Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fear. Children know this very well. Fred Epstein, in his book I Make It to Five, tells a story he heard from one of his friends about Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone. He came through several operations and a lot of pain by mastering his imagination.
Tom loved to pretend, and he particularly loved to play superheroes. Dr. Epstein explained that it was actually a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led.
The day before his third trip to the operating room, Tom was terribly afraid. “Maybe I could go as Superman,” he whispered to his mom. Hearing this, the mother hesitated for a while. She has avoided buying the expensive costume(戏装), but finally she agreed.
The next day Tom appeared as the powerful Superman, showing off through the hospital halls and coolly waving his hand to the people greeting him along the way. And Tom, with the strength of his fantasy, successfully made it through the operation.
The power of imagination need not be reserved for children only. We all have the power to use our fantasies to attempt things we never thought possible, to go through those things that seem impossible, and to achieve what we never believed we could. Just as Dr. Epstein puts it, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
It doesn’t mean that you should dress as a superhero for your next job interview. But, next time you are tested in a way that seems impossible, imagine what it would take to overcome it. Become the person you need to become to win over your challenge and do it in your mind first. So, let your imagination run wild, and dare to dream.
小题1:What do we know about Tom?| A．He was seriously ill. | | B．He was a dishonest boy. | | C．He was crazy about magic. | | D．He was Dr. Epstein’s patient. |
小题2:What can be inferred about Tom’s mother?| A．She was a rich lady. | | B．She refused Tom’s request. | | C．She wanted Tom to be a superhero. | | D．She wanted to get Tom through the pain. |
小题3:When Tom went for the third operation, he_________.| A．pretended to be painful | B．acted like a superhero | | C．appeared in poor spirits | D．argued with his mother |
小题4:In the last paragraph, you are advised________.| A．to go through some difficult tests | | B．to wake up from your wild dreams | | C．to become a powerful person in your mind | | D．to wear expensive clothes for job interviews |
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小题1:A
小题2:D
小题3:B
小题4:C |
试题分析：想象力在战胜我们恐惧的事物面前起着非常重要的作用。本文讲述一个身患癌症的小男孩的例子，他通过装扮并把自己想像成强大的蜘蛛侠，而挨过了一次重大手术，由此也证明了想象力的强大力量。所以作者在文章末尾要人们放飞自己的想象力，以帮助我们获取战胜一切的力量。
小题1:A细节理解题。从文章第一段Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone.和He came through several operations可知小男孩病的很厉害，所以A正确。
小题2:D推理判断题。根据文章第三段Tom was terribly afraid. “Maybe I could go as Superman,”可知母亲给孩子买超人装备就是为了让孩子能感到自己有强大的力量，可以克服手术中的疼痛。故D选项正确。
小题3:B细节理解题。从文章第四段的描述可知孩子装扮成强大的超人，所以B选项正确。
小题4:C细节理解题。根据文章最后一段可知作者建议人们要把自己想象成能战胜挑战的人，故C正确。 |
核心考点
试题【Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fe】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
It might have been a really bad stressful day, feeling trapped inside by the cold and snow which surrounded us. My husband got dressed and 36 that he was going outside to build a giant snowman.
At first he stood alone, 37 massive amounts of snow. Soon after a neighbor joined in. Then we reluctantly put on our snow gear(装备) and 38 outside. It wasn’t long 39 we were smiling and enjoying the 40 of snow that Mother Nature had provided. Others came to our yard one by one to give a 41 in the making of our giant snowman.
In the end we all stood back and 42 at what we had created. He was eleven feet high, twenty-five feet around at the base and 43 with many household items supplied by various 44 .People drove by and smiled. Some even stopped just to enjoy his 45 .
With the passing of time, the spring made its 46 back into our yard and the snowman changed form 47 .In a final effort to save what we created for just a little bit 48 ,somebody stopped by and changed the snowman’s 49 to look like a rabbit.
As I prepared for the start of another week, I decided to 50 my email before going to bed. I found a 51 message that contained the subject line: 52 the snowman.
The email said:… your neighbor looks on in disbelief! Now you people are relishing(享受) the sounds and smells, along with 53 of spring. But I am sure people will never forget the 54 energy displayed in Mr Snow-man. You and your family keep it up, as this is what the world needs now. More power to you and your loved ones, keep 55 with the world around!
| 小题1: | | A．announced | B．stated | C．informed | D．insisted |
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| 小题2: | | A．pressing | B．pouring | C．clearing | D．piling |
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| 小题3: | | A．looked | B．headed | C．rushed | D．wandered |
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| 小题4: | | A．when | B．since | C．before | D．after |
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小题5:A. softness B .flexibility C whiteness D .abundance
| 小题6: | | A．hand | B．tip | C．design | D．tool |
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| 小题7: | | A．worked | B．stared | C．wondered | D．suspected |
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| 小题8: | | A．decorated | B．wrapped | C．provided | D．equipped |
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| 小题9: | | A．societies | B．families | C．communities | D．neighborhoods |
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| 小题10: | | A．occupation | B．survival | C．sculpture | D．existence |
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| 小题11: | | A．way | B．entrance | C．warmth | D．appearance |
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| 小题12: | | A．roughly | B．considerably | C．instantly | D．steadily |
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| 小题13: | | A．longer | B．further | C．deeper | D．stronger |
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| 小题14: | | A．figure | B．version | C．form | D．remains |
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| 小题15: | | A．answer | B．delete | C．check | D．sort |
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| 小题16: | | A．curious | B．serious | C．elegant | D．punctual |
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| 小题17: | | A．recall | B．enjoy | C．keep | D．praise |
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| 小题18: | | A．attraction | B．scenes | C．sights | D．beauty |
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| 小题19: | | A．various | B．spiritual | C．significant | D．joyous |
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| 小题20: | | A．communicating | B．sharing | C．advancing | D．developing |
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Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest hunger rate. But according to a new report, African farmers also have ideas that could help the world fight hunger and poverty. Danielle Nierenberg from the Worldwatch Institute in Washington spent a year visiting twenty-five countries south of the Sahara. In Nairobi, Kenya, for example, Ms Nierenberg found women farmers growing vegetables just outside their doorsteps in the Kibera settlement. She says they are finding ways to make their lives better. The women feed their families and sell their surplus. They use the money to send their children to school.
Last year, about 925,000,000 people worldwide did not get enough to eat. Half of all people in the world now live in and around cities. Researchers like Ms Nierenberg are looking increasingly at creative ideas to feed those who don’t have enough good food to eat. She says there are a lot of lessons that people in the Western world can learn from Africa. And what they are doing can certainly be done in other developing countries.
Farmers in the developing world lose between twenty and forty percent of their harvest before it ever reaches market. There are many reasons why food gets wasted. Farmers are without electricity and cold storage. They lack good seeds and fertilizer. They lack good roads. Conditions like these keep small farmers in poverty. Ms Nierenberg says more attention needs to be paid to protecting harvests. She says, “Given all that we invest in producing food in the first place, we need to devote the same amount of attention to making sure that it is not wasted.”
In Nigeria, village processing centers are helping farmers reduce their losses and earn more money. They centers process cassava, a root vegetable, into basic food products. In Uganda, the Worldwatch report says some schools are teaching children how to grow local kinds of crops. And in South Africa and Kenya the report praises the breeding(培育) of local kinds of livestock. These animals may produce less milk or meat than other breeds, but they can survive heat and drought conditions.
小题1:We could learn from the new report in Para.1 that .| A．sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest hunger rate | | B．African farmers have ideas to help fighting hunger and poverty | | C．women farmers grow vegetables in the Kibera settlement | | D．women farmers grow vegetables to send their children to school. |
小题2:The underlined word “surplus” in Para.1 is closest in meaning to .| A．private vegetables | B．side products | | C．leftover vegetables | D．home-made products |
小题3:Ms Nierenberg suggests that .| A．the women spend more money on education instead of farming | | B．more and more African people should live in and around cities | | C．researchers find creative ideas to feed the people suffering hunger | | D．people in the Western world do the same as the Africans have done |
小题4:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?| A．Farmers in developing world often lose some of their harvest | | B．Small farmers in developing countries often suffer poverty. | | C．Farmers should pay more attention to protecting their harvest | | D．Attention should be paid to saving food instead of producing food |
小题5:The best title of this passage should be .| A．A New Report About African Farmers Fighting Hunger | | B．Creative Ideas to Feed Those Who Have No Enough Food | | C．Looking to Africa for Ideas About How to Fight Hunger | | D．Animals That Can Survive Heat and Drought Conditions |
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Are you an optimist? Do you look at your glass and see it as half full? Do you believe that every cloud has a silver lining and that things generally turn out for the best? Do you believe that if something is meant to be, it will be? If you reply “yes” to all of these questions, then you are an optimist. You probably are enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing. You may be successful at work and in love.
But you may be misguided because things don’t turn out for the best. You may believe that when one door closes another one opens (for example, you may fail to obtain a new job; another chance will come around soon). Wrong. When one door closes, another door slams (砰然关上) in your face. That’s bitter reality.
Now a book has been published which confirms what pessimists (悲观者) have suspected all along. It’s called The Positive Power of Defensive Pessimism. Its author argues that defensive pessimism can lead to positive results. Defensive pessimism is a strategy used to manage fear, anxiety and worry. Defensive pessimists prepare for the things by setting low outcomes for themselves. They carefully consider everything that may go wrong and plan for ways to handle these problems. And this gives them a sense of control. Lawrence Sanno, a psychology professor, says, “What’s interesting about defensive pessimists is that they tend to be very successful people, so their low opinion of the situation’s outcomes is not realistic. They use it to motivate themselves to perform better.”
So far, so good. This is not rocket science. Defensive pessimists prepare carefully and consider what might go wrong, whether at work, on date or even in a sports game. It makes sense to have a back-up plan. There are many sayings in English urging caution. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And “Don’t count your chickens until they hatch.” To have a confident and optimistic approach to life’s problems is good. But listen to what Woody Alien, the American comedian says, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.”
There are pros and cons to being an optimist and a pessimist. Don’t feel bad if you see the glass half empty. You are a realist. But lighten up and hook up with someone who sees the same glass half full.
小题1:What’s the passage mainly about?| A．A book that has recently been published. | | B．How to become successful in life. | | C．The dangers of being too optimistic. | | D．The benefits of defensive pessimism. |
小题2:The underlined sentence “This is not rocket science” (Para. 4) means __________.| A．it’s not a dangerous thing to do | | B．it is quite simple to understand | | C．the cost is not so high | | D．there is no real proof |
小题3:Which of the following English expressions would a defensive pessimist believe?| A．Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. | | B．The glass is half full not half empty. | | C．Whatever will be, will be. | | D．Every cloud has a silver lining. |
小题4:The writer would probably describe himself as __________.| A．an optimist | B．a defeatist | C．a realist | D．a scientist |
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This week is National Volunteer Week, a time for the Canadian Red Cross to recognize our dedicated (有奉献精神的) volunteers who devote their time and talents from coast to coast. Over the course of the week we will use this blog to share stories about our volunteers and the amazing work they do --- a small part of the outstanding individuals across the country.
Take Saskatchewan for example. Last year that province was hit by wide-spread flooding, a hurricane and forest fires. Canadian Red Cross staff and volunteers went to work right away and helped more than 2,100 adults and 775 children recover the basic necessities of life.
It’s important to share stories from volunteers to truly appreciate what they do. Christine Hoffman is a Disaster Response Volunteer in Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan. She’s a veteran Red Crosser for about 16 years. Still nothing could have prepared her for the call she took in the Recovery Center last year in response to flooding in Maple Greek. This story is best told in her own words. This is what she said:
“I will never forget the first phone call I took in the Recovery Centre. A young man called asking what services Red Cross was offering in town. As we were talking, he told me he had a rope in his backyard but he thought he would be using it for other reasons. My heart stopped. I told him to come to see us so we could work together on a plan to improve his situation. He came in a little while later. Nearly two hours later he left standing straight up with tear- filled eyes. He thanked me for convincing him to come in. His home had been destroyed, but together we put together a plan and he was eventually able to move back into his own home.”
During National Volunteer Week 2011, let’s thank Christine, and the many other volunteers like her. Thanks for making us proud!
小题1:According to the second paragraph, Canadian Red Cross’ action is ______| A．slow | B．quick | C．helpless | D．disappointing |
小题2:Which of the following is closet in meaning to the underlined word “veteran” in the third paragraph?| A．Careless | B．Experienced | C．Unskillful | D．Optimistic |
小题3:The underlined words in the forth paragraph expressed Christine Hoffman’s feeling of ____| A．excitement | B．anger | C．happiness | D．nervousness |
小题4:What can we infer from what Christine Hoffman said?| A．The young man felt sad for Christine Hoffman because of her poor experience | | B．The young man was persuaded by Christine Hoffman and decided to live on | | C．Christine Hoffman made the young man sad and he cried | | D．Christine Hoffman offered to give the young man a little money to help him |
小题5:What is the text mainly about?| A．How to become a volunteer | | B．An excellent volunteer and her family | | C．Volunteers and their amazing work | | D．What the Canadian Red Cross does |
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No one could name themselves when they were born. That is, has his or her name given by others. So we needn’t care too much about our names, which are just . They are used to refer to you. Though your parents probably meant your name to last a lifetime, never forget that the hopes and dreams they cared for may not your needs. If your name no longer seems to fit you, don’t lose heart. Screen stars change their names, and with some determination, you can, too.
Legal rules are more in this matter than you may expect. Many newlyweds, , realize that no law requires a woman to her husband’s name. Even more, parents can give their children any name they wish, it’s not that of either parent.
If you do wish to have a new name, you don’t need to make the change . Under common law, is necessary to start using the name of your choice. More importantly, you to use it everywhere. , you must change all your identification and . Be sure to practice your new until you write it naturally and .
Making friends and fellow workers you Leach instead of Lola may be harder than any paperwork involved, and you are to meet official resistance, too. Whatever happens, be sure that no law should you from using the name you have chosen, you use it for the purpose of cheating. Please enjoy your right to be called by name you choose!
| 小题1: | | A．nobody | B． everyone | C．all | D． someone |
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| 小题2: | | A．symbols | B． presents | C． souvenirs | D． patterns |
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| 小题3: | | A．know | B． trust | C．satisfy | D． agree |
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| 小题4: | | A．regularly | B． legally | C． seldom | D．bravely |
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| 小题5: | | A．rigid | B． available | C． practical | D． flexible |
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| 小题6: | | A．in fact | B． as a result | C． for instance | D． in name |
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| 小题7: | | A．assume | B．handle | C． call | D． acquire |
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| 小题8: | | A．as if | B． only if | C． even if | D． if only |
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| 小题9: | | A．popular | B． official | C． known | D． academic |
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| 小题10: | | A．what | B． that | C． it | D． which |
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| 小题11: | | A．are used | B． are supposed | C． are hoped | D． look forward |
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| 小题12: | | A．Instead | B． Besides | C． Luckily | D． Otherwise |
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| 小题13: | | A．values | B． notes | C． records | D． accounts |
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| 小题14: | | A．signature | B． handwriting | C． need | D． pronunciation |
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| 小题15: | | A．consistently | B． constantly | C．beautifully | D． attractively |
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| 小题16: | | A．to call | B． call | C． calling | D． called |
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| 小题17: | | A．probable | B． impossible | C． convenient | D． likely |
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| 小题18: | | A．admit | B． tolerate | C． prohibit | D． permit |
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| 小题19: | | A．unless | B． when | C． if | D． because |
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| 小题20: | | A．whose | B． no matter what | | C． which | D． whatever |
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