Many years ago my student asked me the question, “Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?” Without taking time to reflect, I answered ,“Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone’s life.” Even though I was sincere, that wasn’t a very good answer and my student didn’t let it slide.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, “You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?” He shook his head as if I were crazy and walked away looking confused. I’m one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.
Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach:
It’s in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6^th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled(逐漸灌輸)in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.
Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples(波紋) go on and on until they reach the shore. You can’t have ripples without a “stone.” Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that’s what I strive to do.
I genuinely love teenagers. I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they’ll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too. Teaching isn’t for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.
【小題1】 Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?

A．Because he thought her answer was unbelievable.

B．Because the writer was insincere.

C．Because the student was naughty.

D．Because the answer was difficult to understand.

【小題2】 According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?

A．The writer’s mother has the greatest influence on her.

B．The writer’s answer made the student confused.

C．In the writer’s opinion, some people in the world are unfit to teach.

D．The writer annoyed the student who asked the question.

【小題3】 We can infer from the text that      .

A．the writer was also a good teacher in school

B．the writer often plays with her students beside a pond

C．the writer devotes herself to teaching and her students

D．the writer often accompanies the students on their way home.

Dear Aunty,
I work at a supermarket, and another girl and I share tasks we must finish before leaving. But she takes half an hour to do something I can do in ten minutes. She always has a story to tell me and stops working when she does. My boss is angry at both of us, but It’s not my fault. I don’t want to rat on her, but what else can I do?
Flustered
Dear Flustered,
Let me propose a better way. Make a log of all the tasks you share, then suggest to your boss that for efficiency your duties could be divided into two separate checklists. If he’s reluctant, go to plan B: the next time this girl starts telling you a story, stop working to listen and call your boss over to hear what a great storyteller she is. I’m sure he’ll take it from here.
Aunty
Dear Aunty,
I’m a college student in the Philippines who wants to be wise with money. I’m not an economics or business major student and I don’t know anything about stocks. But I really want to buy assets and invest. I receive about 15,000 pesos（比索）every school term from my education plan. I don’t have any idea how I should spend it. I don’t want to just buy new clothes, or hang out with my friends because it would not be wise. I want my money to grow. Please enlighten me.
Fastbreakplay
Dear Fastbreakplay,
Being wise with money is the No. 1 thing to learn. Start with a disciplined and systematic savings plan. When your savings reach a sizeable amount, then you may start investing. In the meantime, invest in yourself by reading up on stock markets and capital markets. Follow the news. Before I started investing during my senior high school years, I had already studied stock market data of the past century as I believe markets tend to repeat themselves. If you master this skill, you will master your reading of the markets.
Aunty
【小題1】When Flustered’s boss isn’t willing to separate their work, Flustered can _____.

A．follow the second advice	B．invite the boss to listen to the girl
C．stop working or do other things	D．report to the boss on time

【小題2】Fastbreakplay writes a letter to Aunty in order to _____.

A．buy some pesos	B．become an expert on stocks
C．get ways to grow money	D．study economics as his major

【小題3】In Aunty’s opinion, one should _____ at the beginning to be wise with money.

A．start investing	B．have a saving plan
C．study stock markets	D．master market reading

【小題4】From letters above, we know Aunty should be ________.

A．a(chǎn)n elder kind woman	B．a(chǎn) lady in the community
C．a(chǎn) famous singer	D．a(chǎn) name of a columnist

Do you want to have a close friend? Do you know how to make a good friend? Now, let me tell you. Before you make friends, you have to decide who you want to be your friends. Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kind of things they do.
The quickest way to make a friend is to smile. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy at first to smile, but remember most people will stay away from a scared or angry looking face.
One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn’t it make you want to keep talking to that person?
Ask your new friends questions about themselves. Who’s their favorite singer, where do they live, what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. Make sure you have something to add to the conversation, too. When someone asks you a question, do have an answer for them. There’s nothing that will stop a conversation quicker than a shrug (聳肩) for an answer.
Kids who show an interest in other kids and who are kind and friendly make good friends. Remember, everyone wants to be around people who like to do similar things and people who are nice to them.
【小題1】What does the underlined word scared( in para.2) mean?

A．holy

B．frightening

C．happy

D．sad

【小題2】The main idea is _________.

A．how to start a conversation	B．how to praise a person
C．how to make friends	D．the importance of making friends

【小題3】What kind of people are easy to become friends?

A．who are happy every day.	B．who often speak ill of others.
C．who are good at communicating .	D．who share the same interest.

【小題4】If a person shrug , what does he/she mean?

A．being very proud	B．making no answer
C．being very happy	D．be humorous

【小題5】Most people enjoy talking to one _______.

A．who speaks highly of them	B．who are very out-going.
C．who is always smiling	D．who points out their shortcomings

I suppose that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it’s given from the heart. When people are talking, there’s no need to do anything but receive them. Listen to what they’re saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don’t value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simple saying “I’m so sorry,” when someone is in pain.
One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happening to them. Her pain became a story about them. Eventually, she stopped talking to most people. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen, they know we care.
I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the handkerchiefs, until I realized that passing a person a handkerchief may be just another way to shut him down, to take them out of their experience of sadness. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them.
This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too shy to speak or did not know the answer. But now I know that a loving silence often has far more power to heal than the kindest words.
【小題1】What does the author value most in the communication with each other?

A．Deep understanding	B．Saying “I’m Sorry”.
C．Attention from heart.	D．Doing nothing.

【小題2】The woman patient stopped telling her story to most people because ______.

A．She didn’t get enough respect from others

B．she was discouraged by being often interrupted

C．people often told her their own opinions

D．people couldn’t understand her sad situation

【小題3】 If you hand a handkerchief to someone crying, you may ______.

A．hurt his feelings	B．make him embarrassed
C．encourage him to continue to cry	D．stop him from letting out his sorrow

【小題4】 It can be inferred from the passage that while communicating, ______.

A．listening is a perfect way to respond to others

B．people keep silent because they don’t know the answer

C．keeping silent means being too shy to speak

D．it is easy to form the habit of listening silently

It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was ,in his words, “a brilliantly（精彩地）written book”. However, he then went on to talk about Mr Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day’s “Report on Guilty Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I’m not one to lie too often (I’d hate to be caught out ),I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire top ten . But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky(I haven’t read him, but haven’t lied about it either )and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress” someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in –depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. k. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story(I’ll come clean: I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so).
【小題1】How did the author find his friend a book liar?

A．By judging his manner of speaking.

B．By looking into his background.

C．By mentioning a famous name.

D．By discussing the book itself.

【小題2】Which of the following is a “guilty secret” according to the World Book Day report?

A．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list.

B．42% of people pretended to have read 1984.

C．The author admitted having read 9 books.

D．Dreams From My Father is hardly read.

【小題3】By lying about reading, a person hopes to.

A．control the conversation

B．a(chǎn)ppear knowledgeable

C．learn about the book

D．make more friends

【小題4】What is the author’s attitude to 58%of readers?

A．Favorable.

B．Uncaring

C．Doubtful

D．Friendly

Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. Take my family’s last vacation. It was my six-year-old son’s winter break form school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a weeklong trip. The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meeting in New York，So I had to get back . But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.
The next day my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged一okay, ordered-them to wait it out at the airport, to "earn" more Delta Dollars. Our total take: $1,600. Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big-time bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar. And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up.
I've made living looking for the best deals and exposing (揭露) the worst tricks . I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade. I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I believe in. I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money’s worth. I’m also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its longer, and it's the first thing people notice. And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. Quality lasts.
【小題1】Why did Delta give the author's family credits?

A．They took a later flight.

B．They had early bookings.

C．Their flight had been delayed.

D．Their flight had been cancelled.

【小題2】What can we learn about the author?

A．She rarely misses a good deal.

B．She seldom makes a compromise.

C．She is very strict with her children

D．She is interested in cheap products.

【小題3】What does the author do?

A．She's a teacher.

B．She's a housewife.

C．She's a media person.

D．She's a businesswoman.

【小題4】What does the author want to tell us?

A．How to expose bad tricks.

B．How to reserve airline seats.

C．How to spend money wisely,

D．How to make a business deal.

Spring is here and so is the cycling season. Here are some tips on how to do it safely and comfortably.
Watch your feet—Pushing with the wrong part of the foot can raise your risk of developing a painful injury of the heel and arch（腳心）, says Rob Werstine, a sports physiotherapist（理療師）and board member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.  You should push with the ball of your foot, he says.
Layer up—While it’s still cool, wear layers of clothing, with clothing close to the body that breathes and outer layers that do not absorb water. Go for bright colors that increase your visibility（可見度）.
Be reasonable—If you are just starting out and aren’t in good shape, don’t sign up for a 50-kilometre ride. And while cycling is great exercise for people who want to get into shape, if your doctor advises you not to do tiring exercise, cycling shouldn't be your starting position, Werstine says. Walk to begin getting into shape and then graduate to cycling.                           
Fix the fit—If you develop lower back pain or numbness in your hands and fingers from cycling, it could be your bike isn’t adjusted properly for your height. A good cycle shop can help you find the right height for the seat and handlebars, but if you have continuing problems, consider consulting a bike fit physiotherapist, Werstine says.
Be mindful—You have to pay attention on the roads to vehicles, other cyclists and pedestrians（行人）.Consider taking a cycling safety course to practise your skills. Or do some reading about how to avoid dangerous cycling situations. bicyclesafe.com, for instance, lists 10 types of car-bike accidents and how to avoid them.
【小題1】Which part of the foot should one use when cycling?

A．The heel.

B．The arch.

C．The ball.

D．The toes.

【小題2】 From Paragraph 4 we can conclude______.

A．not everyone can exercise by cycling	B．walking is better than cycling
C．cycling is popular with people	D．cycling is helpful to everyone

【小題3】According to the last paragraph, if you want to avoid danger when cycling, you should ______.
a. consider taking a cycling safety course
b. search for information on bicyclesafe.com
c. consider consulting a bike fit physiotherapist
d. adjust the bike properly for your height

A．a(chǎn). c

B．c. d

C．a(chǎn). b

D．b. d

The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching. And I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt: “The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head stubbornly—and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.
“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in.”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.
When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good.”
“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked impatiently.
“Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said.
“The artwork?” I was puzzled.
The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.
What a relief!
【小題1】Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?

A．Cheerful.

B．Nervous.

C．Satisfied.

D．Upset.

【小題2】What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?

A．The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.

B．The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.

C．The surroundings of the dentist’s office.

D．The laughing assistant of the dentist.

【小題3】Why did the author suddenly smile?

A．Because the dentist came at last.

B．Because she saw a picture on the ceiling.

C．Because she could relax in the chair.

D．Because the assistant kept comforting her.

【小題4】What did the author learn from her experience most probably?

A．Strike while the iron is hot.

B．Have a good word for one’s friend.

C．Put oneself in other’s shoes.

D．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

China is a land of bicycles.At least it was back in 1992 when I travelled the country.Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle.Millions of them,all black.Cars were rare.Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year,I’ve found the opposite is true.There were millions of cars.However,people still use their bicycles to get around.For many,it’s the easiest and cheappiest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colours---silver,green,red,blue,yellow,whatever you want.
It’s fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads,move skillfully through traffic,and ride even on sidewalks(人行道). Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can’t provide.
Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started to ride.
My first ride home was orderly(守秩序的).To be safe,I stayed with a “pack”of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn’t want to get hit.So I took the ride carefully.
Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide,so crossing took time,skill and a little bit of luck.
I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my air was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people.Biking made me feel alive.
【小題1】According to the suthour,why are bicycles still popular in China today?

A．Because they are traditinal and safe.

B．Because they are convienent and inexpensive.

C．Because they are colourful and available.

D．Because they are fast and environment friendly.

【小題2】The authour decided to buy a bicycle because he intened ______.

A．to ride for fun

B．to use for transport

C．to experience local culture

D．to improve his riding skills

【小題3】How did the suthour feel about his street crossing?

A．It was boring.

B．It was difficult.

C．It was lively.

D．It was wonderful.

【小題4】Which of the following best describes the authour’s biking experience?

A．The authour enjoyed showing off his biking skill.

B．The author was annoyed by the air while riding.

C．The authour was praised by the other bikers.

D．The authour took great pleatsure in biking.

Some years ago, writing in my diary used to be a usual activity. I would return from school and spend the expected half hour recording the day’s events, feelings, and impressions in my little blue diary. I did not really need to express my emotions by way of words, but I gained a certain satisfaction from seeing my experiences forever recorded on paper. After all, isn’t accumulating memories a way of preserving the past?
When I was thirteen years old, I went on a long journey on foot in a great valley, well-equipped with pens, a diary, and a camera. During the trip, I was busy recording every incident, name and place I came across. I felt proud to be spending my time productively, dutifully preserving for future generations a detailed description of my travels. On my last night there, I wandered out of my tent, diary in hand. The sky was clear and lit by the glare of the moon, and the walls of the valley looked threatening behind their screen of shadows. I automatically took out my pen…
At that point, I understood that nothing I wrote could ever match or replace the few seconds I allowed myself to experience the dramatic beauty of the valley. All I remembered of the previous few days were the dull characterizations I had set down in my diary.
Now, I only write in my diary when I need to write down a special thought or feeling. I still love to record ideas and quotations that strike me in books, or observations that are particularly meaningful. I take pictures, but not very often—only of objects I find really beautiful. I’m no longer blindly satisfied with having something to remember when I grow old. I realize that life will simply pass me by if I stay behind the camera, busy preserving the present so as to live it in the future.
I don’t want to wake up one day and have nothing but a pile of pictures and notes. Maybe I won’t have as many exact representations of people and places； maybe I’ll forget certain facts, but at least the experiences will always remain inside me. I don’t live to make memories—I just live, and the memories form themselves.
【小題1】Before the age of thirteen, the author regarded keeping a diary as a way of ______.

A．observing her school routine	B．expressing her satisfaction
C．impressing her classmates	D．preserving her history

【小題2】What caused a change in the author’s understanding of keeping a diary?

A．A dull night on the journey.	B．The beauty of the great valley.
C．A striking quotation from a book.	D．Her concerns for future generations.

【小題3】What does the author put in her diary now?

A．Notes and beautiful pictures.	B．Special thoughts and feelings.
C．Detailed accounts of daily activities.	D．Descriptions of unforgettable events.

【小題4】The author comes to realize that to live a meaningful life is ______.

A．to experience it	B．to live the present in the future
C．to make memories	D．to give accurate representations of it