阅读理解。从ABCD中选出正确的答案。（每题2分，共40分）
It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour a week to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries（食品杂货）, saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity（人性） as a whole. And it has influenced（影响） us to be more mindful（注意的，留神的）of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting. Why was the bike so important to the couple?
| A．They used it for work and daily life. |
| B．It was their only possession. |
| C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed. |
| D．The man's job was bike racing. |
What does the underlined phrase mean?
| A．go very far to see someone |
| B．walk out on foot to greet someone |
| C．help someone with one’s best |
| D．enjoy the moment with someone |
We can infer from the text that ________.
| A．the couple worked 60 hours a week |
| B．people were busy before Christmas |
| C．the stranger brought over the bike |
| D．life was hard for the young family |
How did people get to know the couple's problem?
| A．From a stranger. |
| B．From a newspaper. |
C．From TV  news. |
| D．From radio broadcasts. |
What do the couple learn from their experience?
| A．Strangers are usually of little help. |
| B．One should take care of their bike. |
| C．News reports make people famous. |
| D．An act of kindness can mean a lot. |
Study shows that walking fast at your old age is a ___ that you will live a long life.
| A．sign | B．mark | C．symbol | D．signal |
Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts (购物车) more intelligent(具备智能的). They will help shoppers find paper cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill.
The touch-screen devices(触摸屏装置) are on show at the Food Marketing Institute’s exhibition here this week, “These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker,” said Michael Alexander, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc., which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge.
Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July. A similar device, IBM’s “Shopping Buddy”, has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts.
Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf.
“The whole model is driven by advertisers’ need to get in front of shoppers,” said Alexander. “They’re not watching 30-second TV ads anymore.”
People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system(系统) that will organize the trip around the store. If you’re looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them.
The device also keeps a record of what you buy. When you’re finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay.
The new computerized shopping assistants don’t come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device.Which of the following is the correct order of shopping with computerized shopping carts?
a. Start the system.
b. Make a shopping list.
c. Find the things you want.
d. Go to a self-checkout stand.
| A．abdc | B．acbd | C．bacd | D．bcad |
We can learn from the last paragraph that ______.
| A．the Concierge is cheaper than the Buddy devices |
| B．intelligent shopping carts cost a large sum of money |
| C．shop assistants with computer knowledge are well paid |
| D．average stores prefer the Concierge to the Buddy devices |
What might be the most suitable title for the text?
| A．New computers make shopping carts smarter |
| B．Concierge and Shopping Buddy |
| C．New age for supermarkets |
| D．Touch-screen devices make shopping enjoyable |
In the course of working my way through school, I took many jobs I would rather forget. But none of these jobs was as terrible as my job in an apple plant(工厂). The work was hard; the pay was poor; and, most of all, the working conditions were terrible.
First of all, the job made huge demands on my strength. For ten hours a night, I took boxes that rolled down a metal track and piled them onto a truck. Each box contained twelve heavy bottles of apple juice. I once figured out that I was lifting an average of twelve tons of apple juice every night.
I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much if the pay had not been so poor. I was paid the lowest wage of that time—two dollars an hour. Because of the low pay, I felt eager to get as much as possible. I usually worked twelve hours a night but did not take home much more than $ 100 a week.
But even more than the low pay, what made me unhappy were the working conditions. During work I was limited to two ten-minute breaks and an unpaid half hour for lunch. Most of my time was spent outside loading trucks with those heavy boxes in near-zero-degree temperatures. The steel floors of the trucks were like ice, which made my feet feel like stone. And after the production line shut down at night and most people left, I had to spend two hours alone cleaning the floor.
I stayed on the job for five months, all the while hating the difficulty of the work, the poor money, and the conditions under which I worked. By the time I left, I was determined never to go back there again.Why did the writer have to take many jobs at that time?
| A．To gain some experience |
| B．To save for his future |
| C．To support his family |
| D．To pay for his schooling |
The following facts describe the terrible working conditions of the plant EXCEPT ______.
| A．loading boxes in the freezing cold |
| B．having limited time for breaks |
| C．getting no pay for lunch time |
| D．working and studying at the same time |
What is the topic discussed in the text?
| A．The writer’s hard work in an apple plant. |
| B．The writer’s eagerness to earn money. |
| C．The writer’s experience to earn money. |
| D．The writer’s unhappy school life. |
How is the text organized?
| A．Topic—Argument—Explanation |
| B．Opinion—Discussion—Description |
| C．Introduction—Supporting examples—Conclusion |
| D．Main idea—Comparison—Supporting examples |
Many people tend to complain about not having good friends in their lives. Sadly, they seem to think that their own company is not enough to make them happy. Nothing could be further from the truth though. In order to get along with others, the first thing you need to do is learn to get along with yourself. Only in this way will you succeed in developing healthy, solid relationships with others. How to develop?
Listen to your inner voice. Remember that inner voice that keeps whispering to you what you really want and need as well as what you do not really want and need. It is about time you started listening to it. In order to get to know yourself in depth, it is important to learn and accept what you want and what you do not want.
Learn to enjoy your own company. You will be surprised to find out how many things you can do by yourself and actually have fun in the process. Reading romantic novels, poetry or science fiction is only a few of the things that you can do by yourself, which can not only offer you hours of enjoyment, but also the chance to get to know yourself better.
Satisfy yourself. Pay special attention to your personal hygiene(卫生)．Do your hair and nails often and experiment with new styles. Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly to stay in good shape. No matter how busy your daily schedule is, always find at least an hour per day for yourself, when you can either relax doing absolutely nothing, or doing something that you enjoy.
Learn to respect your own boundaries. Find out what your boundaries are and learn to respect them. You are the only one who knows what you can and what you cannot accept；no one else can point that out to you, or force you to compromise(妥协).If you want to have a good relationship with others, you should first________.
| A．learn to be your own best friend |
| B．make many friends in society |
| C．always tell the truth |
| D．get into the habit of living alone |
What is the purpose of listening to your inner voice?
| A．To keep a good state of mind. |
| B．To enjoy the time by yourself. |
| C．To know more about yourself. |
| D．To form a relationship with others. |
In order to please yourself, the writer gives some suggestions EXCEPT________.
| A．eating healthily |
| B．exercising regularly |
| C．experimenting with new hair styles |
| D．keep on struggling |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A．How to develop good relationship with others |
| B．Avoid the disadvantages of being alone |
| C．The benefit of having good friends |
| D．Learn to get along with yourself |
I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring –and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.
“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out.
“It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’.” Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her –that was the night that I won her heart.Why was the writer in a hurry that day?
| A．He had to pick up some groceries. |
| B．He had to go back to school soon. |
| C．He was delayed by an elderly lady. |
| D．He was to meet his girlfriend. |
What does the underlined se “her gift”(Paragraph 2) refer to?
| A．Her smile. | B．Her words. |
| C．Her flowers. | D．her politeness. |
Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?
| A．She told him a nice story. |
| B．She gave him encouragement. |
| C．She allowed him to pay first. |
| D．She liked flowers very much. |
What is the message conveyed in the story?
| A．Flowers are important for a date. |
| B．Love and kindness are rewarding. |
| C．Small talk is helpful. |
| D．Elderly people deserve respecting. |