A middle-aged couple from California got to the Pacific Ocean after a 4,900- mile-cross-country walk, becoming the first to backpack the American Discovery Trail by walking.
Marcia and Ken started the travel across 13 states, through 14 national parks and 16 national forests from Delaware and finally reached their destination a day nearly eight months later.
“We are sad that a great adventure is over. Now we just go home and do housework” said the couple, who went through cities, desert, mountains and farmland before reaching the Pacific alone.
They overcame deep snow in the East, a quicksand in Utah, close lightning strikes in the Mid- west and strong desert sandstorms in the West while averaging 22 miles a day and taking only four days off.But they enjoyed the French history of St.Louis and the beauty of the Colorado Rockies. They particularly remember kindness of strangers they met along the way.
“Americans are truly warm-hearted and wonderful. We got to meet people that we would never meet in our daily living at home. It' s an amazing country.” Marcia said.Which of the following is the most suitable title?
A.The first couple to backpack the Pacific Ocean alone |
B.The first couple to cover a 4,900 mile cross-country walk |
C.A husband-and-wife team suffered a lot during an adventure |
D.A husband-and-wife team got much help during an adventure |
Which of the statements is TRUE?
A.The couple travelled across 16 states. |
B.Their walk lasted nearly half a year. |
C.They prefer housework to adventure |
D.They took four days off during the travel |
We know that during the walk, the couple_________.
A.were worried about their housework |
B.once covered 22 miles within four days |
C.were treated warm-heartedly by strangers |
D.met strong desert sandstorms in the East |
Which place do you suppose can replace the underlined word “destination”?
A.Delaware |
B.Colorado Rockies |
C.California |
D.Pacific Ocean |
When you want to go shopping, decide how much money you can spend on new clothes.Think about the kind of clothes you really need.Then look for those clothes you really need.Then look for those clothes on sale.
There are labels(标签) inside all new clothes.The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes.The label for a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water.A sweater label may tell you to wash in cold water.The label on a coat may say “dry clean only”, for washing may ruin this coat.If you do as the directions (说明)on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.
Many clothes today must be dry cleaned.Dry cleaning is expensive.When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned.You will save money if you buy clothes that can be washed.
You can save money if you buy clothes that are well made. Well-made clothes last longer.They look good even after they have been washed many times.Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made.They do not always fit better.Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes.If you want to save money, you had better buy clothes that __.
A.don’t fit you | B.don’t last long |
C.need to be dry cleaned | D.can be washed |
The labels inside the clothes tell you______.
A.whether they fit you or not |
B.how to save money |
C.where to get them dry cleaned |
D.how to keep them looking their best |
The first thing for you to do before you buy clothes is __.
A.to look for well-made clothes |
B.to see how much money you can pay |
C.to know how to wash them |
D.to read the labels inside them |
We learn from the passage that cheaper clothes __.
A.can sometimes fit you better | B.must be dry cleaned |
C.are always worse made | D.can not be washed |
Briana, a student at John Fenwick School in Salem County, US, has a lot of free time. The 13-year-old girl used to hang out on the streets after school. “I know it wasn’t good, but I really had nothing else to do,” Briana said.
Briana was not alone. Many kids in her city had too much free time and nothing to do. To solve this problem, four school districts in Salem began a program called Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The program helps students make good use of their after-school time. Big Brothers/Big Sisters invites mentors to help students in grades 6 to 8 build healthy relationships and take part in productive activities.
The “Littles” and the “Bigs” are nicknames (昵称) for students and mentors. Most mentors are teachers. The “Bigs” and “Littles” usually meet once a week. They play games, share stories and go on trips.
The program has already helped many Salem students.
Briana’s mentor is the school principal (校长), Syeda Woods. Woods took Briana ice-skating, to pizza parties and for a visit to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. “When I got out, I saw that Salem is a very small place,” Briana said. “The program helps me experience the outside world and see many new things.”
Kathy Jennings, 13, said she was very shy before, but now is much more open.
“In the program, I see my mentor as a big sister, not a teacher. I can tell her anything,” Jennings said. “And she has taught me a lot about making good decisions. I think it will make a big difference in my life.” The program of Big Brothers/Big Sisters is designed for.
A.students aged 16 to 18 | B.students aged 8 to 16 |
C.students in senior high school | D.students in grades 6 to 8 |
The underline word “mentors” in the second paragraph most probably means “”.
A.wise and trusted teachers | B.experienced police |
C.community volunteers | D.careful parents |
The purpose of the program is to help students.
A.live a full life after school |
B.learn tips on shopping |
C.have more free time |
D.know more about the streets |
The writer uses the examples of Briana and Kathy to show.
A.Syeda is an amazing principle |
B.the success of the program |
C.the colourful life in Salem |
D.Briana was once very shy |
Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play music loudly as they drive on the street. Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, and the life of American people. Most of the radio programmes are music.
Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make CDs or tapes which radio stations in many places broadcast(广播). Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a pop star.
There are other kinds of music that are popular among Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.________ kinds of music are mentioned(提到) in this passage.
A.Two | B.Four. | C.Three | D.Five |
When pop singers ________, they are regarded as pop stars.
A.become popular with their fans |
B.make a CD or tape |
C.make much money |
D.are wanted to sing on the radio |
From the passage we know that country music is about ________.
A.the common life of Americans |
B.the life of cowboys |
C.the country life and love stories |
D.the school life in America |
What would be the best title for this passage?
A.Western Music | B.Popular Music |
C.History of Music | D.American Music |
Ammie was only 18 months old when she had an accident that scarred her for life. While her mother was away for a moment , the curious baby reached up to a hot kettle in the kitchen and poured boiling water all over her body.
An ambulance was called and rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. About 20 percent of Ammie’s body had been burned and all of her burns were third degree. The doctors could tell immediately that Ammie’s best chance of survival was specialized burns unit some miles away at Glasgow Royal hospital.
There , using tissue taken from unburned areas of Ammie’s body, surgeons performed complex skin grafts(植皮手术)to close her wounds and control her injuries , an operation that took about six hours. Over the next 16 years, Ammie underwent(经历)12 more operations to repair her body.
When she started school at the age of 4, other pupils made cruel comments or simply wouldn’t play with her . “I was the only burned child in the street, the class and the school,” she recalls, “Some children refused to become friends with me because of that.”
Today, age 17, Ammie can only ever remember being a burned person with scars ; pain is a permanent part of her life, she is still awaiting two further operations. Yet she is a confident, outgoing teenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burnt victims.
Ammie’s parents have been a great support to her. “They told me people had a problem with my burns, the problem with my burns, the problem was theirs not mine,” says Ammie. “They taught me to cope with other people’s reactions and constantly reminded me I was valued and loved.” Ammie’s positive attitude to life means she is often contacted by burns charities(慈善机构), helping younger patients build their self-respect to live with permanent scars.
Now she is a member the Scottish Burned Children’s Club. “Ammie provides so much encouragement for the younger ones. She is optimistic and outgoing and a perfect role model for them , ” say Donald Todd, chairman of the club.
This month, Ammie will join some younger children on a summer camp. “I’ll show them how to shrug off unkind stares from others , ” she says. Ammie loves wearing fashionable sleeveless tops(无袖上衣), and she plans to show the children at the summer camp that they can too. “I don’t go to great lengths to hide my scars,” she says. “I gave up wondering how other people would react years ago.”Ammie was taken to Glasgow Royal hospital because.71—75 DDABD
A.it was the nearest hospital to her home |
B.it was the only hospital curing her burns |
C.surgeons there were skilled at performing skin grafts |
D.it was a local hospital excellent at treating burns |
How many operations will Ammie have to receive altogether?
A.12 | B.13 | C.14 | D.15 |
The underlined phrase “shrug off” in the last paragraph is closet in meaning to .
A.ignore | B.avoid | C.accept | D.tolerate |
Which of the following best describes Ammie?
A.Shy, pessimistic and discouraged. |
B.Strong-minded, optimistic and helpful. |
C.Fashionable, sensitive and easygoing. |
D.Careful, confident and intelligent. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Ammie had an accident and had to do many operations. |
B.Ammie was a brave girl after the accident. |
C.Ammie helped many younger patients. |
D.Ammie has a positive life through many operations. |
The day was warm and the sun shone down like a new beginning on my life. I was waving goodbye to my son, the last one of my fledglings (刚会飞的鸟)to leave home and go to new woods, "University actually" . I felt so lighthearted after spending many years looking after my four children—cooking, washing, ironing, teaching them how to look after themselves and manage their finances—that I actually thought “At long last, freedom".
But, as I watched my last one leave, although it was a joyous occasion, I realized I had not really prepared for this day, I was too tied up with bringing up these adults of the future to realize that they would all leave the nest and lives independently.
At first I didn't know what "I" wanted to do. I tried a part time job, which ended in me running out in tears. I started a business making soft furnishings, but that didn't work either. I grew my own veggies and fruit, which lasted 3 years, until I was advised by my doctor that my feet couldn't take any more "tools” driven through them.
I began wondering if I had a future of my own. I cried for the life I was used to, and hadn't known or wanted anything different.
Then one day I saw an ad. for foster parents, I discussed it with my husband who was always behind everything I tried and with great disturbance , I rang up the number.
I now laugh and sing with my 14-year-old foster daughter, even when my cooker is a mess and my bathroom is a disaster area. I now know, 8 years later, what “I” was meant to be doing with all the spare hours, days, and weeks I had on my hands when my last fledgling flew the nest. The sun shines once again in my home.How did the mother first feel when her last child went off to university?
A.Lonely. | B.Anxious. | C.Relieved. | D.Annoyed. |
The underlined phrase “was tied up with” in the second paragraph means “”.
A.was occupied in | B.was associated with |
C.was tired of | D.was addicted to |
In the third paragraph, the poor mother did all the things just to.
A.live a greener and healthier life |
B.earn more money for her kids’ education |
C.shift her attention and ease her anxiety |
D.start her own decorating business |
What did the empty-nested mother think of her husband?
A.Skilled | B.Supportive | C.Stubborn | D.Open-minded |
Thanks to the foster daughter, the author.
A.got rid of her busy work |
B.forgot her other children |
C.found a suitable job |
D.knew what she really wanted |