My grandmother Adele loved culture and was generous with its gifts. When I was a child, she took me to museums, restaurants, dances. She showered me with gifts from her travels around the world. But I can only remember her giving me one book—a book that, to this day, I have not read. She presented me with her own favorite childhood book: Hans Brinker. My grandmother was happy to share this book with me. She even decorated the title page with her proud writing.
I tried to read it. I adored reading, and would dive into a new pile of books from the library all at once. But something about Hans Brinker just wouldn’t let me in. The story was set in Holland, a long time ago. It felt dull and unfamiliar—even though I was a fan of classics of other times and places. I simply read the first pages over and over. I could not progress.
Standing on a bookshelf in our living room, the book was like something I avoided. It scolded me for not being interested, for not trying hard enough, for disappointing my grandmother.
The book started to fit in, almost forgotten, until Adele asked. Had I read it? Did I like it? Always determined, she wanted to know the answer. I would make some kind of excuse, feel bad, and open it again, hoping for a new reaction. The book weighed on me.
Years passed and finally Adele and I both accepted that I would never read Hans Brinker. Eventually I cleared the book from the shelf. The Hans Brinker experience led me to set a rule that I’ve lived by ever since: Do not ask about a book given as a gift. Don’t ask, despite your desire to discuss it to grow closer. The desire for such connection is what gives book-giving with special meaning—and increases the owner’s possibility to be a letdown.
Guilt is basically the same as for all gifts, though. If the giver doesn’t have the pleasure of seeing or hearing about the gift being enjoyed, and asks whether it is, then the owner—unless she can truthfully say “yes”—either has to admit to not liking the present, or else lie on the spot. Neither is pleasant. So, don’t ask.When the author was a kid, his grandmother ________.
| A．took him to travel around the world a lot |
| B．loved to take him to museums and stores |
| C．shared her childhood stories with him |
| D．gave him many gifts |
What does the author think about the book his grandmother gave him?
| A．Boring. | B．Interesting. |
| C．Puzzling. | D．Disappointing. |
The underlined sentence “The book weighed on me” in Paragraph 4 probably means _______.
| A．the book is too heavy for the author to carry |
| B．the author feels stressful facing the book |
| C．the book is full of powerful viewpoints |
| D．the author keeps reading the book |
The author learns from the Hans Brinker’s experience that never________.
| A．give others books as gifts |
| B．lie to people who give you gifts |
| C．get close to others through gifts |
| D．talk about the books given as gifts |
There used to be a term that was used to describe someone who drove their vehicles down the highway while staring at the scenery. These drivers just drove slowly, taking their own sweet time, as if they had nothing to do and no place in particular to go. Thus, the expression, “Sunday driver”, was born. Consequently, a Sunday driver wasn’t necessarily someone who was driving on a Sunday. A person could be a Sunday driver any day of the week. The expression simply meant that the person was an obstacle to other drivers who were in a hurry.
The expression probably came about because there was a time when people would often decide to go for a relaxing drive on Sunday afternoons. A Sunday drive was a common occurrence years ago and especially on a nice warm sunny day. There were no stores open on Sunday because of the “blue laws”, so you needed to be sure and fill up the gas tank and make any other needed purchases before Sunday arrived.
Some of the states had strict blue laws that even prohibited some activities on Sunday. However, there is still a lot to be said for the slow, gentle life that once existed. It was a time when very few people worked on Sunday except for those professions vital to our well-being such as those in the medical profession. It was a day “set apart” that was used to rest, visit with neighbors and friends, or maybe go to grandma’s house for supper. Today there are many who return to work and children who go back to school overly tired on Monday due to a lack of rest. Perhaps there would be less stress related illnesses if we really kept Sunday as a day of rest. According to the passage, “Sunday driver” refers to the person who ______.
| A．drives his vehicle on Sundays |
| B．drives for fun and relaxation |
| C．enjoys a weekend break |
| D．makes a Sunday purchase |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph l mean?
| A．Sunday drivers affected traffic flow |
| B．Sunday drivers drove too slowly |
| C．Sunday drivers increased traffic speed |
| D．Sunday drivers felt hatred for other drivers |
What kind of activity was strictly prohibited on Sunday by the laws?
| A．Visiting with neighbors and friends. |
| B．Going to the hospital to see a doctor. |
| C．Having a family get-together. |
| D．Selling goods or services. |
According to the author, Sunday rest would help people______.
| A．earn a lot more money |
| B．experience less pressure |
| C．keep pace with society |
| D．improve academic performance |
The ozone layer(臭氧层) is a thin layer of gas around the earth. It forms a special “blanket” around the planet. This “blanket” protects the earth from dangerous rays produced by the sun. Without the ozone layer, the earth’s climate could warm to dangerous levels. This increase in temperature would threaten our survival. Scientists recently have discovered a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctica. Now there is great concern that this warning has started, endangering all life on the earth.
What has destroyed part of the ozone layer? Scientists do not know for sure. They suspect that our popular spray cans (喷漆罐) have played a part in the damage. Many spray cans contain dangerous gases. These gases might have destroyed the ozone layer fifteen miles above the earth’s surface, The chemicals used in refrigerators (冰箱) and air conditioners may contribute to the problem, too.
Many scientists believe that the destruction of the ozone layer is a serious problem for people everywhere. Global warming could change weather patterns around the world. Farmers and ranchers(牧场主) could find it more and more difficult to produce enough food for the earth’s people. If more of the sun’s dangerous rays reached the earth, there also could be an increase in skin cancers. Some skin cancers might cause people to die. Although some scientists do not believe there is a serious danger, obviously no one wants to take any chance on such a possibility.
Can scientists repair the hole in the ozone layer? They really don’t know the answer to that question. Can people do anything to save the ozone layer that the earth still has? Scientists stress the need to limit the use of spray cans and other items that contain the dangerous gases. This will not be an easy task. People all over the world use these items. Solving the problem certainly will require commitment and cooperation from everyone. The ozone layer exists to _____.
| A．warm the earth to a proper level for life |
| B．protect the earth from dangerous sun rays |
| C．make all life on the earth in a dangerous situation |
| D．prevent human beings from being harmed from the earth |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Scientists aren’t sure what has destroyed part of the ozone layer. |
| B．Scientists recently have discovered a hole in the Antarctica. |
| C．Scientists prove that spray cans have destroyed part of the ozone layer. |
| D．Global warming doesn’t affect weather patterns around the world. |
The following may do harm to the ozone layer EXCEPT ______.
| A．spray cans | B．refrigerators | C．ranchers | D．air conditioners |
Saving the ozone layer needs everyone’s effort because _____.
| A．scientists are badly in need of others’ help |
| B．items containing dangerous gases should be forbidden |
| C．scientists can’t afford so much money to take measures |
| D．people all over the world use items containing dangerous gases |
PGL kids everywhere, will tell you that we are the best when it comes to thrills, challenges and adventures - all rolled into one fantastic holiday! Children leave PGL with loads of more friends and interests and feel more confident - they’ll be counting the days until their next PGL holiday! For childcare voucher(代币券) information, please click here.
Climbing Adventure
This holiday will teach you how to independently climb! At the end of the week you’ll get to use all your new skills when you visit a local cliff for some outdoor crag climbing. We make the best use of all our activities including Climbing, Abseiling, Trapeze, Zip Wire and Jacob’s Ladder to teach you all the right rope work and climbing skills. Throughout the holiday you will work towards the National Indoor Climbing Achievement Scheme and by the end of the holiday you will have achieved Level 2.
Cook’s Academy
Our brand new holiday for 2013! Come along and learn how to cook with a top chef! Whether you’ve never cooked before or are a bit of a pro, this holiday will have you cooking a variety of tasty dishes and treats. No experience is required as our professional chef will pass on their knowledge so you can develop from any level of experience. What’s more, you’ll get your very own recipe book containing everything you’ve learnt and will be able to take a dish home to impress your friends and family.
Dance
This holiday is an excellent opportunity to try loads of different dance styles. You’ll spend half of each day learning different types of dance, everything from salsa to ballroom dancing and street dance to jive. Throughout the week your instructors will give you lots of tips and advice as well as helping you prepare a dance routine to impress your friends when you perform at the end of the week.
Film Making
You and your group will be able to choose what type of film to make - adventure, fantasy, thriller or comedy and then you’ll become a film crew, creating your own blockbuster ready to show to everyone else at the end of the week. You will find out what’s involved in directing a movie and have the chance to edit your film using professional editing software. What’s more, you’ll have your film on DVD to take home with you too!Which is the new PGL holiday for 2013?
| A．Film Making. | B．Dance. |
| C．Climbing Adventure. | D．Cook’s Academy. |
What will you do during the Climbing Adventure holiday?
| A．You will go outdoors with your friends to practice climbing. |
| B．You will visit many local dangerous cliffs. |
| C．You will learn climbing both indoor and outdoor. |
| D．You will only learn climbing skills during the holiday. |
In which two holidays can you take something home?
| A．Climbing Adventure and Cook’s Academy |
| B．Film Making and Climbing Adventure |
| C．Cook’s Academy and Film Making |
| D．Dance and Film Making |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Parents are looking forward to the next PGL holiday. |
| B．You need experience when taking Cook’s Academy holiday. |
| C．You will spend every day learning all kinds of dances. |
| D．You can create your own film in Film Making holiday. |
Tony Bennett, the American singer recently touring Britain, can’t remember how many times he has sung his standard hit “I left My Heart in San Fransisco”. He sang it again to his audience at the London Palladium last night.
“I never get tired of singing it.” He said. “I like it too much . It’s a great city and it’s a good song.”
Bennett is to record a TV program with American singer Lens Home while he is here. And a new LP recorded by him in London for Philips titled “Listen Easy” will be published in June.. “I like it here.” He added quietly over whiskey. “I would like to live here so many months of the year.”
He already keeps a large flat in Grosenor Square, where he is staying with his actress wife Sandie Grant and their three-year-old daughter Joanna. It has a studio where he likes to paint. Tony plans to have his first exhibition later in the year and he has already sold one picture for $4000. At the end of the year Tony is to star in a musical film , which has been specially written for him called “Two Bits”, an informal expression for 50 cents. It’s about an Italian immigrant who goes to America , but he becomes a failure.
“In many ways it’s very close to my life the way the story has been written,” said Bennett. “My father, an Italian ,was ill and died when I was nine. He always wanted me to sing, but he never lived long enough to be a part of my success. The underlined phrase “standard hit” most nearly means______
| A．Bennett’s favourite song but it’s not very popular. |
| B．a song that is always popular |
| C．a song which makes him standard |
| D．a song which is like a heavy blow to his audience |
What does Tony Bennett want to do?
| A．Buy a house and live in England. |
| B．Stay with his wife and daughter in England. |
| C．Live part of each year in England |
| D．Leave American and settle in England |
What’s Tony’s hobby?
| A．Singing | B．Drinking | C．Playing | D．Painting |
What can we learn about Tony’s father from this passage?
| A．He liked his son’s singing. |
| B．He was born in Italy and died when Tony Bennett was a small boy |
| C．He was a part of Bennett’s achievement |
| D．He was glad that his son became famous. |
What kind of man is Tony Bennett？
| A．hardworking and humorous |
| B．family-centered and hardworking |
| C．outgoing and kind |
| D．ambitious and trustworthy |
Saturday, March 24th
We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This is our first trip to Thailand（泰国）. All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.
Tuesday, March 27th
Bangkok is wonderful and surprising. The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.
Friday, March 30th
Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life—no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always smile and say “hello”. Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.The diaries above show the writer’s ______ days in Thailand.
| A．3 | B．7 | C．15 | D．8 |
It seems that visitors _________ in Bangkok.
| A．often feel hungry | B．can’t take any photos |
| C．can have a good time | D．feel a little bored |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the south of Thailand. |
| B．The writer left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai by bus. |
| C．The writer is traveling alone in Thailand. |
| D．The writer will take a bus to Chiang Mai. |
The people in the village ________.
| A．are friendly to others | B．like to speak English |
| C．hope to live in the cities | D．live a very busy life |
What is the best title（标题）for the whole diary?
| A．My First Travel | B．The Outside World |
| C．Traveling in Thailand | D．My Trip to Chiang Mai |