Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you’ve got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we’re the apple of our parents’ eyes, and that our Grandmas think we’re great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics. But sometimes it’s a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge, it is time you build a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list if you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it. 
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you don’t wear the latest trends, buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The best way to get rid of a negative serf-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat (拍) yourself on the back, you’ll know you’re well on your way. Good luck!
【小題1】 You need to build a positive self-image when you _____. 

A．dare to challenge yourself

B．feel it hard to change yourself

C．a(chǎn)re unconfident about yourself

D．have a high opinion of yourself

【小題2】How should you change your serf-image according to the passage?

A．To keep a different image of others.

B．To make your life successful.

C．To understand your own world.

D．To change the way you think.

【小題3】 What is the passage mainly about? 

A．How to prepare for your success.

B．How to face challenges in your life.

C．How to build a positive self-image.

D．How to develop your good qualities.

What would it be like to take a walk on the surface of Mars? If you could design the tallest building in the world, what would it look like? Do you dream of being the next J．K. Rowling? This summer, you can experience all of these things, and more. All you need is an Internet connection and your imagination.
A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that kids spend an average of 1 hour and 29 minutes online each day. Many kids like to use that time to chat with friends, play games or check e­mails. But the next time you get on the Web, try exploring the world instead. “With the Internet, you can go back 11,000 years in time, or go 11,000 kilometers across the planet.” said Russell, Web search expert of Google. “The whole scope of history and the world is open to you.”
There is a wealth of information to be found online. For example, if your family is going on vacation somewhere，do a quick online search on the area before you even get in the car. “What's the background of the place; what's the history？” says Russell. “I like to tell my kids, ‘Whenever you have a question, whenever you have a doubt, search it out.’”
Ready to launch a virtual journey of your own? Here are a few starting points to get you thinking and to help you on your way. You can invite your parents along for the ride, too. Always ask for permission before downloading programs and software onto your computer. And check with a parent or an adult before visiting a new Web site.
Navigate the world in 3­D with Google Earth. Begin in outer space and zoom(快速移動) into the streets of any city, from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Or visit ancient monuments, watch the changing rainforests over time, and dive underwater to explore tropical reef.
With the Moon in Google Earth tool, you can walk in Neil Armstrong's famous footsteps. Take a guided tour of the moon's surface with Armstrong's fellow shuttle mate astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
When you're exploring that part of the solar system, hop on over to the Red Planet with Google Mars. There, you can move very quickly around the surface and see images from the Mars Rovers.
【小題1】The author uses questions in the first passage to ________.

A．introduce the topic of the paragraph

B．question the possibility of realizing the dream

C．a(chǎn)ttract the readers' attention

D．let the readers answer it

【小題2】How do you travel around the world in a day according to the passage?

A．By taking the time shuttle.

B．By making use of the Internet

C．By watching 3­D films.

D．By finding a tourism company in Google.

【小題3】Russell thought ________.

A．the students spent too much time on the Internet

B．the students shouldn't chat and play games online

C．the students could solve their problems through the line

D．the students should learn knowledge instead of chatting online

【小題4】What's the purpose of the passage?

A．Encourage the kids to spend more time online.

B．Encourage the kids to do some research on science.

C．Encourage the kids to learn to use the computer.

D．Encourage the kids to explore the world online.

The best of Bali in 48 hours
Bali(巴厘島) is home to most of Indonesia's Hindu minority. Here's how to get the most out of a 48­hour visit：
FRIDAY
3pm—There's nothing like a good meal. La Lucciola is the place to go, with its good food, great service and a beautiful view of the sea.
You can hire a car for some 450,000 rupiah per day. This will help you have more to spare during your trip there.
5pm—About an hour away from La Lucciola is Uluwatu. This southern tip of the island is famous for its temple that lies on the edge, high above the sea. Fire dance is performed here daily at sunset.
8pm—To finish off the evening, head to Jimbaran Bay where restaurants offer candles, dances, boys singing songs. Kick off your shoes, feel the sand, and enjoy the night.
SATURDAY
9：30am—Start the day with another taste of culture by heading for a “barong and keris” dance performance. It's held in many places. One is the Catur Eka Budi in Denpasar, capital of Bali.
12pm—About 50km from Denpasar is Kintamani, a favorite with tourists for the view of active volcano Mt. Batur. It's a good idea to reach Kintamani early as it gets cloudy after 3pm. Have lunch at a local restaurant with a view of Mt. Batur. Tourists can climb to Mt. Batur to catch the sunrise.
6：30pm—Spa(溫泉療養(yǎng))time! Spa Hati is a good place. Book ahead.
SUNDAY
6am—It's time to go to the sea. Don't forget the camera.
10：30am—Another half­day trip to two of the most famous temples in Bali. Drive down to the Taman Ayun temple at Mengwi.
12am—Next up is the Tanah Lot temple, perhaps the most famous of them all. Built on a rock, it's best seen in the afternoon when it's against the sun or at sunset.
【小題1】How can you save time during your trip in La Lucciola according to the text?

A．Having a pair of good shoes.

B．Preparing early and well.

C．Joining a tour group.

D．Hiring a car.

【小題2】Where can you enjoy fire dance?

A．In La Lucciola.	B．In Uluwatu.
C．At Mengwi.	D．In Denpasar.

【小題3】Which of the following is probably a better time to visit the famous temple built on a rock?

A．5 am.

B．4 pm.

C．11 am.

D．9 pm.

【小題4】Which of the following needs to be booked in advance?

A．Joining in a “ barong and keris” dance.

B．Visiting the Tanah Lot temple.

C．Having a spa in Spa Hati.

D．Having lunch in Kintamani.

We chat with our colleagues all the time when we have lunch, gossip in the tearoom, or leave work together. Sharing your personal life brings you closer to your coworkers and builds trust within your team. But revealing too much about yourself to colleagues, managers or human resources staff can cause difficulties and even endanger your work.
It's important to keep the right balance between getting along with colleagues and maintaining your privacy. “Communication in the office is tricky and complicated. You can neither spread chatter, nor be too silent and shut yourself off from others，” said Yang Yudan, deputy HR director at P&G.
According to her, there are several safe topics to talk about with colleagues during the break, such as the weather or movies. Women like to talk about makeup and clothing, while men are fond of sports and online games. But discussing your private life, such as relationship, habits or health conditions, is a potential minefield.
Liang Kun, 26, had to resign from his job at a trading company in Guangzhou last week after discussing his income with colleagues during a lunch break. “I didn't realize it was such a serious issue until a senior member of staff went to find the boss, asking why I got a higher salary than her，” said Liang. “Then our HR told me that according to the employee handbook it is forbidden to talk about salary in the office.” HR expert Yang also reminds us that paychecks are your own business. It is unwise to share this information with others, no matter how close you are.
To summarize, Yang advises office workers to be more aware of the image they project when talking to colleagues, “When you share your personal life, it will be recorded on your invisible resume and may slow down your career progressing.”
【小題1】The author quoted Yang Yudan in the text to ________.

A．show his admiration for her

B．make an argument with her

C．support his own viewpoint

D．build up his fame

【小題2】What can be inferred from the fact that Liang Kun had to resign his job according to the text?

A．It was unwise for him to share information with others.

B．He broke the rules made by the company.

C．He was such an honest person that he told the truth.

D．He treated his colleagues as family members.

【小題3】What is the author's purpose in writing the text?

A．To draw people's attention to their behaviors in public.

B．To advise office workers to be aware of the image they project.

C．To make you believe that communication in the office is complicated.

D．To warn you to be careful of invisible trouble while talking about your privacy to colleagues.

【小題4】Which would be the best title for the text?

A．At Work, Keep It to Yourself

B．Keep the Right Balance

C．Share Your Personal Life with Others

D．Safe Topics to Talk about

“It is one of the few bright spots in the Chinese economy，” says Zeng Ming. He is talking about e­commerce. Mr. Zeng, the chief strategy officer for Alibaba, a giant Chinese Internet firm, predicts that digital transactions on his firm's platforms will top 1 trillion yuan($159 billion) this year—more than Amazon's and eBay's combined. That is a bold claim, but consider what happened on Singles Day.
Invented a few years ago by students and seized upon by digital marketers, this festival for lonely hearts falls annually on the 11th day of the 11th month(since 1 is the loneliest number). It is like St Valentine's Day, only worse. Singletons show each other with tender gifts: a barrage of pearls; a storm of sweets.
This November 11th they spent a surprising 19 billion yuan on Alibaba's online platforms—a fourfold increase on a year ago, and more than double what Americans spent online last Cyber Monday(the Monday after Thanksgiving, when retailers urge Americans to shop online). About 100 million purchases were logged, accounting for 80% of the packages shipped that day. Couriers(快遞員) were buried in parcels.
So life is good for China's e­tailers. Then? Not exactly. The number of digital marketers is increasing and online sales are booming. Consumers are enjoying lower prices, better service and more variety. The problem? The pressure on profits in Chinese e­commerce is worse than in America, reckons Elinor Leung of CLSA, a broker. “Almost no one makes money，” she says.
The fiercest battles are being fought between online retailers and their bricks­and­mortar(實體的) rivals. Dangdang, a firm that resembles Amazon, and 360buy, another online retailer, have cut prices fiercely. Tencent, a cash­rich online giant known for its instant­messaging software, is splashing out to win market share. 360buy has also just raised $400 millon from investors to do the same. But it is unclear how much longer such firms can burn through capital.
【小題1】 What's the best title of this passage?

A．The Ambition of Alibaba

B．Fierce Competition between Retailers

C．A New Festival for the Singles

D．Chinese Booming E­commerce

【小題2】According to Zeng Ming, this year Alibaba will ________.

A．outweigh Amazon and eBay in worldwide influence

B．rank top among all the Internet firms

C．have more than 159 billion dollars' sale

D．create another sales miracle just like the one on Singles Day

【小題3】How many packages were shipped on November 11th from Alibaba's online platforms?

A．About 80 million.	B．About 100 million.
C．About 125 million.	D．About 180 million.

【小題4】What's the author's attitude towards online retailers in China?

A．Optimistic.	B．Concerned.
C．Sympathetic.	D．Indifferent.

Some students get so nervous before a test; they do poorly even if they know the material. Sian Beilock has studied these highly anxious test­takers.
Sian Beilock: “They start worrying about the consequences. They might even start worrying about whether this exam is going to prevent them from getting into the college they want. And when we worry，it actually uses up attention and memory resources. I talk about it as your cognitive horsepower that you could otherwise be using to focus on the exam.”
Professor Beilock and another researcher，Gerardo Ramirez，have developed a possible solution. Just before an exam，highly anxious test­takers spend ten minutes writing about their worries about the test.
Sian Beilock: “What we think happens is when students put it down on paper，they think about the worst that could happen and they reappraise the situation. They might realize it's not as bad as they might think it was before and，in essence(本質(zhì)上)，it prevents these thoughts from popping up when they're actually taking a test.”
The researchers tested the idea on a group of twenty anxious college students. They gave them two short math tests. After the first one, they asked the students to either sit quietly or write about their feelings about the upcoming second test.
The researchers added to the pressure. They told the students that those who did well on the second test would get money. They also told them that their performance would affect other students as part of a team effort.
Professor Beilock says those who sat quietly scored an average of twelve percent worse on the second test. But the students who had written about their fears improved their performance by an average of five percent.
Next, the researchers used younger students in a biology class. They told them before final exams either to write about their feelings or to think about things unrelated to the test.
Prefessor Beilock says highly anxious students who did the writing got an average grade of  B＋，compared to a B－ for those who did not.
Sian Beilock: “What we showed is that for students who are highly test­anxious，who'd done our writing intervention(排解)，all of a sudden there was no relationship between test anxiety and performance. Those students most likely to worry were performing just as well as their classmates who don't normally get nervous in these testing situations.”
But what if students do not have a chance to write about their fears immediately before an exam or presentation? Professor Beilock says students can try it themselves at home or in the library and still improve their performance.
【小題1】Which of the following is TRUE?

A．The result in the math test agrees with that in the biology test.

B．In the first math test, students who sat quietly performed better.

C．In the second math test, students who wrote about their feelings did worse.

D．Some college students are highly anxious test­takers while others are not in the tests.

【小題2】What may happen if students have the problem of test anxiety?

A．Test anxiety is sure to cause students to fail the test.

B．Test anxiety can improve students' performance to some degree.

C．Students' attention and memory resources run out when worried.

D．Students may not be admitted into their favorite college if worried.

【小題3】The result of the research suggests that ________.

A．proper amount of burden may turn out to be a good thing

B．facing the fears bravely may help one to achieve more

C．a(chǎn)voiding facing the problem may contribute to relaxation

D．taking no action before difficulty may result in success

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

A．It is important for students to overcome test anxiety.

B．Anxious students overcome test anxiety by writing down fears.

C．It is a common practice for students being worried before a test.

D．Being worried before tests does harm to students' performance.

Art robbery and art forgery (仿造) are both major themes in crime movies and literature.In the 2012 comedy movie Gambit, British actor Colin Firth plays an art curator who cheats his abusive boss into buying a fake Monet. In reality, art crimes are no less interesting and exciting.
According to The New York Times, over the past 15 years, Glafira Rosales fooled two local commercial art galleries into buying 63 false works of art for more than $30 million.She passed off fake paintings as works by 20th century modernist masters such as American artists Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.But in fact, these so called “newly discovered works” were all produced by a single man, a Chinese immigrant named Qian Peishen.
The art world was shocked by Rosales' deception.But to the public, it was amusing and most satisfying to see wealthy people get tricked.
So what decides the value of a piece of art? Is it beauty? Is it the artist's talent and craftsmanship? Or is it just because the artist is famous?
We should take beauty out. If the buyers were buying paintings only for their beauty, they'll be content displaying good fakes on their walls. They wouldn't be so upset when a forgery is exposed.
The art market claims that great artists are inimitable, and that this inimitability justifies the absurd price of their works. We can't deny that most famous artists are good at what they do, but forgers like Qian show that their works are imitable.Otherwise, the difference between the original and the copycats would be obvious and Rosales would not be able to fool anyone.
According to an article in the Economist, expensive paintings are what economists call positional goods. They are valuable because other people can't have them. With other goods, a higher price reduces demand.But art turns down the laws of economics. “When the goods that is really being purchased is evidence that the buyer has paid a lot, price increases cause demand to boom，” explained the article.
That's why scarcity and authenticity are so important in the art market. Artists sometimes forget this.Demien Hirst, the British pop artist, is famous for his spot paintings. But they dropped in value when it became clear that they had been produced in quantities so vast that nobody knew how many were out there.The art market lost faith in these paintings because no one could be sure which of them were authentic and which were fake.
【小題1】The first paragraph is meant to tell the readers that ________.

A．movies and literature will be popular with art involved in them

B．a(chǎn)rt crimes are as interesting and exciting in reality as in movies

C．Gambit is a good movie with art forgery as the major theme

D．real art crime in reality can be adapted into popular films

【小題2】Who is amused and satisfied to see the rich buy forged works of art?

A．The public.

B．Glafira Rosales.

C．Qian Peishen.

D．Mark Rothlo and Jackson Pollock.

【小題3】What kind of art buyers should not be unhappy with its high prices when a forgery is exposed according to the author?

A．Those who buy only for its beauty.

B．Those who buy for its inimitability.

C．Those who 'buy for its authenticity.

D．Those who buy for its scarcity.

【小題4】What is the law of economics theory behind art goods according to the economists?

A．They are valuable goods.

B．High prices reduce the demand of art goods.

C．High prices increase the demand of art goods.

D．They are produced in quantities to satisfy people.

A Simple Lesson
“Another bad day at school？” my father asked as I came into the room.
“How could you tell? I didn't shut the door heavily or anything，” I replied. Over the past two months I had either done this or thrown my backpack across the room every time I came home from school. Papa thinks it has something to do with moving to a new house.
“I know this move has been hard on you. Leaving your friends and cousins behind is tough，” Papa said, as he put his arm around my shoulder. “What you must remember is that, with a lot of hard work and some time, you will make new friends.”
“You don't know how hard it is. This year my baseball team would have won the championship. They won't even give me a chance to pitch (投球) here. All I get to play is right field, and that's the worst！”
Papa turned toward me. “Things will get better, I promise you. Let me ask you, do you know why you were named David Lorenzo？”
“Yes, your name is David and grandfather's name is Lorenzo.”
“Very good, and what makes your grandfather so important？”
“He was the first in the family to come to this country and all that，” I answered.
“That is only partly correct. Your grandfather was a very great man. In Mexico, he had been a teacher. When he came to America he could only get low­paid labor jobs because he didn't speak the language. It took him two years before he spoke English well enough to be allowed to teach here, but he did it. He never complained because he knew change could be difficult. Did he ever tell you that？” my father asked.
I looked down at my feet, ashamed at my behavior. “No. That must have been hard，” I said sheepishly.
“Your grandfather taught me that if you let people see your talent, they will accept you for who you are. I want you to always remember what my father taught me, even if it takes a few years for people to see who you are，” said Papa.
All I could say was, “Okay.” Then I asked, “What should I do now？”
Laughing, Papa said, “How about you pitch a few to me? You need some work.”
【小題1】Why was the author unhappy that day?

A．Because he moved to a new country.

B．Because his baseball team lost the game.

C．Because he wasn't offered a chance to pitch.

D．Because he quarreled with his friends at school.

【小題2】The father successfully changed his son's mood by ________.

A．a(chǎn)sking him to train harder

B．playing baseball with him

C．telling his grandfather's story

D．introducing him some new friends

【小題3】The underlined word “sheepishly” probably means ________.

A．shyly	B．patiently
C．clumsily	D．cautiously

【小題4】What can we infer about the author?

A．He thinks his father lives in the past.

B．He'd rather live with his grandfather.

C．He will continue to dislike school and everything.

D．He will try his best to adapt to the new environment.

“I will never marry，” the future Elizabeth I declared at the age of eight, and, to the terror of her people, the Great Queen kept her word.
For four centuries, historians have guessed why Elizabeth never married.In her own day, her decision to remain single was considered absurd and dangerous.A queen needed a husband to make political decisions for her and to organise and lead her military campaigns.More important, she needed male heirs to avoid a civil war after her death.
There was no shortage of suitors for the Queen, both English courtiers (朝臣) and foreign princes, and it was confidently expected for the best part of 30 years that Elizabeth would eventually marry one of them.Indeed, although she insisted that she preferred the single state, she kept these suitors in a state of permanent expectation.This was a deliberate policy on the Queen's part, since by keeping foreign princes in hope, sometimes for a decade, she kept them friendly when they might otherwise have made war on her kingdom.
There were, indeed, good political reasons for her avoiding marriage.The disastrous union of her sister Mary I to Philip II of Spain had had an unwelcome foreign influence upon English politics.The English were generally prejudiced against the Queen taking a foreign husband, particularly a Catholic one.Yet if she married an English, jealousy might lead to the separation of the court.
There were other, deeper reasons for Elizabeth's unwillingness to marry, chief of which, I believe, was her fear of losing her autonomy as Queen. In the 16th century, a queen was regarded as holding supreme dominion(統(tǒng)治權(quán))over the state, while a husband was thought to hold supreme dominion over his wife.Elizabeth knew that marriage and motherhood would bring some harm to her power.
She once pointed out that marriage seemed too uncertain a state for her. She had seen several unions in her immediate family break down, including that of her own parents.
Some writers, based on very fragile evidence, have argued that Elizabeth was frightened or incapable of the sex act, but it is more likely that she feared childbirth. Two of her stepmothers, her grandmother and several acquaintances had died in childbed.
Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, had had her mother, Anne Boleyn, killed; her stepmother Catherine Howard later suffered the same fate. When Elizabeth was 14 she was all but attracted by Admiral Thomas Seymour, who also went to the prison within a year. Witnessing these terrible events at an early age, it has been argued, may have put Elizabeth off marriage.
Elizabeth had to decide her priorities. Marriage or being single? Elizabeth was far too intelligent.The choice she made was courageous and revolutionary, and, in the long run, the right one for England.
【小題1】To the suitors including English courtiers and foreign princes，Elizabeth ________.

A．held back the truth

B．gave a definite answer “no”

C．kept them expecting deliberately

D．said she preferred the single state

【小題2】If Elizabeth had married a foreign prince, there might have been ________.

A．prejudice against her

B．separation of the court

C．jealousy among English courtiers

D．a(chǎn) negative impact on English politics

【小題3】Which of the following implications is right according to the passage?

A．Queen Elizabeth was not a Catholic.

B．Some foreign princes made war on Britain.

C．Catherine Howard was killed by Anne Boleyn.

D．Admiral Thomas Seymour was killed by Henry VIII.

【小題4】What is the attitude of the author towards Queen Elizabeth never marrying in her life?

A．Pitiful.	B．Approving.
C．Negative.	D．Neutral.

This message is to inform all the children that Santa's post office in Himmelpfort, Germany, is open to receive your holiday wishes. That means you can mail your letters to Santa about 6 weeks sooner than that last year. Santa knows you've been good and wants to make sure he and his helpers receive your wish list earlier.
Eight post offices are organized across Germany to answer all letters children send. This year they plan to receive over 250,000 letters. Though the letters fly from over 80 different countries, Santa and his helpers can understand and make sure to answer all the letters.
In 1984, two children from Berlin sent their wish lists to Himmelpfort after spending vacation there. Their letters were answered by postal employees and later Himmelpfort increased its helpers to meet the needs of increased mail traffic. Year after year, Santa and his crew use an eco­friendly powered vehicle to collect the thousands of letters he receives from young boys and girls. The great news for this year is that if you come to the beautiful town of Himmelpfort, you can drop off your letter and visit Santa in person, from Tuesdays to Thursdays until Christmas Eve.
Santa does not currently have an e­mail, Twitter or a Facebook account. He believes in old­fashioned communication. So get out your paper and write your wish list. Just make sure your letter is clear so you can receive an official response, send your letters to：
Santa
Christmas Post Office
Himmelpfort, Germany 16798
【小題1】This year Santa and his helpers ________.

A．a(chǎn)re eager to receive more wishes

B．keep traveling around 80 countries

C．a(chǎn)re able to receive kids' letters earlier

D．a(chǎn)nswer most of the letters from kids

【小題2】From the 3rd paragraph, we know that ________.

A．post offices send kids all the presents they ask for

B．children from Berlin like spending holidays in Himmelpfort

C．Santa uses a powered vehicle because of the heavy mail traffic

D．children can visit Santa in the flesh before Christmas Eve this year

【小題3】Santa doesn't have social communications online probably because he ________.

A．is not sure about the online security

B．trusts traditional ways of communication

C．prefers official and formal letters

D．thinks written letters are clearer than e­mails

【小題4】This text is intended for ________.

A．tourists coming to Himmelpfort

B．teenagers preferring writing letters

C．parents preparing for Christmas

D．children planning to write to Santa