I have a friend named Monty Roberts. He has let me use his horse ranch(養(yǎng)馬場(chǎng))to put on events to raise money for youth at risk programs.
Last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let you use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant(流動(dòng)的)horse trainer. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be when he grew up.”
“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of owning a horse ranch someday. He put all his heart into the project and wrote about his dream in great detail. He even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of the buildings, stables and the track, and even a detailed floor plan for a 4000-square-foot house on it.”
“The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later ,he received a large red “F” on his paper with a note, ‘See me after class.’ The boy went to see the teacher and asked why. The teacher told him there was no way for a young boy like him to do that because owning a horse ranch required much money and resources, and then added ‘If you’ll rewrite his paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’”
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what to do. His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it’s a very important decision for you.’”
“Finally, a week later, the boy turned in the same paper without any change and stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.’”
“I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.”
Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.
【小題1】 The teacher gave him an “F” for his written paper because the
teacher thought 　　    .

A．he didn’t do a good job in his studies

B．he described an unrealistic goal in his paper

C．he came from an itinerant horse trainer’s family

D．he wrote his paper without the help of his father

【小題2】 Why did the boy turn in the same paper without any change?

A．Because he made up his mind to stick to his dream.

B．Because his father stopped him from rewriting it.

C．Because he was angry about his teacher’s words.

D．Because he had put too much of his heart into it.

【小題3】 From the story we can infer that the boy was actually 　　    .

A．Monty himself	B．the author himself
C．Monty’s friend	D．a(chǎn)n unknown person

【小題4】 According to the passage, the following statements are true EXCEPT
that 　　    .

A．the boy was very interested in having a horse ranch of his own

B．the boy might have got a higher grade if he’d rewritten his paper

C．the boy succeeded in turning his dream into reality in the end

D．the boy wouldn’t have reached his goal without his father’s support

【小題5】 The author wrote this passage mainly to 　　    

A．tell people how to describe their goals

B．warn people against dream stealers

C．encourage people to stick to their dreams

D．teach people how to write their papers

As you grow older, you’ll be faced with some challenging decisions—like whether to cut class or try cigarettes. Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers(同齡人). When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure.
Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone’s reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other.
Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them; your soccer friend might try to convince you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball.
It is tough to be the only one who says “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.
You’ve probably had a parent or teacher advising you to “choose your friends wisely.” Peer pressure is a big reason why they say this. If you choose friends who don’t cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won’t do these things either, even if other kids do.
If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust. Don’t feel guilty if you’ve made a mistake or two.
【小題1】What is the topic of the passage?

A．Friendship.

B．Self-confidence

C．Peer pressure

D．Making decisions

【小題2】In the last three paragraphs, the author mainly_____.

A．explains why friendship is so important

B．discusses how peers influence us

C．shows how to make more good friends

D．gives advice on how to deal with peer pressure

【小題3】Which of following may help handle peer pressure?

A．Spending more time with classmates.	B．Choosing friends with no bad habits.
C．Taking up more relaxing hobbies.	D．Helping others who are in trouble.

This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.
It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend（超越） it. Once we truly know that life is difficult---once we truly understand and accept it---then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.
Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that difficulties represent a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation.
What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a painful one.  Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness, or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet, it is in this whole process of solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems, just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, those things that hurt, instruct. It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems.
【小題1】From the passage, it can be inferred that ______.               

A．everybody has problems

B．we become stronger by meeting and solving the problems of life

C．life is difficult because our problems bring us pain

D．people like to complain about their problems

【小題2】The writer probably used just one short sentence in the first paragraph to ______.

A．save space	B．persuade readers
C．get readers’ attention	D．make readers laugh

【小題3】According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to______.

A．teach them to fear the pain of solving the problem

B．encourage them to learn

C．help them learn to deal with pain

D．teach them how to respect from problems

【小題4】The main idea of Paragraph 3 is that ______.

A．most people feel life is easy

B．most people complain about how hard their lives are

C．the writer feels life is easy

D．the writer likes to complain about his problems

As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult.   71  . Don’t panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!
With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions.   72 You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.
Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices.   73  But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.
It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family   74 A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.
This period is a part of the life cycle. These are some people who will be with you throughout life’s journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.
You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you.   75 So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!

A．Choose your friends wisely.

B．They will help shape the future.

C．They may seem to happen quickly.

D．You will probably want to be independent.

E. You may appreciate what you have in your own life.
F. The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.
G. Your family has been with you since you came into this world

Little Mark is only 6, but he has an IQ of 200, a genius among geniuses. But his intelligence comes at a cost. His parents must keep him intellectually simulated（啟發(fā)）while making sure he is like any other little boy.
Mark has been attracted by the way how the world works since he was a baby. When he was 3, Mark was reading fluently, mostly self-taught. His parents haven't been able to keep him away from books since.
"I tried many times to stop him reading. We worry about his crazy fond of reading because he constantly wants to read every-thing whatever it is.”
A psychologist at the Centre for gifted children tested Mark and gave him an IQ of 200. The average child of Mark's age has an IQ of 100. At 200, Mark is a genius-even compared with other child geniuses.
"With children like Mark you can tell that's a bright child as soon as they walk in. They just have this sort of intensity, and maybe they're not so good at communicating with people," the psychologist said. "He will never fit perfectly into a class where he's with children of his age.”But Mark's mother worries about the "socially isolated" labels. "Nobody wants their child to grow up with that image. I want him to communicate with others freely, but not to be frustrated academically, so it's really hard to find a balance," she says.
Helen Dudeney from the Talented and Gifted Children Association says Mark is one in a million with such a high IQ. She points out that geniuses are still rare and difficult for the public education system to handle. "The lack of coping comes because teachers aren't trained in teaching gifted children," says Dudeney.
Helen believes it's also extremely important for them to be recognized and supported in their talents. Mark's parents are trying to figure out how best to help Mark. At the moment, there are few options. Mark finds first year work boring and simple, but he must learn to complete the work. His mother says, "We just want to be happy. Just to have a happy childhood and want to go to school every day.”
【小題1】By saying "But his intelligence comes at a cost. ",the author means that        

A．Mark must pay for his intelligence at a high price

B．Mark's intelligence brings him negative effects at the same time

C．Mark's intelligence results from his parents

D．Mark's parents make Mark clever at all costs

【小題2】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?      

A．Mark's parents are very satisfied with his love for reading.

B．Mark began to teach himself reading at the age of 3.

C．Many child geniuses are not good at communicating with others.

D．It is hard for parents to bring up a genius.

【小題3】If there are 6. 6 billion people in the world, the number of geniuses with an IQ of 200 will be
________．

A．a(chǎn)bout 4,400

B．a(chǎn)bout 5,500

C．a(chǎn)bout 6,600

D．a(chǎn)bout 7,700

【小題4】What would be the best title for the passage?        

A．A genius' craziness for books

B．The life of the genius' parents

C．The burden of being gifted

D．The characteristics of Mark

As a youngster, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather’s farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of winding stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me. I was used to tidy living rooms that seemed to whisper, "Not to be touched!"
I can still remember one afternoon when I was eight years old. Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never approve. The walls were old; some stones were missing, others loose and falling. Still, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally, one spring afternoon, I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.
"I, uh-I want to climb the stone walls," I said. Everyone looked up. "Can I climb the stone walls? "Immediately voices of disagreement went up from the women in the room. "Heavens, no!" You'll hurt yourself!" I wasn't too disappointed; the response was just as I'd expected. But before I could leave the room, I was stopped by my grandfather's loud voice. "Now hold on just a minute," I heard him say. "Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself."
"Go," he said to me, "and come and see me when you get back." For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls -and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I'll never forget what he said. "Fred," he said, smiling, "You made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there's only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are."
Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. "There's only one person in this whole world like you," the kids can count on hearing me say, "and people can like you exactly as you are.”
【小題1】When the writer was small, he lived        .

A．in the city	B．on the farm
C．with his grandparents	D．a(chǎn)way from his parents

【小題2】The writer enjoyed his visits to the farm because        .

A．there were old stone walls.	B．it was an exciting place for him.
C．he liked his grandfather.	D．the living room there was clean

【小題3】The underlined word “approve” in paragraph 2 means        .

A．prove

B．suppose

C．a(chǎn)llow

D．mind

【小題4】We can learn from the passage that the writer was        .

A．a(chǎn)dventurous

B．funny

C．smart

D．talkative

This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers(young people aged from13~19)from all over the world will spend about ten months in U.S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’study the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize(批評(píng))American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”
【小題1】This year ________teenagers will take part in the exchange programme between America and other countries.

A．twenty-three hundred	B．thirteen hundred
C．over three thousand	D．less than two thousand

【小題2】The whole exchange programme is mainly to__________.

A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America

B．send students in America to travel in Germany

C．let students learn something about other countries

D．have teenagers learn new languages

【小題3】Fred and Mike agree that__________.

A．America food tasted better than German food

B．German schools were harder than American schools

C．Americans and Germans were both friendly

D．There were more cars on the streets in America

【小題4】What is particular in American schools is that________.

A．there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings

B．there are a lot of after-school activities

C．students usually take fourteen subjects in all

D．students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car

For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples, which are about 85 percent water, grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas (地區(qū)). Among the leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.
There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those grown for sale. The three most common kinds grown in the United States are Delicious, golden Delicious, and McIntosh.
　　Apples are different in colour, size, and taste. The colour of the skin may be red, green, or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart (酸的). Generally, sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make applesauce (蘋果醬).
　　Apple trees may grow as tall as twelve meters. They do best in areas that have very cold winters. Although no fruit is yielded during the winter, this cold period is good for the tree.
【小題1】It can be learned from the text that Delicious apples are __________

A．grown in France.	B．sold everywhere.
C．very big.	D．quite sweet.

【小題2】Cold winter weather is good for ___________

A．the growth of apple trees.

B．producing large apples.

C．improving the taste of apples.

D．the increase of water in apples.

【小題3】China, France and the United States are considered to _______________

A．be large producers of apples.

B．be large producers of applesauce.

C．have the longest history in apple production.

D．have the coldest winter among apple producing countries.

【小題4】The word yielded in the last sentence means _______________

A．improved.

B．increased.

C．produced.

D．sold.

A new study suggests that the round­the­clock availability that cell phones have brought to people's lives may take a toll on family life. The study，which followed more than 1,300 adults over 2 years, found that those who consistently used a mobile phone throughout the study period were more likely to report negative “spillover” between work and home life—and，in turn，less satisfaction with their family life.
Spillover essentially(本質(zhì)上)means that the line between work and home begins to become unclear. Work life may invade home life when a parent is taking job­related calls at home，for instance—or family issues may start to take up work time. For example，a child may call mum at work，telling her “microwave exploded”，explained Noelle Chesley，an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin­Milwaukee and the author of the study. The problem with cell phones seems to be that they are allowing for even more spillover between work and home.
This may be especially true for working women，the study found. Among men，consistent use of mobile phones seemed to allow more work issues to creep (潛入)into family time. But for women，the spillover tended to go in both directions. Being “connected” meant that work cut into home time，and family issues came into work life.
Cell phones seem to be opening more lines for stressful exchanges among family members. But there may be ways to control the spillover，according to Chesley. Employers, she said，could look at their policies on contacting employees after hours to make sure their expectations are “reasonable”．For their part，employees could decide that cell phones go off during family time, Chesley said.
【小題1】What does the underlined phrase “take a toll on” probably mean in Paragraph 1?

A．Explaining.

B．Founding.

C． Extending

D．Damaging.

【小題2】According to Chesley，what is the best solution to the problem caused by cell phones?

A．Separate work hours from family time.

B．Refuse to use cell phones.

C．Ignore coming calls during family time.

D．Encourage women to stay at home.

【小題3】We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．cell phones affect men as much as women

B．cell phones seem to be convenient to families

C．cell phones make the line between work and home unclear

D．we can do nothing to solve the problem

【小題4】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．How to control the negative spillover caused by cell phones.

B．How work life invades home life.

C．Consistent use of cell phones makes people feel less satisfied with their work.

D．Cell phones cause negative “spillover” between work life and home life.

Inside the pleasingly fragrant cafe, So All May Eat(SAME) in downtown Denver ,t
he spirit of generosity is  instantly noticeable: donation box stands in place of
a cash register customers here pay only what they can afford, no questions asked.
A risky business plan, perhaps, but SAME Café has done one unchangeable thing i
n the MileHigh City for six years: Open only at midday, the restaurant allows p
oor local customers who cannot pay to work as volunteers instead. They can act as
waitersandwaitresses,anddishwashers, or look after the buildings and equipment
for the cafe.It’s based on trust, and it’s working all right”, says co-owne
r Brad Birky, who started the caféin 2006. Previously volunteering at soup kitc
hens, the Birkys were dissatisfied with the often unhealthy meals they served t
here. “We wanted to offer quality food in a restaurant where every-one felt co
mfortable,regardless of their circumstances,” Birky says. SAME’s special lunc
h menu changs daily and most food materials are natural and grown by local farm
ers. The café now averages 65 to 70 customers (and eight volunteers) a day. And
the spirit of generosity behind the project appears to be spreading. In early 
2007,one volunteer who hadcleared snow for his meals during the long winter sai
d goodbye to the Birkys.He said he was going to New Orleans to help with the hu
rricane clearing up,” says Birky. 
【小題1】What can we learn about the soup kitchens the Birkys previously worked for?

A．They refused to have volunteers.

B．They offered low quality food.

C．They provided customers with a good environment.

D．They closed down because of poor management.

【小題2】According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．The customers who cannot pay can work as volunteers instead.

B．More volunteers will go to new Orleans for the hurricane cleanup.

C．Many new cafes will be opened to offer free lunches in the town.

D．The lunch menu has remained the same since the café was started.

【小題3】The author’s attitude towards running such a café is_______

A．unfavorable

B．doubtful

C．cautious

D．a(chǎn)pproving