I needed to get some money so, after Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham’s for the first fortnight of the January sale. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.
I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales; where did they all come from? Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock (货物) and the stock that people buy all the year round; some of these things are slightly reduced. Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn’t sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them. Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale. Clever! Lastly, they buy in “seconds? (clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.
When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building. This made me very nervous.
When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards, looking less confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand. The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in. I couldn’t believe my eyes; this wasn’t shopping, it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn’t keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.
Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colours and styles they wanted. Quarrels broke out. Mothers were using their small children to crawl(爬行) through people’s legs and get hold of things they couldn’t get near themselves.
Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose, each wanting to be the first served. Where had the famous English Queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper(脾气)! I was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why, twice a year, Graham’s were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.
In the sale fever, people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying. As long as it was a bargain it was OK.
You won’t believe this but as soon as I got home I crashed out for four hours. Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.
61. What kind of clothes is likely to be sold 5% cheaper?
A. Last summer’s clothes. B. Clothes not in perfect condition.
C. Clothes bought in specially for the sales. D. Clothes for winter.
62. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The customers gave up the queuing for which the English are famous.
B. The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted.
C. Small children enjoyed crawling through people’s legs.
D. The security guards were fearless of the crowd.
63. In the author’s opinion, why were Graham’s happy to make their expensive store into “Battlefield?
A. There were too many clothes and they wanted to clear them in the sales.
B. They were eager to show that they were clever at doing business.
C. They could take the chance to raise the prices of all their clothes.
D. They wanted to make more money by having sales.
64. The expression “crashed out” means ________.
A. chatted with her friends B. slept soundly
C. broke down D. dined out
65. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The Best Bargain. B. Hunting for a job.
C. Sale Fever. D. A Pleasant Fortnight.
What should you think about when you try to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others, These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at mental work or cookery(烹调术) and look for a job where you can improve these skills.
If you have had a part - time job on Saturday or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part - time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not feel sorry about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.The first paragraph of the passage is mainly about ________.
| A.the indirect value of school work |
| B.the importance of being good at all subjects |
| C.knowing one’s strong or weak subjects at school |
| D.using school performance to help to choose a career |
In the writer’s opinion, for a student to have a part - time job is probably ________.
| A.a good way to find out his weak points |
| B.one of the best ways of earning extra money |
| C.of great use for his work in the future |
| D.a waste of time he could have spent on study |
If a student’s school record is not good, according to the passage, he________ .
| A.may do well in his future work |
| B.won’t be able to find a suitable job |
| C.may be a complete failure in the future |
| D.will regret not having worked harder at school |
The whole passage centers around ________.
| A.knowing oneself in looking for a job |
| B.developing one’s abilities useful in school |
| C.gaining much knowledge by working hard at school |
| D.choosing a career according to what one is skilled in |
The Galapagos a far-away archipelago(群岛) and largely untouched by man, is now facing a problem. Its local people, who live on the island of Santa Cruz, want to develop the business and tourist potential(旅游资源)of the island. Recently, they are locked in a bitter struggle with the naturalists who work at the Charles Darwin Centre, also on Santa Cruz. The naturalists want to protect the island’s wildlife which is already suffering as a result of human activity.
The animals’ great threat used to be sailors who, hundreds of years ago, robbed the islands for food. They wiped out about 250,000 Giant Tortoises. For example, on Pinta, one of the smallest islands, there are no Giant Tortoises left at all. The last survivor, an 80-year-old Giant Tortoise called Lonesome George, lives under the protection of naturalists at the Darwin Centre.
Today, the island’s animals are no longer hunted for food. But other dangers have replaced the threat from sailors. Goats, for example, introduced over the years by man, have gone wild. With no natural enemies, their number has reached 10,000 on the largest of the Galapagos islands, Isabella. They are eating huge quantities of plants, and robbed the remaining Giant Tortoises of food. The problem is now so bad that the National Park Service has hired hunters to kill the goats in order to save the Giant Tortoise from dying out.Today, you can find the Giant Tortoises on the island of _______.
| A.Santa Cruz | B.Pinta | C.Isabella | D.Galapagos |
Which of the following shows the right relationship between the Galapagos, Isabella, Pinta and Santa Cruz?
| A.The Galapagos>Pinta>Isabella>Santa Cruz |
| B.Isabella>Santa Cruz>the Galapagos>Pinta |
| C.The Galapagos>Isabella>Santa Cruz>Pinta |
| D.Isabella>the Galapagos>Pinta>Santa Cruz |
We can learn from the article the greatest danger to the Giant Tortoises is from________.
| A.sailors | B.hunters | C.goats | D.the local people |
From the first paragraph we can infer that _____.
| A.the naturalists try to help the local people with their interest. |
| B.The local people pay more attention to the economic growth than the wildlife there, |
| C.The animals and plants are of great importance to the local. |
| D.The naturalists don’t care about the local people at all |
Twelve years age I flew from my home in Minnesota to spend Father’s Day with my father in California. This wasn’t a typical Father’s Day visit, but to say goodbye to my father as his cancer rapidly advanced. We hadn’t had much of a relationship up to that day and never did much talking. He wasn’t verbal (善用言词辞的) or demonstrative (易流露感情的) nor was I. I knew he loved me simply because fathers love their children. He never told me he loved me and I never told him. That’s the way we did things in our house.
My father told me a bit about his career growth from a poor boy to a very successful businessman. He had got a lot through his hard work. He had reasons to be proud of what he had done and I had the benefit of his success. “Maybe I didn’t do things right. I never really knew you or your brothers. I did what I thought was right.” This visit didn’t change our ways. We shook hands and said goodbye as I left. Our relationship ended as we lived it.
As a father for more than 14 years I look back and understand why I am staying at home full-time with my children. I tell my children I love them every day, I hug them and I talk with them and let them know how important they are to me. However, as much as we would like to believe that we are all ideal fathers but we are not. We all made mistakes and hopefully we learned from them, just as I learned from my father.
56.Why did the author visit his father?
A. He wanted to wish his father a happy Father’s Day.
B. He planned to look after his sick father.
C. He wanted to express his love to his father.
D. He came to see his father for the last time.
57. What did the author think of his father?
A. He didn’t talk much but was a good father. B. He didn’t do anything right.
C. He just did what a father should do.D. He didn’t like his children at all.
58. Which of the following statements about the author’s father is TRUE?
A. His father had been away from their home for a long time.
B. His father gained great success through hard work.
C. His father quite understand his children.
D. His father was sorry for his mistake.
59. The author believes that fathers should________.
A. set good example to their children through actions
B. stay at home with their children all the time
C. tell their children what is right
D. express their love to their children
Poetry is an interesting form of writing. It is very free, has few restrictions and can be a great way to express feelings. Writing a poem is all about observing the world within you or around you.
To write a poem, first you should begin with an idea or inspiration(灵感). Inspiration may come at any time unexpectedly. It may be a specific person, place or thing that causes some sort of strong emotion. It may be more of an abstract idea or release of emotion.
After getting the idea, you can write down everything that comes to mind. Don’t think much and let all feelings pour out. Remember everything can be thrown out later.
Then you can think about its form and begin to organize thoughts. Poetry comes in any forms, from epic (叙事的) poetry that has a story to dramatic poetry intended to be performed. Try them all out. One will come naturally. Maybe different poems fit different forms. When you write a poem, think about both meter (韵律) and rhythm carefully, which are equally important in poetry. Meter is the fixed pattern of the poem, while rhythm refers to the sound when it is spoken. It is also important to use a lot of descriptive words. Create imagery (意向) with words, trying to make them attractive to all the senses. For auditory (听觉的) interest, try repeating of similar sounds in a sentence or phrase. All of this adds life and interest to a poem.
After you finish your work, don’t be afraid to share your work with others. When others point out your weakness, accept and grow from it.
60. What does the underlined word “restriction” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A. Change B. Order C. Limitation D. Organization
61. When you begin to write a poem, you should first _____.
A. begin with some specific persons B. come up with ideas
C. describe a famous place D. organize your thoughts
62. We can infer from the text that_________.
A. writing poems needs imagination and the ability to use language well
B. people can get more ideas if they often share their poems with others
C. people should first learn to write epic poetry, then dramatic poetry
D. people need to write down every feeling they want to release at a time
63. What’s the purpose of the text?
A. To tell readers how to write a poem.
B. To encourage more people to write poems.
C. To show what quality a good poem should have.
D. To teach people how to appreciate poems.
Art is for everyone. Parents can help kids appreciate art by making it available for them. Unfortunately, many adults do not enjoy art simply because they do not understand the stories or context (背景). Actually, children can appreciate art as well as any adult. Here are some simple ways to encourage children to appreciate art.
Find art that will allow children to easily make a connection with their lives. Choose the material according to their ages. Pictures and sculptures of children, for example, or dogs and cats are easily understood, and it is easy to start a conversation about how the themes in the art are connected with familiar people and animals in kids’ lives. Music and dance are very important to children and should also be used.
Explore the stories behind famous, and not so famous, art. Encourage children to make up their own stories about paintings and then research the real story behind the paintings.
Create art with children. Teach them that art is not something that they must only observe but something that they can create. Discuss art with children. Encourage them to express their views on art. Let them know that it is okay to dislike something, and listen to their preferences when planning events.
Visit museums and performances. Explore the artwork in local museums that will interest them. Most cities have children’s theaters and music groups, and often free performances are offered. Many art museums have special tours for children.
Through a variety of artistic experiences, kids will learn how to appreciate art and will enjoy it.
64. When choosing art for children, parents should________.
A. take their children’s ages and experiences into consideration
B. pay close attention to their children’s ability to understand
C. ask professional artists for some useful advice
D. try to find some art beyond their imagination
65. Which of the following should not be down in creating art with children?
A. Allowing children to speak out their own opinions on art.
B. Allowing children to have their own likes and dislikes.
C. Making children interested in everything about art.
D. Talking with children about something on art.
66. We can learn from the text that helping children appreciate art_________.
A. is highly necessary for their growth
B. will improve their school performance
C. can help them make more friends at school
D. needs parents’ encouragement and instruction