When I was a child, our dining room had two kinds of chairs—two large ones with arm rests and four small ones without. The larger ones stood at the ends of the table, the smaller ones on the sides. Mom and Dad sat in the big chairs, except when one of us was away; then Mom would sit in one of the smaller chairs. Dad always sat at the end, at the “head” of the table. Sitting where he did, Dad was framed by the window through which the yard could be seen with its trees and grass. His chair was not just a place for him at the table; it was a place in which he was situated against the yard and trees. It was the holy (神圣的) and protected place that was his, and ours through him.
After Dad retired, he and Mom moved out into a small flat. When they came to visit me at their old house. Dad still sat at the end of the table though the table was no longer his but mine. Only with my marriage to Barbara, did I hear a voice questioning the arrangement. She requested, gently but firmly, that I sit at the head of the table in our home. I realized then that I was head of the family, but I also felt unwilling to introduce such a change. How would I feel sitting in that “head” place in my Dad’s presence? And how would he handle it? I was to find out on the occasion of our youngest child’s first birthday.
Mom and Dad arrived for lunch, and went into the dining room. Dad moved toward his usual seat in front of the window. Before he could get around the side of the table, I took a deep breath and said, “Dad, this is going to be your place, next to Mom, on the side.” He stopped, looked at me and then sat down. I felt sad, and angry at Barbara for pushing me to do this. It would have been easy to say, “My mistake, Dad. Sit where you always sit.” But I didn’t.
When he and Mom were seated, Barbara and I took our places. I don’t know how Dad felt. I do know that, though removed from his usual place, he continued to share his best self with us, telling stories of his childhood and youth to the delight of his grandchildren. As I served the food, our lives experienced a change, which we continue to live with.
It wasn’t easy, but I sense that there is also something good in the change which has occurred. I am beginning to learn that “honoring one’s father” is more than the question of which place to occupy at the dining table. It also means listening, wherever we sit and whatever positions we own, to the stories Dad longs to tell. We may then, during these magical moments, even be able to forget about whose chair is whose.Where did the writer’s mother sit when one of the children was away?
A.She didn’t change her chair. |
B.She moved her own chair next Dad’s. |
C.She moved to an empty chair on the side. |
D.She sat opposite to Dad. |
How did the writer feel when he told his father to sit on the side?
A.He didn’t feel bad because his father was going to sit there anyway. |
B.He felt happy at having carried out the difficult task. |
C.He was thoroughly satisfied with the new seating arrangement. |
D.He regretted what he had done and wanted to blame his wife. |
What happened during the meal after the family had all taken their new seats?
A.The writer’s children removed their grandfather from his usual place. |
B.The writer’s father didn’t appear to mind where he sat. |
C.The writer’s father shared his favorite dishes with the grandchildren. |
D.They became tense and nervous about their future as a family. |
What did the writer learn about “honoring one’s father”?
A.Fathers always long to tell stories about their early years. |
B.Providing the fight chair is the only way to honor one’s father. |
C.Respect for one’s father doesn’t depend only on where he sits. |
D.The family should dine together at the same table as often as possible. |
President Barack Obama has complained about the loss of privacy that comes with being leader of the United States, regretting the loss of simple pleasures such as a long walk or a trip to the car wash or supermarket.
“I just miss -- I miss being anonymous,” he said. “I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. I can't take a walk.”
His dream, he said, was to “go through Central Park and watch folks passing by…spend the day watching people -- I miss that”.
Faced with angry criticism for playing more golf than most previous occupants of the White House, he explained that the sport was simply the best way of getting away from it all. “It's the only excuse I have to get outside for four hours.” he told Hearst magazines.
Though he said he enjoyed his life in the White House, he felt disappointed with some of the ways of Washington, which he has failed in his pledge (誓言) to change, such as the "kabuki dance" among political parties before serious policy discussions begin. His comments may be seen as vindication (证实) by critics who have accused him of appearing too detached (漠然), and being slow to engage in vital issues such as Libya and the near shutdown of the US government last week.
Since arriving at the White House in January 2009, Mr Obama has already racked up 60 rounds of golf in office, more than George W Bush did in his eight years.In terms of ability, Golf Digest magazine has ranked Mr Obama eighth out of the 18 presidents who played the game since it became established in the early 20th century.What do the second paragraph and the third paragraph mainly tell us?
A.Obama likes living a busy life. |
B.Obama used to spend most of his time with his family. |
C.Obama wishes to enjoy simple pleasures. |
D.He used to wash his car himself. |
According to Obama, he plays golf to.
A.release his pressure |
B.keep fit |
C.balance his work |
D.show his ability |
We can infer from the passage that Obama is kabuki dance.
A.curious about | B.interested in |
C.content with | D.tired of |
Which of the following statements is from the critics?
A.The president lost lots of privacy, but he loves the life in the White House. |
B.There are always unnecessary procedures among political parties. |
C.The president seems to be indifferent towards some really important issues. |
D.The president is really a great golf player. |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Obama's favorite pastime. |
B.Obama’s complaints about lack of privacy as president. |
C.The public's criticism of Obama. |
D.Obama's regrets for being the US president. |
When I was an education official in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our school board, wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly’s son, Jim, had great difficulty in school. He was classified as the educationally disabled and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents acknowledged his academic difficulties, but always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper:
Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known when I talked to him last that it would be the last time. If I had only known I would have said, “Jim, I love you and I’m very proud of you.”
I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he brought to the lives of the many who loved him. I would have taken the time to appreciate his beautiful smile, the sound of his laughter, his genuine love of people.
When you put all the good qualities on the scale and try to balance all the irritating phenomena such as the radio which was always too loud, the haircut that wasn’t to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., your angry feelings won’t amount to much.
I won’t get another chance to tell my son all that I would have wanted him to hear, but, other parents, you do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear if you knew it would be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, “Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye.” He gave me something to treasure forever.
If there is any purpose at all for Jim’s death, maybe it is to make others appreciate more of life and to have people, especially family members, take the time to let each other know just how much we care.
You may never have another chance.According to the passage, we know that _______.
A.Jim was always ashamed of himself |
B.Jim did very well in his studies |
C.Jim’s parents were patient with him |
D.Jim failed to finish his high school |
The underlined word “irritating” in Paragraph 4 most probably means _______.
A.annoying | B.aggressive |
C.impatient | D.thrilling |
By writing the letter printed in the Palo Alto Times, the author intends to _______.
A.mourn her son’s sudden death in a traffic accident |
B.remind people to be cautious of motorcycles |
C.tell parents to take better care of their children |
D.suggest people taking the chance to express their love in time |
Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A.Love your Family. | B.Do it Today. |
C.Walk with Pride. | D.Appreciate Smiles. |
“OK,” I said to my daughter as she bent over her afternoon bowl of rice. “What’s going on with you and your friend J.?” J. is the leader of a group of third-graders at her camp-- a position Lucy herself occupied the previous summer. Now she’s the one on the outs, and every day at snack time, she tells me all about it, while I offer the unhelpful advice all summer long.
“She’s fond of giving orders, ” Lucy complained. “She’s turning everyone against me. She’s mean. And she’s fat.” “Excuse me,” I said, struggling for calm. “What did you just said?” “She’s fat.” Lucy mumbled(含糊地说).“We’re going upstairs,” I said, my voice cold. “We’re going to discuss this.” And up we went. I’d spent the nine years since her birth getting ready for this day, the day we’d have the conversation about this horrible word. I knew exactly what to say to the girl on the receiving end of the teasing, but in all of my imaginings, it never once occurred to me that my daughter would be the one who used the F word-Fat.
My daughter sat on her bed, and I sat beside her. “How would you feel if someone made fun of you for something that wasn’t your fault?” I began. “She could stop eating so much,” Lucy mumbled, mouthing the simple advice a thousand doctors have given overweight women for years.
“It’s not always that easy,” I said. “Everyone’s different in terms of how they treat food.” Lucy looked at me, waiting for me to go on. I opened my mouth, then closed it. Should I tell her that, in teasing a woman’s weight, she’s joined the long tradition of critics? Should I tell her I didn’t cry when someone posted my picture and commented , “I’m sorry, but aren’t authors who write books marketed to young women supposed to be pretty?”
Does she need to know, now, that life isn’t fair? I feel her eyes on me, waiting for an answer I don’t have. Words are my tools. Stories are my job. It’s possible she’ll remember what I say forever, and I have no idea what to say.
So I tell her the only thing I can come up with that is absolutely true. I say to my daughter, “I love you, and there is nothing you could ever do to make me not love you. But I’m disappointed in you right now. There are plenty of reasons for not liking someone. What she looks like isn’t one of them. ”
Lucy nods, tears on her cheeks. “I won’t say that again,” she tells me, and I pull her close, pressing my nose against her hair. As we sit there together, I pray for her to be smart and strong. I pray for her to find friends, work she loves, a partner who loves her. And still, always, I pray that she will never struggle as I’ve struggled, that weight will never be her cross to bear. She may not be able to use the word in our home, but I can use in my head. I pray that she will never get fat.The underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 indicates that Lucy ______.
A.often makes fun of her friend J. |
B.has turned against her friend J. |
C.gets along well with her friend J. |
D.has begun to compete with her friend J. |
Why does the author want to discuss with Lucy?
A.Because she wants to offer some other helpful advice. |
B.Because she has prepared the conversation for nine years. |
C.Because she is really shocked at Lucy’s rudeness. |
D.Because she decides to tell Lucy a similar story of her own. |
What does the author want to tell her daughter?
A.It is not easy to take the doctors’ advice to eat less. |
B.People shouldn’t complain because life is unfair. |
C.She herself was once laughed at for her appearance. |
D.People shouldn’t be blamed for their appearance. |
It can be inferred from the passage that_________.
A.the author earns a living by writing stories. |
B.the author is a fat but good-looking woman. |
C.the author will stop loving her daughter for what she said. |
D.the author’s daughter agreed with her from the very beginning. |
We can learn from the last paragraph that_________.
A.Lucy was deeply moved by her mother’s prayer. |
B.a mother’s prayer will shape her daughter’s attitude towards life |
C.the author allows her daughter to use the F word in her head |
D.the author hopes her daughter will never have weight trouble |
The author’s attitude towards her daughter can be best described as _________.
A.loving but strict |
B.indifferent but patient |
C.satisfied and friendly |
D.unsatisfied and angry |
It is a wonderful morning, as I write this: hot, but without being too hot. Outside my window, I can see the sunniest sky of the year reflected in a huge natural expand of water. It is the kind of sun that makes you well aware of summer's temporary nature a reminder that if I am ever to go around to book this year's holiday, time is running out.
It is now close to four years since I last took a holiday. This is because I have come to the conclusion, over the course of my adult life, that I am not very good at it. You might say this sounds like saying you are not very good at drinking tea or listening to music. What could possibly be difficult about the natural act of putting your working life on hold for a couple of weeks and going somewhere to do nothing?
So what is my problem? On the surface, I'm probably a bit of homebody. And I just find the pressure of being on holiday too severe: it always feels like having a gun held to my head and being forced to have fun. Somehow, packing a carefully itemized (详细列举的 )list of possessions and meeting a scheduled flight has none of the excitement of suddenly deciding to take a day off and driving somewhere for the fun of it.
Thankfully, I am not alone. This summer, most of my friends have decided not to have a break. And a recent survey highlighted the downside(负面)of holidays, with the results showing that nearly two thirds of people found that the calming effects of a holiday wore off within 24 hours, as stress levels returned to normal. And this year's the Idler magazine published its book, Awful Holidays. Here you will find a list of the five most
ecologically-damaging vacations it's possible to take, along with 50 horrible holidays experiences voted for on the idler website. Over the last decade, The Idler has become well known for promoting the idea of an easy, lazy life. The leisure(休闲)industry might seem an unlikely target of its criticism, but Dan Kienan, the book’s editor, says that he was flooded with entries from readers for his list of awful holidays.According to the first paragraph we can know that the writer.
A.has a strong desire to book a holiday |
B.wishes that the weather would change |
C.finds it is too late to enjoy the sunshine |
D.realizes it's time to decide whether to go on a holiday |
The reason why the writer dislikes going on holidays is that.
A.it usually costs too much money |
B.he is tired of making preparations too much for holidays |
C.it is far less enjoyable than breaks planned in advance |
D.he feels embarrassed when other people are having fun but he isn't |
We can learn from the survey that .
A.most people pretend to enjoy their holiday |
B.all people fail to relax while they are on holiday |
C.a lot of people feel that the benefits of going on holidays are limited |
D.many people have made the same decision as the writer and most of his friends |
The writer takes the book of Awful Holidays as an example to.
A.damage the reputation of the magazine |
B.prove the idea of living an easy, lazy life to be wrong |
C.indicate that his dislike of holidays is widely shared |
D.focus entirely on bad personal experiences of holidays |
Mo was waiting in the corridor outside her class. She was feeling sick. She had two exams that day and physics was first .She really hated physics. It was her worst subject. Terry Looked back at her from the front of the line, and then looked away quickly. Mo thought she looked guilty. She didn't have a problem with physics she didn't have a problem with anything ...Miss Perfect!
"Hi, Mo, it's your favorite exam today, "said Nima, laughing as she joined the line .Terry was looking at Mo again. “So what's wrong with her?” asked Nima."I thought you were friends." “Yes, so did I," said Mo." But she hasn't spoken to me for two weeks now. She promised to help me review for the physics exam too, but then she's ignored all my calls and texts .And when I rang her house, her mum just told me she was busy. She's forgotten who her friends are!" said Mo angrily. "Are you listening to me?" Mr. Reed was talking to the class and the other students were going into the exam room. Mo gave Nima a worried look and followed them.
Mo couldn't answer question number five. She looked up and saw Terry sitting two rows in front of her. Mo couldn't believe it! Terry was holding her phone on her knee under the table and reading from it. Is that how Terry always got such good grades? She felt really angry at Terry, but she didn't know what to do. She thought about telling the teacher, but what would everyone else think of her? "Stop writing and put your pens down" said Mr. Reed as he started to collect the exam papers. Oh no, Mo hadn't answered two of the questions. She was going to fail again!
Mo wanted to talk to Terry at lunch time, but she couldn't find her anywhere. The next exam was history. That was Mo's favourite subject but she wasn't feeling good. Mo went to the library to study, but she couldn't concentrate. She didn't know what to do about Terry. She thought about telling a teacher, but everyone would hate her if she did that. "It wasn't fair!” she thought. "Terry was getting good grades by cheating all that time.” thought Mo. Just then, Mr. Reed walked past her table. “Mr. Reed.”
Mo was sitting behind Terry again in the history exam that afternoon. Mo was feeling terrible. Why had she told Mr. Reed? But it was too late now. And anyway, Terry didn't want to be her friend! Mr. Reed wanted her to look at him and nod if she saw that Terry was cheating in the exam. She was working on the last question when she saw that Terry had her phone under the table. Without thinking, Mo looked up and nodded to Mr. Reed. Terry was too busy looking at her phone and she didn't hear him as he walked silently up to her table. Mr. Reed didn't say anything. He just picked up her exam paper, tore it in half and pointed to the door, to tell Terry to leave the room. Terry was crying as she walked to the door. Everyone was staring at her and Mo felt really guilty now. Why did she tell Mr. Reed?
Mo was walking towards the school gate, when she heard footsteps behind her. It was Terry. “Mo, please wait! I want to talk to you.” Mo could see that Terry had been crying, her face was pale and her eyes were red. Mo couldn't say a word. “Listen," said Terry. "I'm really sorry I haven't answered any of your calls, but we're having a terrible time at home. My dad had a heart attack two weeks ago and he's in hospital. He had a big heart operation today and I was very worried about him. I know it was stupid, but I was reading texts from my mum to see how the operation was going, but Mr. Reed caught me with my phone. He thought I was cheating. He believes me now, but I have to take the exam again. I'm sorry I didn't tell you what was happening. I haven't forgotten that you're a good friend'. Will you forgive me? ”At the beginning of the story Mo felt sick most probably because ______.
A.Terry was looking at her form the front of the line |
B.she was worried that she would fail the physics exam |
C.she had to take two different exams within one day |
D.she had been waiting in the line for too long a time |
Who does “Miss Perfect” in the first paragraph refer to?
A.Mo | B.Nima | C.Terry | D.Terry's mum |
It can be inferred from the above passage that___________
A.students didn't like those who were not faithful to their friends |
B.Mr. Reed was a strict teacher who never corrected his mistakes |
C.The physics exam was much more difficult than the history exam |
D.Mo was angry because Nima laughed at her relationship with Terry |
Terry didn't help Mo review for the physics exam because_______________
A.she didn't consider Mo as a true friend |
B.she herself was quite bad at physics |
C.she had to look after her sick father |
D.she was selfish and hated to waste time |
At the end of the story Mo probably felt_______________
A.confident and optimistic | B.glad and inspired |
C.sad and angry | D.regretful and guilt |
What lesson can we learn from this passage?
A.A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
B.Friendship should be based on trust. |
C.Old friends and old wines are the best. |
D.A life without a friend is a life without a sun. |
In the last couple of years, there has been a craze about time –traveling TV series in China. This year, it seems like the South Korean drama writers have fallen in a deep ,never-ending love with the time –travel trend.
Rooftop Prince
A prince from the Joseon era (18th century ) , Lee Gak is catapulted 300 years forward into the future in Seoul 2012 with his entourage(随从) when he tries to investigate the suspicious circumstances which surround the death of the woman he loves . In the present, he finds a young woman who looks exactly like his beloved crown princess.
Queen In-hyun’s Man
The drama ,set during the Josen era, features the hero Kim Boong-do as he tries to restore the exiled Queen In-hyun. It is in this time period he is given the time-traveling power that transports him to the future world where he makes friends with an actress playing the role of Queen In-hyun for a drama in her time .
Dr Jin
Jin Hyuk is a genius neurosurgeon.Through a mysterious power, Jin finds himself transported back in time 150 years. He begins treating people there, but the lack of equipment and medical knowledge of the period forces him to seek new ways to aid the sick .Through this challenging process, Jin eventually becomes a genuine doctor.
Operation proposal
Kang Baek-ho realizes that he is love with his best friend, HamYi-seul , on the day of her wedding to another man. He travels back in time to various events of their lives hoping to change the outcome of their relationship .Will Kang be able to change the course of their future?Which of the following words can replace “catapulted ” in Paragraph 2?
A.captured | B.transported |
C.traveled | D.deserted |
What do the three TV series have in common ?
A.They are all about love. |
B.They all describe what happened in ancient times. |
C.They are all based on true stories . |
D.They all feature time –travel. |
.If you are interested in prince –and –princess story ,which will you tune in to ?
A.Rooftop Prince | B.Queen In-hyun’s Man |
C.Dr Jin | D.Operation proposal |
The stars have come together for the 2014 QUT Classic fun run on Sunday, May 4! This year's fun run around central Brisbane not only promises a fantastic family day out--it also happens to be International Star Wars Day.
Hundreds of serious一and not so serious一participants will contest a choice of scenic l km , 5km or l0km routes around QUT (Queensland University of Technology), South Bank and the CBD on Sunday, May 4.
May 4 has become Star Wars Day for fans around the globe一the date being chosen as a play on "May the Force (fourth) be with you"
To celebrate, Yoda will make a special guest appearance at the QUT Classic at 7:20am to help kids warm up for the l km event while the Indie Chamber Orchestra does a live performance of the Star Wars theme. The special visit has been organized by Healthstream QUT, who operate the university's pools and gyms.
Classic organizer Cheryl Goodwin from QUT Student Engagement said the second annual event would also be combined with a buskers(街头艺人)festival, ensuring plenty of entertainment around Gardens Point and along the route.
"The Classic Buskers Festival is being organized by the QUT Music Society and will Feature some of Brisbane’s best buskers and bands as well as QUT talent.There's going to be a mix of music,dance,circus and comedy."she said.
The QUT Classic will also raise funds for QUT’s Learning Potential Fund,which provides scholarships for low income students.About 1200 people registered for last year’s event and organizers are hoping for a similar--if not bigger-turnout in 2014.
The race will begin and end at QUT Gardens Point,where breakfast will be available for purchase.Both the 5km and 1 0km events will begin at 8:00 am,with the l km event starting at 7:30 am.
QUT Classic registration costs$25 for the l km event,$30 for 5km and$35 for 10km.
People can register as individuals or in teams.One of the biggest teams is expected to be the Learning Potential Fund team,which is open to QUT staff ,students and the general public.
Participants who register before 30 April will receive a race pack.The first 1 000 participants will also receive a free 1imited edition QUT Classic T-shirt.
QUT Running is offering all registrants free training sessions in the six weeks leading up to this event.
For more information on the QUT Classic,contact Cheryl Goodwin on 07 3138 9447 orc.goodwin@qut.edu.au.
Media contact:Mechelle McMahon,QUT media,media@qut.edu.auThe purpose of the passage is to introduce______.
A.a fun run around central Brisbane |
B.an international Star Wars Day |
C.a buskers festival in QUT |
D.QUT’s learning Potential Fund |
According to the 3rd paragraph,May 4_____.
A.plays an important part in Star Wars Day |
B.can be understood in different ways when read |
C.used to be a festival for fans around the world |
D.means the same as“May the Force be with you” |
Which of the following will be free for all the participants?
A.Breakfast. | B.A race pack. | C.T-shirt. | D.Training session. |
If you want to know more about QUT Classic,you can contact .
A.Healthstream QUT | B.Cheryl Goodwin |
C.QUT Music Society | D.Mechelle |
The young man arrived on the Massachusetts beach early carrying a radio, a shovel(铁锹), and a strange set of tools: a brick layer’s trowel, a palette knife, spatulas, spoons, and a spray bottle.
He walked down near the water — the tide(潮水) was out — and switched on the radio to listen to soft rock. Then he shoveled wet sand into a pile nearly four feet high and as many feet across. Then he created a square shape.
After that, he set to work with palette knife, spatulas, and spoons. He shaped a splendid tower, topped walls, fashioned beautiful bay windows, and carved (雕刻)out a big front gate.
The man knew his sand. He smoothly finished some surfaces and carved artistic designs on others. As the shapes began to dry, he gently kept them slightly wet with water from the spray bottle, in case they might break in the wind.
All this took hours. People gathered. At last he stood back, obviously satisfied with a castle worthy of the Austrian countryside or Disneyland.
Then he gathered his tools and radio and moved them up to drier sand. He had known for a while what many in the crowd still ignored: the tide was coming in. Not only had he practiced his art with confidence and style, he also had done so against a powerful, irresistible(不可抵抗的) deadline.
As the crowd looked on, water came at the base of the castle. In minutes it was surrounded. Then the rising flood began to eat into the base, walls fell, the tower fell, and finally the gate fell. More minutes passed, and small waves erased bay windows — soon no more than a small part was left.
Many in the crowd looked terribly sad; some voiced fear and discouragement. But the man remained calm. He had, after all, had a wonderful day, making beauty out of nothing, and watching it return to nothing as time and tide moved on.In this passage, why did the young man start early in the day?
A.He needed the sun to help dry the sand. |
B.It gave plenty of time for the crowd to gather. |
C.He knew the tide was out on this particular morning. |
D.It was easier to begin his work with only a few people around. |
In this passage, what does the incoming tide signal?
A.It is time to begin working. |
B.It is the end of a day’s work. |
C.It is the busiest time of the day. |
D.It is time for lookers-on to leave. |
How did the lookers-on react when the tide began to come in?
A.They were disappointed to see the art ruined. |
B.They tried their best to save the sand castle. |
C.They were nervous about their own belongings. |
D.They helped the artist finish the castle. |
We can tell that the young man’s reward for his work is ___________.
A.payment for his work | B.personal satisfaction |
C.popularity as an artist | D.attention from the crowd |
An expensive car speeding down the main street of a small town was soon caught up with by a young motorcycle policeman. As he started to make out the ticket, the woman behind the wheel said proudly, “Before you go any further, young man, I think you should know that the mayor of this city is a good friend of mine.”The officer did not say a word, but kept writing. “I am also a friend of chief of police Barens,”continued the woman, getting more angry each moment, Still he kept on writing. “Young man,”she persisted, “I know Judge Lawson and State Senator (参议员) Patton.” Handing the ticket to the woman, the officer asked pleasantly , “Tell me, do you know Bill Bronson.”
“Why, no,”she answered.
“Well, that is the man you should have known,”he said, heading back to his motorcycle, “I am Bill Bronson.”The policeman stopped the car because_____
A.it was an expensive car |
B.the driver was a proud lady |
C.the driver was driving beyond the speed limit |
D.the driver was going to make trouble for the police |
The woman was getting more angry each moment because _____.
A.the policeman didn’t know her friends |
B.the policeman didn’t accept her kindness |
C.the policeman was going to punish her |
D.she didn’t know the policeman’s name |
The policeman was _______.
A.an honourable fellow | B.a stupid fellow |
C.an impolite man | D.a shy man |
The woman was _______.
A.kind-hearted |
B.a person who depended on someone else to finish her work |
C.trying to frighten the policeman on the strength of her friends’ powerful positions |
D.introducing her good friends’ names to the young officer |
The policeman _______.
A.had no sense of humor | B.had s sense of humor |
C.had no sense of duty | D.was senseless |
The composing career (作曲生涯) of Albert Roussel got off to a changeable start, and received one of its biggest successes from a lie.
Roussel became an orphan (孤儿) at the age of eight and went to live with his grandfather. He built on the music he had learned from his mother, entertaining himself by reading through the family music collection and playing operatic selections and popular songs on the piano. Three years later Roussel’s grandfather died, and his mother's sister took him in. Her husband arranged for young Albert to take piano lessons. Summer vacations at a Belgian seaside added a second love to his life — the sea. He studied to be a soldier in the navy, but still made time to study music.
In the French Navy, he and two friends found time to play the music of Beethoven and other composers. Roussel also began composing. At the Church of the Trinity in Cherbourg on Christmas Day 1892, he had his first public appearance as a composer. That success encouraged Roussel to write a wedding march, and one of his fellow naval officers offered to show it to a famous conductor, Edouard Colonne. When Roussel’s friend returned with the manuscript (手稿), he reported that Colonne had advised Roussel to give up his naval career and devote his life to music.
Not long afterward, at the age of 2S, Roussel did just that. He applied the qualities that he had developed in the navy to his composing and became a major force in twentieth century French music. As for Edouard Colonne’s inspiring advice that Roussel should devote his life to music, Roussel's naval friend later admitted that he had made it up and that he had never even shown Roussel’s manuscript to the conductor.What information can we get from the second paragraph?
A.Albert’s grandfather died when Albert was eight years old. |
B.Albert's aunt arranged for him to take piano lessons. |
C.Albert gave up studying music after he studied to be a soldier in the navy. |
D.Albert came to love the sea after summer vacations at the seaside. |
From the third paragraph we know that ______.
A.in the French Navy, Roussel and two friend began composing |
B.Roussel’s first public appearance at the church was successful |
C.Roussel's naval friend showed the wedding march to Edouard |
D.Edouard Colonne advised Roussel to devote his life to music |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.The composing career of Roussel started stably. |
B.Roussel learned basic music knowledge from his aunt. |
C.A white lie helped Roussel achieve success. |
D.Roussel was cheated and hurt by his naval friend. |
Who told a lie according to the text?
A.Roussel’s grandfather. | B.Albert’s naval friend. | C.Roussel's aunt. | D.Edouard Colonne. |
It is really a happy thing to look back on the days I spent with Jennie. We met in night school. After Jennie and I had completed the required courses, we started teaching in the same school. For a time we were just casual friends, but one day, when I was telling Jennie about my problem son, we discovered we were kindred (同类的) spirits. "He’s a difficult little character," I explained. Jennie looked thoughtful. "Maybe you’re only seeing him with your eyes." She was silent for a moment and then added softly, "It is only with the heart that one sees rightly." I stared at her. "You’re quoting (引用) that! It’s from The Little Prince, Saint-Exupery’s book for children, one of my favorites. You know it, too?" Jennie nodded. "I love it. I’ve read it so often. I’ve practically memorized it."
Now, when I think of Jennie, I recall that book because Jennie —more than anyone I know —possessed the gift of seeing with the heart.
From that moment of a treasured book shared, our friendship grew steadily. It wasn’t that I didn’t have an excellent relationship with my husband and son, but my mother had died shortly after my marriage, and I had neither sisters nor daughters. I realize, now, how I needed someone to share those little, seemingly unimportant things that add so much to life —things that must be shared to be fully appreciated.
And it was Jennie who helped me with my fourth-grade problem child. One day I was at my wit’s end. "What he needs is a good beating!" I exploded.
"He’s probably had plenty of those," Jennie said. "Maybe he just needs sincere praise for anything he does right, and a hug or two each day." I followed this suggestion, and eventually, because of Jennie, I discovered a lovable little boy.
Looking back, I have to admit that she taught me so much. The days I spent with her has become one of my happiest memories.What does the underlined part mean in the fourth paragraph?
A.I was unsure of how to treat my son. |
B.I decided to give up my job. |
C.I faced financial difficulties. |
D.I was very disappointed with myself. |
How did the author and Jennie’s friendship grow?
A.They both were interested in children’s education. |
B.They both liked a novel, The Little Prince. |
C.They often chatted together about their families. |
D.They both worked in the same school. |
We learn from the text that __________.
A.the author has the gift of seeing with the heart |
B.the author had no friends before meeting Jennie |
C.the author had lost her mother before her marriage |
D.the author seldom praised her son in the past |
How does the author feel about her family?
A.No one listened to her seemingly unimportant things. |
B.She didn’t get along well with her husband and son. |
C.She once seldom spoke to her mother. |
D.She felt quite lonely in her family. |
The text is mainly about _________.
A.how to educate children properly |
B.the fact that we should see nature differently |
C.the influence of friendship in life |
D.how friendship begins and develops |
When Steve Jobs was born on Febuary24,1955, in San Francisco , California, his unmarried mother decided to put him for adoption because she wanted a girl. So in the middle of the night, his mother called a lawyer named Paul Jobs and said, “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” But his mother told his future parents to promise that they would send Jobs to college. After Steve Jobs graduated from high school, he went to college but decided to drop out because it was so expensive that he had to sleep on the floor in his friends’ rooms.
At 20, he and a friend(Steve Wozniak) started a company in a garage on April 1, 1976. Jobs named their company ----Apple in memory of a happy summer he had spent as an orchard (果园) in Oregon.
After 10 years of hard time and failures, starting from two kids working in a garage, Apple computer eventually grew into a big company with over 4000 employees.
At 30, Jobs , however, was fired from the company he co-founded. But after he had to leave the company, Apple was under heavy pressure from rival (对手) Microsoft and in 1996 posted billions of dollars in losses. Apple needed Steve Jobs and he was appointed as Apple’ CEO in1997. Under his leadership, Apple returned to profitability and introduced new products such as the iPod, the iPhone and the iPod.
Steve Jobs once said, “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick, Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.Which of the following is right according to paragraph 1?
A.Jobs’ unmarried mother adopted him. |
B.Paul Jobs was a college teacher. |
C.Jobs’ finished his education. |
D.Jobs’ unmarried mother wanted a girl. |
Steve Jobs didn’t finish his college education because he ______.
A.wanted to start a company. |
B.had financial problems. |
C.took no interest in his major. |
D.hated to share rooms with his friends. |
It can be inferred that Apple____.
A.was founded in Oregon |
B.developed from a garage |
C.had a difficult beginning |
D.had a successful beginning |
What can we learn from what Steve Jobs said?
A.Interest is key to success. |
B.Hope helps us succeed. |
C.Attitude is everything. |
D.Courage goes with confidence. |
I was brought up in the British, stiff upper lip style. Strong feelings aren’t something you display in public. So, you can imagine that I was unprepared for the outpouring of public grief(悲伤) at a Chinese funeral.
My editorial team leader died recently after a short illness. He was 31. The news was so unexpected that it left us all shocked and upset. A female colleague burst into tears and cried piteously at her desk. Somehow we got through the day's work. The next day was the funeral.
Our big boss stepped forward to deliver a eulogy and was soon in tears. She carried on, in Chinese of course, but at the end said in English: "There will be no more deadlines for you in heaven." Next came a long-term colleague who also dissolved in tears but carried on with her speech despite being almost overcome by emotion. Then a close friend of the dead man paid tribute(哀悼), weeping openly as he spoke. Sorrow is spreading. Me and women were now sobbing uncontrollably. Finally, the man's mother, supported between two women, addressed her son in his coffin. At one point, the mother almost collapsed and had to be held up. We were invited to step forward to each lay a white rose on the casket. Our dead colleague looked as if he was taking a nap. At the end of the service I walked away from the funeral parlor stunned at the outpouring of emotion.
In the UK, families grieve privately and then try to hold it together and not break down at a funeral. Here in China it would seem that grieving is a public affair. It strikes me that it is more cathartic to cry your eyes out than try to keep it bottled up for fear of embarrassment, which is what many of us do in the West.
Afterwards, a Chinese colleague told me that the lamenting at the funeral had been restrained(克制) by Chinese standards. In some rural areas, she said, people used to be paid to mourn noisily. This struck me like something out of novel by Charles Dickens. But we have all seen on TV scenes of grief-stricken people in Gaza and the West Bank, in Afghanistan, Iraq and the relatives of victims of terrorist bombings around the world. Chinese grief is no different. I realized that it's the reserved British way of mourning that is out of step with the rest of the world.
It was our newspaper's production day. We were bussed back to the office to resume work. No more deadlines for our former colleague, but we had to pull together to put the newspaper to print. The boss invited the team to go out for dinner after work. We relaxed, smiled, joked. There was no mention of the funeral or our poor colleague. Enough sorrow had been shed already. We needed a break.The underlined words “stiff upper lip style” mean “”.
A.cold-blooded | B.warm-hearted |
C.self-controlled | D.light-hearted |
At the funeral, .
A.five individuals made speeches |
B.the boss’s speech was best thought of |
C.everyone was crying out loudly |
D.the writer was astonished by the scene |
According to the writer, people in the West.
A.are not willing to be sad for the dead |
B.prefer to control their sadness in public |
C.cry their eyes out at the public funeral |
D.have better way to express sadness |
It is implied that .
A.the English might cry noisily for the dead in Dickens’ time |
B.Chinese express their sadness quite unlike other peoples |
C.victims of terrorist bombings should be greatly honored |
D.English funeral culture is more civilized than the others |
This passage talks mainly about .
A.an editor’s death | B.bad funeral customs |
C.western ways of grief | D.cultural differences |
Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has a good heart, but always feared applying for a new job.
One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to be interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, “Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It’s the least I could do. Please, I insist.” Jimmy agreed.
Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applicants waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer’s office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, “Do you really need to be interviewed?” Jimmy’s heart sank. “With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?” he thought to himself.
Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy’s surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company.
“Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you’d be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!” Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job. Why did Jimmy apply for a new job?
A.He was out of work | B.He was bored with his job |
C.He wanted a higher position | D.He hoped to find a better boss |
What did Jimmy see on the way to the interview?
A.A friend’s car had a flat tyre | B.a wild man was pushing a car |
C.a terrible accident happened | D.an old man’s car broke down |
Why did the old man offer Jimmy a ride?
A.He was also to be interviewed | B.He needed a traveling companion |
C.He always helped people in need | D.He was thankful to Jimmy |
How did Jimmy feel on hearing the interviewer’s question?
A.He was sorry for the other applicants |
B.There was no hope for him to get the job |
C.He regretted helping the old man |
D.The interviewer was very rude |
What can we learn from Jimmy’s experience?
A.Where there is a will, there’s a way |
B.A friend in need is a friend indeed |
C.Good is rewarded with good. |
D.Two heads are better than one |
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