I know it is wrong to envy your children. But when I see my son, Tonio and his younger brother Sam going down a slide together, one’s arm around the other, I know I have missed something wonderful.
Not only did I never have a brother, but also I had no friendships like theirs. My sister was old enough to help take care of me, so she was more a mother than a playmate, and I was more a pest than a friend. A brother would have been wonderful, but it was not in the family planning.
Now I finally live with brothers, my sons, Tonio and Sam. I am watching them build the kind of relationship that I once dreamed about. They go to bed together. When one comes into our bed after a nightmare, my wife and I know that before morning his brother will follow.
Sam manages the world with more ease than his elder brother, whose frustrations often bring him to tears. With a sincere “Smile, Tonio,” Sam is the one who comforts him. Tonio, on the other hand, has stopped playing with boys at his age who don’t like playing with Sam. They are always backing each other up.
I don’t know what kind of relationship they will have when they grow up. Parents always want their children to have what they never could. I want them to have each other. So I imagine them going to the same college, marrying sisters and living on the same block.
That’s why I was so worried the day Tonio started kindergarten. I felt that I would lose something too. As we headed for school that morning, both boys seemed relaxed, as if neither had any idea that the day was going to be different, that starting then, Tonio would be leaving behind his brother, his best friend, his right arm.
Tonio’s first day was chaotic, with hundreds of children outside looking for their teachers. Before any of us could say goodbye, Tonio disappeared with his new classmates. He turned to wave and then was gone. It was so sudden. Sam even didn’ t see him go. Although parents had been asked to ease the craziness of the first day by statying out of the school, I lifted Sam up and took him to Tonio’s classroom, looking for a glimpse of Tonio. Sam spotted him first.
My wife and I didn’t head back home immediately, stopping instead at a coffee shop to treat Sam to hot chocolate. We even let him eat ice-cream with his fingers. Sam was still quiet, so I asked him if he missed his brother already.
He didn’t answer. Instead he asked, “Daddy, is Tonio going to be gone forever?”
“No, Sammy,” I said, feeling happy about his sweet question. “Not forever, just until three o’clock.”
I sometimes think that the greatest thing I have ever done is to help create these brothers. And I didn’t stop with them. We had another child, and for the third time in a row, it was a boy. It wasn’t long before his brothers climbed into the crib(婴儿床) to play with him. I am surrounded by brothers.What makes the author envy his sons?
| A．He has no friends like Sam and Tonio. |
| B．He has only one brother in his family. |
| C．He doesn’t enjoy brotherhood as they do. |
| D．He doesn’t have a good relation with his sister. |
What does the underlined word “pest” in paragraph 2 mean?
| A．a bad person | B．an annoying person |
| C．a good companion | D．a lovely brother |
What can we learn about the two little brothers?
| A．Tonio often encouraged Sam when Sam burst into tears. |
| B．The two brothers went to the same kindergarten. |
| C．Neither of the brothers played with other children. |
| D．They supported each other in different ways. |
The author was worried the day Tonio started his kindergarten, because__________.
| A．Tonio might not spend so much time with Sam |
| B．Tonio might not do well with his study |
| C．he was afraid he would lose Tonio forever. |
| D．he wanted Tonio to have what he didn’t have |
On the first day of the kindergarten, __________.
| A．Tonio had a nice day playing with his new classmates |
| B．Sam was very sad because Tonio was gone forever |
| C．Sam was allowed to have ice-cream with fingers as usual |
| D．the father felt happy when he sensed Sam’s love to Tonio |
What does the title “Surrounded by Brothers” suggest?
| A．The author experienced brotherly affection by raising his sons. |
| B．The author often plays with his sons whenever he has time. |
| C．Parents want their children to stay at home and play together. |
| D．The youngest son is always surrounded by his elder brothers. |
You’ve bought what you need. The grocery cashier asks, “Will that be paper or plastic? You reply “Plastic, please.”
This seems like a simple question and there are plenty of reasons we choose plastic: easier to carry, lighter than paper bags, possibly less damaging to the environment, less expensive to the shop owners, able to be used as trash bag, and so on. There are different opinions on plastic and paper. Now let’s follow the travels of 3 plastic bags. It begins at the grocery store with the customer’s choice.
Plastic Bag 1: As the waste engineer come by and pick up the trash, the first plastic bag falls out. It sits on a small street for a couple of hours until a car comes along and takes it down to the road. Then a gust of wind blows it across the road, then another car, then another gust of wind finally makes its way to the beach. Water fills the plastic bag and makes it look like a jellyfish. A seal(海豹) swims by, thinking it looks very interesting, and swallowed it. The plastic bag may stay in the seal’s stomach for months, maybe years. You see, our lovely animals have been living thousands of years in a world where everything can be eaten.
Plastic Bag 2: This bag does make its way to landfill(垃圾场). Before they have a chance to cover up the thousands of pounds of daily waste, a strong wind comes up and blows these plastic bags out of the landfill. Once the wind stops, workers will be sent to collect thousands of bags around. But they can’t possibly get them all. So our little bag continues his adventure getting caught in trees, eaten by birds or making its way to our lakes or rivers.
Plastic Bag 3: The last bag also blows away but is caught in a landfill where it sits for many years, as all the trash is wrapped in a big plastic bag, making natural degradation(降解) impossible. Although workers do much work to make sure water and air system won’t be polluted, some do. Guess what, plastic bags are made from petrol, a harmful waste material, which in one way or another makes its way to the environment.
Another problem with putting plastic bags in out trash is that our landfills for most cities may be filled in about 20 years. More importantly, since we are running out of land to build homes, you might have the pleasure of one day living on top of your plastic bags!
One of the best suggestions is not to use a bag at all or bring your own cloth bags. If you must, please choose paper bags, which, though not suggested, can be eaten by animals. And there are more opportunities recycle paper bags. It does take a little extra effort. But please have a thought about the little seal next time you say, “Plastic please.” According to the passage, what is NOT the reason for a customer to choose plastic bags?
| A．He can use plastic bags to carry trash later. |
| B．He finds paper bags heavier than plastic bags. |
| C．He finds plastic bags more convenient to carry. |
| D．He can save money for plastic bags are cheaper. |
The author describes the travel of Plastic Bag 1 to show ______.
| A．seals like eating plastic bags around them. |
| B．seals really have a good stomach. |
| C．seals are potential victims of plastic bags. |
| D．seals are not able to differ plastic from food. |
Wrapped in a big plastic bag, Plastic Bag3_____.
| A．still does harm to the environment |
| B．can hardly be harmful to the environment |
| C．is much safer than Plastic Bag2 |
| D．will end up being eaten by seals or some fish |
What will the following part of this passage talk about?
| A．Suggestions on reducing harm of plastic bags. |
| B．Disadvantages of using too many plastic bags. |
| C．Persuading people into using paper bags. |
| D．Other potential victims of plastic bags. |
What is the overall tone of this passage?
| A．Excited | B．Serious | C．Ironical | D．Casual |
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few proverbs “off the cuff” since I haven’t prepared for it.
| English expressions with “pants” |
| People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have “ants in their pants.” They might also “fly by the seat of their pants” -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may “get caught with their pants down” -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say “she wears the pants in the family.” |
| When people what to say something about money |
| Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can “burn a hole in your pocket.” Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to “tighten your belt” -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill “under your belt.” I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really “take my hat off to them.” Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it “at the drop of a hat” -- immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot “pull money out of a hat” -- you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it. |
| English expressions with “shoes” |
| Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are “too big for their boots” think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that! Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you “fill their shoes” -- or replace them with someone equally effective. |
| English expressions with “shirt” |
| My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real “stuffed shirt.” But I know that my father “wears his heart on his sleeve” -- he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to “keep his shirt on” -- he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited. |
What is this passage mainly about?
| A．How to say English correctly and properly. |
| B．Why English expressions include words about clothes. |
| C．Which words can be used to describe my father. |
| D．What people mean when they use some proverbs. |
Which of the following proverbs are not related to money?
| A．tighten one’s belt | B．burn a hole in one’s pocket |
| C．get caught with their pants down | D．take one’s hat off to them |
Tim often considers himself the most important person in the world , which is far from the truth .We may say ____.
| A．he is “too big for their boots”. |
| B．he “bet his boots on that ”. |
| C．he “ fill their shoes”. |
| D．he “wears his heart on his sleeve ”. |
If you want to praise somebody for his calmness when facing danger , you may say ___.
| A．“You really fill your shoes” |
| B．“Awesome ! You wear your heart on your sleeve!” |
| C．“Amazing !How can you keep your shirt on at that time!” |
| D．“Cool! You are truly a stuffed shirt”. |
A reader from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He’s planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we are going to give you some information which may help you when choosing your destination.
Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington, D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop the stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers, as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
TripAdvisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. Every year, TripAdvisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website.
Brooke Ferencsik of TripAdvisor said the top picks on the list were not surprising. And it’s no secret why New York City was named the number one destination.
New York City is sometimes called “the city that never sleeps” because it can be very busy. It is an exciting place for many people because there is so much to do. But the city might be too busy for travelers looking for rest and calm. They might want something more like Myrtle Beach, in the state of South Carolina, which made it to number 21 on Trip Advisor’s list.
“A lot of people come to Myrtle Beach for great weather, it’s a wonderful family vacation spot, the beaches - got the wonderful Atlantic beaches there - there’s a lot of family-friendly parks and water parks.”
Many people take time off from their jobs in the summer to travel. Because there are many tourists visiting other places, June until August is known as “high season.” Traveling during the high season can be crowded. Hotels, restaurants, and transportation might also be very expensive.
If you want to save money on a trip, it is a good idea to plan to leave before or after the summer months. These times are known as “shoulder seasons” for travel.
“If you’re looking for value, try and think about traveling through the shoulder season if it’s possible - the shoulder season being the fall or the spring. The weather is still very good in some of these destinations, and you can get better prices.”
America’s major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. Ferencsik says this is because of the good quality of services they provide tourists.
“They do a great job of giving travelers what they want when they’re on vacation. I think they kind of cater to every type of traveler need. So whether you’re traveling alone, you’re traveling for business, you’re traveling with your family - whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you’re there.”Lily has great interest in nature and American history. She can visit___________.
A. The Grand Canyon and Rodeo Drive
B. California and Los Angeles
C. White House and Arizona
D. Washington, D.C and The Grand CanyonWhich of the following is NOT true about Myrtle Beach?
| A．People can enjoy a wonderful holiday with their family there. |
| B．It’s a place where people can have rest and calm. |
| C．It’s on the list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. |
| D．It’s in North Carolina with great weather that attracts tourists. |
Why does the author suggest traveling through the shoulder seasons?
| A．To enjoy good weather in spring and fall. |
| B．To have good quality of services. |
| C．To have better value of traveling . |
| D．To save money and energy. |
The author write this passage to ___.
A. give some information about the top 25 cities to visit in USA.
B. talk about some American popular places and advice on traveling
C. advise tourists to visit big cities for their good service and opportunities.
D. give advice on saving money and time when traveling in America.This passage may probably be taken from ____.
| A．a travel journal | B．a magazine |
| C．News Weekly | D．a website |
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Five-year-old Marry loved to play in the street with her friends. This made her parents __41__. They did __42__ to keep her off the street. __43__, day after day they found her out there. Thankfully, the street wasn’t very __44__. But it was often traveled by soldiers and sometimes they would drive very fast.
Every time he drove by the lifeless animal that had __45__ in the road, Steven __46__ think of his daughter. And so he continued trying to teach her the __47__— with little __48__. Then one day as Steven was driving home, he saw something that helped __49__ an idea, which became an action by the time he got home. He walked over to where Marry was playing.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he said. “You and Daddy are going for a __50__.”
They drove back along the way he had just traveled, finally __51__ just behind a mound (堆) of something.
“What is it, Daddy?” Marry asked as they got out of the __52__.
“Look __53__, but don’t touch it,” Steven said. “Can’t you tell what it is?”
She studied it for a few minutes, unsure of its __54__ until she picked out its familiar ears. “A rabbit! What happened?” Marry asked.
“It was playing in the road, and a car came along and ...”
“... and squished (压扁) it?” Marry broke __55__.
“That’s right,” Steven said. “It got squished because it was playing in the road.”
“Yuck!” Marry said. For the first time, Steven saw __56__ in his daughter’s eyes.
The next evening, when Steven drove by a group of children playing in the street, he __57__ what Marry was shouting from the sidewalk.
“Come on, you guys! Stop playing in the street, __58__ you’ll get squished!”
So, if your message isn’t getting through to others, no matter how many times you __59__ it, you should try something __60__. This is Steven’s lesson.
A．disappointed B．worried C．ashamed D．puzzled
A．something B．nothing C．anything D．everything
A．Thus B．Still C．Then D．Also
A．flat B．dirty C．wide D．busy
A．wandered B．banned C．competed D．gathered
A．might B．could C．would D．need
A．accident B．experience C．lesson D．practice
A．success B．hope C．approval D．panic
A．create B．discover C．decide D．cause
A．walk B．ride C．talk D．visit
A．stopping B．passing C．staying D．hiding
A．bus B．car C．train D．boat
A．quietly B．deliberately C．closely D．steadily
A．weight B．color C．identity D．shape
A．out B．in C．away D．through
A．delight B．understanding C．anger D．regret
A．realized B．watched C．heard D．felt
A．or B．and C．but D．yet
A．represent B．respond C．repeat D．refresh
A．funny B．simple C．easy D．different
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