reader.
Years later, I was reading aloud a picture book to a small child in a classroom. His life, so far, had not been easy. His childhood was troubled by poverty and loneliness. In that moment, in the joy of the read aloud, he had an idea that started something big.
What he said was this: “Mrs. Allyn, let’s make sure everyone knows how good this feels. Let’s have a holiday for the read aloud?” Therefore, my organization, LitWorld, created a grassroots movement World Read Aloud Day in 2010 to honor this young boy’s wish for everyone to be able to have a read aloud every day.
Since the day he shared that good idea with us, World Read Aloud Day has become a worldwide event reaching over one million people in more than 65 countries around the world. This year we are over 600 cities strong, a number that is growing every day.
Children who grow up as readers become engaged citizens of the global world, and every child deserves the right to read. When I say that reading aloud will change the world, I know it sounds simple. But one of the many great things about giving kids access to the power of stories and sharing them together is that it is simple. It is also cheap and easily done. And the impact is huge.
41. How did the author’s parent change her life? A. By reading aloud to her.
B. By listening to her reading. D. By encouraging her to read aloud.
C. By buying many books for her.
42. According to Paragraph 3, the author was probably the little boy’s . A. mother
B. teacher D. favorite writer
C. best friend
43. What does the small child’s idea in Paragraph 3 refer to? A. To start a holiday. C. To found LitWorld.
B. To reduce poverty. D. To overcome loneliness.
44. What can we know about World Read Aloud Day from Paragraph 5? A. Its origin. C. Its purpose.
B. Its future. D. Its development.
45. What can we infer from the last paragraph? A. Sticking to reading isn’t easy.
B. Reading gives a high rate of return. C. Reading aloud isn’t actually simple. D. Kids should try to change the world.
C
An expression used by Americans for about 100 years is “to pass the buck”. It means refusing to take responsibility, letting others decide and act for you.
President Gerald Ford dramatized the phrase after taking Richard Nixon’s place in the White House. Ford announced in a special television broadcast that he had decided to pardon Nixon for any crimes he may have committed as President. Ford said such a decision had to be made by him alone, and that he could not let others do it for him. “The buck stops here,” said Ford.
He remembered how another President, Harry S. Truman, made that expression famous more than 25 years ago. Truman had a sign on his desk which said: “The buck stops here.” The message was clear: if the President of the United States could not act and make the final decision on important national matters, who else could? A president who refused to take the responsibility and “passed the buck” to someone else would soon find himself in serious trouble.
Where did the expression come from? It seems to have come from the card game of poker where the players, one after the other, mix and pass out the cards. In the game, a buck is a counter or marker formerly passed from one poker player to another to indicate an obligation, especially one’s turn to deal.
The phrase seems to have come to life in the gambling houses of the West. There, a silver dollar was put in front of a player to show that he would be the next dealer to pass out the cards. A dollar, silver or paper, was therefore called a “buck”.
Forceful leaders, of course, make decisions, and take risks and responsibility. The risks can be great. Every choice at times may lead to disaster. Therefore, it is easier to pass the responsibility and let others take the risks. Nobody, however, likes a man who passes the buck. He is soon found out and given an unpleasant name — buck-passer. 46. What can we infer from Paragraph 2? A. Nixon was very brave.
B. Nixon was very tolerant.
D. Ford made a hard decision.
C. Ford made a big mistake.
47. Which word can best describe President Harry S. Truman according to Paragraph 3?
A. Patient. Humorous.
B. Intelligent. C. Responsible. D.
48. What should the poker player behind a buck do? A. Mark cards.
B. Count cards. D. Distribute cards.
C. Purchase cards.
49. What is Paragraph 5 mainly about? A. How to pass a buck.
B. The functions of a dollar. D. A popular form of gambling.
C. Why a buck means a dollar.
50. What is people’s attitude towards a buck-passer? A. They dislike him.
D
We live in a judgmental world where people are quick to point out, the faults and imperfections of others yet seem unaware of their own. Some misguided souls believe they have a civil duty to help you to be a better person by telling you what a failure you really are first and then offering suggestions as to how you can improve.
So what is the solution to criticism? If you are the one forcing others to feel ashamed of themselves, STOP. Make a conscious decision that rather than focus on the negative aspect of a person’s performance or attitudes, you’ll offer helpful suggestions from the get-to. If I’m painting our living room and making a mess in doing so, I would like my husband to say to me, “This is a tough job. Can I offer a suggestion that might make it easier for you?” rather than having him point out what a sloppy painter I am and then tell me how I should be doing it. If you are on the receiving end of criticism, the “OK” response is a perfect solution. When someone comments negatively on a task you are doing or a personality issue, a natural response is to defend and attack. However, this approach is rarely effective as it puts both parties on the defensive. Instead, simply reply with “OK”. This brief one-word response acknowledges the other person’s comment without agreeing with it or feeling necessary to engage in a debate about it.
It is important to remain emotionally attached to what the other person is saying, to listen without feeling, to be an objective observer. There is much that one can learn from a negative review. You can ask yourself: Did I make a mistake? Could I have done better? Did I give 100% of
B. They admire him.
D. They appreciate his work.
C. They feel sorry for him.
myself to the task at hand? If so, how can I improve? As for chronic (习惯性的) criticizers: It is important to set strict boundaries with them. Remove yourself from their presence when necessary.
In any event, one can learn to be “OK” with criticism and not allow it to negatively impact their life or relationship with the other party. Examine it for any potential truths, and then let it go and just be “OK”.
51. What does the underlined word “sloppy” in Paragraph 2 mean? A. Lazy. Energetic.
52. What does the author want to show by using the example of painting? A. Nobody is perfect.
B. The art of criticizing. D. Her husband cared about her.
B. Creative.
C. Careless.
D.
C. The value of suggestions.
53. What is the best way to respond when you are criticized by a person? A. Just say “OK”.
B. Defend yourself. D. Simply say “Thank you”.
C. Ignore the comment.
54. You are told to ask yourself some questions in Paragraph 4 so as to . A, take criticism objectively
B. learn from others’ mistakes ? D. have more confidence in yourself
C. better present negative reviews
55. How should you treat people who always criticize others according to the author’s advice? A, Attack them sharply. C. Stay away from them.
B. Talk to them politely. D. Be open to their suggestions.
第二卷 非选择题（共35分）
第三部分 写作（共两节，满分35分）
第一节 阅读表达（共5小题：每小题2分，满分10分）
阅读短文，按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
Louisiana’s top two youth volunteers of 2016, Stanley Celestine, 17, and Ashini Modi, 12, were honored in the nation’s capital for their outstanding volunteer service during the 21st annual presentation of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Stanley and Ashini---along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the US — each received $1,000 awards.
Stanley, a junior at Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences (LaSAS), is trying to
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