I had my first job at a local diner called the Buttercup Bakery when I was 22. I worked there for seven years and learned so many lessons, especially from a fellow waitress Helen who had incredible self-respect and did what she loved—serving people. She made everyone smile and feel good, customers and co-workers alike.
Being a waitress changed my life. One of my regular customers was Fred Hasbrook, an electronics salesman. Thanks to the newfound confidence I picked up from Helen, I dreamed of having my own restaurant. But when I called my parents to ask for a loan, they said, “We just don’t have the money.”
The next day, I shared my dream with him and said, “Fred, I know I can do more if somebody would just have faith in me.”
He walked over to some of the other diner regulars and the next day handed me checks totaling $50,000—along with a note that I have to this day. It reads, “The only collateral(担保)on this loan is my trust in your honesty as a person. Good people with a dream should have the opportunity to make that dream come true.”
I took the checks to Merrill Lynch—the first time I had ever entered a brokerage(经纪业)house—where the money was invested for me. I continued working at the Buttercup, making plans for the restaurant I would open. My investments soured, though, and I lost the money.
After great deliberation(考虑) I decided to apply for a job at Merrill Lynch. Even though I had no experience, I was hired and ended up becoming a pretty good broker. Eventually I paid back Fred and my customers the $50,000, plus 14-percent annual interest. Five years later, I was able to open my own firm.
I got a thank-you note from Fred, which will be imprinted on my head forever. He had been sick and wrote that my check had helped cover his mounting medical bills. His letter read, “That loan may have been one of the best investments that I will ever make.” According to the passage, the author thought ______.
A.Helen was full of complaint about her work |
B.it was easy for Helen to make everyone happy and comfortable |
C.she was lucky to have a job working with Helen |
D.it was not acceptable to live in such a bad condition |
By saying that “Being a waitress changed my life.” the author means that ______.
A.the author got a high pay by working hard |
B.the author borrowed $50,000 with no interest from Fred Hasbrook |
C.the effort which she had made influenced her a lot |
D.the experience working as a waitress was worthwhile for the author |
Which of the following statements is not true of Fred Hasbrook?
A.Fred Hasbrook was one of the author’s regular customers. |
B.Fred Hasbrook lent the author $50,000, together with other customers. |
C.Fred Hasbrook’s self-respect had a great effect on the author. |
D.Fred Hasbrook’s himself did not have much money. |
What made the author’s customers lend her money according to the passage?
A.Her maturity. | B.Her honesty. | C.Her faith. | D.Her success. |
The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel. The bride(新娘) and her father arrived in a new black American sports car. Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras. The bride wore a silk wedding dress. She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time.
Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station's competition. The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other. Miss Germaine, 23, is a model. Mr. Cordell, 27, is a TV salesman. They were among the two hundred people who entered for a peculiar "experiment" organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham, England. Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on radio. They took a lie detector (测谎仪)test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities. The competition judges included an astrologer (占卜家) who declared that they were suited .
The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening, but not everyone shared their joy. Miss Germaine's mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr. Cordell's parents are reported to be less than delighted.
Organizations, including the marriage guidance service Relate, have criticized the marriage. As one expert put it, "we have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously without this. Marriage should always be about love. "
The couples are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists. Their other prizes include a year's free use of a wonderful apartment in the centre of Birmingham, and a car. But will it last?
64. How did the couple's parents react to the wedding?
A. The bride's mother shared their joy.
B. The bride's father felt uncomfortable about the wedding.
C. The bridegroom's parents were quite delighted.
D. The bridegroom's parents were not that joyful.
65. Some experts believe that_____
A. marriage without the couple's meeting each other first ends up in divorce.
B. young people nowadays are too careless about marriage
C. taking a lie detector test can not solve all the marriage problems
D. most young people take marriage seriously except this couple.
66. One of the prizes for the couple is _____
A. to spend their honeymoon wherever they like.
B. to use an apartment free for some time.
C. to have a wedding dress free.
D. to own an American sports car.
67. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A. Two Strangers and a Wedding. B. A Wedding Based on love.
C. A Short-lived Marriage. D. A Well-Matched Couple.
Safety and Security Procedures
Your safety and the security of your personal property are of the primary concern to those of us who welcome you as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.
YOUR VEHICLE
Lock your vehicle and do not leave money or valuable items inside. We are not responsible for their loss.
TRAVELING
Be observant (机警) when sightseeing or traveling. Stay in well-lit and heavily traveled areas. Don’t display large amounts of cash.
GUEST ROOM SECURITY
For additional security use the deadbolt (插锁) provided on your door and make sure the windows are locked. As an additional precaution (预防措施), please secure the secondary locks provided. Do not admit anyone to your room without first making identification. A one-way viewer is provided in your door to assist with identification(识别). If there is any doubt about the person’s identify, please contact the Front Desk.
SAFETY BOXES
Do not leave money or valuables in your room or vehicle. We provide free safety boxes for your use. Hotel is not responsible for items left in room valued over$200.
KEYS
Safeguard your key. Please do not leave it in the door. Do not give your key to others or leave it unattended. Please leave your key at the Front Desk when you check out.
REPORTING
Please report any suspicious activity, or safety concerns to management.
FIR
Please familiarize yourself with the nearest fire exists. Report fire or smoke to the hotel operator. In the unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly and calmly to the nearest safe exit and leave the building. Avoid the use of elevator.
60. The suggestions are most probably from_____.
A. a hotel manager B. a police officer
C. an experienced traveler D. a tour guide
61. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. It is advised to travel to places where there are few people.
B. The hotel is not responsible for anything you lose.
C. Don’t report to the manager unless you are sure something is going wrong.
D. You’d better use the deadbolt and the secondary locks for safety.
62. If you feel doubtful about a stranger who knocks at the door, you should____.
A. let the person in after you have got his/her name
B. open the door to check the person’s ID card
C. call the Front Desk to make sure
D. contact the local police for assistance
63. What does the underlined part “ In the unlikely event of a fire” mean?
A. In case a fire happens, though it is not very possible.
B. If a fire happens when some big events are taking place.
C. In case a fire happens in a public building.
D. If a fire breaks out and it is getting out of control.
三、阅读理解(共20小题;每小题3分,满分60分)
请阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it’s Christmas again. They can’t see that we live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren’t much good. But Johnny and children can’t see this. What a pity it is that our neighbours have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we’ve saved isn’t nearly enough.
The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn’t eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer(下水道). Why, is it only because they have money ? There is more to happiness than money in the world, isn’t there?
Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn’t rich, but she knows things. She understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I’d like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grow up.
56. This passage mainly suggests that the writer _______.
A. is easy to get along with
B. is unhappy with the life they are living
C. is good at observing and understanding
D. is never pleased with her neigbours
57. What do you think of McGarity girl?
A. She is proud and hungry. B. She is selfish and cruel.
C. She is lonely and friendless. D. She is unhappy and misunderstood.
58. In this text, the writer tries to tell us that _______.
A. money is the key to everything
B. the more money you have, the less happy you’ll be
C. there is something more important than money
D. when talking to people we should look into their eyes
59. Pick out the one that does NOT describe the writer’s view on money.
A. Why, is it only because they have money?
B. There is more to happiness than money.
C. Miss Jackson isn’t rich, but she knows things.
D. The money we saved isn’t nearly enough.
A young officer was teaching some old soldiers. They had been in the army for many years and did not like officers, young or old.
They did not think this young officer could tell them anything about how to fight in a war.
Private Jones was nearly sixty years old and had fought in many wars. He had a row of medals on his chest.
“Imagine you are in a battle,” the young officer said to him. “You see seven hundred enemy soldiers coming towards you. What do you do?”
Private Jones thought for a few moments, and then he said, “I shoot them all with my rifle.”
“Now imagine there are seven hundred enemy soldiers coming towards you from the left,” the young officer said, “and seven hundred enemy soldiers coming to you from the right. What do you do?”
“I shoot them with my rifle,” Private Jones answered.
“OK,” the young officer went on, trying to get the answer he wanted, “but what if there are a thousand enemy soldiers coming at you from the right, a thousand coming at you from the left, and another thousand coming straight towards you. What do you do now?”
“I shoot them with my rifle,” Private Jones replied.
“But where are you getting all the bullets from?” the young officer demanded.
Private Jones smiled. “From the same place you are getting all those enemy soldiers.”
72. What was the young officer supposed to do?
A. Train the soldiers. B. Attack the soldiers.
C. Shoot the soldiers. D. Like the soldiers.
73. The old soldiers___________.
A. didn’t like Private Jones B. didn’t like any officers
C. wanted to fight in a war D. wanted to become officers
74. What was Private Jones doing in the story?
A. Answering questions. B. Shooting the enemy.
C. Getting a lot of bullets. D. Showing off his medals.
75. At the end of the story the young officer was probably__________.
A. pleased with Private Jones B. annoyed with Private Jones
C. delighted with Private Jones D. frightening Private Jones
When women sit together to watch a movie on TV, they usually talk simultaneously(同时地) about a variety of subjects, including children, men, careers and what’s happening in their lives. When groups of men and women watch a movie together, the men usually end up telling the women to shut up. Men can either talk or watch the screen --- they can’t do both --- and they don’t understand that women can. Besides, women consider that the point of all getting together is to have a good time and develop relationships --- not just to sit there like couch potatoes staring at the screen.
During the ad breaks, a man often asks a woman to explain the plot and tell him where the relationship between the characters is going. He is unable, unlike women, to read the subtle(细微的) body language signals that reveal(显露) how the characters are feeling emotionally. Since women originally spent their days with the other women and children in the group, they developed the ability to communicate successfully in order to maintain relationships. For a woman, speech continues to have such a clear purpose: to build relationships and make friends. For men, to talk is to relate the facts.
Men see the telephone as a communication tool for sending facts and information to other people, but a woman sees it as a means of bonding. A woman can spend two weeks on vacation with her girlfriend and, when she returns home, telephone the same girlfriend and talk for another two hours.
There is no convincing evidence that social conditioning, the fact that girls’ mothers talked them more, is the reason why girls talk more than boys. Psychiatrist Dr Michael Lewis, author Social Behavior and Language Acquisition, conducted experiments that found mothers talked to and looked at baby girls more often than baby boys. Scientific evidence shows parents hold the brain bias of their children. Since a girl’s brain is better organized to send and receive speech, we therefore talk to them more. Consequently, mothers who try to talk to their sons are usually pointed to receive only short grunts(哼声) in reply.
68.While watching TV with others, women usually talk a lot because they _______ .
A.are afraid of awkward silence with their families and friends
B.can both talk and watch the screen at the same time
C.think they can have a good time and develop relationships
D.have to explain the plot and body language to their husbands
69.After a vacation with her girlfriend, a woman would talk to her again on the phone for hours in order to_______ .
A.experience the happy time again
B.keep a close tie with her
C.recommend her a new scenic spot
D.remind her of something forgotten
70.The underlined word "bonding" in the 3rd paragraph probably means__________
A.long hours’ conversation B.close personal relationship
C.frequent communication D.sharing past experiences
71.What does the author want to tell us most?
A.Women’s brains are better organized for language and communication
B.Women love to talk because they are more sociable than men.
C.Men do not like talking because they rely more on facts.
D.Social conditioning is the reason why women love talking.