I grew up with a fat dad—450 pounds at his heaviest.Every week he would try a new diet，and my family ended up eating whatever strange food he was trying at that moment.
After my thirdgrade year，my dad landed a lifechanging job in Manhattan.My mom，my little sister and I had to move away from our hometown，Chicago，and leave my grandmother and her beautiful food behind.
Leaving my grandmother was far more frightening than the move to New York City.There would be no more special weekends at my grandmother’s house，the only place I can remember feeling happy，safe and nourished (有营养的)．It was what I desired.In this new city，I felt extremely alone and lost，and I missed my grandmother terribly.
My grandmother knew just how I felt—And she knew the cure.Every week，she would send me a card with a $20 bill，a recipe and a list of what to buy at the market.It kept us bonded，and her recipes filled my body and soul.
Over the years，I have grown to better understand my father’s struggles with weight and the toll (代价) it took on him and those who love him.I have come to realize he was driven not by vanity (自负) or selfishness as much as by a deep pain.And in spite of growing up in such an unhealthy eating environment (or perhaps because of it)，as an adult I found a passion and a career as a nutrition consultant.
Today，my father weighs 220 pounds and is a vegan (素食者)．How he got there is a story I hope to share in the coming weeks.More importantly，food is no longer a barrier that keeps us apart，but a bridge that keep us connected.There is nothing my dad enjoys more than talking with me about dietary theories and his weightloss victories.And now I am the one regularly sending recipe cards to my father’s house，just as my grandmother did for me.
小题1:What kind of person was actually the author’s father?| A．He was a man of vanity and selfishness. | | B．He didn’t like to eat with his family. | | C．He was more painful than selfish. | | D．He forced his family to eat what he liked. |
小题2:The author desired to go to his grandmother’s________.| A．to see his father | B．for tasty food | | C．for pocket money | D．to avoid his family |
小题3:The underlined word “cure” in Paragraph 4 is the nearest in meaning to “________”．| A．solution | B．concern | | C．operation | D．situation |
小题4:The author became a nutrition consultant mainly because________.| A．his father often talked with him about dietary theories | | B．he was determined to change his own daily habits | | C．he wanted to study the recipes his grandmother had given him | | D．his childhood experiences gave him too deep an impression |
小题5:What can we learn about the author from the last paragraph?| A．He often quarreled with his father about food | | B．His father will tell him his story in the following weeks | | C．The most he talks about with his father is nourishment | | D．He often sends recipe cards to his grandmother in return |
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小题1:C
小题2:A
小题3:C
小题4:C
小题5:D |
语篇解读 本文是一篇记叙文。作者小时候，爸爸很胖，每周都需要尝试一种新的食物来减肥，全家人都不得不与爸爸一起“试吃”，为此作者对爸爸意见很大。后来随着年龄的增长，作者对父亲也有了更深的理解，在选择职业时也选了营养师这份工作。
小题1:解析： 推理判断题。根据第五段第一、二句“Over the years...I have come to realize...as much as by a deep pain.”可知，这些年来，作者逐渐理解了父亲，意识到他苦苦地与自己的体重作斗争，不是虚荣和自私，而是对于自己的体重感到深深的痛苦。由此可知，C项内容与题意相符。
答案： C
小题2:解析： 细节理解题。根据第二、三段内容可知，作者和家人一起搬到了曼哈顿，离开了祖母还有她做的精致美食，以致作者非常想念祖母，特别渴望去她的家里品尝美味佳肴。
答案： B
小题3:解析： 词义猜测题。根据第四段画线词前后内容可知，作者的祖母知道作者心中的想法，每周会给作者寄20美元，一个食谱还有一个购物单。结合选项可推知，画线词所在句子意思是作者的祖母知道解决的办法。因此画线词的意思与选项中solution的词义最为接近。
答案： A
小题4:解析： 细节理解题。根据第五段最后一句“And in spite of growing up in such an unhealthy eating environment...I found a passion and a career as a nutrition consultant.”可知，尽管在一个如此不健康的饮食环境中成长(也许正是因为这一点)，作者长大后成为了一个营养咨询师。由此可知，作者童年的经历给他留下了很深的印象，因此，作者后来成为一名营养咨询师。
答案： D
小题5:解析： 细节理解题。根据文章最后一段第四句“There is nothing my dad enjoys more than talking with me about dietary theories and his weightloss victories”可知，作者和父亲谈论最多的应该是食品方面的内容。
答案： C |
核心考点
试题【I grew up with a fat dad—450 pounds at his heaviest.Every week he would try a ne】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
Moving to a new neighborhood，town，state，or even country can be a pretty scary experience.All you know is that things will be different and chances are you won’t know the kids at your new school.
The experiences that go with moving make many kids feel nervous and worried.This is perfectly normal but don’t let these emotions overrun your thoughts！You will soon get used to your surroundings and find new friends at your new school.
Leaving old friends and familiar places behind can be difficult.However，as you begin the moving process，keep in mind that saying goodbye to your old house，school，and friends does not mean that you have to forget them or that your farewell is permanent！If you’re moving to a new state or even a different country and won’t see your friends for a long nme，don’t despair.Make sure to ask everyone for their address so you can write them letters.Also，thanks to the Internet，it is very easy to stay in touch through email or instant messaging technologies.With your parent’s permission，you can even create a blog or web page to chronicle all of your new experiences.Include your thoughts，tales of your new adventures，even pictures of new friends，your new house，and new town.Your old friends will love seeing what you are busy with.
Many schools have an orientation program where a student already established at the school shows a new student around for their first week.This can help you to find your way around the school and to make new friends faster.
While moving is tough on kids of any age，high school counselor Karen Turner says moves can be particularly difficult for teens.“I think moving during adolescents is an extremely stressful experience，especially if you are into your junior high or senior year.Students tend to have established a very strong peer network during that period in their lives.Often this has more influence on them even than their families in some cases，and when they are torn from that there’s often resentment (怨气)．” However，Turner adds that while moving isn’t easy，there are things that your parents and the school can do to help you cope with the change.
小题1:Who are the intended readers of the passage?| A．Education experts. | B．School teachers. | | C．Parents. | D．Students. |
小题2:Which of the following is mainly suggested in Paragraph 3?| A．Staying in contact with old friends. | | B．Expressing yourself when it is possible. | | C．Forming good habits at school. | | D．Keeping positive about your new school. |
小题3:According to the passage，an orientation program________.| A．helps local students in many ways | | B．is organized by new students | | C．offers help to new students | | D．focuses on all the students at school |
小题4:According to the passage，Karen Turner may agree that________.| A．many parents seem to care little about their children | | B．teens can easily be attached to their friends | | C．parents should communicate with the school teachers | | D．teens tend to behave rudely in a new school |
小题5:If this passage continues，what would the author further discuss?| A．What a new school is like. | | B．why parents move with their children. | | C．How parents and the school can help the children. | | D．How children can express their anxiety. |
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If you want to stand out，there is no alternative but hard work.
Once a boy in____clothes full of patches ran to ask a successful building contractor (承包商) in a construction site，“How could I become as ____as you when I grow up？”
With a___at the boy，the contractor replied，“There is a story about three diggers.The first digger liked holding a spade without doing anything but saying that he wanted to be a(n) ____in the future.The second always liked____about the work and his low____.The third digger liked____devoting himself to digging.Later，the first was still holding his spade in the___place and the second took an excuse for early____.Only the third became a boss.Do you understand the ____of this story？Just go to buy a____shirt and work hard.”
The little boy was____.So he asked the contractor to explain further.____the working builders，the contractor replied，“Look at my workers！I can’t remember all their names，and even I have no____of some of them.Most of them wear blue shirts.But if you look____，you will notice a sunburned man in red.He seems to be working harder than others.He is always the first one to work while the last one to leave.It is exactly his red shirt that makes him____.Soon he will be____to my assistant.You know，that is also how I got_____I am now.I worked hard and wore a striped shirt.My boss ____me.I also became a boss eventually.”
Success can only____action.Working hard is all winners’ shared experience for achieving their dreams.
| 小题1: | | A．spotted | B．ragged | | C．elegant | D．formal |
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| 小题2: | | A．creative | B．strong | | C．rich | D．responsible |
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| 小题3: | | A．glance | B．laugh | | C．wave | D．shout |
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| 小题4: | | A．designer | B．architect | | C．boss | D．assistant |
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| 小题5: | | A．thinking | B．learning | | C．explaining | D．complaining |
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| 小题6: | | A．spirit | B．salary | | C．ability | D．intelligence |
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| 小题7: | | A．quietly | B．excitedly | | C．obviously | D．freely |
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| 小题8: | | A．remote | B．ideal | | C．original | D．suitable |
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| 小题9: | | A．arrival | B．retirement | | C．development | D．payment |
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| 小题10: | | A．ending | B．people | | C．moral | D．importance |
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| 小题11: | | A．yellow | B．red | | C．white | D．blue |
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| 小题12: | | A．puzzled | B．disappointed | | C．embarrassed | D．inspired |
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| 小题13: | | A．Speaking to | B．Referring to | | C．Coming to | D．Pointing to |
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| 小题14: | | A．impression | B．description | | C．information | D．expression |
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| 小题15: | | A．frequently | B．regularly | | C．carefully | D．doubtfully |
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| 小题16: | | A．stand out | B．work out | | C．turn out | D．give out |
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| 小题17: | | A．employed | B．elected | | C．admitted | D．promoted |
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| 小题18: | | A．which | B．where | | C．who | D．why |
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| 小题19: | | A．praised | B．ignored | | C．scolded | D．noticed |
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| 小题20: | | A．bring about | B．lead to | | C．result from | D．get into |
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Rae and Bruce Hostetler not only work very hard，they also relax just as well.Numerous vacations help the couple to maintain their health and emotional wellbeingand it’s no surprise to health care professionals.
“Rest，relaxation，and stress reduction are very important for people’s wellbeing and health.This can be accomplished through daily activities，such as exercise and meditation，but vacation is an important part of this as well，” said primary care physician Natasha Withers from One Medical Group in New York.Withers lists a decreased risk of heart disease and improved reaction time as some of the benefits from taking some time off.“We also know that the mind is very powerful and can help with healing，so a rested，relaxed mind is able to help the body heal better，” said Withers.
Psychologists confirm the value of vacations for the mind.“The impact that taking a vacation has on one’s mental health is great，” said Francine Lederer，a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles who specializes in stress and relationship management.“Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation，even if it is a 24hour timeout.” The trips could be good for their health，good for their family and good for their businesses.
The online travel agency Expedia conducted a survey about vacation time in 2010，and according to their data the average American earned 18 vacation days—but only used 14 of them.France topped the list，with the average worker earning 37 vacation days and using all but two of them.Americans’ responses may not be surprising in a culture where long hours on the job often are valued，but that’s not always good for the individual，the family or the employer.
Psychologists have also found that people who don’t take enough time to relax may find it harder to relax in the future.“Without time and opportunity to do this，the nerve connections that produce feelings of calm and peacefulness become weaker，making it actually more difficult to shift into lessstressed states，” Mulhern said.
小题1:How did the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By making comparisons. | B．By giving an example. | | C．By raising questions. | D．By providing data. |
小题2:According to Natasha Withers，vacations can________.| A．weaken reaction system | | B．cure serious diseases | | C．reduce the level of wellbeing | | D．decrease the risk of heart disease |
小题3:Expedia’s survey shows that Americans________.| A．dislike family gatherings | | B．have the shortest vacation | | C．enjoy as many vacations as the French | | D．think much of spending long hours on the job |
小题4:What can be inferred from the last paragraph?| A．One should never wait to relax. | | B．Work and rest go against each other. | | C．Time and opportunity wait for no man. | | D．A relaxed mind determines everything. |
小题5:What is mainly talked about in the text?| A．Ways to relax in one’s free time. | | B．The benefits of taking time off. | | C．Different opinions on holidays. | | D．The Hostetlers always on the go. |
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“Oh，you must have been a spoiled (宠坏的) kid.You must be really bossy.I wonder what you’re going to be like to deal with？” That’s often the response Angela Hult gets when people find out she’s an only child，she told ABC News.Despite such negative (消极的) remarks，Hult has decided to have only one child herself.And she’s not alone.
According to the US’ Office for National Statistics，women approaching the end of their childbearing years had an average of 1.9 children in 2004，compared with 3.1 for their counterparts in 1976.The percentage of onechild families in Britain had risen from 18 percent in 1972 to 26 percent in 2007.
But even though only children are becoming increasingly common，the traditional view that they’re selfish，spoiled and lack social skills holds strong.Even parents of only children，like Hult，are made to feel guilty about having only one child.Worried that they’re being selfish and endangering their child’s future，they flock to online discussion forums seeking advice.Soon，however，they ask themselves：is this social prejudice really reasonable?
“There have been hundreds and hundreds of research studies that show that only children are no different from their peers (同龄人)，” Susan Newman，a social psychologist at Rutgers University in the US，told ABC News.
This raises another question：why are only children still viewed with such suspicion?
“There is a belief that’s been around probably since humans first existed that to have just one child is somehow dangerous，both for you and for the continuation of your race，” Toni Falbo，a professor of educational psychology，told the Guardian.“In the past a lot of children died.You’d have had to be crazy to only have one.”
Times，of course，have changed and infant mortality (婴儿死亡率) has largely reduced.So what do only children themselves say?
Kayley Kravitz，a blogger for The Huffington Post，grew up as an only child and highly recommends the experience.“Being an only child taught me the most valuable skill of all：the ability to be alone，” she said.
小题1:Which of the following could be the best title for the text?| A．Are only children lonely? | | B．Are only children common? | | C．Are only children dangerous? | | D．Are only children different? |
小题2:What does Susan Newman mean?| A．Only children are as good as their peers. | | B．Only children are more selfish and spoiled. | | C．Parents feel guilty about having only one child. | | D．Parents will endanger their only child’s future. |
小题3:What is the common belief since human existed?| A．The infant death rate always stays high. | | B．People are crazy to have only one child. | | C．It’s easy for only children to earn their living. | | D．It’s hard to continue the family line with only one child. |
小题4:An only child like Kayley________.| A．must be difficult to persuade | | B．can possibly learn to be alone | | C．should value special skills | | D．need ignore bad experience |
小题5:What’s the author’s attitude towards having only one child?| A．Neutral. | B．Negative. | | C．Positive. | D．Doubtful. |
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Microsoft founder Bill Gates has opened up about being a parent，stating that 13 is an appropriate age for a child’s first cell phone.
The 57yearold，fatherofthree，revealed on The Today Show that his children Jennifer and Rory were not allowed phones until their 13th birthday and his youngest daughter Phoebe is still waiting for one.
“We’ve chosen in our family that it’s 13 where you get a phone，” the selfmade billionaire explained.
He said as a result his children often return home from school complaining，“All the other kids have one.I’m the only one without one.It’s so embarrassing.”
Asked if he keeps passwords to his son and daughters’ email and Facebook accounts，Mr Gates said that he doesn’t for Jennifer,16，who he describes as “independent”．He admitted that monitoring online activity is “a very tricky issue for parents now”．
Despite their vast wealth Mr and Mrs Gates，who live in Lake Medina，have said they want to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible.
It was previously reported that their youngsters have to complete household chores and are given a modest amount of pocket money.
And in 2010 Mr Gates said that he intends to give most of his $61 billion fortune away rather than hand it down.“That wouldn’t be good either for my kids or society，” he said.
Also during the Today interview with host Matt Lauer，Mr Gates，who stepped down from Microsoft in 2008 to concentrate on philanthropy，said that helping others gives him the same excitement as creating software.
“What you really feel is what you’ve achieved.If a piece of software gets out there and lots of people love it—it lets them get their work done in better ways—that’s exciting，” he explained.
小题1:Bill Gates will not let his children own a cell phone________.| A．until they reach the age of 13 | | B．if they don’t really need one | | C．unless they do some housework | | D．before they become independent |
小题2:Which of the following is true about Bill Gates’ children?| A．All his children now have cell phones. | | B．Phoebe has her own cell phone. | | C．They are not given any pocket money. | | D．Jennifer can use the Internet freely. |
小题3:What does the underlined word “That” refer to in the text?| A．Being a parent as a billionaire. | | B．Handing all his money down to his children. | | C．Allowing his children to have their phones. | | D．Giving away all his money to good causes. |
小题4:What can we learn about Bill Gates from the text?| A．He is a warmhearted father to his children. | | B．He has created a lot of software since 2008. | | C．He now devotes himself to helping others | | D．He cares more about money than anything else. |
小题5:What is the text mainly about?| A．How Bill Gates made himself a billionaire. | | B．How Bill Gates deals with his money. | | C．How Bill Gates managed his business. | | D．How Bill Gates brings up his children. |
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