游客
题文

A month after Hurricane Katrina, I returned home in New Orleans. There lay my house, reduced towaist-high ruins, smelly and dirty.
Before the trip, I’d had my car fixed. When the office employee of the garage was writing up the bill,she noticed my Louisiana license plate. “You from New Orleans?”she asked I said I was, “No charge.”She said, and firmly shook her head when I reached for my wallet. The next day I went for a haircut, and the same thing happened.
As my wife was studying in Florida, we decided to move there and tried to find a rental house that we could afford while also paying off a mortgage (抵押贷款〉on our mined house. We looked at many places, but none was satisfactory. We’d began to accept that we*d have to live in extremely reduced circumstances for a while, when I got a very curious e-mail from a James Kemmedy in California. He’d read some pieces I’d written about our sufferings for State, the online magazine  and wanted to give us (""no conditions attached’)a new house across thelake from New Orleans.
It sounded too good to be true, but I replied, thanking him for his exceptional generosity, that we had no plan to go back. Then a poet at the University of Florida offered to let his house to me, while he went to England on his one-year paid leave. The rent was rather reasonable. I mentioned the poet’s offer to James Kemdedy, and the next day he sent a check covering our entire rent for eight months.
Throughout this painful experience, the kindness of strangers has done much to bring back my faith in humanity. It’s almost worth losing your worldly possessions to be reminded that people are really nice when given half a chance.
The garage employee’s attitude toward the author was that of          

A.unconcern B.sympathy
C.doubt D.tolerance

What do we know about James Kemnedy?

A.He was a writer of an online magazine.
B.He was a poet at the University of Florida
C.He offered the author a new house free of charge.
D.He learned about the author’s sufferings via e-mail

It can be inferred from the text that         

A.the author’s family was in financial difficulty
B.rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster
C.houses were difficult to find in the hurricane-stricken area
D.the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank

The author learned from his experience that         

A.worldly possessions can be given up when necessary
B.generosity should be encouraged in some cases
C.people benefit from their sad stories
D.human beings are kind after all.
科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 中等
知识点: 故事类阅读
登录免费查看答案和解析
相关试题

Michael Fish may soon be replaced as a weather forecaster by something truly fishier — shark.
Research by a Britain biology student suggests that sharks could be used to predict storms.
Lauren Smith,24,is close to completing her study on shark’s ability to sense pressure.
If her studies prove the theory, scientists may be able to monitor the behavior of sharks to predict bad weather
Miss Smith had previously studied the behavior of lemon sharks.
She then used their close relatives, lesser spotted dogfish, for further research.
Her work—thought to be the first of its kind to test pressure theory—resulted from observation that juvenile sharks off Florida moved into deeper water ahead of a violent storm in 2001.
Miss Smith said, “I’ve always been crazy about travelling and diving and this led me to an interest in sharks.”
“I was delighted to gave been able to reach in the area for my degree. I know there’s so much more we need to understand—but it certainly opens the way to more research.” It has been discovered that a shark senses pressure using hair cells in its balanced system.
She is due to complete her study and graduate later this year. She says she will be looking for a job which will give her the chance to enrich her experience of shark research.
The passage is most probably taken from______?

A.A short-story collection
B.A popular science magazine
C.A research paper
D.A personal diary

What do we learn from the first four paragraphs of the passage?

A.Sharks may be used to predict bad weather
B.Shark’s behavior can be controlled
C.Michael Fish is not qualified for his job
D.Lauren Smith will become a weather forecaster

Lauren Smith conducted her research by ______.

A.Removing hair cells from a shark’s balance system
B.Measuring the air pressure of weather fronts
C.Recording shark’s body temperature
D.Monitoring shark’s reaction to weather changes

What is the passage mainly about?

A.A popular way of forecasting weather
B.A new research effort in predicting storms
C.Biologist’ interest in the secrets of sharks.
D.Lauren Smith’s devotion to scientific research

Almost Human
Scientists are racing to build the world’s first thinking robot. This is not science fiction: some say they will have made it by the year2020. Carol Parker reports.
Machines that walk, speak and feel are no longer science fiction. Kismet is the name of an android which scientists have built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kismet is different from the traditional robot because it can show human emotions. Its eyes, ears and lips move to show when it feels happy, sad and bored. Kismet is one of the first of a new generation of androids—robots that look like huamn beings—which can imitate human feelings. Cog, another android invented by the MIT, imitates the action of a mother. However, scientists admit that so far Cog has the mental ability of a two-year-old.
The optimists say that by the year 2020 we will have created humanoids with brains similar to those of an adult human beings. these robots will be designed to look like people to make them more attractive and easier to sell to the public. What kind of jobs will they do? In the future, robots like Robonaut, a humanoid invented by NASA, will be doing dangerous jobs, like repairing space stations. They will also be doing more and more of the household work for us. In Japan, scientist are designing androids that will entertain us by dancing and playing the piano.
Some people worry about that future holds: will robots become monsters? Will people themselves become increasingly like robots? Experts predict that more and more people will be wearing micro-computer, connected to the internet, in the future. Proplr will have micro-chips in various parts of their body, which will connect them to a wide variety of gadgets. Perhaps we should not exaggerate the importance of technology, but one wonders whether, in years to come, we will still be falling in love, and whether we will feel pain. Who knows?
Kismet is different from traditional robots because ______?

A.it thinks for itself
B.it is not like science fiction
C.it can look after a two-year-old
D.it seems to have human feelings

What makes Cog special?

A.it looks like a mother
B.it behaves like child
C.it can imitate the behavior of a mother
D.it has a huge brain

In about 10 years’ time from now, robots ______.

A.will become space designers
B.will look like monsters
C.will behave like animals
D.will think like humans

In the future robots will also______.

A.explore space
B.entertain people
C.move much faster
D.do all the housework

What is the writer’s attitude to robots in the future?

A.Critical
B.Hostile
C.Objective
D.Enthusiastic

Students are being forced to take additional exams to get into leading universities because good A-levels do not always indicate the brightest candidate.
Sixth-formers applying to courses such as medicine and law are being asked to sit American-style aptitude tests, which are designed to assess thinking skills, among fears that too many A-level candidates are getting top grades. Last year, almost one in six students applying to universities such as Oxford and Cambridge from independent schools had to sit additional tests to secure a place.
Head teachers criticized the move, which they said would pile more pressure on schools and students. But universities insisted that the reforms were unavoidable, because A-level exams were no longer an accurate barometer of ability.
In 1986, 40 percent of students starting at Oxford achieved straight as at A-level. Mike Nicholson, its admissions director, said that this year almost every candidate offered a place would get perfect grades. It meant the university had to stage additional tests to identify the most able candidates. “The ability to achieve three A grades is no longer the endpoint the admission process,” he said. “The potential to achieve three A grades will allow them to enter the race for a place.”
Oxford is not the only university turning to aptitude tests. At Cambridge, the number of students taking the university’s Thinking Skills Assessment shot up 26 percent to more than 3000. A survey of 16830 sixth formers applying to higher education from private school last year showed that 2860 had to sit at least one exam.
Earlier this year, the National Foundation for Educational Research recommended that most sixth formers should sit SAT tests—a standard reasoning exam widely used in American colleges—to make it easier to pick out the best candidates.
What is the attitude of head teachers to the reform?

A.Approving
B.Doubtful
C.Opposed
D.Neutral

Which British university first started to use aptitude tests to pick out the best candidates?
A.Harvard
B.Oxford
C.Cambridge
D.Washington D.C
What can we know about the A-level system?

A.It can indicate the brightest candidates.
B.It was designed to assess students’ thinking skills.
C.It is no longer an accurate way to assess students’ abilities.
D.It was recommended by the National Foundation for Education Research.

What can we infer from the passage?

A.The reform is more popular in America colleges than the British ones.
B.The reform will be applied by all universities in the future.
C.Universities used to depend on the A-level system to choose the best students.
D.Passing additional tests will allow the student to enter Oxford, regardless of whether he or she gets as.

What is the passage mainly about?

A.How to get into leading universities.
B.The disadvantages of the A-level system.
C.Different ways to identify students’ abilities.
D.Universities using extra exams to choose students.

Choose your Virginia
Rock House Museum
Rock House Museum. Take a journey through history with a visit to the exciting museum and historic sites of Wytheville. The Rock House Museum offers glimpses into daily life in the 19th century. The museum is part of the 50 structures featured in the Wytheville’s Historic Walking Tour. 540/223-3330.
Natural Bridge of Virginia
Natural Bridge of Virginia, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Caverns of Natural Bridge, guided tours of underground wonders; Natural Bridge Inn and Conference Center, Indoor Heated Pool, Largest Gift and Souvenir Shop in the east. Information 800/533-1410.
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns is America’s Oldest showcave. Beautiful and massive formations. Union troops visited the caverns. Thomas Jefferson visited— you should too! Open weekends in March, daily April—October, 9 a.m.—5p.m. Hour tour leave every 30 minutes. 703/249-5705.
The Museum
The Museum in Arlington, the world’s only interactive museum of news. Visitors can be reporters or television newscasters, see today’s news as it happens on a block-long video news wall, and be taken behind the scenes to see how news is made. The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10a.m.—5p.m. 888/NEWSEUM.www.Newseum.Org.
Kenmore Plantation and Gardens
Kenmore plantation and Gardens, visit over two hundred years of history from Revolutionary War, Civil War and into 21st century. Home of Betty Washington, George Washington’s only sister, and Pariot Col. Fielding Lewis. Explore this historic building and city block of restored gardens. Tea and ginger cookie served. 540/373-3381.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers 11000 hotel/motel rooms, plus cottages and camp grounds. Enjoy miles of clean beaches and a variety of family attractions. Fine restaurants, various shopping areas, exciting nightlife, and special events are offered through out the year. 800/822-3224.
What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A.To attract tourists to Virginia.
B.To encourage people to settle in Virginia.
C.To introduce historic sites in Virginia.
D.To give people a general description of Virginia.

What way is the Newseum defferent from Rock House Museum?

A.It is larger
B.It is more exciting.
C.Visitors can act in it.
D.Visitors can see more in it.

If you want to enjoy yourself in the evening, you may go to ______.

A.The newseum
B.Kenmore plantation and Gardens
C.Grand Caverns
D.Virginia Beach

Which of the following places is not open in the winter months?

A.Natural Bridge of Virginia
B.Grand caverns
C.Virginia Beach
D.Kenmore plantation and Gardens

Which of the following is NOT true about the Virginia Beach?

A.Tourists can camp in the open air.
B.Tourists can enjoy special events there.
C.Tourists can not go there in their own cars.
D.Tourists can enjoy themselves on the clean beach.

What makes a gift special? Is it the price you see on the gift receipt? Or is it the look on the recipient's face when they receive it that determines the true value? What gift is worth the most?
This Christmas was debating what to give my father. My dad is a hard person to buy for because he never wants anything. I pulled out my phone to read a text message from my mom saying that we were leaving for Christmas shopping for him when I came across a message on my phone that I had locked. The message was from my father. My eyes fell on a photo of a flower taken in Wyoming, and underneath a poem by William Blake. The flower, a lone dandelion standing against the bright blue sky, inspired me. My dad had been reciting those words to me since I was a kid. That may even be the reason why I love writing. I decided that those words would be my gift to my father.
I called back. I told my mom to go without me and that I already created my gift. I sent the photo of the cream-coloured flower to my computer and typed the poem on top of it. As I was arranging the details another poem came to mind. The poem was written by Edgar Allan Poe; my dad recited it as much as he did the other. I typed that out as well and searched online for a background to the words of it. The poem was focused around dreaming, and after searching I found the prefer picture. The image was painted with blues and greens and purples, twisting together to create the theme and wonder of a dream. As I watched both poems passing through the printer, the white paper colouring with words that shaded my childhood, I felt that this was a gift that shaped my childhood; I felt that this was a gift that my father would truly appreciate.
Christmas soon arrived. The minute I saw the look on my dad's face as he unwrapped those swirling black letters carefully placed in a cheap frame, I knew I had given the perfect gift.
The idea for a special gift began to form when the author was _____.

A.doing shopping
B.having a debate
C.reading a message
D.leaving for Wyoming

The author’s inspiration for the gift came from _____.

A.a photo of a flower
B.a story about a kid
C.a call from the mother
D.a text about Christmas

The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refers to a poem by _____.

A.the father
B.the author
C.William Blake
D.Edgar Allan Poe

The author made the gift by _____.

A.searching for the poems online
B.drawing the background by hand
C.painting the letters in three colours
D.matching the words with pictures

What is the main purpose of the passage?

A.To show how to design images for gifts.
B.To suggest making gifts from one’s heart.
C.To explain how computers help create gifts.
D.To describe the gifts the author has received.

Copyright ©2020-2025 优题课 youtike.com 版权所有

粤ICP备20024846号