Maybe it is true that we do not know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we do not know what we have been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Do not expect love in return; but if it does not, be content it grows in yours.
It takes an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Do not rely on one's appearance, it can deceive. Do not rely on wealth, even that fades away. Rely on someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them.
Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.
Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.
The happiest of people do not necessarily gave the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness waits for those who cry, those who have been hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tired, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You cannot go on well in life until you let your past failures and heartaches go off.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
【小題1】The writer thinks the trouble with some people is that they __________.

A．a(chǎn)lways take a long view about problems

B．look at problems all-sidedly

C．can be good at doing with problems

D．deal with problems one-sidedly

【小題2】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．We often don't know what we have lost until it happens.

B．If it takes you an hour to love someone, you will easily forget her.

C．If you give someone your love, you are sure that she will give her love to you in return.

D．If someone accepts your love and he doesn’t give you his love in return, you should be angry with him.

【小題3】If you put yourself in another's position, ___________.

A． you should depend on wealth

B．you shouldn't do those things that will hurt you and other people

C．you will do what you want to do however dangerous it is to people

D．you should depend on other people

【小題4】In the last paragraph of the passage, the writer is actually telling us that a man in the world should be one who __________.

A．can accept the suggestions made by others

B．can live happily and forget the past

C．does good for the people and is respected by them

D．has made a lot of money for himself when he dies

There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health, wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (冒犯) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was sounded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation. It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have realized its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly all act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others: nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrong doings. These people should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.
【小題1】People who are unhappy                   ．

A．a(chǎn)lways consider things differently from others

B．usually are affected by the results of certain things

C．usually misunderstand what others think or say

D．a(chǎn)lways discover the unpleasant side of certain things

【小題2】The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most probably means“              .”

A．have a good taste with social life	B．make others unhappy
C．tend to scold others openly	D．enjoy the pleasure of life

【小題3】We can conclude from the passage that__________.

A．we should pity all such unhappy people

B．such unhappy people are dangerous to social life

C．people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness

D．unhappy people can not understand happy persons

【小題4】If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should_______.

A．prevent any communication with them

B．show respect and politeness to them

C．persuade them to recognize the bad effects

D．quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes

【小題5】In this passage, the writer mainly __________.

A．describes two types of people

B．laughs at the unhappy people

C．suggests the unhappy people should get rid of the habits of unhappiness

D．tells people how to be unhappy in life

Maybe it is true that we do not know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we do not know what we have been missing until it arrives.
It takes an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Do not expect love in return; but if it does not, be content it has grown in yours. Do not rely on one’s appearance; it can trick you. Do not rely on wealth; even that fades away. Rely on someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them. Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You cannot go on well in life until you let your past failures and heartaches go off. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trails to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness waits for those who cry, those appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Always put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
【小題1】In this passage, the writer wants to tell us ______.

A．what to do in our life

B．where to go with other persons

C．how to treat our life

D．how to get on well with other persons

【小題2】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．If you give someone your love, you are sure to receive love in return.

B．We often don’t know what we have lost until it happens someday.

C．It is wise not to rely on anybody because you are likely to be cheated.

D．If it takes you a short time to love someone, you will easily forget the person.

【小題3】If you put yourself in another person’s position, ______.

A．you shouldn’t do what will hurt other people

B．you should put on other people’s shoes

C．you should believe in other people

D．you should depend on your imagination

【小題4】In the last paragraph the writer is actually telling us that a person in the world should be one who ______.

A．can accept the suggestions made by others

B．can live happily and forget the past

C．does good to other people and is respected and loved by them

D．has made a lot of money for himself before he dies

I feel it enormous responsibility, as a mother of two little girls, to lead you down a path that is relatively healthy when it comes to beauty and self-image.
In a lot of women’s eyes I’ve probably already failed in that respect due to the amount of pink princess Barbie (芭比娃娃) mess cluttering up (堆滿) Vera’s room. But I will say something about Barbie: I played with that stuff for a solid decade when I was growing up and here I am now at a healthy weight with a healthy outlook on my body and image. I have a successful career. If Barbie was really so damaging to my femininity (女性氣質) and self-image I highly doubt I could list all of the accomplishments.
But I get it too. It’s hard for women to maintain a healthy self-image. I have girlfriends around whom I have to brace myself to see, because just being around them makes me self-conscious. I look at old pictures of my mother and wonder why I’ve never been able to be as skinny as she was. And then I have friends who are thinner than their mothers ever were. We women go round and round in circles, holding hands and trying to be one another sometimes. Men like to think we dress and style ourselves for them, but why would we when they hardly notice? I’ve never tried so hard to look good when I know I’m about to meet up with a stylish girlfriend. It’s she who will notice my slimmed-down waist or the thinnest, little bracelet on my arm.
And I have no doubt that the two of you, Veronica and Juliette, will endlessly compare yourselves to each other. You will wonder why one of you got longer legs or shinier hair. The thing I’ll tell you is this: not even the prettiest of us feel settled. The girl you think looks the most perfect in the world is probably the girl who wants to change herself more than anyone else.
Don’t take these on. You are not worthless. You are so full of love and light and you should let it shine through your every second. If someone pushes you down for standing tall then just push yourself back up and stand even taller. And know that the reason they push you down in the first place is just because they’re scared.
【小題1】From the second paragraph, we can infer that the author _____.

A．regrets buying so much Barbie stuff for her daughters

B．thinks loving Barbie makes her not confident about her self-image

C．owes her beauty and success to playing with Barbie

D．thinks playing with Barbie caused no damage to her beauty and success

【小題2】In the third paragraph, the author intends to show that _____.

A．women tend to be proud of their beautiful friends

B．she cares much about her appearance

C．she feels proud of her mother’s beauty

D．women tend to admire others and compare with each other

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

A．The author is disappointed that few men take notice of her slim figure.

B．The author cares more about looking good before her girlfriends.

C．Girls should constantly compare themselves with others to improve their beauty.

D．Only the prettiest girl can feel confident about her beauty.

【小題4】The author advises her daughters that _____.

A．they should be cautious not to be pushed down by others

B．they should care much about their strong points instead of appearances

C．they should try to grow taller than others

D．they should care more about others’ opinions

People who show confidence really seem to have it made. They seize more rewarding careers, keep good relationships, and just seem to do everything with more styles than the rest of us.
So what is the secret? There isn’t one. Self-confidence is a skill and habit that anyone can learn to develop. And although people who are raised in an encouraging environment with confident role models have a hard start in self-confidence development, we all can learn to become more confident at any age.
Try these simple tips for practising and increasing your self-confidence levels:
Dare to fail. Anybody who’s out there bravely performing is going to fail repeatedly. If you are not failing, you are not trying. So don’t take failure too hard or too personally. Just learn to deal with it and use its lessons to keep improving.
When in doubt, pretend you know what you are doing. Because, if you are confident of your abilities, by the time you have done it, you will be experienced.
Dress for success. You don’t have to be beautiful to be confident. Make the most of your own unique physical characters and weaken your disadvantages.
Listen to yourself. You are the only person who knows what’s right for you. Don’t put others’ opinions above your own inner voice.
Build a confident vocabulary. Stop putting yourself down and give up continually blaming your tiny weaknesses. Learn to show up your strong points and the world will learn to see and celebrate them with you.
Pass on the praise. Praise others for their virtues and strengths. This practice will not decrease your confidence, but help increase it.
【小題1】The passage is written mainly __________.

A．to explain the definition of self-confidence

B．to explain the secret of self-confidence

C．to tell people how important self-confidence is

D．to tell people how to build self-confidence

【小題2】The main idea of the sixth paragraph is __________.

A．to be confident means to have no disadvantages

B．taking full advantage of your physical characters will help you be confident

C．your unique characters will help you be confident and be successful

D．to be confident means to be beautiful

【小題3】All the following are tips to increase your self-confidence level EXCEPT______.

A．not to be afraid of failure	B．dress yourself properly
C．pretend to know everything	D．make your advantages more obvious

【小題4】_______ will weaken your self-confidence.

A．Praising others for their strong points

B．Always following others’ advice to do things

C．Giving up blaming your weaknesses

D．Believing in yourself

Does Fame Drive You Crazy?
Although being famous might sound like a dream come true, today's stars, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine.They are at the center of much of the world's attention.Paparazzi (狗仔隊) camp outside their homes, cameras ready.Tabloids (小報) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives.Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to pyschologist Christina Villarreal, celebrities—famous people—worry constantly about their public appearance.Eventually, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the people they were before everyone knew their names.“Over time，” Villarreal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages.In the 4th century B．C., painters followed Alexander the Great into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers.When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his sold－out readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain (抱怨) about his lack of privacy.Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film－stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be.Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras.When they say something silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren't all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it.Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities.They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice.Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are.They are tired of being famous already.
【小題1】It can be learned from the passage that stars today________.

A．a(chǎn)re often misunderstood by the public

B．can no longer have their privacy protected

C．spend too much on their public appearance

D．care little about how they have come into fame

【小題2】What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired.

B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history.

C．Well－known actors are usually targets of tabloids.

D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers.

【小題3】What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?

A．Availability of modern media.

B．Inadequate social recognition.

C．Lack of favorable chances.

D．Huge population of fans.

【小題4】What is the author's attitude toward modern celebrity?

A．Sincere.	B．Sceptical.
C．Disapproving.	D．Sympathetic.

Many of us dream of having thousands and thousands of dollar to spend on what we desire We can buy lottery tickets, enter contests or spend hours building a business or invest in the stock market. We are sure that when we have plenty of money, we will be happy.
While having some money does have an impact on our level of happiness, having a lot of money does not. It is reported that Americans whose income goes from $20,000 a year to $50,000 a year are more likely to be happy. But beyond $50,000, happiness does not increase as salaries go up. It is because we are never satisfied. Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College says, "We always think if we just had a little more money, we’d be happier. But when we get there, we are not."
Daniel Gilbert, a psychology professor at Harvard notes,"The more you make, the more you want. The more you have, the less it brings you joy. We incorrectly assume we’Il get more pleasure from more, and we don’t."
The things money can buy don't make you happy either. A lot of research suggests that you won't find the "good life" buying expensive "toys". You finally buy that BMW you've always wanted and it soon loses its appeal. Then, instead of wondering if a new car is what really makes you happy, you decide you just need a different new car. It is an endless cycle.
To really be happy, you need to understand what makes you happy in the first place. One secret of happiness is people. Surveys have found that people need people. Those who have five or more close friends are 50% more likely to describe themselves as "very happy". Good relationships have a far greater effect on happiness than larger salary. Andrew Oswald, an economist at England's University of Warwick says, "B you are looking for happiness in life, find the right husband or wife rather than trying to double your salary."
So invest your time and energy in people. The reward is much bigger in terms of happiness!
【小題1】In Paragraph 1 the author intends to tell us the "belief" that

A．we are unhappy because we often lack money

B．people can buy what they want if they have enough money

C．more money will make one's dreams come true

D．happiness will result from more money

【小題2】Which of the following statements would the author agree to?

A．Having some money brings happiness to some degree.

B．The more money one earns, the sadder one becomes

C．Buying expensive things will surely bring pleasure

D．We get nothing from buying expensive things we want.

【小題3】Why does happiness not increase with pay rises?

A．Most of us have a psychological problem.

B．People are not content with what they get.

C．It is human nature to be unhappy.

D．Happiness has nothing to do with money.

【小題4】In order to find happiness we should

A．a(chǎn)lways make new friends	B．take no notice of our salaries
C．focus on good relationships	D．invest our money in our friend

Car Talk
When I got the driving license last summer, Mom and I took our first trip around an empty parking lot. Then I found that my mother was not the best teacher for me. It wasn't that she shouted, or told me that I was doing poorly. As you can imagine, my mother's "helpful instructions" only managed to make me more nervous.
Since I could no longer practice with her, the job was placed in the hands of my father. The idea of learning from Dad was not one that thrilled me. I loved him dearly, but I just did not see Dad as someone I could be comfortable learning from. He almost never talked. We shared a typical father-daughter relationship. He'd ask how school was, and I'd say it was fine. Unfortunately, that was the most of our conversations. Spending hours alone with someone who might as well have been a stranger really scared me.
As we got into the car that first time, I was not surprised at what happened. Dad and I drove around, saying almost nothing, aside from a few instructions on how to turn. As my lessons went on, however, things began to change. Dad would turn the radio up so I could fully appreciate his favorite Stones music. And he actually began talking. I was soon hearing about past failed dates, "basic body" gym class, and other tales from his past, including some of his first meeting with Mom.
Dad' s sudden chattiness was shocking until I thought about why he was telling me so much in the car. In all the years that I had wondered why my father never spoke that much, I had never stopped to consider that it was because I had never bothered to listen. Homework, friends, and even TV had all called me away from him, and, consequently, I never thought my quiet father had anything to say.
Since I began driving with him, my driving skill has greatly increased. More important, though, is that my knowledge of who my father is has also increased. Just living with him wasn't enough—it took driving with him for me to get to know someone who was a mystery.
【小題1】The author couldn't practice driving with her mother because             .

A．she couldn't talk with her mother	B．her father wanted to teach her
C．her mother made her nervous	D．she didn't trust her mother

【小題2】At first, the idea of learning driving from her father made her             .

A．happy

B．uneasy

C．satisfied

D．disappointed

【小題3】What surprised the author when the driving lessons went on?

A．Her Dad liked modern music.	B．Her Dad was the best teacher.
C．Her Dad was a chatty person.	D．Her Dad told her his sad stories.

【小題4】With her story "Car Talk", the author indicates that             .

A．fathers love their daughters dearly

B．mothers are less patient than fathers

C．family members need real communication

D．it takes time to improve the father-daughter relationship

One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream and listen to the singing of birds and the rustling of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully to their original position after the wind had died down.
When I think    about the  bamboo trees’ ability to bounce back  or return  to its original position, the word “resilience” comes to my mind. When used in reference to a person, this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other negative situation that stretches the limits of a person’s emotions.
Have you ever felt like you are about to lose control of your emotions? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.
During the  experience you probably    felt a  mix of emotions    that threatened your health.You felt emotionally
tired, mentally exhausted and   you most likely bored unpleasant physical symptoms.
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point, bend, but don’t break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.
A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant moments. Will hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant moment may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.
If the situation gets tough and    you    are at your breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo trees, bend, but don’t break!
【小題1】What does the underlined word “resilience” mean in Paragraph 2?

A．The ability to overcome any difficulty.

B．The quality of hoping for a better tomorrow.

C．The quality of being brave at the breaking point.

D．The ability to recover easily and quickly from unpleasant or damaging events.

【小題2】Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A．Life is like a bamboo tree that never breaks.

B．Whatever difficulties we may meet with in our life, we can bend, but can never break.

C．Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments.

D．If you get over your breaking point, you can survive to live longer and more happily than others.

【小題3】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A．The author was an idle child when he was living near the river.

B．We should try our best not to let our bad times get the best of us.

C．Our being likely to lose control of our emotions is common in our life.

D．We should always believe things may not be as bad as they seem to be.

【小題4】Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

A．Bend, but don’t break.	B． My wonderful childhood.
C．The bamboo trees.	D． Love the bamboo trees and your life.

One morning, teachers arrived to find the little country schoolhouse swallowed in flames. They dragged an unconscious little boy, who went to start the fire in the old-fashioned coal stove to heat, out of the flaming building more dead than alive. He had major burns over the lower half of his body and was taken to a nearby county hospital.
From his bed the dreadfully burned, semi-conscious little boy faintly heard the doctor talking to his mother. The doctor told his mother that her son would surely die — which was for the best, really — for the terrible fire had ruined the lower half of his body.
But the brave boy didn’t want to die. He made up his mind that he would survive. Somehow, to the amazement of the physician, he did survive. When the deadly danger was past, he again heard the doctor and his mother speaking quietly. The mother was told that since the fire had destroyed so much flesh in the    lower part of his body, it would almost    be better if he had died, since he was doomed to be in a wheelchair all lifetime with no use at all of his lower limbs (肢體).
Once more the brave boy made up his mind. He would not be a disabled man. He would walk. But unfortunately from the waist   down, he had no motor ability. His thin legs just hung there, all but lifeless.
Ultimately he was released from the hospital. Every day his mother would massage his little legs, but there was no feeling, no control, nothing. Yet his determination that he would walk was as strong as ever.
When he wasn’t in bed, he was confined to a wheelchair. One sunny day his mother wheeled him out into the yard to get some fresh air. This day, instead of sitting there, he threw himself from the chair. He pulled himself across the grass, dragging his legs behind him.
He worked his way to the white fence bordering their lot. With great effort, he raised himself up on the fence. Then he began dragging himself along the fence，resolved that he would walk. He started to do this every day until he wore a smooth path all around the yard beside the fence. There was nothing he wanted   more than to develop life in those legs.
Ultimately through his  daily massages, his    iron   persistence and    his resolute determination, he did develop the ability to stand up, then to walk slowly, then to walk  by himself — and then to run.
He began to walk    to school, then to run  to school, to run for the pure joy of running. Later in college he made the track team.
Still later in  Madison Square Garden this young man, the great athlete, Dr. Glenn Cunningham, ran the world’s fastest mile!
【小題1】Which word can best describe Glenn Cunningham according to the author?

A． Miserable

B．Unfortunate

C．Determined

D．Disabled

【小題2】Glenn got seriously burned _____.

A．when he was playing near the stove

B．when he went to set fire to the schoolhouse

C．when he was probably younger than ten

D．when his teachers were lighting the fire

【小題3】Which cannot be inferred from the passage?

A．Glenn didn’t catch what the doctor told his mother so he didn’t worry about his burns.

B．Glenn decided to survive though his lower part of body had lost the sense of feeling.

C．Glenn struggled to stand up by dragging along the fence and other supportable matters.

D．Glenn never stopped practicing walking and running, even after he ran first in the race.

【小題4】The doctor advised Glenn’s mother to let Glenn die because the doctor was too______.

A．unskillful

B． practical

C． subjective

D． irresponsible