It was Thanksgiving morning. I was busy preparing the traditional Thanksgiving turkey when the doorbell rang. I opened the front door and saw two small children in rags huddling together on the top step.
“Any old papers, lady？” asked one of them.
I was busy. I wanted to say “no” until I looked down at their feet. They were wearing thin little sandals(凉鞋), wet with heavy snow.
“Come in and I'll make you a cup of hot cocoa.”
They walked over and sat down at the table. Their wet sandals left marks upon the floor. I served them cocoa and bread to fight against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started cooking.
The silence in the front room struck me. I looked in. The girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, “Lady, are you rich？”
“Am I rich? Pity, no！”
I looked at my wornout slipcovers(椅套). The girl put her cup back in its saucer(茶碟)carefully and said, “Your cups match your saucers.” They left after that, holding their papers against the wind. They had reminded me that I had so much for which to be grateful.
Plain blue china cups and saucers were only worth five pence. But they matched.
I tasted the potatoes and stirred(搅动)the meat soup. Potatoes and brown meat soup, a roof over our heads, my man with a regular job, these matched, too.
I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy marks of little sandals were still wet upon my floor. Let them be for a while, I thought, just in case I should begin to forget how rich I am.
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．A story of Thanksgiving Day． |
| B． Lady, are you rich? |
| C．Don't forget how rich you are |
| D．Does cups and saucers match well? |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The writer had thought she wasn't rich because her supplies were not expensive. |
| B．The girl thought the writer was rich just because she wanted to make the writer happy. |
| C．If cups and saucers match well, they are a best pair even though cheap. |
| D．After hearing what they said, the writer seemed to understand what a rich life was. |
The writer left the muddy marks of little sandals on the floor for a while to________.
| A．remind her that she shouldn't forget how rich she was |
| B．show that she was a kindhearted lady |
| C．leave room for readers to think about what being rich is |
| D．prove that she had understood what meant being rich |
It can be inferred from the text that whether you are rich depends on________.
| A．what attitude you have had towards life |
| B．how much money you have made |
| C．the way you help others |
| D．your social relationship |
All I had to do for the two dollars was clean her house for a few hours after school． It was a beautiful house， too， with a plastic﹣covered sofa and chairs， wall﹣to﹣wall blue﹣and﹣white carpeting， a white enamel stove， a washing machine and a dryer things that were common in her neighborhood， absent in mine． In the middle of the war， she had butter， sugar， steaks， and seam﹣up﹣the﹣back stockings．
I knew how to scrub floors on my knees and how to wash clothes in our zinc tub， but I had never seen a Hoover vacuum cleaner or an iron that wasn't heated by fire．
Part of my pride in working for her was earning money I could squander （浪费）： on movies， candy， paddleball， jacks， ice﹣cream cones． But a larger part of my pride was based on the fact that I gave half my wages to my mother， which meant that some of my earnings were used for real things an insurance﹣policy payment or what was owed to the milkman or the iceman． The pleasure of being necessary to my parents was profound． I was not like the children in folktales： burdensome mouths to feed， nuisances to be corrected， problems so severe that they were abandoned to the forest． I had a status that doing routine chores in my house did not provide and it earned me a slow smile， an approving nod from an adult． Confirmations that I was adultlike， not childlike．
In those days， the forties， children were not just loved or liked； they were needed． They could earn money； they could care for children younger than themselves； they could work the farm， take care of the herd， run errands （差事）， and much more． I suspect that children aren't needed in that way now． They are loved， doted on， protected， and helped． Fine， and yet…
Little by little， I got better at cleaning her house good enough to be given more to do， much more． I was ordered to carry bookcases upstairs and， once， to move a piano from one side of a room to the other． I fell carrying the bookcases． And after pushing the piano my arms and legs hurt so badly． I wanted to refuse， or at least to complain， but I was afraid she would fire me， and I would lose the freedom the dollar gave me， as well as the standing I had at home although both were slowly being eroded． She began to offer me her clothes， for a price． Impressed by these worn things， which looked simply gorgeous to a little girl who had only two dresses to wear to school， I bought a few． Until my mother asked me if I really wanted to work for castoffs． So I learned to say "No， thank you" to a faded sweater offered for a quarter of a week's pay．
Still， I had trouble summoning （鼓起） the courage to discuss or object to the increasing demands she made． And I knew that if I told my mother how unhappy I was she would tell me to quit． Then one day， alone in the kitchen with my father， I let drop a few whines about the job． I gave him details， examples of what troubled me， yet although he listened intently， I saw no sympathy in his eyes． No "Oh， you poor little thing．" Perhaps he understood that what I wanted was a solution to the job， not an escape from it． In any case， he put down his cup of coffee and said， "Listen． You don't live there． You live here． With your people． Go to work． Get your money． And come on home．"
That was what he said． This was what I heard：
Whatever the work is， do it well not for the boss but for yourself．
You make the job： it doesn't make you．
Your real life is with us， your family．
You are not the work you do： you are the person you are．
I have worked for all sorts of people since then， geniuses and morons， quick﹣witted and dull， big﹣hearted and narrow． I've had many kinds of jobs， but since that conversation with my father I have never considered the level of labor to be the measure of myself， and I have never placed the security of a job above the value of home．
（1）What is the "pleasure" of the author from the sentence "The pleasure of being necessary to my parents was profound．（paragraph 3）"？
| A． |
She was proud as she could earn money for her mother． |
| B． |
Her own value of being needed． |
| C． |
She is distinctive from those children in folktales． |
| D． |
She enjoyed a status of being an adult in her family． |
（2）According to the article， which of the following is true about children in the 1940s and now？
| A． |
Children become needed， loved and liked when they are at forty． |
| B． |
Children in modern times are less likely to be spoiled by parents． |
| C． |
Children in 1940s are capable as they can handle various daily routine． |
| D． |
Children in modern times aren't needed to do daily works any more． |
（3）What did the author's father make her understand？
| A． |
Don't escape from difficulties at work． |
| B． |
Whatever decision she made， her father would support her． |
| C． |
Convey her dissatisfaction with her work． |
| D． |
Make a distinction between work and life． |
（4）Which of the following corresponds to the author's views in the passage？
| A． |
Don't regard work achievement as a criterion for evaluating oneself． |
| B． |
Hard work is a struggle for a better future in your limited life． |
| C． |
Parents are the best teachers of children． |
| D． |
Job security is less valuable when compared with family． |
California has lost half its big trees since the 1930s, according to a study to be published Tuesday and climate change seems to be a major factor（因素）.
The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.
Many factors contributed to the decline, said Patrick Mclntyre, an ecologist who was the lead author of the study. Woodcutters targeted big trees. Housing development pushed into the woods. Aggressive wildfire control has left California forests crowded with small trees that compete with big trees for resources（资源）.
But in comparing a study of California forests done in the 1920s and 1930s with another one between 2001 and 2010, Mclntyre and his colleagues documented a widespread death of big trees that was evident even in wildlands protected from woodcutting or development.
The loss of big trees was greatest in areas where trees had suffered the greatest water shortage. The researchers figured out water stress with a computer model that calculated how much water trees were getting in comparison with how much they needed, taking into account such things as rainfall, air temperature, dampness of soil, and the timing of snowmelt（融雪）.
Since the 1930s, Mclntyre said, the biggest factors driving up water stress in the state have been rising temperatures, which cause trees to lose more water to the air, and earlier snowmelt, which reduces the water supply available to trees during the dry season.
（1）What is the second paragraph mainly about?
| A． |
The seriousness of big-tree loss in California. |
| B． |
The increasing variety of California big trees. |
| C． |
The distribution of big trees in California forests. |
| D． |
The influence of farming on big trees in California. |
（2）Which of the following is well-intentioned but may be bad for big trees?
| A． |
Ecological studies of forests. |
| B． |
Banning woodcutting. |
| C． |
Limiting housing development. |
| D． |
Fire control measures. |
（3）What is a major cause of the water shortage according to Mclntyre?
| A． |
Inadequate snowmelt. |
| B． |
A longer dry season. |
| C． |
A warmer climate. |
| D． |
Dampness of the air. |
（4）What can be a suitable title for the text?
| A． |
California's Forests: Where Have All the Big Trees Gone? |
| B． |
Cutting of Big Trees to Be Prohibited in California Soon |
| C． |
Why Are the Big Trees Important to California Forests? |
| D． |
Patrick Mclntyre: Grow More Big Trees in California |
Money with no strings attached.It's not something you see every day. But at Union Station in Los Angeles last month, a board went up with dollar bills attached to it with pins and a sign that read, "Give What You Can, Take What You Need."
People quickly caught on. And while many took dollars, many others pinned their own cash to the board. "People of all ages, races, and socio-economic（社会经济的）backgrounds gave and took, "said Tyler Bridges of The Toolbox, which created the project. "We even had a bride in her wedding dress come up to the board and take a few dollars." Most of the bills on the board were singles, but a few people left fives, tens and even twenties. The video clip（片段）shows one man who had found a ＄ 20 bill pinning it to the board.
"What I can say for the folks that gave the most, is that they were full of smiles," Bridges said. "There's a certain feeling that giving can do for you and that was apparent in those that gave the most." Most people who took dollars took only a few, but Bridges said a very small number took as much as they could.
While the clip might look like part of a new ad campaign, Bridges said the only goal was to show generosity and sympathy. He added that he hopes people in other cities might try similar projects and post their own videos on the Internet.
"After all, everyone has bad days and good days," he said. "Some days you need a helping hand and some days you can be the one giving the helping hand."
（1）What does the expression "money with no strings attached" in paragraph 1 mean?
| A． |
Money spent without hesitation. |
| B． |
Money not legally made. |
| C． |
Money offered without conditions. |
| D． |
Money not tied together. |
（2）What did Bridges want to show by mentioning the bride?
| A． |
Women tended to be more sociable. |
| B． |
The activity attracted various people. |
| C． |
Economic problems were getting worse. |
| D． |
Young couples needed financial assistance. |
（3）Why did Bridges carry out the project?
| A． |
To do a test on people's morals. |
| B． |
To raise money for his company. |
| C． |
To earn himself a good reputation. |
| D． |
To promote kindness and sympathy. |
Zachariah Fike has an unusual hobby. He finds old military（军队的）medals for sale in antique stores and on the Internet. But unlike most collectors, Zac tracks down the medals' rightful owners, and returns them.
His effort to reunite families with lost medals began with a Christmas gift from his mother, a Purple Heart with the name Corrado A. G. Piccoli, found in an antique shop. Zac knows the meaning of a Purple Heart-he earned one himself in a war as a soldier. So when his mother gave him the medal, he knew right away what he had to do.
Through the Internet, Zac tracked down Corrado's sister Adeline Rockko. But when he finally reached her, the woman flooded him with questions: "Who are you？2What antique shop?" However, when she hung up, she regretted the way she had handled the call. So she called Zac back and apologized. Soon she drove to meet Zac in Watertown, N.Y. "At that point, I knew she meant business," Zac says. "To drive eight hours to come to see me."
The Piccolis grew up the children of Italian immigrants in Watertown. Corrado, a translator for the Army during WWII, was killed in action in Europe.
Before hearing from Zac, Adeline hadn't realized the medal was missing. Like many military medals, the one Zac's mother had found was a family treasure." This medal was very precious to my parents. Only on special occasions（场合）would they take it out and let us hold it in our hands," Adeline says.
As a child, Adeline couldn't understand why the medal was so significant. "But as I grew older," Adeline says, "and missed my brother more and more, I realized that was the only thing we had left." Corrado Piccoli's Purple Heart medal now hangs at the Italian American Civic Association in Watertown.
Zac recently returned another lost medal to a family in Alabama. Since he first reunited Corrado's medal, Zac says his record is now 5 for 5.
（1）Where did Zac get a Purple Heart medal for himself？
| A． |
In the army. |
| B． |
In an antique shop. |
| C． |
From his mother. |
| D． |
From Adeline Rockko. |
（2）What did Zac realize when Adeline drove to meet him？
| A． |
She was very impolite. |
| B． |
She was serious about the medal. |
| C． |
She suspected his honesty. |
| D． |
She came from a wealthy family. |
（3）What made Adeline treasure the Purple Heart?
| A． |
Her parents' advice. |
| B． |
Her knowledge of antiques. |
| C． |
Her childhood dream. |
| D． |
Her memory of her brother. |
Bacteria are an annoying problem for astronauts. The microorganisms（微生物） from our bodies grow uncontrollably on surfaces of the International Space Station, so astronauts spend hours cleaning them up each week. How is NASA overcoming this very tiny big problem? It's turning to a bunch of high school kids. But not just any kids. It depending on NASA HUNCH high school class, like the one science teachers Gene Gordon and Donna Himmelberg lead at Fairport High School in Fairport, New York.
HUNCH is designed to connect high school classrooms with NASA engineers. For the past two years, Gordon's students have been studying ways to kill bacteria in zero gravity, and they think they're close to a solution（解决方案）. "We don't give the students any breaks. They have to do it just like NASA engineers," says Florence Gold, a project manager.
"There are no tests," Gordon says. "There is no graded homework. There almost are no grades, other than 'Are you working towards your goal?' Basically, it's 'I've got to produce this product and then, at the end of year, present it to NASA.' Engineers come and really do an in-person review, and…it's not a very nice thing at time. It's a hard business review of your product."
Gordon says the HUNCH program has an impact（影响） on college admissions and practical life skills. "These kids are so absorbed in their studies that I just sit back. I don't teach." And that annoying bacteria? Gordon says his students are emailing daily with NASA engineers about the problem, readying a workable solution to test in space.
（1）What do we know about the bacteria in the International Space Station?
| A． |
They are hard to get rid of. |
| B． |
They lead to air pollution. |
| C． |
They appear different forms. |
| D． |
They damage the instruments. |
（2）What is the purpose of the HUNCH program?
| A． |
To strengthen teacher-student relationships. |
| B． |
To sharpen students' communication skills. |
| C． |
To allow students to experience zero gravity. |
| D． |
To link space technology with school education |
（3）What do the NASA engineers do for the students in the program?
| A． |
Check their product. |
| B． |
Guide project designs |
| C． |
Adjust work schedules. |
| D． |
Grade their homework. |
（4）What is the best title for the text?
A. NASA: The Home of Astronauts.
B. Space: The Final Homework Frontier.
C. Nature: An Outdoor Classroom.
D. HUNCH:A College Admission Reform.