It was Monday, Mrs. Smith’s dog was hungry, but there was not any meat in the house.
Considering that there was no better way, Mrs. Smith took a piece of paper, and wrote the following words on it: “Give my dog half a pound of meat.” Then she gave the paper to her dog and said gently: “Take this to the butcher(卖肉者), and he’s going to give you your lunch today.”
Holding the piece of paper in its mouth, the dog ran to the butcher’s shop. It gave the paper to the butcher. The butcher read it carefully, recognized that it was really the lady’s handwriting and presently did as he was asked to. The dog was very happy, and ate the meat up immediately.
At midday, the dog came to the shop again. It gave the butcher a piece of paper again. After reading it, he gave it half a pound of meat once more.
The next day, the dog came again exactly at midday. And as usual, it brought a piece of paper in the mouth. This time, the butcher did not take a look at the paper, and gave the dog its meat, for he had thought of the dog as one of his customers.
However, the dog came again at four o’clock. And the same thing happened once again. To the butcher’s more surprise, it came for the third time at six o’clock, and brought with it a third piece of paper. The butcher felt a bit puzzled. He said to himself, “This is a small dog. Why does Mrs. Smith give it so much meat to eat today?”
Looking at the piece of paper, he found that there were not any words on it!When Mrs. Smith’s dog was hungry, what did she give to the dog?
A. some chicken
B. half a pound of meat
C. a hot dog
D a piece of paper with some words on itMrs. Smith treated her little dog quite __________.
| A.rudely | B.proudly |
| C.friendly | D.angrily |
From its experience, the dog found that __________.
| A.only the paper with Mrs. Smith’s words on it could bring it meat |
| B.a piece of paper could bring him half a pound of meat |
| C.the butcher would give the meat to it whenever he saw it |
| D.Mrs. Smith would pay for the meat it got from the butcher |
At the end of the story, you’ll find that __________.
| A.the dog was clever enough to write on the paper |
| B.the butcher was told not to give any meat to the dog |
| C.the dog dared not go to the butcher’s any more |
| D.the butcher found himself cheated by the smart animal |
We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells —but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper(雨刮器)?Shouldn’t we know who they are?
Joan Mclean think so. In fact, Mclean, a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range, feels so strongly about this matter that she’s developed a course on the topic. In addition to learning “who” invented “what”, however, Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the “why” and ”how” questions. According to Mclean,” When students learn the answers to these questions, they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.”
So, just what is the story behind the windshield wiper? Well, Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City. The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights, so she jumped aboard a streetcar. Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield, she found herself wondering why there couldn’t be a built-in device for cleaning the window. Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham, Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions. One of her ideas, a lever(操作杆)on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside, became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations,It’s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A. Morgan’s traffic light. It’s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J. Blodgett’s innovation that makes glass invisible, Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?By mentioning “traffic light” and “windshield wiper”, the author indicates that countless inventions are .
| A.beneficial, because their inventors are famous |
| B.beneficial, though their inventors are less famous |
| C.not useful, because their inventors are less famous |
| D.not useful, though their inventors are famous |
Professor Joan McLean’s course aims to_____.
| A.add colour and variety to students’ campus life |
| B.inform students of the windshield wiper’s invention |
| C.carry out the requirements by Mountain University |
| D.prepare students to try their own invention |
Tommy Lee’s invention of the unbreakable umbrella was _________.
| A.not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer |
| B.inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper |
| C.due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm |
| D.not related to Professor Joan McLean’s lectures |
Which 0f the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
A How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers?
B How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window?
C Shouldn’t We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper?
D Shouldn’t We Develop Invention Courses in Universities?
My First Long Kun
Two weeks ago, I had a quarrel with my husband. After he had driven off in anger, I realized that I wasn't going to feel any better just sitting there. Feeling abandoned and guilty, I put on my gym shoes to get some fresh air.
Our driveway has a slope(斜坡) that is easier just to jog down if you are lazy, taking advantage of gravity. Instead of stopping at the end of the slope, I decided t see if I could just jog to the end of the street. I had tried a few months ago and failed miserably. Since that first attempt I had been jogging regularly and was significantly fitter, but still very lazy. However this time around I managed to reach the stop sign with ease and I figured I would go a little further.
After about one kilometer, however, I noticed that my upper body was tense. To make the movement easier I had to relax my body, and tried to take deep breaths of air.
I kept giving myself the excuse to stop. No one would be disappointed. No one would even know. But I didn't stop. I wanted to keep going harder, better, stronger. To my great surprise, I ran 4.9 km in 31 minutes. When I got back, I had tears in my eyes. I did something I thought I could never do.
It was the first long run of my life. Since I have improved my stride (步幅) and time, after every run I feel fitter, happier and motivated to keep progressing. I love the runner's high, I normally jog because I want look good. I want to run because it makes me feel good.
| 1. |
Why did the author feet guilty? (No more than 9 words ) |
| 2. |
What did. The author fait to do miserably few months ago? ( no more than 11 words) |
| 3. |
What excuses did the author keep giving herself to stop? (no more than 9 words ) |
| 4. |
How is running different from jogging t the author? (no more than 14 words) |
A recent study of ancient and modern elephants has come up with the unexpected conclusion that the African elephant is divided into two distinct (不同的) species
The discovery was made by researchers at York and Harvard universities when they were examining the genetic relationship between the ancient woolly mammoth and mastodon to modern elephants—the Asian elephant, African forest elephant and African savanna elephant
Once they obtained DNA sequences (序列) from two fossils (化石),mammoths and mastodons the team compared them with DNA from modern elephants. They found to their amazement that modern forest and savanna elephants are as distinct from each other as Asian elephants and mammoths.
The scientists used detailed genetic analysis to prove that the African savanna elephants and the African forest elephants have been distinct species for several million years. The divergence of the two species took place around the time of the divergence of Asian elephants and woolly mammoths. This result amazed all the scientists.
There has long been debate in the scientific community that the two might be separate species but this is the most convincing scientific evidence so far that they are indeed different species.
Previously, many naturalists believed that African savanna elephants and African forest elephants were two populations of the same species despite the elephants’ significant size differences. The savanna elephant has an average shoulder height of 3.5metres while the forest elephant has an average shoulder height of 2.5metres. The savanna elephant weighs between six and seven tons, roughly double the weight of the forest elephant. But the fact that they look so different does not necessarily mean they are different species. However, the proof lay in the analysis of the DNA.
Alfred Roca, assistant professor in the department of Animal Sciences at the University of Minois, said, “We now have to treat the forest and savanna elephants as two different units for conservation purpose. Since 1950 all African elephants have been conserved as one species. Now that we know the forest and savanna elephants are two very distinct animals, the forest elephant should become a bigger priority (优先)for conservation purpose .”One of the fossils studied by the researchers is that of ________.
| A.the Asian elephant | B.the forest elephant |
| C.the savanna elephant | D.the mastodon elephant |
The underlined word “divergence” in paragraph 4means “________”
| A.evolution | B.exhibition | C.separation | D.examination |
The researcher’s conclusion was based on a study of the African elephant’s ____________
| A.DNA | B.height | C.weight | D.population |
What were Alfred Roca’s words mainly about?
| A.The conversation of African elephants. |
| B.The purpose of studying African elephants |
| C.The way to divide African elephants into two units |
| D.The reason for the distinction of African elephants |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A.Naturalist’s Belief about Elephants. |
| B.Amazing Experiment about Elephants |
| C.An Unexpected Finding about Elephants |
| D.A Long scientific Debate about Elephants |
My father was Chief engineer of a merchant ship, which was sunk in Word War II. The book Night of the U-boats told the story.
Memories
In September, 1940, my mother, sister and I went to Swansea, where my father’s ship was getting ready to sail. We brought him a family photograph to be kept with him at all times and keep him sale.
Then I remember my mother lying lace down, sobbing. She had heard from a friend that the ship had been sunk by a torpedo(鱼雷).
I can remember the arrival of the telegram(电报),Which in those days always brought had new. My grandmother opened it. It read, “Safe, Love Ted.”
My most vivid memory Is being woken and brought down to sit o my father’s knee, his arm in a bandage.
He was judged unfit to return to sea and took a shore job in Glasgow for the rest of the war. For as long as I can remember, he had a weak heart. Mother said it was caused by the torpedoes. He said it was because of the cigarettes. Whichever, he died suddenly in his early 50s.
Ten years later I read Night of the U-bouts and was able to complete the story.
Torpedo
One torpedo struck the ship. Father was in the engine room, where the third engineer was killed. He shut down the engines to slow the ship making it easier for it to be abandoned.
By the time he got on deck (甲板) he was alone. Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast. When he tried to cut it free it swung against the ship, injuring his hand and arm. He had no choice but to jump—still with the photograph in his pocket.
Three days later, he and other survivors were safe in Glasgow. All 23 with him signed the back of the photograph.
In my room is the book and the photograph. Often, glass in hand, I have wondered how I would have dealt with an explosion, a sinking ship, a jump into a vast ocean rind a wait for rescue? Lest(以免)we forget, I have some more whisky and toast the heroes of the war.We can infer that the mother and children went to Swansea ________.
| A.to meet a friend |
| B.to see the father off |
| C.to take a family photo |
| D.to enjoy the sailing of the ship |
What did the author learn about the father from the telegram?
| A.he was still alive. |
| B.His knee was broken. |
| C.His ship had been sunk. |
| D.He had arrived in Glasgow. |
The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 6 refers to the father’s ________.
| A.weak heart |
| B.taking a shore job |
| C.failure to return to sea |
| D.injury caused by a torpedo |
What can we know about the author’s father after his ship was attacked?
| A.He lost his arm |
| B.He repaired the engines. |
| C.He managed to take a lifeboat. |
| D.He was the last to leave the ship. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A.A group of forgotten heroes |
| B.A book describing a terrifying battle. |
| C.A ship engineer’s wartime experience. |
| D.A merchant’s memories of a sea rescue. |
When first entered, Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the pleasant smells of kabob(烤肉串)hit the senses, you are incapable of calling it anything less.
Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack.
The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly charming.
Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customers, especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Eastern cooking.
A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner talking loudly about world topics, watching news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, an reading local Persian newspapers all the while trying to finish off their plates piled with food.
The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairly large. Most of the meals can serve two people and are under $10, so not only is it affordable but practical as well.
The food, especially appeals to health-conscious eaters because each dish is very healthy, made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill (烤肉架).
The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat.
One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Joojeh Kabob, which is made of grille chicken pieces served with cither rice or bread. Another great kabob is the Cbelo Kabob, kabob consisting of grilled beef.
Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious. It is a place that should not be overlooked. When first entering the restaurant, one can find that it ________.
| A.is splendidly decorated |
| B.has pleasant smells of kabobs |
| C.is crowded with dining tables |
| D.looks like a common restaurant |
What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?
| A.Watching news events on TV. |
| B.Drinking a kind of black coffee. |
| C.Reading local English newspapers. |
| D.Discussing world topics in low voices. |
The food of the restaurant ________.
| A.is served in small amounts |
| B.is rather expensive |
| C.is rich in variety |
| D.is very healthy |
What is the dish Joojeh Kabob mainly made of?
| A.Rice | B.Chicken | C.Bread | D.Beef |
It can be inferred from the passage that the restaurant ________.
| A.occupies a large space |
| B.owns a favorable location |
| C.is popular for its special food |
| D.has a quiet environment inside |