I recently ran into a friend I hadn't seen for a long while. Our conversation was lively andfull of news from both sides. Before we parted she said "You'll have to drop in sometime. "immediately sensed that if I simply " dropped in" I would take my friend by surprise, and I would be discouraged by the image of her standing in her doorway, staring at me, and asking, " Oh ,err …what brings you here?"
Whatever happened to the unannounced drop-in visit? When I was growing up in the 1960s, it seemed that people-mostly relatives, but also friends-were always dropping in . My parents would put coffee on, and my mom would find something in the kitchen to serve along with it. Then the conversation would begin…The neighbor lady, a worrier, was unloading her sadness while my mom quietly listened. The Irish man next door had such an atcent that I remember asking what language he spoke. My Polish relatives arrived in packs…But I never heard my parents say any- thing like " We weren't expecting you" or " This isn't a good time. " Drop-in visitors had a certain right of way and became No. 1.
What happened to such visits? Actually I know the answer. Times have changed. Everybody gets busy with work. There is no longer a stay-at-home mom keeping a pot of hot coffee or tea ready throughout the day for a surprise guest. Exploding malls and stores are now replacing homes as a central form of entertainment.
Just the other day a former student of mine showed up. "I'm sorry for the surprise visit. " my student began. "I just wanted to see if you still lived here. I'll only stay a minute. "
My response was immediate. "No, you won't," I said. " Just come in, sit, have coffee, and we'11 talk. "I had nothing in the kitchen but we ordered pizza. And we had a lovely time. I have tried to keep the drop-in tradition alive though it takes some effort.The author thought of his friend's invitation- " You'll have to drop in sometime"-as______
| A． a nice way of refusal | B． an excuse of leaving |
| C．a kind of politeness | D．an expression of surprise |
The underlined phrase "dropping in" in the second paragraph means_________.
| A．pay a sudden visit | B．make many friends |
| C．make a special date | D．have a good time |
The woman from the neighborhood used to visit the author' s home to _______.
| A．seek comfort from my parents | B．make nevr friends |
| C．listen to my parents' story | D．taste nice dishes |
From the third paragraph of the passage, we can infer that_______.
| A．unexpected visitors are still welcome now |
| B．modern people prefer outdoor activities |
| C．there are more jobs for the housewives now |
| D．the author misses the lost good days |
The author writes the passage intending to ________.
| A．encourage people to be drop-in visitors |
| B．explain how to deal with unexpected visitors |
| C．share his feelings about the drop-in tradition |
| D．show the importance of making friends |
Once upon a time, a man was walking on a mountain when he found an incredible cave with all kinds of treasure inside it. So he gave up his job, his home, and his friends, and spent all his time guarding the cave.
He was so dedicated to it that he hardly ate or drank, and before long he fell ill. One day, when he could hardly move at all, he decided to share the treasure.
He crawled（爬）into the cave to get a handful of jewels, but discovered, to his horror, that it was empty except for a small emerald（绿宝石）. The man took it, and gave it to the first person he came by, a woman.
Then an old man came by. “What bad luck!” the man said. “Just a moment ago I gave a woman the last of the treasure I was guarding.”
“Are you sure there is nothing left?” the old man asked.
The man took him into the cave, where they found a chest with jewels and some bags of gold. The man was shocked, and the old man explained to him, “At last! At last someone has broken the spell（咒语）of this cave. This is the Cave of Treasure, and you’re the first to have passed its great test. Many have dedicated their lives to this cave, only to end up realizing there was nothing here…”
“And why does this happen?” the man asked.
“This magic cave has only as many riches as your own heart. When someone discovers it, the cave is filled with treasure, but later, when they have devoted themselves to guarding the treasure, their hearts empty, as does the cave. The only way to fill it is by filling your heart with all that is good, as you did by giving the woman that last jewel.”
From that day on, the man understood that it was better to share than to keep. Thanks to the cave and the old man, he became noble and generous.Why did the man give up his job, home and friends?
| A．Because he possessed a variety of treasure. |
| B．Because he had to guard the treasure cave. |
| C．Because he wanted to find the treasure cave. |
| D．Because he devoted himself to a great test. |
What did the man find when he showed his cave to the old man?
| A．A small emerald. | B．A handful of jewels. |
| C．All kinds of treasure. | D．A chest filled with jewels and some gold. |
What do we know about the people who dedicated their lives to the cave before?
| A．They all found the cave empty at last. |
| B．The old man freed them from its spell. |
| C．They all filled the cave with the treasure they had. |
| D．They thought it was better to share than to enjoy the treasure alone. |
Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
| A．The old man had devoted himself to it before. |
| B．The old man was the first to break the spell. |
| C．Only the old man could free people from its spell. |
| D．The cave and the old man helped the man become noble and generous. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Purely material things cannot make us truly wealthy. |
| B．Different people have different views. |
| C．Treasure only belongs to those who possess it. |
| D．Some people never learn what is really valuable. |
Two weeks after the opening ceremony, the Games are over. The last of the three hundred gold medals has been awarded and the flags of the winners have been raised for the last time.
The final event is the closing ceremony. This occasion is always sad and happy at the same time. It is a sad occasion because the tremendous excitement is over, and it will not happen again for four years. Those who have made friends will have to say goodbye, perhaps for ever. It is also a happy occasion because the competition is over and the athletes can really show their friendship for one another.
The closing ceremony is rather like the opening. But now the Olympic flame goes out and the Olympic flag, with its five rings, is lowered. The person who closes the Games calls upon the youth of the world to meet again in four years’ time. The scoreboard lights up with the name of the city for the next Games and the band starts to play. Then the celebration starts.
All the athletes try to be at the closing ceremony. They have forgotten all their fears and worries. It does not matter whether they have done well or not. All the teams walk round the stadium together. Everybody is laughing and joking. The band plays and people start to dance.
After that, everybody in the Village clears up and gets ready to leave. Everyone is hunting for souvenirs. People exchange track suits, hats, running vests and badges. There is a last chance to take photographs and get addresses of new friends. Then each team starts its journey home.The last event of the Olympic Games is ______.
| A．to award the last gold medal | B．to raise the flags of the winners for the last time |
| C．to hunt for souvenirs | D．the closing ceremony |
At the closing ceremony, it is found that ______.
| A．all are called on to meet again in four years’ time |
| B．there is no music |
| C．the name of the city for the next Games is showed |
| D．Olympic flame is taken out of the stadium |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the athletes at the closing ceremony?
| A．All of them are not present at the ceremony. |
| B．They are competitors rather than friends. |
| C．They can’t help worrying about losing the games. |
| D．They exchange clothes for fun. |
The underlined phrase “ clear up” in the last paragraph means ________.
| A．pack up | B．go away | C．make clear | D．do the cleaning |
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Goodfellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about its history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall, City College.You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food __________..
| A．at the front entrance of City Hall | B．at the game |
| C．at 5:00 pm | D．at Central Park on Saturday |
Walking Tour of the Town will be taken __________.
| A．in the City Hall | B．outside | C．at the gate | D．at the zoo |
“The Zoo” is __________.
| A．a park with lots of animals there | B．a US concert |
| C．a music group | D．an interesting event |
February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine. Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
| A．Because there were few women in his country at that time. |
| B．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers. |
| C．Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people. |
| D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate. |
Valentine was put into prison because ______.
| A．he killed one of the soldiers | B．he stole a lot of food |
| C．he didn’t obey the emperor’s order | D．he didn’t want to be a soldier |
The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
| A．students in China send cards to their teachers |
| B．it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China |
| C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China |
| D．Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now |
The best title for this passage should be ______.
| A．Valentine’s Day | B．A Brave Priest |
| C．Valentine’s Day in China | D．A Romantic Man |
Bungee jumping is not a new activity. Men on Pentecost Island in the South Pacific have been doing land jumping for hundreds of years. The men tie long vines(藤) from plants around their ankles（踝关节）. They spend days building tall towers out of vines and logs(圆木). Then they jump off them.
According to their beliefs, the first land diver was a woman. She decided to run away from her rude husband. So she climbed up a tall tree and tied some vines around her feet. Her husband also climbed up the tree and tried to catch her, but the woman jumped and the man followed. The vines saved her life, but her husband died.
This ancient custom caught the interest of some students at Oxford University in England. In the late 1970s, they formed a group called the Dangerous Sports Club. They were some of the first people to test several of what are now called extreme sports. They are said to have invented modern bungee jumping.
In the spring of 1979, members of the group jumped off the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England. They were attached to the bridge by a bungee cord, a long elastic rope that stretches. The group soon received even more attention when they organized a bungee jump off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.
A man named A. J. Hackett of New Zealand decided to make the sport into a business. He started developing bungee ropes and material with a friend. They held a major jump in 1987 off the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. They later got permission to open the first bungee jumping operation on the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, New Zealand. Many people paid 75 dollars to jump off the bridge with a bungee cord attached to their ankles.The second paragraph tries to tell us________________.
| A．a story about a woman land diver |
| B．the beginning of modern bungee jumping |
| C．the beginning of land jumping on Pentecost Island |
| D．a story about a brave woman and her rude husband |
The underlined word them in the first paragraph refers to__________.
| A．plants | B．tall towers | C．vines | D．logs |
The Dangerous Sports Club first caught people’s attention when they jumped off_________.
| A．the Eiffel Tower | B．the Kawarau Bridge |
| C．the Golden Gate Bridge | D．the Clifton Suspension Bridge |