Sarah ran in, shouting, “Look at what I found!” Over the top of the paper I was reading came a terrible thing that caused me to jump. It was a snake skin found in our garden.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” said my seven-year-old daughter.
I opened my eyes widely and looked at the snake skin in fear. I didn’t think it was beautiful, but I learned never to appear nonchalant(冷漠的) with children. Everything they see for the first time is important to their sense of beauty; they see only excellence in the world.
“Why does it do this?” Sarah asked.
“Snakes shed(蜕) their skins because they need to renew themselves,” I explained. “Why do they need torenew themselves?” Sarah asked.
“We often need to shed our skins, those coatings that we cover ourselves with,” I said to my daughter. “We leave some things and find other things unwanted or unnecessary. This snake no longer needs this skin. It is probably too little for him, and he probably doesn’t think he looks as smart in it as he once did.”
As we talked, I knew that she began to understand. Although she couldn’t understand clearly, she would know that renewal is kind of progress; that we need to take a good look at ourselves, our rooms, schoolwork and spirit, and see what we need to keep and what we need to leave. I was careful to tell that this is a natural way, not one to be made to do.
“Snakes don’t peel off their skins when they like them.” I explained. “It happens as a natural thing of their growth.”
“I see, Dad,” said Sarah as she held the snake skin, and then ran off.
I hoped she would remember this; we need to throw some away because they are worthless or unnecessary. Then we can store them as memories in our deep hearts. Father jumped up when her daughter came to him with a snake skin because ____.
A.he didn’t want to read any more | B.he was very afraid of it |
C.he wanted to praised her daughter | D.he hated snakes |
Father’s patient explanation shows that ____.
A.his daughter didn’t want to listen to him at all |
B.he knew children saw only excellence in the world |
C.his daughter couldn’t follow him at all |
D.he wanted to teach everything to her |
We learn from the reading that____.
A.the girl seemed to understand what her father said |
B.the girl wasn’t interested in the explanation |
C.the father was good at keeping snakes |
D.the father liked the snake skin better |
If an American is satisfied with you,he will put his thumb and forefinger into a circle.That means OK.But in Brazil,the very sign is considered to be rude.In Poland,a guest usually presents flowers to his hostess.The number must be an odd(奇数)one.Besides,the hostess isn’t expected to remove the cover of the bunch of flowers.And usually,the red rose is a sign of love.
Usually we nod to express our agreement and shake our heads to show disagreement.To our surprise these body movements mean the opposite in Bulgaria.
The differences in customs and cultures in the world are really noticeable.We should learn more about them to avoid embarrassment(窘迫).Then,would you please remember:When in Rome,do as the Romans do.In Poland,if a man gives some odd red roses to a woman as a present,it means that he ____.
A.will invite her to a dinner party |
B.has not been in love with her |
C.will invite her to a party |
D.has fallen in love with her |
If an American puts his thumb and forefinger into a circle,it shows that he_____ you.
A.will be friends with |
B.is not been in love with |
C.is willing to help |
D.is satisfied with |
In Poland,it is _____ for the hostess to remove the cover of the bunch of flowers somebody has presented to her.
A.impolite | B.polite | C.strange | D.popular |
In Bulgaria,if a man nods, it means that he_____ with you.
A.will have a talk |
B.disagrees |
C.will shake hands |
D.agrees |
The sentence“When in Rome,do as the Romans do.”Means that______.
A.we should learn from the Romans |
B.we should work as the Romans do |
C.we should obey its customs when we are in a foreign country |
D.we have been Romans |
The early history of the city of Rome involves Romulus and Remus,two orphan boys who,legend says,were raised by a she-wolf.The boys’ mother had been murdered by an evil king and the two babies tossed into the river Tiber.When the wolf found them they had washed up on the shore.She perhaps took pity on the crying of the babies and,gently picking them up in her teeth,she carried them back to her cave and fed them on her milk.The boys grew bigger and stronger and,eventually,were found by a herdsman who took them home.He and his wife raised the boys like their own children.When they reached manhood they sought revenge on the king who had killed their mother and driven them from their home.
They decided to build a city.Unfortunately,they argued over the appropriate site and Romulus killed his brother Remus.Romulus ruled this city — called Roma — for thirty-seven years.
The city of Rome is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.If you travel there you can see a statue of the two baby boys feeding from their mother - the wolf.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Wolves like to take care of human children. |
B.The city of Rome had many wolves in the old days. |
C.The city of Rome was founded by a wolf. |
D.Romulus established the city of Rome. |
What is a herdsman?
A.someone who builds cities |
B.someone who cares for children |
C.someone who cares for domestic animals |
D.someone who can hear very well |
"...they sought revenge on the king who had killed their mother..." means...
A.They attacked the king who had harmed their mother and made them orphans. |
B.They went to court to sue the king for his crime against their mother. |
C.They hired some gangsters to take care of their problem with the king. |
D.They went to talk to the king about his crime against their mother. |
Which is true according to the passage?
A.It was the king who made Romulus and Remus orphans. |
B.The boys didn’t grow well for lack of food. |
C.The herdsman killed the wolf and took Romulus and Remus home. |
D.The herdsman treated the boys well and told them to kill the king. |
We can infer from the passage that ____.
A.Romulus was cruel and became a bad ruler. |
B.Animals can be as smart as humans. |
C.Love is more powerful than revenge. |
D.People of Rome want to pass on the story of the wolf boys. |
Driver Wanted Drive for busy restaurant some evening and weekend work All meals are free Ring 33335678 |
House for Sale ¥150,000,built in 1995 The house with 3 bedrooms,a bathroom,a living room,a kitchen and a breakfast room.It’s on the south side of the city |
Yingbin Supermarket,the biggest shopping centre in our city will open on July 8,2005.Everybody with today’s Tianjin Daily will get a small present that day.You are wellcome. Tel:27984321 Add:No.6 Huanghe Road tianjin Daily June 1,2005 |
Rose’s Special Concert Time:2 p.m,July 3,Saturday Place:People’s Statium Ticket Price: RMB:150 yuan for adults; 70 yuan for students June 25,2005 |
If you work as a driver in the restaurant, you may ______.
A.never pay for meals | B.pay a little for meals |
C.work on weekends | D.work in the afternoon |
If you buy the house,you ______.
A.may pay more than ¥150,000 for it |
B.must have breakfast in the kitchen |
C.have to take a bath in the public bathroom |
D.may live on the south side of the city |
Any customer with a Tianjin Daily of June 1,2005 will get a small present from ___.
A.every supermarket | B.Huanghe Road |
C.Tianjin Daily | D.Yingbin Supermarket |
When will the concert be?
A.July1,2005 | B.June 8,2005 |
C.July 3,2005 | D.June 25,2005 |
If two adults and two students want to go to the concert,the tickets will cost RMB___.
A.220 yuan | B.440 yuan | C.270 yuan |
D.370 yuan |
In old times,man considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries(神秘事物)of nature.In fact a single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometers long has enough electricity to light one million lamps.
The American scientist,Benjamin Franklin,was the first to suggest that lightning is in fact electricity formed between the earth and clouds high above.It happened in 1752.In the same year,he also built the first lightning rod(避雷针)to protect buildings from being struck by lightnings.
Modern science has discovered that lightning is very strong and powerful.A lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers,and travels at a speed of 30 million meters per second.Scientists have the opinion that there are about 2000 million flashes of lightning per year.In the United States alone,it kills almost one person per day.
The safest place to be in during an electrical(电的)storm is a closed car.Outside,one should go close to low ground for cover and not stop under a tree.Also one should stay out of water and away from metal fences.Inside a house people should keep away from open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things.From this passage we know lightning is____.
A.one of the great mysteries of nature. |
B.electricity high above the earth. |
C.a kind of light. |
D.the sound from the clouds. |
In the U.S____.
A.every person can see lightning every day. |
B.at least one person is killed by lightning every day. |
C.there are about 6 million flashes of lightning per year. |
D.about one person per day dies from lightning. |
During a lightning storm,it would be best if you____.
A.stand under a tree. |
B.go outside. |
C.stay in a closed car. |
D.stop near windows. |
A lightning rod can______.
A.prevent accidents caused by lightning |
B.stop lightning |
C.protect buildings from being washed away. |
D.delay the coming of lightning |
A lightning between a cloud and the earth may be 13 kilometers long,and travels at
a speed of ______.
A.30 kilometres per second. |
B.3000 kilometres per second |
C.3 kilometres per second |
D.30,000 kilometres per second |
My son Joey was born with club feet.The doctors told us that he would be able to walk,but would never run very well.By the time he was eight,you wouldn’t know he had a problem when you saw him walk.
The children in our neighborhood ran around playing,and Joey would join them, run and play,too.We never told him that he probably wouldn’t be able to run as well as the other children.So he didn’t know.
In seventh grade he decided to go out for the cross-country team.Every day he worked harder and ran more than any of the others.Although the entire team runs,only the top seven runners score for the school.We didn’t tell him he probably would never be on the team,so he didn’t know.
He continued to run four to five miles a day,every day - even the day he had a high fever.I was worried,so I went to see him after school.I found him running all alone.I asked him how he felt."Okay," he said.He had two more miles to go.Yet he looked straight ahead and kept running.We never told him he couldn’t run miles with a high fever.So he didn’t know.
Two weeks later,the names of the team runners were called.Joey was Number Six on the list.Joey was on the team! He was in seventh grade.We never told him he couldn’t do it! The doctor believed Joey would never run very well because ____.
A.Joey didn’t like running |
B.Joey couldn’t jump |
C.Something was wrong with his feet |
D.Joey was too young to run |
Few people know Joey’s club feet before ____.
A.he was eight years old |
B.he was in seven grade |
C.he ran for the cross-country team |
D.he was on the cross-country team |
How many runners can score for the school?
A.Six | B.Seven | C.Eight | D.Thirteen |
Which of the following is true according to the story?
A.Joey’s parents didn’t love him
B.Joey was a boy with a strong mind.
C.Joey’s parents stopped him joining the teamThe writer wants to tell us _____.
A.children shouldn’t do what they can’t do |
B.children with club feet can’t take part in sports |
C.parents should tell their children what they can do |
D.parents should know how to help their children in the right way. |