Yesterday was my stepmom’s birthday. I hadn’t been home for a long time so I wanted to stop by the house to see her on this special day.
I have been struggling financially so I was afraid of the long trip. Gas is so expensive nowadays! Anyway, I filled my tank with gas and set off.
I stopped at the shopping mall and found a present. It was the perfect gift and I knew she
would love it. But when I got to the cashier my card was declined! I did not have enough money in my account to pay for the gift!
So I pondered the issue for a few minutes. I could put it back and get something cheaper, but I knew there was nothing else in the store she would like as much. So, I got on my smart-phone and transferred some money from my savings account so I was able to pay for the gift. It took a big chunk of my savings but I wanted her to have something special.
She loved the gift and I felt that even though I had spent almost all my money my stepmom deserved the best and I was glad I gave her the best that I could.
Before leaving my parents’ house, my dad took me to one side and, with our secret hand-shake, he gave me some money. I had not said anything to him about my finances but I guess my dad had just known it. When I got to the car, I saw the amount he gave me was three times what I had spent on the gas and the gift!
It goes to show that doing the right thing always comes with great rewards.Why was the writer unwilling to have a long trip？
| A．Because gas was hardly available. | B．Because the writer was short of money. |
| C．Because the writer didn’t like driving. | D．Because the road was difficult to drive on. |
The underlined word “pondered” in Para. 4 means ________.
| A．thought about | B．tried on |
| C．depended on | D．got through |
From the passage, we can infer that ________.
| A．the writer loves his/her stepmom very much |
| B．the gift the writer bought was loved by his/her father very much |
| C．the writer spent all his/her savings buying the gift for his/her stepmom |
| D．the gift the writer bought was the most expensive one in the shop |
Why did the writer’s father shake hands with the writer in secret?
| A．Because he wanted to ask the writer for something special. |
| B．Because he wanted to give the writer some money. |
| C．Because he knew the writer had been struggling financially. |
| D．Because he didn’t want others to copy their handshake. |
I hated dinner parties. But I decided to give them another shot because I’m in London. And my friend Mallery invited me. And because dinner parties in London are very different from those back in New York. There, “I’m having a dinner party” means “I’m booking a table for 12 at a restaurant you can’t afford and we’ll be sharing the cheque evenly, no matter what you eat.”
Worse, in Manhattan there is always someone who leaves before the bill arrives. They’ll throw down cash, half of what they owe, and then people like me, who don’t drink, end up paying even more. But if I try to use the same trick, the hostess will shout “Where are you going?” And it’s not like I can say I have somewhere to go : everyone knows I have nowhere to go.
But in London, dinner parties are in people’s homes. Not only that, the guests are an interesting mix. The last time I went to one, the guests were from France, India, Denmark and Nigeria; it was like a gathering at the United Nations. In New York, the mix is less striking. It’s like a gathering at Bloomingdale’s, a well-known department store.
For New Yorkers, talking about other parts of the world means Brooklyn and Queens in New York. But at Mallery’s, when I said that I had been to Myanmar recently, people knew where it was. In New York people would think it was a usual new club.What does the word “shot” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．Choice. | B．Try. | C．Style. | D．Goal. |
What does the author dislike most about dinner parties in New York?
| A．There is a strange mix of people. | B．The restaurant are expensive. |
| C．The bill is not fairly shared. | D．People have to pay cash. |
What does the author think of the parties in London?
| A．A bit unusual. | B．Full of tricks. |
| C．Less costly. | D．More interesting. |
What is the author’s opinion of some New Yorkers from her experience?
| A．Easygoing.. | B．Self-centred. |
| C．Generous. | D．Conservative. |
What is the main idea of this article?
| A．The author hated dinner parties. |
| B．The author prefer dinner parties in London to those in New York. |
| C．The difference between London and New York. |
| D．Mallery invited the author to a party. |
Many job opportunities are offered to those who wish to work. It helps if you know more than one language. There are good jobs for interpreters and typists who know English and another language.
There are many good jobs in government. In most cases, you must be a citizen of this country, and you must take a civil service examination. These examinations are open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, or color.
For many civil service jobs you need a high school diploma. The person who does not have a high school diploma can get one. There are several ways. You can study high school subjects at home and then take special tests. If you pass the tests, then you get a diploma. Or you can go to night school. There are classes that prepare you to take special tests to earn a diploma.
You can attend a night school that grants a high school diploma if you complete certain courses. If you do this, you do not have to take the special tests. Be as well trained as you can. Get as much training as you can. Opportunity knocks at every door. Be sure that when it knocks at your door you are ready.From the passage, we know that an interpreter’s job must have something to do with_________.
| A．money | B．languages | C．opportunities | D．diploma |
In order to get a government job, you must take a certain__________.
| A．course | B．trip | C．test | D．service |
The passage suggests that _________.
| A．any citizen can try to get a government job |
| B．civil service jobs are offered only to foreigners |
| C．training programs are often poorly organized |
| D．anyone who wishes to work can get a good job |
We can see that .
| A．one can work on a high school diploma at home |
| B．typists who know English get a good pay |
| C．well-trained people are often out of work |
| D．job opportunities will help you to know more than one language |
Which of the following is not true? If you want to get a high school diploma, you need .
| A．to study at home and pass special tests |
| B．to go to night school to prepare you to pass special tests |
| C．to attend a night school and complete certain courses |
| D．to get as much training as you can and be always ready |
What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?
We all know that science plays an important role in our societies. However, many people believe that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first aspect is the application of the machines, products and systems of knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. The second is the application of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.
What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is curious - he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually pays attention to problems which he notices have no satisfying explanation, and looks for relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.
He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and uses the facts he observes to the fullest. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum(光谱).
He does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available. He rejects authority as the only basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively.
Furthermore, he does not readily accept his own idea, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.
Lastly, he is full of imagination since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to guess how processes work and how events take place.
These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts. Many people believe that science helps society to progress through_________
| A．knowledge only. | B．more than one aspect. |
| C．technology only. | D．the use of machines. |
Which of the following statements about a curious scientist is TRUE?
| A．He doesn’t find confidence and pleasure in work. |
| B．He is interested in problems that are explained. |
| C．He makes efforts to investigate potential connections. |
| D．He looks for new ways of acting. |
According to the passage, a successful scientist would NOT_______________.
| A．easily believe in unchecked statements. |
| B．easily criticize others' research work. |
| C．always use his imagination in work. |
| D．always use evidence from observation. |
Which word can be used to describe the data that a good scientist uses?
| A．complete | B．objective | C．complicated | D．accurate |
Zoe Chambers was a successful PR(Public Relations) consultant and life was going well — she had a great job, beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. “The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through.” she said. “After everything I’d done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn’t feel like looking for another job. I hate everything about the city and my life.”
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later she is still on the farm.
"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been teaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing — watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now."When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a ______life.
| A．satisfying | B．tough | C．meaningless | D．boring |
The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy's farm is that______.
| A．Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant |
| B．Kathy persuaded her to do so |
| C．Zoe got tired of the city life |
| D．Zoe loved Wales more than London |
How docs Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?
| A．Tiresome and troublesome. |
| B．Romantic and peaceful |
| C．Mentally exhausting but healthy |
| D．Physically tiring but rewarding. |
Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?
| A．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| B．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| C．A misfortune may turn out a blessing. |
| D．Kill two birds with one stone. |
In early 2007 I had bought tickets to a Christian concert for myself and two other family members, but later I decided to 36 my 4-year-old son along.
I couldn't find another ticket in the area we were sitting in, so I started 37 online for four tickets so we could all 38 . Imagine my surprise when the four 39 tickets I needed happened to be on the front row! Thinking it was a 40 , I tried again several times and each time the same tickets came up. I knew it had to be God, so after getting 41 the initial（最初的）shock I decided to 42 the front row tickets, which still left me 43 the three original tickets. Not knowing what to 44 with them, I asked around but did not have any 45 . Then my husband said two of his customers wanted to go to the same 46 but couldn't afford it.
We went to their house and they said they had a friend they wanted to take with them. 47 it turned out, this couple does a prison ministry and had been 48 this concert for quite a while, but even after offering to pay me I 49 and told them to continue working in the prisons teaching those men and women to become 50 people. This couple lost a 51 several years ago and listening to this music could 52 them in their healing process. The 53 of this particular concert was "Give It Away", and I thank God for the 54 to give this to them.
It turned out to be one of the best nights for all of us, and it was all 55 my 4-year-old boy wanted to hear the music as well.
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