One day, Jack’s parents told him that his grandpa would retire after working for forty years. Jack said in surprise, “I’m only seven, so it means grandpa has been... er... A really long time!”
His parents said, “Yes. That’s why we are going to have a surprise party for him.”
Jack loved his grandpa and wanted to do something special for him. He remembered the business card his grandpa had given him two years before. He knew that his grandpa would no longer have the position on that card, so he decided to build a new one for his grandpa.
When the big day came, Jack was ready. But he didn’t want to put his gift together with others’. He carried it around with him the whole evening.
When all the other people left, he took his grandpa’s hand and brought him over to a chair and gave him the gift.
His grandpa smiled, “Well, it must be a beautiful gift. May I open it now?” “Sure!” Jack said excitedly.
As grandpa opened the gift, tears came into his eyes. Jack gave him the greatest gift he had ever got! They were business cards with his new position: FULL-TIME GRANDPA! Jack said, “Now your full-time job is my grandpa!”
“ Well, how much do I get paid?” his Grandpa asked, smiling. “As many hugs as you want!” With these words, Jack gave grandpa a hug. “Well, I guess that means I’m the richest man in the world!” said grandpa.Who was going to retire?
A.Jack’s grandma. | B.Jack’s grandpa. |
C.Jack’s mother. | D.Jack’s father. |
What did Jack decide to do for his grandpa?
A.To build a new position for him. |
B.To draw a picture for him. |
C.To sing a song for him. |
D.To buy a gift for him. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.Jack was the first one to give his gift to his grandpa. |
B.Jack was the last one to give his gift to his grandpa. |
C.Jack gave his gift to his grandpa together with other people. |
D.Jack gave his gift to his grandpa together with his parents. |
Why were there tears in grandpa’s eyes?
A.Because he would lose his position. |
B.Because he was not cared for. |
C.Because he was moved by Jack’s gift. |
D.Because he was unhappy. |
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days:Mother's Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father's Day, on the third Sunday in June.These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents.They raise their children and educate them to be responsible(有责任感的) citizens.They give love and care.These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers.More mothers now work outside the home.More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways.On Mother’s Day people wear carnations.A red one symbolizes a living mother.A white one shows that the mother is dead.Many people attend religious services to honor parents.It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地).On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants.They often have outdoor barbecues for Father's Day.These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts.Children make them in school.Many people make their own presents.These are valued more than the ones bought in stores.It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”.Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.WhichisNOTareasonforchildrentoshowloveandrespectforparents?
A.Parentsbringchildren |
B.Parentsgiveloveandcaretochildren |
C.Parentseducatechildrentobegoodpersons. |
D.Parentspassawaybeforechildrengrowup |
Whatdoyouknowfromthepassage?
A.Mother’sDayandFather’sDayarebothinMay. |
B.Fewerwomenworkedoutsidethehomeinthepast |
C.Notallthechildrenrespecttheirparents |
D.Fathersarenotasimportantasmothersathome |
Which do you think is right about “carnation”?
A.It has only two kinds of colors. |
B.It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. |
C.People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May. |
D.It’s a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. |
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, _______.
A.everyone goes to visit the cemetery |
B.people usually have family parties |
C.children always go to parents’ home |
D.hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts |
Of all the websites, one that has attracted attention recently is myspace.com. Most of this attention has come from the media and tells every reason why the website should be shut down. The danger of internet predators(窃掠者) is indeed a tough reality, but shutting down the site is not the answer. If myspace.com were shut down, another site would quickly take its place. Therefore, the right way is to teach teens how to use the site safely and educate them about who may be predators and how to avoid them.
The key to staying safe on the Internet is to make sure that your profile(个人资料) is secure. The simplest way is to change the privacy setting on your profile to “private”, which protects your information so that only the people on your friend list can view it. Although this is effective, it is not perfect. Predators can find ways to view your profile if they really want to, whether through hacking(非法侵入) in or figuring out their way onto your friend list. Thus, you should never post too much personal information. Some people actually post their home and school addresses, date of birth, and other personal information, often letting predators know exactly where they will be and when. The safest information is your first name and province. Anything more is basically inviting a predator into your life.
Another big problem is photos. I suggest completely skipping photos and never posting a photo of a friend online without asking permission.
Most importantly, never, under any circumstances, agree to a real-life meeting with anyone you meet online. No matter how well you think you know this person, there are no guarantees that they have told the truth. But you could feel free to chat with people you meet on the site, but just remember that not everyone is who they say they are. Hopefully, the next time you edit your profile, you’ll be more informed about the dangers of Internet predators and take the steps to defend yourself.
Lastly, do not send money to anyone you meet online. A common scam among Internet criminals is to request to pay for “expensive Internet charges” or “unreasonable Internet cafe fees”. While it is indeed true that many countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America do not yet have Internet service readily available in all cities and towns, a sincere friend from one of these countries will be more than happy to pay their own Internet charges. Never, under any circumstances, should you send money to a stranger from another country(or within your own country for that matter) who claims monetary assistance is required to continue their contact with you.Kids can avoid web predators successfully by________.
A.attracting more public attention |
B.shutting down the “myspace.com” |
C.learning different ways to try other sites |
D.recognizing and getting away from them |
68. We can learn from the text that________.
A.everybody you meet online isn’t honest and reliable |
B.it is not acceptable to post a photo of a friend online |
C.it is not safe to chat with grown-ups on the website |
D.only you and your friends can view your personal profile |
What does the underlined word “scam” in the last paragraph mean?
A.A thing that you can have two choices. |
B.An unpleasant task that tests one’s ability. |
C.A possibility of something happening. |
D.An illegal plan for making money. |
What could be the best title of this passage?
A.Personal Safety. | B.Web Safety for Teens. |
C.Web Hackers in the past. | D.Predators’ Tricks. |
It is often said that man has become the enemy of our planet. This is no exaggeration(夸张), for reports show that man’s greed has done much to destroy the earth. Man, in his greedy desire for financial growth, has polluted the air, land and water, and has robbed our valuable natural resources. Man’s industrial plants pour out poisonous waste that pollutes the sea and puts life in the sea under the threat of dying out; at the same time, they release alarming amounts of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants. Small wonder that the air now is much warmer and more impure than ever before.
Of course, this is not just because of man’s greed—it is man’s pressing need as well. For instance, in developing countries, huge financial foreign debts have forced governments to approve the cutting of forests for agriculture or ranching. As a result, forests are cut down just to meet man’s immediate needs.
Perhaps unknowingly,man has changed the make-up of the earth's atmosphere. Scientific studies have shown that CFCs used in refrigerators and industrial cleaners are fast destroying the ozone layer—a protective layer in the atmosphere that protects us against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (紫外线)rays. In fact, documented reports have shown a terrible fact that there are “holes” in the ozone layer over the Antarctic. And they appear to be expanding.
Faced with these environmental problems, world leaders have shown deep concern. The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) has arranged international agreements like the Vienna convention of 1985 and the Montreal Protocol of 1989 to preserve the ozone layer by controlling the production, use and trade of destructive chemicals.
There may be some doubt as to how effectual these agreements may be, given that some countries still maintain an “I-don’t-care” attitude. Their attitude is probably due to their failure to grasp the importance of the problem. Then, there is no doubt that environmental education on an international scale(规模)is greatly needed, so that all countries, great and small—the “haves” and the “have nots”—may realize their responsibilities for our planet.
In the meantime, the UNEP seems to have taken steps in the right direction, and it is hoped that in the not so distant future, all nations of the world will join hands in saving mother earth. Which of the following is a reason for the cutting and burning of forests?
A.To build houses for more population. | B.To have land for agriculture. |
C.To export trees to other countries. | D.To build industrial plants. |
The holes in the ozone layer are largely due to________.
A.man’s research activities | B.the greenhouse effect |
C.the ultraviolent | D.harmful chemicals |
Why don’t some countries care about the problem of the environment?
A.They don’t want to put their lives in danger. |
B.They just don’t know how to solve the problem. |
C.They haven’t realized the seriousness of the problem. |
D.They don’t want to break their international commitment. |
66. What is the author’s attitude towards the future of the environment?
A.Hopeful. | B.Unconcerned | C.Doubtful | D.Objective |
New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from. The law is known as COOL -- Country of Origin Labeling(标签).
American congress first passed the law in 2002. Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005. But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week.
Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts. But the rules are complex, and many foods are not included. For example, organ meats are free to be labeled. So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked foods.
The same food may sometimes have to be labeled and other times not. Fresh or frozen peas, for example, have to be labeled but not canned peas. Foods that are mixed with other foods are also excluded. Mixed nuts, for example, do not need to be labeled. The same is true of a salad mix that contains different things like lettuce and carrots. Or a fruit cup that combines different fruits. Also, the law doesn’t include restaurants and other food service organizations. Department of Agriculture officials say the law is really meant for larger grocery stores.
The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices. Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores.
Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from. For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella(沙门菌病), officials blamed peppers from Mexico. Yet the last big food scare involved spinach grown in California. But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want. Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country.
The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations(违反) that are found. Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1,000 dollars per violation. Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign.
Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law. They call it a good step that will give people more useful information. Why has more and more food been imported to the United States in recent years?
A.It is economical and provides people with more choices. |
B.Foreign food is of higher quality than native food. |
C.Americans need more and more food recently. |
D.The United States is short of food supply. |
Consumers are more concerned about where foods come from because________.
A.they are curious about the origin of the food. |
B.most of them are particular about the tastes |
C.they are concerned about food safety |
D.most of them are food safety activists |
The new rules of the country-of-origin labeling law will come into effect________.
A.right now | B.in a month | C.in three months | D.in half a year |
Which of the following can be inferred from the text?
A.Store owners are most likely to be the supporters of the law. |
B.The government of America will possibly forbid importing peppers from Mexico. |
C.Federal inspectors couldn’t take measures to enforce the law. |
D.Most Americans prefer imported vegetables to the vegetables grown in local places. |
My favorite English teacher could draw humor out of the driest material. It wasn’t forced on us either. He took Samuel Johnson’s dictionary, Addison’s essays, and many other literary wonders from the eighteenth century and made them hilarious, even at eight o’clock in the morning. The thing that amazed me most was that the first time I read these works on my own, some of them seemed dead, but the second time, after his explanation, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t seen the humor. The stories and poems and plays were suddenly filled with allusions(典故) and irony and hilarious moments. I learned more from him than from any other teacher.
My least favorite English teacher also made people laugh. Some students found him to be wonderfully funny. Many others did not. He assigned journals over a six-week period, to be written every day. At the end of the six weeks I had a notebook full of bits and pieces about my ideas, short stories, reactions to what we had read, and so on. Our teacher announced that we would be grading each other’s journals. Mine was passed to Joe, that class clown, who always behaved in a funny or silly way. He saw it fit to make a joke of and said, “This writing isn’t fit to line the bottom of a birdcage.” Our teacher laughed at that funny remark. It hurt me so much that the anger from it has driven my writing and teaching ever since.
So what makes the difference? Humor is one of the most powerful tools teachers or writers have. It can build up students and classes and make them excited about literature and writing, or it can tear them apart. It is true that humor is either productive or counter-productive and self-defeating. The passage mainly discusses ________.
A.teaching | B.literature | C.humor | D.knowledge |
The underlined word “hilarious” in Paragraph 1 probably means ________.
A.funny | B.tiring | C.inspiring | D.brilliant |
The English teacher the writer disliked most ________.
A.was not able to make students laugh | B.hurt his student’s feelings |
C.didn’t let his students do the grading | D.had no sense of humor |