Several dollars equal nothing for some people, but make a difference for others. Steve has just lost his wife to cancer and everything they had is gone due to the treatment. He now lives in the shelter for the homeless. So we know each other.
Just like other homeless people, he didn’t think he needed anything. But once he mentioned to me he needed eye glasses. His voice hesitated a bit, he looked down, and it appeared like he thought such a request was just a dream. Too much to hope for? It was as if his wish were known by me only.
I submitted an application for him to a program that is supposed to provide a free eye examination and glasses. Three months later, I phoned to ask what was up with the appointment but they told me there was a cash flow problem until late summer.
Steve showed disappointment, thanked me and started to walk away. I said, “Hold on, I will figure out a way to get you an eye examination and glasses.” His face lit up a tiny bit. He had seen some of the things I have done for other people in our shelter and to me it looked like he might have a line of hope.
I took a picture of him and posted his picture and his story in the Twitter. In about 4 days, eight people from around the world donated $25 each and one person donated $40 and I made up the rest to get him an eye exam and glasses.
Steve picked up his glasses on Wednesday: May 11th, 2011. Today Steve has returned to a previous job he had in a nearby car wash. Because he now has glasses he will be able to see what he is doing while cleaning the vehicles. He is starting a second job at a pet center next week!We can learn from the first two paragraphs that ______.
| A．it took a long time to treat Steve’s wife |
| B．homeless people never ask for anything |
| C．Steve was too embarrassed to ask for help |
| D．the author and Steve have been friends for years |
The program failed to satisfy Steve because ______.
| A．it was already out of business |
| B．it had some trouble in finance |
| C．Steve didn’t submit the application himself |
| D．it’s not designed for people like Steve |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．The program was closed three months ago. |
| B．Steve used to work as a salesman in a car factory. |
| C．Steve got $240 in total from kind-hearted people. |
| D．The author might be a volunteer in the shelter. |
The best title for the passage is probably ______.
| A．Money can sometimes talk |
| B．Small help can really count |
| C．Two heads are better than one |
| D．God helps those who help themselves |
Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health，but many do not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant health effects.Environmental Protection Agency studies indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 3～5 times，and occasionally more than 100 times，higher than outdoor levels.These levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend about 90% of their time indoors.
There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home.These include sources such as oil，gas，coal，wood，and tobacco products，building materials，wet or damp carpet，and furniture made of certain pressed wood products，products for household cleaning and maintenance，personal care，or hobbies，central heating and cooling systems.
Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure (暴露) or repeated exposures.These include irritation of the eyes，nose，and throat，headaches，dizziness.Such immediate effects are usually shortterm and treatable.Sometimes the treatment is simply removing the person’s exposure to the source of the pollution，if it can be identified.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors.Age and preexisting medical conditions are two important influences.In other cases，whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity，which varies tremendously from person to person.Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated exposures，and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.
Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral (病毒性的) diseases，so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution.While pollutants commonly found in indoor air are responsible for many harmful effects，there is considerable uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary to produce specific health problems.People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants.Therefore，further research is needed to better understand the effects of indoor air pollution and to find efficient ways to protect our health.According to the first paragraph，which of the following is NOT true?
| A．People often fail to notice indoor air pollution. |
| B．Indoor air pollution sometimes is more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. |
| C．Outdoor air pollution may not be so serious as indoor air pollution. |
| D．It is obvious that people have been paying more attention to indoor air pollution. |
According to the author，which may NOT be the source of indoor air pollution?
| A．Building materials. | B．Wet carpet. |
| C．Cooling system. | D．Refrigerators. |
What does the underlined word “irritation” in the third paragraph probably mean?
| A．Bad intention. | B．Much sensitivity. |
| C．Injury. | D．Carelessness. |
Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
| A．Reactions of Pollution | B．Danger from Home |
| C．Pollution Resources | D．Different Pollutions |
Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to test for water pollution by “listening” to what the plants growing in water have to say.
By shining a laser beam (激光束) on the tiny pieces of algae floating in the water，the researchers said they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of contamination (致污物) in the water.
“It is a red light，telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water，” said Zvy Dubinsky，an aquatic biologist at Israel’s Bar Ilan University.“Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality.”“The secret，” he said，“is to measure the rate of photosynthesis (光合作用) in the algae，meaning the plant’s ability to transform light into energy.” During photosynthesis，plants also release oxygen into the air.
Dubinsky’s technique is easy to perform because of the overabundance of algae in the planet’s water.Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from algae.A prototype tester that occupies about one square meter of a laboratory desktop，shoots a laser beam at water samples to stimulate photosynthesis in the algae.But not all of the laser’s heat is used.Depending on the condition of the algae and the rate of photosynthesis，some of the heat is shot back into the water，creating sound waves，Dubinsky said.With a special underwater microphone，researchers are able to analyze the strength of the sound waves and determine the health of the algae and the condition of the surrounding water.
“Algae suffering from lead poisoning，like waste discharged from battery and paint manufacturing plants，will produce a different sound than those suffering from lack of iron or exposure to other toxins，” said researcher Yulia Pinchasov.She said that testing algae photosynthesis can determine water quality more accurately and easily than laborintensive methods now used like chemical and radioactive carbon testing.The underlined word “algae” in Paragraph 2 probably refers to a kind of________.
| A．instrument | B．plant |
| C．wood | D．pollutant |
Why is the algae tested?
| A．Because it floats on the water. |
| B．Because it can have photosynthesis. |
| C．Because it is the first to be polluted. |
| D．Because it can produce different sounds. |
We can infer from the passage that________.
| A．algae can produce a loud sound when polluted |
| B．algae can die easily from pollution |
| C．photosynthesis of the algae can only be caused by sunlight |
| D．photosynthesis of the algae is related to water quality |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Scientists Listen to Plants to Find Water Pollution |
| B．A Prototype Tester Is Used to Determine Water Pollution |
| C．The Importance of Photosynthesis of the Algae |
| D．The Problem of Chemical and Radioactive Carbon Testing |
Three Boys and a Dad
Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother.Expecting a whole day to relax，he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months.“This will be like a walk in the park，”he’d told his wife.“I’ll look after the kids，and you can go visit your mom.”
Things started well，but just after eight o’clock，his three little “good kids”—Mike，Randy，and Alex—came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted “breakfast，daddy.”When food had not appeared within thirty seconds，Randy began using his spoon on Alex’s head as if it were a drum.Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat(节拍)．Mike chanted “Where’s my toast，where’s my toast” in the background.Brad realised his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds.
Life became worse after breakfast.Mike wore Randy’s underwear on his head.Randy locked himself in the bathroom，while Alex shouted again because he was going to wet his pants.Nobody could find clean socks，although they were before their very eyes.Someone named “Not Me” had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes.Brad knew the talk show had already started.
By ten o’clock，things were out of control.Alex was wondering why the fish in the jar refused his bread and butter.Mike was trying to show off his talent by decorating the kitchen wall with his colour pencils.Randy，thankfully，appeared to be reading quietly in the family room，but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands.Brad realised that the talk show was over and reading would be impossible.
At exactly 11∶17，Brad called the daycare centre(日托所)．“I suddenly have to go into work and my wife’s away.Can I bring the boys over in a few minutes？”The answer was obviously “yes” because Brad was smiling.(2012·陕西，B)When his wife left home，Brad expected to________.
| A．go out for a walk in the park |
| B．watch TV talk show with his children |
| C．enjoy his first day off work |
| D．read the newspaper to his children |
Which of the following did Randy do?
| A．Drawing on the wall. | B．Eating apple jam. |
| C．Feeding the fish. | D．Reading in a room. |
Why did Brad ask the daycare centre for help?
| A．Because he wanted to clean up his house. |
| B．Because he suddenly had to go to his office. |
| C．Because he found it hard to manage his boys. |
| D．Because he had to take his wife back home. |
This text is developed________.
| A．by space | B．by comparison |
| C．by process | D．by time |
People without homes have always been present in America.In the past，they were called hobos，bums，or drifters.It was not until the early 1980s that these people received a new name，when activists named them the homeless.
The types of people who were homeless also changed in the 1980s.No longer were they primarily older men.They were younger，with an average age of 35.Their numbers consisted of women，children，adolescents and entire families.They were of many races and cultures.No longer were they only in the inner city.They lived in rural areas and in large and small cities.No longer were they invisible to the people with homes and jobs.The homeless of the 1980s lived in packing crates (装货箱) and doorways.They slept on sidewalks and in public parks.They begged money from passersby.
Counting the numbers of homeless people is difficult.However，in 1984 the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated the homeless population at between 250,000 and 350,000.In 1990 the Census Bureau counted about 459,000 people in shelters，in cheap hotels，and on the streets.In 1995 the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimated that there were 750,000 homeless Americans.
The homeless of the 1980s also began to speak out for themselves.Some spoke to Congress and to government committees controlling funding for social programs.Street newspapers，such as Chicago’s Streetwise and Boston’s Spare Change，had stories，poems，and essays that expressed the homeless viewpoint.The visible and vocal presence of the homeless prompted help from volunteers and government agencies.But what is still needed is a solution to the plight of America’s homeless population.This passage is mainly about________.
| A．one homeless person’s story |
| B．the history of the homeless |
| C．the changes of the homeless in the late 20th century |
| D．a way to provide homes for the homeless |
How did the homeless speak out about their problems?
| A．By writing books. |
| B．By moving to rural areas. |
| C．By being elected to the government committees. |
| D．By expressing their viewpoints in street newspapers. |
Who is responsible to get the number of the homeless population according to the passage?
| A．Government agencies. |
| B．Street newspapers. |
| C．The homeless themselves. |
| D．The volunteers. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The homeless all lived in urban cities in America. |
| B．The name “the homeless” was given in the early 1980. |
| C．Not only the disabled belong to the homeless family. |
| D．There were about 800,000 homeless people in western countries. |
Janice Fialka showed a new documentary (纪录片) about her cognitively (认知地) disabled son at schools and seminars across the country.Everyone seemed to enjoy it，but one comment from a teacher proved her family’s investment to Fialka was a success.
“In Baltimore an early childhood teacher came up and said，‘I have to apologize to the family of a 4year old with Down Syndrome (先天愚型)，’”Fialka said.“She said，‘I told them to be more realistic about their dreams for him.Now I have to tell them I’m sorry.’”
The story of Micah FialkaFeldman，a 22yearold Oakland University student，is meant to show parents，educators and the disabled anything is possible.
FialkaFeldman wrote in an essay titled “I wanted to go to college and my dream came true”．A lot of people didn’t think he could go to college，but because family and friends believed in him he learned how to take public transportation to campus and found teachers who helped him pick the best classes.
The title of the film Through the Same Door came from a day when FialkaFeldman，who was enrolled in a first grade special education program，told his parents he wanted to walk through the same door as the rest of the kids at his school.It led him to becoming the first student with cognitive disabilities in mainstream classrooms in Berkley.
Though he can’t read or write on his own，FialkaFeldman reached amazing heights with the help of voice recognition computer software，tutors，and the embrace (接受) of his community.
At Berkley High School，FialkaFeldman won the Social Studies Department Award for civic (公民的) involvement.In 2004 he received the Michigan “Yes，I Can” award for selfadvocacy (自强)．
He finished high school in 2003 with a certificate of attendance，took a 10day trip through Israel with friends last year，and enrolled at Oakland University through the Transitions Program，which is geared (使适合于) to help the disabled go from high school to college.
Fialka said he’s the happiest kid in the world.Everyone should be so happy.What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Disabled Man Living His Dream |
| B．Nothing Is Impossible |
| C．Don’t Look Down Upon the Disabled |
| D．Through the Same Door |
What the early childhood teacher said suggests that________.
| A．disabled people should be realistic about their dreams |
| B．she used to believe we should not expect much from disabled people |
| C．she hadn’t given the 4year old with Down Syndrome enough attention |
| D．the documentary about FialkaFeldman encouraged the disabled |
Which of the following is NOT true about FialkaFeldman?
| A．He was the first cognitively disabled student in mainstream classrooms in Berkley. |
| B．He went to school by public transportation and was helped to pick up classes. |
| C．He benefited from computer software and other people. |
| D．He received the “Yes，I Can” award for civic involvement and selfadvocacy |
Which of the following shows the correct order of events of FialkaFeldman?
a．He received the Michigan “Yes，I Can” award.
b．His documentary was shown and welcomed.
c．He was enrolled in a first grade special education program.
d．He finished high school with a certificate of attendance.
e．He enrolled at Oakland University through the Transitions Program.
| A．acdeb | B．bacde |
| C．cdeab | D．cdbea |
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