In the course of working my way through school, I took many jobs I would rather forget. But none of these jobs was as dreadful as my job in an apple plant. The work was hard, the pay was poor; What’s more, the working conditions were terrible.
First of all, the job made huge demands on my strength. For ten hours a night, I took boxes that rolled down a metal track and piled them onto a truck. Each box contained twelve heavy bottles of apple juice. I once figured out that I was lifting an average of twelve tons of apple juice every night.
I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much if the pay had not been so poor. I was paid the lowest wage of that time—two dollars an hour. Because of the low pay, I felt eager to get as much as possible. I usually worked twelve hours a night but did receive a low pay.
But even more than the low pay, what made me unhappy was the working conditions. During work I was limited to two ten-minute breaks and an unpaid half hour for lunch. Most of my time was spent outside loading trucks with those heavy boxes in near-zero-degree temperatures. The steel floors of the trucks were like ice, which made my feet feel like stone. And after the production line shut down at night and most people left, I had to spend two hours alone cleaning the floor.
I stayed on the job for five months, all the while hating the difficulty of the work, the poor money, and the conditions under which I worked. By the time I left, I was determined never to go back there again.
1.Why did the writer have to take many jobs at the time?
A.to pay for his schooling B.to save for his future
C.to contribute to charities D.to gain some experience
2.The following facts describe the terrible working conditions of the plant EXCEPT ________.
A.loading boxes in the freezing cold B.having limited time for breaks
C.working and studying at the same time D.getting no pay for lunch time
3.What is the subject discussed in the text?
A.The writer’s unhappy school life.
B.The writer’s eagerness to earn money.
C.The writer’s experience as a full-time worker.
D.The writer’s hard work in an apple plant.
4.How is the text organized?
A.Topic-Argument-Explanation
B.Opinion-Discussion-Description
C.Main idea-Comparison-Supporting examples
D.Introduction-Supporting examples-Conclusion
Grandparents Answer a Call
As a third－generation native of Brownsville, Texas, Mildred Garza never planned to move away.Even when her daughter and son asked her to move to San Antonio to help with their children, she politely refused.Only after a year of friendly discussion did Ms.Garza finally say yes.That was four years ago.Today all three generations regard the move as a success, giving them a closer relationship than they would have had in separate cities.
No statistics show the number of grandparents like Garza who are moving closer to adult children and grandchildren. Yet there is evidence suggesting that the trend is growing.Even President Obama’s mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, has agreed to leave Chicago and move into the White House to help care for her granddaughters. According to a study by grandparents.com, 83 percent of the people said Mrs.Robinson's decision will influence grandparents in the American family.Two－thirds believe more families will follow the example of Obama’s family.
“In the 1960s we were all a little wild and couldn't get away from home far enough or fast enough to prove we could do it on our own,”says Christine Crosby, publisher of Grand, a magazine for grandparents. “We now realize how important family is and how important it is to be near them, especially when you’re raising children.”
Moving is not for everyone. Almost every grandparent wants to be with his or her grandchildren and is willing to make sacrifices, but sometimes it is wiser to say no and visit frequently instead.Having your grandchildren far away is hard, especially knowing your adult child is struggling, but giving up the life you know may be harder.
1.Why was Garza’s move a success?
A.It strengthened her family ties.
B.It improved her living conditions.
C.It enabled her to make more friends.
D.It helped her know more new places.
2.What was the reaction of the public to Mrs.Robinson’s decision?
A.17% expressed their support for it.
B.Few people responded sympathetically.
C.83% believed it had a bad influence.
D.The majority thought it was a trend.
3.What did Crosby say about people in the 1960s?
A.They were unsure of themselves.
B.They were eager to raise more children.
C.They wanted to live away from their parents.
D.They had little respect for their grandparents.
4.What does the author suggest the grandparents do in the last paragraph?
A.Make decisions in the best interests of their own.
B.Ask their children to pay more visits to them.
C.Sacrifice for their struggling children.
D.Get to know themselves better.
Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains. They are a branch of the great Appalachian family, and can be seen to the west rising up to a noble height and towering over the surrounding country. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their beautiful shapes on the clear evening sky, but sometimes when it is cloudless, gray steam gathers around the top of the mountains which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will shine and light up like a crown of glory(华丽的皇冠).
At the foot of these mountains, a traveler may see light smoke going up from a village. In that village, and in one of the houses (which, to tell the exact truth, was sadly time-worn and weather-beaten), there lived many years ago, a simple, good-natured fellow by the name of Rip Van Winkle.
Rip’s great weakness was a natural dislike of all kinds of money-making labor. It could not be from lack of diligence, for he could sit all day on a wet rock and fish without saying a word, even though he was not encouraged by a single bite. He would carry a gun on his shoulder for hours, walking through woods and fields to shoot a few birds or squirrels. He would never refuse to help a neighbor, even in the roughest work. The women of the village, too, used to employ him to do such little jobs as their less helpful husbands would not do for them. In a word, Rip was ready to attend to everybody’s business but his own.
If left to himself, he would have whistled life away in perfect satisfaction; but his wife was always mad at him for his idleness(懒散). Morning, noon, and night, her tongue was endlessly going, so that he was forced to escape to the outside of the house — the only side which, in truth, belongs to a_________
1.Which of the following best describes the Catskill Mountains? ________
A.They are very high and beautiful in this area.
B.They are on the west of the Hudson River.
C.They can be seen from the Appalachian family.
D.They gather beautiful clouds in blue and purple.
2.The hero of the story is probably__________.
A.hard-working and likes all kinds of work
B.gentle, helpful but a little idle
C.simple, idle but very dutiful
D.idle and hates all kinds of jobs
3.The underlined words “henpecked husband” in the last paragraph probably means a man who__________.
A.likes hunting B.is afraid of hens
C.is afraid of his wife D.loves his wife
4.What would be the best title for the text? ________.
A.Catskill Mountains. B.A Mountain Village.
C.A Dutiful Husband. D.Rip Van Winkle.
HOLIDAYS
The Bay Hotel. It's a quiet, comfortable hotel overlooking (俯瞰) the bay in an uncommercialised Cornish fishing village on England's most southerly point. If pop music is no longer your strong point, and you are considering a relaxing holiday where the scenery is breathtaking and the sound of the sea is live music to your ears, come and stay with us. For adults only. Sssh! Don’t tell everyone! 01326 280464
Willapark Manor Hotel. Peaceful situation in 14 acres of separated gardens and woodland, overlooking picturesque bay. Close to coastal path and beach. Excellent cuisine. Our excellent service brings our guests back year after year. Children (reductions) and pets welcome. 01840 770782
The Country Garden Hotel. Delightful hotel set in lovely gardens; calm Island of Wight near Tennyson Downs, Great food! Garden, sea view and ground floor rooms. Please call for brochure (服务指南) and sample menu. Adults only and pets welcome. 0800 980 1943
Boscastle. Romantic 17th Century farmer's cottage in countryside with splendid coastal views. Well equipped. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets/smoking. Garden with furniture. Brochure: 01633 450417
Godshill. 4 star self-served units. Non smoking. Sleeps 2 -4. Open all year. Good walks. Close to pubs. Peaceful. Cosy. No pets. Brochure (服务指南): 01983 840371
The Blakeney Hotel. Overlooking harbour, traditional privately owned friendly hotel with 60 bedrooms, lift, heated indoor pool, spa bath and saunas. Relax, walk, sail, play golf, explore the Norfolk villages, countryside and coast. Special seasonal midweek price for aged citizens. 01263 740797
S W France. Rural setting near Cordes. Two beautifully repainted old houses sleep 4/5 and 6. Gardens, woodland, pool, views, excellent walks. Available all year round. Outstanding. 01962 776967
1.All of the following hotels are close to the sea EXCEPT __________.
A.S W France B.The Blakeney Hotel
C.Willapark Manor Hotel D.The Country Garden Hotel
2.If you want to take your children and your dog with you on holiday, you can choose ______.
A.The Country Garden Hotel B.Willapark Manor Hotel
C.The Bay Hotel D.Boscastle
3.One of the hotels offers special price for __________.
A.young people B.elderly people C.foreign guests D.students
4.The purpose of the passage is to ______________.
A.warn B.advise C.describe D.advertise
Speaking Up
I never looked up when my friends were talking and joking about the ratarded (智障的) boy a few tables away. It didn’t even cross my mind that he might feel _______when people whispered about him. So I just let them talk.
Then came the day when I learned my little brother Martin’s testing for autism (自闭症) came out positive (阳性). I had never thought about him like that. I broke_______, crying.
Everything had just changed. He was no longer a(n) _______little boy.
Over time, I was able to accept his _______a little more. We had to_______because Martin needed treatment. So Martin and I both started at a new school. One day, I was standing in the bus line waiting when a “ short ” bus (for the retarded) came and_______up some kids. The children in the other line started making_______about the “ retarded ” on that bus and I felt a _______feeling in my heart. I said quietly that those comments weren’t very nice, _______no one listened.
My family moved again. In the new school I got a ________ to speak up pretty soon. That day, in a band class, my teacher _________our playing to make some comments, “ …Guys, we’re playing like the kids on the short bus! Come on! ”
The entire room was laughing loudly. I felt very ________. Then, I raised my hand. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but I wanted to be heard.
The whole class ________down. My mouth opened and this came out: “ I don’t think we should make fun of the short bus, because there are people on that bus who have a lot in common with us and have the same feelings as we do.” I could feel my________getting louder. “So I would________it if you didn’t make fun of them.”
The room was very quiet and everyone stared at me. My teacher ________for his words and then started the song again. At the end of the class, everyone was giving me strange looks. But I didn’t _________because I knew three things: I had spoken the ________, I had taught everyone something, and while everyone in the classroom was being a follower, I had ________to take a different path since I wanted to become a ________and a role model.
1.A.amazed B.hurt C.uncertain D.cold
2.A.off B.in C.down D.away
3.A.normal B.noisy C.outstanding D.impressive
4.A.pain B.interest C.opinion D.illness
5.A.change B.move C.quit D.study
6.A.set B.took C.brought D.picked
7.A.jokes B.complaints C.choices D.discoveries
8.A.violent B.strange C.confusing D.clear
9.A.because B.if C.but D.so
10.A.chance B.position C.topic D.point
11.A.encouraged B.bothered C.enjoyed D.stopped
12.A.bad B.embarrassed C.tense D.guilty
13.A.sat B.slowed C.quieted D.looked
14.A.pace B.voice C.pulse D.breath
15.A.excuse B.appreciate C.stand D.permit
16.A.apologized B.fought C.allowed D.argued
17.A.understand B.notice C.return D.care
18.A.wisdom B.importance C.matter D.truth
19.A.helped B.decided C.agreed D.hoped
20.A.reporter B.thinker C.leader D.trainer
— Do you know everyone ________ came to the party?
— No, I donˈt know the one ________ you had a long talk with.
A./; whom B.which; that C.that; which D.who; /
