Recently I came in contact with the true meaning of love. That would have been, Kane, a boy. Kane was the two-year-old son of Jolene, my new neighbor.
At a glance Kane was a sight. He’d been born with hard sticks for legs. And on that morning I witnessed the effect that Kane’s physical shortcomings had on his family. But I also witnessed much more than that.
I saw an extraordinary family that embraced this special child. A family that wouldn’t allow Kane to know he was different. Jolene had constructed a small cart just a few inches off the floor for his son to get around. Using his hands to move about, Kane moved the cart to “go to” any place just as everyone else was able to do. Kane worked that little cart like a master. Kane was a vital focus of the entire family. He was more than just a member of the family; he was the soul. This child was the driver, the motivator, and the founder of much of the interaction.
Much later in my life, I came to realize that God had sent this child to help some of us who just weren’t getting what love was all about. Even with my limited capacity for understanding at the time that Kane was a highly developed spirit with great wisdom.
Kane demanded attention, but not because of his mobility challenges or other apparent shortcomings. In his mind, he had no challenges or shortcomings. The truth is that he received attention because he was alive and real and had so much to offer.
Kane was and still is a lot of warm and powerful energy sent to us all, so we might learn that love surpasses all things. Kane, a fragile yet lovely baby, was here to teach us all an important lesson. And at the age of two he did just that. How did the author think of Kane’s family members?
| A.They were strange because they locked Kane at home. |
| B.It was respectable for them to start their own business. |
| C.It was ridiculous for them to make a cart for Kane. |
| D.They were greatly brave to face all the difficulties. |
How did Kane “get to” everywhere he wanted to go?
| A.By moving his cart with his own hands. |
| B.By asking his father to lead him ahead with a stick. |
| C.By asking his grandparents to push hin everywhere. |
| D.His parents specially employed a babysitter for him. |
According to the author, God made Kane with disability to help _______.
| A.his parents get to know their responsibility |
| B.his family members know the importance of union |
| C.people especially the healthy realize what love really means |
| D.people especially the disabled realize their inner power |
Kane needed attention because he wanted to show ________.
| A.he can challenge his difficulty in moving |
| B.he had challenges or shortcomings in his life |
| C.he himself needed to be looked after by others |
| D.he had the power to prove he was capable too |
What can we learn from Kane’s story?
| A.Love me, love my dog. |
| B.Love is above all things. |
| C.Many hands make light work. |
| D.Pure gold fears no fire. |
In a recent study, researchers have estimated the energy required to produce bottled water, including the energy required to manufacture plastic, make the plastic into bottles, process the water, fill and seal the bottles, transport the bottles, and chill the bottles for use. Combining all the energy input totals for treatment and distribution, researchers found that producing bottled water requires between 5.6 and 10.2 million joules(焦耳) of energy per liter, depending on transportation factors. That's up to 2, 000 times the energy required to produce tap water.
To break down the energy requirements, researchers found that producing the plastic bottles and transporting the bottles greatly dominated(控制) the energy input. Although some companies are experimenting with producing lightweight bottles or using recycled materials, the researchers calculated that the manufacturing cost is about 4 million joules of energy per plastic bottle weighing 38 grams, and the cap weighing 2 grams.
“Our previous work had suggested that bottled water production was an energy intensive process, but we were surprised to see the results, ” the researchers said.
Transportation costs vary depending on the distance and mode of transport and both factors depend on the type of bottled water. There are two main kinds of bottled water in the US:” spring water” which comes from an underground spring and “purified water”,which is city tap water that has received further treatment. For purified water distributed locally by truck within Los Angeles, the total transportation energy is about 1.4 million joules per liter. In the second situation, spring water shipped from Fiji (such as Fiji Spring Water) across the Pacific to Los Angeles, and then delivered locally by truck requires about 4 million joules per liter for transportation. For the spring water, the transportation energy equaled (in the case of Fiji) the energy required to produce the bottle.
With this data, the researchers hope that future studies will have the ability to make specific estimates for different situations, and possibly find ways to cut energy costs.From the first Paragraph we can know that the energy required to ______.
| A.produce bottled water includes the energy required to drink it |
| B.distribute bottled water includes the energy for producing the bottles |
| C.distribute bottled water is much smaller than the energy for treating it |
| D.produce bottled water is much smaller than the energy for producing tap water |
To reduce the energy required to produce bottled water, some companies are trying ______.
| A.to fill tap water into the plastic bottles directly |
| B.to replace the plastic bottles with metal containers |
| C.to produce lightweight bottles with recycled materials |
| D.to use bicycles to transport and deliver bottled water locally |
What's Paragraph 4 mainly talking about?
| A.Treatment of bottled water needs no energy input at all. |
| B.Bottled water production is an energy intensive process. |
| C.Transportation of bottled water takes up the most energy input. |
| D.Production of the plastic bottles greatly dominated the energy input. |
We can infer from the passage that ______.
| A.there are two main kinds of bottled water in the US |
| B.world consumption of bottled water has been increasing |
| C.transportation costs have something to do with the mode of transport |
| D.bottled water produced in Spring is more expensive than purified water |
What's the main purpose of the passage?
| A.To help consumers themselves make more environmentally sustainable choices. |
| B.To advise the government to take severe measures to stop producing bottled water. |
| C.To urge the consumers to drink tap water instead of bottled water for the sake of the earth. |
| D.To try the best to find ways to produce bottled water cheaply and quickly for the companies. |
While you may be doing everything right, ignoring just one or two steps in the process may keep you from getting a job, especially in this fierce market. Here is a checklist that covers some of the major links in the job-search chain.
THE RESUME --- Make sure it is up-to-date and tailored to the types of jobs you are seeking for. Have someone else look at your resume. If you cannot afford a career coach, give your resume to friends or family members to scrutinize. Have copies of your resume printed so that you are ready to hand them out at interviews.
COVERING LETTERS --- Maybe you’ve set up a few basic styles in advance, but that’s not enough. Each covering letter should be designed to suit the job for which you are applying.
THE WARDROBE(衣橱) --- Check your wardrobe to ensure that you have the appropriate professional dress, including shoes, ready for interview.
NETWORKING --- Don’t isolate yourself from others for days. Network through e-mail messages, phone calls, appointments and meetings keep you in touch with the outside world and prevent you from becoming depressed.
APPLICATION --- A glance at huge online job sites isn’t usually the best way to find a job. You are more likely to succeed through the people you know via networking.
THE FOLLOW—UP --- It is quite common to apply for job and never hear back from the company. Take measures, such as following up with a phone call a week or so after you apply. If you know someone at the company, check whether that person will put in a good word for you.
INTERVIEWS --- If you’ve got plenty of interviews but no return calls or job offers, take a look at your interviewing skills. This is one area where investing in a career coach may pay off. But if you can’t afford one, try to find a job group or service that conducts free mock(模拟) interviews.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS --- Finally, recognize that looking for job is rather difficult. Even at the best of times, a job hunt is often about rejection, and that can be hard to endure. Staying in touch with family, friends, professional networks and fellow job seekers can help you to maintain a positive attitude and a sense of perspective.The author’s purpose of writing this text is to _________.
| A.suggest graduates should find suitable jobs |
| B.tell people how to improve their interview skills |
| C.teach people how to get ready for an interview |
| D.give people some tips on searching for jobs |
The underlined word “scrutinize” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by ________.
| A.check | B.use | C.rewrite | D.criticize |
Which of the following methods is wrong according to the text?
| A.You should have your resume read by your friends after finishing it. |
| B.You should create different covering letters for the different jobs you apply for. |
| C.Searching online is the most effective way to look for a job. |
| D.You should wear professional clothes and shoes for the interview. |
What should you do if you don’t receive any calls after lots of interviews?
| A.Ask a fellow job seeker to help you |
| B.Carefully review your interviewing skills. |
| C.Rewrite your resume as soon as possible |
| D.Go to the managers’ offices to find out why. |
It is implied in the text that__________.
| A.people often pay no attention to writing their resume |
| B.the interview is the most difficult step for interviewees |
| C.your social network may help you a lot in your job hunt |
| D.a career coach often offers free mock interviews to interviewees |
Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her three-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's tummy.
The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen. But complications arise during delivery. Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital.
The little girl gets worse. The doctor tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby — now they plan a funeral.
Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says. But kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. However, Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not.“If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.” She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. The head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now! " The mother, the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray”
Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.
"You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away "
The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr.
Keep on singing, Michael. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse as well as Karen.
Funeral plans are scrapped. The next, day — the very next day — the little girl is well enough to go home!
NEVER GIVE UP THE ONE WE LOVE!How did Michal’s feel when he knew that he was going to have a sister?
| A.indifferent. | B.worried |
| C.expectant. | D.disappointed. |
The doctor recommended the family ___________.
| A.get ready for the worst result. |
| B.wait for the hope in the near future. |
| C.prepare much more money for the infant. |
| D.prepare for another chance in other hospitals. |
Which word can best replace the underlined word in Paragraph 4?
| A.pointed. | B.yelled. | C.whispered. | D.ignored. |
What happened when Michael sang to his little sister?
| A.The little baby responded to his song and woke up immediately. |
| B.The baby heard the song and burst into tears. |
| C.The baby’s physical signs disappeared eventually. |
| D.The baby recovered from the dangerous state of coma gradually. |
What could be the best title of the article?
| A.An unexpected gift. | B.A miracle of love |
| C.A iron-mother. | D.A medical success. |
Cutting global warming pollution would not only make the planet healthier, it would make people healthier too, new research suggested.
Cutting carbon dioxide emissions could save millions of lives, mostly by reducing preventable deaths from heart and lung diseases, according to studies released Wednesday and published in a special issue of The Lancet, a British medical journal.
"Relying on fossil fuels leads to unhealthy lifestyles, increasing our chances of getting sick and in some cases takes years from our lives," US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a telecast briefing from her home state of Kansas. "As greenhouse gas emissions go down, so do deaths from cardiovascular(心血管) and respiratory(呼吸道) diseases. This is not a small effect."
Instead of looking at the health ills caused by future global warming, as past studies have done, this research looks at the immediate benefits of doing something about the problem, said Linda Birnbaum, director of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Some possible benefits seemed highly speculative, the researchers conceded, based on people driving less and walking and cycling more. Other proposals studied were more concrete and achievable, such as reducing cook stoves that burn dung(粪便), charcoal and other polluting fuels in the developing world.
And cutting carbon dioxide emissions also makes the air cleaner, reducing lung damage for millions of people, doctors said.
"Here are ways you can attack major health problems at the same time as dealing with climate change," said lead author Dr. Paul Wilkinson, an environmental epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Wilkinson said the individual studies came up with numbers of premature deaths prevented or extra years of life added for certain places.
For example, switching to low-polluting cars in London and Delhi, India, would save 160 lost years of life in London and nearly 1,700 in Delhi for every million residents, one study found. But if people also drove less and walked or biked more, those extra saved years would soar to more than 7,300 years in London and 12,500 years in Delhi because of less heart disease.What does the passage mainly talk about? _______.
| A.How can people live longer? |
| B.Cutting carbon dioxide emissions saves lives. |
| C.Global warming threatens people’s lives. |
| D.People should stop relying on fossil fuels. |
The new research differs from past studies in that _______.
| A.it focuses on the immediate benefits of cutting carbon dioxide emissions |
| B.it studies the bad effects arising from future global warming |
| C.it is believed by more people |
| D.it mainly targets at developing countries |
According to Kathleen Sebelius, _______.
| A.sometimes it takes years to see the bad effects caused by consuming fossil fuels |
| B.without greenhouse gas emissions, people would not die of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases |
| C.the main reason why people get sick is that they rely on fossil fuels |
| D.deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are closely related to greenhouse gas emissions |
Which of the following is the most practical way to cut carbon dioxide emissions according to the passage? _________.
| A.Driving less |
| B.Walking and cycling as much as possible. |
| C.Stopping using fossil fuels |
| D.Reducing the use of polluting fuels to cook. |
It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
| A.London and Delhi have already benefited from reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
| B.switching to low-polluting cars would save 160 lives in London each year |
| C.walking and biking instead of driving will reduce the chance of heart disease |
| D.attacking health problems and dealing with climate change are contradictory |
As a boy growing up in India, I had longed to travel abroad. I used to listen to the stories my father would tell me about his stay in Canada and tours to Europe in the 1970s, with great interest.
My big moment finally came in the summer of 1998 when I was able to accompany my parents to Europe, where my father was to attend a meeting. We planned to travel to Belgium, Netherlands and West Germany.
I have clear memories even today of going to Mumbai airport at night all excited about finally going abroad. I had heard several great things about Lufthansa till then but now I finally got to experience them first hand, during the flight to Frankfurt. We flew business class and even today I can remember the excellent service by the Lufthansa crew (工作人员). The flight was really smooth and thoroughly enjoyable, even for someone like me, who is especially afraid of flying.
After spending almost two weeks in Europe, we took the Lufthansa airport express from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt airport, for our return flight. What a journey that was! All along the Rhine (莱茵河), it was simply an unforgettable experience. I had a sombre feeling on the flight back to Mumbai as it marked the end of a wonderful vacation, but the Lufthansa crew members were able to change it into a most enjoyable experience yet again, with the quality of their service.
Being the first airline to take me abroad, Lufthansa will always hold a special place in my heart. Even today,I continue to enjoy flights on Lufthansa and simply cannot dream of choosing any other airline. Flying, in general,for me,has always been a terrible and painful experience.Flying on Lufthansa,however, is something I always have and always will look forward to.Which country does the author live in now? ________.
| A.India. | B.Canada. | C.Belgium. | D.Germany. |
What made the author so interested in traveling abroad? ________.
| A.Growing up in India. |
| B.Once staying in Canada. |
| C.Once traveling to Canada with his father. |
| D.His father's stories about his traveling experiences. |
Which of the following is true about the author's trip to Europe in 1998? _________.
| A.The author traveled with one of his parents. |
| B.Both their going and return were by air. |
| C.They traveled in spring that year. |
| D.They stayed in Europe for nearly two months. |
It can be inferred from the passage that Lufthansa is ________.
| A.a city in India | B.a city in Europe |
| C.an airline company | D.a travel agency |
he underlined word “somber” in the 4th paragraph probably means “________”.
| A.happy | B.sad | C.angry | D.enjoyable |