IwasbornandraisedinHongKong．Fo-优题课

My favorite English teacher could draw humor out of the driest material. It wasn't forced on us either. He took Samuel Johnson's dictionary, Addison's essays, and many other literary wonders from the eighteenth century and made them hilarious, even at eight o'clock in the morning. The thing that amazed me most was that the first time I read these works on my own some of them seemed dead, but the second time, after his explanation, I couldn't believe that I hadn't seen the humor. The stories and poems and plays were suddenly filled with allusions (典故) and irony (反讽) and hilarious moments. I learned more from him than from any other teacher.
My least favorite English teacher also made people laugh. Some students found him to be funny. Many others did not. He assigned journals over a six week period, to be written every day. At the end of the six weeks I had a notebook full of bits and pieces about my ideas, short stories, reactions to what we had read, and so on. Our teacher announced that we would be grading each other's journals. Mine was passed to Joe, that class clown, who always behaved in a funny or silly way. He saw it fit to make joke of and said, " This writing isn't fit to line (衬垫) the bottom of a birdcage. " Our teacher laughed at that funny remark. It hurt me so much that the anger from it has driven my writing and teaching ever since.
So what makes the difference? Humor is one of the most powerful tools teachers or writers have. It can build up students and classes and make them excited about literature and writing, or it can tear them apart. It is true that humor is either productive or counter-productive and self-defeating.
The passage mainly discusses ________.

A．teaching	B．literature
C．humor	D．knowledge

The underlined word "hilarious" in Paragraph 1 probably means ________.

A．funny	B．tiring
C．inspiring	D．brilliant

The English teacher the writer disliked most ________.

A．was not able to make students laugh

B．hurt his students' feelings

C．didn't let his students do the grading

D．had no sense of humor

Trip 1 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them.
The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: ＄ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: ＄ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May 22
Equipment to be needed:
·Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
·Wear good walking shoes--no high heels.
·Wear a hat for day walks.
·Dress warmly for night walks.
·Children must be with an adult.
·Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
·Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.
Bookings:
·Bookings for the above trips can be done by telephone (893 - 4847) or on the Internet at (www. bluemountaintour, com)
Where are these trips?

A．In a large city.	B．In a park in the mountains.
C．In a special zoo.	D．In three different countries.

Which of the following is NOT necessary for the three trips?

A．Good walking shoes.	B．A pair of glasses.
C．Food and water.	D．A sleeping bag.

What is the best title for the passage?

A．Adventure Travel in America

B．Hunting around the Great Mountains

C．Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains

D．Interesting Trips in the East of the USA

About ten years ago, a young and very successful businessman named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his shiny, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.
He was watching for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child came out, but a brick sailed out and - WHUMP! - it hit the Jaguar's shiny black side door! SCREECH ... ! ! ! ! Immediately Josh stopped the car, jumped out, seized the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" "That's my new Jaguar, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" begged the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" tears were streaming down the boy's face as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb (路沿) and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up. " Sobbing, the boy asked the businessman, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me. "
Moved by the words, the young businessman lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapers and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to the black, shining, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE -- a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent (凹痕) to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. Feel for the bricks of life coming you.
The boy threw a brick at the businessman's car because ________.

A．he wanted to ask for some money

B．he wanted to get help from the driver

C．the businessman drove at a high speed

D．he hated the brand-new car very much

What can we learn from the passage?

A．Josh would accept the money from the kids.

B．The two kids were Josh's neighbors.

C．Josh's new car broke down easily.

D．Josh was a kind-hearted man.

According to the passage, the last sentence means ________.

A．trying to be more understanding seeing others in trouble

B．trying to get ready for the trouble in your future life

C．driving fast in a neighborhood street is dangerous

D．protecting oneself from being hurt

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had. He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison. He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.
Hilary did not like Australia and Australia did not like Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. The thought of neither of these gave him any pleasure. Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world. He possessed an aunt.
She was his father’s only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family. Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done. It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with trade. Of course as soon as she became “Mrs Parks”, her brother considered her dead. Later on, Mr. Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother’s opinion.
Hilary discovered his aunt’s address. Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. So Hilary’s star shone again. When he was feeling honest, he could talk attractively. He frequently visited his aunt’s house; and soon he was living comfortably in the building which the profits of trade had provided.
One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness. Hilary was very worried. Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it. There was only one thing that could save him: her will.
“Will?” she said, “yes, I have made one. That was when I was a girl and had not much money. I left all my money to some religious people.”
“Didn’t you make another will when you were married?” Hilary asked.
His aunt shook her head. “No,” she said in a low voice, “There was no need. When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations.”
On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law. It told him what he already believed. When a woman is married, an earlier will loses its value. A new will must be made. If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he was his aunt’s only relation. His future was safe.
After a few months had passed, Hilary’s problems became serious. He badly needed money. He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers. They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible.
Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all. In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds. Hilary was now very angry. He began to wonder about a new problem. Was it kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will. Hilary thought she might leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.
One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine. The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever.
“Thank you,” his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look. “I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wake up again. Is that what you wish, Hilary? I have given you your chance. Don’t blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do. Sick people get these ideas, you know. One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never married me. He already had a wife and couldn’t marry again. That made your foolish father very angry with me… Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favor. If I die tonight, you’ll get nothing… No, Hilary, don’t try to take the glass away. If you do that, I shall know; and I don’t want to know. Good night, Hilary.”
Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank.
From the story, we learn that Hilary’s aunt was ______.

A．bad-tempered and lonely	B．kind-hearted and wise
C．careless about money	D．cruel to her nephew

Why did Hilary’s father consider his aunt dead?

A．Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage.

B．Because she married a businessman.

C．Because she broke away from the family for a better life.

D．Because he thought she was a shame to the family.

The underlined sentence “He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman” in Paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.

A．was determined to put his aunt’s life to an end

B．decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C．made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D．would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A．Hilary’s aunt’s money.	B．Hilary Smith’s debts.
C．The intended murder.	D．Hilary’s aunt’s marriage.

Which part of what Hilary’s aunt said finally might make Hilary frustrated?

A．She wanted to sleep and never to wake up again.

B．She never got married to Mr. Parks.

C．Mr. Parks had a wife.

D．She would make a new will tomorrow.

Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

A．Hilary escaped from the prison.

B．Hilary quarreled with his aunt about ten pounds.

C．Hilary’s aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her.

D．Hilary’s aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else.

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier(冰川) of ice up to 12 meters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer(层)of water between the glacier and the volcano. This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp, glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash-covered grass or the sharp object.
What makes Grimsvotn different from other volcanoes?

A．It is below ice.	B．It lies under the sea.
C．It is the largest volcano.	D．Its lava affects the airlines.

What keeps Grimsvotn still?

A．The slow flow of water.	B．The low water temperature.
C．The thick glacier.	D．The water pressure.

Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption?

A．People stop traveling in Europe.

B．Airlines suffer from the loss of planes.

C．It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside.

D．Farmers have lost many of their animals.

This text is most probably taken from ________.

A．a research paper	B．a newspaper report
C．a class presentation	D．a geography textbook

A．My Trip in Hong Kong	B．The Changes in Hong Kong
C．Caught Between Two Cultures	D．The Chinese Way