I have had just about enough of being treated like a second-class citizen, simply because I happened to be that put-upon member of society ― a customer. The more I go into shops and hotels, banks and post offices, railway stations, airports and the like, the more I’m convinced that things are being run just to suit the firm, the system, or the union. There seems to be a new motto for the so-called “service” organization ― Staff Before Service. How often, for example, have you queued for what seems like hours at the Post Office or the supermarket because there aren’t enough staff on duty at all the service counters? Surely in these days of high unemployment it must be possible to increase counter staff. Yet supermarkets, hinting darkly at higher prices, claim that bringing all their cash registers into operation at any time would increase expenses. And the Post Office says we cannot expect all their service counters to be occupied “at times when demand is low”.
It’s the same with hotels. Because waiters and kitchen staff must finish when it suits them, dining rooms close earlier or menu choice is lowered. As for us guests (and how the meaning of that word has been cut away little by little.), we just have to put up with it. There’s also the nonsense of so many friendly hotel night porters having been gradually withdrawn from service in the interests of “efficiency” (i.e. profits) and replaced by coin-eating machines which supply everything from beer to medicine, not to mention the creeping（慢慢加剧的） threat of the tea-making set in your room: a kettle with teabags, milk bags and sugar. Who wants to wake up to a raw teabag? I don’t, especially when I am paying for “service”.
Our only hope is to repeat our anger whenever and wherever we can and, if all else fails, restore that other, older saying ― Take Our Custom（买卖） Elsewhere.
1.The author feels that nowadays customers are _____.
A.not provided with proper service
B.considered to be lower members of society
C.not worthy of special treatment
D.regarded as privileged
2.In the author’s opinion, the quality of service is changing because _____.
A.more consideration is given to the staff than customers
B.customers are becoming more demanding
C.customers are unwilling to be satisfied with
D.the staff are less considerate than employers
3.According to the author, long queues at counters are caused by _____.
A.deliberate（故意的）understaffing
B.lack of cooperation among staff
C.the reducing supply of good staff
D.inefficient staff
4.The disappearance of old-style hotel porters can be attributed to the fact that _____.
A.the personal touch is less appreciated nowadays
B.few people are willing to do this type of work
C.machines are more reliable than human beings
D.self-service provides a cheaper alternative
5.The author’s final solution to the problem discussed in the passage is _____.
A.to put up with whatever service is provided
B.to fully use all kinds of coin-eating machines
C.to make strong complaints wherever necessary
D.to go where good service is available
As I jogged over the bridge and round the corner on my regular early morning run, he was standing opposite the jeweler’s, looking extremely suspicious. But the moment he saw me, instead of trying to avoid me, he came straight across the road as I drew level with the jeweler’s. Halfway across he began addressing me: “I thought you were going to…” — but his voice trailed away as he received no reply and no sign of recognition from me. It was quite obvious that he had mistaken me for someone else. But he started up again as if nothing had happened．“Good morning, ” he said．“Nice to bump into someone so early. Someone to talk to. I’ve taken to talking to myself on this job.”
I hate meeting people when I’m out early, and I was almost out of breath, so I just paused in my stride, nodded in a friendly manner, and went on up the road. The stranger had spoken quietly, and quite slowly. And I had noticed that he was well dressed, too. But if he looked suspicious dressed like that at that time of the morning, what about me? I was in a track suit, with an old sweater round my shoulders and a cap on my head．As to his odd remark about “talking to himself on this job”, I hadn’t paid any attention to it, although now it began to worry me. Was he perhaps a plain clothes policeman? At the time I somehow felt he was.
I had just turned the corner into the High Street when I heard the sound of breaking glass somewhere behind me, and I thought the sound came from the street I had just left. I stopped dead and almost without thinking looked back around the corner. The stranger was not there, but almost immediately an alarm bell in the jeweler’s began ringing furiously.
I found out later that a burglar had broken into the jeweler’s shop and stolen watches and rings worth about ￡5,000. The police are still looking into the matter, but I’m afraid to go and tell them what I know now because they might even suspect me of committing the crime, and it might be difficult for me to prove my innocence. After all, I haven’t offered my assistance as a witness, and the only other person around that morning was the “stranger” who had spoken to me.
1.From the passage we can infer that the author _____.
A.always goes past the jeweler’s
B.didn’t like talking to the strangers
C.meets a few people every morning
D.saw a plain clothes policeman that morning
2.Why did the stranger talk to the author?
A.Because the stranger took the author as someone else.
B.Because the stranger loved talking to people.
C.Because the stranger recognized the writer.
D.Because the stranger took a job of talking to himself.
3.Why did the stranger seem suspicious?
A.He was about to go into the jeweler’s.
B.He was far too friendly.
C.He was dressed too well for that time.
D.He talked to himself a lot.
4.If the writer had been on the spot, _____.
A.he might have been badly injured
B.he would have seen what happened
C.he wouldn’t have heard the alarm bell
D.the stranger wouldn’t have broken the window
5.What idea does the author convey in the last paragraph?
A.he thinks the stranger is innocent
B.the burglar didn’t steal very much
C.he might commit the crime to the police
D.he hesitates whether to report to the police about what he knew
Fitness Center Timetable
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
7:15 a.m. | Body Power | Aerobics | Body Stretch |
| Aerobics | Body Burn | Body Stretch |
10:30 a.m. | Beginner Aerobics |
| Beginner Aerobics |
| Aerobics | Body Stretch |
|
12:30 p.m. | Body Stretch | Body Burn |
| Aerobics | Beginner Aerobics |
| Body Burn |
3:00 p.m. |
| Beginner Aerobics |
| Body Stretch | Body Burn | Beginner Aerobics |
|
4:45 p.m. | Body Burn | Aerobics | Aerobics | Body Power | Body Power | Body Stretch |
|
5:30 p.m. | Aerobics | Body Power | Body Power | Body Burn | Body Stretch |
| Body Power |
6:30 p.m. | Aerobics | Body Burn | BodyBurn | Beginner Aerobics |
| Body Power |
|
7:30 p.m. | Beginner Aerobics | Body Stretch | Beginner Aerobics | Aerobics |
|
|
|
Body Power: This class uses weights and aerobic movements (a form of very active physical exercise) to increase strength while burning fat. It is suitable for all levels for fitness.
Aerobics: This is a low to middle level of difficulty aerobic class. It is good for beginner to average levels of fitness.
Beginner Aerobics: This class has a low level of difficulty and simple aerobic movements. It is mainly for people who have not exercised before or who are just returning after a long break or injury.
Body Stretch (hold your arms or legs out straight and tighten your muscles): This is a relaxation class which stretches all the muscle groups. It is suitable for all levels of fitness. People who exercise regularly or have a stressful lifestyle would also greatly improve their health in this class.
Body Burn: This is a high level of difficulty aerobic class that mainly aims at fat burning. It is only for those people with a very high level of fitness.
1.On Wednesday the fitness class at 6: 30 p. m. is______ .
A.Aerobics B.Body Power
C.Body Burn D.Beginner Aerobics
2.The two classes that are suitable for all levels of fitness are______ .
A.Aerobics and Body Power B.Body Burn and Aerobics
C.Body Power and Body Stretch D.Body Stretch and Beginner Aerobics
3.Lena wants to go to the City Gym on Friday. She has not exercised for a long time. The best time for her to go would be______ .
A.3:00 p.m. B.5:30 p.m.
C.7:15 a. m. D.12:30 p.m.
4.The main goal of the Body Burn is to______ .
A.reduce fat B.reduce stress
C.increase strength D.increase muscle size
With his leg lame and his teeth uneven, the boy thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world. He____played with his classmates, and when asked to answer questions, he always ___his head without a word.
One spring, his father brought home some saplings (树苗). ___of his children would plant a sapling and he promised, “Whoever____his sapling best shall get a gift.” The boy certainly wanted to get the gift.____seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees, he____an idea: he hoped the tree he planted would die soon. So watering it once or twice, he never___ it.
Several days later, he was ___to find it not only didn’t die, but also grew so many fresh____. Compared with those of his brothers’ and sisters’, his appeared greener. His father kept his __ , bought the boy a gift and said he would become an outstanding ___after growing up.
From then on, the boy slowly became____and confident. One evening, he suddenly ___his biology teacher once said that plants ___grow at night. Why not go to see the tree?
When he came to the courtyard, he found his father working near the tree! Immediately he____: Father had been secretly____his tree! He returned to his room, tears in his eyes.
Decades passed. The boy didn’t become a botanist. ___, he became the U.S. __. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.
__ is the best nourishment (滋养品) of life.___ it is just a bucket of water, it can make the tree of life grow well!
1.A.seldom B.ever C.still D.often
2.A.held B.lowered C.raised D.covered
3.A.Both B.None C.Each D.One
4.A.likes B.grows C.protects D.watches
5.A.And B.But C.Or D.So
6.A.came up with B.got rid of C.put forward D.cared for
7.A.contributed to B.turned to C.got used to D.attended to
8.A.disappointed B.frightened C.surprised D.amused
9.A.roots B.seeds C.branches D.leaves
10.A.balance B.word C.agreement D.opinion
11.A.botanist B.gardener C.president D.teacher
12.A.satisfied B.optimistic C.independent D.upset
13.A.believed B.remembered C.repeated D.knew
14.A.probably B.hardly C.recently D.generally
15.A.understood B.doubted C.wondered D.admitted
16.A.cutting B.watering C.decorating D.fertilizing
17.A.Therefore B.Besides C.Instead D.Moreover
18.A.president B.doctor C.lawyer D.teacher
19.A.Water B.Love C.Disability D.Father
20.A.So long as B.If only C.Even though D.Now that
—Tony _______ what I did annoying though he didn’t say anything.
—So you think you will have to make an apology?
A. could find B. should have found
C. might find D. must have found
Billy Crystal will host the Academy Awards again this year, and his performances always _____ the expectations of most audience.
A.sign up for B.drop out of C.give in to D.live up to
