Fill Her Tank First
The summer of 1975 I’d just graduated from college in Southern California and received a 1968 Ford Capri for a graduation present. I had my first job, in Los Angeles. One Sunday night, __36__ myself a very independent grown-up, I left my uncle’s place in South Laguna after a visit, without __37__ to him that I had less than an __38__ of a tank of gas and no cash to buy __39__ on the way to L.A. I pulled onto the Pacific Coast Highway and watched the needle __40__ as I headed north. When I started running on fumes, I pulled into a __41__. There was no self-service __42__; there were no credit cards, no ATMs.
I begged the guy at the station. I __43__ write him a check for gas, I said, or I could sleep in my car and try to __44__ to a town with a bank the next morning. As he was informing me that I could sleep in my car but he’d have me __45__, a station wagon __46__ to the next pump. The driver--- a thin, plain, middle-aged guy---overheard the tail end of my __47__ request. As the attendant went to serve him, he nodded at me. “__48__ her tank first,” he said.
“Really?” I said. Hope __49__. “Oh, thank you. Thank you. But please. I just need two dollars’ __50__. I just need to go home.”
“Fill it,” he __51__ to the attendant. Then to me, “You will do the same one day, for someone else.”
I keep looking for that unlucky young person, __52__ to save her night on the road. Meanwhile, in case she never __53__ up, I try for other acts of random kindness. That __54__ driver is always at the pump a few feet away, __55__ the attendant to fill mine first.
A．thinking B．hoping C．knowing D．showing
A．confirming B．convincing C．admitting D．concerning
A．eighty B．eight C．eighth D．eighths
A．another B．more C．much D．some
A．drop B．increase C．reduce D．decrease
A．train station B．bus station C．railway station D．gas station
A．at one time B．at a time C．at times D．at that time
A．could B．might C．should D．must
A．scramble B．drive C．climb D．walk
A．ordered B．helped C．warned D．arrested
A．went up B．drove up C．pulled up D．drew into
A．tried B．succeeded C．reasoned D．failed
A．Fill B．Filled C．Filling D．To fill
A．increased B．raised C．accumulated D．fired
A．value B．worthy C．worth D．money
A．pardoned B．repeated C．said D．spoke
A．ensuring B．supposing C．hoping D．considering
A．shows B．goes C．grows D．comes
A．easy-going B．polite C．powerful D．quiet
A．introducing B．instructing C．interesting D．interacting
Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. My family’s last vacation was a good to prove it. It was my six-year-old son’s winter break from school, and we were home from Fort Lauderdale after a week-long trip. The flight was , and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meetings in New York, so I had to . But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.
The next day, my husband and son were offered more to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged — okay, ordered — them to wait it out at the , to "earn" more Delta Dollars. Our total take: $1,600. Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big-time bargain hunter, I know the value of a . And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to .
I've made living looking for the best deals and the worst tricks. I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade. So far, I feel proud that I have written a couple of including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I in.
I tell you this because there is no in getting your money’s worth. Honestly, I’m also when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its shape longer, and it's the first thing people . And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. lasts.
A．sample B．excuse C．situation D．example
A．leaving B．heading C．getting D．arriving
A．overbooked B．overcrowded C．overworked D．overpowered
A．get on B．get over C．get back D．get away
A．seats B．credits C．bargain D．value
A．flight B．office C．school D．airport
A．dollar B．time C．family D．work
A．pass up B．pass down C．pass along D．pass on
A．expanding B．expecting C．exposing D．explaining
A．dictionaries B．newspapers C．novels D．books
A．believe B．put C．give D．come
A．harm B．shame C．doubt D．shock
A．generous B．tightfisted C．joyful D．patient
A．notice B．realize C．know D．understand
A．Satisfactory B．Quantity C．Ability D．Quality
Twenty years ago, Mark Thatcher, the son of Mrs. Thatcher, was reported missing in the Sahara Desert while competing in the Grand Prix Motor race from Paris to Daker. The sad news, so unexpected, shook the unusually and unhurried politician off her balance. Though she did her best to as if nothing had happened and made her public appearance as usual, people could not fail to notice that she was no longer the old self-assured prime minister who always had everything under . Instead she had become a very sad mother who was unable to from her shock.
One day when she was to at a lunch party, a reporter caught her off her guard by bringing up the of her missing son again. She was mentally unprepared for the question and lost her self-control. Tears were her cheeks she sobbingly told the reporter there was still no news of Mark and that she was very worried about him. She said that all the countries concerned had to do their best to help her find her son. With that she down completely and sobbed silently for quite a while. Gradually she calmed down and started to speak as . It was a very scene which exposed a new side of Mrs. Thatcher’s the public do not usually see. People began to talk about the Iron Woman’s love, a that is common to all human race.
Later Mark returned to his mother’s side, good-humored and all smiles as usual nothing unusual had ever happened. The Iron Woman, , broke down again and was sobbing for a second time.
A．outstanding B．busy C．calm D．considerate
A．seem B．talk C．do D．pretend
A．construction B．control C．discussion D．pressure
A．respond B．relieve C．reduce D．recover
A．arrive B．eat C．speak D．read
A．subject B．object C．theme D．message
A．hardly B．totally C．partly D．mostly
A．putting down B．taking off C．getting off D．rolling down
A．because B．though C．if D．as
A．permitted B．admitted C．promised D．managed
A．fell B．went C．broke D．brought
A．agreed B．planned C．announced D．explained
A．moving B．shocking C．interesting D．serious
A．quality B．action C．position D．character
A．lively B．likely C．lovely D．motherly
A．habit B．hobby C．feeling D．thought
A．hungry and tired B．safe and funny C．safe and sound D．tired and sleepy
A．as if B．even if C．so that D．if only
A．therefore B．however C．besides D．thus
A．made B．heard C．felt D．seen
Dear son,
The day that you see me old and I am already not in good health, have patience and try to understand me.
If I get dirty when eating, if I can not dress, have patience and remember the hours I teaching it to you. If, when I speak to you, I the same things thousand and one times, do not me, listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story you got to sleep. When I do not want to have a , neither shame me nor scold me. Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I , in order that you wanted to bathe. When you see my little about new technologies, give me the necessary time and do not look at me with your mocking (嘲弄) smile. I taught you to do so many things: to eat good, to dress well, to confront life….When at some moment I lose the memory or the of conversation, let me have the necessary time to remember, and if I can not do it, do not become nervous, as the most important thing is not our conversation but surely to be with you and to have you to me.
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well I need to and when not. When my legs do not allow me to walk, give me your , the same way I did when you gave your first . And when someday I say to you that I do not want to any more — that I want to rest forever, do not get angry. Someday you will understand.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived. Some day you will discover that, my mistakes, I always wanted the thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you. You must not feel sad, angry or impotent (无奈) for seeing me you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you living. Help me to walk, help me to end my way with love and . I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you, Son.
Your father
A．paid B．spent C．cost D．took
A．repeat B．think C．praise D．criticize
A．disturb B．avoid C．look D．interrupt
A．when B．after C．until D．since
A．rest B．word C．sleep D．shower
A．noticed B．discovered C．invented D．assumed
A．knowing B．fearing C．enjoying D．consulting
A．what B．when C．how D．why
A．attitude B．thread C．material D．news
A．talking B．appealing C．responding D．listening
A．when B．how C．that D．where
A．short B．tired C．long D．strong
A．hand B．ear C．mind D．leg
A．laugh B．step C．pace D．cry
A．talk B．sleep C．write D．live
A．though B．since C．while D．despite
A．last B．best C．first D．most
A．against B．behind C．near D．below
A．made B．found C．started D．earned
A．patience B．mercy C．excuse D．care
One young person, who was well educated, went for a job as a manager in a big company. The president did the final . He discovered the youth was and felt satisfied. Then the president asked who paid for his school fees. The youth answered, “My mother did it. She worked as a clothes .” The president requested the youth to his hands. So the youth did. They were smooth. Then he asked, “Have you ever your mother wash the clothes before?” The youth answered, “Never, my mother always wanted me to .”“Go and clean your mother’s when you go back today, and then me tomorrow morning,” the president said .The youth felt his chance of getting the job was high, so when he went back, he requested his mother to let him clean her hands. However, his tears fell he cleaned his mother’s hands slowly. It was the first time he had that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled (布满皱纹的). After that, the youth didn’t say a word and washed all the remaining clothes for his mother . That night, Mother and Son for a very long time, longer than any talk before.
The next , the youth went to the president’s office. The president noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes and asked: “Please tell me how you about helping your mother.” The youth said, “Number One, I know now what is. Without my mother, I wouldn’t be successful today. Number Two, by helping my mother, I realize how it is to get something done. Number Three, I’ve come to realize the of family relationship.” The president said, “You are . This is what I’m looking for to be my manager.”
A．election B．test C．interview D．competition
A．strong B．excellent C．humorous D．cute
A．maker B．cleaner C．mender D．seller
A．wash B．hide C．show D．dry
A．found B．let C．helped D．watched
A．study B．ignore C．work D．rest
A．clothes B．hands C．feet D．shoes
A．see B．move C．recognize D．answer
A．on purpose B．in patience C．by chance D．at last
A．carefully B．nervously C．happily D．shyly
A．after B．until C．because D．as
A．believed B．sensed C．noticed D．expected
A．quietly B．sadly C．excitedly D．angrily
A．thought B．slept C．sat D．talked
A．morning B．noon C．afternoon D．evening
A．worried B．felt C．brought D．spoke
A．courage B．appreciation C．success D．family
A．important B．difficult C．different D．impossible
A．value B．secret C．type D．change
A．educated B．respected C．trusted D．hired
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1～15各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Some passengers won’t turn off their mobile phones or iPads during takeoff or landing. It happens on almost every now. It’s time to turn off personal electronic devices when the plane’s door . However, there’s always at least one person who keeps talking, texting, playing, watching or emailing — and strict orders to power down during flights.
“People have become so to those devices, and a lot of people whether they really need to turn them off,” says an airhostess from Southwest Airlines.
Is turning off the devices really in the first place? Lots of passengers have doubted about the of leaving devices on. They think one cell or message or game isn’t going to down the plane.
Indeed, there’s no scientific evidence that having devices powered on during takeoff and landing would cause a , only that there is the potential of a problem.
In the US, pilots are allowed to use certain electronic devices during takeoff and landing, but if passengers’ devices are tested at the same time, it may lead to wrong warnings and readings on the aircraft instruments. In some studies researchers found mobile phones could global-positioning satellite systems or other aircraft systems. Though the effects are slight, they could result in disaster.
If even the possibility of disaster exists, it’s better to turn them off during takeoff and landing.
A．seat B．flight C．passenger D．device
A．opens B．closes C．turns D．moves
A．giving B．obeying C．ignoring D．receiving
A．addicted B．connected C．opposed D．exposed
A．decide B．choose C．understand D．question
A．reliable B．necessary C．dangerous D．excellent
A．fact B．value C．danger D．price
A．knock B．bring C．shut D．fall
A．large B．great C．firm D．heavy
A．problem B．difficulty C．question D．mistake
A．small B．expensive C．various D．colorful
A．clear B．right C．bad D．false
A．affect B．operate C．control D．change
A．unusually B．strangely C．exactly D．seemingly
A．remotest B．biggest C．best D．worst