B

Until last summer I had a very comfortable life: winter vacations skiing and summer cruises. My parents spent a lot of money on a private school, so they could get me into a competitive middle school. Everything was about tomorrow, next year, my graduation. We never had to worry about today.

Before last summer I never thought much about the people in the world who live day to day, every day, whose lives are controlled by poverty and hunger. Then I enrolled in a two-week intensive program. We lived in a “Tribal Village,” in a hot, dry open grassland in Arkansas, a state of the south-central United States. I am a tribal member in Mozambique, a country of southeast Africa. Every meal, I make the fire for my family, and feel the flames lick up my nostrils as I blow to keep the fuel alive. I cook mush with vegetables. This is all my family is ever given.

I feed the hen and three rabbits their dinner. I grow attached to the rabbits, even though I know I shouldn’t. I name them. I’m not getting enough t o eat; it’s time to decide whether or not to kill the rabbits. I feel pain but it’s a privileged child’s pain because I know I will soon be eating again. That’s not true for a lot of other children around the world.

Growing up comfortably in the U.S., I’ve never had to worry about my dinner, and even though this whole process was only a simulation, it changed my life. Now I believe in doing whatever I can to help find practical ways to defeat hunger.

So I’ve become president of Roots and Shoots, a group working to improve local environments for people and animals. I’m also working to create a program at my high school called the “Safe Passage” trip to help young people in the Guatemala City dump. And I’ve got plans to do more.

I'm often thinking of laboring in the hot sun and the millions who still do. Now, I try to live for today and stop worrying so much about the future. When I eat or feel full, I am grateful for this fortunate life and want to extend the same feeling to others.

I believe in offering help to those who need it.

31. What is true about the author before last summer?

A. Her life was under great pressure.

B. Her life was well-planned.

C. She didn’t have to worry about the future.

D. She had to worry about her dinner

32.We can learn from the second paragraph that _______________.

A. the author raised some rabbits as pets

B. the author took part in a two-week program in Africa

C. the author had a very difficult life in the “Tribal Village”

D. the author never thought about poor people after the program

33. The author feel pain because ____________

A. she is a privileged child

B. she is not getting enough to eat

C. she doesn’t want to kill the rabbits

D. she can’t go back to her regular life

34. What does the underlined word “simulation” in the fourth paragraph probably mean?

A. Reality B. Experience C. Imagination D. Imitation

35. What influence did the author’s experience in the “Tribal Village” have on her?

A. It gave birth to a belief in helping others.

B. It taught her to be grateful to her parents.

C. It has made her life more comfortable.

D. It inspired her to start two groups to help others.

C

Many of us mistakenly believe that it's wrong to think we have any good qualities. We may spend a lot of time blaming ourselves for our negative qualities, thinking that self criticism is the key to improving our performance. However, a constant focus on our supposed shortcomings can stop our efforts to make friends with other people. How can we believe that others could like us if we believe our inner being is flawed(有缺陷)?

If someone seems to dislike you, the reason for that dislike might have little or nothing to do with you. The person who doesn't like you might be fearful, or shallow, or busy or shy. Perhaps you and that person are simply a mismatch for each other at this particular time.

Don't take yourself out of the game by deciding that your flaws are bigger than your good qualities. In fact, some of the very qualities you consider to be flaws may be irresistible to someone else. For all the factors that might cause one person to reject you, there are at least as many factors that will work in your favor with someone else.

You might be thirty pounds over your ideal weight, but you may have a wonderful laugh and a real enthusiasm for life. There are many people who don’t mind your extra pounds. You may drive a shabby car, but you might be a great dancer and a loyal friend. There are people out there looking for loyalty, or fun, or sweetness, or wisdom, and the package it comes in is not important. If you are worried that you are not beautiful enough to attract friends, keep in mind that not everyone is looking for physical beauty in their friends. You can decide to feel inferior(自卑) because you don't have much money and you don't drive a nice car. You can believe that this is the reason that you don't have many friends in your life. On the other hand, if you are very wealthy you may be suspicious that everyone is after your money and that nobody really l ikes you as a person.

The point is that you can focus on just about anything and believe it's the reason you do not have friends and cannot make any.

36. According to the author ___________ plays an important role in making friends.

A. admitting your shortcomings B. self criticism C. modesty D. confidence

37. If you are not liked by a person, _________

A. you should find the reason in yourself

B. you’d better talk with the person face to face

C. you may not be the one to be blamed

D. you and that person misunderstand each other

38. We can learn from the third paragraph that ____________

A. your good qualities may turn out to be your flaws

B. your weakness may also be your strengths in some way

C. your negative qualities cause a person to reject you

D. you’ll have few friends if your flaws a re bigger than your good qualities

39. Which of the following is true according to the author?

A. It is important to lose weight.

B. It is easier for a wealthy person to make friends.

C. Inner qualities are more important than physical appearance.

D. If you are not beautiful enough, try to improve your physical beauty.

40. What do you think the author is most likely to suggest if he continues to write?

A. How to find your good qualities.

B. How to make friends.

C. How to make self criticism.

D. How to lose weight.