Japanese hair straightening, a process by which the molecules (分子) of my curls would be broken and reset in a straight position. I was the perfect candidate, the hairdresser told me. Although there were rumors about how hair relaxing can damage the scalp (头皮), for the next five years I didn't find them to be true.
However, there was extreme damage done to my wallet. To keep up the straightening cost $700 every six months, and that was considered cheap. While some people thought I was crazy, I was willing to do anything to never again feel like that bored, frizzy-headed girl in Grade 7. But when I moved out of my parents’ house at age 26 and rented an apartment, the upkeep of my new image became too costly. I couldn't hide from my inner Medusa any longer. It was time to hug her and let her fly.
Seeking an alternative to my high-end habit, I turned to Google. After hours of searching, I hit upon a “curly haired” salon, a place designed for girls like me who were at their wits’ end. Although I bought the service called the “Curly-Doo,” I suspected I'd have the same mop at the end of the appointment.
I dragged my feet so hard getting there that I arrived 45 minutes late. I secretly hoped they would turn me away and gave me the excuse I needed to justify the expense of relaxing again. Instead, my stylist simply said: “You are very late. Flip your head over”.
As my head was dipped in a tub full of freezing-cold water, then generously slathered with a jelly-like substance, I wondered what I had got myself into.
“Do you really think this will work?” I asked the stylist, Jacquai. “My curls are a lost cause.”
“No curly hair is hopeless,” she replied. “They just haven't found a way to work with it, that's all.”
After the hour was over, Jacquai had completed her work. She had styled my hair using only her hands, water and a mixture of organic potions.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the mirror: a naturally curly, Medusa-free me.
According to Jacquai, 75 percent of the population have a wave or curl in their hair and don't know what to do with it. Men cut theirs short. Women flat-iron theirs
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to death.
When I browse through a beauty magazine or take the subway to work, it makes me sad to see so many people repressing their natural beauty.
Since I tamed my locks (头发), my world has changed. I have always been outgoing, but these days I seem to be more outspoken and confident than ever. On top of that, friends and co-workers tell me I am looking better than ever, but they can't tell the source of the change. I don't need to tell them. My Medusa hair sways and speaks for herself.
62. The sentence “If only I could find a way to tame the frizz, I told myself, I would feel secure
and sexy.” should be put between ____. A. Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2 C. Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4
B. Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3 D. Paragraph 4 and Paragraph 5
63. The writer turned to Google for an alternative because _____. A. hair straightening did damage to her scalp B. She was teased by her friends because of her hair
C. She couldn’t afford to keep up her image D. Some people thought she was crazy
64. It can be inferred from the passage that Jacquai _____. A. was annoyed with the writer being late for the appointment
B. applied something special to the writer’s hair to make her look better C. was quite convinced she would make the writer feel better
D. didn’t think people should care much about the curl or wave in their hair 65. The writer will probably agree that _____.
A. physical features have a large influence on how we view ourselves B. it is wrong to judge a person by his or her appearance C. her family background casts a shadow on her character D. beauty comes from the way we look at ourselves 第五部分 任务型阅读
Do you want to be more courageous? Bravery isn't something you're born with
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－you acquire it-over time as you gain life experiences. You can practice being brave by acting on what your heart tells you to do and challenging yourself with new experiences, even when you're afraid．
1. Admit that you're scared．Bravery doesn't mean that you're never afraid－it Means that you're'-afraid; but you’ll move forward. Try these tips for acknowledging. Your fear．
Say it out loud. Verbalizing what you're afraid of can bring it out into the open and make it seem more ordinary. You don't have to say it to anyone else, just to yourself．
Accept that everything is risky. All the things you do in a day－from getting out of bed to eating dinner - carry some level of risk. But that doesn't stop you from living your life. Why should what you're afraid of stop you, either? Focus on what you can control. You can't help being afraid of something－it's an emotional response you can't change. However, you can control what you do about it．Focus on your actions, not your involuntary responses．
2．Find a role model. If you're having a hard time seeing your way out of a situation, try modeling your behavior after someone else who's faced adversity（逆境）．Not only can this give you a good dose of perspective （\at least my problem isn't as bad as that'’）,it might inspire you to be more courageous． Look for a role model among people you already know. If you feel comfortable enough, consider asking them how they dealt with situations that required bravery． Read about brave historical figures. Look up the life stories of people who are noted for facing adversity with bravery, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman or Joan of Arc, freedom fighters, etc．
3. Make a decision. If you're facing a situation that might mean making a brave but difficult decision, take some time to think it over. If you feel strongly about what needs to be done, you can use that to help increase your cour4ge in the moment. Ask yourself:
Is this the right thing to do? The right thing isn't always the easiest, nor the most popular. Rely on your conscience to help you decide．
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Is this, the only way to settle the situation? Consider whether there's a way to get around your problem. Is there a workaround（变通）you haven't thought of yet? Are you prepared to face the consequences? If the action you're about to do has huge consequences, take an extra second to think about it. If the worst thing happened, would you be able to handle it?
4．Don't think – act. After a certain point, it's better if you stop thinking
of what you are about to do and just do it. Take a deep breath, try to clear your mind, and go forward with what you've already decided on. Try not to hesitate, and focus on just getting through it．
Title How to Be Brave Introduction Bravery can be acquired over time from experiences with _____1_____. _____2_____ Admit your _____3______. Verbalize what you’re afraid of to yourself. Accept that everything is a _____4_____. Keep ____5_____on your actions instead of involuntary responses. Find a role model. Look for a role model among your ____6_____. Read about brave historical figures. Do the right thing. Make a decision. Look into other ______7_______. Make _____8____ for the consequences. Take ____9_____. Make up your mind to do what you’ve decided to without ______10_______. 第六部分 单词拼写（10分）
1. ---Why was he fined yesterday when he rode to his farmland?
--- He didn’t wear his helmet, but it’s c______________ for all motorcyclists to do so by law.
2. ---It’s said that Jim has gone to Loch Ness again.
---Yes, as an artist, he travels a lot and draws i_______________ from nature.
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3. ---What do you think we should do to avoid such accidents? --- We should make new safety r_________________. 4. ---Where did you go just now?
---I went to the Grand Hotel and r_______________ at the reception desk for my friend.
5. ---Who is your best friend?
---It’s Tom. He is always coming to my a_______________ when I’m in trouble. 6. ---What’s your aim of this project?
---We will struggle for the poor people’s l_______________ from poverty. 7. ---From your point of view, what’s the cause of the quarrel between them? ---They stuck to their own opinions and couldn’t make a c_________________. 8. ---It was reported that the man betrayed his homeland.
---He was not a brave man and s_______________ to money and power. 9. ---What are you planning to do this weekend?
---Christmas is just around the corner and I intend to buy some d____________ for the Christmas tree.
10. ---Many people went to the west and s_____________ their fortune during the Gold Rush.
--- Exactly. But only a handful of them made it.
第七部分 书面表达
阅读下面段落，根据阅读内容，按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
Here is the story going. A boy named Jack suffered from blood cancer and the doctor said he would die soon. But he didn’t want to die before his dream came true. Jack had stayed with his father all the time sine his mother divorced his father. But his mother would come to see him every weekend. And when his mother heard that Jack was seriously sick, she came to Jack in a flash and was willing to donate her blood to him.
Jack was very happy and excited after seeing mother in the hospital. How he hoped father and mother would get together again! So he thought of a good idea. Every time
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