You have probably heard of homing pigeons, which usually appeared in wars. From 3000 B. C. to the present, homing pigeons have as postmen. They have been especially useful for carrying messages
wars. The telegraph is not
to carry about. Sometimes only the little pigeon can take a message where it ought to go.
In 1870,when the Prussians surrounded the city of Paris, the city was cut off from all the means of communication. The people
many different ways of sending news. One way was to let go small balloons carrying mail.
of course, they only drifted (漂)
the wind carried them. Often they landed inside the enemy's lines. Even balloons large enough to carry a pilot could hardly be
controlled.
It was pigeons that in the end solved the . Homing pigeons were brought into the city. Soon they were carrying letters far and wide. The enemy brought
to catch pigeons, but the little postmen could fly faster than their
Strangely enough, pigeons played an important
during the war.
During the First World War every army unit had a group of pigeons . Many of them were
. Among them was an American pigeon with a French name Cher A mi, which meant " dear friend". A group of US soldiers were surrounded by the enemy. They had no food and no bullets. They nearly died of
. There was little hope for them. Cher Ami made his way
the bullets and succeeded. At once planes
to drop food and ammunition(军火)to them. With their strength
,the soldiers fought back to their own army and eot saved.
can pigeons carry the message? There were various methods. Usually the message is put into a little glass tube. The tube is tied to the leg or hidden under
or hung around the neck.
A. considered B. served C. regarded D. made
A. in favour of B. in need of C. during D. in time of
A. easy B. difficult C. necessary D. important
A. present B. past C. usual D. ordinary
A. used B. did C. tried D. managed
A. And B. Though C. Since D. But
A. which B. that C. to which D. where
A. well B. rather C. only D. just
A. questions B. situation C. problem D. thing
A. dogs B. soldiers C. planes D. hawks
A. enemies B. postmen C. balloons D. bullets
A. action B. part C. ball D. game
A. trained B. taught C. bought D. fed
A. killed B. sold C. honoured D. sent
A. the enemy B. hunger C. anger D. war
A. for B. to C. in D. through
A. landed B. found out C. set out D. set about
A. recovered B. arrived C. lost D. missing
A. Why B. How C. When D. Where
A. the head B. the body C. the foot D. a wing
When I was six years old, my parents and I were in London for a one-month vacation. One day when my mother and I were 36 down Oxford Street, I felt too 37 to walk any more, so I asked my mother to take the subway.
At first, she 38 to take it because she said the weather was very 39 and it was better to walk. I started 40 . She told me to stop immediately, but I didn’t pay attention to what she was 41 . For about an hour, I didn’t stop crying. My mother became very 42 with me. I didn’t stop. I just ran away from her. I ran as 43 as I could.
The street was really crowded, so she couldn’t 44 me. Then, I entered one of the biggest shops. There was a coffee house on the second floor. I went 45 , sat in a chair, and started crying again. All of the people in the coffee shop came around me. They were 46 to me, but I didn’t understand English at all. After that, they 47 the police station, and a policeman came to the coffee shop. He tried to talk to me, but I just 48 crying. Then he took the small bag that I was 49 , opened it and found my hotel address and 50 number. When he phoned the hotel, my 51 answered the phone.
In the end, the policeman took me to the 52 . My father was standing in front of the hotel door. He talked to the policeman, and then he asked me what had 53 and where my mother was. I told him everything, and I also told him that I was 54 that my mother was very angry with me.
When my mother came back, she was crying. But when she saw me, she hugged me and kissed me. She talked to my father about everything. 55 of them told me not to do anything like that in the future because maybe one day I wouldn’t find anyone to help me. They wouldn’t forgive me if I did it again.
A.running B.walking C.visiting D.driving
A.tired B.mad C.happy D.sad
A.agreed B.refused C.suggested D.managed
A.horrible B.windy C.nice D.cold
A.talking B.laughing C.singing D.crying
A.hearing B.regarding C.thinking D.saying
A.angry B.strict C.satisfied D.familiar
A.excitedly B.slowly C.quickly D.carelessly
A.search B.educate C.forgive D.follow
A.outside B.inside C.upon D.down
A.advising B.talking C.listening D.coming
A.called B.remembered C.measured D.left
A.stopped B.preferred C.regretted D.continued
A.catching B.carrying C.gaining D.buying
A.serial B.lucky C.phone D.license
A.mother B.guide C.father D.waiter
A.hotel B.shop C.street D.station
A.forgotten B.happened C.damaged D.lost
A.worried B.concerned C.afraid D.angry
A.None B.Either C.Neither D.Both
13-year-old Frank had received many presents he wanted. But Frank was not __36__ because this was his first Christmas without his brother. Frank said to his parents that he would __37__ to see a friend. __38__ it was cold outside, Frank put on his new jacket and took presents on his new sled(雪橇).
As Frank walked, he saw a house with the __39__ hanging over a fireplace. A woman was seated near them __40__. The stockings reminded Frank of the ones beside him and his brother. A sudden thought __41__ Frank.
So he knocked on the door. “__42__?” the sad voice of the woman answered. “May I come in?” “Please” she said, seeing his __43__ full of gifts, and thinking he was making a collection, “but I have no food or gifts for you. I even have __44__ for my own children.”
“That’s not why I am here,” Frank replied. “Please __45__ any present you like for your children from this sled.”
“Why, God bless you!” the __46__ woman answered. She chose until the stockings were full. “Won’t you tell me your __47__?” she asked. “Just call me the Christmas Scout,” Frank replied.
The visit __48__ the boy touched, with an unexpected __49__ in his heart. He understood that his sorrow(悲伤) was not the only sorrow. He __50__ all the gifts, including the new jacket.
“Where are your presents, Frank?” asked his father as he __51__ the house. “ I handed them out to other children.”
“Frank, how could you do so?” his mother asked in anger. The next morning, he came downstairs and __52__ his parents listening to Christmas news on the radio. Then the announcer spoke: “Merry Christmas! Several families __53__ their children were made happy by the gifts from a boy. No one could __54__ him.” Frank felt his father’s arms go around his shoulders, and he saw his mother smiling __55__ her tears.
A.lovely B.astonished C.lonely D.happy
A.leave B.turn C.grow D.become
A.When B.Since C.Where D.Though
A.present B.light C.stockings D.tree
A.sleeping B.crying C.smiling D.laughing
A.appeared B.worried C.occurred D.struck
A.Why B.What C.Yes D.When
A.stocking B.pocket C.sled D.bag
A.anything B.nothing C.something D.everything
A.buy B.borrow C.bring D.choose
A.amazed B.encouraged C.tired D.bored
A.address B.name C.number D.school
A.started B.left C.felt D.performed
A.joy B.surprise C.sorrow D.disappointment
A.took away B.gave up C.gave away D.picked up
A.visited B.came C.passed D.entered
A.made B.saw C.looked D.suggested
A.believed B.complained C.reported D.forecast
A.respect B.think C.realize D.recognize
A.by B.besides C.without D.through
This is a story that can teach us a good lesson. One day, a man in rags begged from door to door along the street. With an old wallet in his hand, he was asking for a few coins to buy something to eat. He kept complaining about his bad fortune and kept 36 why those who had so much money were never 37 and were always desiring more.
“As far as I’m concerned, if I had only enough to 38 and to wear, I would not want anything more.”
Just at that moment Goddess Fortune, who came down the 39 saw the beggar and said to him, “Hi, I have wished to 40 you for a long time. Now, open your 41 and I will pour my gold into it. But I will do that only on this 42 : All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold; but every piece falling upon the 43 shall become dust. Do you understand?
“I see,” said the beggar.
“Then you should 44 ! It’s obvious that your wallet is a(an) 45 one, so don’t load it too heavily,” said the Goddess Fortune.
The excited beggar could hardly 46 to have gold. He quickly opened his wallet, and a 47 of yellow coins was poured into it. The wallet grew heavier and heavier.
“Is that enough?” Isn’t it cracking?” asked Fortune.
“Never fear. It’s still 48 enough now.” answered the beggar.
The wallet was filled with so many coins that the beggar’s hands began to 49 . “Ah, if only the golden stream would 50 forever! Just a little more,” said the beggar, “ 51 just a handful or two.”
“There! It’s full. The wallet will 52 .” warned the Goddess, but the beggar requested, “It will 53a little more, just a little more.”
One more piece was added and the wallet split. The 54 fell upon the ground and became dust. The greedy beggar had now 55 but his broken bag.
A.showing B.explaining C.proving D.wondering
A.relaxed B.satisfied C.worried D.depressed
A.learn B.watch C.eat D.play
A.street B.bridge C.yard D.forest
A.praise B.forgive C.help D.comfort
A.coat B.pocket C.box D.wallet
A.occasion B.suggestion C.situation D.condition
A.hand B.feet C.ground D.beggar
A.look out B.look after C.look up D.look down
A.rich B.empty C.worn D.full
A.stand B.wait C.breathe D.think
A.stream B.piece C.pair D.variety
A.weak B.strong C.poor D.rich
A.spread B.close C.loose D.shake
A.pour B.end C.dry D.melt
A.take B.add C.lend D.borrow
A.flow B.burst C.disappear D.change
A.attract B.permit C.include D.hold
A.present B.food C.treasure D.water
A.nothing B.anything C.everything D.something
The first attempt of even the most talented artists, musicians, and writers is seldom a masterpiece. If you consider your drafts as dress rehearsals (彩排), or tryouts, revising will seem a natural part of the writing ___21___.
What is the purpose of the dress rehearsals and the out-of-town previews that many Broadway shows go through? The answer is adding, deleting, replacing, reordering, __22___ revising. Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Phantom of the Opera underwent(经历)such a process.
When Lloyd Webber began writing in 1984, he had in mind a funny, exciting production. However, when Phantom opened in London in 1986, the audience saw a moving psychological love story set to music. The musical had ___23___ several revisions due to problems with costuming andmakeup (戏服和化妆). For instance, Lloyd Webber ___24___ some of the music because the Phantom's makeup prevented the actor from singing certain sounds.
When you revise, you change aspects of your work in ___25___ to your evolving(不断演变的) purpose, or to include ___26___ ideas or newly discovered information.
Revision is not just an afterthought that gets only as much time as you have at the end of an assignment. ___27___, it is a major stage of the writing process, and writers revise every step of the way. Even your decision to ___28___ topics while prewriting is a type of revising. However, don't make the mistake of skipping the revision stage that follows training. Always make time to become your own __29__and view your dress rehearsal, so to speak. Reviewing your work in this way can give you ___30___ new ideas.
Revising involves __31__ the effectiveness and appropriateness(恰当)of all aspects of your writing, making your purpose more ___32____, and refocusing or developing the facts and ideas you present. When you revise, ask yourself the following questions, keeping in mind the audience for whom you are writing: Is my main idea or purpose ___33__ throughout my draft? Do I ever lose sight of my purpose? Have I given my readers all of the __34___; that is, facts, opinions, inferences --- that they need in order to understand my main idea? Finally, have I included too many___35___ details that may confuse readers?
A.technique B.style C.process D.career
A.in particular B.as a result C.for example D.in other words
A.undergone B.skipped C.rejected D.replaced
A.rewrote B.released C.recorded D.reserved
A.addition B.response C.opposition D.contrast
A.fixed B.ambitious C.familiar D.fresh
A.However B.Moreover C.Instead D.Therefore
A.discuss B.switch C.exhaust D.cover
A.director B.master C.audience D.visitor
A.personal B.valuable C.basic D.delicate
A.mixing B.weakening C.maintaining D.assessing
A.specifically B.freshly C.swiftly D.loosely
A.amazing B.bright C.unique D.clear
A.angles B.evidence C.information D.hints
A.unnecessary B.uninteresting C.concrete D.final
Long long ago, there was a small village.This village had a 31 tradition.At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of majority (成年) was given land and money to build a home.The boy had to 32 his home before winter.If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 33 him in any way.
One 34 , Paul and Marc reached their majority.They 35 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes.In each village, they found the nicest 36 and talked to the owners.Each owner gladly offered 37 .
After Marc saw several homes, he 38 the best ideas and went back to his own land.Paul, however, continued collecting more ideas.Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 39 some of them.But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village.
Marc began building his home.He had several false starts, 40 his home gradually rose from his land.By fall, Marc had finished his home.It wasn't perfect,but it was strong and he could 41 it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 42 with home owners.The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 43 back to his land.He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was weak.The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 44 .The villagers mourned for him.
Marc survived the winter.Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better.He became a leader in the village, 45a family, and lived a happy, content life.
A.strange B.hopeful C.literary D.cultural
A.find B.make C.complete D.buy
A.help B.encourage C.scold D.persuade
A.winter B.summer C.autumn D.spring
A.exchanged B.received C.recognized D.advice
A.girls B.jobs C.houses D.presents
A.rooms B.drinks C.attention D.advice
A.expected B.gathered C.created D.understood
A.forget B.believe C.replace D.doubt
A.because B.although C.but D.so
A.repair B.rebuild C.sell D.improve
A.conversations B.achievements C.struggles D.arguments
A.drove B.rushed C.flew D.moved
A.blindness B.death C.sadness D.illness
A.brought B.earned C.contacted D.raised