On a number of drives throughout my childhood, my mother would suddenly pull over the car to examine a flower by the side of the road or rescue a beetle from tragedy while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.
Though Mother’s Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related to each other. My mom has been “green” since she became concerned about the environment. Part of this habit was born of thrift (节俭). Like her mother and her grandmother before her, mom saves glass jars, empty cheese containers and reuses her plastic bags.
Mom creates a kind of harmonious relationship with wildlife in her yard. She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to avoid the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders(给食器) out at night, it is likely that they will be knocked down by a family of raccoons (浣熊). Spiders that make their way into the house and are caught in juice glasses will be set loose in the garden.
I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for dandelions (蒲公英) to fly in the wind; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn’t need to lecture; she didn’t need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came mercy and an instinct for protection.
I am slowing down and it isn’t because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself. I’ve begun to save glass jars and reuse packing envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other in the trees above my house.
Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands. Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with a sweetness I immediately wanted to share with my mom.. Why does the author say Earth Day is connected with Mother’s Day?
A.Because Mother’s Day falls shortly after Earth Day. |
B.To stress that all the older women in her family are environmentalists. |
C.To stress how much her mother cares about the environment. |
D.Because her mother shows her how to be friendly to nature on Mother’s Day. |
. Which of the following is NOT related to Mom’s “green life”?
A.Rescuing a beetle from a certain tragedy. |
B.Saving glass jars, empty cheese containers. |
C.Setting a caught spider free in the garden |
D.Picking dandelions on busy streets. |
. We can infer from the article that ______.
A.the author realizes that she should teach her children by example as well |
B.the author’s mother knows how to get rid of the wildlife in her yard |
C.the author believes that only by learning to slow down can we enjoy life |
D.the author’s mother used to lecture her to protect the environment. |
. What can be learned from the last paragraph?
A.Tomatoes make the author think of her mother. |
B.The author likes eating tomatoes planted by herself. |
C.Planting tomatoes is a way of protecting environment. |
D.The author really appreciates her mother’s teaching. |
. The writer’s attitude towards her mom’s behavior changed in the order of ______.
A.understanding — critical — approving |
B.approving — doubtful — negative |
C.negative — understanding — approving |
D.doubtful— critical— positive |
第二部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
A
Three lawyers and three engineers are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three lawyers each buy tickets and watch as the three engineers buy only a single ticket.
"How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asked one of the three lawyers.
"Watch and you'll see," answers one of the engineers.
They all board the train. The lawyers take their seats, but all three engineers cram into a restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, "Ticket, please" The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The lawyers saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea.
So after the conference, the lawyers decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money. When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don't buy a ticket at all.
"How are you going to travel without a ticket," asks one perplexed lawyer.
"Watch and you'll see," says one of the engineers.
When they board the train the three lawyers cram into a restroom and the three engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the lawyers are hiding .He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket, please." By copying the engineers, one lawyer put out a single arm with a ticket in his hand. The engineer came back to his restroom with the ticket. Then the conductor was coming this way...
41. The engineers and the lawyers travel together________.
A. to attend a meeting B. to test who are clever
C. to see how clever the engineers are D. to save money
42. How many tickets do they buy on the two-way trip? .
A. 4 B. 5 C. 7 D. 8
43. The underlined word “perplexed” can be replaced by ________.
A. excited B. surprised C. puzzled D. touched
44. Which of the following would be the best title for the joke?
A. Three Lawyers and Three Engineers B. Train Tickets
C. In the RestroomD. Tickets, Please
附加题:阅读理解(共5小题;每小题3分,满分15分。把答案涂到答题卡上)
The pen is more powerful than the sword(利剑). There have been many writers who use their pens to write things that were wrong. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of them.
She was born in the U. S. A. in 1811. One of her books not only made her famous but has been described as one that excited the world, and was helpful in causing a civil war and freeing the enslaved race. The civil war was the American Civil War of 1861, in which the Northern States fought the Southern States and finally won.
This book that shook the world was called Uncle Tom's Cabin. There was a time when every English-speaking man, woman, and child had read this novel that did so much to stop slavery. Not many people read it today, but it is still very interesting, if only to show how a warm-hearted writer can arouse people's sympathies. The author herself had neither been to the Southern States nor seen a slave. The Southern Americans were very angry at the book, which they said did not at all represent the true state of affairs, but the Northern Americans were widely excited over it, and were so inspired by it that they were ready to go to war to set the slaves free.
61. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe became famous for__________.
A. one of her books B. she was a very heartedly person
C. she was a kind wife D. she worked for the war
62. How old was Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe when her world famous book was published?
A. About sixty years old. B. Over fifty years old.
C. In her forties. D. Around twenty years old.
63. What do we learn about Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe from the passage?
A. Before the civil war she had been a slave.
B. Before the civil war she had lived in the north of America.
C. She had a good school education.
D. She was better at writing than swinging a sword.
64. Why could Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe's book cause a civil war in America? Because_______.
A. she disclosed(揭露) the terrible wrongs done to the slaves in the Southern States
B. she wrote so well that the Americans loved her very much
C. the Americans were too excited when they reads the book
D. the Southern Americans hated the book, while the Northern Americans liked it
65. What can we learn from the passage?
A. No war can be won without such a book as Uncle Tom's Cabin.
B. We must understand the importance of literature and art.
C. We needn't use weapons to fight things that are wrong.
D. A writer is more helpful in war than a soldier.
E
Safety information for study abroad
Remember you are responsible for the choices you make regarding your safety! Be careful all the time. Not knowing about the culture, language, people and situations may put you at higher risk. Learn what women and men do in the culture to protect themselves.
☆ Avoid walking alone at night. Do not agree to meet a person whom you do not know in a lonely place. Be cautious when meeting new people. Don’t give out your address and phone number to strangers or let out too much personal information about yourself.
☆ Do not attract attention to yourself by speaking English loudly in public in America or wearing expensive jewelry. These manners will certainly attract thieves, or worse. Do not be afraid to be impolite when faced with unwanted situations. Do not let anyone push you into taking risks. If you feel unsafe, you probably are.
☆ Taxis are not safe everywhere, especially late at night. Men and women are often robbed by taxi drivers. In many cities, taxis have gotten so dangerous that people use Radio Taxis to get the names of good companies.
☆ When using public telephones, especially in a lonely place, stand facing out so you can see your surroundings. If someone stops you to ask for the time or to ask for directions, step away to a distance that is safer. Why would they consider asking an obviously foreign person for directions?
☆ Your life will always be more important than any of your possessions (财产). Let them go and run away if necessary.
57. For whom is the passage written?
A. Parents who worry about the safety of their children.
B. Foreign people who are traveling in the USA.
C. Those students who are studying abroad.
D. People who are interested in foreign culture.
58. What does the underlined word “cautious” probably mean?
A. Friendly. B. Careful. C. Active. D. Calm.
59. You are advised not to speak English loudly in public in America because _______.
A. others will laugh at your bad English
B. it is bad manners to speak loudly in American culture
C. you will attract too much attention to yourself
D. other people will ask more information about yourself
60. What should you do to protect yourself while studying abroad?
A. Taking public transportation whenever you go out.
B. Not considering others’ feelings as long as you like.
C. Not offering help to anyone in the street.
D. Having a high sense of safety at any time.
D
The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light, I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff(东西) they call “books”.
I was going to have my examination the next day. “When can I go to bed?” I asked myself. I didn’t answer. In fact I dared not.
The clock struck twelve.“ Oh, dear!” I cried. “Ten more books to read before I can go to bed!” We pupils are the most wretched creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy.
The clock struck one. I was quite desperate(绝望的) now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, “Oh, God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep.
53. When the author was going over his lessons,all the others in the house were________ .
A. asleep B. outside C. working in bedD. quietly laughing at him
54. Reviewing his lessons didn‘t help him because_______ .
A. it was too late at night
B. he was very tired
C. his eyes lids were so heavy that he couldn’t keep them open
D. he hadn’t studied hard before the examination
55. What do you suppose happened to the author?
A. He went to a church to pray againB. He passed the exam in luck
C. He failed in the examD. He was punished by his teacher
56. The best title for the passage would be __________ .
A. The Night Before the Examination B. Working Far into the Night
C. A Slow Student D. Going Over My Lessons
C
Tokyo is one of those places that you can love and hate at the same time.
In Tokyo there are always too many people in the places where I want to be. Of course there are too many cars. The Japanese drive very fast, but in Tokyo they often spend a long time in traffic jams(拥挤).Tokyo is not different from London, Paris and New York in that. It is different when one wants to walk.
At certain times of the day there are a lot of people on foot in London’s Oxford Street. But the streets near the Ginza in Tokyo always have a lot of people on foot, and sometimes it is really difficult to walk. People are very polite; there are just too many of them.
The worst time to be in the street is at 11:30 at night. That is when the night-clubs are closing and everybody wants to go home. There are 35 000 night-clubs in Tokyo, and you do not often see one that is empty.
During the day, most people travel to and from work by train. Tokyo people buy six million train tickets every day. At most stations, trains arrive every two or three minutes but at certain hours there do not seem to be enough trains. Although they are usually crowded, Japanese trains are very good. They always leave and arrive on time. On a London train you would see everybody reading a newspaper. In Tokyo trains everybody in a seat seems to be asleep, whether his journey is long or short.
In Tokyo, I stood outside the station for five minutes. Three fire-engines(消防车) race past on the way to one of the many fires that Tokyo has every day .Tokyo has so many surprises that none of them can really surprise me now.
48.Tokyo is different from London in that___________.
A. it has a larger population
B. there are more traffic jams
C. it is more difficult to go somewhere on foot
D. night clubs are sometimes empty
49.Japanese trains _____________.
A. often leave and arrive on time
B. are often crowded
C. are the main means(手段,方法) people use to travel to and from work
D. all of the above
50.Where can you find everybody reading a newspaper? _____________.
A. At most London train stations B. At most Tokyo train stations
C. On a Tokyo train D. On a London train
51.Fires break out _______ in Tokyo according to the writer.
A. quite frequently (频繁) B. only several times a day
C. not very often D. very seldom
52.Which of the following is NOT true about Tokyo? ___________.
A. The streets become more crowded at 11:30 at night
B. There are more trains than cars
C. Fire-engines are very busy in the city
D. Tokyo people are polite