Every Wednesday, I go to Cantata Adult Life Services, a local retirement community in Brookfield, Illinois, US, with my classmates to do community service.
After my very first visit to Cantata, my life changed forever. That may sound a bit dramatic, but volunteering with the elderly has changed my views on life.
Our visits last about an hour, and we bring 25-30 students every time. We play board games and cards with the residents while we’re there.
You can watch all the movies and TV shows you want about “life back then”, but nothing compares to talking to the people who were actually there. Just hearing their stories has touched me in a way I never thought possible.
Whether it was talking to 98-year-old “Hurricane Hilda” about her glory days as a roller skater or chatting with Lou about the times she danced with a famous actor, I was completely attracted by every single memory the residents wanted to share with me.
Even the residents who don’t have amazing memories make the experience satisfying . I remember visiting Mrs Robinson. She couldn’t recall much about her past, but she told me she’d never forget how kind I was just to listen to her “rambling (漫谈)”. It made me realize that it’s the little things that make life worth living. That’s something I won’t forget anytime soon.
If there’s one thing I’ve realized in my three years of visiting Cantata, it’s that presence – just being there – means more than anything to many of the residents. And despite how busy our lives are, there’s always time to make someone’s day.
For me, it feels great to be a source of happiness, a smile on a bad day or a listening ear for old memories. And at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
It’s easy to feel like you don’t have anything in common with the elderly – especially when you’re a teenager. But that’s not true at all.
I hate to be overly clichéd (陈词滥调的) here, but age really is just a number. As young adults, it’s important for us to realize this sooner rather than later. We can learn a lot from the elderly, and they can often benefit from teenagers too.What do the volunteers do according to the passage?
| A．They share everything with the residents. |
| B．They play board games and cards with the residents. |
| C．They watch the residents play games. |
| D．They buy gifts for the residents. |
According to the writer, what is the most important thing that volunteers can do for the elderly?
| A．Playing with them. | B．Benefiting from them. |
| C．Helping them. | D．Being there with them. |
What does the writer want to tell us by writing this passage ?
| A．Young adults and the elderly can benefit from each other. |
| B．Age is just a number. |
| C．It is important to help the elderly. |
| D．We don’t have anything in common with the elderly. |
The first ting we do is to put an APB and this goes to all the police stations in the country.
Next we telephone the hospitals. Often the personwearelookingforhas been in an accident.
Thenwemighttryparents,friendsorrelativestheymightbewith.Wetrytofollowtheirmovementsandtofindthelastpersontheysawinlocalornationalpapers—especiallypaperstheymightread.Thereareotherthingswecando: put postersinplaces where they might be, go on television.
HereinAmericathereisamagazineinwhichtherearephotographsofmissingchildren.Thisisoftenthelasthope.Ofcourse,withnearlytwomillionmissingchildreneveryyear,wecan’tdoallthesethingsforeveryone.Wehaven’tgotthetime,orthemoney, or thepeople who work for it. Who do they look for?
| A．Criminals. |
| B．The drivers who have caused accidents. |
| C．News reports. |
| D．Missing children. |
How many ways to find the missing children are mentioned in the passage?
| A．Five. | B．Six. | C．Two. | D．Seven. |
When a person is reported to be missing, they
| A．might not know the exact reason | B．might find out the reason first |
| C．set out to look for him at once | D．first turn to the police for help |
They put photos in newspapers or put posters because they think
| A．people will tell them what will happen to the missing persons |
| B．the missing persons might come back after reading them |
| C．everyone will know the missing persons |
| D．all the people will read them |
According to the passage, when they are looking for a missing child, they
| A．can always find him |
| B．couldn’t always try every way mentioned above |
| C．just try one way or another |
| D．won’t give up until they find him |
Suppose you work in a big firm and find English important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English. Here are some advertisements about English language training from newspapers. You may find the information you need.
Global English Centre
☆General English in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
☆3-month (700 yuan), 6-month (1,200 yuan) and one year (2000 yuan) courses.
☆Choice fo morning or evening classes, 3 hours per day, Mon. ~Fri.
☆Experienced college English teachers.
☆Close to city centre and bus stops.
Tel:67605270
Add:105 Zhongshan Road,100082
Modern Language School
☆ Special courses in English for business, travel, banking, hotel management and office skills.
☆ Small classes (12~16 students) on Sat.&Sum.from2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
☆ Native English teachers from Canada and USA.
☆ Language lab and computers supplied.
☆ 3-month course: (1050 yuan), 6-month course: (1850 yuan)
Write or phone: Modern Language School, 675 Park Road, 100056
Tel: 67353019
The 21 sty Century English Training Centre
☆ We specialize in effective teaching at all levels.
☆ We offer morning or afternoon classes, both of which last three months and a half at a cost of 800 yuan. Entrance exams:1 June and 1 Dec.
☆ We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays.
☆ Only 15-minute walk from city centre.
Call 67801642 for more information.
The International House of English
☆ 3/6-month English courses for students of all levels at very low cost: 60 yuan for 12 hours per week; convenient class hours:9~12 a.m. and2~5 p.m.
☆ A 4-month evening classes for developing speaking skills (same cost as day classes).
☆ Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers experienced in teaching English as a 2nd foreign language.
☆ Free sightseeing and social activities。
☆ Very close to the Central Park.
For further information call 67432308.You work from 9:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Which school will you choose?
| A．Global English Centre and Modern Language School. |
| B．Global English Centre and the International House of English. |
| C．Modern Language School and the 21st Century English Training. |
| D．The 21st Century English Training Center and the International House of English. |
The 21st Century English Training Center is different from the other three schools in that.
| A．its teaching quality is better | B．it is nearest to the city centre |
| C．its courses are more advanced | D．it requires an entrance examination |
You’ll probably prefer to go to the International House of English because it.
| A．offers free sightseeing and social activities |
| B．has a special course in spoken English |
| C．costs less than the other schools |
| D．has native English teachers |
If you take the evening classes at the International House of English, you’ll pay aboutyuan.
| A．60 | B．240 | C．720 | D．960 |
A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office，a street urchin(顽童) was walking around the shining car．“Is this your car，Paul？” he asked．
Paul answered，“Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised．“You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything？Boy，I wish…” He hesitated Of course， Paul knew what he was going to wish for．He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said surprised Paul greatly.
“I wish,” the boy went on，“that I could be a brother like that.” Paul looked at the boy in surprise, then he said again, “Would you like to take a ride in my car？”
“Oh yes，I’d love that.”
After a short ride，the boy turned and with his eyes shining，said，“Paul，would you mind driving in front of my house？”
Paul smiled a little．He thought he knew what the boy wanted．He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are？ the boy asked．
He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled（残疾） brother. He sat him down on the step and pointed to the car.
“There it is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. And some day I’m going to give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”
Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began an unforgettable holiday ride.The street urchin was very surprised when ________．
| A．Paul received an expensive car | B．Paul told him about the car |
| C．he saw the shining car | D．he was walking around the car |
From the story we can see the urchin ________．
| A．wished to give his brother a car |
| B．wanted Paul’s brother to give him a car |
| C．wished he could have a brother like Paul’s |
| D．wished Paul could be a brother like that |
The urchin asked Paul to stop his car in front of his house ________．
| A．to show his neighbors the big car | B．to show he had a rich friend |
| C．to let his brother ride in the car | D．to tell his brother about his wish |
We can infer（推断）from the story that ________．
| A．Paul couldn’t understand the urchin |
| B．the urchin had a deep love for his brother |
| C．the urchin wished to have a rich brother |
| D．the urchin’s wish came true in the end |
The best name of the story is _________．
| A．A Christmas Present | B．A Street Urchin |
| C．A Brother Like That | D．An Unforgettable Holiday Ride |
Jim was a farmer. He lived in a village far away from the town. One day he was very ill , and everyone thought he would die . But his family wouldn’t give up. They decided to sent for a doctor in town . The doctor arrived the village two days later and looked over the man. The doctor wanted a pen and some paper , But there was no pen or paper in the village , because nobody could read or write .
The doctor looked around and picked up a piece of burnt wood. Using the wood, he wrote the name of the medicine on the door of the house.“ Get the medicine for him right away, ” he said, “and he will soon get well.’ family and friends did not know what to do . They could not read the writing . Then the village baker had an idea . He took off the door of the house and took the door to the nearest town . He bought the medicine, and Jim was saved. After that Jim would not let anyone wash the magic words off the door . People in the village thought James would die because ________ .
| A．he was seriously ill | B．the doctor could do nothing for him |
| C．the doctor didn’t come | D．they couldn’t find any doctor |
The doctor got to the village two days later because ________ .
| A．he walked to the village |
| B．the will age was far from the town |
| C．there was something wrong with his car |
| D．they couldn’t find any doctor |
When the doctor got to the village, he______.
| A．found another doctor there |
| B．gave some medicine to Jim |
| C．looked over Jim carefully |
| D．had no idea and could do nothing for Jim |
The doctor wrote down the name of the medicine with_____ on_____.
| A．a pen; a piece of paper |
| B．a piece of burnt wood; some paper |
| C．a piece of burnt wood; the door of the house |
| D．a pen; a piece of wood |
What do you think of the people in the village?
| A．They were rich and clever. |
| B．They were lazy. |
| C．They could read and write well. |
| D．They were poor and fell behind the times. |
To what degree can a computer achieve intelligence？The answer to this question may lie in a newly-developed US computer program called Smarter Child and the Internet.
If you ran into Smarter Child online, you would be surprised at this kid’s huge memory. It can recite many facts. For example, Smarter Child knows every baseball player in every team this season.
He knows every word in the dictionary and the weather in every major city areas across the US. However, if you ask Smarter Child other questions, you get strange answers. A question about Smarter Child’s age returns. “One year, 11 days, 16 hours, 7 minutes, and 47 seconds!” Asking where he lives gets, “In a clean room in a high-tech building in California.”
Smarter Child uses the vast information on the World Wide Web as his memory bank. To answer questions about spelling, for instance, Smarter Child goes to American Heritage Dictionary online. For the weather, he visits www.intellicast.com.
Some scientists believe that by joining the many systems of the Internet, an artificial being with the combined knowledge of, say, Albert Einstein, Richard Nixon and Britney Spears could be born. However, if Smarter Child wants to think and learn on his own like the boy-computer David in the movie A. I. Artificial Intelligence, he must overcome two problems.
The first is that computers find it difficult to read web pages because the files are labeled in different ways. That’s why programmers need to tell Smarter Child where to look for the weather. It would be a much more difficult task to let him find it himself.
Another problem is that while Smarter Child can process information more exactly and faster than any human, he lacks common sense—a basic grounding of knowledge that is obvious to any young child.From the text we can infer that www.intellicast.com is a website
| A．where we people can find Smarter Child |
| B．which is specially designed to help Smarter Child |
| C．where weather forecasts are made |
| D．which is about artificial intelligence |
It is probably most difficult for Smarter Child to .
| A．learn the ability to tell right behaviors from wrong ones. |
| B．tell us how to spell a difficult word |
| C．provide us with a famous poem by Shakespeare |
| D．tell us how the American government is run |
The underlined “it ” in Paragraph 6 refers to ________.
| A．where to look for the weather | B．Smarter Child. |
| C．a much more difficult task | D．to read web pages |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．A New Web Child | B．Intelligence Development |
| C．Smarter Child | D．The Future of Internet |