It was a week before Christmas, but things were far from cheery. Our task was to deliver as many boxes of food as possible to those in need in Camden, New Jersey. There were no Christmas carolers (唱颂歌的人) walking these streets that were lined with boarded-up (用木板封住的) houses and broken windows. Mothers kept their children close as they hurried down the streets. It was mid-afternoon, but even the bright sun couldn't warm this place.
Red tickets in the windows marked which houses we were to visit. Our white truck stopped in front of one townhouse and our group knocked on the door. In our arms were boxes filled with ham, bread and other essentials to make the perfect Christmas dinner. Four small faces glanced through the curtains and one exhausted mom answered the door. She seemed embarrassed to be caught in her nightgown with undone hair. She was in her mid-20s, but her rough skin and tired eyes added years.
"Sacred Heart food delivery service," I smiled. "Where can we put this for you?"
She pointed and as we entered the house, I noticed the conditions they lived in. The children climbed around, wearing only diapers (尿布). There were no carpets, only cold concrete beneath our feet. There was no Christmas tree or decorations. My heart sank. It was so cold, and I found it hard to believe that this was reality for this family. We set the boxes down and the mother grabbed my hand.
"You don't know how much of a blessing this is to me and my family," she said, crying. "We are just getting by." I opened my arms and gave her a hug.
"Happy holidays!" I replied before I headed out the door. I realized how warm I felt inside.
This was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We cannot help what family we are born into, but we can help each other.
From Paragraph 1, we can infer that Camden may be a place where ________.
A.the living conditions were terrible | B.people had no belief |
C.there was no sign of ![]() |
D.little sunshine was received |
What impression did the woman leave on the author?
A.She was shy and cold to visitors. | B.She was confident and energetic. |
C.She wasn't good at dressing herself up. | D.She looked much older than her age. |
By saying "We are just getting by", the woman meant __________.
A.they were waiting for help | B.they were looking for food and clothing |
C.they were going to move away | D.they were living a very poor life |
The passage mainly tells us that _______________.
A.the poor can also help others | B.assisting the poor needs actions |
C.people should help each other | D.having more children causes poverty |
Man is the most intelligent animal created by God because God has given him language which other animals do not have. Communication makes life extremely convenient and easy. Language plays a very important role in life as any emotion can be easily and effectively conveyed (传递) through language to anyone. But all this is applicable and beneficial only to human beings. What about animals? How do they communicate with each other?
We all know that animals do not have the ability to use language as a medium for communication. But they do have other means of conveying messages to other animals, of which use of body language is the most important one. The messages can be of many types like conveying food location, danger alarms, appreciation of good deeds like helping other animals in dangerous situations, etc. There are two main types of communication in animals: verbal (语言的) communication and non-verbal communication.
Sound is one of the most common types of verbal communication in animals, and majority of the species use it as the medium to convey messages. Bats have to rely on sound waves to communicate. They mostly rest in the morning and become active at night to search for food and do other tasks. All the birds communicate through their chirping. Mammals generally make use of sounds to give calls to other members of their community. Whales are the perfect examples, which use sound waves for communication. They have a whale song, which they repeat after regular intervals.
Facial Expressions
This kind of communication is mostly found in dogs. When they are angry, they show their teeth and raise their ears. On the other hand, when they are frightened, they pull their ears behind and open their mouth. Also, in birds, when the parent bird brings food for the offspring, the begging expression can be observed on the offspring’s face.
Gestures and Body Movements
This type of communication is common not only in animals, but in human beings too. All human beings, although they use language for communication, tend to use gestures and body movements as well while communicating. Honey bees are the most enthusiastic creatures on earth because they dance to communicate. Some bees dance in the hive (蜂箱) so that other bees get signals of the location of the honey comb. A deer waves its tail to warn others of coming danger.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A.What messages animals can convey. |
B.Why life is easier for human beings. |
C.Why man is the most intelligent animal. |
D.How animals communicate with each other. |
Our life is more convenient and easier owing to the fact that ______.
A.other animals do not have any emotion |
B.we can communicate with each other through language |
C.we also use body movements while communicating |
D.other animals use sounds to give calls to their members |
What’s the most important way for animals to convey messages?
A.Use of body language. |
B.Use of sounds. |
C.Use of facial expressions. |
D.Use of dancing. |
When a dog pulls its ears behind with the mouth open, we can tell it ______.
A.is angry |
B.is frightened |
C.has been begging for food |
D.has eaten too much |
Which of the following doesn’t belong to non-verbal communication?
A.The begging expression. |
B.Relying on sound waves. |
C.Dancing. |
D.Waving tails. |
Bali is an Indonesia island that is rich in indigenous (本土的) culture. A lot of people say that Balinese culture is unique and that the people of Bali have always been content with the “now”. If you ask a Balinese person what heaven is like, the probable answer will be “just like Bali”. This only goes to show that most Balinese people are happy to be where they are and never worry.
One factor that contributes to this laidback lifestyle is the culture of close family ties in Bali. In the Balinese culture, support is always available. Balinese extended families are so tightly linked that all members usually live in the same block.
Balinese culture is based on a form of this religion, which is called “Hindu Darma”. This religion reached the island during the eleventh century. Most of the family customs and traditions as well as community lifestyles of the Balinese people are influenced by this. The religious influence even expands widely into the arts, which makes Bali distinct from the rest of Indonesia.
In spite of the fact that tourists flood to the island every year, Balinese people have managed to conserve their culture. Almost every native of Bali is an artist in some form or another. Parents and villagers have passed on their skills to their children, who all seem to have inclinations (爱好) either to music, dance, painting, or decoration.
Another remarkable mark of the Balinese culture is the senses of ceremonies known as the Manusa Yadnya. This marks the different stages of Balinese life. Cremation (火葬) is very popular on this island—and unlike in the West, death is a joyous and colorful event for the Balinese.What do we know about Balinese according to the first two paragraphs?
A.They lead a very relaxing but unwealthy life. |
B.They live in large families and are close to each other. |
C.Their family members are distributed in different places. |
D.Their extended families live too close together to get along well. |
Bali is distinguished from the rest of Indonesia by ______.
A.people’s tight family relationship |
B.the family customs and traditions |
C.people’s great love for religion |
D.the influence of religion on their culture |
The underlined word “conserve” in Para. 4 can be replaced by “______”.
A.preserve | B.spread | C.form | D.expand |
When a person dies in Bali, it is a common practice to ______.
A.express deep sorrow at his death |
B.celebrate the death like a great event |
C.sing and dance joyfully in his honor |
D.remember what he did in his lifetime |
What is the text mainly about?
A.Balinese religion. |
B.The lifestyle of Balinese. |
C.Balinese culture. |
D.The tourism in Bali. |
Many years ago, when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver, I was driving to my parents’ home in Missouri for Christmas. I stopped at a gas station about 50 miles from Oklahoma City, where I was planning to stop and visit a friend. While I was standing in line at the cash register, I said hello to an older couple who were also paying for gas.
I took off, but had gone only a few miles when black smoke poured from the back of my car. I stopped and wondered what I should do. A car pulled up behind me. It was the couple I had spoken to at the gas station. They said they would take me to my friend’s. We chatted on the way into the city, and when I got out of the car, the husband gave me his business card.
I wrote him and his wife a thank-you note for helping me. Soon afterward, I received a Christmas present from them. Their note that came with it said that helping me had made their holiday meaningful.
Years later, I drove to a meeting in a nearby town in the morning. In late afternoon I returned to my car and found that I’d left the lights on all day, and the battery was dead. Then I noticed that the Friendly Ford dealership—a shop selling cars—was right next door. I walked over and found two salesmen in the showroom.
“Just how friendly is Friendly Ford?” I asked and explained my trouble. They quickly drove a pickup truck to my car and started it. They would accept no payment, so when I got home, I wrote them a note to say thanks. I received a letter back from one of the salesmen. No one had ever taken the time to write him and say thank you, and it meant a lot, he said.
“Thank you”—two powerful words. They’re easy to say and mean so much.The author planned to stop at Oklahoma City ______.
A.to visit a friend |
B.to see his parents |
C.to pay at the cash register |
D.to have more gas for his car |
The words “took off” underlined in Paragraph 2 mean ______.
A.turned off | B.moved off | C.put up | D.set up |
What happened when the author found smoke coming out of his car?
A.He had it pulled back to the gas station. |
B.The couple sent him a business card. |
C.The couple offered to help him. |
D.He called his friend for help. |
The battery of the author’s car was dead because ______.
A.something went wrong with the lights |
B.the meeting lasted a whole day |
C.he forgot to turn off the lights |
D.he drove too long a distance |
By telling his own experiences, the author tries to show ______.
A.how to write a thank-you letter |
B.how to deal with car problems |
C.the kind-heartedness of older people |
D.the importance of expressing thanks |
Sydney Airport International Terminal-Arrivals Area
SPECIALTY RETAIL
Newslink: Two separate Newslink stores cater to all your reading needs including newspapers, magazines and the latest bestsellers.
Downtown Duty Free: Make sure you shop at Downtown Duty Free for great savings on a range of items including perfume, alcohol, skincare and cigarettes. It’s your last chance before customs.
Beach Culture: A must for those who go into the Latest in beach clothing. Top surf, street and fashion labels including Mambo, Stussy and Quicksilver, including children’s sizes.
DINING
Blue Sky Care: Speedy service leaves you time to keep an eye on the arrivals gate. Morning pastries, fresh juice, breakfast rolls and coffee while you wait.
McDonald’s: hamburgers, fries, drinks, muffins and shakes—all your family favorites. Breakfast served until 10:30 a. m.
SERVICES
ATM: ATMs are conveniently located throughout Arrival and Departures. Dollars, pounds, francs and RMB are all available.
Vodafone Rentals: This communication center offers the very latest technology for mobile phone rentals, sales and servicing.Where is this passage likely to appear?
A.A morning newspaper. |
B.A monthly magazine. |
C.A geography book. |
D.An official guide. |
The underlined phrase “cater to” probably means ______.
A.satisfy | B.afford | C.support | D.help |
If you want to have some coffee while waiting for your flight, you can go to ______.
A.Vodafone Rentals | B.Blue Sky Cafe |
C.Downtown Duty Free | D.McDonald’s |
At Beach Culture you can buy ______.
A.newspapers and magazines |
B.skincare and cigarettes |
C.Mambo and Stussy |
D.fresh juice and breakfast rolls |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.You can have breakfast at McDonald’s at 11:00 a. m.. |
B.You’ll save money if you buy alcohol or perfume at Downtown Duty Free. |
C.You’ll not find any beach clothing for your seven-year-old boy in Beach Culture. |
D.There is only one ATM throughout Arrivals and Departure. |
More perhaps than any other European nation, the Swiss are accustomed to looking after foreign travelers. As early as the 18th century, wealthy French, Germans and Italians were treating the country as a amusement center while, in the 19th century, it became the major holiday playground for the British nobles. Today, it attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Swiss are clear about the importance of tourism to their economy, which contributes about eight percent of Gross National Product, and helps the industry greatly. Managers of hotels the world over go to Switzerland to learn how to do the job, and a generally high standard can be expected from the great majority of the country’s hotels, most of which are small and pride themselves on a personalized service. Public transport is the best in Europe. Both the Swiss Federal railways and the private railways are fully electrified, and the total network is made up of about 5000 kilometers of track.
Under the Fly Baggage system passengers can check luggage in at 116 railway stations and have it automatically carried to their flight. The national highway system is equally well planned, and the mountain roads offer views of some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. Also serving the mountains is an effective system of railways and cable ways, while more than 160 passenger cars cross the lakes and rivers to and fro. Hiking in the mountains is equally popular with Swiss nationals and foreign visitors. For those who want to view the country from a height without having to climb the mountain themselves, it is always possible to take in the view from a balloon. Which of the following statements is true?
A.Most of the hotels in Switzerland are big in size. |
B.The hotels in Switzerland offer exactly the same service. |
C.Most of the hotels in Switzerland offer first class service. |
D.The hotels in Swizerland are accustomed to learn from the world. |
The Fly Rail Baggage system is service to carry your luggage between the railway station and ___________.
A.the airport | B.the hotel | C.the motorway station | D.the cable ways |
According to the passage, Switzerland is now often visited by ________.
A.wealthy French | B.rich Germans and Italians |
C.noble British | D.people from various countries |
The best title for this passage is _______.
A.Scenery in Switzerland | B.Life in Switzerland |
C.Tourism in Switzerland | D.Transportation in Switzerland |