While growing up in Jersey in the 1960s, I always seemed to be building things. One summer I build a model car with my father. It was a simple affair, and as a capable 12-year-old, I could have easily done it alone. But my father spent the time together with me, and before I knew it, we were both out in the garage, working away.
I wish I had thought about this when I was raising my first son. We never built anything together. Oh, we had a lot of fun, for sure. But we never undertook a common work of our hands.
A few years ago, when Anton, my second son, asked if we could build a treehouse in the big silver maple behind our house, his suggestion immediately reminded me of the memory. Yes, I thought. Of course. My second chance. And so, one day while Anton was in school and I had some free time, I bought some wood. But one thing led to another and we got only as far as the ladder and a simple platform. His vision for the treehouse was not fulfilled that summer, and the three following summers saw me involved with other things. In the middle of our quiet supper last night, I looked at Anton, a high school student now and asked, “Anton, are you still interested in finishing the treehouse?” “Sure, Dad,” he said, and within that “sure” was contained, perhaps, his own self-awareness of a childhood to which he was still attached.
We continued where we had left off. I was surprised at how good a worker Anton had become. Where four years ago all he could really do with confidence was hammer nails, now he was measuring and cutting. In one moment that took my breath away, he attempted to center a support beam(支撑梁)while looking to me for direction. “Is it centered, Dad?” I waved him a little to the right. Then a little more. Then I said. “Perfect.”
And it was perfect. As was this second chance, I finally realized that my father hadn't had to help me build that model car in 1966. He wanted to. And that made all the difference.Not having built anything together with his first son, the author felt _____.
| A．disappointed | B．satisfied |
| C．regretful | D．relieved |
Why didn't they finish building the treehouse at first?
| A．It was too hot those summers. |
| B．Anton wasn't confident enough. |
| C．They gradually lost interest in it. |
| D．They were both occupied with other things. |
From the fourth paragraph, we can see that the father _____.
| A．was proud of his son |
| B．missed the last chance |
| C．felt content with the treehouse |
| D．hoped to finish the work perfectly |
It can be inferred that the author realized _____.
| A．the quiet passing of childhood |
| B．the difficulty in raising children |
| C．the children's dependence on their father |
| D．the significance of undertaking a common work with children |
Life in space will certainly take some getting used to！But the space station has been designed to keep the astronauts as comfortable as possible—the modules(舱) are roomy，bright，and kept at a constant 70 degrees Fahrenheit.It’s important the crew members are comfortable because they’ll be busy aboard the station.In a typical workday，crew members will spend 14 hours working and exercising,1.5 hours preparing and eating meals，and 8.5 hours sleeping.Here are some other fun facts about life aboard the station：
Food
Come mealtime，astronauts will have a special dining kitchen.Space food just keeps getting better—and more like food we enjoy here on Earth.In early space missions，astronauts could eat only freezedried food that didn’t require any preparation.But the space station is equipped with water，microwave ovens，and refrigerators，allowing the folks on board to eat more “normal” types of food，including fruit，vegetables，and ice cream!
Sleep
Each crew member has a private room.With no gravity，they’ll need to tie themselves to their beds，or they will float away！That might sound like a strange way to sleep，but astronauts from past space missions report that sleeping in space is actually pretty great!
Exercise
You might not think it，but exercise is even more important on the station than it is on Earth.There is not much gravity in space.Astronauts don’t stand up，sit down or walk in space，so their muscles and bones don’t have to work much—and this muscle and bone loss can be dangerous back on Earth.To fight this，astronauts on the station will exercise on bikes，rowing machines，and other equipment about two hours every day.
Clothing
Astronauts will have to wear special space suits while traveling aboard the U．S.shuttle or Russian rockets.But once they’re safe inside the space station，crew members can wear regular clothing.Of course，a specially designed，pressurized space suit is required for space walks.It has to withstand(经受住) flying pieces and protect the astronauts from dramatic temperature changes.It can range from 120 degrees below Fahrenheit in the shadow of the station to 250 degrees in the hot sun.
Personal Cleanliness
Simple tasks like brushing your teeth can be challenging in a weightless environment.A little water doesn’t flow in a stream—it suspends in a bubble！Astronauts will use a freshwater hose(软管) to take showers，shampoo，and wash off—then a second vacuum hose to suction(吸) off the dirty water.And how do you go to the bathroom in space？With a special “air toilet” that uses flowing air instead of water to dispose of waste.The facts about life in space are all mentioned EXCEPT ________.
| A．clothing | B．entertainment |
| C．sleep | D．exercise |
What can be learned from the paragraph “Clothing”？
| A．The temperature is quite different in different places in space. |
| B．Astronauts must wear special space suits all the time in space. |
| C．Astronauts can wear regular clothing for space walks now. |
| D．Astronauts wear pressurized space suits just to keep warm. |
Why is exercise more important in space than on earth?
| A．It can make astronauts feel relaxed in space. |
| B．It can help astronauts spend their spare time happily. |
| C．Astronauts’ lives are more important in space than on earth. |
| D．It can prevent astronauts from causing muscle and bone loss. |
What do we know about space food from the text?
| A．Astronauts could eat apples in space in the past. |
| B．Astronauts eat only fruit，vegetables and ice cream now. |
| C．Fresh food isn’t available to astronauts in space. |
| D．Space food is getting better now than before. |
One summer I was driving from my home town of Tahoe City，Calif.，to New Orleans.In the middle of the desert，I came upon a young man standing by the roadside.He had his thumb out and held a gas can in his other hand.I drove right by him.There was a time in the country when you’d be considered a jerk if you passed by somebody in need.Now you are a fool for helping.With gangs，drug addicts，murderers，rapists，thieves lurking everywhere，“I don’t want to get involved” has become a national motto.
Several states later I was still thinking about the hitchhiker.Leaving him standing in the desert did not bother me so much.What bothered me was how easily I had reached the decision.I never even lifted my foot off the accelerator.
Does anyone stop any more？I wondered.I recalled Blanche DuBois’s famous line：“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”．Could anyone rely on the kindness of strangers these days？One way to test this would be for a person to journey from coast to coast without any money，relying solely on the good will of his fellow Americans.What kind of Americans would he find？Who would feed him，shelter him，carry him down the road?
The idea intrigued me.
The week I turned 37，I realized that I had never taken a gamble in my life.So I decided to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny.It would be a cashless journey through the land of the almighty dollar.I would only accept offers of rides，food and a place to rest my head.My final destination would be Cape Fear in North Carolina，a symbol of all the fears I’d have to conquer during the trip.
I rose early on September 6,1994，and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge with a 50pound pack on my back and a sign displaying my destination to passing vehicles：“America”．
For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states.As I traveled，folks were always warning me about someplace else.In Montana they told me to watch out for the cowboys in Wyoming；in Nebraska they said people would not be as nice as in Iowa.Yet I was treated with kindness everywhere I went.I was amazed by people’s readiness to help a stranger，even when it seemed to run contrary to their own best interests.Why did the author drive past the young man in the desert without stopping?
| A．Because he failed to notice this man. |
| B．Because he was driving too fast. |
| C．Because he thought the young man didn’t need help. |
| D．Because he was afraid of being tricked. |
What was it that made the author upset?
| A．Leaving the young man alone in the desert. |
| B．Being considered a fool. |
| C．Making the decision of not offering help so easily. |
| D．Keeping thinking about the young man. |
The author decided to travel without a penny in order to ________.
| A．find out how long he could survive without help |
| B．go through the great difficulty in surviving unexpected environment |
| C．find out whether strangers would offer help to him |
| D．figure out how strangers thought of his plan |
The following part might probably ________.
| A．describe how he fooled the strangers |
| B．describe how strangers went out their way to help him |
| C．explain why people refused to help strangers |
| D．explain how he overcame his difficulties on the way |
If you are ever planning to buy a telescope and want to get yourself involved in astronomy it is always a good idea to know a bit of the sky.Get acquainted with a few constellations(星座) so that it will be easier for you to spot the constellations when you are using your telescope.
It’s a good idea to buy a few magazines on astronomy to help you to get familiar with the constellations in the sky and also read a few reviews on the different types of telescopes in the market.This will help you gather all the information that is out there regarding telescopes and what people have to say about them.
It’s advisable to go in for a pair of binoculars(双筒望远镜) before you buy your first telescope so that you can get used to spotting constellations before your view of the sky is narrowed down.This will also help you know if you really want to get involved in astronomy.Many people buy a costly telescope and then discover that they’re not actually interested in astronomy.
Experience has no substitute，and there certainly is nothing better than using different telescopes before you buy one.This will help you to get the feel of all the types of telescopes and you will know which one is easier for you to use.A large aperture(光圈) refractor(折射) may give you an excellent image but you may not be able to keep a steady hand while using it resulting in a blurry image.
There are three types of telescopes that are available in the market.If you want a more elegant looking telescope you can always choose to buy a fine brass telescope.It’s good to become acquainted with each type before going for the plunge of a first telescope.The first type of telescope is the refractor telescope，which uses lenses to gather light to a focus at the eye piece.The use of lenses helps the telescope have a superior image.A refracting telescope is not as portable as the other two types of telescopes and so you will have to buy one with a small aperture.
The second type of telescope is the Reflector.Made by Sir Isaac Newton，this telescope functions by focusing the light back at the front of the tube，which is where the eyepiece sits，by using parabolic(抛物线的) mirrors and another smaller mirror to deflect the light.There is no added color in the image caused by refraction of light since this telescope does not use lenses.These are the cheapest of all telescopes and are more portable than refractors.According to the text，a telescope is intended to be bought for ________.
| A．getting experience |
| B．watching stars |
| C．studying the climate |
| D．learning about a bit of the sky |
What can we learn from Paragraph 2?
| A．One must know something about astronomy and telescopes. |
| B．One can’t buy a telescope without buying several astronomy magazines. |
| C．One should check the telescopes in the market and try to find a better one. |
| D．One must be familiar with new information of astronomy and space instruments. |
Why does the author advise buying a pair of binoculars first?
| A．The telescope is too expensive. |
| B．The binoculars are easier to use. |
| C．You may gain plenty of experience in astronomy. |
| D．Your view will be narrow by using a pair of binoculars. |
What do we know about the refracting telescope?
| A．It looks very elegant. |
| B．It refracts light by an eye piece. |
| C．It has clear images without any lenses. |
| D．It is not convenient to take along for its size. |
Art is everywhere in our lives.Every manmade object is linked with art—a house，a motor car，a bridge，a chair，a teapot，or a piece of cloth.Throughout history，humans have made articles for a wide variety of purposes；generally for everyday practical requirements.The style of practical objects reflects the outlook and the spirit of the times in which they are made and in consequence style is constantly changing.
It seems that humans possess a natural urge to improve constructed objects with decoration：sometimes for beautification，sometimes for religious reasons，sometimes to show off their wealth and power，and sometimes to tell a story.Decoration is not art in itself.Unnecessary decoration can ruin the form and perhaps the function of an object，but when decoration is used with care，it can beautify，produce variety，and add interest.
The first essential(要点) in every creation is that it should properly fulfil its purpose；for instance，a teapot should pour perfectly，an easy chair should provide comfortable relaxation，a block of flats should be a pleasant place in which to live，and a factory or commercial building should be a suitable building in which to work.
The second essential is that an object should please the eye with its form，line，proportion(比例)，colour and texture(质地)，and it should be capable of inspiring the emotions.For example，contemporary furniture designers must think of form，function and structure，and have taken their lead from the outstanding Scandinavian designs of Denmark，Finland and Sweden，whose preference was for simple functional furniture to suit the architectural environment of the day.Heavy furniture is no longer desirable，and by contrast，modern furniture is often characterised by its good proportion，pleasing lines，simple fittings and attractive structures.
Motor vehicles are a perfect example of how design has changed to suit function.Early car design was greatly influenced by the horsedrawn carriage，but today we find functional design satisfying every requirement of practical use and good appearance.Designs in the 1980s and 1990s included streamlining(流线型) to reduce wind resistance in fastmoving vehicles，and，at the same time，satisfy an important art principle—rhythm.But the cars of today，often half size of their predecessors(前身)，have taken the concept of industrial design way beyond simple strength，comfort and beauty.They now include safety and ecological characteristics，reflecting the need to be environmentally friendly through，for example，reduced fuel consumption，while at the same time satisfying the need to be stylish，and appealing to the eye.For many people，the 21stcentury car represents the greatest work of art.What point does the writer make about decorating objects?
| A．It is something people have always done. |
| B．It can show the object has a range of functions. |
| C．It always improves the appearance of an object. |
| D．It is usually done to make the object more noticeable. |
The underlined word “fulfil” in Paragraph 3 means “________”．
| A．keep | B．find |
| C．change | D．realize |
What is the best title for the text?
| A．Form Follows Function |
| B．Life Is Art，Art Is Life |
| C．Art in Everyday Life |
| D．The Best Work of Art |
A job is more than just a job，especially to the older generation.“It’s not the money that matters，but the sense of selfworth，” 56yearold Cheng Wonlan said.So，every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels，letters and documents of all shapes and sizes and does her rounds in North Point.She’s a courier(快递人员)．
Five years ago，Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic.She had worked there for almost 30 years but was made jobless when the doctor migrated(移居)．It was extremely difficult for her to find another job.“People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am，” she said.After two years of searching，the mother of two eventually found another nursing job.But then after two years，she quit.Why?
“My colleagues were young and they didn’t understand me because of my age.They often asked me，‘You are so old；what are you working for？’ I was very unhappy.” she said.So while the rest of her family left for work，she was left to lonely boredom at home.The urge to work drove her to suffering.Then，one of Ms Cheng’s neighbours told her about Employee’s Retraining Board (ERB) offering retraining courses for older people on specific occupations，such as convenience store assistants，junior clerks and so on.
“I was interested in courier work.I didn’t think my age was a barrier because I was fit and healthy.So I thought why not give it a try.” she said.Upon graduation from the ERB，Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company Limited.But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict：she was caught between honour and employment.It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind and eventually came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job.So she took heart and went off to work as a courier.
Ms Cheng’s employer is delighted with her，“Ms Cheng has been working with us for two months and has shown a good responsible attitude to work.”Anthony Chong，who runs the company，said.Currently，Mr Chong has 60 couriers working for his company：five of them are over fifty，four of whom have been through the ERB plan.Mr Chong said he hired older people because they were able and reliable.“Age is not an important factor but attitude is.Many old people are more capable than the youngsters.They will not run from difficulties but the young ones will，” he said.“It is not easy to recruit (招募) young people since they shy away from hardship and challenges.”Why was it difficult for Ms Cheng to find another nursing job?
| A．Nursing clinics were hard to find. |
| B．People thought that old people couldn’t be trusted. |
| C．People thought she was too old to take on a new job. |
| D．People didn’t think she had enough working experience. |
Ms Cheng left her second nursing job because ________.
| A．she was bored |
| B．it was too difficult |
| C．she was too old to do the job |
| D．the other staff made her feel uncomfortable |
Employee’s Retraining Board is a plan for ________.
| A．finding jobs for older people |
| B．teaching new skills to older people |
| C．training older people to be couriers |
| D．giving older people something to do in their spare time |
When Ms Cheng was offered the courier job she ________.
| A．took it straight away |
| B．thought it over and then accepted it |
| C．thought about it and then refused it |
| D．refused it straight away but then changed her mind |
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