Compassion is a desire within us to help others. With effort, we can translate compassion into actions. An experience last weekend showed me this is true. I work part-time in a supermarket across from a building for the elderly. These old people are out main customers, and it’s not hard to lose patience over their slowness. But last Sunday, one aged gentleman appeared to teach me a valuable lesson. This untidy man walked up to my register（收款机）with a box of biscuits. He said he was out of cash (现金), had just moved into his room, and had nothing in his cupboards. He asked if we could let him have the food on trust. He promised to repay me the next day.
I couldn’t help staring at him. I wondered what kind of person he had been ten or twenty years before, and what he would be like if luck had gone his way. I had a hurt in my heart for this kind of human soul, all alone in the world. I told him that I was sorry, but store rules didn’t allow me to do so. I felt stupid and unkind saying this, but I valued my job.
Just then, another man, standing behind the first, spoke up. If anything, he looked more pitiable. “Change it to me,” was all he said.
What I had been feeling was pity. Pity is soft and safe and easy. Compassion, on the other hand, is caring in action. I thanked the second man but told him that was not allowed either. Then I reached into my pocket and paid for the biscuits myself. I reached into my pocket because these two men had reached into my heart and taught me compassion.
41. The aged gentleman who wanted to buy the biscuits_________.
A．promised to obey the store rules
B．forgot to take any money with him
C．hoped to have the food first and pay later
D．could not afford anything more expensive
42. Which of the following best describes the old gentleman?
A．kind and lucky B．poor and lonely
C．friendly and helpful D．hurt and disappointed
43. The writer acted upon the store rules because_________.
A．he wanted to keep his present job
B．he felt no pity for the old gentleman
C．he considered the old man dishonest
D．he expected someone else to pay for the old man
44. What does the writer learn from his experience?
A．Wealth is more important than anything else
B．Helping others is easier said than done
C．Experience is better gained through practice
D．Obeying the rules means more than compassion.
Televisions were among the most talked about items at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Some employed the most advanced technology ever.
Some of the TVs used a new technology called Organic Light Emitting Diodes, or OLED. They were thinner, lighter, offered better color and were brighter than traditional LEDs. Smart TVs this year were smarter. Many offered technology that let users have a more personalized experience. One such TV from the electronics company TCL uses sensors and voice recognition to determine who is watching. It then offers programming based on the specific user. Another TV from Panasonic offers a similar personalized user experience.
In addition to television technology, size also played a major part in CES 2013. Televisions varied in size from big to bigger, with at least two companies — Samsung and HiSense — exhibiting TVs measuring 110 inches.
The yearly Consumer Electronics Show is the biggest technology trade show in North America and one of the biggest in the world.
Gary Shapiro is president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, the group that organizes CES. He gave one of the keynote speeches on opening day.
“Now you know that CES is more than a trade show. It’s a gathering of the brightest minds and the top leaders from many industries and those seeking a glimpse into the future.”
That glimpse into the future included a look at digital health and fitness devices, which were also big at CES 2013. There were devices that track your activity and others that measure blood pressure, heart rate and weight. There was even a fork that tells you when you are eating too fast.
Cars, smart-phones, tablet computers and PCs also made news. And a 27-inch table computer drew quite a bit of attention.
CEA President Gary Shapiro says there was much to see but not nearly enough time to see it all. “You cannot see the show in the four days that you have. We have over 3200 different industries showing over 20,000 new products. It’s absolutely incredible.”At the 2013 CES, which item drew the most attention?
| A．Cars. | B．Smart-phones. | C．Computers. | D．Televisions. |
From the text, we can know that the TV from Panasonic _________.
| A．is bigger than the others | B．uses the technology of OLED |
| C．offers a personalized experience | D．can track your activity |
What can we know from Gary Shapiro?
| A．CES is only a big trade show. |
| B．CES offers a glimpse into the future. |
| C．CES lasts only four days in all. |
| D．He thinks little of the new products’ quality. |
At the CES, the biggest TV in size might be from ______.
| A．HiSense | B．Panasonic | C．TCL | D．CEA |
From the passage we can infer that__________.
| A．the CES is held every 4 years |
| B．at the 2013 CES, the TV section was crowded |
| C．if you watch TV every day, you needn’t see a doctor |
| D．tablet computers drew more attention at the 2013 CES |
He’s not just a pretty face! Famous actor Josh Duhamel leads a group of youngsters in a two-mile charity beach run. He may be an attractive movie star, but there’s more to Josh Duhamel than a pretty face. The 40-year-old actor led a youth charity fun run for the third year running on Sunday, in aid of the Red Cross giving a hand to countries and places suffering natural disasters.
Josh sported the charity’s T-shirt and black baseball cap with black jogging bottoms as he joined a group of youngsters in the two-mile effort on Santa Monica Beach. Josh was clearly enjoying himself today, sprinting across the finish line raising both arms in a victory salute.
In March last year and January of 2010, Josh led thousands of runners and raised over $200,000 for both Japanese and Haitian earthquake relief efforts. And donations collected at this year’s Youth Run will go towards the American Red Cross PrepareSoCal campaign which helps Southern Californians get ready for disasters.
“I do the youth run because I feel that younger people may not be able to donate a lot of money but that doesn’t mean that they can’t contribute and make a difference,” Josh told the Red Cross website. “Bringing students of L. A. together for these events not only raises a lot of money, but also raises the spirits of those affected by any disaster and helps everyone young and old.”
Duhamel had won the title of Male Model of the Year in an International Modeling and Talent Association competition in 1997. Duhamel began his acting career as an extra in the music videos for Donna Summer’s song, “I Will Go With You” in 1998. Later that year, he won the role of Leo Pres on the ABC soap opera “All My Children”. He then began appearing in films, and his acting in the film “Transformers” as well as its sequels was so successful that he became a pop film star.Josh Duhamel led the beach run to help the Red Cross ________.
| A．raise money for places suffering from disasters |
| B．raise money for people suffering from diseases |
| C．find more young volunteers especially teenagers |
| D．build up a fame of having the spirit of entertainment |
How did Josh Duhamel feel about his joining in the beach run?
| A．He felt it the best way to kill time especially on weekends. |
| B．He disliked it when there were reporters coming here. |
| C．He thought it a best chance to make himself famous. |
| D．He found it enjoyable and exciting to be a member. |
What will the received donations of this year be used for?
| A．Helping Japanese and Haitian defeat earthquakes. |
| B．Helping Southern Californians get ready for disasters. |
| C．Helping Northern Californians get ready for disasters. |
| D．Helping relieve Southern Californians defeat earthquakes. |
What is the aim of the youth run of L. A.?
A. To persuade more young people to keep the earth green.
B. To make the young realize the influence of famous people.
C. To inspire those affected by disasters and give them a hand.
D. To raise as much money as possible to help the old and young.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．The importance of the youth run started by the Red Cross. |
| B．The methods to join in the youth run led by Josh Duhamel. |
| C．The reason why Josh Duhamel leads the youth run. |
| D．The experiences and achievements of Josh Duhamel. |
Valentine’s Day, for many couples, means cards, flowers, and candlelight dinners. For most couples it also means withdrawing money at the ATM to express their love. Fortunately, there are ways to save money by saving energy — even during the date — so you can spend the money you save on the things that really matter to your sweetheart. Here are five easy tips for those couples out there who want to save energy and save money:
A fireplace is always a perfect background to set up holiday decorations because of the space it provides, in addition to the grand role it plays in the house as being an important part of each room. If you plan on spending your Valentine’s Day near the fireplace, be sure to prevent the heat loss and make sure of the chimney efficiency. If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
If you plan on having a nice, romantic dinner at home and want to set the mood with proper lighting, use energy efficient light bulbs that save you money, and look for bulbs that are lower in lumens. Lumens tell you the brightness of the bulb. The lower the lumens, the weaker the light.
For those who plan to cook that romantic dinner, there are some simple energy efficient ways you can prepare that meal. For example, did you know that if you’re baking in a china or glass dish, you can typically set your oven for 25 degrees less than the recipe calls for? Learn more about saving energy while cooking.
For those couples who would like to have a movie night, plug your TV and DVD into an electronic power strip to save money on your gas of the car. By plugging in electronic devices into a power strip and turning it off when not in use, you can save up to $100 per year.
If you plan on going on a romantic “escape” from your house by car, be sure to check out these tips to reduce fuel consumption and costs.How do most people spend their Valentine’s Day according to the passage?
| A．They make green trips by riding bikes or walking dogs. |
| B．They go to visit their parents or grandparents together. |
| C．They stay at home making delicious food for lovers. |
| D．They spend money creating romantic environment. |
What does the author advise you to do when you use a fireplace that night?
| A．Try to burn less wood by covering the chimney. |
| B．Try to use more wood to produce more heat. |
| C．Try to hold more heat by using it effectively. |
| D．Try to make the room wetter than usual. |
What does the author advise you to do if you choose to have dinner at home?
| A．Choose the bulbs without lumens. |
| B．Choose the bulbs with lower lumens. |
| C．Choose the small bulbs with higher lumens. |
| D．Choose the colorful bulbs as many as possible. |
How should you cook meals according to the author?
| A．Adjust electricity amount according to different dishes. |
| B．Set the oven for 25 degrees higher than required. |
| C．Try to cook all kinds of food with a china dish. |
| D．Try to bake some cakes in a glass dish. |
What is the greenest way for you to see a film on Valentine’s Day?
| A．Just watch a DVD at home. | B．Just see the film in the running car. |
| C．Go to the nearest theatre by bike. | D．“Escape” from your house by car. |
A pair of giant pandas from southwest China’s Sichuan Province arrived at their new home in Belgium’s Pairi Daiza zoo, some 60km southwest of downtown Brussels, at around 15:00 local time (1400GMT) on February 23, 2014.
About 2,500 people, many of them excited children waving national flags of China and Belgium as well as panda-decorated flags or wearing costume of Panda greeted the pandas along the road to the zoo.
Visitors today can only observe the pandas through a closed-circuit television system in the reception.
Officials said they wanted the pandas fully adapted to their new home before making public debut in April.
The pandas, Xing Hui, the male and Hao Hao, the female, are both 4 years old and are on lease from a breeding center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
The lease term is 15 years, according to officials with the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, the world’s largest research base for the species.
“It’s a good thing for Belgium.” Nicole Duflot, a grandmother coming to the zoo with her husband and her grandson told Xinhua, “We can’t see the Panda today but it’s a great thing for us to come here.”
The Pandas will be living in a panda hall of 5,300 square meters within the zoo.
“I hope Xing Hui and Hao Hao will enhance friendship between Belgium and China.” Liao Liqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, said during an interview with Xinhua.What was the main purpose of China leasing pandas to Belgium?
| A．We were supposed to make money from Belgium. |
| B．We meant to improve the relationship between China and Belgium. |
| C．We expected to amuse the Belgian children. |
| D．We wanted to make the pandas adapt to the environment abroad. |
The underlined word “debut” probably means ___________.
| A．first appearance | B．ceremony | C．announcement | D．argument |
According to the passage, which statement is right?
| A．Xing Hui and Hao Hao will live in the city centre of Brussels. |
| B．Xing Hui and Hao Hao were very popular with the elders in Belgium. |
| C．Xing Hui and Hao Hao will come back to China in 2029. |
| D．Xing Hui and Hao Hao were born in 2008 in Sichuan Province. |
On the first day of the pandas’ arrival, visitors could ___________.
| A．gently feel the pandas along the road to the zoo |
| B．get into the panda hall of 5,300 square meters |
| C．take pictures with the pandas freely |
| D．watch the pandas through the TV system in the zoo |
From the passage, we can predict that______________.
| A．Belgium’s Pairi Daiza Zoo will make much money soon |
| B．Xing Hui and Hao Hao will be very well treated in their new home |
| C．Belgium’s Pairi Daiza Zoo will serve the Chinese visitors with free admission |
| D．pandas will be best-sellers in Belgium |
Have you ever heard the saying “If you want a friend, be one”?
Here is how a new teacher made friends with the girls and boys in her class on the first day of school. As the bell rang, the teacher smiled at each girl and boy. Then she said in a quiet voice, “Good morning. How nice it is to have all of you in my class this year. I'd like to know each of you. I am sure we will enjoy working together.” Everyone felt that she meant what she said because of her sweet voice and her friendly look.
She told the girls and boys her name and wrote it on the blackboard. Then she told them some of the things she liked to do and she was hoping to do with them during the year.
Then she said to the class, “Now you know my name and the things I like and I want to know your names and the things you like. Then I will feel that I know you.”
Could you make friends by doing the same as this teacher did?
One way of getting to know girls and boys in your class is to find out more about them. It is often easy to be friends with those people who have the same hobbies with you. You play the same games and go on journeys together.
You may find that some new comers in your class miss their old friends and feel strange and lonely. You can invite them to take a walk or to ride bikes with you. You will find many things in common to talk about. Just talking together in a friendly manner is one good way to make friends.What does the underlined sentence “If you want a friend, be one” in Paragraph 1 mean?
| A．You may have a friend by doing everything for him. |
| B．You can make friends by doing what a friend should do. |
| C．If you want to have a friend, try to make one be your friend. |
| D．When you need a friend, you have to be a friend of yourself. |
The teacher’s sweet voice and her friendly look _______.
| A．made every girl and boy happy |
| B．told the girls and boys everything about herself |
| C．showed that she would like to be a friend of the girls and boys’ |
| D．meant she wanted to tell the boys and girls something interesting |
A new comer will be your friend if __________.
| A．he always thinks of his old friends |
| B．you ask him to do something |
| C．he knows you |
| D．you talk with him in a friendly way |
If you want to make friends with others, which of the following shouldn’t you do?
| A．Learn more about them. | B．Go on journeys together. |
| C．Find out your differences. | D．Try to be the same as them. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．How to Make Friends |
| B．Teachers Can Make Friends with Students |
| C．A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed |
| D．How to Be Friends with New Comers |
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