At an auction (拍卖会) last Thursday, Kevin Lipton paid $2,585,000 for the Birch Cent, a made in 1792 that is its engraver (刻版师), Robert Birch. It’s the most money paid for a one-cent piece. And yes, he said, the purchase made . “It’s like our very first penny,” Lipton, 55, told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. “It’s such a(n) coin. It’s so important, so rare.”
The coin is 10 similar coins known to exist that were produced after the founding of the U.S. Mint (美国造币厂), said Jim Halperin, co-chairman of Heritage Auctions. It features a profile face Miss Liberty, framed by a motto that was later abandoned, “Liberty Parent of Science & Industry.”
Lipton, who owns a coin wholesaling business (批发业务) in Beverly Hills, had been eyeing the Birch Cent he saw it in 1981 at a New York auction house. That year, Johns Hopkins University consigned (拍卖、寄售) the penny for auction, and it was by New York City developer Donald G. Patrick $200,000. Patrick consigned the coin to Texas-based Heritage Auctions. At the Orlando auction where Lipton the Birch Cent, he bought a quarter dollar from 1792 for $2,232,500. , he paid about $4.8 million for 26 cents.
Lipton has coins since he was 12 years old, and his full-time coin business _ when he was just 17. He that he was nervous about spending so much money, but now he’s his million-dollar coins will mature. “They are a great store value, and will only be worth more ,” Lipton said. ‘‘They are Mona Lisas of our coinage.’’
A．dollar B．note C．coin D．quarter
A．designed for B．sold by C．based on D．named after
A．ever B．even C．still D．yet
A．money B．sense C．changes D．adjustments
A．special B．magical C．artificial D．beneficial
A．between B．within C．among D．of
A．experimentally B．definitely C．finally D．perfectly
A．predicting B．indicating C．representing D．suggesting
A．until B．when C．after D．since
A．sold B．purchased C．borrowed D．lent
A．by B．on C．for D．in
A．set up B．picked up C．made up D．put up
A．also B．thus C．already D．just
A．Altogether B．Anyway C．However D．Besides
A．made B．issued C．displayed D．collected
A．started B．decreased C．failed D．progressed
A．concluded B．declared C．admitted D．swore
A．cautious B．confused C．committed D．confident
A．in the past B．in the future C．for the moment D．at the time
A．merely B．actually C．temporarily D．probably
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, ____36___ my teacher said again and again that it was important.
One day, I ____37____ to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about ___38_____ I was studying English, the foreigner shook his head, saying, ‘You don’t say! You don’t say!’ I was ___39___. I thought, perhaps this was not a ___40__ topic. Well, I’d ___41___ change the topic. So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? ___42___ the way, have you ever ____43___ there?’
‘Certainly. Everyone back home will ____44____ me if I leave China without seeing it. It is great!’
I said, ‘The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. It is a place of ____45___.’ But soon I was ___46___ again by his words, ‘___47_____!’ I couldn’t help but __48____, ‘Why did you ask me not to talk about it?’
‘Well, I ___49____ ask you to do so,’ he answered, gently surprised.
I said, ‘Didn’t you say “You don’t say”?’
Hearing this, the Englishman ___50_____ to tears. He began to ___51______, “‘You don’t say!” actually means ‘really?’ It is an ___52_____ of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English _____53______.’
Then I knew I had made a fool of ___54___. Since then I have been more __55____ with idioms
A．though B．when C．despite D．because
A．decided B．longed C．looked forward D．happened
A．what B．when C．how D．where
A．pleased B．angry C．scared D．surprised
A．proper B．interesting C．ideal D．polite
A．to B．better C．not D．like
A．On B．In C．With D．By
A．gone B．visited C．seen D．been
A．look up to B．think highly of C．be proud of D．laugh at
A．fun B．interest C．hard work D．China
A．encouraged B．shouted C．interrupted D．disturbed
A．Really B．It was great C．You don’t say D．You are right
A．ask B．to ask C．asking D．asked
A．won’t B．don’t C．couldn’t D．didn’t
A．laughed B．cried C．moved D．came
A．explain B．shout C．prove D．say
A．experience B．expression C．explanation D．example
A．learning B．idioms C．language D．phrases
A．me B．myself C．him D．himself
A．curious B．anxious C．careful D．worried
Last week I went to a supermarket. After I 36 the bill and was passing through the door, the alarm suddenly started to ring. Suddenly, a young guard ran toward me and ordered me to 37 him. I felt so upset and 38 . He took me to a small room, but I was 39 frightened that I stopped at the door. Finding me 40 to enter the room, he shouted that I had to go into the room.
He closed the door. I thought he was going to hurt me. Suddenly, a 41 voice said in my ear, “Take out the things you've stolen!” “I stole nothing.” I said. “Do as I tell you. If we find them, you’ll be in trouble.” “There is nothing.” I answered. “I didn't take anything.” I said, taking everything out of my pockets and bag.
42 this point, a guard came in and asked a salesgirl to 43 me. 44 , they found nothing.
But they didn't believe that I hadn't stolen anything. So the young guard ordered me to pass through the door alarm again.
I was 45 when it rang again. I felt 46 and burst into tears. I didn't know how to prove 47 I was innocent.
They made me go into the small room again.
“Take out the stolen things quickly, 48 we will dial 110.” They said.
“OK, call the police. I’ m not afraid.” I said 49 .
Suddenly, they 50 their tone. After a while, a salesgirl asked me to raise my feet. I did 51 she had told me. There was a label (标签) on the bottom of my shoe. That was it! That was the 52 thing that had brought me such great trouble. But it 53 my innocence.
After that, they 54 to me in the small room. But they should have apologized 55 , shouldn't they? A lot of people were there when I was taken away. What did they think of me?
A．buy B．paid C．passed D．spent
A．obey B．beg C．follow D．listen to
A．angry B．excited C．happy D．puzzled
A．very B．much C．such D．so
A．disagree B．unwilling C．voluntarily D．willingly
A．gentle B．cold C．sound D．polite
A．Of B．In C．At D．From
A．look at B．watch C．examine D．keep
A．Needless to say B．So far C．On one hand D．As a result of
A．afraid B．frightened C．shocked D．sad
A．wronged B．annoying C．confused D．unpleasant
A．what B．whether C．that D．how
A．and B．but C．or D．so
A．unhappily B．forcefully C．terribly D．widely
A．changed B．raised C．increased D．closed
A．like B．as C．according to D．as if
A．only B．last C．very D．just
A．tested B．showed C．proved D．gave
A．said B．apologized C．agreed D．promised
A．loudly B．together C．politely D．in public
You and I have principles. And we also have opinions. I have opinions about what I think is 36 or wrong, good or bad. But they’re only 37 ---I could be wrong! I won’t try to 38 my life around my opinions, but I will try to 39 my principles.
A 15-year-old boy learned a(n) 40 lesson about principles. On his way home he found a 41 that contained $127 and the owner’s identification. 42 hesitation, he hopped(快速跳) onto his bicycle and went over to the owner’s 43 ---about a mile away. He told her that he had44 her wallet and she gave him a big hug and twenty dollars.
That evening the boy told his parents about what had happened. However, his father said, “I don’t think you should have 45 $20 for doing what you should do. A person shouldn’t be 46 for being honest.”.
He thought about his father’s 47 and decided he would return the money. He returned to the lady’s home and 48 her back the twenty dollars. She didn’t want to take it, but he told her she 49 to , for his father pointed out 50 to him that he had never 51 before.
When principles 52 our decisions and actions, we actually change. These great principles 53 our lives and make us into persons of character. That boy is 54 to be raised by a wise father who had the 55 to say, “Those are my principles.”
A．right B．mistaken C．good D．bad
A．decisions B．opinions C．suggestions D．wishes
A．waste B．share C．build D．risk
A．follow B．make C．advertise D．change
A．difficult B．easy C．funny D．valuable
A．bag B．box C．wallet D．suitcase
A．Without B．In C．About D．For
A．factory B．school C．office D．house
A．found B．checked C．searched D．threw
A．received B．supplied C．accepted D．borrowed
A．blamed B．rewarded C．praised D．forgotten
A．worries B．actions C．excuses D．words
A．set B．put C．gave D．took
A．planned B．had C．preferred D．attempted
A．anything B．everything C．something D．nothing
A．realized B．guessed C．met D．taught
A．interrupt B．guide C．confuse D．allow
A．limit B．prevent C．keep D．shape
A．comfortable B．careful C．fortunate D．brave
A．chance B．right C．courage D．wisdom
A man has returned three library books to a Melbourne library—21 years overdue（误期）.The books were returned to Sam Merrifield Library with a (n)__ 21___note and a $50 bill.
___ 22___Margaret Young was pleased that the books had been returned. They were in excellent___23__ , except for the one that the borrower admitted had been damaged by a___24___.
“They’re all spy books. We were just surprised and___25 ___that he has returned the books, ___26 ___after so many years,” Mrs. Young said.
The books were__ 27__on June 18, 1985 and would have to be paid almost $5,800 in overdue
__28__. But, because of the sweet letter and $50 note, Mrs. Young said all was__29__.
She said, “We thank him for returning the books and hope his conscience（良心）is __ 30 _. I’d like to think he can come back into the library one day to borrow more material__31__he returns it.”
To whom it may concern,
About 20 years ago I__32 __to return the three books to your library. In fact I__33__them.During that time, one of the books was damaged by my dog. I have enclosed all three books and a sum of money that will go some way toward __34__the damaged book.
My __35__were unforgivable; a thief is a thief. Please __ 36__my apology for stealing the books and for not having the courage to return them__37__.
I want you to know that for the last few years this theft has__38__my conscience and I am sorry I was so selfish to steal them in the first__39__. I hope this goes some small way to__40 __my actions.
A．explanation B．apology C．thank D．payment
A．Secretary B．Borrower C．Lender D．Librarian
A．condition B．situation C．state D．position
A．cat B．thief C．dog D．spy
A．regretful B．lucky C．thankful D．sorry
A．specially B．shortly C．especially D．simply
A．over B．good C．due D．away
A．fines B．money C．rewards D．payment
A．paid B．punished C．returned D．forgiven
A．eased B．calmed C．killed D．lost
A．even if B．as long as C．as though D．because
A．planned B．failed C．meant D．promised
A．replacing B．cleaning C．replying D．recreating
A．habits B．manners C．ways D．actions
A．receive B．refuse C．blame D．accept
A．sooner B．later C．more D．worse
A．affected B．felt C．bothered D．disappointed
A．place B．time C．chance D．thing
A．look up for B．make up for C．come up for D．take up for
Dash of Hope
"Dash" is a symbol which represents every day we've spent alive on earth. Therefore, how you spend your "dash" is important.
Recently I 36 about a little girl named Hope. After learning more about her life, I couldn't help but feel it was not by 37 , nor happenstance（意外事件）, that she had been named "Hope". The strong feeling of sympathy and generosity 38 in her young heart made a lasting impression on me and countless others. 39 I never had the opportunity to meet her, I wish I had. It seems as though she was wise beyond her tender years and very, very special.
Hope was a twelve-year-old girl who was 40 a "wish" in early December 2010 by the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation after being 41 that she had a rare type of bone cancer. However, when she found out that more than 150 42 in her area were waiting for their wishes to be achieved , she unselfishly used her wish to 43 that those children have their wishes granted. She also asked that it be done 44 January 16, 2011. Unfortunately, however, the organization informed her that her 45 request could not be granted as the funds were simply 46 . They calculated that they would need to raise more than one 47 dollars in thirty days in order to grant her wish. 48 , but not discouraged, she turned her disappointment into an enthusiasm that inspired caring 49 to take up helping grant the wishes of the other children, and eventually 50 as well. Newspaper columnists and reporters for radio and TV stations 51 the story of this caring young girl who had 52 the hearts of so many and as word spread, the community was challenged. Committees were fanned and schools, corporations and various organizations assisted in 53 money to help make Hope's dream come true.
Her efforts were not in vain as they continue to help others, not only 54 , but spiritually and emotionally as well. At the gathering to celebrate her life, "A Celebration of Hope" on January 16, 2011 , the 55 was made that they had indeed received donations totaling more than one million dollars. Her wish had been granted!
A．heard B．thought C．cared D．talked
A．coincidence B．independence C．convenience D．intelligence
A．lost B．carried C．expected D．housed
A．Until B．Unless C．Though D．If
A．expressed B．offered C．made D．sent
A．recognized B．informed C．reminded D．understood
A．children B．citizens C．villagers D．relatives
A．suggest B．ask C．arrange D．order
A．for B．to C．on D．by
A．final B．formal C．simple D．noble
A．unbearable B．unbelievable C．unavailable D．uncomfortable
A．thousand B．hundred C．million D．billion
A．Disappointed B．Surprised C．Worried D．Embarrassed
A．committees B．individuals C．corporations D．organizations
A．theirs B．ours C．hers D．yours
A．wrote B．read C．broadcast D．shared
A．touched B．examined C．won D．opened
A．finding B．spending C．raising D．borrowing
A．perfectly B．physically C．healthily D．thankfully
A．proposal B．decision C．conclusion D．announcement