Her frozen fingers touched the flame trying to feel alive. She could feel the warmth but it was a cold heat, as if the candle was rejecting her.
Her arms turned red because of the cold, her short sleeved shirt not giving her enough warmth. The winter air grabbed(抓住) at her arms, causing her pain, but she didn’t mind. She knew she should put her jacket on, it was winter in Connecticut, but that would be giving up. Up here, in this tree she felt safe.
She looked at the candle, surrounded by hardening wax(蜡). She placed her fingers gently on the warm green wax. This candle was a reminder of her life inside that house, a life she would have to return to eventually.
As a child, she had gotten this candle. She spent all she had on it. The beautiful crystal box (水晶盒)had caught her eye. Five whole nickels(五分币) had brought her that candle.
She gave it to her mother for Mother’s Day. Her mother had managed a smile and put it on a shelf. “It’s very pretty, honey! I will put it right here.” Since then that candle had never been moved, never been lighted, sitting dusty on a cluttered shelf that no one could see. Later on, her parents got divorced.
By now the candle was colder than the air and the darkness was complete. The snow on the ground made the night lighter and less satisfying than it had been before the first snowfall. She liked the darkness because she felt safe in it. From the glances of her friends who liked the girl she used to be. From the boys who could never figure out who she was. From her guidance counselor(顾问) whose endless worried looks never made her feel any better.
No one was outside at this time of night. She was alone in the world, just how she liked it. Just as she was about to lean back against the branch, she heard a sound.
She heard footsteps breaking the ice in the snow, heading toward her. He was making his way toward the white fence at the edge of the building, right against the road. Normally she would have ignored this person and stayed on her branch faraway from human contact, but this figure had something with him. He trudged(吃力地走) toward the white fence carrying a case. The figure reached the fence, opened the case and took out a shiny object.
She took her eyes off this figure only long enough to climb down the tree to get a better view of him. She reached the bottom and saw that the person had turned to face the street, sitting on the white fence that she and her friends once sat on. She stepped carefully on the ice, making her way toward him.
And then a beautiful sound of music came from the shiny object. She stopped and listened to it. She started walking towards the guy again. Just as she was about to step onto the snow banks, she slipped on the ice crashing to the ground. The figure turned around in surprise and a sudden recognition fell upon them both.The girl was hiding in the tree at deep night to ______.
A.keep herself from the cold | B.wait for the boy to come |
C.want to be left alone | D.seek safety from any hurt |
From the story, we can learn that ______.
A.the girl suffered a lot in her life |
B.the girl’s parents divorced because of her |
C.teachers and friends treated the girl badly |
D.the girl used to stay in the tree when feeling sad |
The underlined word “it” in the story refers to ______.
A.leaning back against the branch | B.being alone in the world |
C.not being disturbed at night | D.it being dark with snow around |
From the end of the story, it can be known that the girl _______.
A.knew the person | B.knew what the object was |
C.realized her wishes | D.would never feel alone any more |
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you. I have been very naughty and the school master is very angry with me. She is going to write to you. You must come and take me away from here. She does not want me in the school any longer. The trouble started last night when I was smoking a cigarette in bed. As I was smoking, I heard footsteps coming towards the room .I did not want a teacher to catch me smoking, so I threw the cigarette away. Unfortunately, the cigarette fell into the waste-paper basket. It caught fire.
There was a curtain near the waste-paper basket. It caught fire too. Soon the whole room was burning. The master phoned the fire brigade. The school is a long way from the town and before the fire brigade arrived, the whole school was on fire. The master said that the fire was all my fault and I must pay for the damage. She will send you a bill for about a million dollars.
I'm very sorry for this.
Much love
SarahWhy did Sarah write to his parents?
A.He missed them very much for they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. |
B.He told his parents what he had done in school. |
C.He was tired of studying, and wanted to leave school. |
D.He thought he was old enough to help the![]() |
Where did Sarah smoke?
A.In the classroom | B.In the Dinning hall |
C.In the street | D.In the dormitory |
Why was the school master angry with him?
A.Because he was too naughty |
B.Because he was too lazy |
C.Because he caused a big fire |
D.Because he stole something from the school |
According to the passage, what should the students not do?
A.They should not smoke, because smoking is dangerous to them |
B.They should not dance, because dancing would waste a lot of money |
C.They should not make friends, because making friends would take them absent |
D.They should not wear expensive clothes because they would waste a lot of money |
When it comes to eating out, we can't help thinking of big meals in the restaurants, which usually contain much more fat and less fibers. Whether it is a business meeting over lunch or a fast food meal with the kids, eating out is a part of our lives. We eat out to save a lot of time, like grabbing a bite at fast food restaurants, or we take dining out as a favorite way to relax and socialize with friends.
Eating out can be fun but many people still like eating at home more because it is healthier. When my dear wife does not prepare foods for me, I would rather cook some instant noodles and eat at home! However, we go out to eat once in a while for holidays or on special occasions.
More and more people want to make healthy food choices nowadays. Some are watching calories, while others want to keep their cholesterol(胆固醇)under control or eat less fat. Plan ahead and choose wisely, you will find foods that fit into your meal plan and make eating out both healthy and enjoyable.
Here are some pointers to remember that can help you make wise choices when eating out: go for balance, watch portion sizes and drink water or low-fat milk. Keep the ground rules of good nutrition in mind. Eat a variety of foods in moderate(适中的)amounts, limit the amount of fat you eat, and watch the amount of salt in food. If you develop the skills to make healthy choices now, your body will thank you later.
Eating out can be one of life's great pleasures. Make the right choices, ask for what you need, and balance your meals out with healthy meals at home. You can enjoy yourself and take good care of yourself at the same time. From the passage, we can infer that often eating out______________ .
A.contributes to healthy bodies | B.maintains good relations with friends |
C.is of disadvantage to health | D.saves time from cooking |
On the author's wedding anniversary, _______________________.
A.he prefers to cook some instant noodles for his wife |
B.he would like to have a party at home |
C.he must make an important choice |
D.he is likely to take his wife to eat out |
The third paragraph doesn't say but implies that________________.
A.people's awareness of health has improved |
B.most people are worried about their cholesterol |
C.calories have caused people's attention |
D.it is important to choose your food every day |
If you had been watching for your diet, _____________________ .
A.you wouldn't have suffered any disease |
B.you would be in good health now |
C.you might have had much experience in life |
D.you could have cured your illnesses |
From James Dean to Growing Pains, Hollywood has long had a love affair with the relationship between teens and their parents. As the fascination with this relationship attests, parents play a crucial role in the development of their children's personalities.
Teenagers learn by closely observing what people around them do. Parents are literally their first teachers and serve as role models. From hygiene to habits, from time management to personal manner, parents form the foundation of their children's characteristics. These tiny individual factors on our everyday behavior collectively constitute who we are.
A second influence occurs at the spiritual level. Parental treatment of children is reflected in children's relationship with others. For example, my dad was quite angry with my study habits a few years back and lost his temper.I clearly remember that I too would easily lose my cool and shout at people, often saying things I later regretted, in those difficult days.
Parents of my fellow classmates often tend to be anxious about the studies of their children, which can lead to a lack of confidence in their children. If we are boats weathering a storm as we navigate toward maturity, then parents should be our captains. It is as easy to lead us to shipwreck as is to take us ashore safely.
To be fair, the guidance and influence of our parents are not the sole factors in molding us. There are numerous examples of teens forging their own paths and becoming something of which their parents never dreamed. Even so, parents must be a fundamental force that positively influences their children. At their best, they can help to solve teenage problems with a respect for their children's thoughts. James Dean and Growing Pains in the first paragraph are described as follows EXCEPT.
A.they are about love affairs in family life |
B.they are mentioned at the beginning of the passage to introduce the topic |
C.they reflect a very important role parents play in childhood development |
D.they are typical presentations of the relationship between teens and their parents |
If parents are worried about the studies of their children, their children will.
A.easily lose their temper | B.lack self-confidence |
C.follow their own paths | D.tend to shout at people |
We can conclude from the passage that.
A.teens will always be what their parents expect them to |
B.parents' behavior influences their children both physically and mentally |
C.the guidance and influence of parents are the only factor in molding teens |
D.parents should be our captains when we teens are on boats in a storm |
The passage is intended mainly for.
A.teens | B.teachers | C.students | D.parents |
Let's travel the world together
Nickname: Zaloxx
Email:jdlxx8@yahoo. com
When to travel: Feb 2010-Apr 2010
Self-introduction.. A 40+ male with strong physical and financial abilities. Hope to travel in
India, Singapore and Thailand for business as well as for fun.
My travel plan: Fly to Delhi and spend 3 weeks in India travelling mostly in north. Fly to
Singapore and Thailand for a few business matters and mainly for fun.
Whom I am looking for: A female to travel with me. She should be an attractive 30-40 healthy romantic lady and love travelling and relaxing.
Together for Christmas and New Year?
Nickname: Rue Rose
Email: sofitsao@taishin, com. tw
When to travel: Dec 2010-Jan 2011
Self-introduction: I am a fit, young, looking 40 years old female, who is easy-going, fun to be with.
My travel plan: Would like to go somewhere hot-Cuba, Africa, Morocco, and so on. Perhaps the Christmas and New Year there are more interesting.
Whom I am looking for: A male much with similar interests. A non-smoker and light drinker.
Travel in good company!
Nickname: Louise
Email: misskennedy@hotmail, co. uk
When to travel: Jan 2010
Self-introduction: 40 years old, fun-loving and easy-going.
My travel plan: I need a break and I am open to anywhere.
Whom I am looking for: A male travel companion(同伴), 24-40. A non-smoker who enjoys
outside activities. Prefer someone that speaks Spanish.
Need a travel companion in Thailand!
Nickname: Gio
Email: esteban407@yahoo, com
When to travel: Feb 2010-Apr 2010
Self-introduction: I am 28 years old from London. I like to keep fit and enjoy hiking and camping.
My travel plan: I plan to visit Thailand and travel around the country to enjoy nature and the sunshine.
Whom I am looking for: Someone around my age. A male who is willing to have an active holiday. If the Londoner and his companion travel in March, 2010, they will probably be in
A.Cuba | B.Singapore | C.India | D.Thailand |
Why does Rue Rose plan a journey with her companion?
A.To adventure in cold places. | B.To spend festivals outside. |
C.To learn Spanish. | D.To solve business matters. |
A lady who wants to be a travel companion can send email to
A.jdlxx8@yahoo, com | B.sofitsao@taishin. com. tw |
C.esteban407@yahoo, com | D.misskennedy@hotmail. co. uk |
People in the advertisements above want to.
A.introduce their travel experiences |
B.make friends with strangers while traveling |
C.find proper travel partners |
D.look for someone to look after them while traveling |
We have two daughters: Kristen is seven years old and Kelly is four. Last Sunday evening, we invited some people home for dinner. I dressed them nicely for the party, and told them that their job was to join Mommy in answering the door when the bell rang. Mommy would introduce them to the guests, and then they would take the guests’ coats upstairs and put them on the bed in the second bedroom.
The guests arrived. I introduced my two daughters to each of them. The adults were nice and kind and said how lucky we were to have such good kids.
Each of the guests made a particular fuss over Kelly, the younger one, admiring her dress, her hair and her smile. They said she was a remarkable girl to be carrying coats upstairs at her age.
I thought to myself that we adults usually make a big “to do” over the younger one because she’s the one who seems more easily hurt. We do it with the best of intentions.
But we seldom think of how it might affect the other child. I was a little worried that Kristen would feel she was being outshined. I was about to serve dinner when I realized that she had been missing for twenty minutes. I ran upstairs and found her in the bedroom, crying.
I said, “What are you doing, my dear?”
She turned to me with a sad expression and said, “Mommy, why don’t people like me the way they like my sister? Is it because I’m not pretty? Is that why they don’t say nice things about me as much?”
I tried to explain to her, kissing and hugging her to make her feel better.
Now, whenever I visit a friend’s home, I make it a point to speak to the elder child first.The underlined expression make a big to do over (paragraph 4) means _____.
A.show much concern about | B.have a special effect on |
C.list jobs to be done for | D.do good things for |
The guests praised Kelly for carrying coats upstairs because of her _____.
A.beautiful hair | B.pretty clothes |
C.lovely smile | D.young age |
Kristen felt sad and cried because _____.
A.the guest gave her more coats to carry |
B.she didn’t look as pretty as Kelly |
C.the guests praised her sister more than her |
D.her mother didn’t introduce her to the guests |
We can conclude from the passage that _____.
A.parents should pay more attention to the elder children |
B.the younger children are usually more easily hurt |
C.people usually like the younger children more |
D.adults should treat children equally |