It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“Jack, did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.
“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.
“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.
“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.
Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked. “The box is gone,” he said.
“What box?” Mom asked.
“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
“Now, I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.
Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.
“Mr. Harold Belser” it read. Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.
“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.
Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” “Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.
“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.
1.Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?
A.College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Bleser.
B.Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.
C.Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.
D.His present busy life washed away his childhood memories.
2.Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that ______.
A.Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing
B.Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday
C.Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address
D.Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together
3.What does the underlined word “reminisce” mean in paragraph 5?
A.recover B.reveal
C.recommend D.recall
4.Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?
A.Because he had no children or relatives.
B.Because he thought he had to keep his word.
C.Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.
D.Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.
5.Jack said he needed some time to spend with his son because ______.
A.he came to realize the importance of the time with his family
B.he had promised to spare more time to stay with his son
C.he had missed his son and his family for days
D.he was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.
6.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?
A.The Good Old Times B.What He Valued Most
C.An Old Gold Watch D.The Lost Childhood Days
Below is a housing guide for students going to London.
University accommodation (住所)offices
Many university accommodation offices have their own list of registered landlords (房东). Others also provide information on accommodation agencies and other housing organizations. The advantage of using your university accommodation office is that you can get some support if you have 'a problem. The disadvantage is that they are unlikely to have enough registered landlords to house all their students.
Property papers: Loot and Renting
Loot is an important source (来源) of information about private housing for co-renters. The offers are from private landlords, agencies and individuals looking for other co-renters. They also have a website: www. loot. com. The advantage of using Loot is that there are some excellent bargains. The disadvantage is that there is no quality control over the offers.
Renting is another useful paper. The offers in this paper are mainly from accommodation agencies. Their website is at www. Renting.co. uk.
Accommodation agencies
The majority of rented accommodation in London is probably advertised through accommodation agencies. The advantage of using accommodation agencies is that you will have access to a large number of accommodations. A good agent will listen to your requirements and can save you time in looking for the right accommodation. The disadvantage is that they will make a range of charges to potential renters.
Noticeboards
Around the universities you will find a number of noticeboards where offers of accommodation will be posted. These will either be from landlords or from students. Some universities will also have online noticeboards where students can advertise to other students. Advertisements from students can be an excellent way to find accommodation. However, advertisements from landlords can be problematic.
Word of mouth
Some of the best housing in London is never advertised but is passed on from one group of students to another by word of mouth. It might be that you can find out about good offers from final year students. However, don't suppose that just because you have found out about housing from a friend it is necessarily, going to be better than that found through any other source.
Family
Faced with the very high rents charged in London, some students and their parents will consider buying as an alternative. In some cases this might be a good choice.
1.What is the advantage of using Loot?
A.It has more offers from accommodation agencies than Renting.
B.It gives you personal information about other co-renters.
C.Their website is designed mainly for students.
D.There are some good bargains.
2.A good agent can help you .
A.know more people
B.find cheap accommodation
C.get the right accommodation quickly
D.get free information about most accommodations
3.The information passed on by word of mouth is important because .
A.it is better than that found through any other source
B.it helps you find some of the best housing never advertised
C.the final year students always offer better information
D.the landlords have little valuable information
4.For students going to London for the first time, which of the following provides the most reliable information?
A.University accommodation offices.
B.Loot and Renting.
C.Noticeboards.
D.Family.
Some thirty years ago, I was studying in a public school in New York city. One day, Mrs Nanette O’Neill gave an arithmetic test to our class. When the papers were ______ she discovered that twelve boys had made exactly the same mistakes throughout the test.
There is nothing really new about ______ in exams. Perhaps that was why Mrs O’Neill ______ even say a word about it. She only asked the twelve boys to______ after class. I was one of the twelve.
Mrs O’Neill asked______ questions, and she didn’t______ us either. Instead she wrote on the blackboard the______ words by Thomas Macaulay. “The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. ” She then ordered us to ______ these words one hundred times.
I don’t______ about the other eleven boys. Speaking for ______ I can say: it was the most important single______ of my life. Thirty years after being ______ to Macaulay’s words, they ______ seem to me the best yardstick( 准 绳 ), because they gave us a ______ to measure ourselves rather than others.
______ of us are asked to make ______ decisions about nations going to war or armies going to battle. But all of us are called ______ daily to make a great many personal decisions.
______ the wallet, found in the street, be put into a pocket or turned over to the policeman? Should the______ change received at the store be forgotten or returned? Nobody will know except you. But you have to live with yourself, and it is always ______ to live with someone you respect.
1.A.examined B.completed C.marked D.answered
2.A.lying B.cheating C.guessing D.discussing
3.A.didn’t B.did C.would D.wouldn’t
4.A.come B.leave C.remain D.apologize
5.A.many B.certain C.more D.no
6.A.excuse B.reject C.help D.scold
7.A.above B.common C.following D.unusual
8.A.repeat B.get C.copy D.put
9.A.worry B.know C.hear D.talk
10.A.myself B.ourselves C.themselves D.herself
11.A.chance B.incident C.lesson D.memory
12.A.referred B.showed C.brought D.introduced
13.A.even B.still C.always D.almost
14.A.way B.sentence C.choice D.reason
15.A.All B.None C.Few D.Some
16.A.quick B.wise C.great D.personal
17.A.out B.for C.up D.upon
18.A.Should B.Must C.Would D.Need
19.A.extra B.small C.some D.necessary
20.A.easier B.more natural C.better D.more peaceful
______ the weather, the press conference will still be held on time.
A.Instead of B.In relation to C.Regardless of D.On behalf of
When he turned professional at the age of 11, Mike ___________ to become a world champion by his coach and parents.
A. expected B. was expecting C. was expected D. would be expected
--Reading is the best way to pass time on the train.
-- , I never go traveling without a book.
A. You are joking B. That's true
C. I don't think so D. It sounds like fun
