(2013·高考天津卷，D)When asked about happiness，we usually think of something extraordinary，an absolute delight，which seems to get rarer the older we get.
For kids，happiness has a magical quality.Their delight at winning a race or getting a new bike is unreserved (毫不掩飾的)．
In the teenage years the concept of happiness changes.Suddenly it’s conditional on such things as excitement，love and popularity.I can still recall the excitement of being invited to dance with the most attractive boy at the school party.
In adulthood the things that bring deep joy－love，marriage，birth－also bring responsibility and the risk of loss.For adults，happiness is complicated (復(fù)雜的)．
My definition of happiness is “the capacity for enjoyment”．The more we can enjoy what we have，the happier we are.It’s easy to overlook the pleasure we get from the company of friends，the freedom to live where we please，and even good health.
I experienced my little moments of pleasure yesterday.First I was overjoyed when I shut the last lunch­box and had the house to myself.Then I spent an uninterrupted morning writing，which I love.When the kids and my husband came home，I enjoyed their noise after the quiet of the day.
Psychologists tell us that to be happy we need a mix of enjoyable leisure time and satisfying work.I don’t think that my grandmother，who raised 14 children，had much of either.She did have a network of close friends and family，and maybe this is what satisfied her.
We，however，with so many choices and such pressure to succeed in every area，have turned happiness into one more thing we’ve got to have.We’re so self­conscious about our “right” to it that it’s making us miserable.So we chase it and equal it with wealth and success，without noticing that the people who have those things aren’t necessarily happier.
Happiness isn’t about what happens to us－it’s about how we see what happens to us.It’s the skillful way of finding a positive for every negative.It’s not wishing for what we don’t have，but enjoying what we do possess.
小題1:As people grow older，they________.

A．feel it harder to experience happiness

B．a(chǎn)ssociate their happiness less with others

C．will take fewer risks in pursuing happiness

D．tend to believe responsibility means happiness

小題2:What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 5 and 6?

A．She cares little about her own health.

B．She enjoys the freedom of traveling.

C．She is easily pleased by things in daily life.

D．She prefers getting pleasure from housework.

小題3:What can be inferred from Paragraph 7?

A．Psychologists think satisfying work is key to happiness.

B．Psychologists’ opinion is well proved by Grandma’ case.

C．Grandma often found time for social gatherings.

D．Grandma’s happiness came from modest expectations of life.

小題4:People who equal happiness with wealth and success________.

A．consider pressure something blocking their way

B．stress their right to happiness too much

C．a(chǎn)re at a loss to make correct choices

D．a(chǎn)re more likely to be happy

小題5:What can be concluded from the passage?

A．Happiness lies between the positive and the negative.

B．Each man is the master of his own fate.

C．Success leads to happiness.

D．Happy is he who is content.

(2013·高考湖南卷，C)It’s such a happy­looking library，painted yellow，decorated with palm­tree stickers and sheltered from the Florida sun by its own roof.About the size of a microwave oven，it’s pedestrian­friendly，too，waiting for book lovers next to a sidewalk in Palm Beach County Estates，along the northern boundary of Palm Beach Gardens.
It’s a library built with love.
A year ago，shortly after Janey Henriksen saw a Brian Williams report about the Little Free Library organization，a Wisconsin­based nonprofit that aims to promote literacy and build a sense of community in a neighborhood by making books freely available，she announced to her family of four，“That’s what we’re going to do for our spring break！”
Son Austin，now a 10th­grader，didn’t see the point of building a library that resembles a mailbox.But Janey insisted，and husband Peter unwillingly got to work.The 51­year­old owner of a ship supply company modified a small wooden house that he’d built years earlier for daughter Abbie’s toy horses，and made a door of glass.
After adding the library’s final touches (裝點)，the family hung a signboard on the front，instructing users to“take a book，return a book，”and making the Henriksen library，now one of several hundred like it nationwide and among more than 2,500 in the world，the only Little Free Library in Palm Beach County.
They stocked it with 20 or so books they’d already read，a mix of science fiction，reference titles，novels and kids’ favorites.“I told them，keep in mind that you might not see it again，”said Janey，a stay­at­home mom.
Since then，the collection keeps replenishing (補充) itself，thanks to ongoing donations from borrowers.The library now gets an average of five visits a day.
The project’s best payoff，says Peter，are the thank­you notes left behind.“We had no idea in the beginning that it would be so popular.”
小題1:In what way is the library “pedestrian­friendly”？

A．It owns a yellow roof.

B．It stands near a sidewalk.

C．It protects book lovers from the sun.

D．It uses palm­tree stickers as decorations.

小題2:Janey got the idea to build a library from________.

A．a(chǎn) visit to Brian Williams

B．a(chǎn) spring break with her family

C．a(chǎn) book sent by one of her neighbors

D．a(chǎn) report on a Wisconsin­based organization

小題3:The library was built________.

A．by a ship supply company

B．on the basis of toy horses

C．like a mailbox

D．with glass

小題4:What can we infer about the signboard?

A．It was made by a user of the library.

B．It marked a final touch to the library.

C．It aimed at making the library last long.

D．It indicated the library was a family property.

小題5:The passage tells us that the users________.

A．donate books to the library

B．get paid to collect books for the library

C．receive thank­you notes for using the library

D．visit the library over 5 times on average daily

(2013·高考天津卷)As I held my father’s hands one night，I couldn’t help but notice their calluses(老繭)and roughness.His hands tell the story of his life as a ____，including all his struggles.
One summer，I remember，a drought (旱災(zāi)) hit Ontario，turning it into a ____ desert.On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last ____ from the grocery store.Fifty dozen was all we needed，which ___ took twenty minutes.That morning，however，the process didn’t ___ quickly.After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field，we ____needed twenty dozen.I was completely frustrated and ___.Dropping the basket heavily，I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen，they can pick it themselves！”Dad ____，“Just think，my little girl，only ten dozen left for each of us and then we’re ____.” Such is Dad－whatever problem he ____，he never gives up.
____，the disastrous effects of the drought were felt all over our country.It was a challenging time for everyone，____ Dad remained optimistic.He ____ to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates.Only then did I truly begin to ___ Dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real ____.From dawn to dusk，he works countless hours to___ our family.He always puts our happiness ____ his own，and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games ___ his exhaustion after long days.His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and ____，putting others first.
Dad，the life ____ I have learned from you will stay with me forever.You are my father，teacher，friend and，most importantly，my hero.

小題1:	A．teacher B．gardener C．farmer D．grocer

小題2:	A．stormy B．lively C．disappearing D．burning

小題3:	A．order B．form C．gap D．position

小題4:	A．repeatedly B．normally C．finally D．really

小題5:	A．go B．begin C．occur D．change

小題6:	A．yet B．still C．even D．nearly

小題7:	A．surprised B．nervous C．a(chǎn)ngry D．frightened

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)pologized B．cried C．complained D．laughed

小題9:	A．lost B．done C．gone D．touched

小題10:

A．meets with B．brings up C．works out D．thinks about

小題11:

A．Thankfully B．Hopefully C．Unfortunately D．Strangely

小題12:

A．or B．for C．so D．but

小題13:

A．happened B．seemed C．continued D．a(chǎn)imed

小題14:

A．face B．a(chǎn)ppreciate C．examine D．question

小題15:

A．love B．pride C．friendship D．honesty

小題16:

A．support B．settle C．start D．impress

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)fter B．before C．beside D．under

小題18:

A．in spite of B．in terms of C．in control of D．in place of

小題19:

A．careful B．regretful C．considerate D．humorous

小題20:

A．history B．motto C．patterns D．lessons

The National Gallery
Description：
The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of Trafalgar Square in London.It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of European art ranging from 13th­century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh.The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance
Layout：
The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th­to 15th­century paintings，and artists include Duccio，Uccello，Van Eyck，Lippi，Mantegna，Botticelli and Memling.
The main West Wing houses 16th­century paintings，and artists include Leonardo da Vinci，Cranach，Michelangelo，Raphael，Bruegel，Bronzino，Titian and Veronese.
The North Wing houses 17th­century paintings，and artists include Caravaggio，Rubens，Poussin，Van Dyck，Veláazquez，Claude and Vermeer.
The East Wing houses 18th­to early 20th­century paintings，and artists include Canaletto，Goya，Turner，Constable，Renoir and Van Gogh.
Opening Hours：
The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10am to 9pm) and is free，but charges apply to some special exhibitions.
Getting There：
Nearest underground stations：Charing Cross (2­minute walk)，Leicester Square (3­minute walk)，Embankment (7­minute walk)，and Piccadilly Circus (8­minute walk)．
小題1:In which century’s collection can you see religious paintings?

A．The 13th.	B．The 17th.
C．The 18th.	D．The 20th.

小題2:Where are Leonardo da Vinci’s works shown?

A．In the East Wing.

B．In the main West Wing.

C．In the Sainsbury Wing.

D．In the North Wing.

小題3:Which underground station is closest to the National Gallery?

A．Embankment.	B．Leicester Square.
C．Piccadilly Circus.	D．Charing Cross.

(2013·高考北京卷，C)Although being famous might sound like a dream come true，today’s stars，feeling like zoo animals，face pressures that few of us can imagine.They are at the center of much of the world’s attention.Paparazzi (狗仔隊) camp outside their homes，cameras ready.Tabloids (小報) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives.Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to psychologist Christina Villarreal，celebrities－famous people－worry constantly about their public appearance.Eventually，they start to lose track of who they really are，seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them，not as the people they were before everyone knew their names.“Over time，”Villarreal says，“they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages.In the 4^th century B．C.，painters followed Alexander the Great into battle，hoping to picture his victories for his admirers.When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19^th century，his sold­out readings attracted thousands of fans，leading him to complain (抱怨) about his lack of privacy.Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film­stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today，however，is a lot more difficult than it used to be.Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras.When they say something silly or do something ridiculous，there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome，why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it.Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities.They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice.Still，even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are.They are tired of being famous already.
小題1:It can be learned from the passage that stars today________.

A．a(chǎn)re often misunderstood by the public

B．can no longer have their privacy protected

C．spend too much on their public appearance

D．care little about how they have come into fame

小題2:What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired.

B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history.

C．Well­known actors are usually targets of tabloids.

D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers.

小題3:What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?

A．Availability of modern media.

B．Inadequate social recognition.

C．Lack of favorable chances.

D．Huge population of fans.

小題4:What is the author’s attitude toward modern celebrity?

A．Sincere.	B．Sceptical.
C．Disapproving.	D．Sympathetic.

Want to find Bigfoot? Matt Moneymaker, president of Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot, says the creatures have been seen in every state but Hawaii.
Redwoods State Park, California
With its towering redwoods and thick forest, it's hard to beat the  atmosphere at this  Northern California park.Moneymaker recommends taking a walk along the Smith River on Howland Hill Road.“We heard of lots of different sightings and sounds in there，”he says.“I've found tracks crossing that road.”707­465­7335.
Salmon­Huckleberry Wilderness, Oregon
You don't have to go far to find Bigfoot.This area 20 miles east of Portland in the Mount Hood National Forest is prime spotting territory.Bigfoot apparently has a sweet tooth and goes ape for huckleberries, which grow in the area.Scores of campers have been scared off by noises and have had rocks thrown at them.503­668­1700.
Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico
The high density of deer attracts Bigfoot to this place.The creatures may use the park's mountainous lookouts to watch over deer in spring.Even when there's no wind, dead trees often topple mysteriously, with their roots above the earth.“They let you know that they're there.”505­661­3333.
Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Vermont
This prominent mountain peak outside the town of Rutland has had its share of activity, including a trail­cam picture famous in Bigfoot circles of what appears to be a female one carrying her offspring (后代). Centuries ago，American Indians reported seeing an apelike creature and，more recently, hikers say that they have come upon a Bigfoot.800­756­8880.
Fahnestock State Park, New York
There's a long history of Bigfoot in this mountain park a mere 90 minutes from New York City. Moneymaker says investigators have found mysterious markings in the snow.845­225­7207.
Ponca Wilderness Area, Arkansas
Moneymaker says he had several good Bigfoot moments on a recent expedition in this area along the Buffalo National River in northern Arkansas.Most of the Bigfoot action centered on the area near Steel Creek Campground.870­439­2502.
小題1:Visitors are likely to see Bigfoot in the following places EXCEPT________.

A．California	B．New Mexico
C．Hawaii	D．Arkansas

小題2:If people want to see Bigfoot in Fahnestock State Park，they should phone________.

A．503­668­1 700	B．845­225­7 207
C．505­661­3 333	D．800­756­8 880

小題3:What can we learn about Bigfoot from the passage?

A．Bigfoot is often attacked by human being.

B．Bigfoot doesn't like eating animals like deer.

C．Bigfoot is afraid of inhabiting in a thick forest.

D．Bigfoot likes eating sweet fruit like huckleberries.

小題4:Where did Moneymaker have several good Bigfoot moments?

A．In Valles Caldera National Preserve.

B．In Salmon­Huckleberry Wilderness.

C．In Ponca Wilderness Area.

D．In Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

小題5:The underlined word “topple”  in the passage can be replaced by“________”．

A．fall down	B．eat up
C．move over	D．burn down

Part-time jobs for 15 and 16 years olds

Waiter / Waitress A job as a waiter or waitress is a good choice for 16-year-olds. Not only can one earn $9-$12 an hour, but they can also get the tips (小費). Most people that visit a restaurant don’t just have good food. They come here to relax and have a good time. Besides serving food quickly, a young waiter who talks to them politely with a smile on his face will make the diners enjoy their time at the restaurant.

Work in a library If one is fond of books, working in a library is another suitable choice. Besides the pay is good, it offers a lot of free time when students can actually sit down and finish their homework. So on returning home, they would have time to hang around with friends or just relax. So working in a library is an excellent part-time job for teens, especially for school students.

Internet jobs There are many ways of making money through online jobs like clicking on advertisements, visiting sites and signing up with them. However, such online jobs don’t pay well. A better Internet job for teens is to complete online surveys. These are quite simple surveys that usually ask one about his/ her opinions and ideas. Many companies use these ideas to make products designed for teenagers.

小題1:What does the writer think of the job as a waiter/waitress?

A．It needs a period of training.

B．It pays much more than other jobs.

C．It can improve one’s leadership skills.

D．Making diners comfortable is part of the job.

小題2:A student who is busy with his research paper will probably choose to work ______.

A．in a restaurant

B．in a library

C．on the Internet

D．in an IT company

小題3:The writer wrote this text to ______.

A．tell us the importance of doing part-time jobs

B．a(chǎn)dvise teenagers how to choose a part-time job

C．teach young people how to make lots of money

D．introduce his/her experience of doing part-time jobs

小題4:Why do some companies ask the teens to do surveys?

A．The teens have more free time.

B．They can pay less to the teens.

C．They need advice to make products for teens.

D．The teens usually express their true opinions.

In ancient Egypt，the pharaoh（法老）treated the poor message runner like a prince when he arrived at the palace, if he brought good news. However，if the exhausted runner had the misfortune to bring the pharaoh unhappy news，his head was cut off.
Shades of that spirit spread over today's conversations. Once a friend and I packed up some peanut butter and sandwiches for an outing. As we walked light-heartedly out of the door，picnic basket in hand，a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and said，"Oh boy，bad day for a picnic. The weatherman says it's going to rain." I wanted to strike him on the face with the peanut butter and sandwiches. Not for his stupid weather report，for his smile.
Several months ago I was racing to catch a bus. As I breathlessly put my handful of cash across the Greyhound counter，the sales agent said with a broad smile，"Oh that bus left five minutes ago." Dreams of head-cutting！
It’s not the news that makes someone angry. It’s the unsym pathetic attitude with which it’s delivered(遞送). Everyone must give bad news from time to time, and winning professionals do it with the proper attitude. A doctor advising a patient that she needs an operation does it in a caring way . A boss informing an employee he didn’t get the job takes on a sympathetic tone. Big winners know, when delivering any bad news, they should share the feeling fo the receiver.
Unfortunately，many people are not aware of this. When you're tired from a long flight，has a hotel clerk cheerfully said that your room isn't ready yet？When you had your heart set on the toast beef，has your waiter merrily told you that he just served the last piece？It makes you as traveler or diner want to land your fist right on their unsympathetic faces.
Had my neighbor told me of the upcoming rainstorm with sympathy（同情），I would have appreciated his warning. Had the Greyhound salesclerk sympathetically informed me that my bus had already left，I probably would have said，"Oh，that's all right I'll catch the next one." Big winners，when they bear bad news，deliver bombs with the emotion the bombarded（被轟炸的）person is sure to have.
小題1:In Paragraph 1，the writer tells the story of the pharaoh to ____.   

A．make a comparison	B．introduce a topic
C．describe a scene	D．offer an argument

小題2:In the writer's opinion，his neighbor was ___.   

A．friendly

B．warm-hearted

C．not considerate

D．not helpful

小題3:From "Dreams of head-cutting！"（Paragraph3），we learn that the writer___.   

A．was mad at the sales agent

B．was reminded of the cruel pharaoh

C．wished that the sales agent would have had dreams

D．dreamed of cutting the sales agent's head that night.

小題4:What is the main idea of the text？   

A．Delivering bad news properly is important in communication.

B．Helping others sincerely is the key to business success.

C．Receiving bad news requires great courage.

D．Learning ancient traditions can be useful.

C

Honey Sweet Cake (Prep. Time: 12 mins.) Ingredients Strawberries in syrup(糖漿), 1 package (unfrozen) Heavy cream, 1 cup Corn flour, 2 tablespoons Process Mix the strawberries, cream and corn flour in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, while constantly mixing until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and refrigerate for two hours, Fill the frozen mixture in a cake, and serve.

Rosy Cake (Prep. Time: 10 mins. ) Ingredients Sugar, 3/4 cup Water, 1 cup Corn flour, 3 tablespoons Strawberries , 2——3 cups Process Take a large saucepan and mix all the ingredients. Cook until the mixture thickens over medium heat. Let it cool naturally and completely. Fill up your cake with the mixture, and serve.

Triangle Sweet (Prep. Time: 15 mins. ) Ingredients Sugar, cup Whipping cream, cup Unflavored gelatin(明膠) , 1 tablespoon Cold water, 2 tablespoons Boiled water, 3 tablespoons Strawberries, crushed, 2 cups Process Add sugar to the crushed strawberries and set them aside. In cold water, soften the gelatin, and once it is softened, add boiling water. Stir until the gelatin dissolves. Add the dissolved gelatin mixture to the strawberries and let it cool. Now whip(攪打) the cream till it becomes stiff. When the strawberry mixture is of syrup thickness, add the whipped cream to it. Refrigerate until it sets. Fill it into your cake, and serve.

Flaming Maple (Prep. Time: 10 mins. ) Ingredients Fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoons Honey, 2 tablespoons Maple syrup, 2 tablespoons Strawberries, ripe, 2 pints Process Make a fruit butter of half of the strawberries. Add honey, lemon juice, and maple syrup until it forms a smooth sauce. Add the remaining strawberries. Fill the mixture in the cake, and serve.

小題1:Which of the following ingredients are used in all the recipes?

A．heavy cream

B．sugar syrup

C．corn flour

D．strawberries

小題2:Chefs needn't freeze the ingredients when preparing ___________
① Honey Sweet Cake ②Rosy Cake ③Triangle Sweet   ④ Flaming Maple

A．①②

B．②③

C．①④

D．②④

小題3:Which of the following is true?

A．Triangle Sweet takes the longest time to prepare.

B．Strawberries used in the recipes aren't all fresh.

C．Most strawberries are used when making a Rosy Cake.

D．Honey Sweet Cake is the best choice for busy mothers.

小題4:In how many recipes should chefs thicken the mixture by heating?

A．Only one

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbors make a  noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbor first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbor if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn’t criticize (批評) his behavior（行為）; it simply points out that he may not realize how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbor may become angry.
If your neighbor becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighborhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbor is out of line. Some noise is considered to be reasonable, even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs (耳塞).
Even if your neighbor makes too much noise, you don’t have to live your life in discomfort. It’s always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbors. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He’s sure to appreciate behavior like this and be more open to your suggestions about noise level.
小題1:What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbor?

A．To buy a good pair of earplugs

B．To offer suggestions to the neighbor

C．To ask the neighborhood committee for help

D．To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is

小題2:The underlined word “reasonable” in the third paragraph probably means “____”.

A．terrible

B．loud

C．proper

D．unpleasant

小題3:What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．You should control your noise as well

B．You can live comfortably even if there is noise

C．Your neighbor may be more friendly than you think

D．You should build good relationship with your neighbor

小題4:The author wrote this passage to tell us ____ .

A．why we should get on well with neighbors

B．how to relax ourselves in a modern society

C．how to become known among neighbors

D．what we should do with our noisy neighbor