My husband and I just spent a week in Paris. ____36____So the first thing we did was rent a fantastically expensive sixth-floor apartment the size of a cupboard. It was so tiny that we had to leave our suitcases in the hallway.
The place wasn't entirely authentic,though. Unlike a normal Parisian apartment, the plumbing (水管) worked. ____37____Our building even had a tiny lift with a female voice that said, "Ouverture des portes," in perfect French. That is the only French phrase I mastered, and it's a shame I don't have much use for it.
Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone noted in this paper a couple of weeks ago, they eat great food and never gain weight. ____38____French strawberries do not taste like cardboard. Instead, they explode in your mouth like little flavor bombs.
____39____On our first morning in Paris, I went around the corner to the food market to pick up some groceries. I bought a handful of perfectly ripe small strawberries and a little sweet melon. My husband and I agreed they were the best fruit we had ever eaten. But they cost $18!
In France, quality of life is much more important than efficiency.
You can tell this by cafés life. French cafés are always crowded. ____40____When do these people work? The French take their 35-hour workweek seriously - so seriously that some labor unions recently struck a deal with a group of companies limiting the number of hours that independent contractors can be on call.
A. |
Not all the customers are tourists. |
B. |
The quality of life in France is equally excellent. |
C. |
There was a nice kitchen and a comfortable bed. |
D. |
The amazing food is mainly consumed by local farmers. |
E. |
That's not the only reason the French eat less than we do. |
F. |
Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians. |
G. |
The food is so delicious that you don't need much of it to make you happy. |
The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her.She was really small for her age of 12.The boy in my class often about her and laughed their heads off.She would open a book, pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page.
All I knew was that she was an orphan (孤儿) from Africa.She had just been adopted by a family in town who that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with American kids.I looked down at this girl and promised myself that somehow I would help her.
But how could I help her in with us? There had to be a .
One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a(n) copy.
I was surprised and thought that she could do something in the coming show.So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had .“why, it’s wonderful,” said Miss Parker, who then showed us a poster she had painted the talent show.“I need more of these, but I just don’t have enough .Could you help me, Suzy?”
On the day of the talent show, Suzy’s were everywhere ---- all over the hall and all over the school, each one different.
“And finally,” said Mr. Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, “we have a (n) award.I’m sure you’ve all noticed the wonderful posters.” Everyone nodded.“One of our own students them.”
I could hear everyone whispering.“Who in our school could draw well?”
Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, “ this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a ,too.Our mystery(神秘) artist is our new student ---- Suzy Khan!”
Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artist’s set.“Thank you,” she cried.
I , at that time when I was looking at her excited face, she’d probably never anything in her whole life.
Everyone started to their hands.Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile and the applause was deafening.I knew then Suzy was going to be all right.
A.joked B.cared C.forgot D.worried
A.reported B.decided C.complained D.questioned
A.rich B.proud C.tiny D.popular
A.come B.fall C.fit D.tie
A.manner B.pattern C.choice D.way
A.read B.taken C.opened D.put
A.free B.perfect C.final D.extra
A.art B.talk C.quiz D.talent
A.colored B.written C.carved D.drawn
A.at B.after C.for D.around
A.room B.time C.paper D.interest
A.gifts B.books C.photos D.posters
A.special B.academic C.national D.royal
A.painted B.found C.printed D.collected
A.very B.that C.quite D.too
A.If B.Though C.Unless D.Since
A.prize B.rank C.rest D.place
A.replied B.realized C.remembered D.regretted
A.offered B.valued C.owned D.controlled
A.clap B.wave C.raise D.shake
One Friday, a businessman decided to ask his boss for a salary raise.Before going to , he told his wife about it.All day long he felt and uneasy.Finally, in the late afternoon, he gathered the courage to approach his employer.To his , the boss agreed to give him a raise.
That evening, the husband arrived home and was surprised to see a beautiful table set with their best china and candles.Smelling the aroma (香味)of the wonderful meal, he that someone from the office had called his wife and tipped her off (透露消息).
Finding her in the kitchen, he eagerly the details of his good news.When they sat down to the meal, next to his plate he found a note that read: ''Congratulations, darling.I knew you'd get the .This dinner is to show you how much I love you.''
After dinner, on his way to the to help his wife serve dessert, he noticed a second card had slipped out of his wife's pocket.Picking it up, he read: ''Don't worry about not getting the raise.You it anyway.This dinner is to show how much I love you."
A.school B.work C.home D.dinner
A.nervous B.relaxed C.curious D.dangerous
A.anger B.disappointment C.sorrow D.delight
A.careful B.cheerful C.helpful D.wonderful
A.deserted B.burned C.lighted D.used
A.heard B.found C.guessed D.forgot
A.shared B.told C.knew D.talked
A.position B.note C.raise D.news
A.office B.living-room C.kitchen D.study
A.donate B.devote C.demand D.deserve
The family had just moved to Rhode Island, and the young woman was feeling a little depressed on that Sunday in May.After all, it was Mother's Day-and 800 miles her from her parents in Ohio.
She had called them that morning, to wish her a happy Mother's Day and her mother had how colorful their backyard was spring had arrived.Later, she told her husband how she those lilacs in her parents' yard.“I know where we can find some,” he said.“Get the and come on.” So off they went.
Some time later, they stopped at a hill and there were lilacs all round.The young woman rushed up to the nearest and buried her face in the flowers.Carefully, she some.
Finally, they returned to their car for the home.The woman sat smiling, surrounded by her .
When they were near home, she shouted “stop,” got off quickly and to a nearby nursing home.She went to the end of the porch (门廊), where a(n) patient was sitting in her wheelchair, and put the flowers into her lap.The two , bursting into laughter now and then.Later the young woman turned and ran back to he .As the car pulled away, the woman in the wheelchair with a smile, and held the lilacs .
“Mom,” the kids asked, “ did you give her our flowers?” “It is Mother's Day, and she seems so while I have all of you.And anyone would be by flowers.”
This satisfied the kids, but not the husband.The next day he some young lilacs around their yard.
I was the husband.Now, every May, our yard is full of lilacs.Every Mother's Day our kids purple lilacs.And every year I remember that smile of the lonely old woman.
A.moved B.kept C.separated D.made
A.learned B.mentioned C.imagined D.realized
A.as if B.so that C.now that D.even if
A.grew B.missed C.watered D.showed
A.cars B.kids C.clothes D.lilacs
A.yard B.hill C.bush D.door
A.bought B.picked C.set D.raised
A.break B.holiday C.trip D.dinner
A.friends B.memory C.honor D.flowers
A.responded B.pointed C.drove D.hurried
A.elderly B.loving C.serious D.sensitive
A.hesitated B.waited C.chatted D.sat
A.family B.mother C.path D.home
A.nodded B.left C.waved D.continued
A.sadly B.politely C.quickly D.tightly
A.why B.when C.how D.where
A.lonely B.confused C.alone D.patient
A.calmed B.persuaded C.disappointed D.cheered
A.arranged B.planted C.dried D.hid
A.find B.gather C.receive D.sell
I truly feel that my mother led me here, to Morzaine, and to my future as a happy wife and businesswoman. When Mum in October 2007, I was a cook. In December that year, while I was working for a wedding, a pearl necklace Mum had left me . I was distraught(忧心如焚的). Some days later, I was that a guy who was working with us that day, “could probably have made a fortune the necklace he found.” , he returned it. Hearing how I’d Mum for six months before her death, he said, “Christmas is going to be —why not go out to the Alps for a couple of weeks?”
I came to Morzaine, a small, friendly village in the Alps and fell in love with it. What was to be a stopgap (权宜之计) trip turned into a new life. I kept traveling between London and here and felt than I had in months. In December 2008, I was as a hotel manager and moved here full time.
A month later, I met Paul, who was traveling here. We fell in love. In the beginning, I didn’t want to discuss , because the sadness of losing Mum felt great. Paul understood that and never me. But, by summer, we got married. A year later, we used his saving, and the money from the sale of Mom’s house, to build our own .
We want to give our guests a feel, so each room is themed (以……为题) around memories from our lives. There are also styles to remind me of Mom—a tiny chair which be in her bedroom is set in one room.
We are having a wonderful life and Mum naturally part of it, there’s no way we would be here if it wasn’t for the she gave me. I know she’s here in spirit, keeping an eye on us.
A.died B.came C.returned D.visited
A.burned B.disappeared C.broke D.dropped
A.shown B.comforted C.persuaded D.told
A.hiding B.stealing C.selling D.wearing
A.Luckily B.Naturally C.Surely D.Hopefully
A.nursed B.cured C.missed D.guarded
A.long B.hard C.merry D.free
A.suddenly B.finally C.nearly D.immediately
A.said B.proved C.supposed D.judged
A.smarter B.higher C.firmer D.lighter
A.honored B.hired C.regarded D.trained
A.travel B.business C.children D.marriage
A.recently B.once C.still D.first
A.left B.pushed C.surprised D.interrupted
A.hotel B.restaurant C.home D.shop
A.homely B.lively C.motherly D.friendly
A.ought to B.used to C.might D.could
A.takes B.keeps C.looks D.feels
A.unless B.while C.because D.though
A.money B.chair C.house D.necklace
In 1919, Princess Bazzar of Luxembourg’s royal family met the royal kitchen helper Leon. Many nights, Leon went into the kitchen and made ice-cream for Bazzar. They soon fell in love. But because of their different social status, both of them burried the feelings.
Soon, Bazzar was made to accept an arranged royal marriage. For days, Leon could not see Bazzar, he was with impatience. Finally, Bazzar at the table a month later. While serving desserts, Leon the letters DOVE, which is an abbreviation of DO YOU LOVE ME with hot chocolate on Bazaar’s ice-cream. Leon that Bazzar could understand his feelings.
A few days later, Bazzar got . One year later, Leon could not the mental suffering and left the royal kitchen. Years later, he and his own family a candy store.
Many years later, Bazzar remembered that that afternoon she ate the ice-cream made by Leon, but didn’t see the letters.
Hearing this, Leon broke down in tears, and he finally understood the past misunderstandings. If that chocolate had been , those letters would never have melted, and he would not have lost his last chance. Leon decided to create a solid chocolate which can a long time.
After lots of , the chocolate Dove was finally made and each piece of chocolate was engraved with the letter “DOVE”. It’s a symbol of the love between Leon and Bazzar.
Now more and more people fall in love with this chocolate. Giving someone DOVE means sending the whisper of love: DO YOU LOVE ME?
A.calling B.burning C.working D.talking
A.stood up B.turned up C.stayed up D.dressed up
A.wrote B.sent C.mixed D.noticed
A.expected B.declared C.allowed D.promised
A.sick B.angry C.married D.bored
A.reduce B.stop C.repeat D.bear
A.left B.visited C.ran D.found
A.confusing B.interesting C.melting D.annoying
A.stable B.powerful C.frozen D.solid
A.stand B.spare C.take D.preserve
A.breaks B.research C.pressure D.problems
A.firmly B.immediately C.quickly D.luckily