I break off a piece of candy and take pleasure in its sweet outside and the bitter, dark chocolate inside, thinking of my own life. Being raised by a single parent was a bitter-sweet , which gave me motivation and ambition.

There were several years that have left an extremely bitter taste in my mouth .The first few months after my mother’s remarriage were sweet: baseball games, family trips to the mall, dinners and movies together. Then things . Baseball became too expensive, and trips to the mall were by days Emily and I spent lonely in our rooms under our stepfather’s . Moreover, screaming matches between him and our mother always dinner. We spent five years living in a family that had a war field. Emily and I almost grew used to this situation. Then one evening, after another argument had , we were left homeless . And later a friend of my mother let us stay with her. Instead of focusing on our economic problem, my mother pushed me to struggle for success. She wanted me to lead a life. She worked long hours every night to pay her bills. , she would find time to read and play with Emily and me. Mom taught me the of perseverance (堅持不懈) and education.

And now, writing this essay with my favorite candy close at hand, I realize my family and I are at the best points of our lives. I haven’t let the trying times stop me from making , both academically and personally. I know that a bitter environment can provide good learning experiences, and that success, even more than candy, is the sweetest treat of all.

1.A. behavior B. adventure C. activityD. experience

2.A. continued B. changedC. ruined D. disappeared

3.A. concerned B. associated C. provided D. replaced

4.A. sympathyB. offers C. orders D. efforts

5.A. separatedB. interrupted C. harmedD. prepared

6.A. turned into B. turned upC. turned downD. turned on

7.A. broke B. causedC. erupted D. delayed

8.A. mistakenly B. obviously C. selflessly D. unwillingly

9.A. important B. difficult C. dangerous D. comfortable

10.A. Instead B. OtherwiseC. Meanwhile D. Therefore

11.A. value B. cost C. priceD. theme

12.A. mistakes B. appointments C. arrangements D. achievements

Former Hollywood child star Shirley Temple died at the age of 85.

The actress became famous 1. a young girl in the 1930s in films like Bright Eyes, Stand Up and Cheer and Curly Top.

She died on Monday at home in Woodside, California, 2. natural causes. "She was surrounded by her family and caregivers," a statement said.

Born in 1928, 3. sweet-faced, curly-haired Temple was 4. of the most popular child stars in Hollywood history, getting her first film role at the age of three.

Her singing, dancing and acting won over fans worldwide. She was given a special teenage Oscar in 1935, 5. she was just six years old. To this day, she is still the 6. person to receive an Academy Award because nobody else got it at such a young age.

Temple starred in a total of 43 feature films — but found 7. difficult to maintain her career in adulthood 8. retired from Hollywood in 1950.

Eating different colored foods can keep you healthy, as well as change your mood and behavior. Here is a list of colors, which can change your life.

Blue/Purple

     Blue is considered to be peaceful and calming and it has the same effect on our health. The blue / purple color in food is due primarily to their anthocyanins which are antioxidants (抗氧化劑) that are particularly heart healthy and may help support healthy blood pressure. Out of all the blue and purple foods available, blueberries are considered to have the highest antioxidant level. An analysis of the latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study found that people who eat purple and blue fruits and vegetables are at a reduced risk for high blood pressure and are less likely to be overweight.

     A food and health expert says that blue and purple color foods can prevent blood mass formation, and they also lower the risk of cancer.

     Foods that contain blue and purple colors are: reddish eggplant (especially the skin), blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, etc.

Green

     We all know that we should eat green as green symbolizes nature. The green foods are rich in isothiocyanates, which help resist cancer.

     Dr. Ashok Agarwal, a food and nutrition specialist, explains, "They are excellent sources of folic acid, vitamin K, as well as carotene （胡蘿卜素）. Diets high in those above are associated with lowered blood pressure."

     Foods that contain the green color are: broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, etc.

Red

     Lycopene (番茄紅素) in reddish fruits and vegetables is a powerful antioxidant that has been associated with a reduced risk of some cancers, and also provides protection against heart attacks.    

Dr. Smiths says, "Cooked tomato sauces are associated with greater health benefits as compared with the uncooked version as the heating process allows lycopene to be more easily absorbed by the body. Obtaining the most benefit from food depends on proper selection, storage and cooking of the produce."

     Foods that contain red color are: Tomatoes and tomato products, watermelon, guava, red onions, red chili, red apples, red grapes, cherries, etc.

Orange

     The orange foods are also rich in carotene, which are particularly good antioxidants. These foods are commonly considered eyesight foods because they contain vitamin A.

     "Orange fruits and vegetables also play a part in preventing cancer, particularly of the lungs and stomach. Foods that contain the color orange are: Carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc.

1.The passage tries to tell us that ______.

A. colors mean a lot to people and their health

B. foods of different colors will have different benefits

C. eating foods with a color must prevent diseases

D. what people should eat in their daily lives

2.All the colors mentioned in the passage have the function of ______.

A. lowering blood pressure B. improving eyesight

C. preventing cancer D. reducing the risk of heart disease

3.Which color can help keep us thin according to the passage?

A. Purple. B. Green. C. Red. D. Orange.

4.The green and orange foods are both rich in _______.

A. vitamin A B. folic acid C. carotene D. vitamin K

5.It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. all grapes help lower the risk of high blood pressure and cancer

B. lung cancer can be prevented by eating red-colored foods

C. green-colored foods contain a lot of vitamin A which is good for eye health

D. tomatoes should be eaten cooked so that we can benefit the most

Like most Oregonians, Stephanie McRae was used to driving in bad weather. Although rain still beat the window of her car, the worst of the day’s storm seemed to have passed as she drove her 11-year-old daughter, Maggie, home from a church at 8:30 p.m. Two little children sat into their car seats in back.

     When crossing over Fawcett Creek (小河), McRae found the road just ahead had been washed away. The storm had turned Fawcett Creek into a 100-feet-wide river. Water began to go into the car and the four of them had to climb onto the car’s roof. The car was floating about and was being swept toward the Tillamook River only a few miles ahead. Suddenly it stopped when hitting a logjam (浮木阻塞).The water swept over them, rising higher and higher. Stephanie screamed into the rainy night, almost crying.

“Mom, I have to go and get help,” her 11-year-old daughter Maggie cried.

Stephanie realized if she went by herself, Maggie couldn’t hold on to the other two babies. But Maggie was still recovering from foot surgery. How could she manage? Finally she shouted, “I’m proud of you. Be careful!”

As Maggie McRae struggled to reach the shore, she was all wet. The sixth grader started running to the nearest house. Inside, the neighbors immediately called 911 and were told that firefighters were making their way toward another trapped car. Maggie joined the neighbors, and helped the rescue team point out where her mother was. The firefighters saved McRae and her children by using a 35-foot-long ladder.

When Stephanie reached land in safety, Maggie raced into her mother’s arms. “She hugged me for five minutes,” Maggie remembers. Maggie accepted an award for her heroism, but she’s happier to get back to her sports team and her family. 

1.What can we infer from the passage?

A. Without the logjam, McRae’s car would have been swept into the Tillamook River.

B. The rain became heavier when McRae drove home.

C. McRae’s car was the only vehicle that was blocked in the Fawcett Creek that night.

D. Most of the time the weather in Oregon is quite good.

2.Stephanie McRae’s screaming on the car’s roof suggested that she felt ______.

A. surprised    B. helpless C. disappointed  D. careless

3.According to the passage, we can infer that Maggie ______.

A. was strong enough to hold the two children in the water

B. tried to swim to the bank in order to get help

C. stopped her sports activities due to her foot injury

D. rescued her family using a ladder

4.Which of the following is in the correct order of events?

①Firefighters rescued McRae and her children from the river.

②Firefighters were sent to the broken road.

③The neighbors Maggie found called 911.

④The rescue team had got informed of the trouble at Fawcett Creek.

⑤Another trapped car was found in the river by the firefighters.

A. ④②③⑤① B. ④③②①⑤ C. ③④②①⑤ D. ③④②⑤①

5.What is the passage mainly about?

A. A heavy storm that damaged a road and killed lots of drivers.

B. A brave young girl who helped save her family from flood.

C. Firefighters who rescued a family late at night from flood.

D. Great neighbors who saved people swept away into a river.

Almost anywhere in the world, you can probably see graffiti (涂鴉畫). Although it’s usually more common in big cities, it can be found in almost any community, big or small.

The problem with graffiti art is the question of whether it’s really art. This isn’t always an easy question to answer, simply because there are so many different types of graffiti. While some simply consists of collections of letters, known as tags, with little artistic value, such examples are easy to find, especially on larger spaces such as walls.

If it weren’t for the fact that most graffiti is placed on private property without permission, it might be more commonly recognized as a legal form of art. Most graffiti, however, annoys the property owner, who is more likely to paint over it or remove it than accept it as art.

Many ways of removing graffiti have been developed, such as paints that dissolve graffiti paint, or make it easy to remove. Community groups and government departments often organize graffiti-removal teams.

It hardly makes sense to encourage artists to deface (丑化) private or public property; but perhaps there are ways to work with them rather than just oppose them. Graffiti artists can, for example, create murals (壁畫) for property owners, and get paid for them.

Maybe we need to start at a very basic level, and find a way to encourage the creation of graffiti art on paper or canvas rather than on walls. After all, who would remember Monet or Picasso if they’d created their masterpieces on walls, only to have them painted over the next day? Finding a solution to such a complex problem is never going to be easy, but with more and more graffiti art being recognized in galleries around the world, we do need to try.

1.What would be the best title for this passage?

A. How to Be a Good Graffiti Artist.

B. Stop Removing Graffiti!

C. Do You Like Graffiti?

D. Is Graffiti Art?

2.The reason why people remove graffiti is that it ______.

A. makes buildings ugly B. has no artistic value at all

C. robs private property D. takes up too much space

3.In Paragraph 4, the underlined word "dissolve" is closest in meaning to ______.

A. change B. flow C. remove D. freeze

4.The example of Monet and Picasso are mentioned in the passage to indicate that ______.

A. they are world-famous artists

B. they are good at graffiti

C. walls are right places to keep their masterpieces

D. their works, if painted on the wall, might not be kept long

5.The writer’s attitude toward graffiti is that graffiti ______.

A. should be removed by more countries

B. should be saved on larger spaces

C. should be created only on paper or canvas

D. may be accepted as art

Understanding the basic tips on growing grass will help you create a healthy and green lawn. If you plan the right variety at the right time and in the right place, you’ll achieve success.

Autumn is the ideal growing season for the majority of grass varieties. Prepare the soil in this season as you do for any other plant. Based on the type of grass that you have chosen, the nutrient requirements may differ. For poor soil that is lack of essential plant nutrients, you can supply it with some organic fertilizer.

To grow grass successfully, make sure you select the correct variety that will adapt to the soil conditions of your area and to the growing location. You can choose the American shade grass variety or native grass varieties.

The sowing of grass can be done on bare soil or on an existing lawn. After sowing the grass seeds, cover them with a layer of top soil to quicken the germination (萌芽) process. In the first few weeks, you should irrigate the area every other day. Reduce the watering frequency after the grass has germinated. The addition of proper fertilizers at the right time is necessary for the healthy growth of grass. In the case of grass growing in shady environments, limit the use of fertilizers.

Weed control is another important tip for growing grass. The presence of weeds in grass growing areas leads to competition for water and nutrients, thus resulting in the poor growth of the planted grass. Hence, in order to avoid this condition, ensure that you remove the weeds regularly.

Lastly, one should also watch out for the presence of diseases and pests around the grass growing site in order to preserve the beauty of the lawn.

Advice on How 1.

I. Rule of thumb

★plant the right variety at the right time and in the right place

II. 2.

★choose the soil in 3. , which is the ideal grass growing season

★add organic fertilizer to poor soil lacking essential plant nutrients

III. Grass variety

★select the correct variety 4. the soil condition and growing location

IV. Sowing

★sow grass seeds over soil and cover them with a layer of top soil to make the grass seeds 5.

V. 6. and Fertilization

★irrigate the area every other day and reduce the watering frequency after germination

★ 7. proper fertilizers but limit the use of fertilizers in shady locations

VI. 8.

★remove weeds regularly to 9. competition for water and nutrients

VII. Disease control

★ 10. to the presence of diseases and pests to preserve the beauty of the lawn

Across the world, mobile phones are very popular with young people. They think that the phones are more than a means of communication — having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.

The explosion in mobile phone use around the world has worried some health professionals. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people will suffer from health problems because of the use of mobile phones. But mobile phone companies say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for health.

On the other hand, why do some medical studies show changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones? Signs of change in the tissue (組織) of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at a young age due to the fact that he couldn’t remember even simple tasks. The man had been talking on his mobile phone for about six hours a day for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use.

What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about.

As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it is better to use mobile phones less often. Use a normal phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. So, for now, it is wise not to use your mobile phone too often.

1.Why do young people buy mobile phones according to the passage?

(No more than 11 words) (2 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

2.Why did the salesman mentioned in the passage retire young?

(No more than 7 words) (2 marks)

____________________________________________________________________

3.What do the manufacturing companies think of the safety issue of mobile phones?

(No more than 14 words) (3 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

4.What’s the purpose of the author’s writing this passage? (No more than 11 words) (3 marks)

_____________________________________________________________________

In an English competition, you are required to write an article according to the picture below. Look at the picture carefully and write down how you understand it.

注意：

1、描述圖片主要內(nèi)容，談?wù)勀愕睦斫饧翱捶ǎ?/p>

2、詞數(shù)不少于120個；

3、文中不能出現(xiàn)考生的具體信息。

Watson entered Mr. Smith's office. The boss was a hard man. He fired people who didn't do well without giving them a second chance.

"Watson," said Mr. Smith, "this past year your department hasn't earned money. We're going to drop that department. It's finished. I’m sorry, —but you'll have to go." "But, sir — if I just had a little more time. For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School."

"What's that!" said the boss. "Riverside! I didn't know you had a boy there. That's an expensive school for a man with your salary."

"I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He's a star athlete and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ there."

The boss sat perfectly still for a long time — a faraway (恍惚的) look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he said, "We've got to close your department, Watson. But you'll take over a new job in another department. It means longer hours—maybe more pay. Now get out. You're here for life."

Watson got out, with surprise on his face. Then the boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. It was Herbie's last letter from Riverside School —written a few days before he died. He had read it over and over again with sick pain. The letter read:

I can’t say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were. I guess it's the same everywhere when you're a cripple (跛腳的人). But don't worry about me, Dad. They've got a good chemistry department here. And there’s one boy here who is really great. He's a track star and boxing champ (冠軍) and just tops in chemistry. The boys call him Champ. He made them stop throwing my books around. And he knocked a boy down who hit me. He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, when I grow up, 1 want to do something for Champ. Something big — that he won’ t even know about.

Your son,

Herbie

1.Mr. Smith wanted to fire Watson because _____.

A. Watson would take over a new job in another department

B. Watson had his son study in Riverside School

C. Watson's son knocked a boy down who hit Herbie

D. Watson's department didn't earn money that year

2.We can learn from the text that _____.

A. Mr. Smith didn't know that Champ was Watson's son at first

B. Mr. Smith was told not to fire Watson by Herbie

C. Mr. Smith decided to give Watson another chance in no time

D. Mr. Smith wanted to realize Champ's dream

3.According to the text, which words can best describe Mr. Smith?

A. Selfish and greedy.

B. Sympathetic and grateful.

C. Hardworking and strict.

D. Easy-going and optimistic.

4.The author wrote the text in order to _____.

A. share a moving story with us

B. make our children enjoy life

C. provide us with tips on work

D. help us to deal with our boss

A brand is a name, word, sign, symbol, design, or a combination of these, intended to identify the goods or services of a company or a group of companies. Another purpose of a brand is to contrast one company from another. The most important skill of professional marketers is the ability to create, maintain, protect, and enhance the brands of their products and services. Branding has become so important that today hardly any company or product is without one. Therefore, brand management is an increasingly important element in marketing.

Brand power refers to the relative strength of a company’s brand in the minds of consumers, and can influence consumers’ choice of products. Brands are powerful to the extent that they give high brand loyalty and strong brand associations, name recognition, perceived quality and other assets to a company. A strong brand can be one of a company’s most important assets.

High brand power provides a company with many competitive advantages. A powerful brand enjoys a high level of consumer brand awareness and loyalty. Because consumers expect stores to carry the brand, the company has more bargaining power when negotiating with retailers (零售商). And because the brand name brings high credibility, a company with a strong brand can more easily launch new products with the same brand name.

Many companies use the advantage of a strong brand power strategically to expand their business. When a company introduces an additional item with a new flavour, form, colour or package size in a given product category and under the same brand name, it is called a line extension. Another strategy is called brand extension. This involves the use of a successful brand name to launch new or modified products in a new category, thereby employing brand recognition in order to increase sales of new products.

Brand recognition is certainly important. Because consumers often hold long-standing perceptions about brands, high brand power ensure a company continued sales of its products.

1.What does the word “assets” in the 2nd paragraph mean?

A. points B. advantages C. aspects D. elements

2.All of the following statements are the advantages of a high brand power EXCEPT that______.

A. a high brand wins the loyalty of consumers

B. a high brand usually sets a much higher price

C. it’s easy for a high brand company to launch new products

D. a high brand company is more competitive when doing business with retailers

3.A brand extension ______.

A. happens when the company is developing a new product

B. means the expansion of a company’s business in its established field

C. takes place when the company introduces a similar item but with a new colour

D. refers to the use of an established brand name to promote a new product in a new category

4.What might be the best title of this passage?

A. Brand Power B. Famous Brands

C. Company Brands D. Brand Products