It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2008.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 increased 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(永恒的).
72.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.
73.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
74.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.
75.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.
A few years ago, an Englishman called Roy Jones went on holiday to a small seaside town in the west of England. He was swimming in the sea one day when, as he opened his mouth, his false teeth fell out and floated away. The following year, Mr. Jones returned to the same town. As he was having dinner in a local café one evening, he mentioned the story of his lost teeth to the manager. The manager looked surprised. He explained that he had found a set of false teeth on the beach last month. Then he asked Roy Jones if he wanted to try them on. “OK”, said Mr. Jones. “I suppose it won’t do any harm.” When the manager brought him the teeth, Mr. Jones put them into his mouth, and laughed and laughed. They were his.
In 1987, an American couple called Jane and Robert Bentley went for a picnic on a beach in California. When they returned home, Mrs. Bentley realized that she had lost her wedding ring. It wasn’t a lot of money but it was valuable to Jane Bentley. The Bentleys drove straight back to the beach, and searched for the ring for three hours, but could not find it. A few months later, Mr. Bentley went fishing off the same beach. As he pulled a large crab out of the sea, he noticed that there was something attached to one of its claws. It was his wife’s wedding ring!
At the end of the 19th century, a young woman called Rose Harcourt was on her honeymoon in Barmouth, North Wales, when she lost a gold bracelet her husband had given her as a wedding gift. Feeling very upset, she went straight to the police stations and asked if anyone had found her bracelet. Unfortunately, no one had. Twenty-five years later, the Harcourts returned to Barmouth to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They were sitting on the beach one day when Mrs. Harcourt noticed something gold in the sand by the edge of the sea. She walked down to see what it was, and discovered her gold bracelet that had been missing for 25 years. Roy Jones lost his false teeth __________ .
A.when he opened his mouth to have some food |
B.when he opened his mouth as he was swimming |
C.The moment he got into the sea to start swimming |
D.when he was having his holiday at the sea side |
Jane Bentley’s wedding ring was missing for __________ before it was found.
A.three hours | B.almost a year | C.several months | D.25 years |
From the story of the Harcourts we may understand the underlined “to celebrate their wedding anniversary” may be close in meaning to __________ .
A.having a wedding again | B.experiencing their honeymoon feelings again |
C.having a honeymoon again | D.joining in the local celebrations |
In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They declare that if more people rode bicycles to work, there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown part of the city and so less dirty air from car engines.
For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example. They want the city to draw special lanes for bicycles only on some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes.
But no bicycle lanes have been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea-they say it will slow the traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don’t like the idea-they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business.
The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park-the largest place of open ground in New York-is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown.In New York, a group of bike riders ________.
A.are keeping practicing for health |
B.have no cars of their own |
C.are complaining there are not enough buses |
D.are trying to settle the problem of air pollution |
The advantage of the special lanes is that ________.
A.they will make cars and buses run slowly |
B.they will make it easier for bike riders to go to parks |
C.they will make the city more beautiful |
D.the lanes will prevent accidents |
The government has not decided whether special lanes should be drawn _______.
A.so that everyone is disappointed |
B.because there are different opinions |
C.because most people travel by train |
D.because Bike for a Better City is not strong enough |
Cars are not permitted to enter Central Park on weekends _________.
A.so that Bike for a Better City is pleased |
B.so that everyone is happy |
C.and bicycle lanes are drawn |
D.but Bike for a Better City is still not satisfied |
Recently, one of my best friends, whom I've shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago,we've both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other.
Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other selfdestructive(自我毁灭的) behavior. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even stealing out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him. No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn't believe me. Her selfrespect seemed to have disappeared.
I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble. I felt like I was getting nowhere. I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang out with a group of losers, especially her boyfriend.
By the time she left,I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience. It had been so frustrating,I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship, but I didn't. I put the power of friendship to the final test. We'd been friends for far too long. I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself. I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything.
A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend. I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face. It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life. Never had I been so proud of a friend.In the writer's opinion,her friend ________.
A.was a girl with no selfrespect |
B.could find a better boyfriend |
C.was brave enough to stick to her own choice |
D.didn't value the writer's suggestion |
What did the writer worry about?
A.She would lose the friendship with her. |
B.Her friend's parents would be worried about their daughter. |
C.Her friend would get into great trouble with the boy. |
D.Her friend's boyfriend would be in great trouble. |
We may learn from Paragraph 3 that the writer________.
A.didn't want to go anywhere else |
B.understood her friend's hanging with her boyfriend |
C.couldn't believe that her friend's choice was acceptable |
D.doubted that she could in any way help her friend |
What can be concluded from the passage?
A.Friendship starting from childhood is not reliable. |
B.Friendship is a cure for any injury in life. |
C.Friendship should be everlasting once begun. |
D.Friendship can have magical power in life. |
If you want fully enjoy your vacation, then you’d better check the Durban City Tours! This is actually one of the best choices in South Africa today.
There is nothing more relaxing than to think about that there is a place to go and relax, right? City life is strained, but you can escape this situation and be in the place where there is nothing but relaxation. Here in Durban you will get to see all the amazing tourist attractions. If you love animals and want to see some elephants wandering around the streets, then Durban is the place to go. You can even get to ride one if you want!
Here you will also get to taste all the delicious South African food. You can choose from Italian cooking to its native dishes. Durban is a great place to tour with your friends and family. You will learn a lot about its history through the landmarks you will see down the streets. Tourists and even the local villagers just can’t get enough of these treats!
However, it is important that you make the necessary arrangements. There are actually lots of tour guides that will help you as you make your journey along the streets of Durban. But if you prefer the best tour guides here in Durban, then you’d better choose the Street Scene Tours. Their staff are all well-trained and professional. They will certainly make your stay here an unforgettable one. No wonder tourists prefer the Street Scene Tours when it comes to Durban City Tours.The underlined word“strained”in Para. 2 means ______.
A.easy | B.stressful | C.relaxing | D.wonderful |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
A.Durban is relaxing city. |
B.People don’t like city life. |
C.It is good to have a place to relax. |
D.One can have fun riding elephants. |
If you walk in the streets of Durban, what will impress you most?
A.Tourists from all over the world. |
B.The buildings and many kinds of animals. |
C.The streets and some wandering elephants. |
D.The friendly local people and the scenery. |
What does the last sentence in Paragraph 3 show?
A.The food can’t satisfy them. |
B.They are bored with the streets. |
C.They are treated very well here. |
D.never get tired of the sights. |
Student Membership-----Cambridge Arts Cinema
Cambridge Arts Cinema is one of the art houses in Britain and home of the internationally celebrated Cambridge Film Festival. Since 1947 generations of students have discovered the wealth of world cinema. Now you too can make most of it and save money.Which of the following is the most famous event held at Cambridge Arts Cinema?
A.Monthly premieres. | B.The preview screening. |
C.Meetings with filmmakers. | D.The Cambridge Film Festival. |
If you're a member of Cambridge Arts Cinema, you will enjoy free_
A.Darkroom Gallery shows | B.special film events |
C.mailed programmes | D.film shows |
How long will the membership for Cambridge Arts Cinema last?
A.One year. | B.Nine months |
C.Eight months. | D.Four months. |
For what purpose is the text written?
A.Increasing the cinema's membership. |
B.Offering students cheaper tickets. |
C.Telling the public of the cinema's address. |
D.Announcing the opening of a premiere. |