I arrived at the address and sounded the horn(喇叭). After waiting a few minutes I sounded the horn again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift (换班), I thought about just driving away, but instead I knocked on the door. “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause,a small woman in her .90’s stood before me. When we got in the cab,she gave me an address and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh,I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice (临终关怀医院). I don’t have any family left. She continued in a soft voice, “The doctor says I don’t have very long.” I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
For the next two hours,we drove through the. city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator, the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds, a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
As the dawn came, we got to the hospice. Two nurses came out to the taxi as soon as we pulled up. The woman was seated in a wheelchair in no time.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said. “Thank you.”
I drove into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. What if I had refused to take the run, or had sounded the horn once, then driven away?
1.Why did the author sound the horn twice?
A. He refused to take the run. B. He was about to drive away.
C. He had waited for a long time. D. He wanted to end his nightshift earlier.
2.Why did the woman ask the author to drive through the city?
A. To share her life experiences.
B. To take the shortest way to the hospice.
C. To review the important places in her life.
D. To show the author her former working places.
3.What can we infer from the text?
A. The taxi driver was impatient.
B. The old lady could take care of herself.
C. The ride had a great influence on the taxi driver.
D. The nurses were unaware of the old lady’s arrival.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Being Patient B. The Last Ride C. A Kind Lady D. A Taxi Driver
Welcome to the UK National Parks
The United Kingdom has beautiful national parks. Try our quick guide for a handy introduction to each of the following four parks.
The Broads
The Broads, Britain’s largest protected wetland, is now home to some of Britain’s rarest wildlife.
Key areas of interest:
● home to over a quarter of our rarest wildlife.
● over 125 miles of waterways to explore
● gentle footpaths and cycle routes, fabulous fishing
● a Roman fort, medieval churches and traditional windmills
● the River Wensum runs right into the city of Norwich, just 2 hour from London
Lake District
The Lake District has inspired writers and visitors for centuries.
Key areas of interest:
● England’s largest National Park is now a World Heritage Site
● Scafell, England’s highest mountain
● 16 main lakes and many smaller tarns
● boat trips, sailing, boating and swimming
● less than 2 hour from Manchester
New Forest
It is a historic royal hunting forest, where you can enjoy the sight of ponies, cattle, sheep and pigs.
Key areas of interest:
● ponies, cows and pigs on the open forest
● ancient trees, some over 1,000 years old
● a coastline of sea creatures, like shingle, saltmarsh, lagoons and mudflats
● less than an hour from Southampton, Bournemouth and Salisbury
South Downs
Discover the world-famous white cliffs at Seven Sisters, rolling green and gold hills, ancient woodland and lowland heaths or explore “picture perfect” villages, traditional country pubs and flourishing vineyards.
Key area of interest:
● walk, cycle or horse ride the length of the national park on the 160 km South Downs Way national trail
● grasslands and woodlands rich in wildflowers and butterflies
● market towns and hidden villages
● just over an hour by train from London and a short bus ride from Brighton, Portsmouth, East Bourne and Winchester
1.Which park is listed as a World Heritage Site?
A. The Broads. B. Lake District. C. New Forest. D. South Downs
2.What will you see in New Forest?
A. Ponies, cattle, sheep and pigs. B. Some rarest wildlife.
C. Beautiful lakes. D. Churches and windmills.
3.What activity do the Broads and South Downs both offer?
A. Swimming. B. Sailing. C. Cycling. D. Horse riding.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How long should people put their burnt hands in cool running water?
A. About 20 minutes. B. About 10 minutes. C. About 12 minutes.
2.What should people do to bring down the temperature?
A. By keeping warm. B. By shutting the window. C. By taking a bath.
3.How should people deal with backache?
A. Lie down. B. Go to bed. C. Keep moving gently.
4.What is the speaker mainly talking?
A. Simple treatments for some situations.
B. Mistakes in first aid.
C. Cases calling for first aid.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why won’t the man join the basketball team this year?
A. He wants to have more time to relax.
B. He wants to try something new.
C. He didn’t do well in the team.
2.What does the woman want to do?
A. Join a dancing club. B. Play a sport. C. Have more time to rest.
3.What does the woman think of music?
A. It’s good for us. B. It’s not interesting. C. It’s useful.
4.Which club will the man probably join?
A. The music club. B. The dance club. C. The cooking club.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the man have to do?
A. He has to check out.
B. He has to change his room.
C. He has to repair his heating.
2.When will the man come back?
A. In half an hour.
B. Around eight o’clock.
C. Before doing the repair work.
3.Where will the man get his new room key?
A. At the front desk. B. In Room 601. C. In his present room.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A. Weekend plan. B. The weather. C. A piece of news.
2.When will the woman call the man?
A. On Tuesday. B. On Sunday. C. On Saturday.
