My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked,“Who broke this window?” Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done,but also what our teacher may have found out.She seldom became angry,but she was this time.
“Oh,” I thought.I was the one who broke the window.It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball.If I admitted guilt,I would be in a lot of trouble.How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit,”I thought.I didn’t want to raise my hand,but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward.I told the truth. “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had.
My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student,but I feared she was going to start with me. “I know how you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face.“Here is that field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now.It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway.You will not be punished as long as you remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed, I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.” I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide--the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.
All that remains of that day is my memory and the lesson my teacher taught me. That lesson stays with me every day and it will echo forever.
From the story, we can learn that the boy.
A.didn’tbreakthewindowonpurpose. |
B.lackedthestrengthtoadmithisguilt. |
C.triedtothinkaboutwhathehaddone. |
D.didn’tknowwhattheteacherwouldfindout. |
If the boy admitted guilt, he thought he would NOT .
A.bepunishedbytheteacher | B.makehisfatherangry |
C.payforthebrokenwindow | D.getabirdfieldguide |
Which of the following best describes the changes in the boy’s feelings?
A.Afraid-Surprised-Thankful | B.Frightened-Amazed-Proud. |
C.Regretful-Guilty-Excited. | D.Nervous-Afraid-Satisfied. |
Read the following passage and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.
A. Promise behaviors B. Attitude beats experience C. Job-winning qualities D. Employer and employee relation E. Stable career choices F. Importance of teamwork skills |
Despite the economy, experts advise students to major in what interests them.
Aware of the worst job market in more than 25 years, many students enrolling in colleges and universities this fall are considering majors that they believe will land them stable career.
Students with degrees in nursing, health care, accounting, computer, general science and engineering report the most success in finding jobs. Those with degrees in finance, journalism, graphic design, and international relations have had tougher times, liberal arts graduates also struggle.
Still career experts say students should major in whatever area most interests them, even if it’s a less specialized liberal arts field, such as Chinese and or sociology. In a national survey, communication, followed closely by a strong work ethic and team work skills, was rated at the most important qualities sought by employers. “Liberal arts teaches us how to learn. When we go out into the world of work, we are going to have to continue to learn,” said Dan Naegeli, director of the university of North Texas career center.
Texas Health Resources uses a wide range of workers at its 14 hospitals and other sites. The 18,000 employees company hires about 2000 people a year. It looks for candidates with “promise (有前途的) behaviors,” human resource director Justin Clem said.
“The resume is great… Education is wonderful,” Clem said. “But when we interview, we really want to look at situations they were put into the past, what actions they took, and what were the results. Do these results really support treating other people with courtesy dignity and respect? And communicating clearly and earning people’s trust? And thinking before they act?”
The company also looks for people who have record of providing service, said Janaelle Nowne, vice president of human resource. If a student mowed lawns or worked at a fast-food restaurant, she said, “ the things that we would want to hear is how you attended to providing service to people that you were working with and how you were attending to the quality of the products that you have. ”
“Experience is always helpful, but it is not always the guarantee that person is going to get the job,” she added. “We look at the behaviors and the attitude they bring in and their willingness to be a part of the team.”
Lockheed Martin has all sorts of jobs in all sorts of fields. One of the skills recruiters consider is the ability to work in teams.
“Most of what we do is problem solving, and you get people with different kinds of skills together to solve the problem,” said Norman Robbins, senior manager community relations. “If you are real bright but you can’t get along with anybody, you’re not going to be as successful as you will be if you can work in teams.”
PAINTER
Must have at least 3 years’ painting experience. Commercial and new construction work.
$ 10/hr. Immediate opening. Call 435-9201 with work history.
SECRETARY
Part-time position available in friendly, busy office. Good typing and general office skills.
Some weekends required. High pay. Various duties. Apply at East Side Management,
VETERINARIAN ASSISTANT(兽医助理)
Person needed for busy animal hospital. Some nights and weekends. Apply personally to Johnson-Marks Animal Hospital, 404 Snow Road, Syracuse, NY. 13224.
After 4 p. m. only please.
NURSES’ ASSISTANTS
Full-time and part-time positions available for modern nursing home. High pay. Call Mrs. Downes, R. N. at 534-7618.
COOK NEEDED
Immediately. Busy downtown restaurant. Must be good and dependable. Experience preferred. Weekends required. Call 324-9817.
SALESPERSON
Experienced. Must have some knowledge of men’s clothing industry. Available to work evenings and some Saturdays. Send resume(个人简历)to: Martin’s Apparel, 237 Rockledge St. Syracuse, NY. 13224.
TEACHER
Small private school needs English and math teachers. Must have BS degree and at least 4 years’ teaching experience. Send resume to: Wales Charter School 19 South 8th St. NY. 13214.
HOTEL
Needs part-time FRONT DESK CLERK. No experience necessary. Excellent people and phone skills a must. Some computer skills helpful. $13/hr. Call: Mr. Jones 357-2897.
If you want to get a job as a maths teacher, send your resume to ______.
A.237 Rockledge St. Syracuse, NY. 13224 |
B.404 Snow Road, Syracuse, NY. 13224 |
C.500 Park Drive, DeWitt, NY. 13214 |
D.19 South 8th St. NY. 13214 |
If you dislike working on Sundays, being a ______ should be your best choice.
A.cook | B.secretary | C.salesperson | D.veterinarian assistant |
If you want to get a job at ______, you must have office skills.
A.Martin’s Apparel | B.East Side Management |
C.Wales Charter School | D.Johnson-Marks Animal Hospital |
"Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television?" How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn't been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admit the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never found it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilized pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them, we used to go outside for our amusements to theaters, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talk occasionally. All that belongs to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the "goggle-box". We rush home or gulp down(吞咽)our meals to be in time for this or that program. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do-anything providing it doesn't interfere with the program. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a program, he is quickly silenced.
The whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly (television). Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The telly is universal pacifier(抚慰者).It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set.It doesn’t matter that the children will watch rubbishy commercials or violence-so long as they are quiet.
There is little limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is why most of programs are bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programs, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in preliterate(无文字的)communities. We become completely dependent on the two most primitive media of communication: pictures and the spoken word.
Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with secondhand experiences. It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We got so lazy; we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be a splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountain, far away from civilization. In quiet, natural surroundings, we quickly discover how little we miss the repetitive oppression of King Telly.
According to this passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.We used to have hobbies and go to theaters and sporting events. |
B.We have a leisurely evening meal and exchange the news when we watch TV. |
C.We quickly finish our meals so as to be in time for TV programs. |
D.We are usually silent and attentive in front of TV. |
The main idea of the second paragraph is to show that_____.
A.children are very noisy |
B.TV is full of rubbishy commercials or violence |
C.television disturbs our sleep |
D.the whole generations are fascinated with TV |
Which is the best title for this passage?
A.Television Encourages Passive Enjoyment |
B.Television Is Doing Irreparable(不能挽回的)harm |
C.Television Is a Universal Pacifier |
D.We Can't Live Without TV |
This passage is an article of_____.
A.narration | B.description |
C.criticism | D.argumentation |
The speaker, a teacher from a community college, addressed a sympathetic(赞同的) audience. Heads nodded in agreement when he said, “High school English teachers are not doing their jobs.” He described the inadequacies of his students, all high school graduates who can use language only at a grade 9 level. I was unable to determine from his answers to my questions how this grade 9 level had been established.
My topic is not standards nor its decline(降低). What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like a mature adult.
My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it is inevitable. It is also human nature to look for the reasons for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language deficiencies (缺陷). But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack.
The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they assume the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of sensitive adults the language of the young always seems inadequate.
Since this concern about the decline and fall of the English language is not perceived(察觉) as a generational phenomenon but rather as something new and peculiar(特有的) to today’s young people, it naturally follows that today’s English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. Otherwise, young people would not commit offenses against the language.
The speaker the author mentioned in the passage believed that _____.
A.the language of the younger generation is usually inferior(差的) to that of the older generation |
B.the students had a poor command of English because they didn’t work hard enough |
C.he was an excellent language teacher because he had been teaching English for sixteen years |
D.English teachers should be held responsible for the students’ poor command of English |
In the author’s opinion, the speaker ______.
A.gave a correct judgment of the English level of the students |
B.had exaggerated(夸大) the language problems of the students |
C.was right in saying that English teachers were not doing their jobs |
D.could think and speak intelligently |
The author’s attitude towards the speaker’s remarks is ______.
A.neutral | B.positive | C.critical | D.compromising |
It can be concluded from the passage that ______.
A.it is justifiable(有理由的) to include English as a school subject |
B.the author disagrees with the speaker over the standard of English at Grade 9 level |
C.English language teaching is by no means an easy job |
D.language improvement needs time and effort |
In the passage the author argues that ______.
A.it is unfair to blame the English teachers for the language deficiencies of the students |
B.young people would not commit offences against the language if the teachers did their jobs properly |
C.to eliminate(消除) language deficiencies one must have sensitive eyes and ears |
D.to improve the standard of English requires the effort of several generations |
Greeks play a special game at Easter and it’s good fun! The rules of the game are as follows: 1.Everyone picks out a hard-boiled Waster Egg.2.Each player finds a partner.One person will be a “holder”, and the other will be a “tapper”.Holders should hold the egg with either the pointy end or the round end facing up.Tappers should hold the egg with that same end facing down.Tapping must be done pointy-end-to-pointy-end or round-end-to-round-end.3.With one good tap, the tapper tries to crack the holder’s egg.One player will end up with a cracked egg.4.Each player finds another partner and repeats steps 2 and 3.(After one end of the egg is cracked, players may continue to play using the uncracked end).5.A player loses when both ends of his egg have been cracked.The winner is the person who still has an uncracked egg.6.Enjoy eating the eggs!
Dye your Easter eggs.With an adult’s help, dye hard-boiled eggs red using food coloring or egg dye.For a nice sheen, use a paper towel to rub some oil on each egg.But don’t use too much oil---you wouldn’t want your egg to slide out of your hand when you play the egg-cracking game!
Why dye eggs red? Eggs represent new life and the red dye symbolizes the pain and suffering in the past.
Why crack eggs? Some say that the cracking of the eggs symbolizes a wish to break away from human misery and enter the new life.
A player has to drop out of the game when _____.
A.the pointy end of his egg is cracked |
B.the round end of his egg is cracked |
C.his egg slides out of the hand |
D.his egg is cracked at both ends |
Why is oil rubbed on the egg?
A.To give the egg a shiny appearance |
B.To make the game more difficult to play |
C.To protect the hand of the player |
D.To symbolize the wealth of the Greeks |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The holders hold the eggs with the pointy end facing up in most cases |
B.If one end of the player’s egg is cracked, he will eat the egg |
C.The player in the game must dye his egg red independently |
D.It’s said that the broken eggs represent the wish to lead a new life |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.The suffering of the Greeks | B.The Easter holidays |
C.Celebrate Greek Easter | D.A special game |
It has been difficult to sit on the bench the majority of my high school basketball career,to watch my team from the sideline and 36 why I am not good enough to be on the floor. 37 endless hours of work and devotion, pushing myself through drill after drill, the 38 thing I want is to be a cheerleader. The feeling of being 39 is sometimes too much and drives me to 40 on the spot. I often feel as though my efforts are wasted and my time is eaten away, devoted to 41 .
It is heartbreaking to be a spectator(旁观者) for the game I love,knowing that no one has enough 42 to give me the chance to 43 on the floor. Tears well up, but I hold them back. I shouldn’t be so 44 over something so silly.
Away from the game, it’s easier to put my thoughts together, 45 letting my emotions drive my reasoning. I consider 46 I am where I am. I have played football my whole life. I have a passion for the 47 and always have. There is nothing like the excitement of 48 : the swish of the net, the sweat rolling off my cheeks, even the bruises(青肿) are battle wounds worn 49 after every game.
Even if I don’t play much, I participate in every 50 . I am part of a team of girls who 51 together like a family. I am there for them, 52 they are for me.
Should I move on? Or should I stay with my team and pursue my passion just a little longer?
The decision isn’t difficult when I consider the 53 that being a part of a team brings me --- and not just any team, 54 my team. I love basketball and my teammates. When I think about that, my view from the bench really isn’t so bad 55 .
A.consider B.wonder C.think D.hesitate
A.Since B.During C.After D.Before
A.other B.next C.first D.last
A.worthless B.hopeless C.helpless D.careless
A.fight B.quit C.transform D.retire
A.something B.nothing C.anything D.everything
A.sympathy B.encouragement C.permission D.faith
A.respond B.perform C.promote D.practice
A.scared B.nervous C.upset D.amazed
A.less than B.more than C.other than D.rather than
A.why B.how C.whether D.what
A.bench B.sport C.drill D.battle
A.waiting B.watching C.leaning D.playing
A.proudly B.bravely C.unfortunately D.painfully
A.decision B.plan C.game D.project
A.compete B.stick C.live D.represent
A.because B.if C.as D.though
A.joy B.patience C.challenge D.position
A.so B.as C.but D.like
A.above all B.after all C.and all D.all in all
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can withstand(抵抗)depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress is, it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives (it would be unwise to do so even if we could), we need to find ways to deal with it.
People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.
A.they do not know how to enjoy themselves |
B.they do not believe that relaxation is important for health |
C.they are travelling fast all the time |
D.they are becoming busier with their work |
According to the writer, the most important character for a good manager is his ________.
A.not fearing stress | B.knowing the art of relaxation |
C.high sense of responsibility | D.having control over performance |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.We can find some ways to avoid stress. |
B.Stress is always harmful to people. |
C.It is easy to change the habit of keeping oneself busy with work. |
D.Different people can withstand different amounts of stress. |
In Paragraph 3, "such a reaction" refers back to_______.
A."making a choice between 'flight' or 'fight'" |
B."reaction to stress both chemically and physically" |
C."responding to crises quickly" |
D."losing heart at the signs difficulties" |
In the last sentence of the passage, "do so " refers to ______.
A."expose ourselves to stress" |
B."find ways to deal with stress" |
C."remove stress from our lives" |
D."established links between diseases and stress" |
I needed to get some money so, after Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham's for the first fortnight of the January sale.I can't say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I'll never forget.
I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales, where did they all come from? Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock (货物) and the stock that people buy all the year round; some of these things are slightly reduced.Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn't sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them.Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale.Clever! Lastly, they buy in “seconds”(clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.
When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building.This made me very nervous.
When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards looking less confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand.The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in.I couldn't believe my eyes; this wasn't shopping, it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn't keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.
Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colours and styles they wanted.Quarrels broke out.Mothers were using their small children to crawl through people's legs and get hold of things they couldn't get near themselves.
Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose; each wanting to be the first served.Where had the famous English queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper81 was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why twice a year, Graham's were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.
In the sale fever; people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying.As long as it was a bargain it was OK.You won't believe this.But as soon as I got home I crashed out for four hours.Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.
What kind of clothes is likely to be s0ld 5% cheaper?
A.Last summer's clothes, |
B.Clothes not in perfect condition. |
C.Clothes bought in specially for the sales. |
D.Clothes for winter. |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.The customers gave up the queuing, for which the English are famous. |
B.The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted. |
C.Small children enjoyed crawling though people's legs. |
D.The security guards were fearless of the crowd. |
In the author's opinion, why were Gradhani's happy to make, their expensive store into a "battlefield"?
A.There were too many clothes and they wanted to clear them in the sales. |
B.They were eager to show that they were clever at doing business. |
C.They could take the chance to raise the prices of all their clothes. |
D.They wanted to make more money by having sales. |
The expression "crashed out" means _____.
A.chatted with her friends | B.slept soundly |
C.broke down | D.dined out |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.The Best Bargain. | B.Hunting for a Job. |
C.Sale Fever. | D.A Pleasant Fortnight. |
This brief book is aimed at high school students, but speaks to anyone learning at any stage of life.
Its formal, serious style closely matches its content, a school-masterly book on schooling. The author, W. H. Armstrong, starts with the basics: reading and writing. In his opinion, reading doesn’t just mean recognizing each word on the page; it means taking in the information, digesting it and incorporating it into oneself just as one digests a sandwich and makes it a part of himself. The goal is to bring the information back to life, not just to treat it as dead facts on paper from dead trees. Reading and writing cannot be completely separated from each other; in fact, the aim of reading is to express the information you have got from the text. I’ve seen it again and again: someone who can’t express an idea after reading a text is just as ineffective as someone who hasn’t read it at all.
Only a third of the book remains after that discussion, which Armstrong devotes to specific tips for studying languages, math, science and history. He generally handles these topics thoroughly and equally, except for some weakness in the science and math sections and a bit too much passion regarding history. Well, he was a history teacher —if conveyed only a tenth of his passion to his students, that was a hundred times more than my history teachers ever got across.
To my disappointment, in this part of the book he ignores the arts.As a matter of fact, they demand all the concentration, and study that math arid science do, though the study differs slightly in kind.Although it's commonly believed that the arts can only be naturally acquired, actually, learning the arts is no more natural than learning French or mathematics.
My other comment is that tke text aged.The first edition apparently dates to the 1960s—none of the references (参考文献) seem newer than the late 1950s.As a result, the discussion misses the entire computer age.
These are small points, though, and don't affect the main discussion.I recommend it to any student and any teacher, including the self-taught student.
According to Armstrong, the goal of reading is to ____ .
A.gain knowledge and expand one's view |
B.understand the meaning between the lines |
C.express ideas based on what one has read |
D.get information and keep it alive in memory |
The author of the passage insists that learning the arts___ .
A.requires great efforts | B.demands real passion |
C.is less natural than learning maths | D.is as natural as learning a language |
What is a shortcoming of Armstrong's work.according to- the author?
A.Some ideas are slightly contradictory. |
B.There is too much discussion on studying science. |
C.The style is too serious. |
D.It lacks new information. |
This passage can be classified as ___.
A.an advertisement | B.a book review |
C.a feature story | D.a news report |
Too much TV-watching can harm children’s ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree, new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on children.
One of the studies looked at nearly 400northern California third-graders. Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without bedroom TVs.
A second study ,looking at nearly 1000 grown-ups in New Zealand, found lower education levels among 26-year –olds who had watched lots of TV during childhood .But the results don’t prove that TV is the cause and don't ride out that already poorly motivated youngsters(年轻人)may wash lots of TV.
Their study measured the TV habits of 26-year-olds between ages5 and 15. These with college degrees had watched拍average of tess than two hours of TV per weeknight during childhood, compared with an average of me than 2 1/2 hours for those who had no education beyond high school
In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest
While this study does not prove that bedroom TV sets caused the lower scores , it adds to accumulating findings that children shouldn’t have TVs in their bedrooms
According to the Califomia study, the low-scoring group might 。
A.have watched a lot of TV |
B.not be interested ted in math |
C.be unable to go to college |
D.have had computers in their bedrooms |
What is the researchers' understanding of tbe New Zealand study results?
A.Poorly motivated 26-year-olds watch more TV. |
B.Habits of TV watching reduce learning interest[来 |
C.TV watching leads to lower education levels of the 15-year-olds. |
D.The connection between TV and education levels is difficult to explain |
What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A.More time should be spent on computers.
B.Children should be forbidden from watching TV.
B.TV sets shouldn't be allowed in children's bedrooms
D.Further studies on high-achieving students should be done
What would be the best title for this text?
A.Computers or Television |
B.Effects of Television on Children |
C.Studies on TV and College Education |
D.Television and Children's Learning Habits |
I used to work in an office, which had a Iocust tree growing outside the window. It had grown into a tall tree and must have been there for a long time. The tree blocked the view and made the office seem dull. Unfortunately, this happened to be the room assigned to me, and l was depressed by it for quite some time.
When the first spring came, everything was green except the locust tree.I felt very happy because I had thought it had died!
One morning, when I opened the window for some fresh air, I unexpectedly smelt a familiar sweet scent floating into my office which I could not name. Suddenly,I realized it was the locust tree!The tree that I thought dead was in full bloom!
From then on, I usually came to the office very early to see dew forming on the locust tree blossoms, and was eager to see spring again every year.
During summer, the green leaves provided shade protecting me from the harsh sunlight, but allowing enough light in to make it pleasant. In autumn, the leaves turned many different colors. Its beauty touched my soul. Many times, I thought to take photos but never did. Then, I had to leave in a hurry. Later in life, it became a great regret that I had not done so.
Actually, many times in our lives we think we own something and thus do not value it. We don't feel regretful until we lose it one day! Moreover, sometimes, we have to accept the things we don't want and need to discover the hidden beauty to find unexpected joy!
The locust tree first attracted the author most by____.
A.the way it blocked the view | B.its height |
C.the smell of its flowers | D.its green leaves |
In which season do you think the author paid the least attention to the locust tree?
A.Spring. | B.Summer | C.Autumn. | D.Winter. |
Which of the following statements is true of the author according to the passage?
A.He would have regretted if the locust tree had died as he had thought it had. |
B.The locust tree turned out to be a lovely memory for him. |
C.He felt unhappy as he had forgotten to take the photos with him. |
D.His work in the office changed with the seasons every year. |
It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A.the locust tree died soon after the author left the office |
B.the author worked in the office for at least a few years |
C.it was summer when the author took his job in the office |
D.the weather was dry when the author first saw the tree |
What advice does the author intend to give us?
A.Treasure what we've owned. | B.Look before you leap. |
C.Treat everything calmly. | D.Never forget the past. |
When I was born, my parents immediately noticed something wrong. My feet were deformed (畸形的), pointing inward and curling under. I wore casts (石膏) and foot braces (支架) in my first two years to correct the problem. Yet I learned to balance and walk in casts. Soon after the last set of casts came off,Mom enrolled me in dance classes as therapy for my feet. I, however,quickly decided to try something else. Not far from my house was an ice rink (溜冰场) in the mall. There,local skaters would perform ice shows. I wanted to try skating.
I started taking group skating lessons. Performing on ice came naturally. For me,skating has never been about beating others. It’s been about being my personal best. I progressed through various levels rapidly and gave my first ice performance at age seven. Soon I started winning local and regional competitions. That’s because being on the ice has always been the one place I can truly express my emotions. The ice is like home.
I began seriously training when I was nine years old. After graduating from girls’ high school,I moved to Canada. Saying goodbye to my family and friends made me homesick,but I knew deep down that I had to leave and train full-time to give my dreams a chance at reality.
I went to compete in the Olympic Games in 1992.I was the first of the final six skaters on the ice. My long performance started well,but I slipped while landing one of my easiest triple jumps,and my hand touched the ice. I didn’t want to make two mistakes in a row,so next I did a jump with just two spins to play it safe. As I neared the end,I had one more jump. I landed it perfectly.
When medals were awarded,I found myself on the top step,the gold hanging around my neck and America’s national anthem playing. Words can’t describe the overwhelming mixture of emotions I felt.
The author was enrolled in dance classes to________.
A.meet her interest |
B.improve her dancing skills |
C.help treat her feet |
D.prepare her for skating |
When the author says “The ice is like home”,she really means she________.
A.can express herself through her performance on ice |
B.can beat others in local and regional competitions |
C.can overcome her difficulty in walking |
D.has realized her dream to perform on ice |
The author moved to Canada after graduating from girls’ high school because________.
A.she could get better treatment of her feet there |
B.she would do full-time training there |
C.that was where the Olympics would hold |
D.she wanted to have further study there |
What do we learn about the author’s performance in the 1992 Olympic Games?
A.She completed it without any mistake. |
B.She made one mistake on the final landing. |
C.She did it quite well except for one mistake. |
D.She made more than one mistake. |
By her own experience,the author intends to tell us________.
A.we can realize our dream if we have the courage to pursue it |
B.even the disabled can take part in the Olympic Games |
C.sports can help people heal both body and mind |
D.sports events are not about winning only |
A car that runs on coffee is unveiled(shown to the public for the first time)today but at between 25 and 50 times the cost of running a car on petrol, the invention won’t please any motor industry accountants.
Nicknamed the Car-puccino, it has been created using a 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco bought for £400 and it was chosen because it looked like the time-traveling DeLorean in the movie Back To The Future.The car will be driven the 210 miles between Manchester and London powered only by roasted coffee granules (颗粒).It has been built by a team from the BBC1 science programme Bang Goes The Theory and will go on display at the Big Bang science fair in Manchester to show how fuels other than traditional petrol can power vehicles.
The team calculates the Car-puccino will do three miles per kilo of ground coffee (咖啡粉) — about 56 cups of espressos (浓咖啡) per mile.The journey will use about 70 kilos of ground coffee which, at supermarket prices of between £13 and £26 a kilo depending on brand and quality, will cost between £910 and £1,820, or between 25 and 50 times the £36 cost of petrol for the journey.In total, the trip will cost 11,760 espressos, and the team will have to take ‘coffee breaks’ roughly every 30 to 45 miles to pour in more granules.They will also have to stop about every 60 miles to clean out the ‘coffee filters’ to rid them of the soot and tar which is also generated by the process.So despite a top speed of 60mph, the many stops mean the going will be slow, with the journey taking around ten hours.
Sadly, the inventors will still have to pay duty on their coffee fuel---even though tax collectors at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Custom haven’t yet worked out how much.
Nick Watson, producer of Bang Goes The Theory, said, “Coffee, like wood or coal, has some carbon content so you can use it as a fuel.The coffee needs to be very dry and in granules to allow the air to move through the pile of coffee as it burns.The brand doesn’t matter.” He said the same technology could be used to power a car on other unusual fuels, such as woodchips or nut shells, construction or agricultural waste.
Which is the right way to choose the coffee used as fuels to run the Car-puccino?
A.It should be very dry. | B.The stronger, the better. |
C.The smaller the granules are, the better. | D.It should be of a certain brand. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
A.All kinds of materials can be used as fuels. |
B.The Car-puccino will be put into the market soon. |
C.Nick Watson is the designer of the Car-puccino |
D.Much remains to be improved for the Car-puccino. |
The Car-puccino has its disadvantages EXCEPT that ________.
A.it makes a lot of noise |
B.it runs at a very high cost |
C.it has to stop to be refueled very often |
D.it’s not good enough for long-distance journey |
How much ground coffee will be used to cover a distance of 126 miles in this car?
A.About 70 kilos | B.About 42 kilos. | C.About 32 kilos | D.About 30 kilos |
Why can coffee be used as a fuel?
A.It looks like wood or coal. | B.It contains some carbon content. |
C.It is very cheap. | D.It is much better than woodchips or nut shells. |
It was a beautiful day at the beach—blue sky, gentle wind, calm sea.I knew these things because a man sitting five feet from me was shouting them into his mobile phone, like a play-by-play announcer (实况解说员).
“IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY,” he shouted.“THE SKY IS BLUE, AND THERE’S A GENTLE WIND, AND THE WATER IS CALM, AND…”
Behind me, a woman, her mobile phone pressed to her ear was walking back and forth.
“She DIDN’T,” she was saying.“No.She DIDN’T.She DID? Really? Are you SERIOUS? She did NOT.She DID? No she…”
And so on.This woman had two children, who were playing in the sea.I found myself watching them, because the woman surely was not.A huge squid could have caught and snatched the children, and this woman would not have noticed.Or, if she had noticed, she’d have said, “Listen.I have to go, because a huge squid just……No! She didn’t ! She DID? No! She……”
And next to me, the play-by-play man would have said: “…AND A HUGE SQUID JUST ATE TWO CHILDREN, AND I’M GETTING A LITTLE SUNBURNED, AND …”
It used to be that the major trouble at the beach was the fellow who brought a boom box (便携式录音机) and turned it up so loud that the bass notes caused seagulls to explode.But at least you knew where these fellows were; you never know which beachgoers have mobile phones.You’ll settle next to what appears to be a sleeping sunbather, or even (you hope) a corpse , and you’ll lie happily on your towel, and you’ll get all the way to the second sentence of your 467-page book before you fall asleep to the hypnotic surge of the surf (催人入梦的潮声), and …
BREEP! BREEP! The corpse sits up, feels urgently for its mobile phone, and shouts “Hello! I’m at the beach! Yes! It’s nice! Very peaceful! What? She did? No, she didn’t! She DID? No, she…”
Loud mobile-phoners never seem to get urgent calls.Just once, I’d like to hear one of them say, “Hello? Yes, this is Dr.Johnson.Oh, Dr.Smith.You’ve opened the abdominal cavity (腹腔)? Good! Now the appendix should be right under the … What? No, that’s the liver.Don’t take THAT out, ha ha! Oh, you did? My God! OK, now listen carefully…”
From the passage we can know that the writer of the passage _____.
A.had a wonderful holiday at the beach |
B.must have suffered a lot because of the terrible weather |
C.is only interested in talks by doctors about operation |
D.experienced an unhappy holiday at the beach |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A.The writer often spends his holidays at the beach. |
B.A huge squid ate two children while their mother was not watching. |
C.Some people used to play boom box while spending their holidays at the beach. |
D.Some people often make loud mobile phone calls without caring for others. |
The underlined word“ corpse”in this passage has the closest meaning to________.
A.a dead body | B.a loud mobile phone |
C.a sound sleeper | D.a sleep lover |
In the past the fellow who brought a boom box_________.
A.turned it up to make the seagulls happy |
B.turned it up to cause the seagulls to explode |
C.might cause less trouble than the beachgoers with mobile phones |
D.might cause more trouble than the beachgoers with mobile phones |
We can infer from the passage that _______.
A.the writer is interested in mobile phone. |
B.the writer hates people using mobile phone |
C.the writer hates to be disturbed while enjoying holidays on the beach. |
D.the writer seldom finishes reading a book before going to sleep. |