A black and white kitten with a broken back lay on animal doctor Betsy Knenon's examination table. A regular customer had rushed him to her office after his pet dog brought the cat home in his mouth. The dog's owner was horrified, believing that his pet had caused the cat's injuries. But Kennon found no teeth marks or bite wounds, which showed that the dog had probably saved, not harmed, the kitten.
In Kennon’s opinion, however, the cat was a hopeless case. Many doctors would have put down such a badly hurt animal. But she couldn’t be so cruel. The kitten’s bright eyes and sad face had won her over. There was no way of finding his owner, so Kennon, a single woman aged 56, decided to keep him.
She gave him a round of shots and fed him food mixed with medicines. He couldn’t move his back legs but soon started pulling himself forward with his front legs. The doctor named him Scooter and contacted a company that makes carts for disabled animals. Scooter took to his new wheels like a natural. In no time he was able to move freely, if somewhat awkwardly, around Kennon’s office, home and even her backyard. The sight of the determined Scooter was uplifting and amusing in equal measure and Kennon had to smile each time the cat entered the room.
Kennon was convinced that her kitten could share his high spirits with others. So she took Scooter to the local hospital to see if he could help the patients. His first patient was an elderly woman who’d had a stroke and hadn’t spoken to anyone for two days. Scooter jumped out of Kennon’s arms and onto the bed, rolled over to the patient, and lay gently near her cheek, purring softly. The woman looked at Scooter. “Kitty,” she murmured as she began to talk to him. Amazed, Kennon turned to the doctor--- and saw that she was in tears. The cat had engineered a small miracle.
Today Scooter spends about ten hours a month working with patients who are recovering from strokes and injuries. Again and again, Kennon watches as her cat provides hope and comfort. As one patient who’d lost her leg in a car accident said, “If he can do it, so can I.” From Paragraph 1, we know that ___________.
A.the dog’s owner was a stranger to Kennon |
B.the cat had several bite marks on its body |
C.the dog was extremely cruel to the cat |
D.who actually injured the cat was unknown |
The underlined phrase “put down” in Paragraph 2 most probably means___________.
A.hurt |
B.killed |
C.refused |
D.replaced |
Why did Kennon decide to keep the cat?
A.She wanted a companion. |
B.The cat’s owner abandoned him. |
C.She liked the cat. |
D.The cat was hopeless. |
How did Kennon help the cat move around?
A.By curing his broken back. |
B.By getting him a special cart. |
C.By feeding him medicines. |
D.By exercising him in her backyard. |
According to the passage, what is the main reason that the cat works miracle?
A.He is able to inspire others. |
B.Patients feel sympathy for him. |
C.People are amused by his appearance. |
D.He has the ability to cure the ill. |
What will city life be like in the future? Some people think that life in the cities is going to be horrible. They say that cities will become more and more crowded. As the number of people increases, there will be less space for each person. This overcrowding will cause other problems — more crime, dirtier streets , and worse problems with traffic than we have now. How will people find enough drinking water, energy (such as gas and electricity ), and housing? Because life will be hard, people who live in cities will worry more, and they may become sick. For these reasons, some say that nobody will want to live in city areas.
How can we deal with such problems as overcrowding, crime, and traffic? In some cities, thousands of people are already sleeping in the streets because there is little suitable housing — and because houses are too expensive. The crime rate isn’t going down. Instead, it is increasing so fast that many people are afraid to go out at night. Traffic is also getting worse. More and more often, traffic jams are so bad that cars don’t move at all for several streets. These problems have been getting worse, not better, so many people see no hope for the future of the city.
Los Angeles, California, for example, has no subway system and buses are slow. Instead, many commuters (乘、开车上班族) drive many miles from their homes to work. Many of these drivers spend several hours each day on busy freeways. New York, however, has a big transport system — buses, commuter trains, and subways. Because the public transportation is crowded and dirty, many people drive private cars, and the traffic jams are worse than that in Los Angeles. A taxi driver complains, “I was driving home, but in forty-five minutes I moved only two miles! Finally, I turned off the engine and just sat there. A lot of people left their cars where they were in the middle of the street and went into a bar for a few beers!”
On the other hand, some cities have clean, fast and pleasant public transportation systems. In Paris, France, and Toronto, Canada, for example, anyone can use buses or subways to move quickly from one part of the city to another.What do some people think is the main problem of the future city like?
A.Poor housing. | B.Overcrowding. |
C.Environmental pollution. | D.Traffic jams. |
The best way to work out the traffic problem in Los Angels might be _________.
A.cutting down the number of private cars |
B.providing more buses in the freeway |
C.building a subway system |
D.persuading people to live nearer to their workplaces |
Which of the following sentences is NOT TRUE?
A.Thousands of people are already sleeping in the streets. |
B.The crime rate isn’t going down. |
C.The traffic jams are so bad that cars don’t move at all for several streets. |
D.Many people have a positive attitude towards the future of the city. |
One thing the tour books don’t tell you about London is that 2,000 of its residents are foxes. They ran away from the city about centuries ago after developers and pollution moved in. But now that the environment is cleaner, the foxes have come home, one of the many wild animals that have moved into urban areas around the world.
“The number and variety of wild animals in urban areas is increasing,” says Gomer Jones, president of the National Institute for Urban Wildlife, in Columbia, Maryland. A survey of the wildlife in New York’s Central Park last year tallied the species of mammals, including muskrats, shrews and flying squirrels. A similar survey conducted in the 1890s counted only five species. One of the country’s largest populations of raccoons (浣熊) now lives in Washington D.C., and moose (驼鹿) are regularly seen wandering into Maine towns. Peregrine falcons(游隼) dive from the window ledges of buildings in the largest U.S. cities to prey on (捕食) pigeons.
Several changes have brought wild animals to the cities. Foremost(首要的) is that air and water quality in many cities has improved as a result of the 1970s pollution-control efforts. Meanwhile, rural areas have been built up, leaving many animals on the edges of suburbs. In addition, urban wildlife refuges (避难处)have been created. The Greater London Council last year spent£750,000 to buy land and build 10 permanent wildlife refuges in the city. Over 1,000 volunteers have donated money and cleared rubble from deserted lots. One evening last year a fox was seen on Westminster Bridge looking up at Big Ben.
For peregrine falcons, cities are actually safer than rural cliff dwellings (悬崖栖息地). By 1970 the birds had died out east of the Mississippi because the DDT had made their eggs too thin to support life. That year, scientist Tom Cade of Cornell University began raising the birds for release in cities, for cities afforded abundant food.
Cities can attract wild animals without turning them harmful. The trick is to create habitats where they can be self-sufficient but still be seen and appreciated. Such habitats can even be functional. In San Francisco, the local government is testing different kinds of rainwater control basins to see not only which ones retain (保持) the cleanest water but which will attract the most birds.The first paragraph suggests that ________.
A.environment is vital for wildlife |
B.tour books are not always a reliable source of information |
C.London is a city of fox |
D.foxes are highly adaptable to environment |
Which of the following is NOT a reason that wildlife is returning to the cities?
A.Food is plentiful in the cities. |
B.Wildlife is appreciated in the cities. |
C.Wildlife refuges have been built in the cities |
D.Air and water quality has improved in the cities |
It can be inferred from the passage that _________.
A.Londoners are putting more and more wild animals into their zoos. |
B.Londoners are happy to see wild animals return to their city |
C.Londoners are trying to move wild animals back to the countryside |
D.Londoners have welcomed the wild birds, but found foxes a problem |
My father had always been an alert(警觉的) observer of human character. Within seconds of meeting someone, he could sum up their strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my boyfriends could pass Dad’s test. None did. Dad was always right---they didn’t pass my test either. After Dad died, I wondered how I’d figure it out on my own.
That’s when Jack arrived on the scene. He was different from any other guy I’d dated. He could sit for hours on the piano bench with my mother, discussing some composers. My brother Rick loudly announced that Jack wasn’t a turkey like the other guys I’d brought home. Jack passed my family’s test. But what about Dad’s?
Then came my mother’s birthday. The day he was supposed to drive, I got a call. “Don’t worry,” he said, “but I’ve been in an accident. I’m fine, but I need you to pick me up.”
When I got there, we rushed to a flower shop for something for Mom. “How about gardenias?” Jack said, pointing at a beautiful white corsage(胸花). The florist put the corsage in a box.
The entire ride, Jack was unusually quiet. “Are you all right?” I asked. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said. “I might be moving.” Moving? Then he added, “Moving in with you.” I nearly put the car on the sidewalk. “What?” I asked. “I think we should get married,” he said. He told me he’d planned his proposal in a fancy restaurant, but after the accident, he decided to do it right away. “Yes,” I whispered. We both sat dumbfounded, tears running down our cheeks. I’d never known such a tender moment. If only Dad were here to give his final approval.
“Oh, let’s just go inside.” Jack laughed. My mother opened the door. “Happy Birthday!” we shouted. Jack handed the box to her. She opened it up. Suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears. “Mom, what’s wrong?” I asked. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “This is only the second gardenia corsage I’ve ever received. I was given one years ago, long before you kids were born.” “From who?” I asked. “Your father,” Mom said. “He gave me one right before we were engaged.” My eyes locked on Jack’s as I blinked away(眨掉) tears. Dad’s test? I knew Jack had passed.According to the text, we know the writer’s father was __________.
A.interested in observing things around |
B.good at judging one’s character |
C.strict with her boyfriend |
D.fond of challenges |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
A.Jack got the family’s approval except Dad’s. |
B.Jack was different from any other boy. |
C.Jack was getting on well with Mother. |
D.Jack knew a lot about piano. |
The underlined word “proposal” in Paragraph 5 means __________.
A.piece of advice | B.wedding ceremony |
C.celebration of birthday | D.offer of marriage |
On hearing “moving in with you”, the writer felt.
A.pleased | B.worried | C.surprised | D.disappointed |
Why did the writer’s mother cry?
A.The gift was the same as the one her husband gave her. |
B.She had never received such a beautiful gift. |
C.Her daughter found her life partner at last. |
D.The gardenia corsage was too expensive. |
Do you know blood types?
Special care must be taken in selecting new blood for a badly injured person, who would be killed by the transfusion (输血) if the blood is too different from his own.
There are four basic types of blood A. B. A B. and O. Blood type, like hair and height, comes from parents. Basically, A and B can not be mixed. AB, sometimes called the universal recipient (万能受血者), may receive A or B,. O type, often called the universal donor (万能输血者), gives his blood to any other group. Patients usually receive nothing, but salt or plasma (血浆) until their blood can be matched as exactly as possible in the blood bank of a hospital. There is a relationship between your blood type and your nationality (国籍). Among Europeans, about 42 % have type A while 45 % have type O. The fewest is the type B. Which of the following show the correct relationship in blood transfusion ("→"means giving blood to...)?
A. | B. | C. | D. |
Usually person who has been injured and lost too much blood should be given a blood transfusion______.
A.after he receives salt and plasma | B.before he feels uncomfortable |
C.when the new blood fits his body | D.as soon as accident happens |
From this passage we can know that among Europeans ______ 13 % have the type B.
A. about B. no more than C. less than D. at most
Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, especially at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings (人行道) and do not take any chances when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn't lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally, as regards (至于) smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact the police, who will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to ask any policeman. Who do you think is most likely to make the speech?
A.A guide | B.A person who makes laws |
C.A teacher | D.An English officer |
How many laws are there discussed in the speech?
A.Four | B.Three | C.Six | D.Five |
The main purpose of this speech is to __________.
A.tell people that those above 18 can drink and smoke there |
B.declare (宣布) the different laws of England |
C.give advice to travelers to the country |
D.warn people against going to the country |
The underlined word "contact" in the last paragraph means to __________.
A.keep in touch with (联系) | B.turn to | C.make a call to | D.write to |