Reuben, a 12-year-old boy, saw something in a shop window. But the price—five dollars—was far beyond his means. He couldn’t ask his parents the money. His father made a living through in Bay Roberts. His mother, Dora, tried hard to feed and clothe their five children.
Hesitating(犹豫) for a few minutes, he opened the and talked to the shopkeeper. “…I don’t have the money right now. Can you please it for me?” “I’ll try,” the shopkeeper smiled.
Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out. Hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, he suddenly had a(an) . He ran towards the sound and stopped at a construction site(建筑工地).Reuben knew he could collect the discarded nails(被丢弃的钉子) and sell them to the factory for five cents .
He looked for nails until sunset. Then he ran to the factory and sold them. Reuben tightly clutched(握紧) the five-cent pieces and ran home. He found a rusty iron can and dropped his inside. Then he rushed into the barn(谷仓) near his house and hid it. It was dinner time when Reuben got home. His father sat at the big kitchen table, working on a fishnet. Dora was at the kitchen stove, ready to serve as Reuben took his place at the table. Looking at his mother, Reuben smiled.
Every day after school, Reuben searched the town, trying to finish his task. Finally, the time had come! He ran into the barn, opened the can, poured the coins out and began to count.
He still needed 20 cents! He had to sell four nails the day ended. Rushing to the town, Reuben searched every corner. It was getting dark when Reuben arrived at the factory. The man at the factory was about to .
“Please, mister. I have to sell these nails now—please.”
“Why do you need this money so ?”
“It’s a secret.”
The man took the nails, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reuben’s hand.
Clutching the can tightly, Reuben for the shop.
“I have the ” he solemnly told the owner.
Back home, his mother was cleaning the kitchen. “Here, Mum! Here!” Reuben shouted as he ran to her. He a small box in her roughened hand. She opened it carefully. A blue-velvet jewel box appeared. Dora lifted the lid(盖子). Tears began to blur(模糊) her vision. In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch(胸针) was the word Mother.
It was Mother’s Day, 1946.
A．about B．for C．of D．with
A．farming B．driving C．fishing D．cleaning
A．door B．shop C．window D．box
A．buy B．watch C．make D．keep
A．task B．goal C．plan D．idea
A．each B．any C．either D．all
A．nails B．cans C．coins D．dollars
A．breakfast B．table C．lunch D．dinner
A．public B．secret C．exciting D．surprising
A．before B．after C．when D．while
A．call up B．lock up C．clear up D．turn up
A．hurriedly B．hardly C．badly D．immediately
A．went B．looked C．paid D．left
A．pocket B．money C．lid D．time
A．moved B．pulled C．placed D．took
When Amy wrote her first novel in secondary school, she never imagined that she would become a writer one day. Like many 16 writers on the Internet, the 17 woman got into this online world accidentally(偶然地).
Three years ago, Amy worked in a medical industry. Her job kept her busy for six months and left her almost 18 to do for the rest of the year. To fill the time, she started writing 19 on the Internet. Her first novel was about her neighbours and their life 20 she is familiar with.
Amy has been interested in writing 21 she was a child. At first, she just wanted to share her novels 22 people she knew. Then one day an editor of a famous website emailed her, asking her 23 she would like to sell the electronic copyright(授权) of one of her novels. She 24 immediately and the novel was moved to the VIP section of the website. She got $ 1,500 for that.
Now Amy is a full-time 25 . So far her eight novels have come out online, and five of them26 .
“The Internet made me famous and brought me 27 ,” she said. “I earn much more money now— about $60,000 a year. I am 28 with my career, but there is one problem — that my talent might run out after five years and I’ll have to 29 to work in the medical industry.”
“Before that day comes, I’ll keep 30 for the readers with my light and close-to-everyday-life writing style,” said Amy with a smile.
A．other B．others C．another D．the other
A．28-year-old B．28-years-old C．28 years old D．28-year old
A．something B．anything C．everything D．nothing
A．reports B．novels C．diaries D．plays
A．who B．which C．that D．whom
A．when B．while C．since D．until
A．about B．of C．to D．with
A．that B．if C．why D．how often
A．agreed B．disagreed C．refused D．left
A．housewife B．editor C．saleswoman D．writer
A．will print B．were printing C．printed D．were printed
A．success B．succeed C．successful D．successfully
A．unhappy B．angry C．satisfied D．proud
A．come B．go C．return D．get
A．to write B．writing C．write D．written
A young man was about to finish school. For a long time he had 16 to get a beautiful sports car. He knew his father could well 17 it, so he told him that a sports car was all he wanted. Then on the morning of his graduation（毕业）,he was called to his father’s room. His father told him how 18 he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful gift box. 19 , the young man opened the box and found a lovely Bible（圣经）with his name on it. Angrily, he raised his 20 to his father and said, “With all your money you give me a Bible? ” He then rushed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very 21 in business, and had a beautiful home and a wonderful family. 22 that his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him 23 that graduation day. Before he could go, he received a phone telling him that his father had died. He had to go home immediately and take care of the things that his father left him. When he began to search through his father’s important papers, he saw the still new Bible, 24 as he had left it years ago. He opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key with a tag（标牌）dropped from the back of the Bible. On the tag was the 25 of his graduation, and the words “PAID IN FULL”. Sadness and regret（悔恨）filled his heart.
A．expected B．believed C．enjoyed D．felt
A．afford B．spend C．cost D．pay
A．excited B．proud C．angry D．anxious
A．Interested B．Tired C．Surprised D．Relaxed
A．hand B．head C．voice D．sound
A．careful B．helpful C．wonderful D．successful
A．Wanting B．Suggesting C．Noticing D．Realizing
A．on B．since C．after D．from
A．just B．only C．always D．already
A．place B．date C．test D．name
Sometimes you may not understand your parents. One minute they are friendly, the next minute they’re shouting and screaming loudly enough for the whole street to hear. So who makes them so____16___ ? You, probably!
Is your room untidy? Do you leave things on the floor? You may find it hard enough to keep one room tidy. So imagine what ___17___like for your mum and dad trying to keep a whole house in order.
When you take your clothes off, remember to ___18__. Get into the habit if taking glasses and plates down to the kitchen. Before long you’ll be doing it without thinking.
Even though you may not realize it, your parents have bought you many clothes. But they’re not buying themselves new things every week, are they? The simple truth is that there are more ___19___ things to spend money on, like the electricity bill and food.
You may hate missing a party to visit some boring old relatives. They may go on and on about what a sweet baby you were. You have no choice but to listen. Even if you ___20____, your parents won’t change their minds. Parents like to show off their family. The best thing you can do is to help entertain(使……高兴) your relatives. Your parents will be so pleased with you afterwards that they’ll probably allow you to go to the next two ___21____.
You might not want to eat, but think of it from the parents’ point of view. If you cook two meals a day, it ___22____ 730 meals a year. Can you imagine how boring this can get? Imagine how your parents feel when you say you’re not really hungry. ___23____, your parents are probably worried that you aren’t eating enough.
Eat ___24___ snacks and leave room for your meals. Finally, offer to ___25___after the meal. Your offer may not be accepted, but your parents will be pleased.
A．friendly B．lonely C．changeable D．comfortable
A．it’s B．it C．they’re D．that’s
A．hang them up B．leave them alone C．put them on D．throw them away
A．interesting B．difficult C．important D．surprising
A．agree B．complain C．listen D．win
A．concerts B．meetings C．classes D．parties
A．takes B．costs C．spends D．means
A．In addition(加之) B．In return C．At most D．At last
A．more B．less C．fewer D．many
A．do the cooking B．lay the table C．buy some snacks D．wash the dishes
Everybody wants a new start for a new school year. So, students often go back-to-school shopping. They buy school things and shoes. But, the story is not so easy.
"Mum, I want this pair of shoes!"
"Dear! Those are 900 yuan! That is too __16___ !"
"But all the boys in my class wear this brand (牌子)!"
So the real story is: Kids___17____to catch up with school fashion.
Chinese students __18__ uniforms at school. Parents think all the kids look the same, but kids know the differences. The "rich" kids wear amazing watches, ride good 19__and use cool pencil cases. They show off their expensive things to 20__ kids. Then everyone else wants them too. For example, some "rich" kids use a pencil box that _21_1,000 yuan! It not only holds pencils, but also has a thermometer (温度计), a compass (指南针), a music box and even games in it! But think about it. Do you really need ____22___ a special pencil box? What can you do with a compass or a thermometer in class? They only distract (分散注意) you.
As for these "rich" kids, they are not rich at all. 23__ parents buy them all their school things. They may have an advantage now, but it won’t last forever. If you want to show off __24__ money you have, you have to make it yourself first. So, study hard. You will get a great job in the future.
Parents should also learn __25___to refuse their kids’ demands (要求). They should tell their kids: as students, what is really important is not school fashion but good school grades.
A．expensive B．cheap C．ugly D．nice
A．hate B．give up C．want D．get
A．put on B．take off C．buy D．wear
A．cars B．bicycles C．MP3 D．CDs
A．another B．the others C．others D．other
A．pays B．costs C．spends D．buys
A．so B．such C．as D．like
A．His B．Her C．Their D．Your
A．how many B．how much C．how long D．how often
A．how B．what C．why D．where
An old farmer lived with his grandson. Each morning, the 16 got up early and read his Bhagavad Gita(薄迦梵歌).
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the book like you 17 I can’t understand it, and I forget it easily. What’s the 18 of reading it?”
The grandfather said, “Take this coal(煤炭) basket down to the 19 and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as his grandfather 20 ,but all the water ran 21 he got home. The grandfather laughed, “You’ll have to move faster next time.”
This time the boy 22 faster, but again the basket was empty. He told his grandfather that is was 23 to carry water in a basket. He wanted to use a bottle instead, but the old man said, “I just want a basket of water. You’re not 24 hard enough.”
The boy wanted to show his grandfather that the water would surely run. He again put the 25 into the river and ran hard. But there wasn’t anything in it again. He said 26 ,“Look, grandpa, it’s useless!”
“Watch the basket.” said the grandfather.
For the first time the boy 27 the basket was different. It had changed from a dirty old coal basket into a 28 one, inside and out.
“Boy, you might not understand or remember 29 when you read the book, but when you read it, you will be 30 ,inside and out. That’s what you got from it.”
A．son B．father C．grandfather D．grandmother
A．so B．but C．or D．and
A．time B．place C．use D．habit
A．house B．beach C．lake D．river
A．said B．saw C．liked D．did
A．as B．after C．until D．before
A．ran B．rode C．drove D．flew
A．difficult B．interesting C．impossible D．unimportant
A．hitting B．trying C．holding D．studying
A．hand B．bottle C．basket D．coal
A．sadly B．hopefully C．excitedly D．happily
A．forgot B．realized C．believed D．remembered
A．white B．clean C．new D．black
A．nothing B．something C．anything D．everything
A．different B．relaxed C．curious D．worried