I have been in the teaching profession for more than thirty years, and one of the best teachers I have ever known is Mr. Rowe. I was lucky enough to teach fourth grade together with him.
Mr. Rowe had endless patience and understanding and I learned so much from watching him. He could perform miracles, like the one he performed with Steven, one of the unhappiest kids I had ever seen. Steven couldn’t stand school. He didn’t like being picked last for kickball. He didn’t like the kids who raised their hands and knew the answers, and most importantly, he didn’t like himself.
The first day he walked into Mr. Rowe’s classroom, he ignored the other students, looking angry and annoyed, and slid into his chair, knocking a couple of textbooks onto the floor.
Mr.Rowe walked over to him and touched Steven’s shoulder, but Steven pulled away. Nevertheless, Mr. Rowe welcomed him: “Hi, Steven. I’m happy you are in my class.We are gonna have a great year.” Steven looked around the room as if Mr. Rowe were mistaken. No teacher in his right mind would want Steven to be part of his class.
So, while Mr. Rowe seemed cheerful and relaxed that day of school, it seemed that Steven was angry and confused.
That day after classes, Mr. Rowe chose Steven to pitch (投球) the kickball at recess. “Hey, Steven,” Mr. Rowe commented, “You are good at pitching. Let me show you my secret trick.” Mr. Rowe taught Steven one of the tricks that not a single kid could perform. Steven learned fast and did quite well! Everyone cheered for him!
After the kickball, Steven sat as close to Mr. Rowe in classes as he could. When a question was asked, Steven lit up; when he knew the answer, he raised his hand; when he answered the question, his voice shook. However, he got the answer right! He said, with Mr. Rowe, his days of the fourth grade promised wonderful.
That is not to say that every day went smoothly, but it was obvious that Steven grew to love Mr. Rowe more and more with each passing day.
Time passed quickly that year, and before we all knew it, it was the last day of school.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Many years later, Mr. Rowe and I were surprised when a handsome young man walked into our classroom, dressed in army uniform._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Egyptian table tennis player Ibrahim Hamadtou didn’t win a medal, or even score a victory. But he has become one of the most
Hamadtou lost his
After several
He first competed at the Rio Paralympics, and was finally able to fulfill his lifelong
In Tokyo, he lost to a Chinese player and a player from South Korea,
“I want to tell everybody that nothing is
| A．interesting | B．inspiring | C．depressing | D．surprising |
| A．parents | B．legs | C．arms | D．friends |
| A．reduce | B．beat | C．lose | D．fall |
| A．in shape | B．held up | C．shut up | D．in comfort |
| A．intense | B．tiring | C．noisy | D．dangerous |
| A．thoughts | B．matches | C．injuries | D．attempts |
| A．practice | B．failure | C．waiting | D．challenge |
| A．start | B．hit | C．serve | D．ball |
| A．chance | B．journey | C．road | D．dream |
| A．earn | B．pay | C．deserve | D．give |
| A．developed | B．adopted | C．demonstrated | D．extended |
| A．abandoning | B．ending | C．winning | D．joining |
| A．example | B．message | C．quote | D．lesson |
| A．unfortunate | B．comfortable | C．meaningful | D．impossible |
| A．disability | B．pity | C．suffering | D．belief |
Renting a home today is more popular than buying a house. You can choose an apartment for rent either on your own or with the help of a specialist from a rental agency.
First of all, it will be necessary to determine the quality and variety of infrastructure(基础设施) in a particular area. You should find out what objects are located in the immediate neighborhood.
If you plan to move into a rented apartment with children, you should find out which educational and preschool institutions are located nearby.
You should also pay attention to the building itself, in which you plan to rent a home.
| A．It is your duty to help the neighbors |
| B．The second option is more preferable |
| C．It is better if it has thick enough walls |
| D．Special attention should be paid to the other details |
| E．Here are some simple ways to save money when renting |
| F．And near the house should be stations of public transport |
| G．It is desirable that there are shops with essential goods near the housing |
According to a new study from Oxford Economics, a rise in artificial intelligence will result in an increase in “income inequality” as they estimate that 20 million manufacturing jobs will be lost in the next 1l years. In China alone, there could be 14 million robots taking work currently done by humans by 2030. While in the United States, more than 1.5 million workers would have lost their employment to technology by 2030.
The report predicts the use of robots worldwide has increased to 2.25 million over the past two decades. The researchers said, “As a result of robotisation, tens of millions of jobs will be lost, especially in poorer economies that rely on lower-skilled workers, which will therefore translate into an increase in income inequality.”
However, the researchers noted how “robotisation” has the potential to boost productivity and economic growth. They predicted a 5.3 percent rise in global gross domestic product(GDP) in 2030.The report said, “This means adding an extra $4.9 trillion per year to the global economy by 2030(in today’s prices).”
The report remained positive about the use of automation and urged lawmakers not to sand in the way of robots in the workplace, despite the threat of job losses.
The researchers said, “These findings should not lead policy-makers to seek to prevent the adoption of robot technology. Instead, the challenge should be to distribute the robot profits more evenly by helping workers prepare for and adapt to the big changes it will bring about. Explore all policy options from training, initiatives (新方案)and new welfare programs such as universal basic income.”
1．What is the number of potential job loss in Oxford Economics report based on?| A．Accurate figures. | B．Official statistics. |
| C．Artificial intelligence. | D．Approximate calculation. |
| A．It may enlarge the gap between rich and poor. |
| B．It has helped increase the global income. |
| C．It may increase international competition in lawmaking. |
| D．It has been universally recognized. |
| A．Boosting national economic development. |
| B．Providing citizens with lifelong education. |
| C．Slowing down the spread of robot technology. |
| D．Protecting workers’ interests by making new plans. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Favorable. | C．Conservative. | D．Tolerant. |
Dave had loved basketball for as long as he could remember and he had never had a day without playing it. At primary school and junior high school he joined basketball clubs, attended training programs and watched basketball games, from which he learned the moves of the star players, wishing to play in a professional team like them and shine on the court.
Now as a senior high school student, however, his dream of becoming a professional player was dimming (变暗) because he was only of average height. He had to give up the hope of joining the school team. The guys on the school team were all tall boys who played matches and won honors for the school. They were like heroes. Dave watched them play and cheered them but he knew he would never be one of them.
Dave felt it a pity not to be tall enough, but this didn’t stop him from pouring his passion into basketball. He just played for the love of the sport. He played in the school gym with other boys or by himself every day, even during holidays and weekends, when it was open for two hours in the morning. He enjoyed every minute on the court making every effort to play better.
It was one Saturday morning. Dave was playing in the gym by himself, as all the other boys were busy with other weekend affairs. Then he noticed a tall boy approaching. It was Lankas. Everybody knows him as captain of the school basketball team. “Hi, Lankas,” Dave greeted him. “My name is Dave.” “Hi, Dave,” Lankas replied as he got closer. “Nice to see you here. Do you need an opponent to play against?” Dave was shocked, frozen right there, unable to believe his ears but somehow, he answered, “Why not?”
The highlights of every World Cup are the impossible goals, especially the arc (弧线) ball goals. It’s breathtaking to watch. Every spin (旋转) of the ball moves air across the surface, pushing it into a bend.
When a soccer ball flies, the air forms a layer around the surface of the ball. As the balls pins, it changes the direction of the air to one side, says John Bush, an applied mathematician at MIT. This air pushes the ball in the opposite direction. The player starts with a strike on the outside of his right foot, which hits the left side of the ball, starting a clockwise spin. It throws the air off to the left, and the force created by the air leaving the ball pushes it to the right, explains Bush. Thus, a ball spinning to the right (that’s clockwise) will also are towards the right. This force is called the Magnus Effect.
It helps the goalkeepers, because they see uniform curvature (曲度) when players are taking bending shots at them. If they can pick up the spin right, it’s going to be the same amount of curvature, and they know where to put their hands. This is partly why players are much more likely to take bending shots during free kicks when goalkeepers can’t see their kicks quite as well because of the wall of defenders. If a ball isn’t spinning, it does something called knuckling, where the air turns the ball to one side in random directions, causing it to bounce in the air unpredictably. “It’s usually achieved when a player manages a sharp, fast touch of the ball, typically right on the air valve where the ball is most firm.” says Bush. Its lack of spin kept the goalkeeper from being able to predict where it was going until it was too late. All the goalkeepers tremble before the kicker that can shoot this kind of soccer ball.
1．What is the Magnus Effect according to the text?| A．The force applied to a spinning ball. |
| B．The theory proposed by John Bush. . |
| C．The direction opposite to a player’s strike. |
| D．The goal scored with a bending ball. |
| A．Because they can change the ball’s curvature. |
| B．Because they can take bending shots more easily. |
| C．Because they can get a cover from the wall of defenders. |
| D．Because they can help their team’s goalkeeper. |
| A．A free-kick shot. |
| B．A fast shot without spinning. |
| C．A shot with a unique curvature. |
| D．A bending shot without defensive blocking. |
| A．The Development of Football | B．The Principle of a Bending Ball |
| C．The Secret of Blocking a Goal | D．The Theory of Applied Mathematics |
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies For Sale”. Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked. The store owner replied, “From $30 to $50.” The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. “I only have $2.37,” he said. “Can I look at them?”
The store owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel (狗窝) came a female dog, who ran out of his store, followed by five tiny balls of fur. One puppy was left behind, moving slowly. Immediately, the little boy found out the slowly limping (跛行的) puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”
The store owner explained that the vet (兽医) had examined the little puppy and found that he didn’t have a hip socket (髋臼). He would always limp. The little boy became excited. “That is the little puppy that I want to buy.”
The store owner said, “No, you don’t need to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I will just give him to you.”
The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I will pay full price. I can give you $2.37 now, and then fifty cents a month until I have paid for him.”
The store owner countered, “You really don’t need to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run, jump and play with you like the other puppies.”
The little boy stood his ground, determined to pay for the limping puppy.
Overjoyed, the little boy handed over his $2.37 to the store owner.
| A．that | B．which | C．whose | D．its |
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for living. One night, I took a fare (出租车乘客) at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, sanding on the side way was a small woman in her 80s with a big suitcase.
After I helped her into the taxi she gave me an address and asked, “Could you drive through downtown?” “It is not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “I don’t mind,” She said, “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice (临终安养院).” I looked in the rear-view mirror (后视镜). Her eyes were wet. I quietly reached over and shut off he meter (计价器). “What route would you like me to take?” I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newly married. She had me stop in front of a shabby house, where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she asked me to slow in front of a particular building and sat staring into the darkness, saying nothing. At last, she said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the destination. It was a grey low building.
“How much do I owe you?” She asked, reaching into her purse. “Nothing,” I said. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held on to me tightly and whispered a “Thank you”. I squeezed her hand and walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn’t pick up any more passengers, but drove aimlessly, lost in thought. What if that woman had come across an impatient driver? What if I had refused to drive through downtown? Great moments often catch us unaware, beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
1．What caused the author to shut off the meter?| A．His distrust of the fare. | B．His pity for the woman. |
| C．The breakdown of the meter. | D．The cold weather at midnight. |
| A．To find a place to settle down. |
| B．To reach the destination on time. |
| C．To kill time before the hospice opened. |
| D．To see the city for last time. |
| A．Giving is always a pleasure. |
| B．People should respect elderly people. |
| C．A small act of kindness brings people great joy. |
| D．Strangers are family you haven’t known yet. |
| A．Positive and energetic. | B．Helping and humorous. |
| C．Sensitive and patient. | D．Kind-hearted but demanding. |
| A．A taxi ride I will never forget |
| B．My strange driving experience |
| C．The ending of an old woman’s life |
| D．An old woman passenger and her life |
For courage, my fingers cling to the harness (绳套)on my guide dog Cho’s broad back as we pass my neighbor’s fence. Walking by Mr. Smith’s yard is the best part of our morning walk. …and also the worst. The best part is the roses talking to us with the fragrance that bursts bold as firecrackers.
Now comes the worst part—the unfriendly figure nearby that shades us: Mr. Smith. As usual, friendly Cho wags (摇摆) her tail in excitement. But Cho doesn’t know this neighbor does not like me at all. “Hello, Mr. Smith.” I greet him as I do every morning but he never answers me. I know he’s behind his fence. He sounds out of breath, and the creaky gate swings nervously in his hand.
Maybe he’s afraid of me because I am blind. Disabilities scare grown-ups sometimes. Then I remember: Yesterday I heard him playing checkers with my friend Jimmy who’s in a wheelchair. Cho and I march on, and my thoughts keep step. Why does Mr. Smith ignore me? Why can’t two people who like roses like each other? It’s a mystery to me.
Cho and I stop for a moment near the rose bushes while I think. Dad has told me that some folks do not like people from faraway places. Maybe Mr. Smith does not like foreigners. Then, the sidewalk hums beneath my feet. A skateboard zooms by. “Hello, Mai and Cho!” my friend Jana shouts, “Hi, Mr. Smith.”
I wait. Jana is from Mexico. If Mr. Smith ignores Jana, then my mystery is solved. But his voice calls out, “Hello, Jana!” The sound of it twists my heart. Now I know that unfriendly Mr. Smith likes everyone but not me and Cho…
Me and Cho! An idea brightens my mystery. Maybe I do know why Mr. Smith doesn’t talk to me!
“Down!” I command Cho to sit on the ground.
I lead him back to Cho, and tell Mr. Smith how gentle Cho is.
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