It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries(食品杂货),saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before. People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity(人性) as a whole. And it has influenced us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting. Why was the bike so important to the couple?
A.The man’s job was bike racing. | B.It was their only possession. |
C.It was a nice Kona 18 speed. | D.They used it for work and daily life. |
We can infer from the text that _______
A.the couple worked 60 hours a week. | B.people were busy before Christmas |
C.the stranger brought over the bike | D.life was hard for the young family. |
How did people get to know the couple’s problem?
A.From radio broadcasts. | B.From a newspaper. |
C.From TV news. | D.From a stranger. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The author’s husband often parked the bike beside the back door. |
B.The author used to get to work by bike. |
C.Several strangers offered bikes to them, but they only accepted one of them. |
D.Somebody had stolen their bike before, but soon returned it to the author. |
What do the couple learn from their experience?
A.Strangers are usually of little help. | B.One should take care of their bike. |
C.News reports make people famous. | D.An act of kindness can mean a lot. |
When I was nine years old I lived in a small town. I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children’s magazine. I thought to myself I could do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit (配件). Two weeks later the kit arrived. The next three hours later, I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting, “Mama, all the people couldn’t wait to buy my cards!” A salesperson was born.
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr. Ziegler raise everyone’s spirits up to ceiling. I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to make people feel like that.” My father asked me what I meant. “I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Ziegler,” I replied. A dream was born.
Recently, I began pursuing(追求) my dream of motivating others. I realized that everything I had accomplished — the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking appointments, training and managing for a major fortune 100 company as a senior manager— had prepared me for this moment. I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career. He told me to proceed(进行) and he believed I would succeed.
Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage (抵押) payment and now we were done to no income. I even planned to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of “if onlys” later on. A motivational speaker was born.
When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles(奇迹) really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn’t miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients (客户). I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my workmates and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she marked, “The world always makes way for the dreamer.”Why was the kit sent for?
A.Selling greeting cards. | B.Collecting greeting cards. |
C.Buying greeting cards. | D.Sending greeting cards. |
When did the author decide to become a motivational speaker?
A.After buying a new home by mortgage. |
B.After giving notice to leave her safe position in the company. |
C.After finding a job in a major fortune 100 company. |
D.After listening to Mr. Ziegler’s inspiring speech. |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
A.She was once an excellent manager. |
B.She left her post at the height of her career. |
C.She was not sure whether the former company could accept her. |
D.She didn’t miss paying the monthly mortgage payment. |
What does the underlined sentence mean in the last paragraph?
A.Carry on with your dreams and you will be successful. |
B.Risk everything you have for a dream and you will succeed. |
C.The world belongs to dreamers. |
D.Everyone will find their dreams. |
People living in the country enjoy several advantages that people living in the city cannot enjoy.
They are in close contact (接触) with nature. They make friends with trees and stones. They breathe fresh air. They fight with strong winds. They listen to the song of birds.
This contact with nature is good for health. There are many diseases that are common in the city, but are not to be found in the country, For example, near---sightedness is almost unknown to country people.
Because of the absence of cars, one can walk more freely in the country than in the city, There are no rules of the road nor traffic signs to obey.
People living in the country can easily get fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fresh milk, and they get them at lower prices than in the city.
Country life is economical (节俭的) in other ways, too. There are practically no temptations to waste money.
Country people are mostly honest. They say what they mean, and make and keep promises with sincerity (诚意). They do not put on air (摆架子). They do not pretend to have those ridiculous (荒谬的) manners which are necessary in what we call polite society. What can’t country people often enjoy?
A.Musical concerts. | B.Fresh air. |
C.Song of birds. | D.Close contact with nature. |
What is probably more expensive in the country than in the city?
A.Vegetables. | B.Beer. | C.Milk. | D.Fruit. |
What is NOT true of country life?
A.The traffic accident rate is very high in the country. |
B.Living in the country saves one a lot of money. |
C.Country people enjoy better health than the city people. |
D.Country people are honest. |
A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift——$7,000,a legacy (遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in other, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money , more than $3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm .
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived own comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase .
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy——a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cent ——should enrich the whole community (社区) and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors ——that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story . According go the text , the Fusses
A.were employed by a truck company | B.were in financial difficulty |
C.worked in a school cafeteria | D.lost their home |
Which of the following is true of the Hatches?
A.They had their children during the Great Depression. |
B.They left the family farm to live in an old house. |
C.They gave away their possessions to their neighbors. |
D.They helped their neighbors to find jobs. |
Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?
A.They decided to open a store |
B.They wanted to save money |
C.They couldn’t afford expensive things |
D.They wanted to buy gifts for local kids |
What can we learn from the text?
A.The community of Alto was poor. |
B.The summer camp was attractive to the parents. |
C.Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy form the Hatches. |
D.The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example. |
Rules for the University Entrance Examination
• You must be at the examination center ten minutes before the examination starts. If you are more than ten minutes late, you may not enter the examination center. The examination takes place at the same time in different states.
• You must have proof of your name and grade as well as official examination number. Show these when you come to the examination center.
• Depending on which examination you are taking, you may bring certain items into the examination center. Mathematics examinations may allow you to use electronic calculators (计算器). Other subjects may allow you to use dictionaries and other reference materials. Please read the notes sent with your timetable carefully.
• You must bring your own pencils. None will be provided for you. The following items are not allowed in the examination center: walkmans and radios, head sets, any food or drink, school bags, electronic equipment (unless specifically permitted for various subjects), and mobile phones.
• Once in the center, you must sit at the desk with your examination number on it. When you sit down, place your examination number at the top corner of your desk.
• You must remain silent during the examination. You must not disturb other people who are taking the test.
• If you need a drink or toilet break, you should raise your hand and wait for the supervisor (监督者) to speak to you. You will be given water or the supervisor will take you to the bathroom. You are not allowed to talk with anyone during the break.
• You must write your answers in the official answer sheet. Your supervisor will provide extra paper if you wish to make notes.
• You may leave the examination room at any time if you do not plan to return. If you finish early and want to leave, please move well away from the examination center.
• The supervisor will warn you fifteen minutes, five minutes and one minute before the end of the examination. When the supervisor says that the time is up, you must put down your pencil and wait at your desk until your paper is collected. What kind of examination are these rules probably for?
A.A local exam. | B.A final exam. |
C.A college exam. | D.A national exam. |
What are you allowed to have wi
th you when you take mathematics examination?
A.Related materials![]() |
B.Proof of yourself. |
C.A cell phone. | D.A dictionary. |
What should you do if you finish the test early, and want to get a better result?
A.Take some notes carefully. |
B.Leave the room immediately. |
C.Remain in your seat and check again. |
D.Raise your hand to inform your teacher. |
What can he provided for you during the exam?
A.Pencils. | B.Food and drink. | C.Extra paper. | D.Calculators. |
A study of a university in Shanghai had found that many of the students there are using a quote(引语)from the Italian poet Dante as a kind of motto.The study of Fudan University, one of China’s top universities, of 489 students, found that 82 had chosen Dante’s “Follow your own path and don’t worry about what others say” as their motto, out of 278 people who said they had a motto.This was followed by “Believe yourself” and “Self-improvement without stop.”
Students also expressed a common hope for greater understanding and care and said they were always ready to give a hand to those in need.
Some researchers think that mottoes can play an important part in children’s growth and they say that a good motto can help children develop a better character.The study shows _________.
A.which university should have mottoes |
B.what poems are popular |
C.how many students like the motto “Believe yourself.” |
D.the majority of the students like to choose their favorite mottoes |
Of the students asked, _______ students have mottoes.
A.about 78% | B.about 57% | C.about 16% | D.about 8% |
The motto “Self-improvement without stop” shares the similar meaning with ______.
A.going on to improve rapidly |
B.growing by oneself continuously |
C.making oneself better and perfect continuously |
D.becoming better without having a break |
The best title for the passage should be _______.
A.Mottoes and Character Developing | B.Students and Poet |
C.Mottoes and Learning | D.Understanding Care |