In a book called Magnificent Obsession, by Lloyd C. Douglas, a description is given of people helping others but doing it secretly. When difficult problems worried a person, friends nearby would meet to discuss possible solution without the person knowing their actions. When a solution was agreed upon, one or two of the friends would carry out the plan and solve the problem secretly, to the great delight of the worried person. The helpers would stand by privately, content with their success. No reward was given to the problem solvers, not even a sincere “thank you”, because they were never known.
This idea is popular today but in a different way. The phrase “pay it forward” is now used when one person helps another. However, the person helped may not be able to repay the person or group that helped them. So rather than return the favor to their helpers, they are supposed to help someone else in the future, which means they pay it forward. It is a sense of responsibility(责任) which makes us want to give back in equal measure to the one who has helped us. But, in this case, the responsibility turns to helping someone in the future.
Suppose your elderly grandmother pays part of your schooling. She may tell you there is no need to repay her because it is a gift from someone who loves you very much. Nothing would please her more than to have you use her money to get a good education.
You may never be able to repay her for such a gift. However, she not only gave you some money, but she provided you with an example that you should also help other people who need it.
People with serious needs are everywhere. Many are children who need better clothes, more books and even better schools. Some are elderly people who can’t afford their medicine or a doctor’s care. Consider how you can “pay it forward” rather than pay money back to your grandmother.The helpers in the book “Magnificent Obsession” were not rewarded because ______________.
| A．they hadn’t solved the problems thoroughly |
| B．they had solved the problems secretly |
| C．they were friends of the worried individual |
| D．they expected to be paid back in the future |
The underlined word “pay it forward” means ____________________.
| A．to repay someone who has helped you |
| B．to pay someone else who needs help |
| C．to help someone who has helped you |
| D．to help someone else who needs help |
What does the writer suggest with the example of “your elderly grandmother”?
| A．We should learn to respect our grandparents. |
| B．We should work hard to get a good education. |
| C．We should also lend a hand to other people in need of help. |
| D．We should never forget to repay people for their help. |
From the passage we know_________________.
| A．everybody needs help |
| B．more children need help than elderly people |
| C．it costs a lot of money to “pay it forward” |
| D．nowadays many people help others without being repaid |
When you cough(咳嗽) or sneeze, please turn your head away from others and cover your mouth with the full part of your hand. Afterwards, you should say," Excuse me." This is a rule I set for my students.
It is so simple, but many kids have never been told to do this. In fact, I notice adults cough and sneeze in public without putting a hand over the mouth. I hate traveling by underground in New York during cold and flu(流感) season, because it is certain that someone is going to stand right behind me and cough or sneeze on my neck.
One important thing I point out to the kids is that after they sneeze or cough on their hand, they should wash their hands as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will be passing those germs along to everything and everyone they touch.
In order to help the students remember this rule, I tell them about an old story. It says that when you sneeze, evil spirits jump into your body. If you don't cover your mouth, the spirits will enter, but if you cover your mouth, you will keep them out, We say "God bless you" when someone sneezes, and in Germany(德国) you should say "Gesundheit". That means "Good health to you." Both expressions are said that if you didn't cover your mouth in time and the spirits were able to enter your body. The kids love finding out the origins(起源) of these expressions and it encourage them to put the advice to use more often.The writer of this article must be _______ .
| A．a reporter | B．a teacher | C．a doctor | D．an officer |
What does the underline word 'this" mean?
| A．Don't cough or sneeze in front of people. |
| B．Don't stand beside someone who coughs or sneezes. |
| C．Many people cough or sneeze on the underground train. |
| D．Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and say sorry. |
After coughing or sneezing on their hand, students are advised to _______.
| A．say "God bless you" |
| B．wash their hands as soon as possible |
| C．go to see a doctor as soon as possible |
| D．go home and have a good rest |
According to the article, the writer would like the kids _______.
| A．to be polite to adults | B．to be in better health |
| C．to have good manners | D．to do well in exams |
What does the underlined word “germs” mean in Chinese?
| A．咳嗽 | B．喷嚏 | C．鼻涕 | D．病菌 |
Like most cultures around the world, the Zulu people of Africa tell stories that have animals as heroes. These stories are meant to have fun, but they are also used to teach important lessons to children. This is one of those stories.
One hot afternoon, Jackal was walking along the rocky road sniffing (嗅) the ground. He was hoping to smell a mouse or a lizard (蜥蜴), or something else that would be good to eat. He was so much lost in sniffing that he wasn’t really paying attention to what was around himself.
Suddenly, Jackal looked up to see his neighbor, Lion, walking straight toward him. He did not have enough time to run way. Jackal had played many tricks on Lion over the years, so he knew he would be in trouble if he was caught. Jackal needed to think of something quickly.
“Help! Help!” cried Jackal as he quickly jumped upon a large rock hanging over the road. “The rocks are falling down, and I can’t hold them much longer. We shall both be crushed (压碎) if you do not do your best to hold these rocks back, Lion”
At once, Lion pushed his strong shoulder against the rocks to keep them from moving any further. “I’ll just run over here to get something to stop the rocks.” shouted Jackal as he ran way to safety. Lion stayedleaningagainst the unmoving rocks for quite a long time before he realized that Jackal had tricked him yet again! Why was Jackal sniffing the ground?
| A．To play with Lion. | B．To push a rock |
| C．To run after a mouse | D．To look for something to eat. |
What does the underlined word ‘leaning’ mean?
| A．supporting | B．sleeping | C．running | D．sitting |
Why did Jackal cry for help?
| A．Because Lion was rushing to him. |
| B．Because he was caught under a rock. |
| C．Because he got an idea to get away from Lion. |
| D．Because he saw a large rock moving toward him. |
What lesson does the story teach us?
| A．Trust（信任） your friend, trust yourself |
| B．Work hard, and you’ll succeed. |
| C．Help others when they are in trouble. |
| D．Try to find a quick way out when in trouble. |
Which words can describe Jackal’s characteristics?
| A．selfish and stubborn | B．silly and unkind | C．clever and creative | D．impolite and dishonest |
| TYPING This course(课程) is for those who want to learn to type, as well as those who want to improve their typing. The course is not common. You are tested in the first class and begin practicing at one of eight different skill levels(水平). This allows you to learn at your own speed. Each program lasts 20 hours. Bring your own paper. Course fee(费用): $125 Materials: $25 Two hours each evening for two weeks. New classes begin every two weeks. This course is taught by a number of professional business education teachers who have successfully taught typing courses before. |
| UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS This twelve - hour course is for people who do not know very much about computers, but who need to learn about them. You will learn what computers are, what they can and can't do and how to use them. Course fee: $75 Jan. 4,7,11,14,18 Wed.& Sat. 9:00-11:30a. m. Equipment(设备) fee: $10 David is a professor of Computer Science at Beijing University. He has over twenty years of experience in the computer field. |
| STOP SMOKING Do you want to stop smoking? Have you already tried to stop and failed? Now is the time to stop smoking using the latest methods(方法). You can stop smoking, and this twelve -hour course will help you do it. Course fee: $30 Jan. 2,9,16,23 Mon. 2:00-5:00p. m. Dr John is a practical therapist who has helped hundreds of people stop smoking. |
If you choose the UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS course, you will have classes_____.
| A．from Monday to Sunday | B．from Monday to Friday |
| C．on Wednesday and Saturday | D．on Saturday and Sunday |
How long will the STOP SMOKING course last?
| A．for a day | B．for three hours | C．for a week | D．for four days |
Mr. Black works every morning and evening, but he wants to take part in one course. What is suitable for him?
| A．TYPING | B．UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS | C．STOP SMOKING | D．all courses |
If you want to learn about computers and at the same time you want to improve your typing, how much will you pay for it?
| A．$ 75 | B． $ 150 | C． $ 115 | D． $ 235 |
What’s the special difference between the TYPING course and the other two?
| A．People with different skill levels may learn at different speed |
| B．You’ll pay less money |
| C．You will take a test after the course |
| D．You will pay the fee before practicing |
Bill was a boy of 15 in Grade 9. His parents went gambling(赌博) day and night. Nobody cared about him. He always failed in his exams. So his teachers didn’t like him, nor did his classmates play with him. Bill often slept in class because his heart was not in school. He almost gave himself up.
One day, Miss Jones, a new teacher, came to Bill’s class. She was a smiling, beautiful woman. Bill was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed.
It was Miss Jones’ class. She was asking a question. “I’d like the smartest boy to answer my question.” Then she said loudly, “Bill, please!” Bill was surprised. And he stood up without a word. “Just try it! I believe you can!” After school, Miss Jones had a long talk with Bill. She told him that she cared about him and believed in him.
Bill thought a lot that evening. From then on he arrived at school on time every day. Miss Jones helped him with his homework in the afternoon. She even cooked delicious food for him. She told Bill, “Nothing is impossible if you put your heart in it.” Later, Miss Jones gave another exam. Bill did it with all his heart. He was very excited to find that he had passed the exam. Now Bill discovered that he also could learn well. A change took place in Bill’s heart.
You see, one teacher saved one boy, it’s simple, really.How old was Bill?
| A．9 | B．14 | C．15 | D．16 |
Bill always failed in the exams at first because he____________.
| A．went gambling | B．talked in class | C．was silly | D．gave himself up |
Miss Jones changed Bill by ______________.
| A．doing homework for him |
| B．encouraging and helping him |
| C．giving Bill another exam |
| D．cooking delicious food for him |
From the passage we can learn _____________.
| A．Miss Jones was a loving and careful teacher |
| B．Bill’s parents cared about him very much |
| C．Miss Jones loved to answer Bill’s questions |
| D．Bill didn’t like to play with his classmates |
Which may be the best title for the passage?
| A．Parents’ Day | B．A Lazy Boy | C．A Boy’s Change | D．A Strict Teacher |
Once there was a parrot on sale in a pet store. It was a beautiful red and blue bird. It sat on a perch ( 横杆 ) in the middle of the store, so that everyone could see it when they came in. The owner was very proud of it and asked a high price for it.
One day a man went into the store. “ That’s a beautiful bird,” he said to the owner, “ But why is it so expensive? Is it an unusual bird?”
“ No, it’s not very unusual. It’s expensive because it can talk.” the pet store owner said.
“ I see. How can I make it talk?” the man asked.
The owner asked him, “ Do you see those strings ( 细绳 ) tied to each of the bird’s legs?
“ Yes,” the man answered.
“ Well, you pull those strings,” the pet store owner told him. That will make the parrot talk.”
The man asked, “ Do you mind if I try?”
“ Not at all,” the owner said.
The man walked up to the parrot and pulled the string on its left leg. The parrot said, “ Good morning.”
The man pulled the string on the parrot’s right leg. This time the parrot said, “ How are you today?”
“ That’s not very interesting,” said the man. “ Any parrot could do that.” Then he laughed, “ But what would happen if I pulled both strings at the same time?”
“ I’ll fall off my perch, you fool !”the parrot said.
| A．it was pretty beautiful | B．it could talk with people |
| C．it was a very unusual bird | D．it was in the middle of the store |
| A．people came into the pet store | B．it was the pet store owner |
| C．people said it was beautiful | D．people pulled the strings on its legs |
| A．Good morning. | B．How are you? |
| C．That wasn’t interesting | D．I’ll fall off my perch, you fool! |
| A．kind | B．silly | C．clever | D．crazy |
Unusual Parrot B. Parrot Talk C. Silly Man D. Clever Owner