高中英语日常生活类阅读阅读理解

Some people will do just about anything to save money．And I am one of them．Take my family’s last vacation．It was my sixyearold son’s winter break from school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a week long trip．The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day．I had meetings in New York, so I had to get back．But that didn’t mean my husband and my son couldn’t stay．I took my ninemonthold and took off for home．
The next day, my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight．Yes, I encouraged — okay, ordered — them to wait it out at the airport, to “earn” more Delta Dollars．Our total take: $1,600．Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I’m a bad mother and not such a great wife either．But as a bigtime bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar．And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up．
I’ve made a living looking for the best deals and exposing（揭露）the worst tricks．I have been the consumer reporter of NBC’s Today show for over a decade．I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide．And I really do what I believe in．
I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money’s worth．I’m also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants．But I wouldn’t hesitate to spend on a good haircut．It keeps its shape longer, and it’s the first thing people notice．And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture．Quality lasts．
Why did Delta give the author’s family credits?

A．They took a later flight．

B．They had early bookings．

C．Their flight had been delayed．

D．Their flight had been cancelled．

What can we learn about the author?

A．She rarely misses a good deal．

B．She seldom makes a compromise．

C．She is very strict with her children．

D．She is interested in cheap products．

What does the author do?

A．She’s a teacher．

B．She’s a housewife．

C．She’s a media person．

D．She’s a businesswoman．

What does the author want to tell us?

A．How to expose bad tricks．

B．How to reserve airline seats．

C．How to spend money wisely．

D．How to make a business deal．

  It’s great fun to explore new places—it feels like an adventure，even when you know you’re not the first to have been there. But make sure not to get lost or waste time going round in circles.
● Do the map reading if you’re being driven somewhere. It’ll be easier if you keep turning the map so it follows the direction you’re traveling in. Keep looking ahead so that you can give the driver lots of warning before having to make a turn or you’ll have to move to the back seat.
● Get a group of friends together and go exploring. You'll need a good map, a compass , a raincoat, a cell phone to call for help in case you get lost, and a bit of spare cash for emergencies . Tell someone where you’re going before you set out and let them know what time you expect to be back. The test is in not getting lost, not in seeing how fast you can go, so always stick together, waiting for slower friends to catch up.
● See if your school or a club organizes orienteering activities, in which you need a map and a compass to find your way. This can be done as a sport, with teams trying to find the way from A to B (and B to C, etc.)in the fastest time, or simply as a spare-time activity. Either way, it’s not only good fun, but a great way to keep fit.
Sitting beside the driver, you should___________.

A．look ahead to see where there’s a turn

B．direct the driver when necessary

C．move to the back seat if feeling uncomfortable

D．keep looking at the map to find a place to go to

Why do you need to tell someone your exploration plan before setting out?

A．To be saved in case of an accident.

B．To get information when in danger.

C．To share the fun with him/her in exploration.

D．To tell him/her what’s going on with the group members.

Orienteering activities can______________.

A．make people work fast

B．help people organize other activities

C．help people stay healthy

D．make people get prepared for sports

The text mainly talks about____________.

A．the fun of exploration

B．what to bring for exploration

C．the way to use a map in exploration

D．how to prevent getting lost in exploration

If you want to know how crazy people can be about their pets, you might remember that Helmsley left $12 million to her little Maltese dog when she died last year.
The dog's name is Trouble. And apparently Trouble is still alive. Of course, I would hang on, too, if someone left me $12 million. Look! Top-shelf dog food, soft pillows everywhere, drivers walking me in nice leafy parks. I would live to be 110 in dog years.
The dog's story is still fresh in my mind the other night when I leave a steak house after a superb meal. Then I notice a woman carrying a small bag out of the door behind me.
Once outside, she walks over to where a man is holding a tiny dog and it's a baby. The dog looks like a Maltese, too, barking and annoying, with a cute haircut,
And now I am treated to an absolute astonishing sight. Because now the woman reaches into the bag and begins pulling out little pieces of meat, which she puts on a plastic spoon and feeds to the dog.
This is no cheap steak house. It's actually, way out of my league --I'm there only because it's a special occasion. I can tell you this: if I walked out of the place with any leftover steak, it sure wouldn't go to a dog. Not at those prices.
So now the woman is Spoon-feeding the dog and the man is just standing there, holding this dog and looking as if this is the most normal thing in the world. And the dog is calmly chewing these pieces of steak as if he's a little king. And this dog is in no hurry. He's having a great time.
A few minutes go by, and now the dog finishes all of his steak. At this point, I hear the woman say to the man "Think he's still hungry?" And she glances behind her at the restaurant, as if she might go back in there to get more steak for the dog.
Watching all this, I'm afraid I'm going to shout, "Are you out of your mind? Feeding all that pricey steak to that little dog? Did you see what our American life is like today? We're all going to be eating dog food if this keeps up!"
Why would the author live to be 110 in dog years?

A．Because he is always in poor health and falls ill.

B．Because a Maltese dog lives longer than a human being.

C．Because his grandparents left him a large sum of money.

D．Because he thinks the dog is treated extremely well.

What is the story mainly about?

A．An American family's happy life.

B．A Maltese dog getting $12 million from its owner.

C．A New Yorker spending $ 8 billion for a few banks.

D．A pet dog being fed with expensive food.

The underlined sentence "It's actually way out of my league. " (in Para. 6) means __

A．the restaurant is too expensive for the author

B．the author hates the dog being taken there

C．the superb restaurant is about to be out of service

D．the dog doesn't belong to the author's group

Seeing the dog is being treated to expensive steak, the author becomes extremely ____

A．indifferent	B．annoyed
C．concerned	D．envious

I took the bus to work for many years. No one knew each other; the passengers all sat there sleepily in the morning. The bus was cheerless and silent.
One of the passengers was a small gray-haired man who took the bus to the center for senior citizens every morning. No one ever paid very much attention to him.
One July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled. The driver nodded guardedly(戒备地). The rest of us were silent.
The next day, the old man boarded with a big smile and said in a loud voice: “A very good morning to you all!” Some of us looked up, amazed, and murmured “Good Morning” in reply.
The following weeks, our friend was dressed in a nice old suit and tie. His thin hair had been carefully combed. He said good morning to us every day and we gradually began to nod and talk to each other.
One morning he even had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand. The driver turned around smiling and asked: “Have you got yourself a girlfriend, Charlie?” We never got to know if his name really was “Charlie”, but he nodded shyly and said yes. The other passengers whistled and clapped at him. Charlie waved the flowers before he sat down on his seat.
Every morning after that Charlie always brought flowers. Some passengers also brought flowers for him. The bus became a happy place.
Then, one morning, as autumn was closing in, Charlie wasn’t waiting at his usual stop. When he wasn’t there the next day and the day after that, we started wondering if he was sick or—hopefully – on holiday somewhere.
When we came nearer to the center for senior citizens, one of the passengers asked the driver to wait. We all held our breaths when he went to the door.
The old gentle man was fine, but one of his close friends had died over the weekend. How silent we were the rest of the way to work.
The next Monday Charlie was waiting at the stop, stooping (弯腰) a bit more, a little bit more gray, and without a tie. Inside the bus was silent. Even though no one had talked about it, all of us sat there silently, our eyes filled with tears and a bunch of wild flowers in our hands.
From the passage, we can infer that             .

A．people always cared about each other on the bus

B．people were unhappy and sleepy on the bus because they were tired

C．smiles can shorten the distance between people

D．people are not good at communicating in the country

What are we sure about the old man?

A．His name was Charlie.

B．He worked at the center for senior citizens.

C．He got sick over the weekend.

D．He was in great sorrow when we saw him the next Monday.

Which of the following is not true?

A．The atmosphere on the bus was cheerful and lively at first.

B．People were surprised at the old man’s first greeting.

C．People were worried about the old man’s absence.

D．People on the bus at last shared happiness and sorrow together.

Which would be the best title for the passage？

A．How to Shorten the Distance between People

B．Smiles Make a Bus Feel Like Home

C．Charlie, A Smiling Gentle Man

D．The Key to Friendship — Communication

The way we get about has a deep influence on the way we live－affecting where we set up home, work and holiday. So what changes might come in the way we get around? What big ideas are out there, and do they have any chance of coming true?
Personal Air Travel
The idea: flying cars
Developments in light small plane technology will make it possible for everyone to own what are, in fact, flying cars. They will have closed cabins, heating, stereos and room for two people.
You will take off from a field near your home and fly to towns and cities. After landing, you will take off the fixed wing and continue your journey by road just as if you were traveling by car.
Fuel efficient engines and the advantage of being able to travel in the sky will keep costs and the environmental influence down.
Flying for Fun
The idea: Jet Packs
The idea was a hit when a stuntman (特技演员) flew around on one during the opening ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which was very successful.
You’ll be able to use the equipment－roughly the size of two scuba tanks fastened to your back－for short journeys.
They will be handy for cleaning hard-to-reach windows, arriving in style at a party and shopping.
Taxis
The idea: driverless taxis
These computer-controlled taxis will take you wherever you want along a fixed route, whenever you want to go.
For the price of one person’s bus fare, several people can ride at speeds of up to 25 mph, and there will be fences to guard against accidents.
There will be little, if any, wait for the use of the taxis, which will leave from stations and will be used by prepaid cards.
The taxis, which will travel on a 1.5 m-wide track, will use 75% less energy per passenger than a car and 50% less than a bus.
The passage is mainly about ________.

A．future travel	B．big ideas and dreams
C．advanced technology	D．the influence of travel

We learn from the passage that flying cars ________.

A．will operate only in the sky

B．will be more expensive than common cars

C．will have few bad effects on the environment

D．won’t be equipped with things similar to what cars have

With Jet Packs, we can do all the following EXCEPT ________.

A．attend a party	B．clean high windows
C．go shopping	D．have a long journey

As for driverless taxis, we can infer that ________.

A．we can go wherever we want in them

B．they will be both convenient and safe

C．it costs more to take them than to take ordinary cars

D．they will be operated by computers as well as by people

While Lee Kuan Yew is known throughout the world, few people outside the Chinese-language communities know the true meaning of Kuan Yew. In Chinese language, "kuan" means light, and "yew" means glory. So, Lee Kuan Yew means Lee the "light and glory".
Singapore's glory since its rebirth in 1965 has been a miracle, largely because of the light of Lee. By 1978, the transformation of Singapore into a modern city-state had become an inspiration for Deng Xiaoping, who having just emerged as the paramount leader of China was looking for a way to lead the country out of isolation and poverty. Drawing inspiration from Lee and the success story of Singapore, Deng visited the city-state in 1978 and met with Lee for the first time. Lee said that if Singaporeans can do it, China can also do it.
Soon after returning from Singapore, Deng launched a series of reforms in China. Over the subsequent decades, China has continued the reform and opening-up and it is now the second-largest economy in the world. Perhaps it could be said that part of the plan for China's great reform and transformation took shape in Singapore in 1978 during Deng's meetings with Lee. Ever since that fateful visit, China has learned from Singapore the finer points of governance, management and economic growth. No wonder, over the years China has sent many Party, government and corporate officials to receive training in Singapore.
In 1994, the Singapore Industrial Park in Suzhou, Jiangsu province (now renamed the Suzhou Industrial Park) was set up. Over the years, the industrial park has become a testing ground for many new reform programs in China, including those for social security, venture capital and private equity.
More recently, President Xi Jinping emphasized that China can still learn many things from Singapore.
Today, many people talk about the 21st century being the "Asian century" or the "Asia-Pacific century", while others have started talking of the "Asian dream". But Lee was one of the first Asians who truly stood out and demonstrated to the world that Asians can make a difference in terms of global growth and development. Lee's legacy is based on a solid and healthy dosage of pragmatism, realism, innovation, and commitment to making a better tomorrow.
After 50 years of constant innovation and ceaseless efforts, Singapore is the most developed country among the 10 ASEAN member states, one of the most developed countries in Asia and one of the most successful economies in the world. Rather than being caught up in the day-to-day travails, Lee always chose to stand on the top of the mountain and look beyond the horizon to see deep into the future, which made him a leader of wisdom, courage and vision.
According to the passage, we can know ___________.

A．Few people know the true meaning of “ Kuan Yew” in the world

B．The transformation of Singapore started in 1978

C．Deng xiaoping paid a visit to Singapore in 1978 because of the good relationship

D．Deng Xiaoping had never met with Lee Kuan Yew before 1978

The following statements are true EXCEPT_____.

A．the successful experience of Singapore has greatly influenced china’s reform and transformation

B．the Suzhou Industrial Park has tried many new reform programs in China

C．the Asians made few contributions to the global growth and development

D．constant innovation and ceaseless efforts make Singapore one of the most developed countries in Asia

what adjectives can be used to describe Lee Kuan Yew according to the passage?
①Distinguished
②wise
③easy-going
④brave
⑤creative
⑥visionary

A．①②④⑥	B．②③⑤⑥
C．①③⑤⑥	D．②③④⑤

which of the following is the best title of the passage ?

A．the contributions of Lee Kuan Yew made to china

B．the story of a great leader--- Lee Kuan Yew

C．the relationship between Lee Kuan Yew and Chinese leaders

D．Light and glory' of Asia example to world

I suddenly heard an elephant crying as though frightened. Looking down, I immediately recognized that something was wrong, and ran down to the edge of the near bank. There I saw Ma Shwe with her three-month-old calf struggling in the fast-rising water, and it was a life-and-death struggle. Her calf was floating and screaming with fear. Ma Shwe was as near to the far bank as she could get, holding her whole body against the rushing water, and keeping the calf pressed against her huge body. Every now and then the rushing water would sweep the calf away.
There was a sudden rise in the water and the calf was washed clean over the mother’s body and was gone. Ma Shwe turned quickly to reach it and pressed the calf with her head and trunk(象鼻) against the rocky bank. Then with a huge effort, she picked it up in her trunk and tried until she was able to place it on a narrow shelf of rock.
Just at this moment she fell back into the river. If she were carried down, it would be certain death. I knew, as well as she did, that there was one spot(地点) where she could get up the bank, but it was on the other side from where she had put her calf.
While I was wondering what I could do next, I heard the sound of a mother’s love. Ma Shwe had crossed the river and got up the bank and was making her way back as fast as she could, roaring (吼叫) all the time, but to her calf it was music.
The moment the author got down to the river bank he saw _____,

A．the calf was about to fall into the river

B．Ma Shwe was placing the calf on the rock

C．the calf was washed away by the rising water

D．Ma Shwe was holding the calf against the rushing water

How did Ma Shwe manage to save her calf from the fast-flowing water?

A．By putting it on a safe spot.

B．By pressing it against her body.

C．By taking it away with her.

D．By carrying it on her back.

How did the calf feel about the mother elephant’s roaring?

A．It was a great comfort.	B．It was a sign of danger.
C．It was a call for help.	D．It was a musical note.

What can be the best title for the text?

A．A Mother’s Love	B．A Brave Act
C．A Deadly River	D．A Matter of Life and Death

He was once referred to as the Picasso of poetry. Beloved by Chileans of all classes, he is one of the most widely read and respected poets in history. And this year is the 100th birthday of Pablo Neruda(1904—1973)．
Born with the name Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basolto, he was a tall, shy and lonely boy. He loved to read and started to write poetry when he was ten. The American poet Walt Whitman, whose framed picture Neruda later kept on his table became a major influence on his work.
However, his father did not like the idea of having a poet for a son and tried to discourage him from writing. To cover up (掩饰) the publication of his first poem, he took the pen name Pablo Neruda.
In 1924 Neruda gained fame with his most widely read work “Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair.” Yet his rich experience as a diplomat and exile(流犯) made him go beyond the theme of love. His work also reflected the political struggle of the left and development of South America. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.
Neruda loved the sea which he saw as creative, destructive and forever moving. He found inspiration in the power and freedom of the waves and the seabirds on the coast. “I need the sea because it teaches me,” he wrote. “I move in the university of the waves.” He loved how the sea forever renewed itself, a renewal echoed in his work.
The underlined word “Picasso” can probably be replaced by“________”．

A．most important person

B．famous person from Picasso

C．freedom fighter in Picasso

D．poem fans

Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basolto took the pen name Pablo Neruda because________.

A．literary greats usually used the pen name

B．his father encouraged him to use the name

C．he wanted to prevent his father knowing the publication

D．he was greatly influenced by other poets

Which of the following is not the theme of his works?

A．Love.	B．Political struggle.
C．Social reform.	D．Development of South America.

The last paragraph mainly tells us________.

A．the sea gave Neruda vast writing inspiration

B．the beautiful scenery along the Chile coast

C．Neruda's poems were widely read overseas

D．Neruda loved to write his poems near the sea

In addition to writing articles and books, Mark Twain delighted the audience with his public lectures about the faraway places he visited on his travels. People were eager to learn about his trips to places like the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii), Egypt and the Holy Land. Twain often used the fees he earned from his lectures to pay for more adventures. His well-attended performances also served to bring attention to his published work. At that time, the public lecture was a very popular form of entertainment, and audiences’ expectations ran high, but Twain never failed to amuse them.
Twan also wrote on amusing subjects. In 1873, he released a book called The Gilded Age. The book was a satire（讽刺）of the very wealthy of the time. A satire is a work that makes fun of bad human behavior, such as wasteful spending. Twain made people laugh at the excesses（无节制）of the rich.
In 1889, Twain took on other members of the Establishment. He wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, about a boy who travels back to the time of King Arthur. Twain made fun of those who were given advantages not because they had earned them but because of their family connections. If you have never read any of Mark Twain’s works, try reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They will make you laugh.
What do we learn about Mark Twain from the passage?

A．He liked showing off by talking about his travels abroad.

B．He thought the rich should show mercy to the poor.

C．His lectures were very popular.

D．He supported those who succeeded with the help of others.

Mark Twain was good at each of the following EXCEPT ________.

A．writing excellent works

B．giving wonderful lectures

C．writing or speaking in a humorous style

D．laughing at people without a lot of money

What’s the author’s attitude towards Mark Twain?

A．Interested.	B．Admiring.
C．Disappointed.	D．Indifferent.

I  learned a  long  time ago  that hair has meanings—plenty of meanings. Growing up  in  the 1960s, my friends and I struggled without parents’ control over the length and style of our hair.
At  the  time,  hair  represented  our  need  to  break  free  from  adults  in  our  lives.  Long  hair represented our freed inner selves.
My clients are often surprised when I asked them questions about their hairstyle—why they choose it, how else they’ve worn their hair, how they feel about it, and so on. However, while it may  seem  to  be  a  simple  topic,  even  today  our  hairstyles  still  have many  psychological  and emotional meanings. Understanding some of those meanings can lead to understanding of many different aspects of a person’s mind. How we view our hair,  for example, can show something about how we view ourselves.
Our  hair  can  show  physical  and  emotional wellbeing,  desirability,  and  even  social  and financial  status. When  it  becomes  dull  or  fragile,  it  can  communicate  emotional  and  physical diseases. But hair can also show unrecognized and often unspoken daydreams about oneself and one’s world. One woman—a successful professional—wore her long hair in a thick bun(发髻).
But  one  day  she  showed me  that  tangled(缠结的) hair was kept  in  the bun. She  said  that  she never brushed out the tangles because the hair showed her secret image of herself as a helpless, disturbed woman, like Ophelia in the play Hamlet.
Another woman came to therapy in a huge shirt and huge pants that she believed they could hide the weight she had put on since the birth of her child. She talked about how much she hated her  body  and  how  helpless  she  felt  about  doing  anything  about  it.  But  her  hair  was  always beautifully  coloured  and  decorated. When  I  pointed  out  that  she  seemed  to  have  a  different relationship with her hair  from she did with her body, she said  that her hair had been  thinning and  that she was  trying  to make  it  look as good as she  could.  I pointed out  that what she was doing  with  her  hair  and  her  body  was  kind  of  contradictory,  and  wondered  if  she  had  any thoughts about that.
She was surprised. But as we talked about her contradictory attitudes towards different parts of her physical self, we began to open up all sorts of other thoughts and ideas about her inner self.
And interestingly, as we continued opening those internal doors, changes started to happen. She started eating differently and exercising  regularly. One day some months  later, she appeared  in my  office  in  skinny  jeans  and  a  tight  sweater,  and  her  hair was  pulled  back  in  a  ponytail.  “I decided to see what would happen if I stopped trying to hide myself, ” she said with a big smile.
“And…?  ”  I  asked.  “People  keep  smiling  at  me  in  the  street. My  husband  hugged  me  this morning for the first time in ages. And I feel good! ”
Besides, selfrespect in both men and women can be damaged by thinning hair；they may feel  alone  even  though  they  are  really  not. Given  our  cultural  focus  on  physical  appearance, youth, and health, hair loss can be unpleasant for both men and women. The market is filled with hairenhancing  treatments, but  there  are  those who  have decided  to be  against  the  system  and change to the “bald is beautiful” position. But it is much harder for women to take the “bald is beautiful” approach to hair loss. We tend to try to hide it in one way or another.
But no matter what approach you use, it is important to remember that the thickness of your hair  has  nothing  to  do with  your  value  in  the world. Remember  that  you  have  nothing  to  be ashamed of if you have thinning hair. Thinning hair may not be something you can change, but it doesn’t have to control how you represent the person who lives underneath it.
In the 1960s, long hair represented___________.

A．fashion

B．honesty

C．peace

D．freedom

Why does the author ask clients questions about their hairstyle?

A．Because this topic can reduce clients’ pain.

B．Because the hairstyle can reflect one’s inner self.

C．Because it’s a simple topic to start a conversation.

D．Because this is a topic most people are interested in.

The author mentioned stories of two women in order to___________.

A．prove her idea

B．introduce the topic

C．make comparisons

D．stress the importance of good hair

What can we know about the woman wearing her long hair in a thick bun?

A．She had long but thinning hair.

B．She was helpless and disturbed.

C．She was too busy to brush her hair.

D．She loved the play Hamlet very much.

What does the author advise us to do in the last two paragraphs?

A．Not to be affected by thinning hair.

B．To take the “bald is beautiful” position.

C．To find suitable treatments for thinning hair.

D．Not to pay too much attention to our physical appearance.

There’s a small town in the central part of England called Gotham. Some say it’s a town of fools. Others say all the villagers are wise. Let me tell you about the people of Gotham so you can decide for yourself.
Long ago, England was ruled by a cruel king named John. One day, the people of Gotham heard that King John and his men would soon be riding through their town.This worried the villagers, for they knew the greedy king would demand food and accommodation for his men. What’s more, if he saw anything to his liking, he would surely take it.
A town meeting was called. After much discussion, the townspeople decided to cut down a number of huge trees to block the roads leading into Gotham. When King John and his men reached the outskirts of the village, they could not pass. Angry, King John ordered his men to go into the town and punish the villagers.
When the king’s officers finally made their way over the trees, they found a village of fools. Some say that was because the people of Gotham had a plan—they had decided to act like fools since they had never heard of anyone being punished for being a noodlehead. Others say that’s just the way they were.
In the village, the king’s men encountered a man riding a donkey. The man was bent over because he carried a huge bag of grain on his own shoulders. He looked exhausted. One of the king’s men approached him and asked, “Why, in heaven’s name, are you carrying that bag? Why don’t you just put it behind you on your donkey’s back?”
“You see,” replied the man from Gotham, “my donkey is feeling poor today. It’s bad enough that she has to carry me, so I decided to lighten her burden by carrying the bag myself.”
The king’s men said, “But sir, don’t you see that if you’re riding on top of the donkey, she’s
still carrying the weight of the bag?” The man didn’t reply. He just looked at the king’s men as if  they were crazy and went on his way. The king’s officers giggled at the foolishness of the man. Before long, they passed a pond where they found a number of villagers in the midst of a great  argument. Two of them were holding a big eel. “Quiet down,” commanded one of the king’s men. “What’s the problem here?”
One of the villagers stepped forward and said, “Last year we took all the extra fish we [caught and put them in this pond so they would multiply. But this year when we came back, all we  caught was this one huge eel. Obviously it has eaten all of our fish! Since then, we have argued long and hard over how to punish this bad eel. But we have finally agreed on the perfect punishment. We are just about to drown the eel in this very pond!” The king’s officers couldn’t believe their ears. Drown an eel whose home is in the water? These men were sillier than the first man they met!
Before long, they reached the center of the village, where they were in for another surprise. There they found the rest of the townspeople building a towering stone wall. When the soldiers inquired what was going on, one of the villagers replied, “Every spring a cuckoo comes to live in our village. It always brings warm weather. When it leaves, the cold weather returns. Last year we decided that if we could get the cuckoo to stay here all year, we would always have warm weather. We built this stone wall, but it obviously wasn’t high enough because the bird flew away. This year we’re determined to build it so high that the cuckoo can’t escape.”
The king’s officers had heard enough. They couldn’t bring themselves to punish such stupid people. They returned to King John and told him all about the fools of Gotham. Whether it’s fair or not, the people of Gotham have been known as fools ever since.
What do you think? Were the villagers of Gotham wise or foolish?
This story is most like___________.

A．a news article	B．a folktale
C．realistic fiction	D．historical fiction

The story is set in___________.

A．A city	B．A forest
C．A royal palace	D．A small village

Why do the townspeople cut down the trees?

A．To make room for their crops.

B．To block the roads to the village.

C．To create a gift for the king’s men.

D．To build accommodation for the king’s men.

The townspeople are worried about the king’s visit because he will___________.

A．laugh at them

B．cut down their trees

C．take anything he wants

D．want to move to their town

Based on the story, why might the townspeople be considered wise?

A．They trick the king’s men into thinking they are fools.

B．They think ahead by putting their extra fish into a pond.

C．They make sure their donkeys are healthy enough to work.

D．They realize the importance of warm weather to their crops.

You still don't know what to do this summer? Well, here's your chance to win a one-week language course in Kent, England! Free4Fun and ETC (English Travel Connections)are giving away two trips to Rochester. This historic city is less than an hour's drive from London and close to the sea resort of Heine Bay. It is also the home of one of England's most famous writers, Charles Dickens. The town of Rochester is in Southeast England. Charles Dickens often wrote about it in his books. His home, Gad's Hill, is there, too. A popular attraction is Rochester Castle, a large Norman fortress (堡垒). It was built in the 11th century and rebuilt during the 14th century. Other attractions are Rochester Cathedral, which was built during the 13th century, and Dickens Centre. It has got its name in honour of Dickens himself.
The trip to England includes:
* travel by train( via the Eurotunnel)to and from any railway station in Germany
* room and full board with a guest family for one week
* language course in small groups
* two trips to London
* large choice of sports and entertainment
* German-speaking advisors available 24 hours a day
Interested? All you have to do is to answer the following question: When was Charles Dickens born?
So, take the chance and send your answer by May 1 to:
Free4Fun "Rochester"
Free4Fun,24 Elphinstone Road, Hastings ,2FQ6VJ
fax :[phone]
e-mail :free4fun@ netlight, com
The two winners will be contacted directly before May 5. They will also be announced in the June issue of Free4Fun.
Good luck!
For further information contact.
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
e-mail :info@ etc. com
Rochester Cathedral was built in the .

A．1400s

B．1300s

C．1200s

D．1100s

What activities can you participate in during the trip?

A．Enjoying sports and entertainment.

B．Learning the German language.

C．Traveling by train with a guest' family.

D．Working as a language advisor.

If you want to win a prize you have to send your answer to .

A．the June issue of Free4fun	B．ETC
C．info@ etc. com	D．free4fun@ netlight, com

This advertisement was designed to target      .

A．Italians	B．Germans
C．Europeans	D．Americans

Dear Santa Claus,
My name is Amy. I am 17 years old. I have a problem at school. Can you help me, Santa? Kids laugh at me because of the way I walk and run and talk. I have cerebral palsy. I just want one day when no one laughs at me or makes fun of me.
Love, Amy
At radio station WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana, letters poured in for the Christmas Wish Content. When Amy’s letter arrived at the radio station, Manager Lee Tobin read it carefully. He thought it wound be good for the people in Fort Wayne to hear about this special girl and her unusual wish. Mr. Tobin called up the local newspaper.
The next day, a picture of Amy and her letter to Santa made the front page of the “News Sentinel”. The story spread quickly. All across the country, newspapers and radio and television stations reported the story of the girl in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who asked for such a simple, yet remarkable Christmas gift—just one day without teasing.
Suddenly the postman was a regular at the Hagadorn house. Envelopes of all sizes addressed to Amy arrived daily from children and adults all across the nation. They came filled with holiday greetings and words of encouragement. Some of the writers had disabilities; some had been teased as children. Each writer had a special message for Amy. Through the cards and letters from strangers, Amy saw a world full of people who truly cared about each other.
Many people thanked Amy for being brave enough to speak up. Others encouraged her to ignore teasing and to hold her head high.
Amy did get her wish of a special day without teasing at South Wayne High School. Teachers and students talked together about how bad teasing can make others feel.
That year, the Fort Wayne mayor officially declared December 21^st as Amy Jo Hagadorn Day throughout the city. The mayor explained that by daring to make such a simple wish, Amy taught a universal lesson. “Everyone,” he said, “wants to and should be treated with respect, dignity and warmth.”
Amy’s letter showed that______.

A．she wanted to win Christmas Wish Contest

B．she is more independent than before

C．she is often ignored in and out of class

D．her schoolmates can’t understand her disability

The postman was a regular at the Hagadorn house because ____.

A．he went to encourage Amy frequently

B．he was quite curious about Amy

C．he had to send letters to Amy daily

D．he was moved by Amy’s story

We may infer from Amy’s story that_____.

A．the disabled hate those who laugh at them

B．the news media played a key role in helping Amy

C．Amy will still be made fun of by her classmates

D．there are few disabled people in Amy’s country

The mayor officially declared Amy Jo Hagadorn Day _______.

A．to tell how bad teasing can make others feel

B．to encourage people to hold their heads high

C．to explain how brave Amy was by making her wish

D．to call on the public to treat everyone properly

“Mommy, I’m a funny bird,” Jack, my almost-4-year-old tells me. He moves his little fingers like wings.
“You are?” I say. I’m sitting across from him while he eats breakfast at our table. I smile; he says the greatest things. A week ago, however, when he had chocolate on his face and I licked (舔) my finger to wipe it off, he said, “Don’t put your dirty water on me.”
A week ago, I wouldn’t have been sitting here with him during breakfast. I wouldn’t have been up, emptying the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen, or answering emails. We always had dinner together at the table, but other meals got much less attention. I work from home, and my husband owns an advertising agency and often travels. We were so busy that we had to do the chores during breakfast or lunch.
Why was I not sitting down with my son? It could take Jack an hour to eat a meal, during which I could feel the tug (猛拉) of unanswered emails, a deadline, and the unswept floor each minute.
Then we went to visit friends for a weekend. They have two kids. They are busy, professional, and good parents. And at every meal -- not just dinner -- we all sat down at the table and ate. When we got home, my husband said, “Maybe we should be doing that.”
I took this as criticism. My husband works a lot, so mealtimes are mostly under my charge. The “we” he was talking about was me.
Then, I remembered myself that I’m a big girl, and took his comment the way it was meant. We both want what’s best for Jack. Yes, I thought. I’m home. I have to eat, too. My husband is Jack’s favorite, which delights and moves me, but I am Jack’s constant. Constants are there. Constants sit down.
So I’ve been sitting. And, surprise, I haven’t missed a deadline. The house has been clean. And Jack seems to like having me there. Two days ago, over lunch, he smiled and stared at me.
“What?” I asked, amused.
“Mommy, I love you so much and I can’t stop loving you.”
I could have missed that.
God, I could have missed that.
Before visiting the friends, Jack _________.

A．didn’t like chocolate

B．couldn’t eat by himself

C．was sometimes rude to his mom

D．preferred his mother to his father

After visiting the friends, the author _________.

A．was determined to learn to cook

B．asked her husband to have every meal with her

C．decided to have dinner together with her family

D．was advised by her husband to learn from the friends

What does the underlined word “that” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．The best time to visit friends.

B．Jack saying sweet words to his mom.

C．A deadline for answering emails.

D．Jack having lunch with his mom.

The modern world is full of useful objects that were invented by someone, from spoons and  chopsticks in our kitchens to the Ipads in our handbags. Each invention is an example of the creative power of the human mind. Where do inventors get their inspirations(灵感)? The inspiration behind  each of these inventions varies.
Take the shopping cart as an example. Sylvan Goldman was a grocery store owner. Like most businessmen, he wished that his customers would buy more so that he could make more money. He knew what if they could carry more goods easily as they were shopping, when his sales would go up. While thinking about the problem one night, he had an idea. Working with a local handyman named  Fred Young, he designed the first shopping cart. Today, retailers who use shopping carts sell more goods and make more profits.
Nature has also inspired inventors throughout history. This is what happened to George de  Mestral one day. While hunting with his dog in the Swiss Alps, he noticed how the burs(剌球) of  certain plants stuck to his clothing and to his dog' s fur. After examining them under a microscope,
he found they had tiny hooks that could easily stick to the fibers of clothing or animal hide. For the next ten years, George de Mestral searched for the hest way to produce his idea. The result of his original inspiration was Velcro, which is used in many modem objects, including sportswear, shoes, automobiles, and even space suits.
These examples show us that there are at least two possible inspirations for human creativity in  the world of inventions — profit and nature. No doubt, the future will continue to breathe new life into the economies of the world with fresh ideas and inventions. How many of their creations will be inspired by natural phenomena? The world's problems require creativity and we can expect best solutions from future generations.
Why did sales go up in Sylvan Goldman's grocery store after he began providing shopping carts?

A．Because grocery stores without shopping carts made less money.

B．Because he lowered the prices of his goods.

C．Because customers liked the shopping cart’s creative design.

D．Because customers were able to carry more items when shopping.

According to the article, which invention shows how nature inspires us?

A．The bur.

B．The shopping cart.

C．Velcro.

D．Spoon.

Which of the following statements would the author most likely disagree with?

A．The future does not promise many useful inventions.

B．There are many interesting inventions in the world today.

C．Companies often invent things out of profit.

D．Nature inspires creativity.