London’s newest skyscraper (摩天大楼) is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build. At a height of almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in Europe. The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London. However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better.

The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. When he began designing the Shard for London, Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire (尖顶). He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren’t regular. So the building has an unusual shape. It looks like a very thin, sharp piece of broken glass. And that is how the building got the name: the Shard. Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition. The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts (桅杆) of the ships that were once on the river Thames.

The Shard has 87 floors. At the top, there is an observatory. At the moment the building is empty, but eventually there will be a five-star hotel. There will also be top quality restaurants, apartments and offices.

Before building work began, a lot of people didn’t want the Shard though the plans were approved. Now they are still unhappy about the Shard. Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York, but not in London. They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape. But that is the only thing. There is no decoration, only flat surfaces. The Egyptians did that 4,500 years ago. They also think the Shard is too big for London. It destroys the beauty of the city.

Other critics don’t like what the Shard seems to represent. They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal. Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London. So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.

The Shard now dominates the London skyline. It is not certain, however, that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city.

21.London’s newest skyscraper is called the Shard because of ______.

A. its cost

B. its size

C. its shape

D. its height

22.When he designed the Shard, Piano wanted it to ______.

A. change London’s skyline

B. inherit London’s tradition

C. imitate the Egyptian style

D. attract potential visitors

23.The critics who refer to social division think the Shard ______.

A. is only preferred by the rich

B. is intended for wealthy people

C. is far away from the poor area

D. is popular only with Londoners

24.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Shard: Cheers and Claps

B. The Shard: Work of a Great Architect

C. The Shard: New Symbol of London?

D. The Shard: A Change for the Better?

In 1943, when I was 4, my parents moved from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Fairbanks, Alaska, where adventure was never far away.

We arrived in the summer, just in time to enjoy the midnight sun. All that sunlight was fantastic for Mom’s vegetable garden. Working in the garden at midnight tended to throw her timing off, so she didn’t care much about my bedtime.

Dad was a Railway Express agent and Mom was his clerk. That left me in a mess. I usually managed to find some trouble to get into. Once I had a little fire going in the dirt basement of a hotel. I had tried to light a barrel（桶）of paint but couldn’t really get a good fire going. The smoke got pretty bad, though, and when I made my exit, a crowd and the police were there to greet me. The policemen took my matches and drove me home.

Mom and Dad were occupied with the garden and Dad told the police to keep me, and they did! I had a tour of the prison before Mom rescued me. I hadn’t turned 5 yet.

As I entered kindergarten, the serious cold began to set in. Would it surprise you to know that I soon left part of my tongue on a metal handrail at school?

As for Leonhard Seppala, famous as a dog sledder（驾雪橇者）, I think I knew him well because I was taken for a ride with his white dog team one Sunday. At the time I didn’t realize what a superstar he was, but I did remember the ride well. I was wrapped（包裹）heavily and well sheltered from the freezing and blowing weather.

In 1950, we moved back to Coeur d’Alene, but we got one more Alaskan adventure when Leonhard invited us eight years later by paying a visit to Idaho to attend a gathering of former neighbors of Alaska.

25.What can be inferred about the author’s family?

A. His father was a cruel man.

B. His parents didn’t love him.

C. His parents used to be very busy.

D. His mother didn’t have any jobs.

26.What happened when the author was 4?

A. He learned to smoke.

B. He was locked in a basement.

C. He was arrested by the police.

D. He nearly caused a fire accident.

27.Which of the following is true?

A. Leonhard was good at driving dog sleds.

B. The author spent his whole childhood in Alaska.

C. Leonhard often visited the author’s family after 1950.

D. The author suffered a lot while taking the dog sled in Alaska.

28.What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A. To look back on his childhood with adventures.

B. To describe the extreme weather of Alaska.

C. To express how much he misses Leonhard.

D. To show off his pride in making trouble.

 “Everybody loves a bargain”is a well—known saying. One person’s useless，ugly，or broken object can be another person’s bargain.That is why so many Americans do not throw things away.They put them outside their house.They put on a“For Sale”sign.And，as simple as that，yard sale. The sellers put a paid announcement in a local newspaper..It tells when and where the yard sale will take place.These sales are very popular during weekends in spring，summer

and autumn.Early in the morning，all the things to be sold are carried out of the house.Then they sit all day in the sunlight—— like tired guests at a party—waiting for someone to take them home.

Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale.Sometimes，there are more clothes than anything else.Cooking equipment is also popular.So are old toys，tools，books，tables，and chairs.Then there are objects called“white elephants”.A white elephant is something that you think is extremely ugly or useless.It may be an electric light shaped like a fish.You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it.To someone else however it might be a thing of beauty and joy.

Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect.It may be old toy trains，for example，or paintings of dogs.Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before.Most people who go to yard sales，however，are not looking for anything special.They might buy an object simply because it costs so little.They enjoy negotiating over prices，even if they really do not need the object.Later，they may hold their own yard sale to sell all the things they have bought.

29.What kind of things will go to a yard sale.

A.Cheap and ugly things.

B.Things people no longer use.

C.Things out of season.

D.Things of great value.

30.A white elephant refers to________.

A.something that can cause a feeling of pain

B.something disliked by the owners while appreciated by others

C.something sold at the lowest price

D.a toy shaped like a fish

31.Which of the following is NOT true about a yard sale?

A.It may not be held when the weather is very cold.

B.It can last for a whole day.

C.It is usually held with a party.

D.It is held outdoors.

32.We can infer from the last paragraph that_________.

A.people may find something of great value on a yard sale

B.yard sales only attract those who have a low income

C.things on a yard sale can cost people a lot

D.most people who go to yard sales want to make money

Expecting good things can make you healthier and might even lengthen your life, says researcher Suzaane Segerstrom, PhD, author of Breaking Murphy’s Law. Segerstrom is coauthor of a recent review of studies on the benefits of a positive attitude---and has experienced them herself. We asked her about optimism’s principles and payoffs(结局).

 Feeling well helps when you’re not well.

“When researchers look at people who have similar medical conditions, they can predict who’s likely to live longer: the one who feels his health is better. There’s something about that feeling of wellness that’s important, even--maybe especially--if you’re ill. Optimism also seems to help buffer (减缓) you against stress. I’ve been studying first-year law students for 16 years. That’s a very stressed group, but in my most recent study, each time a student’s optimism increased one point on a five-point scale, his immune (免疫性的) response to an injected virus or yeast improved by 20 percent.”

 Optimism is something you do.

“Anxiety and other negative emotions are known to be detrimental to the body, especially to your cardiovascular and immune systems (心血管和免疫系统), and having an optimistic nature seems to protect against those effects.

In addition, research shows that people who are optimistic about their future behave differently. They exercise more, are less likely to smoke, and follow a better diet. And if they get sick, they’re more likely to actively participate in their treatment. I’ve seen that myself--I have back pain from arthritis, but I think my willingness to do whatever it takes has helped a lot.”

 Not happy? Don’t worry.

“Happiness is a feeling; optimism is a belief that aspects of your future will turn out well. Happiness can fluctuate (波动) a lot, but an optimistic disposition (性格) is usually pretty stable. If you’re not optimistic, you can try creating a ‘positive events’ log（日志）. Good filings happen to everyone, but pessimists often don’t take notice; spending a few minutes every day writing about at least three positive things may help you expect them     more often. Or instead of trying to be optimistic, do what optimists do: Work hard to reach your goals. Each accomplishment should make it easier to be hopeful about the next one.”

33.The main finding of the study done by Suzaane Segerstrom is ________.

A. people will benefit from their positive attitudes towards life

B. anyone who feels his health is better lives longer

C. people who are optimistic about their future behave differently

D. happiness usually results in a bright future

34.What conclusion did Suzanne Segerstrom draw from her studies on her fast-year law students?

A. The better medical care they enjoy, the longer they will live.

B. The younger they are, the stronger they will be.

C. The more optimistic they are, the less likely they will get ill.

D. The better they feel, the more rapidly they will recover from illness.

35.We learn from the passage that optimistic people __________.

A. are easy to give up smoking                             B. are willing to do whatever they are asked

C. take an active part in all aspects                      D. tend to have a better life style

    To forgive is a virtue, but no one has ever said it is easy. When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your hate. However, forgiveness is possible, and it can be surprisingly beneficial to your physical and mental health. People who forgive show less sadness, anger and stress and more hopefulness, according to a recent research.

36.____ Try the following steps:

Calm yourself.    37.You can take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love.

Don’t wait for an apology. Many times the persons who hurt you do not intend to apologize. They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things the same way.   38.Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean becoming friends again with the person who upset you.

Take the control away from your offender (冒犯者). Rethinking about your hurt gives power to the person who causes you pain. Instead of piling your sad feelings in your heart, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.

39.__   If you understand your offender, you may realize that he or she was acting out of unawareness, fear, and even love.   You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender’s point of view.

Don’t forget to forgive yourself.    40.But it can rob you of your self-confidence if you don’t do it.

A.    Why should you forgive?                       

B.    How should you start to forgive?

C.    Recognize the benefits of forgiveness.

D.    Try to see things from your offender’s angle.

E.    For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge.

F.    To make your anger die away, try a simple stress-management technique.

G.    If you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting an awfully long time.