“Linda, if beating yourself up were an Olympic sport, you’d win a gold medal!”
Annabel, my close friend, stunned me with that frank observation after I told her how I had mishandled a situation with a student in a third-grade class where I was substituting.（代课） “I should never have let him go to the boy’s room without a pass! It was my fault he got into trouble with the hall monitor! I’m so stupid!”
My friend burst out laughing, and then made her “Olympic” comment. After a brief period of reflection（沉思） I had to admit that she was right. I did put myself down an awful lot. Why, just during the previous day I had called myself “a slob” for having some papers spread out on my desk, “ugly” when I left the house without makeup and “an idiot” when I left the house for an emergency substitute job without my emergency lesson plan.
In a more reflective tone, Annabel said, “I once took a workshop at church where the woman in charge had us list all the things we say about ourselves.”
“How many did you have on your list?” I asked.
“Fifteen,” she confessed. “But then the teacher said, ‘Now turn to the person next to you and say all the items on your list as if you were speaking to that person!’ ”
My jaw dropped. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. Nobody did. We all just sat there, until I said, ‘I could never say these things to anyone else!’ ”
“And our teacher replied, ‘Well, if you can’t say them to anyone else, then don’t ever say them to yourself!’ ”
My friend had a point. I would never insult a child of God---and I’m God’s child, too!
God, today let me be as kind to myself as I would be to another of Your children. What does Annabel mean by the first sentence of the passage?
| A．The writer is a good athlete. | B．The writer scolds herself too much. |
| C．She is encouraging the writer. | D．A gold medal is not a big deal. |
What does the writer intend to tell us through the second and third paragraphs?
| A．She has low self-esteem over some small things. |
| B．She often makes serious mistakes in daily life. |
| C．She is a third-grade teacher. |
| D．She cares too much about her appearance. |
We can infer that the underlined word “slob” might be _____.
| A．something untidy | B．someone dangerous | C．something dirty | D．someone lazy |
What does the writer mean by the last sentence of the passage?
| A．She is ready to turn to God for help. | B．She will be kind to all children. |
| C．She won’t insult herself as well as others. | D．She is willing to be a child of God. |
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed (困惑) to be seen with my father. He was badly crippled (跛脚) and very short , and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. I would be ashamed of the unwanted attention. If ever noticed or bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to walk together-his steps slow, mine impatient-and because of that, we didn’t say much and we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to follow you.”
Our usual walk was to or from the subway (地铁), which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and even in bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not .It was a matter of pride for him.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk , even with help. At such times my sister or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N. Y., on a child’s sleigh to the subway entrance .Once there, he would try to grasp handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home.
When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to suffer from shame and disability. And I am also surprised at how he did it -- without bitterness or complaint.
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart,” and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard (标准) by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know exactly what a “good heart” is. But I know the times I don’t have one myself.
He has been away many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about my troubles, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”. How did the man treat his father when he was young?
| A．He helped his father happily. |
| B．He never helped his father. |
| C．He helped his father, but not very happily. |
| D．He only helped his father take a walk after supper. |
As a disabled man, his father____.
| A．didn’t work very hard |
| B．didn’t go to work from time to time |
| C．hated those who had good fortune |
| D．was happy and satisfied, and never lost hope |
What does the word “reluctance” mean in the article? It means ___.
| A．anger |
| B．sadness |
| C．happiness |
| D．unwillingness |
How did the father get to work usually?
| A．By subway. |
| B．By bus. |
| C．By wheelchair. |
| D．By bike. |
A few years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders. Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience (服从), while children complained (抱怨) that their parents did not understand them at all. What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually the generation gap has been around for a long time. Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric (结构) of our society.
One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life. In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation (职业). In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents.
In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do. Often, however, the strong desire that parents have for their children are another cause of the disagreement between them. Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other.
Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations. In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight. The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities.
No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature (特点) of American life for some time to come. Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes. The main idea of the first paragraph is that _______.
| A．the generation gap suddenly appeared |
| B．the generation gap is a feature of modern social life |
| C．people can reduce the generation gap |
| D．many critics argue over the nature of the generation gap |
The word “around” in Paragraph 1 means _______.
| A．on all sides | B．near | C．in every direction | D．in existence |
In American society, young people often _______.
| A．depend on their parents to make a life |
| B．stay with their parents in order to get a chance for higher education |
| C．seek the best advice from their parents |
| D．have very little in common with their parents |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．Parents should be strict with their children. |
| B．The younger generation should value the older generation for their wisdom. |
| C．The generation gap is partly caused by the older generation. |
| D．The generation gap does not exist in American society. |
Most dog owners feel that their dogs are their best friends. Almost everyone likes dogs because they try hard to please their owners. One of my favorite stories is about a dog who wanted his owner to please him.
One of my friends has a large German shepherd ( 牧羊狗) named Jack. Every Sunday afternoon, my friend takes Jack for a walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much.
One Sunday afternoon, a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time, and he talked and talked. Soon it was time for my friend to take Jack for his walk, but the visitor didn’t leave. Jack became very worried about his walk in the park. He walked around the room several times and then sat down directly in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention. He continued talking. Finally, Jack couldn’t stand it any longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down again in front of the visitor, but this time he held the man’s hat in his mouth.
German shepherds aren’t the only intelligent dogs. Another intelligent dog is a Seeing Eye dog. This is a special dog which helps blind people walk along the streets and do many other things. We call these dogs Seeing Eye dogs because they are the “eye” of the blind people and they help them to “see”. Seeing Eye dogs generally go to special schools for several years to learn to help blind people. The writer tells the story about the dog Jack to show that____.
| A．it, like many other dogs, always tried to please its owner master |
| B．it, unlike many other dogs, always wanted its master to please it |
| C．it was more intelligent than many other dogs |
| D．it was the most faithful dog of his friend’s |
Jack came to sit in front of the visitor in order to____.
| A．please him |
| B．be pleased |
| C．ask him to leave immediately |
| D．invite him for a walk |
The sentence “Finally, Jack couldn’t stand it any longer.” means___.
| A．Jack could no longer put up with the visitor |
| B．Jack could no longer stand but he might sit down |
| C．Jack was very tired and wanted a rest |
| D．Jack was very angry with the visitor |
Which of the following titles would be the best for the passage?
| A．Dogs─A Great Help to People |
| B．Dogs ─ Our Faithful Companions |
| C．An Introduction to Dogs |
| D．Famous Dogs in Germany |
Sunday, October 5
Clear, 69°F
My wife, Eleanor , and I took the train from Paris to Strasbourg, where we were met by our driver and guide. And the minibus which goes along with the boat. We stopped off in Barn for an hour on the way. Then we were taken to Nancy where the boat was kept.
After the other passengers arrived, we had our first dinner on the boat. After dinner we walked into downtown Nancy, a village with a large square and wooden houses.
Monday, October 6
Rained last night, cloudy in the morning, 69°F
We spent about two hours in Nancy, then sailed on the Canal de la Marne au Rhine. Kind of a lazy day. Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, after dinner we watched a tape on Baccarat. Where we will visit tomorrow.
It was pleasant to sit out on deck （甲板）and watch the scenery go by at about 3 mph.
Tuesday, October 7
Light rain, 64°F
This mourning we drove over to Baccarat and toured its museum and the church , which has this unbelievable lamp that is going on a world tour the next day. We did lost of shopping , then walked across the bridge to see a very , very modern Catholic church with special Baccarat windows.
We drove to the top of the Voges Mountains and started down the eastern side Later we drove to Sorrenbourg to see the 13th century church at the Cordeliers. It contains the largest window by Mar.
Wednesday, Ocrober8
Cloudy.65 °F
Today we sailed from Schneckenbush to Saverne. We went though two caves, an extremely unusual part of the journey. This river scenery is very different. We were in a mountain valley with grassland on one side and a forest beginning to show some color on the other.
Thursday, Ocrober9
Cloudy, 66°F
Our dependable minibus was waiting to load the luggage and take us to the hotel where everyone went their separate ways. Our boating days are over until next time.Where did the author get off the train?
| A．Paris |
| B．Strasbourg |
| C．Nancy |
| D．Barn |
On which days did the tourists spend most of their time on the boat?
| A．Monday and Tuesday |
| B．Tuesday and Wednesday |
| C．Wednesday and Wednesday |
| D．Monday and Wednesday |
From the text, we learn that Baccarat and Sorrenbourg are the names of_________.
| A．towns |
| B．churches |
| C．museums |
| D．mountains |
What does the author think of the tour?
| A．Tiring |
| B．Expensive |
| C．Enjoyable |
| D．Quick |
It’s not easy being a teenager（13至19岁青少年）—nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel angry, hurt, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important to give your child the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you you’ll still be there for him when he needs you.
Expect a lot from your child, just not everything.Except for health and safety problems, such as drug use or careless driving; consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something, don’t insist he tell you what’s on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he’ll clarn up. Instead , let him attempt to solve（解决）things by himself. At the same time, remind him that you’re always there for him should he seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager’s privacy （隐私）. Never read him his mail or listen in on personal conversions.
Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family’s telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for15 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least an equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls, but teaches your teenager moderation（节制）. Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own phone that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part –time jobThe main purpose of the text is to tell parents _____________.
| A．how to get along with a teenager |
| B．how to respect a teenager |
| C．how to understand a teenager |
| D．how to help a teenager grow up |
What does the phrase “clam up” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
| A．become excited |
| B．show respect |
| C．refuse to talk |
| D．seek help |
The last paragraph is about how to teach a teenager_________________.
| A．to use the phone in a sensible way |
| B．to pay for his own telephone |
| C．to share the phone quickly |
| D．to answer the phone quickly |
What should parents do in raising a teenager according to the text?
| A．Nor allow him to learn driving or take drugs |
| B．Give him advice only when necessary |
| C．Let him have his own telephone |
| D．Not talk about personal things with him |