Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy—they’re given after all. Choices can be hard.

I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago. I came across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2,300 percent per year. I’d never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast, and the idea of building an online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me. I had just turned 30 years old, and I’d been married for a year. I told my wife Mac kenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn’t work since most start-ups don’t and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Mac kenzie told me I should go for it. As a young boy, I’d been a garage inventor. I’d always wanted to be an inventor, and she wanted me to follow my passion.

I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired. I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet. He took me on a long walk in Central Park, listened carefully to me, and finally said, “That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn’t already have a good job.” That logic made some sense to me, and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision. Seen in that light, it was really a difficult choice, but finally, I decided I had to give it a shot. I didn’t think I’d regret trying and failing. And I suspected I would always be haunted (萦绕) by a decision to not try at all.

After much consideration, I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I’m proud of that choice. For all of us, in the end, we are our choice.

1.What inspired the author with the idea of building an online bookstore?

A. His dream of being an inventor.

B. The support of his wife.

C. The greatly increasing usage of the Internet.

D. The successful boss that he admired.

2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined sentence?

A. The idea of not trying would keep coming to his mind and disturb him.

B. He would be very excited if he tried it out.

C. He would be always having a doubt if he didn’t try.

D. The decision to not try the online bookstore would terrify him.

3.We can know from the passage that ________.

A. the boss thought the idea was suitable for the author

B. the author might not regret if he failed the attempt

C. the author wanted someone else to try the idea

D. the author might go back to his boss if he failed

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Cleverness and Kindness

B. The Starting of Amazon

C. Following My Passion

D. We Are What We Choose

More than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed across the globe each day, and it’s likely that many taste bitter.

Now, a new study suggests that coffee fans can make their drink taste sweeter by simply changing the color of their cups.

Scientists claim that blue and glass mugs, which are popular in some coffee shops, can reduce coffee’s bitterness, without any need for sugar, and that coffee drunk from white cups tastes the bitterest.

To prove their claims, the researchers invited 36 volunteers and used three different colored cups— blue, white and transparent glass—to do an experiment.

In the experiment, coffee consumed from the white cup was found to taste less sweet when compared to the other two colored cups, while the blue cup made the coffee taste the sweetest.

The scientists believe that the color brown may be associated with coffee’s bitterness because coffee in a white cup appears the brownest and tastes the bitterest.

“Our study clearly shows that the color of a coffee cup does influence the perceived (感受到的) taste and flavor of coffee,” said Dr George Doorn of Federation University Australia, “but the potential effects may be different between a one-time purchase and a return customer.”

“Anyhow, the effect of the color of the cup on the flavor of the coffee suggests that café owners, baristas (服务员), as well as coffee cup manufacturers should carefully consider the color of their cups, ” he added.

However, the idea that color can alter the taste of food and drink is not new.

A study published last year revealed that red, strawberry-flavored mousse (慕斯蛋糕) served on a white plate was rated as 10 percent sweeter and 15 percent more flavorous than the same food presented on a black plate.

1. What color of the cup can best reduce coffee’s bitterness without adding sugar?

A. Blue. B. Brown. C. White. D. Transparent.

2.The scientists used ________ to do the experiment to prove their claims.

① different brands of coffee

② different colored coffee cups

③ several volunteers

④ several manufactures

A. ① ② B. ② ③ C. ② ④ D. ③ ④

3.Why does coffee in white cups taste the least sweet?

A. Because white cups are not as beautiful as other cups.

B. Because white cups make coffee appear the brownest.

C. Because white cups reduce the sugar in them.

D. Because white cups are better used to serve cakes.

4.According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Black plates increase the sweetness of food and drink.

B. Strawberry-flavored mousse is 10 percent sweeter than coffee.

C. People consume more than 2.5 billion cups of coffee across the globe every year.

D. People can make coffee taste sweeter by changing the color of their coffee cups.

Living with other students can be a wonderful experience. Here are a few tips for student accommodations that can help ensure a great experience and build lifelong friendships: Screen your roommates carefully if you are given a choice. Combining the living spaces of several students into one location can be exciting and rewarding experience for the outgoing students. If you are on the shy side, or prefer a quiet group to study with, pick quieter roommates.

Divide the bills evenly. Some students are far less responsible than their roommates and tend to let their part of the finance slide. Dissatisfaction is quick to build when everyone has to pay the bill for a fellow student who can’t seem to pay his/her share of the money.

Carry your part of the load. Everyone has to clean the bathroom and the kitchen sometime. Don’t avoid your part of responsibility. Student accommodations can get messy and it involves everyone to keep them tidy and healthy.

Think about someone else before you think about yourself. Put your roommates interests above your own. Life will be far enjoyable when everyone is concerned about the feelings property and studies of each other.

Be open and honest. Hostilities (敌意) and frustrations may cause problems that can’t be fixed. Everyone brings different standards and expectations to group living and it’s in everyone’s best interest to put them into the open. Disagreements can be managed more warmly when your are willing to be both open and listen to others.

1. When it comes to the bills, every member is advised to________ .

A. foot the bill for a fellow student

B. let his/her part of the finances slide

C. pay his/her own share of money

D. take more responsibility than others

2.The role “carry your part of the load” means every room member should ________.

A. avoid making too much noise

B. take turns to keep the room tidy

C. take care of others when they are ill

D. avoid staying up and oversleeping

3.To be a good member, one should learn to ________ according to the passage.

A. choose his/her roommates at random

B. balance his/her interests with others

C. express his/her disagreement openly and honestly

D. tolerate different standards and expectations

语法填空

阅读下面材料， 在空白处填入适当的内容 (1个单词) 或括号内单词的正确形式。

It is really sad news for Guinness World Records. Tiffany Two, the holder of the 1. (old) cat record, has passed away in her sleep at2. age of 27 years, 2months and 20 days.

Born on March 13, 1988 in San Diego, California, Tiffany Two 3. (buy) by her owner, Sharon Voorhees, from a local pet shop. At that time, the cat was only six 4. (week) old. Sharon named her Tiffany Two in memory of the cat she once 5. (own) In the 1970s.

In fact, 6. Tiffany Two celebrated her 27th birthday back in March, she had lived the equivalent (等量) of 125 human years.

Despite 7. unbelievable age, Tiffany Two was reported to have good sight and hearing 8. (recent). Tiffany Two only had minor 9. (ill) such as high blood pressure, and Sharon described her as “strong and still able to go up and down stairs”.

“She’s not afraid 10. (play) with anyone or any animal. She walks right past the dogs. She’s very active!” Sharon explained.

短文改错

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

The water we drink and use was running short. We all have to learn how to stop wasted water. One

of the step that we should take is to find ways of reusing them. Today in the most large cities, fresh water

is used only once and then it runs in a waste system. But it is possibly to pipe the used water to a purifying factory, when the used water can be treated with chemical materials by the workers so that it can be reused. But even if every large city purified and reused it’s water, we still would have enough water.

UFO stands for "unidentified flying object". Many people reported having seen UFOs in the sky. A lot of countries tried to research them and in 1952 they got the name of UFO.

There were several reports published in the 19th century which were related to UFOs. Denison Daily News in its report of 25th January, 1878 wrote that a farmer, Martin, saw a flying object in the sky and it was just like a plate. This was the first time that the word plate had been related to the UFOs.

The first reports on UFOs came during World War II. In 1947 pilot Kenneth Arnold said while he was flying near the Mount Rainer he saw a very bright object in the sky. He said that it was like a plate too. The information given by Kenneth got lots of attention from the media and people.

Several research organizations gave their reports on the UFOs. They showed direct or indirect physical evidence of the UFOs, and sometimes UFOs’ appearance was found on the radar (雷达) screen. Many people tried to take video tapes or photos of the UFOs as testimony. Most UFOs are in saucer shape while many UFOs are like a cigarette or a half ball.

Many films and TV shows are made about UFOs. There are two famous movies which are created on the theme of UFOs and aliens, War of the World and Star Wars. UFOs have created a new field in science which is known as Ufology (飞碟学).

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The UFOs Martin and Kenneth Arnold saw were in different shapes.

B. People named the flying object UFO in the 19th century.

C. Martin was the first person that described the flying object as a plate.

D. Kenneth Arnold was given little attention for his discovering UFO.

2.What does the underlined word " testimony " in the fourth paragraph mean?

A. Evidence. B. Research. C. Mystery. D. Appearance.

3.From the passage, we can infer ______.

A. the danger of UFOs attracted the media’s attention

B. most UFOs’ shapes are changeable

C. Ufology was developed a hundred years ago

D. the radar helps people get UFO evidence

4.The next paragraph following the passage might talk about ________.

A. famous movies on the UFOs

B. different UFOs’shapes

C. the effect of UFOs on humans

D. the new science —Ufology

补全短文

Everyone knows English is one of the most important subjects in middle schools. And we always know learning English is very important, but few students know how to learn English well.1.

I think if we have a right way to learn English, and we work hard, then we must learn English well. But what is the right way？2.Second，everyone knows remembering new words is important, but how to remember them？I think we can copy new words on pieces of paper, and take them with us. When we are free, we can read them. Third, how to improve our listening and speaking？3.And we can answer the questions in the class；don’t be afraid of making mistakes. I think it’s useful to us. Finally, it’s about reading and writing.4.And try our best to retell it，we can also keep a diary every day，and spend an hour practicing English.

5.If necessary, we can turn to our classmates and teachers for help instead of giving up. If we don’t study hard, it’s difficult to learn English well.

A．Then how can we make rapid progress and learn English well?

B．We can sing English songs, listen to the radio and listen to tapes every day.

C. To begin with, you can recite as many words as you can.

D．Whenever we meet difficulties in our English study, we shouldn’t lose heart.

E．In a word, we will make rapid progress.

F．First, we must be confident enough to learn English and be interested in it.

G．When we are free, we can read articles in English.

完型填空

When I come across a good article in reading newspapers, I often want to cut and keep it. But just as I am about to do so, I find the article on the side is as much interesting. It may be a discussion of the way to in good health, or about how to behave and conduct oneself in society. If I cut the front article, the opposite one is likely to damage, leaving out half of it or keeping the text the title. Therefore, the scissors would before they start, .halfway done when I find out the result.

Sometimes two things are to be done at the same time, both worth your .You can only take up one of them, the other has to wait or be up. But you know the future is unpredictable(不可预料) — the changed situation may not allow you to do what is left . Thus you are in a difficult position and feel sad. How that nice chances and brilliant ideas should gather around all at once? It may happen that your life greatly on your preference of one choice to the other.

In fact that is what is like: we are often with the two opposite sides of a thing which are both desirable like a newspaper cutting. It often occurs that our attention is drawn to one thing only we get into another. The may be more important than the latter and give rise to a divided mind. I remember a philosopher's remarks, “When one door shuts, another opens in life.” So a casual(不经意) may not be a bad one.

1.A. same B. front C. opposite D. either

2.A. keep B. get C. bring D. lead

3.A. news B. advice C. report D. theory

4.A. Reduce B. suffer C. cause D. prevent

5.A. for B. on C. off D. without

6.A. handle B. use C. stay D. prepare

7.A. but B. or C. for D. so

8.A. regretful B. satisfying C. impossible D. surprising

9.A. strength B. courage C. patience D. attention

10.A. held B. given C. picked D. made

11.A. alone B. near C. behind D. about

12.A. attracted B. filled C. struck D. caught

13.A. Come B. dare C. do D. deal

14.A. changes B. Improves C. goes D. progresses

15.A. society B. study C. life D. nature

16.A. supplied B. faced C. fixed D. connected

17.A. After B. before C. as D. until

18.A. next B. following C. former D. above

19.A. also B. still C. almost D. once

20.A. action B. treatment C. remark D. choice

假设你叫李华。远在英国的网友Tom想了解你对上网的看法。请根据下表提供的信息，用英语给Tom发一封100个词左右的电子邮件。

生词：电子邮件：e-mail 网校：net-school

注：邮件的开头与结尾已给出。

Dear Tom,

I would like to give my opinion about being on the Internet.____________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

阅读理解。

Two days ago I was woken up at 1 am. My roommate stood at the door (she was returning from a club) along with a huge middle-aged man with long hair. “Please let him in,” she told me, “He has been locked out of his apartment.” She had seen him, cold and shivering (it had snowed the previous night) and immediately asked him to sleep at our place. He was a law student in his fifties who had been doing his homework at the Laundromat (自助洗衣店) when he found he had left his keys in his house.

I have never had a strange man sleep in my house before. My roommate and I are both less than 5 feet and we have been asked not to speak to strangers since we were kids. Not to mention that we’re in a new city that we have lived in for less than a month. He accepted our kindness with hesitation and as soon as dawn broke he left.

The next day he came to our house, saying he owed us big time for not being frozen out in the cold. He left us a beautiful card saying—“Thank you so much. Your actions are so sincere.”

Later he cooked us a wonderful simple “thank you” dinner over which he told us about his life (a coach, a guide, a law student). He told us how he was completely touched by our concern for a total stranger. I learnt a lot that evening. As he talked about how once he brought a homeless man in to eat Christmas dinner with his family, I was deeply touched.

My roommate taught me a huge lesson: Let go of your fear; always leave the door of compassion (同情) open and you can never go wrong.

1.From the first paragraph we can infer that _______.

A. the writer came back from a club earlier

B. the writer’s roommate was kind-hearted

C. the writer’s roommate often came back late

D. the man wanted to find a job at the Laundromat

2.When the writer knew the man would stay in their house for the night, at first _______.

A. she felt nervous B. she was angry

C. she felt excited D. she was disappointed

3.The next day the man went back to the writer’s house to ______.

A. tell them he was OK B. give them nice cards

C. show his thanks to them D. show he was really lucky

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. The writer’s roommate worked in a club.

B. The man had helped others before.

C. The man was a complete failure in his life.

D. The two women have lived in this city since they were young.