Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 a.m. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark exvept for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated. ”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “ Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“ Oh, I’m in no hurry.” She said, “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终医院)。 I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(计价器)
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At down, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” She asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment joy.”The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to .
A.Show she was familiar with the city |
B.reach the destination on time |
C.let the driver earn more money |
D.see some places for the last time. |
The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he
A.wanted to do her a favor |
B.shut off the meter by mistake |
C.had received her payment in advance |
D.was in a hurry to take other passenhers |
What can we learn from the story?
A.Giving is always a pleasure |
B.People should respect each other |
C.An act of kindness can bring people great joy. |
D.People should learn to appreciate others’ concern. |
I have never heard about a “Fashion Week” outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I’m ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in “stan.” For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, “Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment.” What he says is right. If you just give it a glimpse (一瞥), you’ll find out that the flavor (风情) of the Silk Road is still there.
As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through its epic(史诗的) history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai’s birthplace.
Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape.
Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The “White House,” the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists.
One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat. According to the passage, Kyrgyzstan used to be ___________.
A.an international fashion centre | B.an important part of Silk Road |
C.the focus of the world | D.a vast desert land in Central Asia |
The Fashion Week in Bishkek is supposed to __________.
A.start a revolution in Kyrgyzstan | B.attract foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan |
C.promote tourism in Kyrgyzstan | D.celebrate the independence of Kyrgyzstan |
Which of the statements is NOT ture according to the passage?
A.Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges. |
B.Panfilov Park is a popular destination for local people during holidays. |
C.The majority of the population in Bishkek are Russian and Kyrgyz. |
D.The famous poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in Kyrgyzstan. |
What is the most important message the author wants to convey in the passage?
A.Reflections and thoughts on the glorious history of the Silk Road. |
B.Feelings about the ongoin![]() |
C.The geographic features and imposing history of Kyrgyzstan. |
D.The natural and cultural characteristics and attractions in Kyrgyzstan. |
With Captain Cash’s help, we’ve put together the BIGGEST and BEST money-saving guide EVER - so what are you waiting for? Start saving NOW! The first step is to sign up to Captain Cash’s fantastic new website.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on car insurance
MAKE sure you give an accurate figure for your annual mileage when you get a quote - if you overestimate, your premium(保费)will rise.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on home insurance
Don’t overinsure your home - by sticking to the rebuild cost (the amount that really matters), you're covered if there’s a disaster. When in doubt seek independent advice.
Plus, pay your insurance policy in one hit, if you can. Many insurance companies charge higher interest rates when you pay in monthly installments.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on entertainment
BUY the latest CDs online from HMV via Captain Cash for great price deals. For instance, The Friends 15th Anniversary Complete Collection: 40 DVD box set is just £69.99 with free UK delivery - saving £30 on the RRP (Recommended Retail Price).
▲ Captain’s saving tip on utility bills
DON’T be loyal to expensive suppliers - always check out the best deals. Getting gas and electricity from the same company and paying by direct debit instead of cash or cheque also lowers the annual cost of your bills. You can also shave money from bills by turning appliances off, rather than leaving them on standby, and by turning the heating down by a degree or two. What is Captain Cash?
A.A bookstore | B.An online shop | C.An expert | D.A website |
What’s the RRP of 40 DVD box set of The Friend?
A.£39.99 | B.£99.99 | C.£59.99 | D.£109.99 |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE concerning Captain’s saving tips?
A.Paying utility bills in cash is a more economical way. |
B.Paying the full price when buying a home insurance is a wise choice. |
C.Accurate estimate of your yearly mileage is key to a car insurance. |
D.Power off the electrical appliances while they are not being used. |
Japan will hand out its first “Nobel Prize of Manga (国际漫画奖)” for artists in the comic book field abroad. This is another step in Japan’s efforts to show the power of pop culture diplomacy.
The International Manga Award, which was compared by manga lover Foreign Minister Taro Aso to a “Nobel Prize” when he first proposed it, will be given to an artist working abroad whose work best contributes to the spread of the manga form worldwide.
Manga, a name used for Japanese style comic books, often combines stories with drawing styles that differ from the overseas superhero comics and cartoon, particularly in their frequent emphasis on cuteness.
The winner will receive a certificate and a cup at an award ceremony, and will spend 10 days in Japan meeting with local comic book artists and publishers.
“Manga has been spreading overseas and are selling quite well,” Aso said when announcing the award to the public. “I want to further improve the communicative power of these so-called ‘pieces of pop culture’.”
Aso has argued that warm feelings for Japanese comics and cartoon can translate into warm feelings for Japanese foreign policy.
He has proposed sending cartoon artists overseas as cultural ambassadors and the government has named some officials to advise ways to promote Japanese cartoon and culture to foreign audiences.
The award committee, consisting of manga artists and publishers, is expected to make its selections quite soon.
According to a ministry official Nobuyuki Watanabe, the prize carries no money reward. The cup’s design has yet to be finished, but it will be something “appropriate”. The International Manga Award will be presented to ____________.
A.a Japanese who has achieved a lot in creating new methods of drawing |
B.an artist who makes contributions to introducing manga to the other foreign countries |
C.the person who is expert at comics and cartoon |
D.a foreign artist who has contributed to the development of manga |
Which statement is NOT true about manga?
A.Manga is different from the overseas comic books. |
B.Manga is popular not only in Japan but also overseas. |
C.Manga refers to international comics and cartoon. |
D.There are stories and pictures in manga. |
What has the Japanese government done to show its support?
A.To propose “Nobel Prize of Manga”. |
B.To name officials to advise ways of spreading manga overseas. |
C.To hand out its first “Nobel Prize of Manga”. |
D.To send cartoon artists overseas as cultural ambassadors. |
The passage is mainly about ____________.
A.Nobel Prize of Mang![]() |
B.the characteristics of manga |
C.a brief introduction of manga | D.the development of manga |
Lots of people have hobbies. Some people collect old coins or foreign stamps; some do needlework; others spend most of their spare time on a particular sport.
A lot of people enjoy reading. But reading tastes differ widely. Some people only read newspapers or comics, some like reading novels, while others prefer books on astronomy, wildlife, or technological discoveries.
If I happen to be interested in horses or precious stones, I cannot expect everyone else to share my enthusiasm. If I watch all the sports programs on TV with great pleasure, I must put up with the fact that other people find sports boring.
Is there nothing that interests us all? Is there nothing that concerns everyone—no matter who they are or where they live in the world? Yes, dear Sophie, there are questions that certainly should interest everyone. They are precisely the questions this course is about.
What is the most important thing in life? If we ask someone living on the edge of starvation, the answer is food. If we ask someone dying of cold, the answer is warmth. If we put the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer will probably be the company of other people.
But when these basic needs have been satisfied—will there still be something that everybody needs? Philosophers think so. They believe that man cannot live by bread alone. Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love and care. But there is something else—apart from that—which everyone needs, and that is to figure out who we are and why we are here.
Being interested in why we are here is not a “casual” interest like collecting stamps. People who ask such questions are taking part in a debate that has gone on as long as man has lived on this planet. How the universe, the earth, and life came into being is a bigger and more important question than who won the most gold medals in the last Olympics. This text is most probably taken from __________.
A.a research paper | B.a course schedule |
C.a personal letter | D.a book review |
Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
A.Philosophical questions are as interesting as collecting stamps. |
B.Thinking about philosophical questions is a serious interest. |
C.Figuring out who we are and why we are here is man’s basic needs. |
D.Philosophy has universal appeal and concerns everybody in nature. |
The author believes that __________.
A.no existing subject can interest everyone in the world |
B.different people may have different interests and concerns |
C.everyone has to figure out who we are and why we are here |
D.people in modern society pay more attention to philosophical questions |
|
A.Richard, a post-graduate from Quebec, Canada, who sent his design on Dec.20. |
B.Amy, a 28-year-old Asian-American teacher, who sent her design on Jan. 20. |
C.Jessie, a 16-year-old student from New York, who sent her design on Dec. 29. |
D.John, a 68-year-old retired engineer from San Francisco, who sent his design on Jan. 10. |
Which of the following is NOT true about James Surowiecki?
A.James Surowiecki is the author of The Financial Page column. |
B.James Surowiecki usually has discussions with people from different fields. |
C.James Surowiecki speaks with a chairman about issues of medicine this month. |
D.Visiting newyorker.com/go/vasella, you can watch the conversation of this month between James and an economist. |
___________ can be provided by The Big Apple Circus Care program for sick children.
A.Excellent treatment and care | B.Trained professional doctors and nurses |
C.Unique methods to relieve stress | D.Special pediatric facilities |
Which of the following can be used by the Big Apple Circus Clown Care program to promote itself?
A. We help all children live happy lives. |
B. Our doctors jump through rings to cure the blues. |
C. Every life deserves world class care. |
D. Work together for a healthier world. |