Dear Grandma,

       It was nice seeing you at Christmas. You looked so happy!

       After losing two grandparents within the past year, I have taken some time to reflect on what is most important. I want to let you know what a positive influence you have been on me. I am the person I am because of you.

       I remember being on your farm a lot when I was younger. I remember the projects you planned for us. We painted rocks to represent our family members. We made doll clothes out of colorful socks. We made many "playhouses" in the woods.

We learned that if you left a bucket of soybeans in the rain, you would soon have a bucket of growing beans. We learned that if we helped pick the strawberries in the morning, we'd have them on our ice cream in the afternoon. We learned that some plants have funny names, like the elephant ear plant. We learned that you could make anything with what you had. We learned that making things out of paper and cardboard was more fun than what came inside the packaging. We learned it was OK to get dirty, but Grandma would wash us up before Mom came.

You once made models of everyone's houses, which made me want to be an architect. Another time, you made quilts for all of the grandkids. I still use mine every night. The edge has worn out. But you taught me how to fix it.

I love and respect you. You are always patient, with a quiet determination. Grandma, thank you for everything you have taught me. I hope that I am able to pass on all these memories and skills to my children and grandchildren.

Love always,

Kelly

21. After losing two grandparents, the author began to _____.

       A. realize her grandma's influence on her            B. become a person like her grandma

       C. write to her grandma regularly                       D. like her grandma very much

22. On her grandma's farm, Kelly learned to ______.

       A. make strawberry ice cream                           B. name different funny plants

       C. mend the worn-out edge of her quilt               D. use cupboards to make models of houses

23. Kelly's grandma ______.

       A. was willing to help others                              B. wanted Kelly to be an architect

       C. was skilled in making things                          D. disliked the kids' bad behaviors

24. Kelly wrote this letter mainly to ______.

       A. send her grandma best wishes for Christmas   B. ask her grandma for help

       C. recall her happy life on the farm                     D. show love and respect for her grandma

Use your American Express Card to enjoy one-day visit at four of America's greatest museums. Note the participating museums, and their exciting special exhibitions that you will not want to miss.

Boston

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Chairs

November11th-December 8th, 2016

    Italian furniture expert Fausto Calderai and Indian photographer Dayanita Singh present an exhibition of chairs from the museum's collection and "chair photographs" from around the world presented in a Venetian-style hall housing world-famous masterpieces.

For more information: www. gardnermuseum. org

New York

The Noguchi Museum

Noguehi and Graham

December 2^nd-December 30th, 2016

    Noguchi's long-term collaboration(协作) with dancer Martha Graham is regarded by many as a high point in the history of both modern dance and art. The exhibition highlights nine of the sets created through this collaboration.

For more information: www. noguchi. org

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

In Full View: American Painting (1720-2016)

October11th-December10th, 2016

    Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy has been home to America's artists for more than 200 years. The Academy collects and exhibits the works of famous American artists, and is well-known for training fine artists. 2016 show begins with the largest exhibition of Academy's distinguished American collection in the institution's history.

For more information: www. pafa. org

Seattle

Seattle Museum of Glass

Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection

November 1st-30th, 2016

   This exhibition includes over 200 pieces of beautiful glass from Murano, the island of glassblowers near Venice, Italy. Watch live glass-blowing shows in the Hot Shop and see other modern glass exhibitions.

For more information: www. museumofglass. org

25. Which of the following websites offers information about the furniture show?

A. www. museumofglass. org           B. www. noguchi. org

C. www. gardnermuseum. org           D. www. pafa. org  

26. At which place can people enjoy art works about modern dance and art?

A. Boston   B. Seattle     C. Philadelphia     D. New York

27. If you want to know the history of American painting, you may visit ___________.

A. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts         B. the Noguchi Museum            

C. Seattle Museum of Glass                     D. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum   

28. The passage is most likely to appear in_____________.

A. a textbook   B. a report    C. a science magazine   D. a travel guide

     If you’re looking for a fairly painless way to lose weight, researchers at Brigham Young University have a new solution for you: Put yourself on a regular sleep schedule. People who keep a regular sleep routine have a lower body fat than those who keep irregular sleep hours, says a new study.

     Led by Bruce Bailey, professor of exercise science, researchers followed 300 female college students aged 19 to 26, who were given activity trackers（跟踪器）to watch their movements and activities, including waking and sleeping times . Researchers also measured their body composition (成分)before and after the one-week study period.

    What the researchers found:

    Body fat varied with sleep quantity. Women who slept between 8 and 8.5 hours a night had the lowest body fat. While those who slept less than 7 hours or over 9 hours had higher body fat.

    High quality sleep was associated with lower body fat while poor sleep was connected with higher body fat.

    Waking and going to sleep at the same time every day was most strongly linked with lower body fat.

    The difference in body weight was greater with more variation（变化） in sleep pattern. Women whose sleep patterns varied by 90 minutes a night had higher body fat than those whose sleep patterns varied by 60 minutes or less on average.

    The study followed up on a body of research conducted over the last few years that ties quality and quantity of sleep to weight loss and better weight control. While researchers don’t know exactly how sleep schedules affect body weight and fat, other studies have shown that sleep has an effect on physical activity, appetite（胃口）, and the hormones（荷尔蒙）that control metabolism（新陈代谢）, and the signals that tell us we’re full.

29. Which of the following about the study led by Bruce Bailey is true?

A. The participants included both females and males.

B. The participants’ body composition were measured only after the study.

C. The participants’ activities were monitored through trackers.

D. The study was controlled by researchers during a long period time.

30. Who may have the lowest body fat according to the study?

A. Women whose sleep patterns varied by 90 times a night.

B. Women who get 8 to 8.5 hours of sleep a night.

C. Women who sleep no more than 7 hours a night.

D. Women whose sleep patterns varied by 60 times a night.

31. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ______.

A. Sleep can affect people at least in three ways.

B. Many people know exactly how sleep affects body fat.

C. It’s the first research to study better weight control.

D. Sleep can give signals to tell people they are full.

32. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. Several factors that affects the sleep quality.

B. A study on the relationship between sleep and body weight.

C. The importance of having a regular sleep routine.

D. Some ways to help you lose weight efficiently.

       There was a very self-sufficient（过于自信的）blind man, who did a lot of traveling alone. He was making his first trip to Texas and happened to be seated next to a Texan on the flight.

       The Texan spent a lot of time telling him how everything is bigger and better in Texas. By the time the blind man had reached his destination, a large resort hotel, he was very excited about being in Texas.

       The long trip had worn him out so he decided to stop at the bar for a small soda and a light snack before going up to his room to unpack this clothes.

       When the waitress set down his drink, it was in a huge mug. “Wow, I have heard everything in Texas is bigger,” he told her.

       “That’s right,” she replied. The blind man ate his snack and finished his drink. After drinking such a large amount, it was only natural that his next stop was going to have to be the restroom（卫生间,盥洗室）. He asked the waitress for directions. She told him to turn left at the register and it would be the second door on the right.

       He reached the first door and continued down the hall. A few steps later he stumbled slightly and missed the second door altogether and ended up going through the 3rd door instead. Not realizing he had entered the swimming area he walked forward and immediately fell into the swimming pool.

       Remembering everything he had heard about things being bigger in Texas, as soon as he had his head above water he started shouting “Don’t flush(被冲洗)! Don’t flush!”

33. On the way, the blind man and the Texan _________.

A. became good friends   B. told many stories 

C. drank quite a lot       D. talked much

34. The underlined part “stumbled slightly” in the passage probably means _______.

A. nearly fell   B. ran slightly  C. cried suddenly       D. moved ahead

35. Why did the blind man say “Don’t flush! Don’t flush!”?

A. Because he thought he was in the swimming pool.

B. Because he thought he was in the restroom.

C. Because he believed that things were bigger in Texas.

D. Because he realized that everything was better in Texas.

    Have you ever changed your mind, or even given up a dream because you were afraid of what someone else might think of you? If you’re often worried about what friends, family, or even strangers in the street might think, then you’re using up a huge amount of energy worrying.  36  But the steps below should help.

Step 1: Ask yourself what matters to you.

       Maybe you can’t stand the gym, but your best friend works out every day. It’s natural for people around you to have different values from you.  37

Step 2:  38  

       The truth is that I’m not the centre of the world, and neither are you! Most of the people around you are far too busy going about their own lives to think much about you.

Step 3: Recognize that their opinion can’t hurt you.

       There are a few cases where opinions will make a difference.  39  But the people who really matter are going to love you for who you are.

Step 4:  40

       You can’t control people’s thoughts. You’ve got no idea what might go through their head, or why. You can’t please everyone all of the time, and there’s no need to try to.

A. Do whatever you want to do.

B. This is a hard habit to get rid of.

C. You should make everyone around you happy.

D. So just be clear and honest with yourself.

E. Remember that they’re not all watching you.

F. Accept that you can’t control what people think.

G. For instance, your boss’s opinion is usually important to you.