"Itis a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas," said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.
AuntEmmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn't spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.
"Thegifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give," said Aunt Emmy gently, "nor the best, either."
"Oh,I know it's nicer to give something of your own work," agreed Clorinda, "but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other."
"Thatwas not what I meant," said Aunt Emmy.
"Whatdid you mean, then?" asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.
AuntEmmy smiled.
"Supposeyou think out my meaning for yourself," she said. "That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: "The gift without the giver is bare."
"I'dput it the other way and say, "The giver without the gift is bare,'" said Clorinda, with a grimace（鬼脸）. "That is my predicament（困境） exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know."
"Won'tyour aunt miss you terribly?" said Aunt Emmy gravely.
Clorindaflushed. There was a note in Aunt Emmy's voice that disturbed her.
"Ithink she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda," said Aunt Emmy. "But of course you must decide for yourself, dear. "
"Well,I must say bye-bye and run home. " Clorindalived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.
Clorindapuzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for four days and part of three nights. Then all at once it came to her. Or if it wasn't Aunt Emmy's meaning it was a very good meaning in itself, and it grew clearer and expanded in meaning during the days that followed, although at first Clorinda shrank a little from some of the conclusions to which it led her.
OnChristmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. It was a faded brown Christmas after all, for the snow had not come. But Clorinda did not mind; there was such joy in her heart that she thought it the most delightful Christmas Day that ever dawned.
Sheput the queer cornery armful she carried down on the kitchen floor before she went into the sitting room. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.
"I'vecome to tell you all about it," she said.
AuntEmmy patted the hand that was in her own.
"Fromyour face, dear girl, it will be pleasant hearing and telling," she said.
Clorindanodded.
"AuntEmmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... thought until I was dizzy. And then one evening it just came to me, without any thinking at all, and I knew that I could give some gifts after all. I thought of something new every day for a week. At first I didn't think I couldgive some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give. "
"First,there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby, and she's very fond of me. But, well, you know, Aunt Emmy, I'm ashamed to confess(承认，忏悔) it, but really I've never found Aunt Kitty very entertaining, to put it mildly. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. I told her all the Greenvale news and gossip and everything else I thought she'd like to hear. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. "
Thenthere was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate(亲密的) friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness. I went down last night and just put my arms around her and told her that I loved her as much as ever and wanted to be real close friends again. "
"Igave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so."
"Yourgifts have been real gifts, Clorinda," said Aunt Emmy. "Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them."
Clorindawent out and brought her cornery armful in.
"Ididn't forget you, Aunt Emmy," she said, as she unpinned the paper.
Therewas a rosebush--Clorinda's own pet rosebush--all snowed over with fragrant blossoms.
AuntEmmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.
"It'sas sweet as yourself, dear child," she said tenderly. "And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?"
"Yes,thanks to you, Aunt Emmy," said Clorinda softly.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because_____________________.
| A．She had to leave Aunt Mary |
| B．She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy |
| C．She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts |
| D．She had no time to make a proper decision |
Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”？
| A．A gift is valued by the mind of the giver. |
| B．Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver. |
| C．You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts. |
| D．Think twice before you give gifts to somebody |
What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?
| A．Passion | B．Sympathy | C．Kindness | D．Company |
What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?
| A．respectfully | B．confidently |
| C．secretly | D．willingly |
Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?
| A．cute and joyful | B．kind-hearted and emotional |
| C．optimistic and wise | D．gentle and timid |
Which of the following is the best title?
| A．A Special Christmas | B．Clorinda’s Gifts |
| C．Aunt Emmy | D．Clorinda’s choice |
Angela Chang(张韶涵) didn’t know it would be so hard to turn singing into a career. She went to many different record companies. But she was always turned down for looking too young and small.
“I’d never had such difficulties before,” Chang said. But Chang’s talent was finally accepted in 2002. When she got a piece of work, she cried.
She soon became a star. Her first album Over the Rainbow sold very well. She won many awards.
“You wouldn’t believe such a beautiful voice could come from such a small body,” said one musician after hearing Chang sing. “She has a special voice. You can’t forget it.”
But the 25-year-old girl has other talents too. Chang is also an actress. She has played a role in the popular TV plays, My MVP Valentine and At Dolphin Bay. Many people remember her common-girl parts in the plays. But acting is difficult. Chang once acted so badly that she was nearly fired. Another time it took her 27 tries to get a scene right.
“I cried when I got back home,” Chang said. “But I knew that I wouldn’t always fail. You only fail when you give up.”
Now with four albums behind her - Over the Rainbow, Aurora, Pandora and Flower in the Wonderland, it’s clear that Chang and music were made for each other. As she sings in one song, “I have a pair of invisible wings. They fly me to the sky and give me hope.”The word “invisible” in the last paragraph means “________________”.
| A．难以相信的 | B．看不见的 | C．隐藏的 | D．暗的 |
Many record companies refused to co-operate(合作) with her because ______________.
| A．she looks very common | B．she is too young |
| C．she doesn’t sing very well | D．she looks young and small |
Which of the following is NOT right?
| A．She won many awards for the album Over the Rainbow. |
| B．She has made four films. |
| C．One musician spoke highly of her. |
| D．She is not only a singer but an actress. |
Although acting is difficult for her, she never gives up because ______________.
| A．she is strong-minded | B．people like her films |
| C．she is interested in acting | D．she acted in the popular TV plays |
Which do you think is the best title of the passage?
| A．The Small Girl. | B．Four Albums. |
| C．I have a Pair of Invisible Wings. | D．A Poor Actress. |
A jobless man wanted very much to have the position of “office boy” at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him and then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. “You have passed the test,” he said. “Give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the form to fill in and the date when you may start.” The man replied, “But I don’t have a computer, neither an e-mail.” “I’m sorry,” said the HR manager. “If you don’t have an e-mail, that means you are not living. And anyone who isn’t living cannot have the job.”
The man left with no hope at all. He didn’t know what to do with only $10 in his pocket. He thought and thought. Then he went to the supermarket and bought 10 kilos of tomatoes. He sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he had 20 dollars. He repeated the operation three times, and started to go early every day, and returned home late. Shortly, he bought a cart , then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles(运货车队). Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers (零售商) in the US.
One day, one of his friends asked him for his e-mail. He said, “I haven’t got one.” His friend couldn’t believe his ears. “Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e-mail?” The man thought for a while and replied, “Yes, I’d be an office boy at Microsoft!”What did the man do for the test?
| A．He sent e-mails. | B．He did the cleaning |
| C．He sold computers. | D．He filled in forms. |
The man didn’t get the job because he_____________.
| A．disliked such a job | B．didn’t pass the test |
| C．didn’t have an e-mail | D．knew nothing about computers |
The man ______after he left Microsoft.
| A．went to look for another job | B．asked for food from door to door |
| C．thought of an idea to make money | D．bought a computer and got an e-mail |
Why could the man become one of the biggest food retailers in the US?
| A．Because he had many friends to help him. |
| B．Because he was smart and worked very hard. |
| C．Because he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. |
| D．Because he wanted to show Microsoft he was living. |
What does the story want to tell us?
| A．Computers are very important in our daily life. |
| B．Everyone can make a lot of money with only$10. |
| C．The HR manager didn’t find the ability of the man. |
| D．Nothing in the world is impossible if we work hard. |
It was not a good day today. Everything went wrong. First, I slept late and Mom shouted at me to wake up. When I went to the kitchen for breakfast, there was no cereal. I decided to have some toast instead, but I burned it. I had to eat it anyway because there was no more bread. There was no juice, either. I just had a glass of water.
When I was almost at the bus stop, I realized that I had forgotten my wallet, so I had to go back home and get it. Of course, I missed the bus and had to wait for the next bus.
I was late for school and the teacher told me to stay in the classroom at lunchtime to catch up on（弥补）the schoolwork I had missed.
After lunch, it was the time to give the teacher our homework. I reached into my bag to get it but it wasn’t there. I had left it at home. I was in trouble again.
When I got home, I went straight to my room to catch up on my homework. Mom cooked fish for dinner. She knows I don’t like fish, but she thinks it is good for her son. It was a horrible day. I hope tomorrow will be better.What happened to the writer on this bad day?
| A．The writer argued with his parents. | B．The writer heard some terrible news. |
| C．Many small things went wrong. | D．Part of the writer’s house was on fire. |
When did the writer’s bad day begin?
| A．At night | B．In the morning. |
| C．At lunchtime. | D．In the afternoon. |
What did the writer do after he went home?
| A．He did some homework. | B．He made a telephone call. |
| C．He made fun with his friend. | D．He was tired, so he went to bed. |
When you “burn” something, you ___________________.
| A．give it away | B．eat it too fast |
| C．cook it too long | D．make it very well |
According to the passage, we can know _______________.
| A．the writer fell off from his bike | B．the writer went to school |
| C．the writer got up early in the morning | D．the writer doesn’t like eating fish |
In the UK, most children have their lunches at school, but in some schools, parents can choose what their children eat. The children can have a school dinner — a hot, cooked meal; or they can take a packed （包装的）lunch with them, which usually includes cold food like sandwiches.
Often parents know what their children want. Cath, a mother of three children, told us, “My children have packed lunches because they say they hate school dinners. So I make three packed lunches every morning.”
However, another mother, Susan, made a different choice. She said, “My daughters have always had school dinners. I think they probably get healthier food at school than a few sandwiches I make for them.”
But how healthy are school dinners? Kaz, a father, thought poorly of them. He said, “Fizzy (起泡的) drinks were offered and I think there were lots of chips.”
Jamie Oliver spent a year working in a school kitchen. He was worried about the unhealthy food which included burgers, pizzas and chips. So he tried to cook healthy food such as good stews(炖肉) and curries (咖喱菜肴) for the children instead.
So Jamie improved the school dinners, and trained the dinner ladies to cook healthy food in that school. Then he advised the government to improve school food across the country. And it seems that the changes have begun.
Anna, a pupil, told us, “we used to have a fast food window where you got chips and coke, but they stopped that this year. There’s salad restaurant, which is good, so it’s healthier than it was.”How many meals do most children in the UK have at school?
| A．One | B．Two | C．Three | D．Four |
_______ would like the children to have the school meals.
| A．Cath | B．Susan | C．Kaz | D．Jamie |
Jamie thought ______ were healthy food
| A．stews and curries | B．burgers and pizzas |
| C．chips and fizzy drinks | D．sandwiches and coke |
The last two paragraphs show that________.
| A．There’s a salad restaurant in every school |
| B．salad is the only healthy food for students |
| C．schools have begun to cook healthier food |
| D．the government doesn’t care about school dinners |
What is the best title for this text?
| A．Healthy Food | B．Unhealthy Food |
| C．Packed Lunches | D．School Dinners |
As we know, Human beings each have unique brains. The brain is of the greatest importance to the body. It is the boss of the body．Your eyes，ears，nose，and skin tell your brain what is going on around you．Other parts of your body tell your brain what is going on inside of you．Your brain takes in the signals．It tells your body what to do with them．When you touch fire，your skin tells your brain that your finger is too hot．Your brain tells you to move your finger．All these happen very fast．Your brain also controls your breathing，blinking，and heartbeat．It controls your feelings and thoughts too．
Humans have the most developed brain of all animals．Yet it is not the largest brain．The human brain weighs three pounds．The brain of an elephant weighs 11 pounds．So the largest brain is not always the best brain．In people，a larger brain does not mean a clever person．What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．The human brain works very fast． |
| B．The largest brain is not always the best brain． |
| C．The brain controls the body． |
| D．The best brain is the largest brain． |
What happens after the brain takes in the signals from the body?
| A．The brain grows faster and larger． | B．The brain tells the body what to do． |
| C．The body becomes more developed． | D．We don't know． |
What does “the boss of the body” mean?
| A．The signals． | B．The most developed body part． |
| C．The main part of the body. | D．The centre of the body． |
Which brain is the most developed?
| A．The largest brain． | B．The human brain． |
| C．The smaller brain． | D．Not too big brain． |
What are the things that the human brain does?
A．Takes in signals． B．Controls breathing．
C．Controls feelings and thoughts． D．A，B and C．