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

"Smith,"said Mr. Watson," 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(冠軍) 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, Smith. 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."

Smith 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 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, I want to do something for Champ. Something big that he won't even know about.

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

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

B. Smith's son knocked a boy down who hit Herbie.

C. Smith's department didn't earn money that year.

D. Smith had his son study in Riverside School.

2.We can learn from the text that ______ .

A. Mr.Watson wanted to realize Champ's dream.

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

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

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

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

A. Easy-going and optimistic. B. Hardworking and sympathetic.

C. Strict and grateful. D. Selfish and greedy.

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

A. help us to deal with our boss B. make our children enjoy life

C. provide us with tips on work D. share a moving story with us

Envelope Budget

From McDonald’s to Sonic, fast food had a bad effect on my waistline and my budget. It was nothing to run to a drive-through to pick up a cold drink or a quick bite to eat. It was so easy to use my card for a small purchase. For me, I got a lot of satisfaction from fast food.

One day I sat down and calculated that I was spending a surprising $40 a week on fast food. This was a lot of iced coffee and hamburgers! Instead of reducing my guilty pleasures, I decided to give myself a strong budget to reduce my consumption. Every Monday I placed an envelope with $20 in my purse. That was my fast food budget for the entire week. If there was anything left over at the end of the week, it was mine to save or spend. If I spent all of the money during the week, there were no more fast food stops that week.

The budget made me more mindful of my purchases. Instead of purchasing a large drink from Sonic, I would purchase a small. It was still satisfying but not nearly as pricey. Instead of eating a whole meal, I would pick the part that I actually wanted. Many days, the thought of hanging onto the money for a special purpose meant more to me than the instant satisfaction of fast food. I never really felt unhappy because it was a conscious choice to spend or save with each purchase.

Envelope budget kept me honest. I had a clear idea how much money was spent each week on fast food purchases. I started to bring my lunches more often to save more money for the week. It was a fun challenge to see how much I could save every week.

Changing the way I spent on fast food not only helped my budget, but improved my weight. In the first month I was able to get rid of 5 pounds by simply changing the way I approached spending on fast food. Now I am more likely to bring my lunch than to buy it. I am not upset, but empowered to make positive choices to improve my life.

1.According to Paragraph 1, the author ______ .

A. was fond of fast food very much

B. got some benefits from using her card

C. had no time to cook for herself

D. lived with a small amount of money

2.The author set her envelope budget to ______ .

A. make fast food spending under control

B. get rid of the habit of eating fast food

C. buy fast food at a good bargain

D. save money to buy more fast food

3.We can infer from the last paragraph that ______.

A. it is unusual to make some changes

B. the budget means a pressure on life

C. it is hard to enjoy a healthy lifestyle

D. envelope budget is good for health

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Why the author took envelope budget seriously.

B. How envelope budget changed the author’s life.

C. How fast food controlled the author’s behavior.

D. Why the author became addicted to fast food.

Goddington Theater

The Goddington Theater Ticket Office is open from 10a．m．until 4p．m．Monday to Friday，and for half an hour in the evening before the advertised start time of each performance．

Telephone bookings

*Your tickets are held at the Ticket Office for you to collect or，if you prefer，a charge（費(fèi)用） of 35cents is made to post them to you if you pay by cash．We'll post them to you for free if you book by credit card．No extra charge．

Postal bookings

*You can write to the Ticket Office requesting tickets，or to confirm a reservation． Where to find Goddington Theater

*Goddington Theater can be found within the Goddington University site，next to the car park，which is available for public use after 5p．m．on weekdays and all day on weekends．

If travelling by car

*Coming from the south end of Princes Street，you will see the library on your right．Next to the library is Goddington University．Take the next turning on the right，then first right into the car park gate straight ahead of you，stopping as close as possible to the orange machine．Put a $ 1coin in the machine and the gate will rise．

If travelling by train/bus/taxi

*You will need to allow 30minutes to walk from the train station．Taxis are available from the front of the station．

*The University is a 5to 10minutes'walk from the main bus station．

*When ordering a taxi from the theater，ask to be picked up at the bottom of North Street．Taxis will not come into the car park because of the entrance charge．

1.You can book your tickets ______ ．

A. at 5 p.m on Wednesday B. at noon on workdays

C. at lunch time on weekends D. at 9 a.m on Monday

2.Where is the Goddington Theater？ ______

A. To the south of Princes Street

B. On the right of the Ticket Office．

C. At the bottom of North Street．

D. In the Goddington university．

3.What can we learn from the passage？ ______

A. Taxi drivers are unwilling to pick up customers inside the car park．

B. Tickets paid by cash will be posted to you at no extra charge．

C. You can find a free parking place in the university．

D. You have to collect your tickets if you pay by credit card．

Persuasion is the art of convincing someone to agree with you. According to the ancient Greeks, there are three basic tools of persuasion : ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos is a speakers’ way of convincing the audience that she is trustworthy, honest and reliable. One common way a speaker can develop ethos is by explaining how much experience or education she has in the field. After all, you’re more likely to listen to advice about how to take care of your teeth from a dentist than a fireman. A speaker can also create ethos by convincing the audience that she is a good person. If an audience cannot trust you, you will not be able to persuade them.

Pathos is a speaker’s way of connecting with an audience’s emotions. For example, a politician who is trying to convince an audience to vote for him might say that he alone can save the country from a terrible war. These words are intended to fill the audience with fear, thus making them support him. Similarly, an animal charity might show an audience pictures of injured dogs and cats, to make the viewers feel pity. If the audience feels bad for the animals, they will be more likely to donate money.

Logos is the use of facts, statistics, or other evidence to support your argument. An audience will be more likely to believe you if you have convincing data to back up your claims. Presenting this evidence is much more persuasive than simply saying “believe me”.

Although ethos, pathos, and logos all have their strengths, they are often most effective when used together. Indeed, most speakers use a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade their audiences. So, the next time you listen to a speech, watch a commercial, or listen to a friend try to convince you to lend him some money, be on the lookout for these ancient Greek tools of persuasion.

1.Why does the author say persuasion is an art?

A. They both demand full attention from the audience.

B. They both entertain the audience.

C. They both require great skill to achieve.

D. They were both common topics of ancient Greek writers.

2.How is a speaker able to show her ethos to the audience?

A. By using beautiful language to make her statements attractive.

B. By showing her knowledge and experience relating to the topic.

C. By expressing her sympathy with the audience.

D. By telling the audience about her personal preference.

3.What can we learn about the three aspects of persuasion?

A. Honesty is the key to making your arguments believable.

B. Ethos is the most important aspect of persuasion.

C. Political leaders mostly use ethos to persuade their audience.

D. Each aspect has a different effect on the audience.

4.An advertisement for washing powder which claims “Our powder kills 95% of all bacteria.” It mainly used_________.

A. ethos B. pathos

C. logos D. a combination of all three

Ways to Improve Your Luck

Some people have all the luck!Or does it just seem that way？Why did your co-worker get that big promotion while you were overlooked？Why do some of us seem to experience these lucky things more than others and how can you improve your luck？1.

What You Tell Yourself Matters!

Do you know that people who are lucky tell themselves they're lucky？Has your own self-talk been filled with less-than-lucky talk？Do you say things like："I'm just not a lucky person."or "Good things never happen to me?" 2.They say things like---"This setback is only temporary．I know things will turn around．"or"Things have a way of working out for me．"

Expect and Acknowledge Your Good Luck．

3. Research suggests keeping a "good luck journal" helps people become even luckier．Did someone bring you coffee at work today？Did you find a random quarter on the street？Did your husband or wife do something nice for you today？Did your child get a good grade at school？Write them down! 4. Begin to notice all the good that comes to you．

Do Something New and Different．

Make contact with people．Take risks．People who try new things are much more open to luck and good fortune than those who don't．This doesn't mean you have to quit your job or take up skydiving! It could be as simple as starting a conversation with a stranger，taking a class in an unfamiliar subject, learning some words and phrases in a foreign language，or trying a new ethnic restaurant．5. And this greater openness can help promote chance opportunities in their lives．

A．You probably have many more lucky things happening in your life than you think．

B．Lucky people generally expect good fortune．

C．All of these things count．

D．You will never forget your lucky friends．

E．Here are ideas that researchers tell us about luck．

F．A lucky person generally receive good fortune in the future．

G．Lucky people score much higher on openness than unlucky people．

My wife and I were attending a wedding at St. John’s Church. The sound of______rang to the heavens as the ceremony continued.

At the church, I______an old friend, Casper, who happened to be at the______. Now 73, Casper was a brilliant and______softball pitcher（投球手）back in the Men’s Leagues of Philadelphia in the mid-60s. I did not______the now silver-haired fellow until my brother-in-law John mentioned his name to me！After a very pleasant______, Casper asked if I remembered a letter of ______I had written to him back in 1964. It appeared Casper fell on hard times, as professional pitchers______do, and he wasn’t pitching too well for a period of time. I did not ______the letter, but he said, “Yes, I still have it and I read it anytime______aren’t going too well.” He said that he had read the letter many times, and the situation always seemed to improve. I was______and speechless!

He continued, “You don’t remember?” I said, “Sadly, no, I don’t.” But I did ask if I could have a(n)______of the letter. He said he would email it to me. After the______, we met on the steps of the church. Casper came up to me and______the letter. He lived a block from the______and had run home to get it. The envelope was______and turned yellow, and so was the letter inside. That letter had to be nearly 50 years old.

In______terms, the letter read:

“These hard times are______！Keep your enthusiasm for the______. Never quit and you’ll be back on the top again______. Hang on there!”

1.A. wind B. traffic C. music D. firework

2.A. took over B. ran into C. picked up D. called on

3.A. scene B. meeting C. service D. position

4.A. limited B. balanced C. devoted D. talented

5.A. recognize B. invite C. inform D. disturb

6.A. discussion B. shaking C. journey D. greeting

7.A. apology B. encouragement C. introduction D. appreciation

8.A. rarely B. entirely C. sometimes D. forever

9.A. receive B. write C. remember D. preserve

10.A. things B. stages C. effects D. jobs

11.A. pleased B. disappointed C. annoyed D. puzzled

12.A. address B. copy C. record D. opinion

13.A. break B. wedding C. party D. incident

14.A. opened B. delivered C. presented D. dropped

15.A. theatre B. church C. office D. station

16.A. faded B. painted C. folded D. divided

17.A. gentle B. patient C. modest D. simple

18.A. relative B. impressive C. temporary D. reasonable

19.A. game B. prize C. glory D. lesson

20.A. properly B. shortly C. totally D. casually

One of the major holiday shopping days is the day after Thanksgiving. It is frequently1.(refer) to as Black Friday. The use of the word “black” relates to the business accountants. Storekeepers used to record profits in black ink and2.(lose) in red ink. So3.(be) “in the black” on the Friday after Thanksgiving means a good thing, a return to profit.

Black Friday is the big day for many retailers, and it presents the shopper an opportunity4.(get) all of one’s holiday shopping done at once among amazing sale prices. On that day, most retailers will open very early and usually provide massive and5.(attract) discounts on their product while a great number6.holiday shoppers will get an early start in the morning to begin Christmas shopping.

Black Friday also means that people face crowded stores,7.is the other idea of a “Black Friday”,8.day they do not like. It used to be the9.(busy) shopping day of a year. Many people avoid this shopping day altogether because of the stress involved in fighting the crowds. In recent years the Saturday before Christmas10.(see) the biggest shopping crowds.

1.It is ________________ （acknowledge）that he is one of the greatest pianists.

2.Thanks for your directions to the house; we wouldn’t have found it _________________（否則）.

3.____________ (die) for a cup of coffee, I entered the cafe.

4.It is meaningful ______________ (donate) books to children in need.

5.Each time he meets some homeless people, he will be bound to show sympathy______________ them.

6.In her spare time she does ______________(志愿) work without any rewards.

7.Clothes and blankets have been ______________ (distribute) among the survivors of the earthquake.

8.He ______________ (占用) himself in preparing for the mid-term exams the other day.

9.They celebrate their wedding anniversary ______________ (annual).

10.The ______________ (政府) has insisted that confidence is needed before the economy can improve.

Last Thursday,we had a class meeting to discuss when to go for our spring outing.We came up with several choice such as going boating,climbing a mountain and going to a amusement park. Final, we decided to go to climbing. The next day, we set off early in the morning. While climbing the mountain, we enjoy the warm sunshine and a beautiful view. However, when they reached the top, we were surprising to see litter here and there, such as bottles and banana peels. Then we started to pick up the litter. Afterwards, we put the rubbish the nearby dustbin. We were tired and happy.

假設(shè)你是李津, 最近在你班的班會(huì)上進(jìn)行了一次有關(guān)是否有必要在國外讀大學(xué)的討論會(huì), 請根據(jù)以下提示寫一篇英文短文為校報(bào)投稿.

內(nèi)容要點(diǎn)：1. 優(yōu)勢：學(xué)校注重實(shí)踐、環(huán)境優(yōu)雅等 2. 不足：費(fèi)用高等 3.個(gè)人看法

注意：

1.字?jǐn)?shù)100；

2.要點(diǎn)要全；開頭和結(jié)尾已經(jīng)寫出,不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)；

3.可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié),以使行文連貫.

Dear Editor of the school newspaper,

I contribute to your newspaper to introduce something about the recent class meeting of mine.

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Yours,

Li Jin.