Outside our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a seemingly ancient woman waited beside the door with her hand outstretched. Every day I put my hand in hers as our eyes met. She never failed to return my smile, my grasp, and my greeting.
On the last day of our visit, I found myself alone on a busy corner across the street from our hotel. Bicycles and motorbikes rushed in front of me. As I hesitated on the sidewalk, I felt a hand on my elbow and looked down to see the smile of my small beggar friend looking up at me. She nodded her head toward the street, indicating that she would take me across. Together, we moved slowly into the chaos.
Then we moved on toward the sidewalk, where she pulled my face down to hers, kissed me on both cheeks, and then left, still smiling and waving back to me.
Traveling in poorer nations, I have witnessed a variety of ways to deal with beggars. The most common response of tourists faced with the poverty-stricken is to ignore them and focus their eyes elsewhere. I have seen people push away an outstretched hand in angry annoyance. A few may drop a few coins into the hand in a hurry, hoping that other ragged pursuers won’t immediately appear on the scene.
For many reasons, giving money is not the best response to an outstretched hand. Many world travelers have discovered that the greatest gift they can give is their time and respect. Everyone needs recognition, to be seen as worthy of being known, to feel appreciated and loved. And I believe that everyone is worthy and worth knowing.The woman beggars helped the author go across the busy street because __________.
| A.the author gave her material assistance |
| B.the author treated her kindly and friendly |
| C.the author would help her as a reward |
| D.the author was a foreigner |
From the story, what position of the beggars in the author’s mind might be?
| A.equal | B.superior | C.lower | D.valuable |
In common cases, people will do the following things to the beggars EXCEPT for ________.
| A.pretending to see nothing |
| B.handing out some money |
| C.refusing them angrily |
| D.greeting them normally |
According to the author, the most important things beggars really need are _________.
| A.mercy and pity | B.money and food |
| C.smile and greeting | D.attention and respect |
The purpose of the passage is to _________.
| A.show how poor the beggars are in Vietnam |
| B.offer some advice on dealing with begging |
| C.express what we should offer the beggars |
| D.describe an experience with a beggar |
HOW TO BOOK
Booking opens for Beckett Shorts on 8 September.
BY TELEPHONE
For credit card(信用卡) bookings. Calls are answered.
BOX OFFICE
01789 295623 9am—8pm( Mon—Sat)
0541 541051 ( 24 hours, 7 days, no booking charge,<收费> )
BY FAX
For credit card bookings. Please allow at least 48 hours for reply, if required.
BOX OFFICE
01789 261974 or 01862 387765
BY POST
Please enclose(附上)a cheque or credit card details together with an SAE or add 50p to the total amount(总额)to cover postage. Please send to the Box Office, RST , Stratford—upon—Avon, CV376BB.
Booking opens for all other plays on 19 September.
IN PERSON
BOX OFFICE
RST hall, 9:30am—8pm ( Mon—Sat ) ( 6pm when theatres are closed )
OVERSEAS BOOKING
The easiest method of payment is by credit card. You can also pay by; Eurocheque (up to £500)with your card number written on the back.
PAYING FOR YOUR TICKETS CREDIT CARDS
We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club. Please give the card number, name and address of card holder.
CHEQUES
Cheques and postal orders should be payable to: Royal Shakespeare Theatre.In which of following ways of booking does one probably have pay extra money?
| A.In person. | B.By telephone. |
| C.By fax. | D.By post. |
One has to wait for 2 days or longer for a reply if he/she pays_____________
| A.in person. | B.by telephone. |
| C.by fax. | D.by post. |
What is a useful number to call at 11 am Sunday?
| A.01789 295623 | B.0541 541051 |
| C.01789 261174 | D.01862 387665 |
If you walk slowly through downtown Helsinki(赫尔辛基)during the day, taking in the splendid 19th century buildings, white boats and noise of passing trams(有轨电车), you will start to understand why it is called a city of two colors: white and blue.
The sea is always present in Helsinki. When you take a walk over the great open space of the central square, you will hear seabirds screaming. When you take the tram ,suddenly and unexpectedly, you are faced with a calm, shining blue sea. You may notice that people in Helsinki do not rush about as in other cities. Instead ,they walk along the roads, politely letting other people by.
An usual way to see Helsinki for the first time is to start out by the boats. You will walk by the elderly women selling fish and vegetables in the market square and find yourself in front of a beautiful park. You may enjoy a pleasant walk in the park for a few hours and then take the tram. Trams are the perfect way to get around(四处走动)in Helsinki. Watching the old houses, parks, theatres, churches, shops, restaurants and people in the streets, you may have a slightly sad film feeling to it.
The pale summer nights are another wonder in the city. Following the waterfront(滨水区)of the city after sunset, you couldn’t help stopping and listening to the sweet silence, interrupted only by the screaming seabirds and leaving fishing boats.
However, in some way. Helsinki is also the most modern city in northern Europe. You will surely want to visit the white Glass Palace, the modern art museum, and all those extremely popular cafes and design stores.Helsinki is called a city of two colors mainly because of the colors of its ____________
| A.19th century buildings, boats and parks |
| B.19th century buildings, boats and seabirds |
| C.old houses, parks and trams |
| D.old buildings, boats and the sea |
The best way to see most of Helsinki is to go___________
| A.by boat | B.by bus | C.by tram | D.on foot |
The 19th century buildings, the white Glass Palace, popular cafes and design shops in Helsinki all show that Helsinki is __________
| A.both splendid and traditional | B.both quiet and noisy |
| C.both historical and modern | D.both old and new |
This passage is most likely to be found in___________
| A.a story-book | B.a geography textbook |
| C.a research report | D.a travel magazine |
My parents were in a huge argument, and I was really upset about it. I didn’t know who I should talk with about how I was feeling. So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at my best friend’s house. Though I knew I wouldn’t tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to getting out of the house. I was in the middle of packing up my things when suddenly the power went out in the neighborhood. Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on.
I was really disappointed because I felt that we did not have much to talk about. But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark. I went to his room and told him that I’d stay with him until the power was restored. He was quite happy and said, “Great opportunity(机会)”
“ What is ?” I asked.
“ To talk, you and I,” he said. “To hold a private little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad, and what we’re going to do with ourselves now that we’re in the situation we are in.”
“But we can’t do anything about it, Grandpa,” I said, surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same “boat” as I was.
And that’s how the most unbelievable friendship between my grandfather and me started. Sitting there in the dark, we talked about our feelings and fears of life—from how fast things change, to how they sometimes don’t change fast enough. That night, because the power went out, I found a new friend, with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains, whatever they may be.
Suddenly, the lights all came back on. “Well,” he said, “ I guess that means you’ll want to go now. I really like our talk. I hope the power will go out every few nights!” I wished to get out of the house because ______________
| A.I was angry about my parents’ quarrel(争吵) |
| B.I found nobody to share my feelings with |
| C.I wanted to escape from the dark house |
| D.I planned to tell my friend about my trouble |
Grandpa was happy to see me because _____________
| A.he could discuss the problem with me |
| B.he had not seen me for a long time |
| C.he was afraid of darkness |
| D.he felt quite lonely |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A.The grandchild was eager to leave. |
| B.They would have more chats. |
| C.The lights would go out again. |
| D.It would no longer be dark. |
Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious.
Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helper - a little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives (蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always fall to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.Why is it difficult to find a wild bees' nest?
| A.It's small in size. | B.It's hard to recognize. |
| C.It's covered with wax. | D.It's hidden in trees. |
What do the words "the follower" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A.A bee. | B.A honey seeker. | C.A bird. | D.A beekeeper. |
The honey guide is special in the way ________.
| A.it goes to church | B.it gets its food |
| C.it sings in the forest | D.it reaches into bees' nests |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A.Wild Bees | B.Wax and Honey |
| C.Beekeeping in Africa | D.Honey-Lover's Helper |
Welcome to one of the largest collections of footwear (鞋类) in the world that will make you green with envy. Here at the Footwear Museum you can see exhibits (展品) from all over the world. You can find out about shoes worn by everyone from the Ancient Egyptians to pop stars.
| Room 1 The celebrity (名人) footwear section is probably the most popular in the entire museum. Stared in the 1950s there is a wide variety of shoes and boots belonging to everyone from queens and presidents to pop stars and actors! Most visitors find the celebrities’ choice of footwear extremely interesting. |
Room 2 Most of our visitors are amazed and shocked by the collection of “special purpose” shoes on exhibition here at the Museum of Footwear. For example, there are Chinese shoes made of Silk that were worn by women to tie their feet firmly to prevent them from growing too much! |
| Room 3 As well as shoes and boots, the museum also exhibits shoe shaped objects. The variety is unbelievable. For example, there is a metal lamp that resembles a pair of shoes, and Greek wine bottles that look like legs! |
The Footwear Library People come from all over the world to study in our excellent footwear library. Designers and researchers come here to look up information on anything and everything related to the subject of footwear. |
Where would you find a famous singer’s shoes?
| A.Room 1. | B.Room 2. |
| C.Room 3. | D.The Footwear Library. |
All exhibits in each room _____.
| A.share the same theme |
| B.have the same shape |
| C.are made of the same material |
| D.belong to the same social class |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A.Room 2 is the most visited place in the museum. |
| B.Researchers come to the Footwear Library for data. |
| C.The oldest exhibits in Room 1 were made in the 1950s. |
| D.Room 3 has a richer variety of exhibits than the other two. |
The purpose of the text is to get more people to _____.
| A.do research | B.design shoes |
| C.visit the museum | D.follow celebrities |