King Midas used to love gold. One day he met a fairy who allowed him to make a wish for something. The king replied at once, ‘‘I love gold. I want everything I touch to change into gold”. ‘‘Very well, tomorrow morning, everything you touch will turn into gold.” Saying this, the fairy disappeared.
The king waited excitedly till the next morning. To his joy, everything he touched changed immediately into gold. ‘‘I’m the richest man in the world now.” He shouted.
Soon Midas became hungry. He sat down at his table. All the foods and drinks turned into gold in his hand. ‘‘I’m dying of hunger.” He cried.
Just then his daughter came running in. ‘‘Why are you so sad, dad?” she asked, putting her arms around him. There and then she became a golden statue. The king loved his daughter very much. Seeing this, he began to cry. He looked up and suddenly saw the fairy before him. ‘‘Don’t you like the golden touch?” asked the fairy. ‘‘Please take it away.” begged the king, ‘‘Give me back my daughter.” ‘‘Well, you have learned your lesson. Go and wash in the river. Then the golden touch will be gone.”
The king ran quickly to the nearby river.The fairy allowed the king to make a wish because _____.
| A．she hoped to make the king the richest in the world. |
| B．she loved gold too. |
| C．she wanted to teach the king a lesson. |
| D．she wanted to turn the king’s daughter into gold. |
The king’s daughter became a golden statue when _____
| A．she saw her father | B．the king went to meet her |
| C．she put her arms around her father | D．the king loved her very much |
Which of the following might have happened afterwards?
| A．The king’s daughter changed back from gold to a lovely girl. |
| B．The king died in the river. |
| C．All the things the king had touched changed back into real ones. |
| D．Both A and C |
What do you think the story tries to tell us?
| A．Gold makes people unhappy. |
| B．More gold, more happiness. |
| C．Gold is not the thing that makes life happy. |
| D．People feel happy if they have not gold. |
I have to admit: I don’t flush the toilet every time I go to the bathroom. In fact, I firmly believe “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.”
I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I work at home. Alone (well, except for the cats and dogs). All day. And I drink a lot of water, which makes for many trips to the bathroom.
Another thing I have to admit: I also try to use very little toilet paper. I wash my hands after, though. Every time. (So maybe the water I don’t use flushing makes up for the water used to wash my hands?)
Ironically, my husband, who only uses toilet paper when necessary, always flushes. But he doesn’t seem to mind that I don’t flush every time. Or, at least not enough to file for divorce yet.
Posted by Juliet Farmer
Jun 14, 2010 at 10:21 PM
Comments (2)
When I’m at home alone I do not flush every time I pee(小便). My husband hates that, though, so when he’s home, I flush a little more often. I grew up doing that because I had a family that lived with huge tanks and you have to do it that way because it’s easier on the system, so it doesn’t bother me. I do flush when I’m out in public, at people’s houses that don’t have big tanks and when we have company!
CherBearCM, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Not always. But I have 4 children who are always hanging from the door knob（球形捏手） while I pee anyway. So I’m lucky I have time to wash my hands after. The average toilet uses 8 gallons of water per flush! Much less than what it takes to wash my hands after. (just saying)
luvbnmomnwife, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:32 PMCherBearCM doesn’t flush the toilet every time she pees ______.
| A．because she can’t afford so much water |
| B．because her husband doesn’t like that |
| C．when she is with her friends |
| D．when she is alone |
luvbnmomnwife seems to enjoy ________.
| A．washing hands after using the toilet |
| B．taking care of her four children |
| C．peeing with her kids watching |
| D．flushing the toilet after peeing |
The text is taken from ________.
| A．a newspaper | B．a website |
| C．a magazine | D．a handbook |
Which of the following titles best suits the text?
| A．Stop flushing your toilet! |
| B．Do you flush the toilet every time? |
| C．Don’t forget to flush the toilet after peeing! |
| D．Do you realize the importance of saving water? |
The Touchstone
When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book; and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for very little money.
The book wasn’t very interesting, but between its pages there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum on which was written the secret of the “Touchstone”! The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold.
The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold.
So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles. He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.
The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about mid-afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it in
to the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along he still threw it away.
So it is with opportunity. Unless we are careful, it’s easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand, and it’s just as easy to throw it away. The man bought the book because _____________.
| A．he wanted to read it | B．it was very interesting |
| C．there was a secret in the book | D．he wanted to find the touchstone |
We can learn from the passage that the touchstone is _________.
| A．pure | B．cold | C．magic | D．big |
Why did the man throw the pebbles into the sea?
| A．Because he didn’t want to get the same pebbles. |
| B．Because he didn’t want others to pick them up. |
| C．Because he didn’t like their ordinary looks. |
| D．Because he didn’t like the cold feelings. |
What does the author want to tell us in the passage?
| A．We should offer opportunities in our life. |
| B．We should seek for opportunities in the world. |
| C．We may seize opportunities when we are watchful. |
| D．We may discover opportunities when forming habits. |
Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills（读写能力）. With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence, according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).
The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache.” said Lisa Myton, manager of the children’s department.
Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.
The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April. According to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.．What is mainly discussed in the text?
| A．A special reading program. | B．Advantages of raising dogs. |
| C．Service in a public library. | D．Children’s reading difficulties. |
Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think ________.
| A．dogs are young children’s best friends |
| B．dogs can provide encouragement for shy children |
| C．children can play with dogs while reading |
| D．children and dogs understand each other |
By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea,” the writer means the library ____________.
| A．accepts the idea put forward by ITA | B．uses dogs to attract children |
| C．has opened a children’s department | D．has decided to train some dogs |
A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _________.
| A．a book used in Saturday classes | B．a prize for the children |
| C．a book written by the children | D．a gift from parents |
Princeton University
Location
The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour's train ride south of New York City and an hour's train ride north of Philadelphia.
Students
There are 4,600 undergraduates (本科生). There are also 1,900 post-graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates.
Faculty
Princeton has about 700 full-time faculty members (教员). There are another 300 or so part -time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.
Degrees
Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees: the bachelor of arts (A.B.) degree and the bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.) degree.
Academic Year
An academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses.
Residences
Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common rooms and computer centers.
Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2004-2005)
Tuition (学费): $29,910
Room and board: $ 8,387
Other expenses (books, telephone, etc.): $ 3,083
Total: $ 41,380 How many kinds of faculty members are there in Princeton University?
| A．Four. | B．Three. | C．Two. | D．One |
In Princeton University, an undergraduate will pay at least ________ for the Academic
Year2004-2005 besides tuition.
| A．$11,470 | B．$ 52,850 | C．$ 41,380 | D．$ 8, 387 |
In what way is Princeton University different from other American universities according tothe text?
| A．All the faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research. |
| B．It provides housing for all undergraduate students. |
| C．Its students are mainly undergraduates. |
| D．It has five colleges. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．It's about an hour's train ride from Princeton University to the north of New York City. |
| B．Undergraduates should spend their first two years in one of five colleges. |
| C．An academic year lasts about nine months in Princeton University. |
| D．Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees. |
Princeton University
Location
The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour's train ride south of New York City and an hour's train ride north of Philadelphia.
Students
There are 4,600 undergraduates (本科生). There are also 1,900 post-graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates.
Faculty
Princeton has about 700 full-time faculty members (教员). There are another 300 or so part -time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.
Degrees
Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees: the bachelor of arts (A.B.) degree and the bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.) degree.
Academic Year
An academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses.
Residences
Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common rooms and computer centers.
Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2004-2005)
Tuition (学费): $29,910
Room and board: $ 8,387
Other expenses (books, telephone, etc.): $ 3,083
Total: $ 41,380 How many kinds of faculty members are there in Princeton University?
| A．Four. | B．Three. | C．Two. | D．One |
In Princeton University, an undergraduate will pay at least ________ for the Academic
Year2004-2005 besides tuition.
| A．$11,470 | B．$ 52,850 | C．$ 41,380 | D．$ 8, 387 |
In what way is Princeton University different from other American universities according tothe text?
| A．All the faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research. |
| B．It provides housing for all undergraduate students. |
| C．Its students are mainly undergraduates. |
| D．It has five colleges. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．It's about an hour's train ride from Princeton University to the north of New York City. |
| B．Undergraduates should spend their first two years in one of five colleges. |
| C．An academic year lasts about nine months in Princeton University. |
| D．Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees. |