Nothing succeeds like confidence. When you are truly confident, it radiates from you like sunlight, and attracts success to you like a magnet.  Besides, those who are self-confident can in turn inspire confidence in others: their audience, their peers, their bosses, their customers, and their friends. And gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success.
So how can we build a sense of self-confidence and prepare ourselves on the way to success?
First, do what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize you for it. Believe in yourself and believe that you can do it under any circumstances, because if you believe you can, then you really will. The belief keeps you searching for answers, which means that pretty soon you will get them.
Second, govern your behavior based on what other people think. What's more important, be willing to take risks and go the extra miles to achieve better results, in which case mistakes can not be avoided. Don't hesitate to admit your mistakes, and learn from them. Next, work hard to settle the problems in order to cover up your mistakes before anyone notices. Building self-confidence is readily achievable, as long as you have the focus and determination to carry things through. And what's even better is that the things you'll do to build self-confidence will also build success -- after all, your confidence will come from real, solid achievement. No one can take this away from you!
As you sow, so shall you reap. With your perseverance and improvement, you are getting closer to success. At this stage, wait for others to congratulate you on your accomplishments and compliments graciously. "Thanks, I really worked hard on that prospectus. I'm pleased you recognize my efforts. " The congratulations and compliments from others will promote you to gain further success.
Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every, aspect of our lives, and it is no wonder that so many people struggle to find it. Self-confidence really can be learned and built on. Besides, whether you're working on your own self-confidence or building the confidence of people around you, it's well-worth the effort!
【小題1】Those who are truly confident

A．succeed without effort and hard work

B．encourage people around to become confident

C．a(chǎn)ppear more attractive and thus become successful

D．gain the confidence of others and feel successful

【小題2】The underlined word "mock" (Para. 2) is closest in meaning to

A．praise

B．imitate

C．talk to

D．laugh at

【小題3】When others congratulate us on our achievements, we are supposed to

A．praise them in return	B．gain further improvement
C．politely accept the compliments	D．expect them to congratulate you again

【小題4】Which of the following proverbs best goes with Paragraph 4.9

A．Look before your leap.

B．It is no use crying over spilt milk.

C．Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

D．Learn from past mistakes and avoid future ones.

【小題5】The purpose of the text is to

A．tell people how to become successful

B．convince people to do what they believe to be right

C．encourage people to build confidence and achieve success

D．criticize people who lack confidence and thus fail in their career

Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?
【小題1】When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.

A．go to their friends	B．talk with their parents
C．have a discussion with their family	D．talk with their friends on the phone

【小題2】Which of the following is DIFFERENT in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.”?

A．Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends.

B．Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends.

C．Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends.

D．Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends.

【小題3】Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy.

B．In all families, children can choose everything they like.

C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better.

D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.

【小題4】The main idea of this passage is that ___________.

A．Teenagers need friends

B．Friends can give good advice

C．Parents often choose their children’s friends for them

D．Good friends can communicate with each other

Why does a large education nation like China have so few world renowned scientists as the US? Educationists from China and the US try to find out the answer to questions like this at a forum on the basic education strategy.
The forum, held recently, was jointly organized by the Education Development Research Center of the Ministry of Education in China and the Postgraduate School of the University of Pennsylvania in the US. It aims to find out similarities and differences that exist between two countries in their educational system.
While some educationists in China keep a doubtful eye to the country’s educational system in recent years. Their American counterparts give a positive answer to the basic education in China, saying that it is still one of the best in the world.
An American educationist told reporters that the basic education in the US was criticized in recent years due to its political tendency. On the contrary, Chinese government’s stress on basic education and qualified teachers has set a good example.
At primary and middle school, pupils in China did better in math and science lessons than the US pupils. However, few grow to be world “masters”. Why? Educationists attributed this to China’s stress on examination rather than students’ interest.
Deputy Director of the postgraduate school of Pennsylvania University said American teachers encouraged students to focus on their strong points. In China, students are driven to study to pass the entrance examination test and they do not pay much attention to their own interest.
At the forum, director of the Education Development Research Center Mr. Zhang said in the future, the research center would make its middle and long-term basic education strategy by taking some references from other countries including the US.
He also revealed that for a long time in the future, China would make a breakthrough in setting the policy for quality education.
【小題1】This passage is mainly about _________.

A．quality education development in the future

B．why China’s education cultivates few world masters

C．China’s good basic education

D．genius education at the primary stage

【小題2】The underlined word “renowned” in the first paragraph probably means ________

A．famous

B．a(chǎn)ctive

C．qualified

D．experienced

【小題3】The following statements are true EXCEPT that _________

A．basic education in the US is associated with the government’s political interest.

B．the forum aims to find out the reason why there few world masters in China.

C．a(chǎn)ll the educationists in China cast doubts in the country’s educational system.

D．Chinese government’s stress on basic education is spoken highly of.

【小題4】China’s educational system will _______ in the future.

A．help students to study even harder to pass the examination

B．a(chǎn)pply more attention to quality education referring to systems of other countries

C．a(chǎn)llow students to pay more attention to their own interest without their test results

D．copy the educational system in the US

Children love playing games. That is a well-known fact. Kids learn how to play games at a very early age, and once they find a game they love, they can play for hours and hours. In fact, games for kids are so popular that there is an entire industry dedicated(獻(xiàn)身) to designing and selling them. There seems to be a fun game for kids for every occasion. Christmas and birthday are often celebrated with the family tradition of gifting a new game.
In recent years, however, Internet games and gaming system seem to have taken kids’ world by storm. Online games for kids have quickly become a very popular way to pass the time with small children and teens alike. Online games are a great way to have fun, and they can be quite educational as well. Many online games created for specific age groups encourage grade-appropriate development and educational skills.
Hundreds of websites offer fun and educational games to kids. Many of these sites are created by big names, such as National Geographic, which we can trust. They offer free games that parents know are proper for children. Parents are encouraged to go online and research online games proper for their children’s age before allowing their kids to play these games. Parents want to look for parental controls such as the ability to set or monitor their children’s playtime.
With so many options to choose from, parents and children will find it easy to find fun games and activities on the Internet. And nowadays, being able to use a computer is a very important skill for children to learn, so playing on the computer is definitely both educational and fun. Children are sure to learn new skills about any subject with the right, trusted website.
【小題1】The industry of games for kids is fast growing probably because ________.

A．the workers are good at designing

B．children are mostly crazy about games

C．people would like to celebrate birthdays

D．kids don’t like to do their homework

【小題2】Which of the following is TRUE of National Geographic Games?

A．The news is updated every day.

B．There is a large amount of information.

C．It can help parents to control kids’ playtime.

D．The games on it are good for kids’ mental and physical health.

【小題3】What’s the author’s attitude to children’s playing computer games?

A．Supportive.

B．Worried.

C．Negative.

D．Doubtful.

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

A．Traditional games and modern games

B．Computer games harmful to the youth

C．Games for kids changing a lot ever since

D．Internet games with fun and education

It’s not easy being a teenager---nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel angry, hurt, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important to give your child the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you’ll still be there for him when he needs you.
Expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Except for health and safety problems, such as drug use or careless driving; consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something, don’t insist he tell you what’s on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he’ll refuse to talk. Instead, let him attempt to solve things by himself. At the same time, remind him that you’re always there for him should he seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager’s privacy(隱私). Never read him his mail or listen in on personal conversions.
Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family’s telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for 15 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least an equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls, but teaches your teenager moderation (節(jié)制). Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own phone that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part-time job.
【小題1】Why is it not easy being a teenager or a parent of a teenager?

A．Because the teenager is very naughty.

B．Because the parent always expects a lot from the child.

C．Because you can make your child feel hurt, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself.

D．Because the teenager wants his or her own space.

【小題2】The main purpose of the text is to tell parents       .

A．how to get along with a teenager	B．how to respect a teenager
C．how to understand a teenager	D．how to help a teenager grow up

【小題3】The last paragraph is about how to teach a teenager        .

A．to use the phone in a sensible way	B．to pay for his own telephone
C．to share the phone quickly	D．to answer the phone quickly

【小題4】What should parents do in raising a teenager according to the text?

A．Not allow him to learn driving or take drugs.

B．Give him advice only when necessary.

C．Let him have his own telephone.

D．Not talk about personal things with him.

First Lady Michelle Obama urged students to visit China at the "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad forum at Howard University in 2011.
President Barack Obama announced the "100,000 Strong" Initiative （倡議） during his 2009 visit to China. The program aims to increase and diversify the number of American students studying in China by making studying abroad more affordable.
During the event at Howard, Mrs. Obama spoke about the importance of studying abroad, something she never did while in college. "Studying in countries like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects（前景） in the global market. The fact is that with every friendship you make and every bond of trust you establish you are shaping an image of America projected to the rest of the world," she said.
David Marzban from Pepperdine University recalled a time when he formed a cross-cultural bond with a complete stranger at a restaurant near Fudan University in Shanghai. He noticed a young chef signaling him to come over. "He presses the play button on his media player and starts singing 'California Dreaming' and wants me to sing along with him," Marzban said. "At this time I knew a great friendship had started during my first two weeks in China."
Nicole Baden, a senior communications major at Howard University, recalled how her time in China really helped her master the language. "You have to experience the culture while learning the language to really master it and to understand why things are how they are compared to your own culture," Baden said.
Mrs. Obama encouraged students to set aside concept that studying abroad is for rich kids only or for those attending certain schools. In addition, the first lady announced that the Chinese government is giving 10,000 "Bridge Scholarships" to cover costs for American students and teachers studying in China.
Students from several schools attended the forum. 12-year-old Sarah Davis, who studied in China last summer, said she was very excited to hear Michelle Obama talk about the country. “I love Chinese. Out of all the languages I’ve learned, Chinese is the most difficult and interesting,” she said.
【小題1】The examples mentioned in the passage mainly indicate that _____.

A．the US students’ life in China is helpful and worthwhile

B．a(chǎn)ll students of the US are living a comfortable life in China

C．Chinese young people are friendly to foreigners

D．it isn’t realistic for some US young people to study in China

【小題2】What can we infer from the passage?

A．Baden came to China to study the differences between English and Chinese.

B．Poor children from America have no opportunity to study in China.

C．David Marzban made a Chinese friend in an unexpected way in China.

D．Michelle Obama called on US students to study in China at a government meeting.

【小題3】What is the best title for the passage?

A．The US has an ambitious program for Americans studying in China.

B．Michelle Obama encourages American students to study in China.

C．More American students plan to study in China.

D．China is attracting more and more international students.

There are some very good things about open education. This way of teaching allows the students to grow as people, and to develop their own interests in many subjects. Open education allows students to be responsible for their own education, as they are responsible for what they do in life. Some students do badly in traditional classrooms. The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning. Some students will be happier in an open education school. They will not have to worry about grades or rules. For students who worry about these things a lot, it is a good idea to be in an open classroom．
But many students will not do well in an open classroom. For some students, there are too few rules．These students will do little in school. They will not make good use of open education．Because open education is so different from traditional education, these students may have a problem of getting used to making so many choices．For many students it is important to have some rules in the classroom．They worry about the rules even when there are no rules．Even a few rules will help this kind of students．The last point about open education is that some traditional teachers do not like it. Many teachers do not believe in open education．Teachers who want to have an open classroom may have many problems at their school．
You now know what open education is. Some of its good points and bad points have been explained．You may have your own opinion about open education．The writer thinks that open education is a good idea, but only in theory．In actual fact, it may not work very well in a real class or school. The writer believes that most students, but of course not all students want some structure in their classes．They want and need to have rules．In some cases, they must be made to study some subjects．Many students are pleased to find subjects they have to study interesting. They would not study those subjects if they did not have to．
【小題1】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the reason why some students like open education?

A．The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning．

B．Open education allows students to be responsible for their own future.

C．Open education allows the students to develop their own interests.

D．Open education has fewer rules.

【小題2】 From the passage we can learn that___________.

A．the writer believes that all students don’t want some structure in their classes

B．the writer believes that all students want some structure in their classes

C．nearly all teachers like open education

D．only the students that worry about rules or grades a lot like to be in an open classroom

【小題3】Some students will do little in an open classroom because __________．

A．there are too few rules

B．they hate activities

C．open education is similar to traditional education

D．they worry about the rules

【小題4】 Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage given?

A．Some advantages about open education.

B．Some disadvantages about open education.

C．Some students’ feelings in an open education school.

D．The writer’s opinion about open education is the same as all the students’.

【小題5】Which of the following can best summarize the passage?

A．Many students like open education．

B．Open education is better than traditional education．

C．Open education is a really complicated (復(fù)雜的) idea.

D．Open education is a good idea in practice．

Recently, a student used his Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to film a female teacher scolding and tearing the work of a classmate. The public discussion that the incident caused started on the Internet. However, when it came to the media’s attention, it quickly became a major topic in the education circles. The reactions so far suggest that the focus of the debate has been on one question: whom to blame?
Teachers who are anxious to defend their professional dignity have tried to put the blame on the students. They mentioned their right to privacy 隱私）and for this reason they requested the Ministry of Education (MOE) to prohibit PDAs in schools. On the other hand, some parents and students have taken a different position. They feel that the teacher is also at fault. Caught up in the war of words between both sides, people are no longer interested in the “truth” of the matter which seems now unimportant. It was left to newspapers to discover the central point of the controversial issue, by stressing the problems that are not always easily noticed in our educational system.
For those responsible for educating the young, this PDA incident conveys the message that “Times have changed”，a reality that must have been felt even more strongly by the female teacher when reflecting on this unpleasant experience. Different times call for different professional approaches in education. The ability to understand the students they are teaching has always been the quality of successful teachers. Despite some factors, the incident shows that the teacher lacks good qualities on her part. Besides, the rules under current system to deal with recalcitrant students need to be improved. Also, it is an example which shows the issue we are familiar with: what to do with new technology? With PDA, the new technology, the interaction (交流）between the teacher and students in classroom has been changed.
【小題1】The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to______.

A．improve the teachers’ way of teaching

B．stress the using of PDA in the classroom

C．change the students’ behavior in the classroom

D．discuss the potential problems of educational system

【小題2】The underlined word “recalcitrant” in paragraph 3 probably means______?

A．difficult to control	B．interested in nothing
C．unwilling to learn	D．ready to obey rules

【小題3】The writer’s attitude toward the PDA incident is______.

A．optimistic	B．critical
C．uncertain	D．a(chǎn)pproval

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

A．Whom to blame?

B．The PDA incident

C．Times have changed

D．What to do with new technology?

Many people go to school for an education. They learn languages, history, politics, geography, physics, chemistry and mathematics. Others go to school to learn a skill so that they can make a living. School education is very important and useful. Yet, no one can learn everything from school. A teacher, no matter how much he knows, can not teach his students everything they want to know. The teacher’s job is to show his students how to learn. He teaches them how to read and how to think. So, much more is to be learned outside school by the students themselves.
It is always more important to know how to study by oneself than to memorize some facts or a formula(公式). It is actually quite easy to learn a certain fact in history or a formula in mathematics. But it is very difficult to use a formula in working out a math problem. Great scientists before us didn’t get everything from school .Their teachers only showed them the way. Edison did not even finish primary school. But they were all so successful. They invented so many things for mankind. The reason for their success is that they knew how to study. They read books that were not taught at school . They would ask many questions as they read. They did thousands of experiments. They worked hard all their lives, wasting not a single moment. Above all , they knew how to use their brain.
【小題1】 To work out a math problem, you need to know __________.

A．only a certain formula

B．how to memorize some facts

C．only some facts

D．the method to work it out

【小題2】 Why were many scientists so successful?

A．They received good education.

B．They were very clever.

C．They knew how to learn.

D．They learned lots of facts and formulas.

【小題3】How did great scientists study?

A．They read a lot of books and asked many questions while reading.

B．They did thousands of experiments.

C．They always worked hard and never wasted time.

D．All of the above.

Parents who feel disappointed at their teenagers’ failure to pay attention in class, and inability to sit quietly long enough to finish homework or plan ahead, should take solace. Their children are not being lazy or careless, according to new research.
The research has found that teenagers’ brains continue developing far longer into adulthood than we used to think. Teens may look like young adults but their brain structure is similar to that of much younger children.
“It is not always easy for teens to pay attention in class without letting their minds wander, or to ignore distractions from their younger brothers or sisters when trying to solve a maths   problem,” said Dr Iroise Dumon-theil. “But it’s not the fault of teenagers that they can’t pay attention and are easily distracted. It’s to do with the structure of their brains. Teens simply can’t think as well as an adult.”
The research showed that the brain of a teenager works less effectively than that of an adult. “We knew that the front of the brain of teens functioned in a chaotic  (混亂的) way but we  didn’ t realize it continued until the late 20s or early 30s,” said Dr Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who led the research.
Chaotic thought patterns are a result of teenagers’ brains containing too much grey matter — the cell bodies and connections which carry messages within the brain. As we age, the amount of grey matter in our brain reduces.
“What our research has shown is that there is simply too much going on in the brains of teens,” said Blakemore. “The result is that their brain energy and resources are wasted and their decision-making process is badly influenced. Adults, on the other hand, have less grey matter. This means that the brain works far more effectively.”
【小題1】The underlined word “solace” in Paragraph 1 may mean _____.

A． notice

B．medicine

C．comfort

D．a(chǎn)ction

【小題2】When making decisions, _____.

A．teens’ brains continue to do much needless work

B．the grey matter in young children’s front brain becomes active

C．people are not likely to be distracted until their late 30s

D．a(chǎn)dults are more independent than teens

【小題3】What is the effect of having too much grey matter?

A．It makes us always feel disappointed.

B．It makes us more intelligent.

C．It had a bad effect on the growth of teens.

D．It had a bad effect on decision-making.

【小題4】What’s the text mainly about?

A．Teens have different brains from those of children.

B．Adults work more effectively than teens.

C．Grey matter makes teens unable to pay attention.

D．Brain energy is wasted in the brain’s activity.