Paul had just left college and was offered an interview for a position in a company in New York. As he needed to move from Texas to New York if he got the job, he wanted to talk about the decision with someone before accepting it. But his parents had died. He remembered that his father had suggested he should turn to an old friend of his family if he needed advice.
The older man said, “Go to New York and have the interview. But I want you to go on a train and I want you to get a private compartment(车厢). Don’t take anything to write with, anything to listen to or anything to read, and don’t talk to anybody except when you order the meal. Call me when you get to New York and I will tell you what to do next.”
At first, Paul followed the advice closely. The trip took two days. As he had brought along nothing to do, he quickly became bored. He realized he was being forced into quite time – he could do nothing but think. About three hours outside New York City he broke the rules, asked for a pencil and paper and kept writing down the thoughts until the train arrived in New York.
Paul called the family friend from the train station.
“Thank you, Uncle I know what you wanted. You wanted me to think. And now I know what to do.” “I guessed you could understand my idea, Paul,” came the reply, “Good luck.”
Now, years later, Paul runs a company in New York. And he always spends a couple of days being alone with no phone, no television and no people to think quietly.
1.Paul would go to New York for __________.
A. a conference B. a visit C. education D. an interview
2.We can know from the passage that _______.
A. Paul had worked in Texas for three years.
B. the older man advised Paul to go by air
C. Paul broke the rules before arriving in New York.
D. Now Paul runs companies both in New York and Texas.
3.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Paul had a talk with a clever man during the trip.
B. The older man’s advice influenced Paul greatly.
C. Paul only brought a pencil and paper with him.
D. The older man lived in New York.
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Time to be quiet B. You’re not alone
C. Studying in the Journey D. Friends are useful
“Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?” says Sarah, 28, a writer in Beijing.
Taobao, China’s largest online shopping site, has become an important part in Sarah’s life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.
A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Sarah have found the joys of online shopping. Most online shoppers are students or young workers. More women shop online than men. Clothing and home-use products bought online are the most popular.
It was reported that more than 300 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year. 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means “looking for treasure” in Chinese. People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.
You many question the securitv of online shopping. Sarah said, “It’s safe, fast and easy. Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them, the shop owners will not get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products.”
1.What are the most popular online?
A. Clothes and boods. B. Clothing and home-use products
C. Candies D. DVD players.
2.Taobao is _______.
A. a shopping mall B. an online shopper
C. an online shopping site D. a company that provides different products
3.Most online shoppers are _______.
A. men B. women C. the young D. the old
4.The underlined word “security” means ________.
A. safety B. fast C. easy D. cheapness
Today was not a good day. Everything went wrong. First, I slept late and Mom shouted at me to wake up. When I went to the kitchen for breakfast, there was no cereal. I decided to have some toast instead, but I burned it. I had to eat it anyway because there was no more bread. The juice bottle was empty, so I had a glass of cold water.
When I was getting on a bus, I realized that I had forgotten my wallet, so I had to go back home to get it.
Of course, I missed the bus and had to wait for the next.
I was late for school and the teacher told me to stay in the classroom at lunchtime to catch up on(弥补) the school work I had missed. After lunch, it was time to give the teacher our homework. I reached into my bag to get it, but it wasn’t there. I had left it at home. I was in trouble again.
When I got home, I went straight to my room to catch up on my homework. Mom cooked fish for dinner. She knows I don’t like fish, but she thinks it is good for her son. How terrible! I hope tomorrow will be better.
1.What happened to the boy on this bad day?
A. He argured with his parents. B. He heard some bad news.
C. He burned the kitchen. D. Many unhappy things happened to him.
2. When did the boy’s bad day begin?
A. In the morning B. When he was at school C. At lunchtime. D. when he got home
3.He didn’t take the bus, instead, he went back home to get _________.
A. his homework B. breakfast C. money D. his bag
4.How many “terrible” things did the boy mention in this story?
A. Four B. Five C. Seven D. Ten
下面是Mr Green 入住宾馆的房卡（正面和反面），阅读以下信息，选出最佳选项。
1.The hotel Mr. Green lives in is ________.
A. on King Street B. next to a park C. Hotel King D. opposite a bank
2.Which bus CANNOT Mr. Green take if he wants to go to his hotel?
A. Bus 705. B. Bus 12. C. Bus 47. D. Bus 750.
3.What information is not on the card?
A. The phone number of the hotel. B. The website of the hotel.
C. The cost of the card. D. The way of opening the door.
In the past, large numbers of American people liked to use tomorrow’s money. However, since the economic depression(经济萧条), many have learnt to live 16 . Here is a true story about an American girl, Anna. After graduation, she began to live in Los Angeles on her own. She 17 a job in a publishing house(出版社) and earned 18 $30,000 a year. Her parents thought Anna’s life would be 19 , but Anna was able to live on her money and still 20 $5000 in the first year. How could she do so in 21 expensive city?
Cheap living always starts with keeping the 22 cost small. For people, that 23 housing. So Anna chose to share a flat with three other friends. Her next biggest cost was 24 . When she ate 25 , she went to cheap restaurants. 26 she bought a $9.99 whole chicken at a local restaurant. She then took the chicken bones home and made soup out of them. Today young people often 27 a lot of money on entertainment. But Anna loved going to museums and parks as the 28 for these places were free. Did Anna feel poor by cheap living? Not really. She even 29 to take two trips, one to the Netherlands, 30 to Portland.
“Don’t think of saving money as something hard. It’s a kind of game,” said Anna.
1. A. happily B. luckily C. hopefully D. cheaply
2.A. found B. gets C. looked for D. makes
3.A. more than B. less than C. more D. less
4.A. dangerous B. hard C. easy D. comfortable
5.A. made B. gave C. took D. saved
6. A. so an B. such an C. so D. such
7.A. expensive B. much C. big D. heavy
8. A. does B. becomes C. helps D. means
9.A. food B. clothes C. studying D. traveling
10. A. away B. out C. up D. inside
11.A. Soon B. Finally C. Once D. Again
12. A. pay B. spend C. cost D. take
13.A. tickets B. seats C. exhibition D. tea
14.A. tried B. had C. needed D. managed
15.A. another B. the other C. other D. other
—We will finish the task very quickly if your team can help us.
—That’s right. .
A. Early bird catches the worm. B. Two heads are better than one.
C. Many hands make light work. D. Great minds think alike.
