2014高考英语阅读集锦A篇

(2014北京 A ) 1

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium (水族馆)

The all-new Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, situated in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, is one of Victoria’s leading visitor attractions and an unforgettable outing for the whole family.Having 12 amazing zones of discovery, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is the very place that you cannot miss when you visit the city.

◆ Opening Times

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is open from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm every day of the year, including public holidays. Last admission is at 5:00 pm, one hour before closing.

◆ Location (位置)

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is located on the corner of Flinders Street and King Street, Melbourne. It is situated on the Yarra River, opposite Crown Entertainment Complex.

◆ Getting to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium

Train

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is a short walk from either Flinders or Southern Cross train stations.

Tram (有轨电车)

The Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium tram stop is located on the free City Circle Tram route (公交线路) and also routes 70 and 75. City Circle trams run every 10 minutes in both directions.

Shuttle Bus

The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle is a free bus service, stopping at key tourist attractions in and around the City. Running daily, every 15 minutes from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

◆ Car Parking

While there is no public car parking at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, there are several public car parking lots available only a short walk away.

◆ Wheelchair Access

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium provides people in wheelchairs with full access to all 12 zones. Each floor also has wheelchair accessible toilets.

◆ Terms

Tickets will be emailed to you immediately after purchase or you can download and print your ticket once payment has been accepted. Please print out all tickets purchased and present at the front entrance of Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. No ticket, no entry!

1. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium ________.

A. is located at the center of the CBD in the city

B. has 12 most attractive places in Melbourne

C. admits visitors from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm

D. is beside Crown Entertainment Complex

2. Getting to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, visitors can take ________.

A. trains from Southern Cross train station

B. shuttle buses around the train station

C. boats across the Yarra River

D. either tram route 70 or 75

3. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium offers visitors _________.

A. free car parking

B. wheelchair access

C. Internet connection

D. transportation service

4. Tickets to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium _________.

A. are free to all visitors

B. can be purchased by email

C. are checked at the entrance

D. can be printed at the ticket office

(2014天津 A ) 2

A Guide to the University

Food

The TWU Cafeteria is open 7am to 8pm. It serves snacks, drinks, ice cream bars and meals. You can pay with cash or your ID cards. You can add meal money to your ID cards at the Front Desk. Even if you do not buy your food in the cafeteria, you can use the tables to eat your lunch, to have meetings and to study.

If you are on campus in the evening or lat at night, you can buy snacks, fast food, and drinks in the Lower Café located in the bottom level of the Gouglas Centre. This area is often used for entertainment such as concerts, games or TV watching. Relaxation

The Globe, located in the bottom level of McMillan Hall, is available for relaxing, studying, cooking, and eating. Monthly activities are held here for all international students. Hours are 10 am to 10 pm, closed on Sundays.

Health

Located on the top floor of Douglas Hall, the Wellness Centre is committed to physical, emotional and social health. A doctor and nurse is available if you have health questions or need immediate medical help or personal advice. The cost of this is included in your medical insurance. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to noon and 1: 00 to 4:30pm.

Academic Support

All students have access to the Writing Centre on the upper floor of Douglas Hall. Here, qualified volunteers will work with you on written work, grammar, vocabulary, and other academic skills. You can sign up for an appointment on the sign-up sheet outside the door two 30 – minute appointments per week maximum. This service is free.

Transportation

The TWU Express is a shuttle (公共汽车) service. The shuttle transports students between campus and the shopping centre, leaving from the Mattson Centre. Operation hours are between 8am and 3pm. Saturdays only. Round trip fare is $1.

1. What can you do in the TWU Cafeteria?

A. Do homework and watch TV

B. Buy drinks and enjoy concerts

C. have meals and meet with friends

D. Add money to your ID and play chess

2. Where and when can you cook your own food?

A. The Globe, Friday

B. The Lower Café, Sunday

C. The TWU Cafeteria, Friday

D. The McMillan Hall, Sunday.

3. The Guide tells us that the Wellness Centre _________.

A. is open six days a week

B. offers services free of charge

C. trains students in medical care

D. gives advice on mental health

4. How can you seek help from the Writing Centre?

A. By applying online

B. By calling the centre

C. By filling in a sign-up form

D. By going to the centre directly

5. What is the function of TWU Express?

A. To carry students to the lecture halls.

B. To provide students with campus tours

C. To take students to the Mattson Centre.

D. To transport students to and from the stores.

(2014湖南A ) 3

Want to improve your writing skills? New Writing South is directing the way!

Towner Writer Squad (班组）for kids aged 13-17

Led by comedy and TV writer, Marian Kilpatrick, Towner Writer Squad will meet once a month at the contemporary art museum for 11 months, starting 12 October, 2014.

The FREE squad sessions will include introductions to a wide range of writing styles, from poetry to play writing and lyrics (抒情诗) to flash fiction, to support the development of young writers.

Application & Selection

If you would like to apply to be part of the Towner Writer Squad, please send a sample piece of your writing (about 500 words), responding to the title ‘LUNCH,’ with your name, age, address and e-mail address to: debo@https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,.

Once all applications are in, you will be invited to an open selection event on 17 September, 4-5pm, at the gallery of Towner. This will be an informal opportunity to meet the Squad Leader, Squad Associate and other young people.

You will also have a chance to get to know the fantastic gallery space and get a taste of what’s to come.

Deadline for applications: 8 September, 2014.

For further information go to: https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,/ towner or https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html, or https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,

Any questions一feel free to send your e-mail to Towner Writer Squad Associate: whame@https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,

﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡

·Beginner Writing Project for kids aged 10-13

Due to popular demand，a writing project will be started for eager beginners.

Start time: 6 September, 2014

Meet every other Saturday, 2- 4pm, at the Towner Study Centre.

Study and write at your own pace一you do not have to rush 一as you have a year to go through the project. Practise under the guidance of some experienced writers and teachers who can help you with basic writing skills. Most importantly, build confidence and have fun while writing!

No previous experience or special background is required. Many others have been successful this way. If they can do it, why can’t you?

Fee: ￡179

For more information go to: https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html, or https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,

1. Towner Writer Squad will be started _______.

A. to train comedy and TV writers

B. to explore the fantastic gallery space

C. to introduce a contemporary art museum

D. to promote the development of young writers

2. To join the Writer Squad, each applicant should first _______.

A. provide a piece of their writing

B. meet the Writer Squad Leader

C. offer their family information

D. complete an application form

3. Applications for the Writer Squad should be e-mailed no later than _______.

A. 6 September, 2014

B. 8 September, 2014

C. 17 September, 2014

D. 12 October, 2014

4. What is most important for the beginners?

A. Practising as much as possible.

B. Gaining confidence and having fun.

C. Studying and writing at their own pace.

D. Learning skills from writers and teachers.

5. More information about Beginner Writing Project can be found at _______.

A. https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,/ towner

B. https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,

C. https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,

D. https://www.360docs.net/doc/182010296.html,

(2014课标Ⅱ A ) 4

Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband, Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.

During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport.

He reported the case to the police and then sat there，lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.

Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband’s name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can（垃圾桶）that had been left out on the footpath.

My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.

That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.

1. What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney?

A. Go shopping

B. Find a house

C. Join his family

D. Take a vacation

2. The girl’s parents got Rashid’s phone number from_______.

A. a friend of his family

B. a Sydney policeman

C. a letter in his papers

D. a stranger in Sydney

3. What does the underlined word “restored” in the last paragraph mean?

A. Showed

B. Sent out

C. Delivered

D. Gave back

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

A. From India to Australia.

B. Living in a New Country.

C. Turning Trash to Treasure.

D. In Search of New Friends.

(2014重庆A) 5

I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, "Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing.

Obviously, that was something she should not go through phone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side.

I got so into my work that I even didn't notice Kate had sat up.

She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks."

Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1. What made Kate angry one evening?

A. She couldn't find her books.

B. She heard the author shouting loud.

C. She got the news that her grandma was ill.

D. She saw the author's shoes beneath her bed.

2. The author tidied up the room most probably because_________.

A. she was scared by Kate's anger

B. she hated herself for being so messy

C. she wanted to show her care

D. she was asked by Kate to do so

3. How is Paragraph I mainly developed?

A. By analyzing causes.

B. By showing differences.

C. By describing a process.

D. By following time order.

4. What might be the best title for the story?

A. My Friend Kate

B. Hard Work Pays Off

C. How to Be Organized

D. Learning to Be Roommates

(2014课标Ⅰ A ) 6

The Cambridge Science Festival Curiosity Challenge

Dare to Take the Curiosity Challenge!

The Cambridge Science Festival (CSF) is pleased to inform you of the sixth annual Curiosity Challenge. The challenge invites, even dares school students between the ages of 5 and 14 to create artwork or a piece of writing that shows their curiosity and how it inspires them to explore their world.

Students are being dared to draw a picture, write an article, take a photo or write a poem that shows what they are curious about. To enter the challenge, all artwork or pieces of writing should be sent to the Cambridge Science Festival, MIT Museum, 265 Mass Avenue, Cambridge 02139 by Friday, February 8th.

Students who enter the Curiosity Challenge and are selected as winners will be honored at a special ceremony during the CSF on Sunday, April 21st. Guest speaker will also present prizes to the students. Winning entries will be published in a book. Student entries will be exhibit and prizes will be given. Families of those who take part will be included in the celebration and brunch will be served.

Between March 10th and March 15th, each winner will be given the specifics of the closing ceremony and the Curiosity Challenge celebration. The program guidelines and other related information are available at:

http:// Cambridge science festival. org.

1. Who can take in the Curiosity Challenge?

A. School students.

B. Cambridge locals.

C. CSF winners.

D. MIT artists.

2. When will the prize-giving ceremony be held?

A. On February 8th.

B. On March 10th

C. On March 15th..

D. On April 21st.

3. What type of writing is this text?

A. An exhibition guide.

B. An art show review.

C. An announcement.

D. An official report.

(2014山东A) 7

One morning, Ann’s neighbor Tracy found a lost dog wandering around the local elementary school. She asked Ann if she could keep an eye on the dog. Ann said that she could watch it only for the day.

Tracy took photos of the dog and printed off 400 FOUND fliers(传单), and put them in mailboxes. Meanwhile, Ann went to the dollar store and bought some pet supplies, warning her two sons not to fall in love with the dog. At the time, Ann’s son Thomas was 10 years old, and Jack, who was recovering from a heart operation, was 21 years old.

Four years later Ann was still looking after the dog, whom they had started to call Riley. When she arrived home from work, the dog threw itself against the screen door and barked madly at her. As soon as she opened the door, Riley dashed into the boys’ room where Ann found Jack suffering a heart attack. Riley ran over to Jack, but as soon as Ann bent over to help him the dog went silent.

“If it hadn’t come to get me, the doctor said Jack would have died,” Ann reported to a local newspaper. At this point, no one had called to claim the dog, so Ann decided to keep it.

The next morning Tracy got a call. A man named Peter recognized his lost dog and called the number on the flier. Tracy started crying, and told him, “That dog saved my friend’s son.”

Peter drove to Ann’s house to pick up his dog, and saw Thomas and Jack crying in the window. After a few moments Peter said, “Maybe Odie was supposed to find you, maybe you should keep it.”

1. What did Tracy do after finding the dog?

A. She looked for its owner.

B. She gave it to Ann as a gift.

C. She sold it to the dollar store.

D. She bought some food for it.

2. How did the dog help save Jack?

A. By breaking the door for Ann.

B. By leading Ann to Jack’s room.

C. By dragging Jack out of the room.

D. By attending Jack when Ann was out.

3. What was Ann’s a ttitude to the dog according to Paragraph 4?

A. Sympathetic

B. Doubtful

C. Tolerant

D. Grateful

4. For what purpose did Peter call Tracy?

A. To help her friend’s son.

B. To interview Tracy

C. To take back his dog

D. To return the flier to her

5. What can we infer about the dog from the last paragraph?

A. It would be given to Odie.

B. It would be kept by Ann’s family.

C. It would be returned to Peter.

D. It would be taken away by Tracy.

(2014辽宁A) 8

A new study shows students who write notes by hand during lectures perform better on exams than those who use laptops (笔记本电脑).

Students are increasingly using laptops for note-taking because of speed and legibility(清晰度).But the research has found laptop users are less able to remember and apply the concepts they have been taught.

Researchers performed experiments that aimed to find out whether using a laptop increased the tendency to make notes "mindlessly" by taking down word for word what the professors said

In the first experiment, students were given either a laptop or pen and paper .They listened to the same lectures and were told to use their usual note-taking skills. Thirty minutes after the talk , they were examined on their ability to remember facts and on how well they understood concepts.

The researchers found that laptop users took twice as many notes as those who wrote by hand. However, the typists performed worse at remembering and applying the concepts. Both groups scored similarly when it came to memorizing facts.

The researchers' report said, "While more notes are beneficial, if the notes are taken mindlessly, as is more likely the case on a laptop, the benefit disappears."

In another experiment aimed at testing long-term memory, students took notes as before but were tested a week after the lecture. This time, the students who wrote notes by hand performed significantly better on the exam.

These two experiments suggest that handwritten notes are not only better for immediate learning and understanding, but that they also lead to superior revision in the future.

1. More and more students favor laptops for note-taking because they can___________ .

A. write more notes

B. digest concepts better

C. get higher scores

D. understand lectures better

2. While taking notes, laptop users tend to be_________ .

A. skillful

B. mindless

C. thoughtful

D. tireless

3. The author of the passage aims to __________ .

A. examine the importance of long-term memory

B. stress the benefit of taking notes by hand

C. explain the process of taking notes

D. promote the use of laptops

4. The passage is likely to appear in__________ .

A. a newspaper advertisement

B. a computer textbook

C. a science magazine

D. a finance report

(2014安徽 A) 9

1. With help from a Mr. H, you can .

A. stop using batteries.

B. finish your homework on time.

C. remember your teacher’s instructions.

D. get your room tidied on your way home.

2. A PENGO W ATCH CONTROL can help you to .

A. repair your TV

B. organize your homework

C. be a James Bond

D. know what the weather is like

3. You can get your Mr. H for .

A. ＄499

B. ＄299

C. ＄199

D. ＄99

4. Where would you be most likely to find the two texts?

A. On a notice board

B. In a company brochure.

C. On a teenage website

D. In a college newspaper.

(2014安徽B) 10

Recordings of angry bees are enough to send big, tough African elephants running away, a new study says. Beehives (蜂窝)-either recorded or real-may even prevent elephants from damaging farmer's crops.

In 2002, scientist Lucy King and her team found that elephants avoid certain trees with bees living in them. Today, Lucy wants to see if African honeybees might discourage elephants from eating crops. But before she asked farmer to go to the trouble of setting up beehives on their farms, she needed to find out if the bees would scare elephants away.

Lucy found a wild beehive inside a tree in northern Kenya and set up a recorder. Then she threw a stone into the beehive, which burst into life. Lucy and her assistant hid in their car until the angry bees had calmed down. Next，Lucy searched out elephant families in Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya and put a speaker in a close to each family.

From a distance, Lucy switched on the pre-recorded sound of angry bees while at the same time recording the elephants with a video camera. Half the elephant groups left the area within ten seconds. Out of a total of 17 groups, only one group ignored the sound of the angry bees. Lucy reported that all the young elephants immediately ran to their mothers to hide under them. When Lucy played the sound of a waterfall (瀑布) instead of the angry bees to many of the same elephant families, the animals were undisturbed. Even after four minutes, most of the groups stayed in one place.

Lucy is now studying whether the elephants will continue to avoid the sound of angry bees after hearing it several times. She hasn't tested enough groups yet to know, but her initial (最初的) results were promising enough to begin trials with farmers. She has now begun placing speakers in the fields to see if elephants are frightened away.

1. We know from the passage that elephants may he frightened of .

A. loud noises

B. some crops

C. video cameras

D. angry bees

2. As mentioned in the passage, Lucy _________.

A. works by herself in Africa

B. needs to test more elephant groups

C. has stopped elephants eating crops

D. has got farmers to set up beehives on their farms

3. Why did Lucy throw a stone into a wild beehive?

A. To record the sound of bees.

B. To make a video of elephants.

C. To see if elephants would run away.

D. To find out more about the behavior of bees.

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Young elephants ignore African honeybees.

B. Waterfalls can make elephants stay in one place.

C. Elephants do not go near trees with bees living in them.

D. Farmers do not allow Lucy to conduct tests in their fields.

(2014江西A) 11

Larry was on another of his underwater expeditions(探险)but this time, it was different. He decided to take his daughter along with him. She was only ten years old. This would be her first trip with her father on what he had always been famous for.

Larry f irst began diving when he was his daughter’s age. Similarly, his father had taken him along on one of his expeditions. Since then, he had never looked back. Larry started out by renting diving suits from the small diving shop just along the shore. He had hated them. They were either too big or too small. Then, there was the instructor. He gave him a short lesson before allowing him into the water with his father. He had made an exception. Larry would never have been able to go down without at least five hours of theory and another similar number of hours on practical lessons with a guide. Children his age were not even allowed to dive.

After the first expedition, Larry’s later diving adventures only got better and better. There was never a dull moment. In hi s black and blue suit and with an oxygen tank fastened on his back, Larry dived from boats into the middle of the ocean. Dangerous areas did not prevent him from continuing his search. Sometimes, his was limited to a cage underwater but that did not bother him. At least, he was still able to take photographs of the underwater creatures.

Larry’s first expedition without his father was in the Cayman Islands. There were numerous diving spots in the area and Larry was determined to visit all of them. Fortunately for him, a man offered to take him around the different spots for free.

Larry didn’t even know what the time was, how many spots he dived into or how many photographs he had taken. The diving spots afforded such a wide array of fish and sea creatures that Larry saw more than thirty varieties of creatures.

Larry looked at his daughter. She looked as excited as he had been when he was her age. He hoped she would be able to continue the family tradition. Already, she looked like she was much braver than had been then. This was the key to a successful underwater expedition.

1. In what way was this expedition different for Larry?

A. His daughter had grown up.

B. He had become a famous diver.

C. His father would dive with him.

D. His daughter would dive with him.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph2?

A. Larry had some privileges.

B. Larry liked the rented diving suits.

C. Divers had to buy diving equipment.

D. Ten-year-old children were permitted to dive.

3. Why did Larry have to stay in a cage underwater sometimes?

A. To protect himself from danger.

B. To dive into the deep water.

C. To admire the underwater view.

D. To take photo more conveniently.

4. What can be learned from the underlined sentence?

A. Larry didn’t wear a watch.

B. Larry was not good at math.

C. Larry had a poor memory.

D. Larry enjoyed the adventure.

5. What did Larry expect his daughter to do?

A. Become a successful diver.

B. Make a good diving guide.

C. Take a lot of photo underwater.

D. Have longer hours of training.

(2014四川A) 12

Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone's life? If yes, don't care about sex or age! Come and join us, then you'll make it!

Position: Volunteer Social Care Assistant

(No Pay with Free Meals)

Place: Manchester

Hours: Part Time

We are now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left. Don't miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others!

Role:

You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives. You will help them to develop new skills. You will help them to protect their rights and their safety. But your primary concern is to let them know they are valued.

Skills and Experience Required:

You will have the right values and great listening skills. You will be honest and patient. You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you'll have to help those people with different learning disabilities. Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you.

1. The text is meant to______ .

A. leave a note

B. send an invitation

C. present a document

D. carry an advertisement

2. What does the underlined part mean?

A. You'll make others' lives more meaningful with this job.

B. You'll arrive home just in time from this job.

C. You'll earn a good salary from this job.

D. You'll succeed in getting this job.

3. The volunteers' primary responsibility is to help people with learning disabilities ______ .

A. to get some financial support

B. to properly protect themselves

C. to learn some new living skills

D. to realize their own importance

4. Which of the following can first be chosen as a volunteer?

A. The one who can drive a car.

B. The one who has done similar work before.

C. The one who has patience to listen to others.

D. The one who can use English to communicate.

(2014湖北A) 13

Before I had my son, I spent two years working with children with disabilities. I learned that shouting and threats of punishment would result in a disaster. Coming up against their behaviour could only make the job harder and their behaviour more extreme. I found something that worked, though.

There was a very naughty boy in the nursery and a teacher who was generally very confident with the children was asked to take charge of him. One day the boy joined a session in the room next to mine. His appearance created an atmosphere of tension. He spent the entire session running around, hitting and kicking, and destroying property.

I was in the craft room working with some other children when my co-worker told me that this boy’s teacher was in tears, and could not get control of the situation. As we were talking, the boy ran in. I told my co-worker that I would take care of him.

I closed the door. He was full of energy, throwing things around and making a huge mess. But I could see that he was doing all these to annoy me. He needed connection, and this was the only way he knew how to ask for it. So I sat back down and kept quiet. Then he slowed down and began making a rocket. I talked to him about it. We continued like this for a few minutes before I slipped into the conversation:

“So what happened today?”

It was purely a question, no blame or anger in my tone. I believe that if I had criticized him, the gate that was slowly opening would have shut firmly closed. He told me that the teacher didn’t let him do what he knew well due to safety but asked him to do what he disliked. He also admitted that he had enjoyed making her run around and saw it as a game. I explained that his teacher had not seen it as a game and was very upset. This again was stated simply as a fact. I suggested that next time he had a session, he talk about what he hoped to do at the start, which might be easier for everyone. He agreed and was quiet for a moment. Then he looked at me with tears in his eyes before quietly asking if he could go to find his teacher to apologize.

1. The boy made trouble for his teacher because he _________.

A. was accused of destroying property

B. was told not to yell at other children

C. was made to do things against his will

D. was blamed for creating an air of tension

2. Why didn’t the author do anything about the boy’s bad behavior at first?

A. She didn’t want to make it worse.

B. She didn’t mind the huge mess at all.

C. She was tired of shouting and threats.

D. She hadn’t thought of a coping strategy.

3. The author managed to get the boy to talk to her by _________.

A. playing games with him

B. giving him a good suggestion

C. describing his teacher’s feelings

D. avoiding making critical remarks

4. Why did the boy have tears in his eyes in the end?

A. He was sorry about his reputation.

B. He was regretful about his behavior.

C. He was fearful of the author’s warning.

D. He was sad f or the author’s misunderstanding.

(2014浙江A) 14

Wealth starts with a goal saving a dollar at a time. Call it the piggy bank strategy(策略). There are lessons in that

time-honored coin-saving container.

Any huge task seems easier when reduced to baby steps. If you wished to climb a 12,000-foot mountain, and could do it a day at a time, you would only have to climb 33 feet daily to reach the top in a year. If you want to take a really nice trip in 10 years for a special occasion, to collect the $15,000 cost, you have to save $3.93 a day. If you drop that into a piggy bank and then once a year put $1,434 in a savings account at 1% interest rate after-tax, you will have your trip money.

When I was a child, my parents gave me a piggy bank to teach me that, if I wanted something, I should save money to buy it. We associate piggy banks with children, but in many countries, the little containers are also popular with adults. Europeans see a piggy bank as a sign of good fortune and w ealth. Around the world, many believe a gift of a piggy bank on New Year’s Day brings good luck and financial success. Ah, but you have to put something in it.

Why is a pig used as a symbol of saving? Why not an elephant bank, which is bigger and holds more coins? In the Middle Ages, before modern banking and credit instruments, people saved money at home, a few coins at a time dropped into a jar or dish. Potters (制陶工) made these inexpensive containers from an orange-colored clay(黏土) called “pygg,” and fo lks saved coins in pygg jars. The Middle English word for pig was “pigge”. While the Saxons pronounced pygg, referring to the clay, as

“pug”, eventually the two words changed into the same pronunciation, sounding the “i” as in pig or piggy. As the word bec ame less associated with the orange clay and more with the animal, a clever potter fashioned a pygg jar in the shape of a pig, delighting children and adults. The piggy bank was born.

Originally you had to break the bank to get to the money, bringing in a sense of seriousness into savings. While piggy banks teach children the wisdom of saving, adults often need to relearn childhood lessons. Think about the things in life that require large amounts of money--- college education, weddings, cars, medical care, starting a business, buying a home, and fun stuff like great trips. So when you have money, take off the top 10%, put it aside, save and invest wisely.

1. What is the piggy bank strategy?

A. Paying 1% income tax at a time.

B. Setting a goal before making a travel plan.

C. Aiming high even when doing small things.

D. Putting aside a little money regularly for future use.

2. Why did the writer’s parents give him a piggy bank as a gift?

A. To delight him with the latest fashion.

B. To encourage him to climb mountains.

C. To help him form the habit of saving.

D. To teach him English pronunciation.

3. What does then underlined word “something”(Paragraph 3) most probably refer to?

A. Money

B. Gifts

C. Financial success

D. Good luck

4. The piggy bank originally was _________.

A. a potter’s instrument

B. a cheap clay container

C. an animal-shaped dish

D. a pig-like toy for children

5. The last paragraph talks about ________.

A. the seriousness of educating children

B. the enjoyment of taking a great trip

C. the importance of managing money

D. the difficulty of starting a business