Ted Brown's dream as a child was an unusual one: he wanted to fly. What was more unusual was the way in which he made his dream come true.
After high school, he wanted to join the U. S. Air Force but he failed because of his poor eyesight. However, his dream remained.
At the age of 33, Ted was a truck driver in Los Angeles. One day, while sitting outside in his garden, he watched planes fly overhead and an idea came to him: to use balloons(气球) to fly.
A few weeks later, Ted bought 42 huge balloons. He tied them to a chair and then he sat down in the chair with some beer, sandwiches and a gun. His plan was to fly to 10 meters above his garden, enjoy a few hours in the air, and then shoot some balloons with his gun to get back down. But things did not go as he planned.
Once his friends cut the ropes under Ted's chair, the 42 balloons flew into the sky at an astonishing speed until about 4000 meters above the ground with Ted and his chair. He didn't shoot any of the balloons because he was afraid he might break the balanee(平衡) of his "plane". Ted stayed in the sky with his beer and sandwiches for 14 hours, cold and frightened.
Planes heading towards Los Angeles' busy international airport reported the strange sight. And Ted' s balloons caused great danger to them. At last, Ted gathered his courage to shoot a few balloons and slowly landed on the ground, where many policemen were waiting for him.
Ted made his dream come true, but it cost him: he was fined(罚款) $ 1,500 for breaking the law about air safety.
When asked by a reporter why he had done it, Ted answered, "A man can't just sit around and do nothing; he should have his dream and go for it. "Why couldn't Ted join the American Air Force?
| A．Because he didn't finish high school. |
| B．Because his parents stopped him. |
| C．Because there was problem with his eyes. |
| D．Because he was too short. |
He was fined $ 1,500 because
| A．his balloons caused trouble to planes |
| B．he stayed too long in the air |
| C．he used too many balloons |
| D．he took a gun with him |
Which of the following is true?
| A．He didn't go to college because of his dream to fly. |
| B．He felt sorry for what he had done. |
| C．He realized his dream in a dangerous way both to himself and to others. |
| D．He didn't shoot the balloons at first because he wanted to stay there longer. |
What can be the best title for the story?
| A．Go for It. | B．A Man with Poor Eyesight. |
| C．Up High in the Air. | D．Ted's Dream to Fly. |
For several years, Americans have enjoyed teleshopping—watching TV and buying things by phone.Now teleshopping is starting in Europe (欧洲).In a number of European countries, people can turn on their TVs and shop for clothes, jewelry, food, toys, and many other things.
Teleshopping is becoming popular in Sweden, for example.The biggest Swedish company sells different kinds of things on TV in 15 European countries, and in one year it made ＄100 million.In France there are two teleshopping channels, and the French spend about ＄20 million a year to buy things through these channels.
In Germany, until last year teleshopping was only possible on one channel for 1 hour every day.Then the government allowed (允许) more telepshopping.Other channels can open for telebusiness, including (包括) the largest American teleshopping company and a 24hour teleshopping company.German businessmen are hoping this new teleshopping will help them sell more things.
Some people like teleshopping because it allows them to do their shopping without leaving their homes .With all the problems of traffic in the cities, this is an important reason.But at the same time, other Europeans do not like this new way of shopping.They call teleshopping “junk (垃圾) on the air”.Many Europeans usually worry about the quality (质量) of the things for sale on TV.Good quality is important to them, and they believe they cannot be sure about the quality of the things on TV.
The need for high quality means that European teleshopping companies will have to be different from the American companies.They will have to be more careful about the quality of the things they sell.They will also have to work harder to sell things that the buyers cannot touch or see in person.
( )11.Teleshopping is ____ in Europe.
A.not popular B.growing C.not possible D.cheap
( )12.People like teleshopping because it is ____ .
A.American B.cheaper C.easier D.more popular
( )13.Some Europeans don’t like teleshopping because they ____ .
A.don’t like to buy things
B.don’t watch TV
C.believe the things sold on TV are expensive
D.think the things sold on TV are bad quality
( )14.In Germany, teleshopping may ____ .
A.help businessmen get more moneyB.keep the shops open longer
C.have fewer buyers D.bring better TV programmes
( )15.The best title of this passage is ____ .
A.American Teleshopping B.Teleshopping Companies
C.Teleshopping in Europe D.Teleshopping—Junk on the Air
( )8.We can buy the fresh fruits ________.
A. in Marsha s houseB. in Wawa Village
C. in Country Life Market D. in Next Wave Music Store
( )9. Mr. Green is planning to have a half-year holiday in California, but he can’t leave his pet dog alone, he should call ________for help.
A. 543-002B. 544-996 C. 543-616 D. 544-471
( )10. According to the four ads, which is true?
A. Wawa Village is open only at night.
B. Marsha’s House does not offer food,
C. Country Life Market is newly opened.
D. Next Wave Music Store sells presents.
Why should we learn to swim?
Firstly, swimming is a good exercise for our health. Indeed doctors say it is the best exercise, because in swimming all the muscles of the body are used.
Secondly, swimming gives great pleasure. How nice it is, on a hot dusty day in summer, to take off one’s clothes and dive into the cool water of a rive or the sea, and to swim and float until one feels enough.
Thirdly, swimming may sometimes mean all the different between life and death, we never know when we may be in danger from water. We got on a voyage, and the ship in wrecked; we go for a pleasure sail on a lake and the boat turns over; we slip as we are walking along the bank of a river, and half in the water. If we can swim, we have chance for saving our own lives, but if we cannot swim, we are pretty certain to be drowned. So for our own safety, we should learn to swim.
Lastly, if we can swim, we may be able to save other people from drowning. How sad it is to see a friend drowning before our eyes while we cannot help just because we cannot swim.
( )4.Who says that swimming is the best exercise? _________.
A. Farmers B. Dentists C. Fishermen D. Doctors
( )5.When swimming, ________.
A. We don’t move at all
B. all the muscle of the body are used
C. we move our legs only
D. we drink lots of seawater into our stomach
( )6.Swimming ________.
A. gives great pain B. gives no pleasure
C. gives much pleasure D. does harm to the body
( )7.If we can swim, ________.
A. we are no longer humans, but fish
B. we shall be drowned one day
C. we have a chance of saving our own lives
D. we can’t walk any more
Everyone needs friends. There is an old saying “Friends are God’s way of taking care of us.” But how do you find real friendship and keep it?
The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seed and take care of it to make it grow.
First, you should choose a friend. What makes a Good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and patient. For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints and do his or her best to help. To make a friend, you can not be too shy. You should make each other happy and share your lives. But things cannot always be happy. Even the best have fights. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her. When there is no one around, have an honest talk. If he or she doesn’t want to talk, you could write a letter.
There are three steps to being friends again:
Tell him or her how you are feeling ; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that. Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life.
( ) 1. Sally wants to tell students the ways to ________.
A. find friends B. plant trees C. get happy D. keep fit
( ) 2. What makes good friends? A good friend should ________.
A. be lovely and cool B. be kind and patient
C. have lots of money D. have good looks
( ) 3. What is the best title of the text?
A. Teenagers and friendship B. The good friends around you
C. The trouble of growing up D. The care and keeping of friends
"Everything happens for the best," my mother said whenever things weren’t going my way. "Don’t worry. One day your luck will change."
Mother was right, as I discovered after I had finished my college education, I had decided to try for a job in radio. One day, I wanted to host a sports programme. I went to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station. But I got turned down every time.
In one station, a kind lady said my problem was that I hadn’t got enough experience. "Get some work with a small station and work your way up," she said.
I went back home. I couldn’t get a job there, either. Then my dad told me a businessman had opened a store and needed someone to help him. But again, I didn’t get the job.
I felt really down. "Your luck will change," Mom said to me. Dad lent me the car to help me to look for my job. I tried another radio station in Lowa. But the owner, a nice man, told me he had already had someone.
As I left his office, I asked, "How can someone be a sports announcer(播音员) if he can’t get a job in a radio station?"
I was waiting for the lift when I heard the man call. "What did you mean? Do you know anything about football?" He put me in front of a microphone and asked me to try to imagine that I was giving my opinion on a football game, I succeeded.
On my way home, Mom’s words come back to me, "One day your luck will change, Son. And when it happens, it’ll feel doubly good because of all the hard work you’ve had." At that moment I knew just what she meant.
16. What’s the writer’s ideal job?
A. A sportsman. B. A shop assistant.
C. A sports announcer. D. A businessman.
17. Why didn’t the writer get the job in Chicago?
A. Because he was too young.
B. Because he didn’t get college education.
C. Because he’s got a good-looking person.
D. Because he hadn’t got enough experience.
18. The sentence "But I got turned down every time. "means" ".
A. But I was refused every time
B. But I was successful every time
C. But I lost my way every time
D. But the door of every station was always closed
19. What made the writer succeed in the end?
A. His mother’s words. B. A kind lady’s help.
C. His father’s car. D. His own hard work.
20. What’s the best title of this passage?
A. Mother’s Words. B. Everything Happens for the Best.
C. No One Is Always Lucky. D. To Find a Job in Radio Is Difficult.