Football, to me, is more than just a game. I have probably learned more than valuable lessons from it than
from school.
     When I joined the team freshman year, I didn't realize what I was getting into. Even though I had been
playing since fourth grade and knew it was hard work, nothing would prepare me for the effort I would put
into football that year. We worked all summer in the weight room and ran on the track to get in physical and
mental shape before the season.
     See, football is more of a mental sport than anything else, so running on the track wasn't only about getting
in shape. We would push our minds by running as hard as we could even if we felt like we were going to pass
out. At the beginning, I was immature (幼稚的) and only thought of myself, sometimes even giving up when I
was tired or hurting. Then after the third game I had a season-ending injury. Imagine working all summer and
then only being able to play three games! I needed surgery on my arm and at least five months to recover.
     After freshman year I decided that I would always give my best effort. Playing varsity (大學代表隊)
football has taught me so much more than just what my tasks are on a particular play or how to block. I have
learned to think about others first, and realized how important working hard is. Being with all my friends, even
sweating and bleeding with them, really made us unite as a group of hard-working young men, who will
succeed in life.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A. How the author dislikes the game of football.
B. When the author began to play football.
C. How the author has changed his attitude to football.
D. What sport the author likes best.

2. The author thinks football is _____.

A. just a game
B. of a mental sport
C. hard to pass out
D. not worth his effort

3. From the text we can infer _____.

A. the author joined the football team with a clear aim
B. football only brought the author certain tasks
C. the author worked all summer to get ready for the season
D. the author never lost heart when he met with difficulties

4. In the third paragraph, the phrase "getting in shape" probably means _____.

A. becoming physically fit
B. designing the playground
C. losing weight
D. measuring the track

     It's not easy being a teenager-nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel
angry, hurt or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important to give your child
the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you'll still be there for him when he needs you.
     Expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Except for health and safety problems, such as drug use
or careless driving, consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something,
don't insist he should tell you what's on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he'll clam up.
Instead,let him attempt to solve things by himself. At the same time,remind him that you're always there for
him, should he seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager's privacy. Never read his mail or listen to
personal conversations.
     Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family's
telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for l5 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least all
equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls,
but teaches your teenager moderation (節(jié)制). Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own
phone that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part-time job.

1. The main purpose of the text is to tell parents _____.

A. how to get along with a teenager
B. how to respect a teenager
C. how to understand a teenager
D. how to help a teenager grow up

2. What does the phrase "clam up" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. become excited
B. show respect
C. refuse to talk
D. seek help

3. The last paragraph is about how to teach a teenager _____.

A. to use the phone in a sensible way
B. to pay for his own telephone
C. to share the phone with friends
D. to answer the phone quickly

4. What should parents do in raising a teenager according to the text?

A. Not allow him to learn driving or take drugs.
B. Give him advice only when necessary.
C. Let him have his own telephone.
D. Not talk about personal things with him.

     You hear a rumor (謠言) from a friend, who heard it from another friend, who read it on a note passed
in math class, which was written by somebody who probably just made it up. Chances are, rumors are always
spreading around your school. Sometimes it can be very hurtful. But why do people still do so?
     When people are feeling bad about themselves, they sometimes think they'll feel better if there were someone
worse off than they are. It's okay being near the bottom, as long as they're not actually on the bottom. The
easiest way for them to make sure someone else is on the bottom is to make up a rumor that puts him or her
there.
     If everybody else is spreading rumors, you might feel you have to do the same thing in order to fit in.
Unfortunately, the person who the gossip or rumor is about is usually left out of the group for the same reason
that you're let into it.
     When you know a secret that nobody knows, or are the first person in your group to hear a rumor, it can
make you the center of attention. A rumor or piece of gossip is sometimes like money; telling it to people is like
buying their attention.
     Certain people always want to be at the top of the ladder (梯子). You probably know at least one person
who wishes to be the leader, say what goes, and make all the decisions. One way they do this is by reducing
(降低) the status (地位) of another person. Spreading rumors and gossip is one way people reduce another
person's status.
     Sometimes, a period when everyone is happy and getting along just seems kind of dull. Spreading rumors
might get two people to start a fight, and that would make life a little more exciting. All those newspapers and
TV shows full of gossip about famous people are proving that rumors are a popular form of entertainment.

1. We know from Paragraph 2 that some people spread rumors to _____.

[     ]

A. be more confident
B. feel like part of a group
C. attract attention
D. be more powerful

2. The underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 may mean some people _____.

[     ]

A. love looking down from a high position
B. hope to become leaders
C. are not afraid of falling down
D. are fond of spreading rumors

3. What do we know from the last paragraph?

[     ]

A. Famous people like spreading rumors.
B. Rumors can make people feel bored.
C. Some people seek excitement from rumors.
D. There are many rumors in newspapers.

     I grew up in a house where the TV was seldom turned on and with one wall in my bedroom entirely lined
with bookshelves, most of my childhood was spent on books I could get hold of. In fact, I grew up thinking
of reading as natural as breathing and books unbelievably powerful in shaping perspectives (觀點) by creating
worlds we could step into, take part in and live in.
     With this unshakable belief, I, at fourteen, decided to become a writer. Here too, reading became useful.
Every writer starts off knowing that he has something to say, but being unable to find the right ways to say it.
He has to find his own voice by reading widely and discovering which parts of the writers he agrees or
disagrees with, or agrees with so strongly that it reshapes his own world. He cannot write without loving to
read, because only through reading other people's writing can one discover what works, what doesn't and, in
the end, together with lots of practice, what voice he has.
     Now I am in college, and have come to realize how important it is to read fiction (文學作品). As a law
student, my reading is in fact limited to subject matter-the volume (量) of what I have to read for classes every
week means there is little time to read anything else. Such reading made it all the clearer to me that I live in a
very small part in this great place called life. Reading fiction reminds me that there is life beyond my own. It
allows me to travel across the high seas and along the Silk Road, all from the comfort of my own armchair,
to experience, though secondhand, exciting experiences that I wouldn't necessarily be able to have in my
lifetime.

1. What can be inferred about the author as a child?

A. He never watched TV.
B. He read what he had to.
C. He found reading unbelievable.
D. He considered reading part of his life.

2. The underlined word "voice" in the second paragraph most probably means "_____".

A. an idea
B. a sound quality
C. a way of writing
D. a world to write about

3. What effect does reading have on the author?

A. It helps him to realize his dream.
B. It opens up a wider world for him.
C. It makes his college life more interesting.
D. It increases his interest in worldwide travel.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of this text?

A. Why do I read?
B. How do I read?
C. What do I read?
D. When do I read?

                                                                  1._____ 
     Most of us have one or a few bad habits that we'd like to get out of. But how do you do it? I have a few
suggestions that have helped me and people around me. Here are some tips that can help you to finally get out
of that bad habit. 
     2._____ If you tell people around you that you will stop smoking or start to exercise three times a week,
then they will check up on you. And you will feel you have to keep your promise because it is let out into the
world.
     Avoid temptations (誘惑). 3._____ Places where you are likely to spend too much money. Things in your
cupboard that will not help you to get healthier and you should not have at home at all. And people that drag
(拉) you down and back into your old ways. 
     4._____ It may seem like a good idea to change your life all at once. In our daily life, stress and lack (缺
乏) of energy usually lead to failure. Don't try to be Superman or Wonder Woman. Take it easy and break
one habit at a time. 
     5._____ You will probably not succeed the first time you do it. You fail and you make mistakes when you
make changes and try new things. That's just life and nothing to feel bad about. What you should do next is
try again.

A. Know what usually gets you into bad habits.
B. Simple tips for getting out of bad habits.
C. See your future in your mind.
D. If at first you don't succeed, please try again.
E. Tell your friends and family.
F. The reason why we need to make good habits.
G. Don't break more than one habit at a time.

      Friends play an important part in our lives, and although we may take friendship for granted, we often
don't clearly understand how we make friends. While we get on well with a number of people, 1______.
      Moreover, a great many relationships come under the general term "friendship". In all cases, two people
like one another and enjoy being together, but beyond that, the degree of closeness between them and the
reasons for their interest in each other change greatly.
      At the beginning, much depends on how people meet, and on good first impressions. As we get to know
people, 2______. Although these factors are not of the greatest importance, it is more difficult to have a good
relationship with people when there is a big difference in age and background. 
     Then, 3______. Friends will stand closer together and will spend more time looking at each other than
ordinary friends. Smiles and soft voices also express friendliness, and it is because they may give the wrong
signals that shy people often have difficulty making friends. A friendly look with a wrong facial expression
can turn into an unfriendly stare, and nervousness may be wrongly understood as unfriendliness.
      Some friendly relationships are a result of argument and discussion, but it is usual for close friends to
have the same ideas and beliefs, the same opinion and interests. The more closely involved people become,
the more they depend on each other. And 4______. Equally, friends have to learn to make allowances for
each other, to put up with annoying habits, and to accept differences in opinion.
      In contrast with marriage, 5______. But the support and understanding that results from shared experiences
and affections does seem to create a close and lasting relationship.

A. we are usually friends with only a very few
B. many factors can affect friendship and relationship
C. people want to do friends favors and hate to let them down
D. argument and discussion can improve personal relationships
E. we consider things like age, race, looks,economic and social status, etc
F. we pay attention to actual behavior, facial expression, and the way a person speaks
G. there are no friendship ceremonies to strengthen the relationship between two people

     When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, "Well, it's so-and-so's fault." or "I know
I'm late, but it's not my fault; the car broke down." It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit
of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation,you are a loser. You have no power and could do
nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you
stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner's key
to success.
     Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down,
maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the
useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague (同事)
causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility
or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this
person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless
of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
     This is what being a winner is all about-creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful
no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult
situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities
to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on "whose fault it is." Once you are confident about your power
over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.

1. According to the passage, winners _____.

A. deal with problems rather than blame others
B. meet with fewer difficulties in their lives
C. have responsible and able colleagues
D. blame themselves rather than others

2. The underlined word remedy in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _____.

A. avoid
B. accept
C. improve
D. consider

3. When your colleague brings about a problem, you should _____.

A. find a better way to handle the problem
B. blame him for his lack of responsibility
C. tell him to find the cause of the problem
D. ask a more able colleague for help

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. A Winner's Opportunity.
B. A Winner's Secret.
C. A Winner's Problem.
D. A Winner's Achievement.

     Many things have happened throughout my life, but recently, I have noticed a change in me. After my
junior year in high school, I got a job at Freeport Medical Center; in addition, I worked at New Rice Bow
Restaurant two nights a week. I am in school while holding two jobs at the same time, which gives me a
lot of responsibilities and takes up a large amount of time.
     Working two jobs and staying in school is not exactly what I call fun. However, my heavy workload
(工作負擔) is worth the trouble because I am getting a lesson about responsibility from it. I work twenty-
one hours per week.
     This has changed me greatly, considering that I have understood the need to be organized and responsible.
Having this knowledge has prepared me for college. All of these points are going to affect me in the future
since I am expecting much more when I move out. Being independent means having more responsibilities,
more than what I have now. At least now I have a feeling of what it is going to be like once I am out of my
mother's care. I will have to pay for my own rent, food, clothes and various necessary things.
     I have to be a responsible person now in order to pass the tests of life. Hopefully, I will be able to depend
upon myself without any help from others. Like everyone else, I want to flourish in the world, and find my
meaning of life. In order to finish these tasks, I have to be responsible and be aware (意識, 明白) of what I
should do so that I can do them right.

1. According to the writer, holding two jobs while staying in school makes him _____.

A. earn enough money to pay for the tuition (學費)
B. be able to move out of the family early
C. be aware of the importance of responsibility
D. have fun out of it

2. According to the author's opinion, a responsible person should be able to _____.

A. master all kinds of living skills
B. pass the various tests of life
C. do everything without others' help
D. do part-time jobs besides study

3. The underlined word "flourish" in the last paragraph probably means "_____".

A. to swing back and forth
B. to live a good and happy life
C. to be responsible for one's life
D. to be aware of what one should do

4. The underlined word "flourish" in the last paragraph probably means "_____".

A. to swing back and forth
B. to live a good and happy life
C. to be responsible for one's life
D. to be aware of what one should do

     Just as the stock (股票) market rises and falls in response to what people are willing to put their money
behind, we have inside ourselves an inner economy that rises and falls in response to our beliefs about what
is possible. Sometimes the degree to which we are willing to challenge our belief systems determines the
success of our inner economy. For example, imagine that your family of origin had a belief that musical talent
was not something they possessed. As a member of that group,you would likely hold that same belief about
yourself. As a result, even if you had a great desire to create music, you might be hesitant to really get behind
yourself, fearing that your investment (投資) would not pay off. Even if you had the courage to follow your
passion, your inner belief that you are not born talented would probably be a major obstacle to investing your
energy in your dream.
     On the other hand, if you found a way to release that negative belief, a great flood of energy would pour
forth, greatly increasing the likelihood of your success. How much energy we are willing to invest in the
various ideas, dreams, and visions we carry within is like the money people are, or are not, willing to invest
in the various products available for trade on the stock market. And in both cases, belief plays a key role in
determining how willing we are to get behind something. One way to open up the possibility for greater success
in our inner economies is to understand that belief is not the reliable guide we sometimes think. There are other
more reliable things of success that we can put our faith in, such as passion,feeling,and sense. Some of the
most successful investors in the stock market are the ones that go against the grain, trusting their sense over
the common opinion held by common people about what will work.
     In the same way, we can learn to trust our heart's desires and our sense to guide us, questioning any beliefs
that stand in the way of our ability to fully invest in ourselves. As we take out energy from limiting ideas about
what is possible, we free up the resources that have the power to make our inner economy prosper.

1. We can safely conclude from the first paragraph that _____.

A. our belief is not reliable
B. belief is not so important in our success
C. belief is an obstacle to our success
D. our belief determines our success in some way

2. According to the passage, if a family of origin has passion for literature, the members of the family will
    probably _____.

A. write poems
B. hate literature
C. enter the field of literature
D. teach literature

3. We can put our faith in the following things of success except _____.

A. passion
B. feeling
C. sense
D. stock market

4. The purpose of the author is _____.

A. to teach us a lesson
B. to give us some useful suggestions
C. to encourage us to invest in the stock market
D. to tell us common people have negative beliefs

     I don't know how I became a writer, but I think it was because of a certain force in me that had to write
and that finally burst through and found a channel. My people were of the working class of people. My father,
a stone-cutter, was a man with a great respect and veneration (崇敬) for literature. He had a tremendous
memory, and he loved poetry, and the poetry that he loved best was naturally of the rhetorical kind that such
a man would like. Nevertheless it was good poetry, Hamlet's Soliloquy, Macbeth, Mark Antony's "Funeral
Oration", Grey's "Elegy",and all the rest of it. I heard it all as a child; I memorized and learned it all.
     He sent me to college to the state university. The desire to write, which had been strong during all my days
in high school, grew stronger still.I was editor of the college paper, the college magazine,etc., and in my last
year or two I was a member of a course in play writing which had just been established there. I wrote several
little one-act plays, still thinking I would become a lawyer or a newspaper man,never daring to believe I could
seriously become a writer. Then I went to Harvard, wrote some more plays there,became obsessed with (著迷
于) the idea that I had to be a playwright, left Harvard, had my plays rejected, and finally in the autumn of 1926,
how, why, or in what manner I have never exactly been able to determine. But probably because the force in
me that had to write at length sought out its channel, I began to write my first book in London. I was living all
alone at that time. I had two rooms-a bedroom and a sitting room-in a litter square in Chelsea in which all the
houses had that familiar, smoked brick and cream-yellow-plaster look.

1. We may conclude, in regard to the author's development as a writer, that his father _____.

A. made an important contribution
B. insisted that he choose writing as a career
C. opposed his becoming a writer
D. insisted that he read Hamlet in order to learn how to be a writer

2. The author believes that he became a writer mostly because of _____.

A. his special talent
B. his father's teaching and encouragement
C. his study at Harvard
D. a hidden urge within him

3. The author _____.

A. began to think of becoming a writer at Harvard
B. had always been successful in his writing career
C. went to Harvard to learn to write plays
D. worked as a newspaper man before becoming a writer

4. The author really started on his way to become a writer _____.

A. when he was in high school
B. when he was studying at Harvard
C. when he lived in London
D. after he entered college

5. What can we learn about the author's life in the autumn of 1926? 

A. He left Harvard and got married.
B. He couldn't make up his mind what to do.
C. He started his dream as a writer.
D. He began to think seriously what to do.