My first full-time job after high school was selling vacation packages via the telephone for a well-known company. One day, I was put through to a man who sounded a bit out of breath. I started with my normal pitch (音高), expecting to hear the normal reply —"I don’t want any."
Instead, he spoke in a faint, weak voice and told me how he wished to take a vacation I was offering, but he couldn’t because he was dying of illness. He explained how he was lacking in oxygen then, and it took almost all his energy to answer the call. He asked if I smoked, which I did, and begged me to stop. He told me smoking was what was killing him. He told me to spend every day with my loved ones, and tell them how much I love them. At this point, I couldn’t control myself. We ended the call, but I held on my phone to prevent another call coming in so I could collect myself.
I wrote down his name and address, and sent him a card appreciating his advice and praying for him and his family. Shortly after, I received a letter from Frank, along with a picture of him and his wife. We continued to write back and forth over the next few months, and became very fond of each other. He was old enough to be my grandfather, and in many ways, I felt as if he was.
About a year later I received a letter from his wife. When I started to read, tears came to my eyes. She told me how Frank’s battle with the disease had finally come to an end, and he passed away shortly before the Christmas. She wanted to thank me for the letters to Frank, and explained how Frank touched many lives over the years. At his funeral, to show just that, they read the 1st letter I had written to Frank to show how he affected a 19-year-old he’d never met.
The author was then probably working for ______.
| A．a travel agency | B．a cigarette company |
C．an e-shopping store | D．a vacation school |
The underlined part "collect myself" in the second paragraph probably means "_______".
| A．gather together | B．comfort myself |
C．relax myself | D．calm down |
What can we infer from the text?
| A．Frank was in hospital while answering the phone. |
B．Frank is actually the author’s grandfather. |
C．There was something wrong with Frank’s lung. |
D．The author asked Frank to travel and he took his advice. |
We can learn from the text that the author ________.
| A．took down Frank’s name and address to visit him in person |
B．was warmly welcomed by her customers when she called them |
C．didn’t stop smoking even though Frank asked him to |
D．kept in touch with Frank through letters until he died |
At Frank’s funeral the author’s 1st letter to Frank was read in order to ____.
| A．encourage people to fight against disease and live bravely |
B．indicate that Frank touched many people’s hearts |
C．show the good relationship between Frank and the author |
D．praise Frank and give thanks to the author |
Language is a way to communicate with each other. We started to learn language when we were born. However, people are used to speaking their native language, so immigrants are having many problems between the first generation and the second generation because they don’t have the same native language. Also, the second generation is losing their identity. Especially in America, there are many immigrants that came from different countries to succeed in the States. Because they suffer in lots of areas such as getting a job and trying to speak English, they want their children to speak English, not only at school, but also at home in order to be more successful. Because of this situation, their children are losing their identity and, even more, they are ignoring their parents whose English is not very good. I think most immigrants are trying to preserve their native language in their new country, but this doesn’t help very much in getting a good job. My aunt taught Korean to her children not to help them succeed in the U.S. She did so, hopefully, to help them establish a Korean identity. Though the second generation was born in the new country, they often get confused about their identity because they look different from others, and also, if they visit their parents’ country, they will probably feel different from other people there too. My cousins told me that when they visited Korea a few years ago, they felt different from other Koreans. They could even feel it just strolling around the street because they wore different clothes and walked differently. We must realize that language is important and valuable for many reasons. Immigrants should make an effort not to be ignored by their children and let them understand their background by teaching them the parents’ language. This is very important, not only for the harmony of the family, but also in helping the second generation establish their identity. According to the text, what is the problem of the first generation immigrants?
| A．They have lost their identity. |
| B．Their children are losing their identity. |
| C．Their children speak different languages. |
| D．They cannot speak their native language. |
My aunt taught her children Korean__________.
| A．so that they knew they were of Korean origin. |
| B．so that they would be more successful in the U. S. |
| C．because she didn’t want them to speak English |
| D．because she wanted them to respect her |
The writer’s cousins felt different in their parents’ country because they_________.
| A．had never been there before |
| B．behaved quite differently |
| C．couldn’t understand the language |
| D．had different facial appearance |
According to the text, the native language is important and valuable to immigrants because________.
| A．it gives them self-confidence and better chance |
| B．it makes the second generation love motherland |
| C．it helps the second generation to understand their parents |
| D．it strengthens the family ties and reminds them of their identity |
I didn’t realize how short I was until I started school. There, a few kids picked on(欺负)me, calling me names. Then I knew. After that, I began to hate the first day of school each year. I didn’t know who was new and would stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs. Some of the kids would point and say, “Look at that kid. Look at her.”
As time went on, I just tried to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I was determined to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. My friends became increasingly protective. They’d help me up the bus steps. If people were cruel, they would take them aside and correct them.
What I lacked in height, I made up for in personality----my ability to laugh, even at myself. For example, one time I was reaching into the washing machine at my parents’ house to grab the wet clothes. I fell all the way in and yell for Mother, who was sitting nearby reading the paper. Watching feet flying everywhere, she laughed quietly and said, “I should leave you in there.” I laughed with her.
I’m 47 now, and the stares have not decreased as I’ve grown older. People ask my friends if I live in a dollhouse. They look in disbelief when they see me get out of my car on the driver’s side. During those times, I try to keep a good attitude. When people are rude, I remind myself, “Look what else I have----a great family, nice friends…”What is the main idea of the second and third paragraphs?
| A．How the writer changed her disadvantage to advantage. |
| B．The writer’s friends and mother loved her deeply. |
| C．The writer had many friends helping her. |
| D．The writer had the ability to laugh. |
By saying “the stares have not decreased” in the last paragraph, the author suggests that____.
| A．she is able to live a happy life like a normal person |
| B．she isn’t afraid of being noticed by others any more |
| C．some people still don’t treat her as a normal person |
| D．more and more people treat her with respect now |
How is the author feeling now about her situation?
| A．Quite optimistic. |
| B．Very satisfied. |
| C．Deeply upset. |
| D．Rather anxious. |
We can infer that the author believes that_________.
| A．society should help the disabled as much as possible |
| B．only your parents and friends can help you |
| C．what people say about you is none of your business |
| D．all people should be treated with respect |
World Wrestling Entertainment is the largest professional wrestling organization in North America. It was called World Wrestling Federation until it changed its name because of a legal dispute. Its more than one hundred wrestlers fight each other in competitive matches that are written and practiced before they are performed.
Professional wrestlers are athletes but act as entertainers. They are not seeking athletic records, but instead want to excite an audience. To do this, they use unusual names and wear special clothing during wrestling matches. These wrestlers include the Stone Cold Stunner and the Undertaker.
Most professional wrestling matches are between two men or two women. They fight inside an area called a ring that is separated from the audience by ropes. Each match continues until one wrestler forces the other's shoulders to the floor and holds them there for a count of three. Most World Wrestling Entertainment matches continue for only about four to seven minutes.
An organization official called a promoter decides before the match who will win. But who wins and who loses is not the important thing in professional wrestling. The important thing is that the audience enjoys the pretend fight. Some wrestlers rarely win, but continue to be popular.
Not all wrestling matches are between two people. Some are called tag team matches and involve teams of two, three or four wrestlers. Another kind of match is called a battle royal. It involves thirty to sixty wrestlers competing against each other. A wrestler loses when he or she is thrown out of the ring. The winner is the last wrestler still standing.Why did World Wrestling Federation change its name?
| A．Because audience didn’t like it. |
| B．Because maybe there was another name similar to it. |
| C．Because they wanted their name more unusual. |
| D．Because the name was out of date. |
Professional wrestlers’ main aim is to _______.
| A．excite the audience | B．make a record |
| C．win a prize | D．win the match |
As a whole, the third paragraph is _______.
| A．entertaining | B．descriptive | C．instructive | D．persuasive |
Which of the following statements is right according to the passage?
| A．All professional wrestling matches are between two men or two women. |
| B．The wrestler who loses the match will lose popularity. |
| C．Wrestlers usually wear special clothing to look funny. |
| D．A wrestler who is thrown out of the ring will lose the match in all wrestling matches. |
During the last century we have moved from the Industrial Age through the Information Age to the Knowledge Age. The ability to obtain and apply the right knowledge effectively will become a key skill in the next century. Our ability will no longer be judged only by knowledge gained in the past, but will also be measured by our ability to learn and adapt in the future.
Learning isn’t just about economic success, however. It is the key to achieving our full potential(潜能,潜力). Human beings are particularly adapted to learn and we have the ability to do so throughout our lives.
Learning has the power to change us. Specifically, we can become more successful. Learning can enable us to solve problems and change our attitudes. It makes us more interesting to be with. It can be enormous fun. It can also be very challenging.
We all have the ability, at any age, to change our lives through learning. Our survival in the twenty-first century as individuals, organizations and nations, will depend on our ability to learn. A learning population is healthier, more tolerant(容忍的,宽容的), independent and fulfilled. Learning can take place in a range of styles: anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
None of us learn in isolation(隔绝,孤立). There are a whole range of factors that can affect us in learning. The key factors affecting people’s learning include: ●their resources ●their image of learning ●the rewards associated with any learning activity ●the availability of information about learning opportunities ●the climate created by government and employers in which learning takes place What is the most important skill in the next century according to the passage?
| A．Knowledge we obtained in the past. |
| B．Computer skill. |
| C．The ability to obtain and apply knowledge. |
| D．Foreign language. |
What is the most important purpose of learning?
| A．To succeed economically. |
| B．To achieve in life. |
| C．To solve problems. |
| D．To achieve our full potential. |
In many ways learning has the power to transform us, so which of the following does NOT belong to the ways?
| A．We can have a longer life. |
| B．We can become more successful through learning. |
| C．We can be more open-minded. |
| D．We can be more agreeable. |
Which of the following proverbs can best go with the fourth paragraph?
| A．Learning makes a good man better and an ill man worse. |
| B．It’s never too late to learn. |
| C．Reading makes a full man. |
| D．Knowledge is power. |
Everyone has got two personalities—the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don’t show your secret personality when you are awake because you can control your behavior, but when you are asleep, your sleeping position shows the real you. In a normal night, of course, people frequently change their positions. The important position is the one that you go to sleep in.
If you go to sleep on your back, you’re a very open person. You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas. You don’t like to displease people. So you never express your real feelings. You’re quite shy and you aren’t quite sure of yourself.
If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive person. You worry a lot and you’re always easily upset. You always stick to your own opinions or judgment, but you don’t raise your hope too much. You usually live for today not tomorrow. This means that you enjoy having a good time.
If you sleep curled up, you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself and so you’re often defensive. You’re shy and you don’t normally like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own. You’re easily hurt.
If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well—balanced personality. You know your strengths and weaknesses. You’re usually careful. You believe in yourself. You sometimes feel anxious, but you don’t often get sad. You always say what you think even if it makes people rather angry. According to the passage, a person, who is not willing to change his mind and hard to deal with, probably sleeps ___.
| A．on his side | B．on his back | C．curled up | D．on his stomach |
If a person prefers to sleep curled up rather than on his back, he may be well content to ____.
| A．do things personally. | B．stay alone |
| C．keep things secret | D．trust others easily |
What the author mainly intends to tell us is that _______.
| A．one’s sleeping position has something to do with one’s character. |
| B．everyone has got both real and secret personalities. |
| C．the position in which one goes to sleep is the most important one. |
| D．when awake, one does not show one’s secret personality. |
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