Dear Dad,
Today I was at the shopping mall and I spent a lot of time reading the Father’s Day cards. They all had a special message that in some way or another reflected how I feel about you. Yet as I selected and read, it occurred to me that not a single card said what I really want to say to you.
You’ll soon be 84 years old, Dad, and you and I will have had 55 Father’s Days together. I haven’t always been with you on Father’s Day but I’ve always been with you in my heart.
You know, Dad, there was a time when we were separated by the generation gap. You stood on one side of the Great Divide and I on the other.
The Father-Daughter Duel shifted into high gear（档位）when you taught me to drive the old Dodge and I decided I would drive the 54 Chevy(雪佛兰) whether you liked it or not. The police officer who sent me home after you reported the Chevy stolen didn’t have much tolerance（容忍） for a stubborn 16 -year- old girl, while you were so tolerant about it, Dad, and I think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life.
Our relationship picked up when I married a man you liked, and things really turned around when we began making babies. Somewhere along the line, the generation gap disappeared. I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together, rather like a fine wine.
But the strangest thing happened last week. I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car. It didn’t immediately occur to me that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and weak behind the wheel of that huge car. It was rather like a slap(打) in the face delivered from out of nowhere. Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day.
I guess what I’m trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today. Honoring a father on Father’s Day is about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. It’s about loving someone more than words can say, and it’s my wish that it never had to end.
I love you, Dad.
Love,
JennyWhat caused Jenny to write the letter?
| A．Getting along well with her father. |
| B．Failing to find a satisfactory card. |
| C．Visiting a card exhibition at a mall. |
| D．Being away on previous Father’s Day. |
What does the underlined phrase “ turned around ” in Para. 5 mean?
| A．Became better. | B．Changed unexpectedly. |
| C．Went worse. | D．Progressed unsteadily. |
What can we learn from Para. 6?
| A．Jenny seldom saw her father drive that huge car. |
| B．Jenny knew her father’s real age from that day on. |
| C．Jenny’s father slapped her on the face somewhere. |
| D．Jenny had never realized her father’s being weak. |
Jenny wrote her father this letter to __________ .
| A．inform him of their conflicts |
| B．apologize for her being stubborn |
| C．express her deep love to him |
| D．remind him of the early incident |
When 7-year-old Warren Buffett said, “I will be the richest man one day,” his friends made fun of his “daydreaming”. But ever since then the little boy has set about learning how to make money by selling drinks, delivering newspaper and buying stocks. The American had already earned $9,000 (equal to $90,000 today) by the time he graduated from the high school.
And this month the 78-year-old, who earned his fortune by making a lot of sound investment in the stock market, took the place of Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, as the world’s richest man. Gates’ worth declined $1.5 billion to $55.5 billion in 33 days after the recent financial storm, according to Forbes Magazine.
Buffett, the only son of a stockbroker, was ready to think outside the box to develop his business from a very early age. At 8, he went to golf courses collecting and selling the used balls. At 11 when he sold soda pop door-to-door with a friend, the pair collected lids on streets to judge which flavor was the most popular.
As a paper boy during high school, Buffett delivered two competitor papers, so that even when customers canceled one of the subscriptions (订阅) , he could still make a profit from the other. With his paper delivery savings, Buffett bought 162,000 square meters of farmland and collected rent. Young Buffett stepped into the stock market at 11 but earned only $5. The experience taught him one of the virtues（优点）in investing patience.
After graduating from university, Buffett started his venture with stocks with his childhood earnings and money from friends. He researched the stocks and just bought those of solid companies that were undervalued and inexpensive at the time. By sticking to companies such as American Express and Coca-Cola, Buffett has become rich.
“Learning is important to Buffett’s success. He is a learning machine who can spend his entire day reading. He keeps learning from books, street smarts and investigation, from both success and failure. In this way, he over achieved his aptitude (能力),” said Charlie Munger, his longtime business partner.The passage is mainly about_____.
| A．why Buffett took the place of Bill Gates as the world’s richest man |
| B．what effect Buffett’s childhood experiences have on his success |
| C．how Buffett earned his fortune and achieve his aptitude |
| D．what Buffett dreamt about when he was a child |
How did Buffett behave at the stock market?
| A．He will buy the stock whose price is lower than its value. |
| B．He often prefers some inexpensive stocks. |
| C．He always borrows money from his friends to buy stocks. |
| D．He will sell the stock if its price doesn’t go up. |
Which is the main factor that determines Buffett’s success?
| A．His desire to learn. |
| B．His family background. |
| C．His education. |
| D．His cooperation with his partner. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Buffett is an immediate success in the stock market |
| B．Buffett and Gates are business partners. |
| C．His father helped him a lot in his business. |
| D．Buffett has a good sense of business. |
We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash in the street. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the store to get some soft drinks. It seemed like this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck.
At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I enjoyed having it, but I said: "Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won’t last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won’t last."
After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted: "Dad! Dad, Holly crashed your truck."
My heart sank and my mind was flooded with conflicting thoughts. Was anyone hurt? Who else was involved? As I ran to the door, I heard a voice in my heart say: "Here is a chance to show Holly what you really love. She’ll never forget it."
The accident had occurred in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle, the family van (搬运车). In her inexperience, she had confused the brakes and the gas pedal. Holly was unhurt physically, but when I reached her, she was crying and saying: "Oh, Dad, I’m sorry. I know how much you love this truck." I held her in my arms as she cried.
Later that week a friend stopped by and asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened (湿润) and she said: "That happened to me when I was a girl. I borrowed my dad’s car and ran into a log that had fallen across the road. I ruined the car. When I got home my Dad knocked me to the ground and began to kick me."
Over 40 years later, she still felt the pain of that night.
I remember how sad Holly was and how I comforted her. One day, when Holly thinks back on her life, I want her to know what really matters in my life. How did the crash happen?
| A．The van was parked in the wrong place that evening. |
| B．Holly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes. |
| C．The brakes of the truck didn’t work properly. |
| D．Holly was too careless and young to drive a truck. |
Why didn’t the writer punish Holly?
| A．He was so rich that he didn’t care about losing one truck. |
| B．He thought there was no point punishing her after the accident. |
| C．He believed the truck was made of metal and of poor quality. |
| D．He wanted Holly to know he loved her more than any possessions. |
What does the underlined sentence mean?
| A．She still suffered physical pain. |
| B．She felt guilty of damaging the car. |
| C．It left a deep wound on her soul. |
| D．She was not forgiven by her Dad. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
| A．What really matters? |
| B．Better to forgive and forget |
| C．Who is to blame? |
| D．Accidents will happen |
Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the website you’ve visited or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phone bills to find out your shopping calling habits
In fact, it’s likely that some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen.
Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it’s important to reveal yourself partly to friends, family and lovers at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. The digital bread crumbs you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to know who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret.
The key question is: Does that matter?
For many Americans, the answer apparently is “no”.
When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. 60 percent of respondents say they feel their privacy is “slipping away, and that bothers me”.
But people say one thing and do another. Only a small number of Americans change any behavior in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. Privacy economist Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give up personal information like social security numbers just to get their hands on a 50-cents-off coupon. But privacy does matter－at least sometimes. It’s like health: when you have it, you don’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it.What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?
| A．Friends should open their hearts to each other. |
| B．Friends should always be faithful to each other. |
| C．There should be a distance even between friends. |
| D．There should be fewer arguments between friends. |
Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret”?
| A．Modern society has finally developed into an open society. |
| B．People leave traces around when using modern technology. |
| C．There are always people who are curious about others’ affairs. |
| D．Many search engines profit by revealing people’s identities. |
According to the passage, privacy is like health in that _____.
| A．people will make every effort to keep it |
| B．its importance is hardly understood |
| C．It is something that can easily be lost |
| D．people don’t value it until they lose it |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Value your health. |
| B．Treasure your privacy. |
| C．Boundaries are important between friends. |
| D．The information age has its own shortcomings. |
Attractions in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N. Carroll Street on Madison’s Capital Square
Discover Wisconsin’s history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program.
Admission is free.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am---4:00pm.
( 608 ) 264-6555 www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum
Swiss Historical Village
612 Seventh Ave., New Glares
The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America’s heartland.14 buildings in the village give a full picture of every day life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.
Tue.---Fri., May 1st ---October 31st , 10:00am---4:00pm. Admission is $20
( 608 ) 527-2317 www.swisshistoricalvillage.com
Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe`
6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli WI
One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historical creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderful prepared lunch at our cafe` overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!
Gallery open Tue.—Sun.,10:00am—5:00 pm
Cafe` open Wed.—Sat, 11:00 am—3:00 pm
Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00---3:00 pm
( 608 ) 845-6600 www.artisangal.com
Christopher Columbus Museum
239 Whitney St., Columbus
World-class exhibit ---2000 quality souvenirs marking Chicago’s 1893 World Columbus Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.
Open daily, 8:15 am—4:00 pm
( 608 ) 623-1992 www.columbusantiquemall.comWhere can you go for a visit on Monday?
| A．Wisconsin Historical Museum | B．Swiss Historical Village |
| C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe` | D．Christopher Columbus Museum |
Where can visitors have lunch?
| A．At Wisconsin Historical Museum | B．At Swiss Historical Village |
| C．At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe` | D．At Christopher Columbus Museum |
We can learn from the text that_________.
| A．Swiss Historical Village is open for half a year. |
| B．Christopher Columbus Museum overlooks a river. |
| C．Tickets are needed for Wisconsin Historical Museum |
| D．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe are open daily for 4 hours. |
Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and his family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We talked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical (挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was. Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?
| A．He was silent most of the time. | B．He was too proud of himself. |
| C．He did not love his children. | D．He expected too much of her. |
When the author went out with her father on weekend, she would feel .
| A．nervous | B．sorry | C．tired | D．safe |
What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?
| A．More critical. | B．More talkative |
| C．Gentle and friendly. | D．Strict and hard-working. |
The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to.
| A．the author’s son | B．the author’s father |
| C．the friend of the author’s father | D．the café owner |