McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Jack in the...

    When my mother died, I was cooking.

One weekend, my husband suggested we cook together. I’d spoken to my mother earlier that day on the phone. I’d told her about our life. She yawned and we said goodbye to one another.

I didn’t know then what I would know 16 hours later. I hadn’t even asked how she was doing. My mother died.

My mother was my best friend. After she died, I felt so lonely. The only person I wanted to talk to about my grief was my mother. The only person who could help me was the one who was missing, however much love and support people gave me.

My mother gave me many things, but an education in cookery was not one of them. She liked eating more than cooking.

But she had learned to cook when she was a teenager and she had some brilliant recipes (食谱).

I know everyone says this, but my mother made the best roast beef dinners in the world. And, above all, fish pie! Almost every week, she would buy a prepared fish pie. Then she would bring it home and make her own white sauce (沙司).

My mother never got around to teaching me how to make a white sauce—and I never got around to asking her. Now that she was gone, I would have to teach myself.

So this became my focus. For the first few weeks, I managed to live on instant foods. But one night, a fish pie mix caught my eye at the store.

When I got home, I set myself in front of our electric stove. Armed with a recipe, I tried to teach myself to make a white sauce.

Halfway through the recipe, I couldn’t believe it—I’d made a white sauce! On my own! I could do this! Then I remembered: I had always hated fish pie.

Admiring my sauce, I wondered why I was so committed to making a dish I had hated for 25 years. Why was it suddenly so important to me?

I spooned the sauce over the fish. Then I ate the pie. It was delicious. More importantly, something strange had happened. The act of making a meal had calmed me.

It helped me find peace.

1.What do we know about the author?

A.She didn’t get along well with her husband.

B.She rarely called her mother on the phone.

C.She had a close relationship with her mother.

D.She regretted not visiting her mother that day.

2.By describing her mother’s cookery, the author ________.

A.expressed her wish to be a person like her mother

B.complained that her mother didn’t teach her to cook

C.wanted to show how good her mother was at cooking

D.meant to tell what was special about the white sauce

3.What does the underlined word “this” refer to?

A.Living a lonely life. B.Learning to cook.

C.Living on instant foods. D.Looking back on the old days.

4.How did the author feel when she made the white sauce?

A.Sad. B.Peaceful.

C.Dependent. D.Strange.

    Food & Drink Service. We offer snacks like chocolate, crisps, biscuits and salted peanuts. A wide range of soft drinks, fruit juice, tea, milk, yoghourt, vegetable juice and mineral water can be provided. However, since taking a flight may be a process of removing water from your body, water and nonalcoholic beverages are strongly advised.

Electronic Facilities. Cellular phones, FM/AM radios, portable television sets and electronic toys with remote controls must not be used in the cabin, as their signals may interfere with the aircraft’s navigational instruments. Laptop computers and CD (MD, MP3) players may be used during cruising portions of the flight but not during the take-off and landing.

In-flight Entertainment. A wide selection of international publications are available for your reading pleasure. You may keep this free copy of Morning Calm magazine, but kindly return all other reading materials after you have finished with them for the benefit of fellow passengers. A selection of music is available on eight channels, from channel 3 to 10. The channel changer is on your armrest. We also offer a selection of popular films; you may listen in English on channel 2. Poker and chess are available on request, and we have free postcards and stationery.

Medical Needs. We keep a selection of nonprescription medicine for any passenger suffering from mild sicknesses. An emergency medical kit is also accessible for more serious illnesses.

Travelling with Infants and Children. Baby bassinets (摇篮式婴儿床) are provided on a first come first serve basis and should be requested at the time of booking. Special meals for children and infants can be served if the request is made 24 hours before departure. Selected giveaways for children aged 2 to 12 are available on all international flights.

1.The services above are probably offered by ________.

A.a travel agency B.an airline

C.a medical center D.a five-star hotel

2.If you turn on Channel 5 on your armrest, what will you enjoy?

A.International news. B.Poker and chess.

C.Fashion magazines. D.Popular music.

3.When should a passenger request special meals for children and babies?

A.24 hours before departure. B.At the time of booking.

C.Soon after the take-off. D.At the time of landing.

    You should see the photo. I’m sitting in red dirt, ________ an ugly purple T-shirt. My face is pink and my ________ is wet with sweat. Flies buzz around my head. I’m in the northwest of Australia, on a school trip with 20 parents and 20 kids

It was a strange choice for a holiday. I like sitting by the pool with a cola, not flies and frogs. I like being ________ and quiet, not a busload of kids. I like ________ washed sheets, not dirty-looking blankets.

But here’s the thing about that photo: I am smiling!

The trip sounded good when I ________. We were told that guides would take us into the heart of the place and I would see a new part of Australia and learn about local ________. Besides I knew it would be a valuable chance for me to stay with my youngest daughter. I would also stay with 40 strangers. I just hope there would be good coffee.

In Darwin we got onto a bus. It quickly became tiresome. The kids were ________ and kept on talking but I hate making small talk.

But later when I looked out at the large empty land, I was surprised at and moved by its ________. Our local guide told us about the land and his culture. I felt far from home.

At a national park, we ________ a natural swimming hole, kids and parents having a great time.

Finally we reached our ________. There the small room I shared with my daughter was a brick cell, full of crickets (蟋蟀), but too dark to see them.

It didn’t ________. The next nine days were ________. Waterfalls, lakes, community visits, and a trip around Katherine Gorge where we ________ saw giant crocodiles!

On our last night, a water pipe (管子) ________. We awoke to a mess, everything in water. Usually I would have ________, but it just seemed ________ to be dirty.

Indeed, it was ________ to stay clean. We were hiking in red dirt with temperatures of 35 degrees. Still, I felt a kind of energy I hadn’t ________ in years.

Yes, the coffee was bad, but I was too focused on keeping crickets off my face.

I love that photo of me in the dirt. I look ________ but happy. Sometimes it’s another way of traveling. There is beautiful ________ and there is dirt. There was always someone to talk to someone to laugh with.

1.A.washing B.wearing C.waving D.watching

2.A.mind B.eye C.heart D.hair

3.A.noisy B.busy C.alone D.shy

4.A.shortly B.cautiously C.freshly D.clearly

5.A.signed up B.showed up C.stood up D.woke up

6.A.guide B.business C.culture D.resource

7.A.silent B.encouraged C.moody D.excited

8.A.coldness B.beauty C.enthusiasm D.emptiness

9.A.enjoyed B.broadened C.missed D.constructed

10.A.goal B.agreement C.destination D.decision

11.A.matter B.work C.appear D.happen

12.A.killed B.packed C.wasted D.booked

13.A.still B.already C.even D.ever

14.A.cut B.expanded C.shortened D.broke

15.A.scared B.complained C.laughed D.saddened

16.A.normal B.strange C.unbelievable D.perfect

17.A.impossible B.probable C.easy D.important

18.A.tested B.stored C.valued D.experienced

19.A.pretty B.energetic C.bitter D.messy

20.A.dress B.weather C.scenery D.room

—I can drive you home.

—________, but are you sure it’s not too much trouble?

A.That would be great B.Don’t bother

C.I’m afraid not D.Congratulations

One-fifth of the area ________ covered with trees. About seventy percent of the trees ________ been planted recently.

A.is; has B.are; have C.is; have D.are; has