I spotted (发现;认出) him at the checkout counter, bagging at No.14. His arms shook violently as he placed a carton (纸板箱;纸盒) of eggs into a plastic bag. He wore a yellow plastic name tag on which he had written “Jerry” in kindergarten penmanship (书法). He looked middle-aged but his mental age must have been about 12.
Ever since I smiled at him the first time he bagged my groceries at my local supermarket, Jerry has followed me around like an adoring fan. His lack of boundaries makes me uncomfortable. I don’t know how to avoid being noticed by him. I don’t want to speak to the manager — my complaint could get him fired. So I start avoiding him.
There are other grocery stores, but I choose this one because it employs people with disabilities, from which my brothers have also suffered.
Last Wednesday after I finished choosing what I wanted, I turned around and drove my cart to Checkout No.3, hoping Jerry would not notice me and stay at No.14.
“Paper or plastic, ma’am?” Jerry’s soft voice surprised me from behind. “Paper, please.” I noticed that the checkout stand created plenty of space between Jerry and the clerk. In this situation, he knew where to stand. The clerk said to me: “＄27.30, please.” I handed my own cart, signed my receipt and stepped around the counter, where Jerry was holding my last packet of biscuits. He came towards me, stopping an inch from me. He was too close. I wanted to dash out of the store and leave behind the packet. Instead, I stood with my hand frozen on the cart. His eyes looked lonely — I knew they would follow me after I left the store. I wanted to apologize for my coldness. “I’m …I’m sorry.” A tiny voice inside me said. I tapped my head with my hand as if I had forgotten something. “Forgive me. I’m from New York City. I’m not used to people being so helpful.”
He laughed. I laughed. His eyes brightened. “It’s my job, ma’am. I like it.” he said. When he offered to push my cart, I didn’t care but nodded deeply.
44. The author feels uncomfortable because _______________ .
A. Jerry is like an adoring fan to her
B. Jerry is mentally younger
C. Jerry’s handwriting is terrible
D. Jerry is too close to her without proper distance
45. At the checkout stand, _______________ .
A. Jerry offered to pay my biscuits
B. Jerry was left behind with a packet of biscuits.
C. Jerry knew the social importance of distance.
D. Jerry was not close to me.
46. From the passage we can infer that _______________ .
A. Jerry liked his job
B. the author was afraid of Jerry
C. the author’s brothers were disabled
D. Jerry saw the author as his close friend
47. What would be the best title for this passage?
A. Too Close for Comfortable
B. Don’t Look Down upon the Disabled
C. How to Keep a Good Relation
D. Don’t Smile at Strangers
There are many types of reports.A report is simply an account of something that has happened.The commonest are news reports.We get them in newspapers，over radio and on television.Sometimes cinemas also show us newsreels.
The main purpose of a newspaper is to provide news.If you examine a newspaper closely，you will find that there are all types of news:accidents，floods，fires，wars，fashions(服装)，sports，books，etc.The news covers everything that happens to people and their surroundings.Sometimes there are news items which are very amusing.
A news report is usually very short，except when it is about something very important，but it contains(包含) a lot of information.It is also written in short paragraphs.The first paragraph is in fact a summary(总结) of the news item.It gives all the necessary information，what，when，where，how and why.The other paragraphs give full details of the subject.There may also be interviews with people.The words actually spoken by them are within inverted commas(引号).
Often there are photographs to go with the news to make it more interesting.The easiest way to get today’s news is_________.
| A．to go to the cinema | B．to watch a color TV |
| C．to read today’s newspapers | D．to listen to the music over radio |
Newspapers sell well mainly because_________.
| A．they cost very little |
| B．they are easy to get |
| C．they have got pictures to go with the news |
| D．they provide all sorts of news in them |
This passage mainly talks about _________.
| A．different types of reports |
| B．news reports |
| C．happenings to people and their surroundings |
| D．the length of a news reports |
Manhattan Island is surrounded on the east by the East and Harlem Rivers and on the west by the North and Hudson Rivers.It links with the other four towns which make up New York City and with New Jersey are by means of subways,underground tunnels and bridges which lead into Manhanttan from the surrounding area.
The Brooklyn Bridge was the first suspension bridge to link Brooklyn to Manhanttan.It is also the second oldest bridge in New York.The architect was John Augustus Roebling,who was the chief engineer of the suspended Railroad Bridge at Niagara Falls.
Misfortune accompanied the building of the bridge,which took place from 1869 to 1883.The architect died as a result of an accident early during the construction.His son,Washington Roebling,carried on his father’s work,using the most advanced engineering techniques of the day.He also fell ill during the construction of the bridge and was obliged to direct the work on it from an apartment window overlooking the site.
Since its construction the Brooklyn Bridge has remained a busy and important passage in New York.
The Brooklyn Bridge is 6775 feet long and 1595 feet wide.The suspended part is 3450 feet long and 85 feet wide.It has a clearance of 133 feet above water level.Four huge cables extend across the bridge,supported by two towers,each 272 feet high.Each of these cables is made up of 5700 wires.If you want to go to Princeton University in New Jersey from Manhattan,you_________.
| A．must drive across a bridge | B．must take a Metro train |
| C．have to go through a tunnel | D．can use any of the above means |
The Brooklyn Bridge is _________.
| A．the first suspended railway bridge in the USA |
| B．the first oldest bridge in New York |
| C．the first suspension bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn |
| D．the first suspension bridge built in the USA |
In the course of the construction of the bridge_________.
| A．the chief engineer was in short of money |
| B．misfortune fell on the chief engineer |
| C．John Augustus Roebling fell ill |
| D．Washington Roebling met with an accident |
Washington Roebling was forced to_________.
| A．direct the building work on the bridge |
| B．lead the builders of the bridge in a hospital |
| C．give his directions to the workers from a flat nearby |
| D．direct the construction of the bridge by radio |
I was six when I joined my father and two brothers at sunrise in the hayfields of Eufaula,Oklahoma.By the time I was eight I was helping Dad fix up low-income rent properties.He gave me a penny for every nail I pulled out of old boards.
I got my first real job,at JM’s restaurant in town,when I was 12.My main responsibilities were cleaning tables and washing dishes,but sometimes I helped cook.
Every day after school I would head to JM’s and work until ten.On Saturdays I worked from two until eleven.At that age it was unlucky going to work and watching my friends run off to swim or play.I didn’t necessarily like work,but I love what working allowed me to have.Because of my job I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local bar Tastee Freez.This made me proud.
Word that I was honest and hard-working got around town.A local clothing store offered credit to me although I was only in the seventh grade.I immediately charged a $68 sports coat and a $22 pair of trousers.I was making only 65 cents an hour,and I was already $90 in debt!So I learned early the danger of easy credit.I paid it off as soon as I could.
My first job taught me discipline,responsibility and brought me a level of personal satisfaction few of my friends had experienced.As by father,who worked three jobs,once told me,“If you understand sacrifice and commitment,there are not many things in life you can’t have.”How right he was!When the author was a child,he was made to help his father work because_________.
| A．the retaurant was short for hands |
| B．his family belonged to the low-income group |
| C．he wanted to earn some money |
| D．he was stronger than his two brothers |
At the age of 12,the author got a job at a restaurant and often worked till late at night because_________.
| A．he liked that work |
| B．he didn’t like playing |
| C．he was hard-working |
| D．he felt rewarded by doing that work |
When the author was in the seventh grade,he was in debt because_________.
| A．he did not work any more |
| B．he bought clothes on credit |
| C．he was charged too much for the sports coat |
| D．he made little money at that time |
What does the author want to tell the reader by this text?
| A．If you know sacrifice and responsibility,you can have many things in life. |
| B．Children from poor families usually have a very unhappy childhood. |
| C．Children could be made to work and earn some money by themselves. |
| D．You will learn discipline and responsibity by working early in life. |
Since long ago,greeting cards have been considered a time-saver.More than 150 years ago,a busy Englishman,Sir Henry,asked a friend to design a card so that he didn't have to labour to write holiday letters to his friends at the end of the year.Those paper cards are now the tradition.
But time,like sunlight,is still in short supply for December.That's why the Internet is ready to make a change in holiday greeting customs.Already,those,who are always busy,like sending video greetings by e-mail.So,don't be surprised to find a lively card in your electronic mail box at the end of the year or at any time you should have one.
A recent survey by the Shared Greetings Company found 50 percent of all the Internet users will send online cards especially during the holiday seasons.“That is a lot easier,and it is lively,”said Carol,a New Yorker,who had stopped at the Shared Greetings Company demonstration() online.With her children's help,she sent her first e-card before Thanksgiving Day.“It was the first time I had done something like this;it's quite enjoyable,”she said.
“I will send online Christmas cards to my friends,”said Marcos,a 22-year-old student.“It costs so little and you can even send numbers of greetings at a time.”But he added “the e-card also has its limits,and I don't think it is ready to replace the paper card for the more formal or traditional occasions.For some people,I would rather buy paper cards and mail them traditionally.I believe it is more personal and respectful in that way,”he said.
Well,for those who are very busy but still prefer to do a lot of greetings to different receivers in the holiday season,the Internet may have another way.“Now you can use the Net to decide and send as many as 50 beautiful cards,which allows the buyer to choose the inside saying,as well as the ink colour and typeface,only costing about 30 minutes,”said Julie,vice-president of marketing for an electronic card company-Hallmark Company.“And if you are in less of a hurry,you can spend another 30 minutes sitting in your home or office to create a photo card,showing off your kids,your pets or even your new house-anything as your favorite design for your relatives and friends.”How can we understand “But time,like sunlight,is still in short supply for December”in Paragraph 2?
| A．December cannot supply enough time for people because the sunlight in this month is short. |
| B．People are always busy at the end of the year,so time is precious like the sunlight in winter. |
| C．Time is short at the end of the year,like the sunlight in December. |
| D．Time passes quickly like the sunlight in winter as December comes. |
According to the 22-year-old student,he would probably mail e-cards to everyone except_________.
| A．the members of his family |
| B．his girlfriend |
| C．the teachers who have taught him |
| D．his schoolmates |
If you are quite busy,but having many greetings to send,which of the following is your best choice?
| A．Ordering a lot of cards you like online and sending them from the post office. |
| B．Getting as many cards from your electronic mail box and mailing them on the Net. |
| C．Sitting and writing lots of beautiful cards at home and sending them just in a traditional way. |
| D．Choosing personalized cards in numbers and mailing them directly on the Net. |
There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight.Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal changes that increase feelings of hunger.
In one study,researchers in the United States examined information on more than 1000 people.The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders.
Some people slept less than five hours a night.They had 15 percent higher blood levels of a hormone called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours.And they had 15 percent less of the hormone leptin.Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry;leptin makes you feel full.
The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity in Western societies.They note the combination that limitation is common and is widely available.
The results were not affected by how much people exercised.People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy.But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods,so people gain weight.It seems that,for survival,the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.
Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study.They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is 7.7 hours a night.
The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine.Internet users can read the full study,free of charge,at plos.org.Which of the following shows the right way in which lack of sleep causes weight gain?
| A．more ghrelin and less leptin→feeling hungry→eating more |
| B．feeling hungry→eating more→more ghrelin and less leptin |
| C．burning more energy→feeling hungry→eating more |
| D．more leptin and less ghrelin→feeling full→less exercise |
The two words missing in the 4th paragraph should be “_________”and “_________”.
| A．weight;sleep | B．sleep;food | C．hunger;food | D．weight;work |
When you sleep 7.7 hours a night,you will_________.
| A．have your ghrelin level rise and leptin level drop |
| B．have your leptin level rise and ghrelin level drop |
| C．have your ghrelin and leptin levels properly balanced |
| D．feel neither hungry nor full |
The writer wrote this passage to_________.
| A．make a news report | B．offer a piece of medical advice |
| C．make an advertisement | D．keep a record of the research findings |
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