The story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" was created by Dr. Spencer. Johnson to help him deal with a difficult change in his life. It showed him how to take his changing situation seriously but not take himself so seriously.
When his friends noticed how much better life had become for him, and asked why, Dr. Johnson shared his "Cheese" story. Many later said how greatly the story had helped them to keep their sense of humor, to change, and to gain something better, too.
Twenty years after the story was created, "Who Moved My Cheese?" was finally published. It soon became a No.1 international best seller, with one million hardcover copies in print within the first sixteen months and over ten million copies within the next two years.
Some critics (批评家) do not understand why so many people find the book so valuable. They say the story is simple enough for a child to understand, and it insults (侮辱) their intelligence. Some even fear it suggests that people should mindlessly accept unnecessary changes forced upon them by others, although that is not in the story.
The author said that both the fans and the critics are "right" in their own way. It is not what is in the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" but how you understand it and apply it to your own situation that gives it value.
Hopefully the way you understand the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" and the way you put it into action in your life will help you find and enjoy the "New Cheese" you deserve (应得).
60. Why did the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" become a best seller as soon as it was published?
A. Because it is simple and easy to read.
B. Because readers can learn a lot from it.
C. Because the writer is quite famous.
D. Because it has many interesting stories~ Some people don't like the book because they think that__________.
A.it is too simple for adults to read |
B.the author aims to insult them |
C.there are many wrong ideas in it |
D.the author's intelligence is too high |
Which of the following is NOT true about the book?
A.The author's friends were interested to know why life became better, for Spencer. |
B.The author agreed with both the fans and the critics of his book. |
C.Some people worry the book may have a bad effect on readers. |
D.The "New Cheese" in the last paragraph refers to a kind of freshly-made milk food. |
The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to_______.
A.help Dr. Johnson sell more of his book |
B.introduce the meaning of the book |
C.help readers understand the book and get something from it |
D.introduce people's different opinions on the book |
A proverb(谚语) is a short 、well-known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Proverbs are popular around the world. Many proverbs give advice on how to live. Some proverbs are hundreds of years old, but they are still used today.
For example, my son is just like his father in many ways. We often say the two of them prove the proverb that the apple does not fall far from the tree.
My daughter is very short. She would like to be taller. But I tell her that good things come in small packages. Some valuable things are very small, like diamonds and other jewels. But I also tell my children that all that glitters is not gold. Something may look valuable, but may not really be valuable. Also, I tell them do not judge a book by its cover. You should not judge something only by its appearance.
Sometimes I tell my children to cooperate to solve a problem. After all, two heads are better than one. But another proverb says too many cooks spoil (弄坏) the soup. If too many people try to do something, then the job will not be done well.
I also tell my children that two wrongs do not make a right. You should not do something bad just because someone did the same to you.
Some people are pessimists while other people are optimists(乐观派). Pessimists always think about how bad things are or will be; optimists might say that every cloud has a silver lining(衬里) and they always look on the bright side. Other people are both pessimists and optimists. They hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Some people often worry about what they will do in a situation that might happen in the future. We could tell them do not cross that bridge until you come to it.
It is usually much better to prevent a problem from happening than to find ways to solve it. So we say an ounce(盎司) of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
1. The author often comforts(安慰) her daughter with the proverb that ____.
A. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
B. Good things come in small packages
C. Too many cooks spoil the soup
D. Two heads are better than one
2. If someone says “two heads are better than one”, he means____.
A. jobs will be done better if two work together
B. a problem will be solved easily by many people
C. jobs won’t be done well if there are too many people
D. you can’t do something bad even if someone else does it
3. The underlined word “pessimists” in the sixth paragraph refers to those people_____.
A. who always look on the bright side
B. who always expect bad things to happen
C. who are always full of hope for the future
D. who always make preparations for the worst
4. Which of the following are optimists likely to say?
A. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
B. We hope for the best and prepare for the worst
C. Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.
D. Every cloud has a silver lining
The following are the world-renewed attractions(迷人地方) in London, so don’t miss them while touring there.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe, which officially opened in 1997, is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, built in 1599, and brings Shakespeare’s world to life. As a visitor to the exhibition you’ll discover how shows were produced in the theatres during Shakespeare’s time. The guide-storytellers take you on a fascinating half-hour tour.
Price: Adult £9.00;Child(5-15) £6.50; Student £7.50; Under 5 FREE.
The Tower of London
The tower, nearly 100 feet high, with walls 15 feet thick, was built in the early 1080s. King Henry Ⅲ made this tower his home. King Edward V and his
younger brother were murdered inside by their uncle. Queen Elizabeth I was shut up in the tower for two months by her half sister Mary who felt that her throne(王位)was being threatened(威胁). In 1603, part of the tower became a museum.
Price: Adult £16.50; Child (5-15) £9.50; Under 5 FREE; Student £13.50; Family (two adults with three children) £46.00.
Banqueting(宴会) House
Banqueting House is the remains of Whitehall Palace which was built in 1529 and was home to the English kings. It was destroyed by fire. Famous for its architecture and painting, the building is also known for being the scene(地点) of Charles I’s execution(处决)。
Price: Adult £4.50; Child £2.25; Student (with ID) and senior citizen (60+) £3.00; Under 5 FREE.
Tower Bridge Exhibition
Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the world. At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy breath-taking views from the high-level walkways and learn about the history of the bridge and how it was built. You can then visit the Victorian engine rooms, home to the original steam engines that used to power the bridge.
Price: Adult£6.00; Child (5-15) £3.00; Under 5 FREE; Senior citizen(60+) £4.50; Student£4.50.
1. Which of the following places has the longest history?
A. Whitehall Palace. B. The Globe Theatre.
C. The Tower of London. D. Tower Bridge.
2. If two parents with their 4-year-old son visit the Tower of London, they should pay .
A. £33 B. £43 C. £46 D. £52
3. Queen Elizabeth I was shut up in the tower for two months by Mary mainly because .
A. Mary didn’t like her ]
B. she tried to steal Mary’s treasure
C. Mary feared she would become the Queen
D. she intended to murder Mary
4. How many places used as a king’s home are mentioned in this passage?
A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
Life is difficult.
But life is no longer difficult once we truly understand and accept it.
Most don’t fully see this truth. Instead, they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that their difficulties stand for a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or upon their family, their class, or even their nation.
What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is painful. Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness, loneliness, regret, anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings , often as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems , life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet, it is in this whole of solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells success from failure .When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said,“Those things that hurt, instruct(teach).” It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems.
1. From the passage, it can be inferred that______.
A. not everybody has problems.
B. We become stronger by facing and solving problems in life.
C. life is difficult because our problems bring us pain.
D. people like to complain about their problems.
2. The writer uses just one short sentence in the first paragraph probably to _______.
A. save space B. persuade readers
C. make readers laugh D. get readers’ attention
3. According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to ______.
A. encourage them to learn B. make them suffer
C. help them to deal with pain D. help them to understand life is difficult
4. By“Those things that hurt, instruct(teach).” Benjamin Franklin
suggests that_____.
A.we don’t learn from experience
B.we don’t learn when we are in pain
C.pain teaches us important lessons
D.pain is unforgetable.
At 3:30 a.m. Pearl Carlson was shaken awake by a forceful pull. King, the family dog, was trying to pull her out of bed.Then she smelled smoke and heard the sound of fire from her parent's room. Pearl's screams awaked her mother, Fern and father, Howard, who had recently been in hospital for lung disease. Helping Howard to a first-floor window, Fern told him to climb out, then ran to her daughter.
Still inside, King appeared at Pearl's window, making squeaking (短促尖叫) sounds. When running toward Pearl's bedroom, Fern realized her husband hadn't yet escaped. She made her way back through the smoke and flames, following King's sound to where Howard lay semiconscious (半昏迷) on the floor. Fern helped him get outside. King came out only after both were safe.
As day dawned, the Carlsons saw that King's paws were badly burned, and his entire body was burned too. His chain collar had gotten so hot that it burned his throat, making it impossible for him to bark (叫) normally. Only after the seven-year-old dog refused food did they find pieces of wood in his mouth and realize that King, who slept outside, had bitten through a wood door to warn his family.
1. Who was King in this story?
A. The family sore B. The family daughter.
C. The family dog. D. The master.
2. According to the story, the first one who was completely out of danger could be .
A. Howard B. Fern C. Pearl and Fern D. Pearl
3. After reading this story, we've learnt that the following statements could be reasonable except .
A. the dog made a big hole in the door
B. the dog awoke mother first
C. the dog was the last one to escape from the burning room
D. the dog was badly burned , hurt and not able to eat
4. From this story it can be inferred that .
A. Pearl loves her parents very much
B. Howard is the best man of the family
C. the woman loves her children more deeply than her husband
D. the dog is man's best friend
三.阅读理解:(20×2.5=50分)
People have smoked cigarettes for a long time. The tobacco used to make cigarettes was grown in what is now part of the United States. Christopher Columbus, who discovered America, saw the Indians smoking, and soon the dried leaves were transported to Europe where smoking began to catch on. In the late 1800s, the Turk(土耳其人) made cigarettes even popular.
Cigarettes smoke contains at least two harmful substances, tar and nicotine. Tar, which forms as the tobacco burns, damages the lungs and therefore affects breathing. Nicotine, which is found in the leaves, causes the heart to beat faster and increases breathing rate.
Smoking cigarettes is dangerous. The U.S. Public Health Service stated that cigarette smoking is the cause of lung cancers and several other deadly diseases. The U.S. government now requires that each package of cigarettes bear(带有)a special warning about the danger of smoking.
1. The expression “catch on” in the passage may mean _________.
A. start B. cost a lot C. become popular D. dangerous
2. Before Columbus discovered America __________.
A. Europeans had smoked B. Nobody smoked in the world
C. Nicotine was not in tobacco D. Europeans had never smoked
3. In the nineteenth century smoking became popular because of the people in ________.
A. India B. Turkey C. the U.S. D. British
4. Breathing is affected by ___________.
A. nicotine B. tar C. heat D. both A and B