For those who make journeys across the world, the speed of travel today has turned the countries into a series of villages. Distances between them appear no greater to a modern traveler than those which once faced men as they walked from village to village. Jet plane fly people from one end of the earth to the other, allowing them a freedom of movement undreamt of a hundred years ago.
Yet some people wonder if the revolution in travel has gone too far. A price has been paid, they say, for the conquest (征服) of time and distance. Travel is something to be enjoyed, not endured . The boat offers leisure and time enough to appreciate the ever-changing sights and sounds of a journey. A journey by train also has a special charm about it. Lakes and forests and wild, open plains sweeping past your carriage window create a grand view in which time and distance mean nothing. On board a plane, however, there is just the blank blue of the sky filling the narrow window of the airplane. The soft lighting, in-flight films and gentle music make up the only world you know, and the hours progress slowly.
Then there is the time spent being “processed” at a modern airport. People are conveyed like robots along walkways; baggage is weighed, tickets produced, examined and produced yet again before the passengers move again to another waiting area. Journeys by rail and sea take longer, yes, but the hours devoted to being “processed” at departure and arrival in airports are luckily absent. No wonder, then, that the modern high-speed trains are winning back passengers from the airlines.
Man, however, is now a world traveler and can not turn his back on the airplane. The working lives of too many people depend upon it; whole new industries have been built around its design and operation. The holiday maker, too, with limited time to spend, patiently endures the busy airports and limited space of the flight to gain those extra hours and even days, relaxing in the sun. Speed controls people’s lives; time saved, in work or play, is the important thing—or so we are told. Perhaps those first horsemen, riding free across the wild, open plains, were enjoying a better world than the one we know today. They could travel at will, and the clock was not their master.
What does the writer try to express in Paragraph1?
A.Travel by plane has speeded up the growth of villages. |
B.The speed of modern travel has made distances relatively short. |
C.The freedom of movement has helped people realize their dreams. |
D.Man has been fond of travelling rather than staying in one place. |
How does the writer support the underlined statement in Paragraph2?
A.By giving instructions. |
B.By analyzing cause and effect. |
C.By following the order of time. |
D.By giving examples. |
According to Paragraph 3, passengers are turning back to modern high-speed trains because______.
A.they pay less for the tickets |
B.they feel safer during the travel |
C.they can enjoy higher speed of travel |
D.they don’t have to be “processed” |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Air travel benefits people and industries. |
B.Train Travel has some advantages over air travel. |
C.Great changes have taken place in modern travel. |
D.The high speed of air travel is gained at a cost. |
Sometimes just when we need the power of miracles to change our beliefs, they materialize in the places we’d least expect. They can come to us as a drastic alteration in our physical reality or as a simple synchronicity in our lives. Sometimes they’re big and can’t be missed Other times they’re so subtle that if we aren’t aware, we may miss them altogether. They can come from the lips of a stranger we suddenly and mysteriously encounter at just the right instant. If we listen carefully, we’ll always hear the right words,at the right time, to dazzle us into a realization of something that we may have failed to notice only moments before.
On a cold January afternoon in 1989,I was hiking up the trail that leads to the top of Egypt’s Mt. Horeb. I’d spent the day at St. Catherine’s Monastery and wanted to get to the peak by sunset to see the valley below. As I was winding up the narrow path,I’d occasionally see other hikers who were coming down from a day on the mountain. While they would generally pass with simply a nod or a greeting in another language,there was one man that day who did neither.
I saw him coming from the last switchback on the trail that led to the backside of the mountain. As he got closer,I could see that he was dressed differently from the other hikers I’d seen. Rather than the high-tech fabrics and styles that had been the norm,this man was wearing traditional Egyptian clothing. He wore a tattered, rust-colored galabia and obviously old and thick-soled sandals that were covered in dust. What made his appearance so odd,though,was that the man didn’t even appear to be Egyptian! He was a small-framed Asian man, had very little hair,and was wearing round,wire-rimmed glasses.
As we neared one another,I was the first to speak.“Hello,”I said,stopping on the trail for a moment to catch my breath. Not a sound came from the man as he walked closer. I thought that maybe he hadn’t heard me or the wind had carried my voice away from him in another direction. Suddenly he stopped directly in front of me on the high side of the trail, looked up from the ground, and spoke a single sentence to me in English,“Sometimes you don’t know what you have lost until you’ve lost it.”As I took in what I had just heard,he simply stepped around me and continued his descent down the trail.
That moment in my life was a small miracle. The reason is less about what the man said and more about the timing and the context. The year was 1989,and the Cold War was drawing to a close. What the man on the trail couldn’t have known is that it was during my Egyptian pilgrimage, and specifically during my hike to the top of Moses’s mountain,that I’d set the time aside to make decisions that would affect my career in the defense industry,my friends,my family,and,ultimately,my life.
I had to ask myself what the chances were of an Asian man dressed in an Egyptian galabia coming down from the top of this historic mountain just when I was walking up,stopping before me,and offering his wisdom,seemingly from out of nowhere. My answer to my own question was easy: the odds were slim to none! In an encounter that lasted less than two minutes on a mountain halfway around the world from my home, a total stranger had brought clarity, and the hint of a warning, regarding the huge changes that I would make within a matter of days. In my way of thinking,that’s a miracle.
I suspect that we all experience small miracles in our lives every day. Sometimes we have the wisdom and the courage to recognize them for what they are. In the moments when we don’t,that’s okay as well. It seems that our miracles have a way of coming back to us again and again. And each time they do,they become a little less subtle,until we can’t possibly miss the message that they bring to our lives!
The key is that they’re everywhere and occur every day for different reasons, in response to the different needs that we may have in the moment. Our job may be less about questioning the extraordinary things that happen in our daily lives and more about accepting the gifts they bring.
Why did the author make a pilgrimage to Mt. Horeb in Egypt?
A.He was in search of a miracle in his life. |
B.It was a holy place for a religious person to head for. |
C.He intended to make arrangements for his life in the future. |
D.He waited patiently in expectation of meeting a wise person. |
What does the underlined part “my own question” refer to in Paragraph 6?
A.For what reason did the man stop before me? |
B.Why did the Asian man go to the mountain? |
C.What change would I make within a matter of days? |
D.What was the probability that others told us the right words? |
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “subtle” in Paragraph 7?
A.Apparent. | B.Delicate. |
C.Precise. | D.Sufficient. |
The author viewed the encounter with the Asian man as a miracle in his life in that .
A.the Asian man’s appearance had a deciding effect on his future life |
B.his words were in perfect response to the need he had at that moment |
C.what the Asian man said was abundant in the philosophy of life |
D.the Asian man impressed on him the worth of what he had possessed |
What might be the best title for the passage?
A.Can you recognize a miracle? |
B.Is a miracle significant to us? |
C.When might a miracle occur? |
D.Why do we need a miracle? |
For some minutes, all was quiet in the street. Then, from across the street, someone came walking at a slow pace.
It looked like a man of middle height, dressed in a big raincoat, a soft hat and rubber soled boots or shoes, and making little sound while walking: at most a soft, sliding sound. No one was in sight. It was a street with two rows of about fifty small houses, and there were three lamps on either side. The lamp nearest the child’s house could be seen clearly, but the others were almost hidden by the smoky air. A car passed the end of the street and its lights showed faintly, but clearly enough the wrinkled skin of a woman’s small face. The car disappeared as the woman, wrapped up in her coat, reached the doorway of the child’s house.
She put a key into the lock quickly, pushed the door open and stepped inside, then close the door without looking round. She began to breathe hard.
She leaned against the door for a moment, then straightened up as if with an effort, and walked towards the door of the front room, the passage leading to the kitchen, and the narrow staircase. She hesitated outside the door, and then went up the stairs, quickly but with hardly a sound. There was enough light from the narrow hall to show the four doors leading off a small landing. She pushed each door open in turn and shone a torch inside, and the light fell upon beds, walls, furniture, a bathroom band basin, a mirror which flashed brightness back; but this was not what the woman was looking for. She turned away and went downstairs and hesitated again at the foot of the stairs, then turned towards the kitchen. Clearly there was nothing there, or in the small wash-room, that she wanted. Two rooms remained; the front room and a smaller one next to it. She opened the front room door. After a moment, she saw the child’s bed and the child.
The lights of the car passing the end of the street showed that _______.
A.a woman was walking by herself up the street |
B.a man was walking up the street |
C.a man was driving by himself up the street |
D.a woman was driving the car |
When she got into the house, the woman ______.
A.went upstairs at once | B.seemed tired |
C.started breathing again | D.felt excited |
What the woman was looking for was _______.
A.furniture | B.a bathroom-basin |
C.a room | D.a child |
From the description above we can see that the woman was _______.
A.old and earnest | B. energetic and cold |
C.young and powerful | D. weak and hopeless |
It’s no secret that doing good makes others happy – but did you know it can make you happy as well?
According to a study, people participating in meaningful activities were happier and felt that their lives had more purpose than people who only engaged in pleasure-seeking behaviors.
Try giving these four things to others to start your journey to a happier and healthier lifestyle.
1. Your Time
With a busy life, it can be hard to find any time to give away. However, volunteering your time has great benefits, including making new friends and connections, learning new skills and even advancing your career.
According to a paper about the link between health and volunteering, volunteering is connected with lower instances of depression and reduces the risk of dying by 22 percent.
2. Your Attention
Most of us think we’re good listeners, but according to psychologist Paul Donoghue, most people are aware that others don’t listen as well as they could. In addition, they’re not fully aware that they themselves aren’t listening.
When practicing mindfulness meditation(正念禅修), you focus on what you experience in the moment and let your thoughts and emotions pass through without judgment. Did you know that giving someone your undivided attention helps you also? When done well, active listening strengthens your focus-which is a major part of good meditation.
3. Your Compassion
The psychological meaning of compassion is the ability to understand another person’s emotional state. Compassion differs from empathy(移情) in that those who experience compassion not only put themselves in another person’s shoes, but also want to reduce that person’s suffering.
A brain-imaging study showed that the brain’s pleasure centers are equally active when we give money to the poor as when we receive money ourselves.
4. Your Money
According to an experiment, those who spend money on other people are significantly happier than those who spend the same quantity of money on themselves.
Whether or not you can offer other gifts, donating money helps make real change happen. It represents time spent, compassion and careful attention to the needs of others.
Who is the happiest according to the study mentioned in Paragraph 2?
A.Bill, who is often invited to play golf by his wealthy uncle. |
B.Tom, who is on the way to be the richest man in the world. |
C.Mike, who is not well-off but often does what he can to those in need. |
D.John, who is a disabled young man but has married a very beautiful girl. |
What does the underlined word “depression” in Paragraph 5 mean?
A.pleasure | B.unhappiness |
C.connection | D.misunderstanding |
Which of the four gifts matters most according to the author?
A.Time. | B.Money. | C.Attention. | D.Compassion. |
What is the purpose of the passage?
A.To encourage people to help others. |
B.To give the meaning of “happiness”. |
C.To offer a practical way of life. |
D.To show his kindness. |
Many people rely on a cup of coffee or two to wake them up in the morning or pick them up during the working day, but now a chemist has come up with a speedy alternative to crafting a cup of coffee.
U.S. biochemist Ben Yu has created Sprayable Energy, which claims to be the world’s first caffeine - based topical energy spray. He said tired workers can spray a `shot` of caffeine onto their skin without experiencing a strong buzz, loading up on unnecessary calories or being stuck with a nasty aftertaste like they might get from drinking energy drinks or coffee.
The patent-pending caffeine spray is an odorless liquid that is absorbed through the skin and distributed through the body over a number of hours to deliver a caffeine hit that apparently lasts longer than guzzling a cup of coffee.
Each small aluminum bottle of Sprayable Energy contains around 160 sprays - the equivalent amount of caffeine to 40 cups of coffee and the creators say it is a much cheaper way of getting a caffeine fix than popping to a café. The only active ingredient in the spray is caffeine, which can naturally enter the human body through the skin by passing through cell membranes(细胞膜) as it is very similar to nicotine in structure. Each spritz of Sprayable Energy contains around a quarter of the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee, but apparently has the same effect as a full cup.
The website said: `The reason for this is our product not being ingested, isn’t almost entirely metabolized(新陈代谢) by the liver before entering your system and becoming available to your body.Thus, a smaller amount of caffeine can have just the same effect as a very large amount of caffeine ingested through an energy drink or cup of coffee. The website recommends that users apply the spray in places where they normally spritz perfume, such as the neck or wrists, but warns users not to exceed 20 sprays a day.
It claims that after spraying the product on the skin, users will feel awake and focused without being over-stimulated, which is common with coffee and energy drinks.
What can we learn about Sprayable Energy from the passage? _______.
A.A bottle of Sprayable Energyis cheaper than 40 cups of coffee. |
B.Sprayable Energy lets users not worry about taking in unnecessary calories. |
C.Sprayable Energy can be used at least 20 sprays a day |
D.The caffeine spray is a colorless liquid that is absorbed through the skin. |
What can conclude from the passage ?
A, Sprayable Energy can be taken by mouth.
B. Before Sprayable Energy is absorbed by body, the liver entirely metabolizes it
C. Sprayable Energy has not already gone into mass production
D. each spritz of Sprayable Energy has the same effect as a full cup of coffee
You will probably read this passage in the column of___________.
A.Food | B.Health |
C.Entertainment | D.Energy. |
What’s the best title of this passage?
A.Sprayable Energy----cheaper but more effective |
B.Sprayable Energy----now or never |
C.Sprayable Energy----a latest energy spray |
D.Sprayable Energy----a new kind of coffee |
Real Estate Accountant
Growing Real Estate Company located in New York City is currently seeking a qualified individual to assist the Controller.
The ideal candidate should have college credits and 2+ years experience in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger and tenant interface. Prior Real Estate experience is a must.
All resumes submitted MUST be e-mailed in Word format DIRECTLY to Trandon @trandon.com. Please include current salary requirements.
Bookkeeper
We are currently seeking an experienced Bookkeeper at our Newtown Square, PA office. The part-time, flexible, hourly position requires a conscientious, detail-oriented and organized individual who can work in a fast paced team environment and maintain a high degree of accuracy.. Excellent multi-tasking abilities, excellent math, written and verbal communication skills as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office and good interpersonal skills are required. Salary is based on experience. No benefits provided. Experience is preferred.
All resumes submitted MUST be e-mailed to NS@bookuser.com
Senior Sales Representative
We are currently seeking self-motivated, results oriented sales professionals eager to join our growing sales team. This position provides for ample growth opportunity.
The candidate should have demonstrated ability to negotiate and influence decision makers and bale to independently solve roadblocks and problems and develop creative sales solutions. 5 years sales experience (experience selling services will be considered a plus) is a must and college degree is preferred. You are also encouraged to be creative and take chances and work in a supportive team environment
Send resume via email to HR@utilisave.com
Data Analyst Specialist-NSH000201
The mission of our Data Analyst Specialist is to participate in the ongoing process to improve the data collection and reporting mechanisms necessary to facilitate patient care. In this role, you will be responsible for providing patient records, evaluating departmental performance and performing strategic planning.
Associates Degree in Business, Computer Science or Health related field is required. Bachelor's Degree is preferred. You are supposed to have minimum of three (3) years administrative experience (related experience will be considered a plus)with demonstrated ability in computer applications and current knowledge of related hardware, software and applications.
Please note: North Shore-LIJ is a smoke-free environment.
Send your resume via email to NS@.northshore.com
What do these advertisements have in common?
A.All the candidates should have experience. |
B.All demand computer skills. |
C.All require college degrees. |
D.All are applied online. |
Mary is a mother of 2 children, but she wants to earn some extra money. She must cook 3 meals for her children. Which job do you think she is most suitable for?
A.Real Estate Accountant. | B.Bookkeeper. |
C.Senior Sales Representative. | D.Data Analyst Specialist. |
John is seeking for a job where he can improve himself; he should send his email to _____.
A.HR@utilisave.com | B.NS@bookuser.com |
C.NS@northshor.com | D.Trandon@trandon.com |
A woman renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a. . . "
"Of course I have a job," said Emily. "I'm a mother."
"We don't list in mother' as an occupation... in housewife' covers it," said the recorder.
One day I found myself in the same situation. The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title. "What is your occupation?" she asked.
The words simply came out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations. "
The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in mid-air.
I repeated the title slowly, and then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in this field?"
Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't), in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother disagrees?) , and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it) . But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money. "
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out.
As I drove into our driveway, feeling happier by my attractive and exciting new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants-aged 13, 7 and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6-month-old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and essential to mankind than "just another mother".
Motherhood... What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.
What can we infer from the conversation between the woman and the recorder at the beginning of the passage?
A.The woman felt ashamed to admit what her job was. |
B.The recorder was impatient and rude. |
C.Motherhood was not recognized and respected as a job by society. |
D.The author was upset about the situation that mothers faced. |
How did the female clerk feel at first when the author told her occupation?
A.Puzzled. | B.Curious. |
C.Upset. | D.Frightened. |
How did the author feel when describing her job to the clerk?
A.Angry. | B.Calm. |
C.Unconfident. | D.Annoyed. |
Why did the woman clerk show more respect for the author?
A.Because the author cared little about rewards. |
B.Because she admired the author's research work in the lab. |
C.Because the author did something she had little knowledge of. |
D.Because she thought the author did admirable work. |
What is the author's purpose of writing the passage?
A.To show that motherhood is a worthy career and deserves respect. |
B.To show how you describe your job affects your feelings toward it. |
C.To show that the author had a grander job than Emily. |
D.To show that being a mother is hard and boring work. |
A time capsule buried by Apple founder Steve Jobs 30 years ago has been discovered after its location was long forgotten.
In 1983, the young tech innovator was attending a conference in Aspen when he and the group decided to bury as a trick during a design convention. The tube that was filled with an eclectic collection of goods- ranging from the then-new apple mouse to a six-pack of beer for the people who discovered the time capsule- was meant to be dug up 20 years later. There was a problem with that plan, however, as everyone involved forgot where it was buried.
The final discovery happened at the hands of the crew from the National Geographic Channel’s reality show called Diggers. The discovery was well documented and is surely going to be featured on an upcoming episode, and even the experts had problems finding this particular treasure. CNET reports that in spite of their preparations and clear idea of where the 13-foot-long tube was, it still took them two hours to dig it up using heavy machinery.
To anyone removed from the tech industry, the accomplishment in finding the tube appears to be the biggest accomplishment. To others, the most interesting object would likely be the Lisa Mouse placed in the tube by the hands of a then-28-year-old Jobs. The Lisa Mouse, which Jobs named after his daughter, was one of the first commercial computer mice soled publicly, making it a rarity at the time.
The Aspen Historical Society is going to help the show creators make a list of the tube’s contents-but no word yet whether or not the Diggers cracked open one of the six bottles of Boddington’s Ale that was left inside for the people who found the tube.
Why didn’t people dig up the tube as planned?
A.Because it was difficult to dig it up. |
B.Because the tube was too heavy. |
C.Because everyone involved forgot where it was buried. |
D.Because Steve Jobs died. |
What is the meaning of the word "eclectic" in paragraph 2?
A.electronic | B.original |
C.various | D.extreme |
Who discovered the time capsule?
A.Steve Jobs | B.the crew from Diggers |
C.Lisa | D.the experts |
What is the best title of this passage?
A.A time capsule was buried by Apple founder Steve Jobs. |
B.A time capsule has been discovered after its location was long forgotten. |
C.the accomplishment in finding a tube. |
D.the origin of Lisa Mouse. |
The new high speed railway line between Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur self-governing region, and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, has cut train travel time by half to less than 12 hours.
The dramatic improvement will benefit many families planning reunions for Spring Festival.
"For the first time, I feel home is not that far away after all," said Liang shaofu as he boarded a high speed train in Urumqi with six members of his family.
The 35 year old left Lanzhou to set up a dry fruit business in Xinjiang eight years ago, and he has now settled in Urumqi.
The 1,776 km line, which passes through Qinghai province and is the country's first high speed railway built in a high altitude region, came into service on Dec 26.
"We normally drive home for Spring Festival to avoid the difficulties of buying seven train tickets for the whole family during the peak season," Liang said. "Driving can be very tiring and dangerous sometimes, so one year we even decided not to go back to Lanzhou simply to avoid the trip.
More than 600,000 passengers traveled on the line during its first month, and the Urumqi Railway Bureau said the introduction of high speed services will ease transport pressure during the Spring Festival peak season.
The existing usual railway line could no longer support Xinjiang's development. All passenger trains will gradually shift to the new link, leaving the old one to be used for goods. As a result, Xinjiang's annual goods ability could reach 200 million metric tons from the current 70 million.
The line passes through areas that experience high winds, and it also crosses parts of the deserted Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the bone dry sands of the Gobi Desert.
The project could help China to promote its high speed railway technology abroad, said Ma Xizhang, director of the Lanzhou Xinjiang railway project's management department in Xinjiang.
How long did it take to go from Urumqi to Lanzhou by the usual train before?
A.about 12 hours. | B.About 6 hours. |
C.About 18 hours. | D.About 24 hours. |
What’s the main advantage of the new high speed railway?
A.It takes more time to go to Urumqi to Lanzhou. |
B.It will be more convenient for people all over the country to Xinjiang. |
C.All the people in Lanzhou can return home on festivals. |
D.It helps to improve Xinjiang’s development. |
From the passage we can learn _______.
A.Xinjiang’s annual goods ability can increase nearly four times |
B.the new railway technology may help more railway lines to be built abroad |
C.the high speed railway lines can’t be built across the bone dry sands |
D.the old railway lines can only carry goods now |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.The new high speed railway line is good for all people to go home. |
B.The new high speed railway line benefits businessmen to carry goods. |
C.Taking the new train is safer than driving home from Urumqi to Lanzhou. |
D.Businessmen seldom went home for Spring Festival before. |
Treasure hunts (寻宝)have excited people’s imagination for hundreds of years both in real life and in books such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island .Kit Williams ,a modern writer ,had the idea of combining the real excitement of a treasure hunt with clues (线索)found in a book when he wrote a children’s story Masquerade, in 1979. The book was about a hare ,and a month before it came out, Williams buried a gold hare in a park in Bedfordshire .The book contained a large number of clues to help readers find the hare ,but Williams put in a lot of “red herrings ”,or false clues ,to mislead them.
Ken Roberts ,the man who found the hare ,had been looking for it for nearly two years .Although he had been searching in the wrong area most of the time ,he found it by logic (逻辑),not by luck .His success came from the fact that he had gained an important clue at the start .He had realized that the words :“One of Six to Eight” under the first picture in the book connected the hare in some way to Katherine of Aragon ,the first of Henry VIII’s six wives. Even here ,however ,Williams had succeeded in misleading him .Ken knew that Katherine of Aragon had died at Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire in 1536 and thought that Williams had buried the hare there .He had been digging there for over a year before a new idea occurred to him. He found out that Kit Williams had spent his childhood near Ampthill ,in Befordshire and thought that he must have buried the hare in a place he knew well ,but he still could not see the connection with Katherine of Aragon ,until one day he came across two stone crosses in Ampthill Park and learnt that they had been built in her honor in 1773.
Even then his search had not come to an end. It was only after he had spent several nights digging around the cross that he decided to write to Kit Williams to find out if he was wasting his time there .Williams encouraged him to continue ,and on February 24th 1982 ,he found the treasure. It was worth £ 3000 in the beginning ,but the excitement it had caused since its burial made it much more valuable .
The underlined word “them”(paragraph1)refers to .
A.red herrings | B.treasure hunts |
C.Henry VIII’s six wives | D.readers of Masquerade |
What is the most important clue in the story to help Ken Roberts find the hare ?
A.Two stone crosses in Ampthill |
B.Stevenson’s Treasure Island |
C.Katherine of Aragon |
D.Williams’ hometown |
The stone crosses in Ampthill were built .
A.to tell about what happened in 1773 |
B.to show respect for Henry VIII’s first wife |
C.to serve as a road sign in Ampthill Park |
D.to inform people where the gold hare was |
Which of the following describes Roberts’ logic in searching for the hare ?
a.Henry VIII’s six wives
b.Katherine’s burial place at Kimbolton
c.Williams’ childhood in Ampthill
d.Katherine of Aragon
e.stone crosses in Ampthill Park
A.a—b—c—e—d | B.d—b—c—e—a |
C.a—d—b—c—e | D.b—a—e—c—d |
What is the subject discussed in the text ?
A.An exciting historical event |
B.A modern treasure hunt |
C.The attraction of Masquerade |
D.The importance of logical thinking |
Dear Betty,
My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.
Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?
Yours,
Knowing Nothing
Dear Knowing Nothing,
It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.
You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.
If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.
Yours,
Betty
Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.
A.ask for some advice | B.tell Betty some good news |
C.answer some questions | D.invite her to dinner |
According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.
A.can only bring some flowers |
B.can’t bring wine |
C.should arrive twenty minutes late |
D.should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late |
Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.
A.relax at the dinner table | B.keep silent at table |
C.ask the person beside him | D.watch the other guests |
The old man walked with a cane (拐杖) slowly into the restaurant. His poor jacket, patched (打补丁的) trousers, and worn-out shoes made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that sparkled like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips that held a steady smile.
He walked toward a table by the window. A young waitress watched him and ran over to him, saying, “Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair.”
Without a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Supporting him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she pushed the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it.
In a soft, clear voice he said, “Thank you, Miss.”
“You’re welcome, Sir.” She replied. “My name is Mary. I’ll be back in a moment. If you need anything, just wave at me.”
After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change, helping him up from his chair and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, “Come back and see us, Sir!”
He nodded a thank you and said softly with a smile, “You are very kind!”
When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under his plate she found a business card and a note written on the napkin, under which was a $ 100 bill.
The note on the napkin read, “Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you.”
The man she had served was the owner of the restaurant. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees, had seen him in person.
Mary ran over to the old man because _____.
A.the old man was the boss of the restaurant |
B.she was worried that the old man might cause trouble to the restaurant |
C.the old man had asked her to wait on him |
D.she saw the old man had some difficulty moving and taking a seat |
The words the man left on the napkin suggested that _____.
A.respecting others means respecting oneself |
B.serving others is a respectable job |
C.Mary would get a rise as a result of her kindness |
D.Mary’s kind service would bring in more money for her |
Which of the following titles goes best with the story?
A.A kind- hearted Girl | B.Kindness Means Opportunities |
C.Shining Kindness | D.A Special boss |
Dear Betty,
My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.
Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?
Yours,
Knowing Nothing
Dear Knowing Nothing,
It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.
You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.
If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.
Yours,
Betty
Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.
A.tell Betty some good news |
B.invite her to dinner |
C.answer some questions |
D.ask for some advice |
According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.
A.can only bring some flowers |
B.should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late |
C.can’t bring wine |
D.should arrive twenty minutes late |
Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.
A.keep silent at table |
B.watch the other guests |
C.ask the person beside him |
D.relax at the dinner table |
Three Japanese tourists taking a holiday in Australia got stuck when their GPS told them they could drive from the mainland to an island, failing to mention the 15 kilometres of water and mud in between.
As they drove their hired car from Moreton Bay in Queensland to nearby North Stradbroke Island, they started to notice the firm gravel(沙石)surface they were driving on giving way to the renowned bay mud.However, being confident that their GPS would direct them to a road soon, they decided to plough on, managing to travel around 500 metres before their Hyundai Getz(现代汽车)was up to its axles tires in mud.To make matters worse, the tide started to come in and soon forced them to seek help and abandon the vehicle.Just four hours later the car was trapped in two metres of water —— to the great amusement of onlookers on the shore and passengers on passing boats and ferries.
Yuzu Noda, 21, said she was listening to the GPS and “it told us we could drive down there.It kept saying it would navigate us to a road.But we got stuck…there’s lots of mud.” She and her travel companions Tomonari Saeki, 22, and Keita Osada, 21, instead had to give up their plans for a day trip to the island and headed back to the Gold Coast of a lift from the RACQ tow truck(吊车)driver who was called to the trapped car.No such luck for the hired car though – after assessing the situation, no attempt was made to recover it.The students from Tokyo, who are due to return home tomorrow, said the experience would not put them off returning to Australia for another visit.“We want to come back to Australia again.Everyone is very nice, even today.” Ms Yuzu said.
Remaining excited, Mr. Tomonari joked that the car may have got stuck because it was built in Korea.“Maybe if it was Japanese it would be okay,” he said.He added, “It has rained every day on our six day holiday.Hopefully next time we come back it will be sunny.” The car was covered by insurance, but the tourists will have to pay up to about $1500 in extra charges.
The three Japanese tourists got stuck because ______.
A.there was no way to the island |
B.their GPS was broken during their journey |
C.their GPS had given the wrong information |
D.their car was made in Korea instead of Japan |
They didn’t abandon their car until ______.
A.there came the tide |
B.they got stuck in the mud |
C.some onlookers went to save them |
D.they managed to travel around 500 metres |
How did these Japanese students get back?
A.They had to walk back to their living place. |
B.They had to repair their GPS and drove back. |
C.They had to take a lift from the tow truck driver. |
D.They had to turn to passengers on passing boats and ferries. |
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A.The car was left where it was trapped. |
B.The passengers saved these students in the end. |
C.Mr. Tomonari got very frustrated after the journey. |
D.The car was covered by insurance so they didn’t have to pay any money. |
No one wants to look silly or do the wrong thing at a new job. It is important to make the right impression from the very first day. You will face new people. You will be in a new place. It may be difficult to know what to do. Here are five tips to help you make it through the first days at a new job:
1.First impressions can last forever. Make sure you make a good one. Before your first day, find out if your new job has a dress code (rules about what you can wear to work). If so, be sure to follow it. No matter what, always be neat and clean.
2.Get to work on time. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to make sure you arrive on time.
3.Pay attention to introductions. One of the first things that your supervisor may do is to introduce you to co-workers. These co-workers will be important to you. They are the ones who will answer your questions when the boss is not around.
4.Ask a lot of questions. Make sure that your supervisor has told you what is expected of you. If he or she has not told you your duties, ask for a list. Set daily and weekly goals for yourself.
5.Never be the first one to leave. Observe what your co-workers do around quitting time (下班时间). It does not look good for you to be eager to leave.
Before you arrive at work, you should .
A.dress in a right way | B.introduce yourself quickly |
C.know your duties | D.know your co-workers well |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.You should be the first one to arrive at work. |
B.You should ask your co-workers for your duties. |
C.You should not be eager to go back home. |
D.You are required to arrive 15 minutes earlier. |
In the fourth paragraph, the underlined word “supervisor” may be a “ ”
A.visitor | B.teacher | C.workmate | D.leader |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.Getting a New Job |
B.Tips on How to Work |
C.The First – day Work Tips |
D.The Importance of Co-workers |