He met her at a party. She was so outstanding, with many boys around her, while he was so normal, with nobody paying attention to him.
At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but due to being polite, she agreed. They sat in a nice coffee shop. He was too nervous to say anything, and she felt uncomfortable, thinking, “Please let me go home.”
Suddenly he asked the waiter, “Would you please give me some salt? I’d like to put it in my coffee.”
Everybody stared at him—so strange!His face turned red, but, still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it.
She asked him curiously, “Why do you have this hobby?”
He replied, “When I was a little boy, I was living near the sea. I liked playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood. I miss my hometown so much. I miss my parents who are still living there.” While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That’s his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell out his homesickness, he must be a man who loves home, cares about home, and has responsibility of home. Then she also started to speak, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story.
They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands; he was kind-hearted, warm and careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thanks to the salty coffee! Then the story was just like every beautiful love story, the princess married the prince, then they were living a happy life… And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee.
After 40 years, he passed away, leaving her a letter which said, “My dearest, please forgive my whole life lie. This was the only lie I said to you—the salty coffee.”
“Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time. Actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead.”
“I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything.”
“Now I’m dying, I’m afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth: I don’t like the salty coffee. What a strange bad taste! But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life!”
“Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for a second time, I still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again.”
Her tears made the letter totally wet.
Someday, someone asked her, “What’s the taste of salty coffee?”
“It’s sweet,” she replied.
60. After ordering some salt to put into the coffee, the young man must have felt ___.
A. touched B. satisfied C. disappointed D. embarrassed
61. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Salt coffee is more delicious and sweeter than sugar coffee.
B. The man ordered the salt coffee in order to create a chance to date with the girl.
C. The man had to have the salty coffee all his life to keep his word.
D. The woman hardly believed the man’s explanation at the first date.
62. From the passage we can see that the man is ___.
A. caring and kind-hearted B. shy and sly
C. dishonest but responsible D. warm and understanding
63. It is implied in the passage that the woman ___ when reading the letter left by her husband.
A. was cheated by his husband’s behavior
B. was touched by his husband’s white lie
C. felt sorry to know the truth too late
D. felt angry about his dishonesty
VINCOUVER (Reuters)——South Korea' s Kirn Yuna can finally relax and does fiot need to think about the future after she won the gold medal in the women' s figure skating (花样滑冰)on Thursday.
The 19-year-old was the overwhelming (压倒性的)favorite to finish top of the podium (颁奖台) but said the pressure going into the event was large.
"I feel now as if a huge burden has been lifted, " the Games' highest-earning female athlete-she makes an estimated $8 million a year —said after her near-perfect program where she nailed all of her 11 jumps.
"I will enjoy this moment and think about things later.I was just thrilled on the podium and I feel so relieved.I had been running toward this dream of the Olympics and was so happy to be here, " she said.
"Since I have achieved the most important goal in my life.I am going to enjoy this moment for a while and then think about what I am going to do," a smiling Yuna said.
Japanese rival Mao Asada took silver while Joannic Rochette of Canada grabbed the bronze medal four days after her mother died.
"I still cannot believe I did what I wanted to do at the Olympics.I have been dreaming about this moment and I cannot believe it is not a dream any more." said Yuna.
South Korea was counting on her to grab their first gold medal in figure skating and the first Winter Olympics gold medal outside short track and speed skating.
"I was just happy to have skated a clean program.It was the first time I skated two clean programs.During the program when I finished all elements I thought 'this is going to be yeah...this is it'."
Kim Yuna felt relaxed because.
A.the competition was over |
B.her dream finally came true |
C.she won a large amount of money |
D.she became well-known overnight |
According to the passage, Kim Yuna____.
A.had a strong sense of team spirit in the Games |
B.won the first gold medal for South Korea in the Winter Olympics |
C.had expected she would surely win the gold medal |
D.joined in the competition with great pressure from her country |
The underlined word '"riva” lin Paragraph 6 most probably means"____".
A.competitor | B.coach | C.judge | D.hostess |
It is known from the passage that____.
A.Kim Yuna is a person of great confidence |
B.Joannie Rochette joined in the games with great sorrow |
C.Kim Yuna is the richest athlete in South Korea |
D.Mao Asada took silver medal by accident |
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*What the three barriers to study are and what to do about them
* What to do if you get tired of a subject you are studying
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In spite of billions of dollars spent on “educational research”, children are not taught the most basic skills of learning: how to use a dictionary.Written for children 8 to 12-year-old, this fully illustrated book will teach your children:
*How to find words in a dictionary
*The different ways that words are used
*How to use a dictionary to correctly pronounce words
At last, you’ll just pay 50% for these books before May 1, 2007.(260 words)The four books can mostly satisfy_________.
A.teachers | B.children | C.adults | D.parents |
If you want to improve your ability to study, you’ll probably choose_________.
A.Basic Study Manual | B.Study Skills for Life |
C.Learning How to Learn | D.How to Use a Dictionary Picture Book for Children |
If you buy all the fully illustrated books before May 1, 2007, you will pay about_________
A.$56 | B.$111 | C.$46 | D.$92 |
This passage aims to_________.
A.introduce new books to readers |
B.guide readers to choose books |
C.encourage people to buy the books |
D.enlarge students’ knowledge about books |
There are hundreds of things that your parents controlled for you when you were a child.And it’s a good thing, too — kids need this kind of protection and assistance, because they aren’t mature enough to take care of themselves and make careful decisions on their own.
But eventually, kids grow up and become teens.It’s totally normal for teens to create their own opinions, thoughts, and values about life; it’s what prepares them for adulthood.But as you change and grow into this new person who makes his or her own decisions, your parents may have a difficult time adjusting themselves to it.
In most families, it’s this adjustment that can cause a lot of fighting between teens and parents.Teens get angry because they feel parents don’t respect them and aren’t giving them space to do what they like, and parents get angry because they aren’t used to not being in control or they disagree with the teens’ decisions.
It’s easy for feelings to get very hurt when there are conflicts like these.And more complicated issues can cause even bigger arguments, because your parents will always be intent on protecting you and keeping you safe, no matter how old you are.
The good news about fighting with your parents is that in many families the arguing will lessen as parents get more comfortable with the idea that their teens have a right to certain opinions.It can take several years for parents and teens to adjust to their new roles, though.In the meantime, concentrate on communicating with your parents as best you can.
Sometimes this can feel impossible — like they just don’t see your point of view and never will.But talking and expressing your opinions can help you gain more respect from your parents, and you may be able to reach a compromise that makes everyone happy.Keep in mind, too, that your parents were teens once and that in most cases, they can relate to what you’re going through.Why do parents always want to control their children?
A.They are afraid to lose their children. |
B.They want to protect their children. |
C.They don’t believe the ability of their children. |
D.They can’t accept their children are growing. |
The author suggested that teenagers ________.
A.fight with their parents bravely for their rights |
B.obey their parents without any doubt |
C.communicate with their parents actively |
D.persuade their parents in as many ways as possible |
It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A.most parents will give in while fighting with their children |
B.the conflict between parents and teenagers can be solved |
C.the only way for teens to get freedom is to leave home |
D.only few parents do well in facing the growth of their children |
Psychologists tell us that there are four basic stages that human beings pass through when they enter and live in a new culture.This process begins with the “honeymoon stage”.This is the period of time when we first arrive in which everything about the new culture is strange and exciting.We may be suffering from “jet lag” but we are thrilled to be in the new environment, seeing new sights, hearing new sounds and language, eating new kinds of food.This stage can last for quite a long time because we feel we are involved in some kind of great adventure.
Unfortunately, the second stage can be more difficult.After we have settled down into our new life, we can become very tired and begin to miss our homeland and our family, friends, pets.All the little problems in life seem to be much bigger and more disturbing when you face them in a foreign culture.This period of cultural adjustment can be very difficult and lead to rejecting or pulling away from the new culture.
The third stage is called the “adjustment stage”.This is when you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the host culture.Your sense of humour usually becomes stronger and you realize that you are becoming stronger by learning to take care of yourself in the new place.Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor!
The fourth stage can be called “at ease at last”.Now you feel quite comfortable in your new surroundings.You can cope(deal) with most problems that occur.You may still have problems with the language, but you know you are strong enough to deal with them.This passage mainly talks about ________.
A.culture and foreign language learning | B.adventures in a foreign land |
C.getting used to a new culture | D.the interaction of different cultures |
Which of the following best describes the first stage?
A.Lonely and depressed | B.Bored and homesick |
C.Happy and excited | D.Angry and frustrated |
According to the passage, people are most likely to return to their own culture at the ________stage.
A.1st | B.2nd | C.third | D.fourth |
It can be concluded from the passage that ________.
A.people feel better in their own culture |
B.it is not easy to adapt to a new culture |
C.culture shock doesn’t occur at the beginning |
D.it is human nature to long for adventures |
He's an old cobbler(修鞋匠) with a shop in the Marais, a historic area in Paris.When I took him my shoes, he at first told me: “I haven't time.Take them to the other fellow on the main street ; he'll fix them for you right away.”
But I'd had my eye on his shop for a long time.Just looking at his bench loaded with tools and pieces of leather, I knew he was a skilled craftsman. “No,” I replied, “the other fellow can't do it well.”
“The other fellow” was one of those shopkeepers who fix shoes and make keys “while-U-wait” — without knowing much about mending shoes or making keys.They work carelessly, and when they have finished sewing back a sandal strap (鞋带) you might as well just throw away the pair.
My man saw I wouldn't give in, and he smiled.He wiped his hands on his blue apron (围裙), looked at my shoes, had me write my name on one shoe with a piece of chalk and said, “Come back in a week.”
I was about to leave when he took a pair of soft leather boots off a shelf.
“See what I can do?” he said with pride. “Only three of us in Paris can do this kind of work.”
When I got back out into the street, the world seemed brand-new to me.He was something out of an ancient legend, this old craftsman with his way of speaking familiarly, his very strange, dusty felt hat, his funny accent from who-knows-where and, above all, his pride in his craft.
These are times when nothing is important but the bottom line, when you can do things any old way as long as it “pays”, when, in short, people look on work as a path to ever-increasing consumption(消费) rather than a way to realize their own abilities.In such a period it is a rare comfort to find a cobbler who gets his greatest satisfaction from pride in a job well done.Which of the following is true about the old cobbler?
A.He was equipped with the best repairing tools. |
B.He was the only cobbler in the Marais. |
C.He was proud of his skills. |
D.He was a native Parisian. |
The sentence “He was something out of an ancient legend.” ( paragraph 7 ) implies that______
A.nowadays you can hardly find anyone like him |
B.it was difficult to communicate with this man |
C.the man was very strange |
D.the man was too old |
According to the author, many people work just to__________.
A.realize their abilities | B.gain happiness |
C.make money | D.gain respect |
This story wants to tell us that__________.
A.craftsmen make a lot of money | B.whatever you do, do it well |
C.craftsmen need self-respect | D.people are born equal |