Pete took his seat this day on his usual bench in Union Square.Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years Pete had taken this same seat exactly at one o'clock, and each time the same pleasant thing had happened.But this time Pete had come here more from habit than from hunger.Certainly today Pete was not hungry.Two rich old ladies gave him a Thanksgiving dinner of everything he could eat.
Pete sat on the bench now, hardly able to move.The buttons on his ragged shirt and coat were about to burst.The November breeze and the first light fall of snow felt cool and pleasant to his face.He happened to look to the left and there in the distance he saw the old Gentleman coming toward him.He wanted to get up and run, but he was so full of food he stayed right there.Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years, the Old Gentleman had come there, found Pete on this same bench, and then taken him to a restaurant and bought him a Thanksgiving dinner.It was a kind of tradition which the Old Gentleman, who had no family and lived alone, had tried to continue.
"How do you do' "said the Old Gentleman." Glad to see that the changes of another year have permitted you to move in health through this beautiful world."Each time the Old Gentleman had said exactly this same thin? It was part of the tradition.Pete, too, began to feel as though he himself was now a part of the tradition, and he therefore did not have the courage to tell the old man that he had already eaten.This dinner seemed to mean so much to the Old Gentleman.
"Thank you, sir, " said Pete at last. “I’ll go with you gladly. I’m very hungry, sir.” Together the Old Gentleman and Pete walked south to the same restaurant where each year Pete had his Thanksgiving dinner. The Old Gentleman seemed pleased and happy. When the waiter brought dish after dish of food to Pete, the Old Gentlenman sat quietly and smiled.Under the circumstances, Pete had to eat.It was part of the tradition, and so he ate like a hero, although when he entered the restaurant even the smell of food almost made him sick.At last Pete leaned back with the battle won.
" Thank you, sir, " he said, with some effort, " for a fine dinner."
They parted as they did each year at the door, the Old Gentlemen going south, Pete north.
Around the corner, Pete stopped for a moment, felt a terrible pain in his stomach, and then fell to the sidewalk unconscious.A little time later an ambulance came.In the hospital they discovered that he had had an attack of indigestion (消化不良).
An hour later, another ambulance brought the Old Gentleman to the same hospital.At first they thought it was also indigestion but later one of the nurses said, "That nice old gentleman over there—you wouldn't think that it was a case of hunger."Where did Pete and the Old Gentleman meet every Thanksgiving Day?
A.In the restaurant. |
B.In Union Square. |
C.At the Old Gentleman's house. |
D.At the hospital. |
Which of the following sentences in the passage doesn't show Pete was full?
A.Pete sat on the bench now, hardly able to move. |
B.The buttons on his ragged shirt and coat were about to burst. |
C.Glad to see that the changes of another year have ![]() |
D.When he entered the restaurant even the smell of food almost made him sick. |
The underlined sentence "I'm very hungry, sir." in Paragraph 5 implies that .
A.Pete didn't have![]() |
B.Pete was so greedy that he wanted to have another dinner |
C.Pete was suffering from hunger |
D.Pete enjoyed having the Thanksgiving dinner for free |
Which of the following words can best describe the Old Gentleman?
A.Self-centred. | B.Mosdest. |
C.Stubborn. | D.Generous |
Four schoolchildren from Belgrave, England were out on their bikes on Wednesday evening. Unexpectedly, they saw an elderly man gasping for breath (喘息) in the street. They tried to call the police and ambulance service, but their phones were not working, due to network problems.
Before the polish man became unconscious, the children kept him calm while they flagged down (招停) a passing driver. The children used words they had picked up from their polish classmates to translate the injured man’s answer to the driver’s questions. Gary,10, and his six-year-old sister, Lily, stayed with the man while Thyus and Owen, both 11, led the ambulance to the spot where he lay. Soon the man was taken to hospital.
The fantastic four children who came to the aid of the elderly man deserve the highest respect for their quick-thinking and courage in an emergency situation. They are a credit not only to themselves, but to their families and their school. And it is great to be able to hear such a positive story about young people.
What is not so positive about this story is the fact that several adults apparently walked by without stopping to help. This seeming indifference (冷漠) to an emergency situation is a well- noted phenomenon which psychologists sometimes refer to as “the bystander effect”. Research suggests that when a group of people witness an emergency, people are likely to assume that somebody else will intervene and they feel that the burden of responsibility is lifted from their shoulders.
Perhaps the answer to this sort of thing is to introduce a “Good Samaritan” law. This already exists in France and places a legal responsibility on people who witness an emergency situation to help out as long as they can do so. This certainly seems to remove any doubt about who bears the burden of responsibility for offering assistance –everybody!What can we learn about the elderly man?
A.He spoke Polish with the children. |
B.He fell from his bike and got injured. |
C.He was taken to hospital by the driver. |
D.He recovered consciousness in the street. |
In paragraph 3, the author mainly _____.
A.shows his great sympathy for the man |
B.gives high praise to the four children. |
C.offers his special thanks to the driver |
D.expresses his anger at several adults |
The underlined word “intervene” in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “_______”
A.be curious | B.go on |
C.give up | D.get involved |
In France, if an emergency happens to someone, _____.
A.offering help to him is required by law |
B.people have the right to leave the scene |
C.others must get permission before helping him |
D.the witnesses will be punished if the rescue fails. |
High school announcements
Do you have a high school announcement to make? Are you hosting a high school sports event or tournament? Are you looking for a coach? Let us know, and we’ll share it with “Tribune” readers.
August 21---- Sacred Heart is looking for two assistant baseball coaches immediately. Practices and games are held after school at 3:30 pm. Some experience in playing or coaching is preferred. If interested, e-mail Ron Schwartz at ramsad1@aol.com.
August 7 ----- Loyola Academy will host its 12th Rambler Baseball Winter Workshop for students in fourth through eighth grades on Aug. 26. the early registration(注册) fee is $70 and registration at the door is $85. contact(联系) Loyola coach Bill San Hamel at 847-920-2523 to register early.
July 17 ----- St. Patrick will host a Youth Holiday Baseball Camp for boys in grades three through eight Aug. 26 through Aug. 28 from 6:30 pm to 9 pm in St. Pat’s gym. The registration fee is $90. for more information, visit www. stpatrick.orgor contact Coach Kusinski at (773) 282-8844 ext. 242 or dkusinski@stpatrick.org.
June 12 ----- The Marist Girls’ basketball team is looking for a game for the new season. The team can play all levels. If interested, please contact Mary Pat Connolly at (773) 881-5318, or e-mail
connolly.marypat@marist.net.
June 1 ----- Bartlett is hosing a high school football camp June 13-30 and July 11-28 from 8-11 am. The registration fee is $180. to register go to www.athletic2000.com/bartlett. Contact coach Tom Meaney with questions at 630-372-4700 ext. 8105.
May 27 ----Hinsdale is hosting youth wrestling camps June 20-23 and June 27-30. There is no minimum age required. Even wrestlers in kindergarten are eligible to participate. The cost of registration is $80 per person. Contact head wrestling coach Jason Hayes at 815-762-1568 or e-mail jhayes@hinsdale86.org for more information.If a fourth–grade girl wants to learn baseball, she may contact______.
A.Ron Schwartz | B.Mary Pat Connolly |
C.Kusinski | D.Bill San Hamel |
Which of the following high schools wants to have a match?
A.Sacred Heart. | B.The Marist. |
C.Bartlett. | D.hinsdale. |
If one wants to choose a relatively cheap sports camp, he may ______.
A.phone 847-920-2523 to register early |
B.e-mail connolly.marypat@marist.net |
C.visit www.athletics2000.com/bartlett |
D.contact head wrestling coach Jason Hayes |
The underlined word “eligible” in the last paragraph probably means _____.
A.prepared | B.supposed |
C.determined | D.Allowed |
Kellyanne O’Niell had not even completed her first aid course when she was called upon to put her skills into action.
Just halfway through her course, which was offered by Kilcooley Women’s Education Group, Kellyanne was walking home when she found herself faced with an emergency.
A youngster on the street had fallen onto broken glass. Describing the situation, Kellyanne said:“I noticed she fell onto some glass, and when she got up, I spotted a big wound starting at the thumb(大拇指)and finishing at the ring finger. I started applying pressure to the bleeding wound at once and sent someone to bring my first-aid box from my house.”
She continued: “I phoned for an ambulance and gave the lady every last detail that she wanted to know. I got another person to keep an eye out for the ambulance. The young girl was in great pain so she couldn’t stay still. I was scared she was not going to respond to me. I held her hand above the heart so that the bleeding could at least stop a little bit.”
“Once the person came back with the bandage, the ambulance was there. The nurse got me to hold a flashlight for her while she bandaged the wound. Once the girl was all bandaged up, I helped her onto the seat in the ambulance and she was taken to hospital.”
Margaret Pridgen, the British Red Cross trainer who had been teaching Kellyanne, was full of praise for her swift action. She said:“I think this is quite an achievement for this young girl, I have really seen her confidence grow during the training and am delighted she had the poise(镇定)to be able to deal with the situation and put her new skills into practice.”We can learn from the text that __________.
A.Kellyanne is a first-aid worker |
B.Kellyanne felt proud of herself |
C.Margaret is the boss of Kellyanne |
D.Margaret was satisfied with Kellyanne. |
When Kellyanne dealt with the emergency, she was ________.
A.calm | B.hesitant |
C.hopeless | D.Frightened |
What’s the correct order of the things Kellyanne did to save the girl?
a. she called for an ambulance.
b. she took steps to help stop the bleeding.
c. she asked someone to fetch her first-aid box.
d. she helped the nurse put the girl into the ambulance.
e. She got someone to keep an eye out for the ambulance.
A.b-a-c-e-d | B.b-c-a-e-d |
C.c-a-e-b-d | D.c-a-b-e-d |
In December, 2010, many American newspapers publish a list of the best books of the year. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is one of the most repeatedly praised books on this year's list of favorites. It tells about the ups and downs of the Berglund family over many years. Mr. Franzen fills the book with sharp observations about American politics, culture and society.
Jennifer Egan's book A Visit from the Goon Squad takes place in 13 chapters over 40 years. The story moves back and forth in time, from different viewpoints. One main character is former rock musician Bennie Salazar who works for a record company. The other main character is a troubled young woman named Sasha who works for Bennie. The reader learns about their pasts and those of their friends.
The main character in The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman is a failing English Language newspaper published in Rome, Italy. Each chapter of the book tells about a reporter or editor working for this paper. Their stories are filled with intelligence and great personality.
Two of the most popular nonfiction books of 2010 were about rock and roll stars. Just Kids is by rock singer Patti Smith. It tells about her friendship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1960s and 1970s before they became famous. Life is the autobiography of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. It is an honest and exciting look at the development of rock and roll and the wild times this famous band has experienced.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand tells about a man named Louis Zamperini. She tells about his extraordinary survival story after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during World War Two.
Stacy Schiff has received great praise for her book Cleopatra: A Life. It tells about one of the most misrepresented and famous women in his story, Cleopatra. She ruled ancient Egypt about 2,000 years ago. One critic said Ms. Schiff has brought Cleopatra to life again by unearthing her story from centuries of lies.The following books are related to music EXCEPT________.
A.The Imperfectionists | B.A Visit from the Goon Squad |
C.Just Kids | D.Life |
If your major is the history of ancient Africa, you may pay attention to ________.
A.Freedom by Jonathan Franzen |
B.Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand |
C.The Imperfections by Tom Rachman |
D.Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff |
Which book will give you a practical understanding of the USA?
A.Life | B.Cleopatra: A Life |
C.Freedom | D.A Visit from the Goon Squad |
The last sentence of the passage implies that ________.
A.Stacy Schiff is an archaeologist |
B.the critic finds the character in the book very real |
C.the critic speaks highly of Cleopatra in history |
D.Stacy Schiff tells a story about an imaginary Egyptian queen |
While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy is ruining their life plans, I couldn't help but think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children who grow up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, I certainly share their disappointment –my husband and I probably won't be able to buy a house until we're in our forties, and we two are burdened by student loans. But why should it be different? Being young people in America, shouldn't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?
Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won't be able to have children for at least a decade because they can't afford to buy a house yet.
I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury(奢华), not a fertility requirement.
A 26-year-old man in the story is disappointed that he can't afford to get a Ph. D. in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years.
Yes, it's sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people's expectations grow up when their wealth appears to be increasing. Their parents probably see their home values rise along with their investments. "So we have people who have grown up in an environment where people have great expectations of what living well means," says Kobliner.
This recession(经济衰退) will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems much better for our mental health to focus on being grateful—for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day—than on longing for some kind of luxurious life. What makes the author think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children?
A.They expect everything to be easy for them. |
B.They complain that the economy is ruining their life plans. |
C.They are unwilling to face all of the challenges. |
D.They are burdened by student loans. |
Which of the following is NOT one of the complaints of the 20-somethings?
A. They can't have children for at least a decade for they can't afford to buy a house.
B. They have only a one-bedroom apartment to live in.
C. They can't buy a house until 40 and are burdened by student loans.
D. They despair of not being able to afford to get a Ph. D. in literature.What's Kobliner's attitude towards the 20-somethings with high expectations ?
A.Unbearable. | B.Opposing. |
C.Doubtful. | D.Understanding. |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.Young people afford to continue their education |
B.Young people can't afford to buy a house |
C.Young people's high expectations lead to despair |
D.The 20-somethings' high expectations |