I didn't like dogs before, but I am happy to have one now. Do you know why?

About two years ago, my wife, Cathy, got a little dog with a face only the dog's mother could love. We named her Gertie.

My wife sent her to be trained (训练） in a school. But this didn't go as planned. After only 2 weeks, she was made to leave the school. She had to spend every night with us in our bed - snoring so loudly that I couldn't get a good sleep. In the morning, my wife always let me walk Gertie. When I was free, Gertie always played with me.

Then, about six months after Gertie arrived, I felt that something in my heart was changing, and I was unable to stop it. I began to smile at people when I saw them in the street. I started calling my children, and to my surprise, they started calling me, too. I even tried to talk with my grandchildren over the phone. My wife and I both think that it is Gertie who has changed me.

Gertie is now nearly two years old and I love it very much.

46. At the beginning, the writer thought the dog _______.

      A. looked very lovely                  B. wasn't clever

      C. wasn't beautiful                     D. was quick in learning

47. After Gertie left the school, _______.

      A. she was sent away

      B. the writer couldn't sleep well

      C. she learned how to make friends with other animals

      D. the writer began to train her by himself

48. What does the underlined word "snoring" mean in Chinese?

      A. 打鼾             B.哭泣            C.咀嚼            D.说话

49. Which of the following is NOT true?

      A. The writer is an old man.

      B. The dog stayed in the school long enough for the training.

      C. The dog slept in one bed with the writer.

      D. The writer didn't telephone his children before.

50. What can we learn from the passage?

      A. The dog got good training in the school.

      B. We should try out best to help animals.

      C. The man likes the dog better than his wife,

      D. The man has become more friendly because of the dog.

How would you like to study at an American university in China? With the news that New York University (NYU) is considering setting up a branch（分校）on Chinese mainland, the possibility of getting an American education becomes a reality. But how will Chinese students deal with a very different style of teaching? One that encourages debate（辩论）, discussion and critical thinking (批判思维)； one which puts little attention on rote learning.

You know how kids ask questions all the time? Asking questions shows they are curious (好奇). So when does that natural curiosity get weak? Not at kindergarten or nursery, nor at primary school. As you grow older perhaps refusing to draw attention to yourself by asking the teacher questions, you grow quiet. If so, that's a pity, because questioning your teachers should be encouraged. After all, they're the ones who've been educated, have a lot more experience than you and perhaps have a little wisdom. When I taught joumalim at college in Scotland I enjoyed answering students' questions. Some of them raised difficult questions. I didn't always know the answers. If I didn't, I'd accept it and try to find out later.

At university we were encouraged to challenge our classmates and teachers. There was often a regular meeting between teachers and some students. A student would prepare a paper on a subject and the other students would criticize it. It could be frightening. But it was a way of developing critical thinking.

We need to differentiate critical thinking with loudmouths. We've all come across loudmouths who speak out quickly as if they knew what they were talking about. I know one loudmouth who is paid a great deal of money by a British tabloid newspaper to entertain readers with his deeply-held prejudices(偏见). You might not agree with columnist(专栏作家) Richard Littlejohn, but you have to say that he is entertaining and there is an internal logic（内在的逻辑）to his statements. Having a logical mind can help develop critical thinking.

My wife doesn't have a logical mind, but she does have emotional intelligence（情商）. I can't say that I have anything like her emotional intelligence. but I'd like to think some of it rubbed off on me. If you can't at least try to put yourself in someone else's shoes, how can you understand their situation, their problems and issues?

So try to develop your powers of critical thinking. Start with books, films, music and newspapers. And don't believe everything you read or see. Think independently.

57. According to the passage, to develop your critical thinking, you can____________.

A. keep curious and follow your heart

B. think logically, not emotionally

C. do more reading and think actively

D. voice your opinion like a loudmouth

58. The underlined words 66rubbed off on mc" in Paragraph 5 probably mean " __________".

A. helped me solve the problem better

B. had some influence on me in a way

C. moved it backwards and forwards

D. advised me to wear others' shoes

59. What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Want to be different? Think critically

B. Want to be critical? Think for yourself

C. Choose NYU, choose critical thinking

D. Importance of improving critical thinking

There was a time when I thought my dad didn’t know how to be a good father. I couldn’t   16   him ever saying the words “I love you.” It seems to me his only purpose in life was to say “  17  ” to anywhere I wanted to go and anything I wanted to do, including getting a   18  . Some parents bought their kids cars when they got their driver’s licenses. Not my dad — he said that I’d have to get a job and buy my own.

So that is what I did. I got a job at a very nice restaurant and   19   every penny I could and when I had enough to buy my car, I did! The day I brought that car home, my dad was the first one I wanted to   20   it off to. “Look, dad, a car of my own. If you ever want a ride, you only need to pay me five dollars.” I offered with a smile.

“I see,” was all he said.

One day, there was something wrong with my father’s truck. So he needed a   21   to work. The sun wasn’t even up when we left the house,   22   it was already getting warm out. It was going to be a hot day. As my dad got out of my car, I   23  him, dressed in his work clothes, getting his   24   from the truck (车尾箱) of my car. Watching his sun-weathered face, and even from a distance I could tell there were  25   lines than I ever remembered being there before. I realized how hard my dad works for the family. My father is a cement finisher(水泥修整工).

Suddenly, it came up with me that he actually got down on his hands and knees to sweat over hot concrete(混凝土) to make a living for his family. And he did this day in and day out,   26 hot it got. Never, not once, had I heard him   27   about it. To him we were “worth” it. And never once did he ask us to pay for it.

When he closed the trunk, his tools set off to the side, he walked over to my window to   28   me five dollars. I rolled down the window and said “Good-bye, dad. Keep your five dollars. It’s my __29__. Don’t work too hard. I love you.”

His eyes met mine, then glanced away in the direction of his waiting tools, he   30   his throat(喉咙) and said, “Oh, and… me, too.”

1.A. like           B. remember         C. forget           D. care

2.A. Sorry        B. Yes              C. No                D. Well

3.A. car          B. friend           C. job                 D. present

4.A. spent        B. earned           C. kept               D. saved

5.A. take        B. put              C. turn                 D. show

6.A. ride         B. leave            C. trip                  D. hurry

7.A. as           B. although        C. but                   D. since

8.A. helped       B. followed        C. left                  D. watched

9.A. tools        B. clothes          C. luggage            D. bag

10.A. fewer        B. more           C. longer               D. less

11.A. whatever     B. whenever        C. wherever              D. however

12.A. talk         B. complain         C. ask                D. speak

13.A. hand         B. borrow           C. lend                  D. take

14.A. help         B. advice           C. treat              D. idea

15.A. cleaned      B. wiped            C. cleared             D. felt

 

Lin Tao has a lot of problems now. Could you help him? Please choose the best advice for him.

【小题1】My mother is a doctor. She is too busy with her work to stay with me. 【小题2】I don’t know what to wear for a party. 【小题3】I am not allowed to hang out with friends at all. My parents want me to study all the time at home. 【小题4】I’m shy and I often don’t know what to say or do. 【小题5】I get pimples when I’m nervous.

 

A.You should drink lots of water and ask your doctor for advice. B.Tell your mother you need her sometimes. Also you should do some housework with your mother so she can finish her work quickly. C.If I were you. I’d wear a nice dress. D.If I were you, I’d talk to someone who looks friendly. E.Let your parents know your friends are nice. You learn a lot from them as well as having fun with them. You study with them outside, too.

Lin Tao has a lot of problems now. Could you help him? Please choose the best advice for him.

1.My mother is a doctor. She is too busy with her work to stay with me. 2.I don’t know what to wear for a party. 3.I am not allowed to hang out with friends at all. My parents want me to study all the time at home. 4.I’m shy and I often don’t know what to say or do. 5.I get pimples when I’m nervous.

 

A.  You should drink lots of water and ask your doctor for advice. B.  Tell your mother you need her sometimes. Also you should do some housework with your mother so she can finish her work quickly. C.  If I were you. I’d wear a nice dress. D.  If I were you, I’d talk to someone who looks friendly. E.  Let your parents know your friends are nice. You learn a lot from them as well as having fun with them. You study with them outside, too.