People these days always complain how they suffer stress from their daily life. With drugs widely available in the market today, it is still advisable that we consume the best kind of medicine for our body, that is natural drugs.
One of the natural resources for a relaxation drug is the Valerian Root Extract. Scientifically known as Valeriana Officinalis, this plant is a flowering type with heads of pink and white flowers mostly blooming in the summer months. Native in Europe and in small parts of Asia, the plant became popular worldwide because of its sweet scent and unique health benefits.
Past research suggests that the valerian root has healing characteristics that focus on the neurotransmitter of the brain, which makes the brain cells function well. Other researches about this herb suggest that it can keep a person free of anxiety. Although there are various types of valerian root products in the market today, modern medical studies have concluded that further research has to be taken into consideration before acknowledging the so-called benefits of Valerian Root Extracts.
One sample of the so-called benefits is the treatment for anxiety disorder called “social anxiety disorder” or SAD. The benefit has insufficient evidence to support its claim as an alternative relief for anxiety. However, many patients said that they felt improvements on their nervous conditions, stress and overall mental ability.
Valerian Root Extract can be acquired as a tea, tablet, or liquid extract. It is recommended that you consult your physician about this herbal plant if it can really benefit your health.What does the author intend to do in the passage?
| A．To tell readers how to reduce stress. |
| B．To introduce a natural anxiety treatment. |
| C．To analyze the benefits of plants. |
| D．To advertise for the new product. |
What do we know about Valeriana Officinalis?
| A．It is also called Valerian Root Extract. |
| B．It is blooming all the year around. |
| C．It is only grown in European countries. |
| D．It is well received for its health benefits. |
The underlined word “insufficient” in the passage means ______.
| A．too much | B．pretty plentiful |
| C．not enough | D．well tested |
Four days after Dad’s 67th birthday, he had a heart attack. Luckily, he survived. But something inside him had died. His enthusiasm for life was gone. He refused to follow doctor’s orders, and his sour attitude made everyone upset when they visit him. Dad was left alone.
So I asked Dad to come to live with me on my small farm, hoping the fresh air would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated. Something had to be done.
One day I read an article which said when given dogs, depressed patients would be better off. So I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. As soon as I got there, a pointer’s eyes caught my attention. They watched me calmly.
A staff member said: “He got here two weeks ago and we’ve heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow.”
I turned to the man in horror. “You mean you’re going to kill him?”
“Ma’am,” he said gently. “We don’t have room for every unclaimed dog.”
The police’s calm brown eyes awaited my decision. “I’ll take him,” I said.
I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. I was helping it out of the car when Dad walked onto the front porch. “Look what I got you!” I said excitedly.
Dad wrinkled his face. “I don’t want it,” he muttered, turning back towards the house. Then, suddenly, the dog pulled free from my grasp. He sat down in front of my Dad.
Dad’s anger melted, and soon he was hugging the dog.
This was the beginning of a warm friendship. Dad named the dog Cheyenne. Together they spent long hours walking down dusty lanes and relaxing on the banks of streams.
Dad’s bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne went on to make many friends. Then, late one night two years later, I felt Cheyenne’s cold nose burrowing (搜寻) through my bed covers. He had never before come into my bedroom at night. I ran into my father’s room and found that he had passed away.
Two days later, my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad’s bed. As I buried him near their favorite stream, I silently thanked the dog for restoring Dad’s peace of mind.After the author’s father survived the heart attack, he ______.
| A．ignored everyone who visited him |
| B．became unpleasant toward other people |
| C．was left alone to get full rest |
| D．no longer wanted to live |
Why did the author take the pointer home?
| A．It was a type that is known for its friendliness. |
| B．Its eyes made her think it was the best dog available. |
| C．It was good at getting people’s attention and entertaining them. |
| D．It caught her attention right away and she didn’t want it to be killed. |
From the last two paragraphs we can conclude that _______.
| A．the author’s father and Cheyenne formed a real connection |
| B．friendship and care is much more efficient than the medicine |
| C．more attention should be given to old people |
| D．dogs are so loyal that they usually die for their friends |
Which section of a newspaper is the source of the passage?
| A．Friends | B．Entertainment |
| C．Education | D．Health |
What should you think about when you try to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others, These may show strengths that you can use in your work.A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in engineering career.A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work.So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school.On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard.Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work.You may be good at mental work or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills.
If you have had a part - time job on Saturday or in the summer, think what you gained from it.If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers.You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example.Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part - time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself.You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures.It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist.Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background.You should not feel sorry about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.The first paragraph of the passage is mainly about ________.
| A．the indirect value of school work |
| B．the importance of being good at all subjects |
| C．knowing one’s strong or weak subjects at school |
| D．using school performance to help to choose a career |
In the writer’s opinion, for a student to have a part - time job is probably ________.
| A．a good way to find out his weak points |
| B．one of the best ways of earning extra money |
| C．of great use for his work in the future |
| D．a waste of time he could have spent on study |
The whole passage centers around ________.
| A．knowing oneself in looking for a job |
| B．developing one’s abilities useful in school |
| C．gaining much knowledge by working hard at school |
| D．choosing a career according to what one is skilled in |
Dear Sir,
I’m writing to complain about the service offered by your company.
I told your service department on November 21 that my washing machine needed repairing, Your service engineers have since been here four times—on December 1l, December 19, December 25 and January 5．The problem was found out on the first visit and the wrong parts were brought by different engineers on the two next visits.The correct part was fitted by the first engineer on the fourth visit.
In short, my complaints are:
a．I had to wait three weeks for an engineer to call and nearly two months for the machine to be repaired.
b．The engineers who called on December 19 and December 25 had been given wrong information by the company, which made me take two half days off unnecessarily.
c．The first and fourth visits lasted a total of thirty minutes.But in the invoice （发票）, I have to pay for four visits of four hours’ work.I will not be paying the invoice for their mistakes and I do hope to receive your answers to these complaints.
Yours,
Robert WhiteRobert’s main purpose in writing to the company is to tell the company ________.
| A．how its service department is operating |
| B．how its different engineers came for the repair |
| C．that two of the engineers didn’t give him any help |
| D．that he refuses to pay the company for their mistakes |
The first of Robert’s complaints is that________.
A.it took him three weeks to have the machine repaired
B.it took him nearly sixty days to get his machine repaired
C.it had been almost two months before the first engineer came
D.it took the engineer 3 weeks to find out something wrong with the machine.
31． A.the company didn’t tell them exactly what they should do
B.the company didn't tell them where the correct parts were
C.they were not sure about whether the machine worked or not
D.they hadn’t been told where the right parts should be fitted.It can be inferred from the letter that Robert promises to pay for________.
| A．three hours’ work | B．half an hour’s work |
| C．an hour’s work | D．four hours’ work |
We all waste food, you and me, every day, millions of tons of it.In China, enough food is wasted in restaurants every year to feed 200 million people.And the amount of food wasted by Chinese consumers is increasing fast.So our nation is being encouraged to stop wasting food.
So what should Chinese consumers do to prevent food waste?
♦Keep a kitchen diary
All of us should keep a kitchen diary, and we can know that how much food we waste at home.The first thing for us to do is to stop throwing away food that we can still eat.We should eat everything we buy and if we cannot, we should buy less.
♦Buy only what we need
We should ask for smaller portions in stores.We should also check how much food we have before buying more.We shouldn’t bring much food we don’t need home even if large posters ask us to do so.
♦Develop the habit of packing food
Chinese consumers are generous and friendly.In restaurants, often too much food is ordered and served.So when ordering out, we are supposed to exclude the food in the order if we don’t plan to eat it.And order smaller servings in restaurants and take home what we cannot finish.
Don’t put it off! Let’s stop food waste today!
Why is our nation being encouraged to stop wasting food?
| A．Because there’s enough food for Chinese people. |
| B．Because Chinese consumers like to try delicious food. |
| C．Because the number of food wasted by us is growing fast. |
| D．Because it’s traditional to invite friends to dinner in China. |
Miss Li is a housewife, she’d better __________ at home.
| A．keep a kitchen diary |
| B．buy things as much as possible |
| C．cook too much food for her family |
| D．keep the food as long as possible |
In order to urge more and more people to prevent food waste, we design a poster with the words __________.
| A．Enjoy the food! | B．Keep healthy! |
| C．Share the dish! | D．Waste not, want not! |
Your friend invites you to dinner, which of the following is NOT right?
| A．He asks for the right portions. |
| B．You leave a lot of food on the table. |
| C．You ask your friend to order less food. |
| D．He takes away the food that you can still eat. |
As teenagers, what should we do to stop food waste?
| A．Have a balanced diet. |
| B．Eat less food to keep fit. |
| C．Keep the balance of nature. |
| D．Have a good habit of clearing the plate. |
I grew up in a traditional peanut butter and jelly（果冻） household.Sandwiches were made on bread and cut neatly（整齐地）into pieces.
When I was around ten or eleven, I was at my best friend’s house during lunch time.We dug through the kitchen searching for the best offerings.I really want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I said.She set out the peanut butter and the jelly and opened the bread box only to find it empty.I think we have hot dog buns（面包）, she suggested.I felt frightened.Hot dog buns? Those were for hot dogs.“Jill”, she said, “they are bread.The same bread that you would usually have, they are just in a different shape.I’m not suggesting you eat an actual hot dog with your peanut butter and jelly.” But, I wasn’t sure.This was the girl who mixed her playschool people with her Barbie dolls and put her Lego’s in my doll house.Something was wrong with that way of thinking.I turned down the sandwich, so she made one for herself, saying just how delicious it was while I sat, hungry, counting down until dinner time.
Thirty years later, we were out of bread for Ben’s daily peanut butter and jelly sandwich one day.I suddenly remembered that day and offered him with a peanut butter and jelly on a hot dog roll.He ate the entire thing quickly.
From that day on, I’ve made almost all his sandwiches on hot dog buns.It’s neater with no messy jelly drips from the sides and it’s easier.Besides, it’s just more fun than a regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich.The purpose of the first paragraph is to ______ .
| A．teach how to keep peanut butter well |
| B．tell the author was brought up in a careful way |
| C．introduce the correct way of making sandwiches |
| D．show she was used to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches |
The author refused her friend’s hot dog buns because ______ .
| A．they were for dogs |
| B．she wasn’t hungry at all |
| C．she couldn’t accept the idea |
| D．her friend wasn’t a good cook |
Compared with（和……比较）peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sandwiches on hot dog buns ______ .
| A．need less jelly | B．save much trouble |
| C．taste more delicious | D．seem less fun to make |
How does Jill feel about refusing her friend’s sandwich?
| A．Proud. | B．Satisfied. |
| C．Regretful. | D．Angry. |
Forget wearing your heart on your sleeve. It’s your hair that reveals what you’re really like.
If you want to show your goal-set side, go for a high ponytail. People with this hairstyle tend to be results-driven and logical, according to Jean Haner, a US expert in face reading who wrote The Wisdom of Your Face. When she first came out as an actress, Li Bingbing’s looks were often described as fragile, partly because of her long locks. But now, her polished high ponytail has convinced everyone that she is unstoppable and will go to any lengths to achieve her goals.
Wavy hair is attractive to many. But if you have curly hair and all you want to do is straighten it, this usually means your life is too chaotic（混乱） and you need to calm down. US singer Taylor Swift is a perfect example of this kind. By making hair straight, she’s controlling its intensity and giving herself a sense of calmness, according to Cosmopolitan magazine. She may have decided to enjoy herself for a moment after all the ups and downs in her love life.
Want to have more fun in your life? Curly hair may give you away. For those who have straight hair that is always curled, it can mean they’re craving for a more interesting life. The theory is that curly hair is more interesting than straight hair and will lead to more exciting experiences. If you don’t believe it, take US singer Beyonce Knowles’ case as an example. Her curly hairdo presents a more positive and fun image to the world.
If you have a super short wash-and-go hairstyle, you must be super confident. Miley Cyrus is one of those types. Long gone are the days when she was the lovely Disney star who had long wavy strands. Now she has a super short wash-and-go hairdo that is as rebellious as her personality. As she told E! Online, by keeping her hair short, she is speaking on behalf of girls everywhere, breaking the stereotype of more traditional hairstyles.
How does the author develop the passage?
| A．By giving examples | B．By making comparison |
| C．By making assumption | D．By quoting wise words |
What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase“give you away”in para4？
| A．Stop you having fun | B．Show your inner secret |
| C．Bring more money | D．Attract more fans |
According to the passage, we can infer .
| A．High ponytail means being more logical |
| B．Taylor Swift used to be a lovely Disney star |
| C．US singer Beyonce Knowles likes straight hairstyle |
| D．Li Bingbing experienced ups and downs in her love life |
If you want to show your super confidence, you are advised to have .
| A．a high ponytail | B．a straight hair |
| C．a curly hair | D．a short wash-and-go hairdo |
I vividly remember walking back to my house after collecting the afternoon mails. I saw a credit card statement and or bank statements. It was in that moment that I felt a deep tension.
I realized that even though I had married a man who I adored, I really didn’t have a clear sense of how he handled money and how the two of us were going to combine our different approaches to handing money in our marriage. I was more organized and detailed, but he was more of a laid---hack type. I knew that getting on the same financial page was a key factor in creating a successful marriage and financial future.
I asked my husband if he would be willing to set up a time each week to talk about our finances and develop a plan for getting rid of our credit card debt. My husband said he would be willing to do this. Admittedly, he was skeptical(怀疑)------but willing.
We came to refer to our weekly meetings as our Financial Dates. We didn’t really have a clue as to what we were doing. All we knew was that we needed to give our finances serious attention. Some Dates were filled with tense conversations. Other Dates were filled with laughter, joy and creativity. However, we kept showing up for our Dates and we never gave up. What started out as a means for survival became a powerful connecting thread in our relationship. Something shifted within us.
Instead of our finances becoming a source of divisive（不和的）tension that pulled us apart, they became the glue（粘着剂）that held us together as we became a unified team.
I still recall the day that we excitedly crossed off our last credit card payment on the chart we had created. We had finally arrived. We were free. We had been given wings to fly.
Now, whenever I feel huge stress I ask myself, “ How am I contributing to what is happening right now?” This gives me the great power to take action. Even though my husband and I don’t have any guarantee against future challenges, I am left with something deep within that is unshakable and that can never be taken away----the memory of our past successes and the power to integrate（整合）these lessons in my day—to—day life.Why did the author feel nervous when collecting the afternoon mails?
| A．She was not sure about her marriage. |
| B．She didn’t know how to handle money. |
| C．She could feel the pressure of the huge debt. |
| D．She was reminded of the quarrels in the family. |
Which word can replace the underlined word “laid—back” in the second paragraph?
| A．Relaxed | B．Doubtful | C．Cautious | D．Confident. |
What can we learn from the Financial Dates?
| A．They showed the couple clear direction at first. |
| B．They left the couple nothing but deep sadness. |
| C．They were once interrupted but quickly continued. |
| D．They strengthened the couple’s relationship at last. |
We can infer that when faced with stress the author will___________.
| A．try to change the situation |
| B．focus on what contributes to it |
| C．get power from the memory |
| D．feel free to do what she likes |
Christmas is around the corner.If you look for a book as a gift for your child，you will be spoiled for choice even in a year there is no new Harry Potter.J．K Rowling's wizard is not alone．The past decade has been a harvest for good children's books, which has set off a large quantity of films and an increased sales of classics such as The Lord of the Rings．
Yet despite that, reading is increasingly unpopular among children．According to statistics in 1997, 23% said they didn't like reading at all．In 2003, 35% didn't．And around 6% of the children leave primary school each year unable to read properly．
Maybe the decline is caused by the increasing availability of computes games．Maybe the books boom has affected only the top of the educational pile．Either way, Chancellor Cordon Brown plans to change things for the bottom of the class．In his pre-budget report, he announced the national project of Reading Recovery to help the children struggling most．
Reading Recovery is aimed at six-year-olds, who receive four months of individual daily half-hour classes with a specially trained teacher．An evaluation this year reported that children on the school made 20 months' progress in just one year, whereas similarly weak readers without special help made just five months' progress ,and so ended the year even further below the level expected for their age．
International research tends to find that when British children leave primary school, they read well, but read text often for fun than those elsewhere．Reading for fun matters because children who are keen on reading can report lifelong pleasure and loving books is an excellent indicator of future educational success．According to the OECD, being a regular and enthusiastic reader is of great advantage．Which of the following is true of Paragraph 1?
| A．Many high-quality childrem’s books have been published. |
| B．Many children’s books have been adapted from films |
| C．The sales of classics have led to the popularity of films. |
| D．The sales of presents for children have increased. |
Statistics suggested that____________．
| A．the number of top students increased with the use of computers. |
| B．a large percentage of children read regularly |
| C．a minority of primary school children read properly |
| D．a decreasing number of children showed interest in reading. |
What do we know about Reading Recovery?
| A．An evaluation of it will be made sometime this year. |
| B．Weak readers on the project were the most hardworking. |
| C．Children on the project showed noticeable progress in reading. |
| D．It aims to train special teachers to help children with reading. |
Why is reading for fun important?
| A．Because book-loving children take greater advantage of the project. |
| B．Because book-loving children show the potential to enjoy a long life. |
| C．Because book-loving children would make excellent future researchers. |
| D．Because book-loving children are likely to succeed in their education. |
The aim of this text would probably be _________．
| A．to overcome primary school pupil reading difficulty |
| B．to introduce a way to improve early childhood reading. |
| C．to remind children of the importance of reading for fun. |
| D．to encourage the publication of more children’s books. |
Some people remember the things by writing notes to themselves. Then they leave the notes in obvious (明显的) places, such as on the table, on the floor or in the middle of the living room. I don’t think I like to write notes to myself, Most of the time I lose them or forget to look at them until it’s too late. I would rather use an alarm clock to tell me what I should do. I have ten alarm clocks in my house. They could tell me about things. For example, if I have to make a telephone call or a certain time. I' ll set an alarm clock to go off a few minutes early and put the clock by the telephone. Or if I want to watch a certain television program, I' ll set an alarm clock at the right time and put the clock on top of the TV set, I can remember almost anything if I use my clocks. However, sometimes an alarm clock goes off and I don’t know what it means. I always remember setting it, but not why I set it. If the clock is by the telephone, I know I may have set it to tell me to call someone, but I can’t be sure. I might have set it to tell myself that somebody was to call me at a certain time.
根据短文内容，判断下列各句正误。正确的在题前括号内写“T¨，错误的写“F”。Some people like to write notes to themselves so that they can remember what to do at a certain time.
The writer doesn’t like to write notes to himself.
The writer often uses a computer to help him remember things.
Sometimes an alarm clock can do the housework for the writer.
The writer prefers remembering the things by writing notes to using alarm clocks.
A growing number of American homes are keeping African pygmy hedgehogs(刺猬) as pets. Hers are some questions and answers about the small animals whose backs and sides are covered with about 6,000 quills. Their quills are short, but hard and sharp.
Where do they come from?
The breed is a hybrid (杂种) of the four-toed hedgehog or African white-bellied hedgehog and the Algerian hedgehog. Its natural habitat is central, eastern and southern Africa. It now breaks the law to bring them into the United States.
An adult African pygmy hedgehog is 6 to 11 inches long and weighs 1 to 2 pounds. A relaxed one is generally oval (椭圆的) , with a very short tail and short limbs that keep the body close to the ground . When threatened or frightened, it rolls into a ball and forces its quills out in all directions. Female hedgehogs are a bit larger than the male ones. The face and the underside are covered with soft and white fur.
What do they eat?
In the wild, the hedgehog feeds mainly on insects. It also eats earthworms, snails and slugs, as well as small snakes and frogs. Pet owners feed cat food to hedgehogs that are kept at home by them.
How many babies can a mother hedgehog give birth to one time?
After hedgehogs get pregnant, it just takes about 35 days for them to give birth. Hedgehogs are born in babies of 2 to 10, each having white quills that do not injure the mother during birth. The US Department of Agriculture requires anyone breeding at least three hedgehogs to get a license.
Paragraph 1 shows that keeping African pygmy hedgehogs as pets__ __.
| A．is very exciting but dangerous for pet owners |
| B．is becoming more and more popular in the US |
| C．is causing more and more troubles for pet owners |
| D．is the most popular with people in the United States |
What do we know about African pygmy hedgehogs?
| A．They usually live in eastern and northern Africa. |
| B．They like rolling away when threatened or frightened. |
| C．They are usually 6 inches long when they are born. |
| D．They are a new breed by two kinds of hedge-hogs. |
Which of the following can be used as the second subtitle?
| A．What do they look like? |
| B．How much do they weigh? |
| C．How long are their bodies? |
| D．How do they protect themselves? |
When African pygmy hedgehogs are born, they probably__ __.
| A．often influence their mother’s life |
| B．have very soft white quills |
| C．can look for insects within days |
| D．often become food of small snakes |
“Itis a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas,” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.
AuntEmmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn't spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.
“Thegifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”
“Oh,I know it’s nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”
“Thatwas not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.
“Whatdid you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.
AuntEmmy smiled.
“Supposeyou think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don’t think Icouldexplain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: ‘The gift without the giver is bare’.”
“I’dput it the other way and say, ‘The giver without the gift is bare’,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境) exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I’ll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender’s store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”
“Won’tyour aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “Ithink she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”
“Well,I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorindalived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn’t really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.
Clorindapuzzled over Aunt Emmy’s meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. OnChristmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy’s. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.
“I’vecome to tell you all about it,” she said. “AuntEmmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn’t think Icouldgive some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”
“First,there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I’ve never gone except when I couldn’t help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn’t had such a nice time for years. ”
“Thenthere was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn’t forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn’t. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”
“Igave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn’t going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I’ve decided so.”
“Yourgifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”
“Ididn’t forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.
Therewas a rosebush. AuntEmmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.
“It’sas sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You’ve found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven’t you, dear?”
“Yes,thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because ___________.
| A．She had to leave Aunt Mary |
| B．She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy |
| C．She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts |
| D．She had no time to make a proper decision |
Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”?
| A．A gift is valued by the mind of the giver. |
| B．Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver. |
| C．You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts. |
| D．Think twice before you give gifts to somebody |
What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?
| A．Passion | B．Sympathy | C．Kindness | D．Company |
What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?
| A．respectfully | B．confidently |
| C．secretly | D．willingly |
Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?
| A．cute and joyful | B．kind-hearted and emotional |
| C．optimistic and wise | D．gentle and reserved |
Which of the following is the best title?
| A．A Special Christmas | B．Clorinda’s Gifts |
| C．Aunt Emmy | D．Clorinda’s Choice |
High-quality customer service is preached (宣扬) by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done.
Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers—and anyone who will listen.
Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide to frequent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde Group and Wharton School.
“Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde Group. “The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”
On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four others, and will no longer visit the specific store. For every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative review. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.
According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered the most problems. Ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.
The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.
During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved parking problems by getting moonlighting (业余兼职的) local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.
Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.
Most importantly, salespeople should be diplomatic and polite with angry customers.
“Retailers who’re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren’t so friendly,” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”
Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?
| A．Most customers won’t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences. |
| B．Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them. |
| C．Few customers believe the service will be improved. . |
| D．Customers have no easy access to store managers. |
What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “…the shopper must also find a replacement” (Line 2, Para. 4)
| A．New customers are bound to replace old ones. |
| B．It is not likely that the shopper can find the same products in other stores. |
| C．Most stores provide the same kind of service. |
| D．Not complaining to manager causes the shopper some trouble too. |
What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?
| A．Manners of the salespeople. |
| B．Hiring of efficient employees. |
| C．Huge supply of goods for sale. |
| D．Design of store layout. |
To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to ________.
| A．exert pressure on stores to improve their service |
| B．settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic way |
| C．voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly |
| D．shop around and make comparisons between stores |
Raised in a motherless home, my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children. His attitude didn’t soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college. I had to ride the bus whenever I came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met me, even in severe weather. If I grumbled, he’d say in his loudest father-voice, “That’s what your legs are for!”
The walk didn’t bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn’t seem concerned about my safety. But that feeling was gone one spring evening.
It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs. I longed for home. When the bus reached the stop, I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home.
A row of hedge（树篱）edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last part of my journey, I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening, the hedge had just come into view when I saw something gray moving along the top of the hedge, moving toward the house. Upon closer observation, I realized it was the top of my father’s head. Then I knew, each time I’d come home, he had stood behind the hedge, watching, until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the tears. He did care, after all.
On later visits, that spot of gray became my watchtower. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home, I would find my father sitting innocently(天真地) in his chair. “So! My son, it’s you!” he’d say, his face lengthening into pretended surprise.
I replied, “Yes, Dad, it’s me. I’m home.”What does the underlined word “grumbled” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．Accepted happily. | B．Explained clearly. |
| C．Agreed willingly. | D．Spoke unhappily. |
What made the author feel upset was ______.
| A．the tiredness after long hours in labs |
| B．the fear of seeing something moving |
| C．the feeling of being less than valued |
| D．the loneliness of riding the bus home |
The author’s father watched behind the hedge because ______.
| A．he was concerned about his son’s safety |
| B．he wanted to help his son build up courage |
| C．he didn’t want to meet his son at the doorway |
| D．he didn’t think his son was old enough to walk alone |
Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
| A．My Father’s Secret. | B．My College Life. |
| C．Terrible Journey Home. | D．Riding Bus Alone. |
A very close friend phoned me this weekend and asked a specific question about earning a few extra dollars each month online. For the benefit of keeping her name and details secret, I will call her Annie in this article. You see Annie suffers from a severe form of inaction syndrome(综合症); she is full of great ideas that never materialize into cash and she is having a problem finding the link that will achieve this.
Somebody once said that knowledge is power, yet we constantly find from readers of our website that they have knowledge to burn and still do not have power. Just look at the academics in universities all around the world; they have so much knowledge that they should control the wealth of the world. In truth they work for peanuts and very few of them ever achieve the power of independence. So knowledge certainly isn’t power. Therefore, we should change that “wise” statement to: “Power is the ability to use knowledge to your own benefit.”
That paragraph was inserted because Annie is a typical academic—strong on talk and plans but a little weaker on actions. In the period of a twenty-minute conversation, she expounded（阐述）a whole list of plans and ideas to make the extra few hundred dollars each month she was seeking. Any one of her many ideas was a potential money maker, but she had taken action on none of them. At one time she said, “I’m lost as to what to do next.”
That was my cue（提示）to get involved. “Take action,” I advised.
All that is wrong is that Annie was inactive without knowing it. In five minutes we drew up a plan of action and agreed to talk again in a month to review progress. When we finished the conversation, she sounded much happier and more motivated than when we started. Annie just needs a little nudge into beneficial action.What’s the problem with Annie?
| A．She has too many great ideas. |
| B．She never puts her ideas into practice. |
| C．She suffers from a strange illness. |
| D．She knows little about making money online. |
What is the most important according to the author?
| A．The ability to use one’s knowledge. |
| B．The ability to acquire knowledge. |
| C．A great deal of knowledge. |
| D．A good understanding of oneself. |
What can we know from the last paragraph?
| A．Annie will succeed in later life. |
| B．Annie is going towards success. |
| C．Annie doesn’t realize her problems. |
| D．Annie talks too much in daily life. |
The underlined word “nudge” in the last paragraph probably means________.
| A．push | B．advice | C．training | D．Power |
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