its owner live practically anywhere.

Although micro-homes are attractive, there are a few disadvantages to consider before getting comfortable on a minicouch. Moving into a tiny house, you should throw away unnecessary things. It is also mostly impossible to invite guests. And finally, a micro-home is likely a temporary(暫時的) living choice for most people since they will probably start families and own more things.

Though the limitation will scare some, there is usually a benefit. A small size results in low prices and small bills, making tiny houses easier to afford. And though you won’t have many things around the house, it makes it easy and simple to keep it clean. Micro-homes are also eco-friendly, which can’t be matched by other homes. They probably aren’t for everyone or forever, but when it comes to your next (or first) home, they could be just what you need.

【1】What can be learnt about micro-homes from Paragraph 2?

A.People can’t take a package into the tiny houses.

B.All of the houses can hold more than two people.

C.These houses are convenient though tiny in size.

D.Such houses are poorly designed because of the small size.

【2】The author develops Paragraph 3 mainly________.

A.by examplesB.by comparisonsC.by order in spaceD.by causes and effects

【3】Micro-homes are especially suitable for ________.

A.a young person who has many thingsB.a person who doesn’t have much money

C.a couple who want to protect environmentD.a family hoping to settle down in a city

【4】What can be the best title for the text?

A.East or west, home is the best.B.Micro-homes — more than tiny!

C.Home-hunting — no easy matter!D.Tiny or large, this is a choice.

1.Larry Smith: Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career

We humans have an excellent ability to make excuses for ourselves. Larry Smith, a professor of economics at the University of Waterloo in Canada, tells us why most of us will fail to have a great career. But there is a way out— if you don’t make excuses for yourself and try to pursue your passion.

2.Andy Puddicombe: All It takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes

Between dance team, volunteering and—oh, right—lectures, your life’s crazy factor is about to go way up. In this entertaining and informative talk, mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe teaches us how to be “more healthy, more mindful and less distracted” by taking just 10 minutes out of the day to be more present.

3.Shane Koyczan: To This DAY For the Bullied and Beautiful

This talk is sure to stay with you. Shane Koyczan’s “To this DAY” is an affecting spoken-word poem about bullying and being different that gained over 10 million views on YouTube. In this talk, Koyczan gives a live reading of the poem, along with some stories about his background.

4.Susan Cain: The power of Introverts

Does a cup of tea and a good book sound like a perfect Friday night? In this personal talk, Susan Cain argues that introverts have important talents and abilities. Our culture may value being social and outgoing, but the world needs all kinds.

【1】What does Larry Smith advise students to do for a good career?

A.Never make excuses for yourself.B.Never be bullied and different.

C.Take 10 mindful minutes every day.D.Value being social and outgoing.

【2】Whose talk can make people know about his background?

A.Susan Cain’s.B.Larry Smith’s.C.Shane Koyczan’s.D.Andy Piddicombe’s.

【3】What does the underlined word “introverts” in the last paragraph mean?

A.性格急躁者.B.性格沉著者.C.性格外向者.D.性格內(nèi)向者.

In an interview later, Nikki recalled how the suddenness of the crash and fall influenced her. "When I went down it was like, 'What's happening? Why am I on the ground?' And suddenly there's this hand on my shoulder, like ' ______________ ', we have to finish this! ' I'm so _________________ and touched that she did that." Nikki said.

_____________ , Abbey had hurt her knee in the fall and had difficulty walking. Instead of ___________ in the race, Nikki helped to _____________ her injured opponent（對手）along the way. Abbey then tried to _______________ Nikki to go on without her. However, Nikki provided her with ______________ to walk slowly towards the finish line. Both girls finally made it to the finish line.

_______________Nikki came in second to last and Abbey came in last with her twisted ankle, they still got moved to the finals. What a _____________ race!

"I'm so thankful for Abbey for doing that for me. That girl is the Olympic spirit right there." Nikki said. The simple act has become a _______________ of the Olympic spirit. Their good sportsmanship got them into the finals.

【1】A.tookB.foughtC.competedD.played

【2】A.came intoB.crashed intoC.broke intoD.turned into

【3】A.slow downB.break downC.sit downD.came down

【4】A.allB.bothC.noneD.neither

【5】A.turnedB.rememberedC.plannedD.agreed

【6】A.Get upB.Get awayC.Get onD.Get off

【7】A.interestedB.impressedC.excitedD.surprised

【8】A.HopefullyB.HopelesslyC.LuckilyD.Unluckily

【9】A.continuingB.stoppingC.climbingD.riding

【10】A.carryB.takeC.bringD.hold

【11】A.makeB.remindC.adviseD.refuse

【12】A.achievementB.improvementC.developmentD.encouragement

【13】A.IfB.YetC.ThoughD.Unless

【14】A.wiseB.funnyC.beautifulD.polite

【15】A.medalB.symbolC.markD.sign

A.where there is a will, there is a wayB.practice makes perfect

C.many hands make light workD.a good beginning is half done

―I haven’t decided. I wonder ________ during the holiday.

A.where am I going to spendB.whether it was going to be sunny

C.who will I invite to have a trip with meD.if my mother will give me extra homework