When I was growing up, I was ashamed to be seen with my father. He was severely disabled and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to coordinate(协调)our steps—his slow, mine impatient—and because of that, we didn’t say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you.”
He never talked about himself as an object of sympathy, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know accurately what a “good heart” is.
Unable to join in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way. I now know he participated in some things indirectly through me, his only son. When I played ball (poorly), he “played” too. When I joined the Navy, he “joined” too. And when I came home on leave, he saw to it that I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, “This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different.” Those words were never said aloud.
He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my unwillingness to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about small affairs, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”.
At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, “You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you.”The author felt unhappy walking with his father because ________.
A.he felt sympathy for his father’s physical disability |
B.it was hard for them to walk at the same pace |
C.he didn’t want others to know he had an ugly father |
D.it was not easy for his father to keep balance |
In the father’s view, the most important quality a good person should have is ________.
A.beautiful appearance | B.excellent health | C.a smart head | D.a good heart |
It can be inferred from the text that ________.
A.the father was proud of his only son |
B.the father took part in all his son’s activities |
C.the author was upset when asked to his father’s office |
D.the author was an outstanding player |
According to the last paragraph, by saying “You set the pace. I will adjust to you.” the author means that ________.
A.he is now glad to help his father to walk |
B.he regrets his unwillingness to walk with his father |
C.he will follow Father’s standards of being a good man |
D.he will never forget how mentally strong his father was |
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 a.m. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark exvept for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated. ”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “ Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“ Oh, I’m in no hurry.” She said, “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终医院)。 I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(计价器)
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At down, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” She asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment joy.”The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to .
A.Show she was familiar with the city |
B.reach the destination on time |
C.let the driver earn more money |
D.see some places for the last time. |
The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he
A.wanted to do her a favor |
B.shut off the meter by mistake |
C.had received her payment in advance |
D.was in a hurry to take other passenhers |
What can we learn from the story?
A.Giving is always a pleasure |
B.People should respect each other |
C.An act of kindness can bring people great joy. |
D.People should learn to appreciate others’ concern. |
3D comes home
Have you had this experience? You are watching a movie. A man is shooting on the screen. The picture is so real that you think he is shooting at you. Or a car is speeding on the screen and at one point you are afraid it will hit you.
Three-dimensional (3D)films use special technology to make pictures seem more real and exciting than two-dimensional ones. Two popular movies in the cinema this year, UP and Ice Age; Dawn of the Dinosaurs both use 3D technology.
So far we can only see 3D films in the cinema with a special screen and projector. But soon, we will be able to watch them in our living rooms. Last month, the Japanese company Sony told reporters that it plans to bring 3D televisions to homes in 2010. The company is also hoping to make other products with 3D, like laptops and PS3.
“ The 3D train is on the track, and we are ready to drive it home,” said Sony President Sir Howard Stringer.
How 3D technology works
Three dimensional movies and TV programs are fun to watch, but do you know how they are made? It is much easier to understand if we do an experiment.
Hold one of your fingers up at arms length and close one eye. Then try closing the other eye. As you switch between open eyes you should see your finger “jumping” left and right against the background.
This happens because our two eyes are about 4 cm away from each other. The separation causes each eye to see the world from a different angle. The brain puts these two views together. What you see becomes three-dimensional.
Three dimensional movies are made using two video cameras at the same time, which creates two different images. When the movie plays in a cinema, two projectors put the two images on the screen. With a pair of 3D glasses, the two images are separated and each image only enters one eye. Your brain puts the two pictures back together, and the pictures on the screen become three-dimensional.
72. What does the sentence “The 3D train is on the track, and we are ready to drive it home” mean? .
A. They’ve got a train to take 3D films back home
B. They are ready to bring 3D technology to homes
C. They have no more work to do on 3D technology
D. They are not sure about the future of 3D films
73. According to the text, 3D films.
A. use advanced technology to make special sound effects.
B. are less real than ordinary films, but more exciting.
C. can only be seen in the cinema at the moment.
D. will take the place of 2D films in the near future.
74. From the text, we know that 3D technology .
A. works in a similar way to how our eyes see things.
B. is too expensive to be used in ordinary homes.
C. uses special video cameras and light effects
D. can be easy to experiment with
75. The passage is mainly about .
A. how 3D films will develop in the future.
B. what makes 3D films so enjoyable
C. how 3D technology works and its future
D. what 3D technology needs and its future
If you are human, you can’t help but experience times when everything seems to be going wrong and you feel as if your life is completely out of control. It is during those “down times” that words of encouragement from family, friends, co-workers or even strangers can lighten your spirits. It is also during those times that destructive words can sink you deeper and deeper into depression.
For example, consider this story about a group of frogs who were traveling through the woods when two of them fell into a deep pit (坑). All of the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two unfortunate frogs they would never get out.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs took heed of what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again the crowd of frogs shouted at him to stop the pain. The more they shouted, the harder he jumped and finally he made it to safety.
When he got out, the other frogs asked him why he continued to jump when they were all shouting at him to simply quit. The frog explained to them that he was a little bit deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
Every time you have a chance to say either something positive or negative to another human being, do choose the chance to say something positive! Don’t let those opportunities get away from you. Your words have a large amount of power. Use them wisely. You really never know just how much they can mean to someone else.
68. The first paragraph tells us that words play an important part especially when .
A. we stay with our family, friends and co-workers
B. we hear strangers say something to us
C. we get through hard times in life
D. we make some big mistakes
69. The underlined phrase “took heed of ” had the similar meaning with “ ”.
A. acted according to B. had some doubt
C. held on to D. got used to
70. The more they shouted, the harder he jumped and finally he made it to safety. That’s because .
A. he struggled to prove that they were wrong
B. he thought they were encouraging him
C. he was angry with what they said
D. he didn’t want to let them down
71. After reading the passage, readers should learn a lesson that .
A. we can use encouraging words to help others out
B. having a positive attitude is important in life
C. never give up until we win D. we must believe in ourselves rather than others
Recently, my class went on a three-day trip from Shanghai to Nanjing with only 200 yuan. It was fun and inspiring. We left for Nanjing early in the morning (4:52 a.m. on March 19) by train. Unfortunately, because the tickets were difficult to get, we took the train without seats. The carriage quickly became crowded with students. We stood on the train for over five hours until we arrived at our destination —Nanjing. By that time we all understood how hard it is for migrant workers to return home from a big city.
We had an educational campaign in front of the Memorial Hall to the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders on the first day. We all felt the heavy weight of history as we walked quietly around the Memorial Hall. Relics of the war on display frightened and shocked us. We could imagine how hard life must have been for the Chinese people at that time.
On the second day we were divided into groups of seven to nine students. We were assigned to do research about the city, so we had to visit local people and talk with them. As we were told not to take taxis, we traveled around the city by bus or subway. At the end of the day, we were so tired that no one touched the remote control of the television in our bedroom. However, we were all happy that we had learned to get around a strange city and that we understood Nanjing more.
On the last day we went to Yuhuatai. Some students handed in applications to join the Communist Party there. We learnt about the martyrs(烈士) stories and most of us were impressed by their noble spirits. They sacrificed their lives but they won great respect.
Our three days soon came to an end. Sitting on the train back to Shanhai, we happily shared our adventures in Nanjing. Though we were tired, it was a really meaningful trip.
64. How did the students find their three-day trip in Nanjing? .
A. It was funny but difficult B. It was happy but tiring
C. It was tiring and meaningless D. It was inspiring and meaningful
65. What description is the best for the fourth paragraphs? .
A. A happy ending.B. Noble spirits.
C. A hard beginning. D. Tough living.
66. What is the right time order during their three-day trip in Nanjing? .
A. having an educational campaign→doing research→going to Yuhuatai
B. leaving for Nanjing→doing research→going to Yuhuatai
C. having an educational campaign→doing research→sharing adventures
D. getting tickets for traveling→having an educational campaign→going
to Yuhuatai
67. What can we infer from the trip on the first day in Nanjing?.
A. China’s history in the thirties is miserable
B. The students were too frightened and shocked to go on visiting
C. What hard lives the Chinese people lived
D. Some great Chinese people should be respected
Huge global interest in “the best job in the world”—earning good money for lazing on a paradise(天堂) island for 6 months — has crashed the Australian website where it is advertised.
The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (about 100,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the successful candidate’s home country to tropical Hamilton Island on the famous Great Barrier Reef. In return, the winner will be expected to have as much fun as he or she can — soaking up the sun, swimming, snorkeling, sailing—and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.
The successful candidate—who will stay rent—free in a multi-million-dollar three-bedroom beach home—must be over 18, a “fantastic and charismatic” communicator, and able to speak and write English.
The campaign is a key element in a drive to promote the northeastern Australian state’s 18-billion-dollars-a-year tourism industry during the tough global economic climate, officials say. And they are at pains to stress that it is “a real job”.
The successful applicants will “also have to talk to media from time to time about what they’re doing so they can’t be too shy and they’ll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors,” said acting state Premier Paul Lucas. “The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world.”
60. The Australian website was crashed because .
A. some people destroyed it B. the website was clicked very frequently
C. the website was infected by a virus D. the government banned the website
61. To apply for the job, the person is supposed .
A. to have a good knowledge of Australia B. to be strong in health
C. to be able to speak at least 3 languages D. to talk to media from time to time
62. The purpose of the campaign is to improve .
A. the global economy B. the environment
C. the popularity of the website D. the tourism industry
63. Through the passage, the writer is intended to .
A. encourage everyone to apply for the job
B. tell us something about the most attractive job
C. encourage everyone to visit the Great Barrier Reef
D. support Australian tourism industry