There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven years old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orphanage turned me into an old man.
I would get up every morning at the orphanage, make my bed just like the little soldier that I had become and then I would get into one of the two straight lines and march to breakfast with the other twenty or thirty boys who also lived in my dormitory.
After breakfast one Saturday morning I returned to the dormitory and saw the house parent chasing the beautiful monarch butterflies who lived by the hundreds in the azalea (杜鹃花) bushes strewn around the orphanage.
I carefully watched as he caught these beautiful creatures, one after the other, and then took them from the net and then stuck straight pins through their head and wings, pinning them onto a heavy cardboard sheet.
How cruel it was to kill something of such beauty. I had walked many times out into the bushes, all by myself, just so the butterflies could land on my head, face and hands so I could look at them up close.
Every year when the butterflies would return to the orphanage and try to land on me I would try and shoo (用"嘘"声赶走,吓走)them away because they did not know that the orphanage was a bad place to live and a very bad place to die.
68. How did the people go to their meals?
A. By car. B. On foot. C. Queuing in two ways. D. Any way they wanted.
69. What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?
A. I love beauty when I was about six or seven years old.
B. I became old very soon in the orphanage.
C. I had a very pleasant time in the orphanage.
D. I was tired with the life way I lived in the orphanage.
70. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage?
A. I love everything of beauty when I was old.
B. The people in the orphanage stand in line doing everything.
C. The house parent was kind and lovable.
D. I shooed the butterflies away because I didn’t want them to be killed.
My parents moved from Mexico to South Texas in the early 90s with the hope for a brighter future for their family of nine---my parents, four boys and three girls. My parents have always wanted the best for us and they have done everything possible to encourage us to get a university degree. Never did they think that by pushing us that direction, it also meant encouraging us to move away and be distant from each other.
Initially(起初), getting accustomed to the American culture and lifestyle was very difficult for my parents. They come from a culture where kids grow up together, go to school together and most of the time live in the same neighborhood. From our point, American family values were a bit different. Typically in the US, when you turn 18, you are expected to graduate from high school, move out, find a university, possibly find a partner, get married and start a life together. Most of these decisions take you away from home; usually you have to follow opportunity and wherever that will take you.
This is my family’s current situation. I graduated from Bethel College in Indiana in 2010, and in order to fulfill my financial responsibilities of paying off student loans, I moved to Washington State for my job with Experience Mission. Ideally my parents wanted me to come home to South Texas, but that wasn’t where my opportunity took me.
Currently, my sister Jennifer lives in Waco, Texas, about eight hours from my parents. My two younger brothers also decided to go to college at Bethel and are away from my parents. More than likely, when they graduate, they will probably not move back home to South Texas.
My parent never imagined that their dream for a better future would separate our family this way.
Facebook has played a crucial(决定性的) role in the way we communicate while living in different places. Since we all use Facebook, we have found a place to connect and feel as if we were there together with each other.We can infer from the first paragraph that ________.
| A．the writer’s family are immigrants to America |
| B．the writer’ family came to America for a better future |
| C．the writer’ parents’ didn’t want their children to get a university degree |
| D．the writer’ parents pushed their children away from each other |
The writer’s parents found it hard to be used to American life because ________.
| A．they were strangers in America |
| B．they suffered from a culture shock |
| C．the local people disliked their family |
| D．different countries have different lives |
The writer didn’t return to work in South Texas after graduation because ________.
| A．he owed a lot of money while studying at college |
| B．he didn’t graduate from university |
| C．he found his opportunity in Washiongton State |
| D．his father couldn’t find him a job in South Texas |
What will probably be talked about in the paragraph after the last?
| A．The writer’s parents’ life in Texas. |
| B．How the parents learn to use Facebook. |
| C．What the writer’s brothers’ and sisters’ lives are like. |
| D．How the writer’s family communicate through Facebook. |
It is never too early, or too late, to encourage a child to read. With the chill(寒冷) of winter upon us, the following is a list of wonderful stories with winter and or snow themes.
Waiting for Winter
It was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. A little squirrel(松鼠), who has never seen snow, is determined that he will not miss it this year. He gets the help of his good friends, a bear and a hedgehog, trying to stay awake until they can all see the first snowfall of winter. This book is a wonderful story to read aloud to young children or for older children to read by themselves.
The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a short read, but since its first publication it has been loved by millions. It tells about a beautiful story about the magic and possibility of the first snowfall of winter, which appeals to young and older children.
The Polar Express
Popularized by the 2004 Warner Brothers all-digital film, The Polar Express was first published in 1985. The hero of this story is a boy who is given the opportunity to receive a gift from Santa himself. A magical train appears outside his bedroom window, taking him away on a fantastic journey to the North Pole.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
It was written by Robert E. Barry. Mr Willowby orders a lovely new Christmas tree, and when it is delivered to his home he finds it far too tall. He has the top of the tree cut off in order to make it just the right height. This book follows the treetop on its journey through the forest, where it brings the joy of the holidays for some woodland creatures. This book teaches us a valuable lesson about the joy of giving, and happiness that it can bring to the hearts of recipients(接受者).Waiting for Winter and The Snowy Day are similar in that ________.
| A．they are intended for older children and adults |
| B．they are centered around the first snowfall of winter |
| C．they are short novels and are loved by millions |
| D．they are fairy tales about talking animals |
Which of the following was made into a popular film?
| A．Waiting for Winter | B．The Snowy Day |
| C．The polar Express | D．Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree |
What can we learn about Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree?
| A．it tells us giving can bring pleasure for us. |
| B．it was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. |
| C．it tells about a boy’s journey through the forest. |
| D．it tells us Mr Willowby received a magic gift from Santa. |
There is a scene in the movie The Descendants and it went something like this ---George Clooney’s character Matt King has a daughter who may be 9 or 10. She said something bad to a girl at her school that made her cry. The mother of that girl made Matt and his daughter come to their house to apologize. “Sorry,” said his daughter very casually. She was clearly not sorry for her actions and the girl’s mother complained she didn’t take her apology seriously. Matt shrugged(耸)his shoulders. What was he supposed to do? His daughter apologized as asked. He couldn’t make her mean her words.
I always think of this story when my daughter is asked by other adults to apologize for her wrong doings. I know my daughter is being taught to say “sorry” with all the best intentions. They are teaching her to be polite. But she is apologizing because she is being forced to please the adult or to avert punishment.
This situation has happened on a few occasions and it really bothers me. Here are three reasons why I don’t think it’s a good idea to teach children to say sorry: 1. My daughter is being taught to say things that are not from her heart. 2. She is being taught insincerity(不真诚) is valued over genuineness. 3. She is being taught she needs to please others to be loved.
These messages make me uncomfortable and I will not ask my children to apologize. Instead, this is what I think people should teach children:
teach them behavior that is acceptable and to practice positive behavior.
teach them how their actions affect others.
give them space to think about the situation and ask them to suggest ways to make the situation better.
help them make healthy choices
lead by example and show them how to fix wrong doings The story in Paragraph 1 mainly shows that ________.
| A．sometimes people don’t take their apology seriously |
| B．The Descendants is a good film that is worth seeing |
| C．forcing a child to apologize may not get expected results |
| D．parents should punish their children for their mistakes |
What does the underlined word “avert” in Paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Suffer | B．Avoid | C．Deserve | D．Get |
From Paragraph 3 we can learn that the author ________.
| A．doesn’t like apologizing to other people. |
| B．doesn’t think apologizing is important to children |
| C．doesn’t think her daughter has done anything wrong |
| D．thinks forcing a child to apologize has disadvantages |
According to the last paragraph, the author suggests people should ________.
| A．teach children how to become independent |
| B．teach children how to apologize in the correct way |
| C．teach children to behave well instead of forcing them |
| D．teach children how to set a good example to others |
Unexpectedly, I lost my white iPhon5s in Midtown on Friday night. It had a blue green cover on it. There are many pictures of my son on it, and I’m heartbroken, Please return, no questions asked. Reward. Reply to: -2652255359@craigslist.org
Do you need a babysitter that you can trust?
My name is Tina. I am a responsible babysitter that you can trust. If you are looking for someone dependable and affordable I am that person! I HAVE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (including disabled children)! I am a retired Home Health Aid and absolutely love children. I work with my sister Iris who has also 20+years as a teacher’s assistant. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETINC YOU! Available 24 hours and flexible with fees! I am fully bilingual—Spanish/English. Please email me or call 712-867-7688.
I BABYSIT ONLY AT MY HOME.
I accept children from all ages. Fee starts from $100-$150 a week depending on the hours. I am very flexible and my fee can change. Feel free to contact me via email or on my cell phone 566-67-1873 and we can work something out.
Part-time Chinese Babysitter Wanted
Part-time Chinese speaking babysitter needed to assist with one-year-old twins and to perform some light house work as needed. Assistance needed Fridays and occasional weekends. Please provide your salary expectation. College students are welcome to apply.
Reply to:comm-encbq-2652113885 @craigslist.orgIf you want to send your kids to the babysitter’s home, you can find one in______.
| A．Ad 1 | B．Ad 2 | C．Ad 3 | D．Ad 4 |
What do we know about Tina?
| A．She can speak two languages. |
| B．She lives alone now. |
| C．She takes care of children over 3. |
| D．She used to be a teacher’s assistant. |
An applicant accepted by Ad 4 will have to.
| A．be able to speak two languages |
| B．be a college graduate |
| C．work every weekend |
| D．look after two children |
Each of us can live strong, healthy, energetic lives for a long time to come. The key？Actually, there are many of them.
Eat fewer calories, but more food
Slimming down can help prevent disease, and cutting way back on the amount you eat may even slow the aging process. When nutrition researchers invited themselves over for dinner in kitchens across the globe-from Greece to Japan to the state of Pennsylvania--they discovered a stomach-satisfying secret to good health：Pile your plate high with vegetables and fruits, add respectable parts of beans and whole grains, and ignore high-calorie food like cheeseburgers, cream sauces, and fatty meats.
Use exercise as an anti-aging vaccine
Exercise can help you gain a better quality of life as you age. It's no secret that physical activity strengthens muscles, burn calories, and puts a happy bounce in your step. But recently, researchers discovered a new, extra benefit：Exercise acts as a powerful way against the aging process itself. When exercise physiologists put healthy people aged 60 to 85 on Weight-training programs for six months then tested them for signs of free-radical(自由基) damage, they were surprised by the results. By the end of the study, low-intensity exercisers had a drop in free-radical damage, while high-intensity exercisers had a slight increase.
Find something interesting to do
Life is always busy no matter what your age. But the truth is, when people are retired, time usually does become more available for adults after 60. With this time come choices. The easy one is merely to relax：watch more TV, eat out more often, talk on the phone as much as you want. The better choice? Discover something more meaningful to devote yourself to and do it wholeheartedly.Which of the following is what you should eat more?
| A．Fatty meats. | B．Whole grains. |
| C．Cream sauces. | D．Cheeseburgers. |
The new discovery of exercise probably is that__________.
| A．it can help you live a better life |
| B．it can strengthen muscles |
| C．it can burn calories |
| D．it can prevent aging process |
When do you have more free time according to this text?
| A．In your fifties. | B．Beyond sixty |
| C．Over seventy | D．Before sixty. |
The best title of this text should be "_______".
| A．How to Keep a Balanced Diet |
| B．The Importance of Your Health |
| C．Keys to living Longer and Better |
| D．Hobbies making Your Healthy |