There was a lovely vegetable patch (菜园). A large tree grew there. Both the patch and the tree gave the place a wonderful look, and they were the pride of the gardener. But no one knew that the vegetables and the tree couldn’t stand (忍受) each other. The vegetables hated the tree’s shadow (阴影), because it left them only just enough light to live. The tree, on the other hand, hated the vegetables because they drank nearly all the water, leaving him just enough to live.
The situation became so serious that the vegetables decided to use up all the water in the ground so that the tree would die. The tree answered back by not protecting the vegetables from the hot sun, so they began to dry up. Soon the vegetables were really weak, and the tree was drying up.
The gardener wondered why and stopped watering them. When he did that, both the tree and the vegetables realized that it was better to help each other. They learned how to live in harmony with those around them. So they decided to work together, using both the shade and the water to grow well. After seeing how well they were doing, the gardener gave the best care to his vegetable patch, watering and fertilizing (施肥) it better than any other patch for miles around.
1.Why didn’t the vegetables and the tree get on well with each other?
A. Because the vegetables wanted more light.
B. Because the tree drank almost all the water.
C. Because the vegetables weren’t the pride of the gardener.
D. Because the vegetables didn’t look as wonderful as the tree.
2.From the passage we know .
A. the vegetables were sorry to see the tree drying up
B. the gardener was very angry with the vegetables and the tree
C. the gardener didn’t know what was happening in the patch at first
D. the tree didn’t know how important the sun was to the vegetables
3.The underlined phrase “in harmony” means “ ” in Chinese.
A. 长久地 B. 小心地 C. 有效地 D. 和谐地
4.Of the following, which order is right according to the story?
① The gardener worked on the patch even harder than before.
② The gardener stopped watering the vegetables and the tree.
③ The vegetables decided to use up all the water in the ground.
④ The tree and the vegetables realized the importance of helping each other.
A. ③②④① B. ④②③① C. ②①④③ D. ①③④②
5.The passage is mainly about .
A. why the sunlight and water were very important
B. how the gardener took care of his vegetable patch
C. why the gardener was proud of his vegetable patch
D. what happened between the vegetables and the tree
Betty is not a traditional American beauty. She is unfashionable, has thick red glasses, untidy hair and large metal braces (牙套) on her teeth. But this hasn’t stopped her from becoming one of America’s favorite TV characters. So how did she manage to do it?
The answer is that charm can be more attractive than beauty. Betty is the main character in a TV show Ugly Betty. The show is about her life as an office worker at a fashion magazine in New York.
The TV show has just started. Betty has many exciting experiences and romantic stories. Betty is often looked down on and laughed at by the people around. But she manages to do better than others with her hard work, charm and wisdom. The show tells us about how a girl goes from an ugly young duck into a beautiful swan.
Though you may know the ending of the show from the beginning and the story is familiar to many of us, it has still been a big success in the USA. It has attracted a large number of viewers and won two Golden Globes awards, one of the highest honors for a television program in the USA. “I think you can see a bit of Betty in all of us, and I mean men as well, because it’s about the underdog (弱者) ”, says Ashley Jensen, who plays one of the characters on the show.
The program is so popular because of the performance of the 23-year-old actress America Ferrera who plays the role of Betty. She brings the character alive on the screen.
1.Betty is popular because of .
A. her clothes B. her charm C. her personality D. her appearance
2.In Paragraph 4, the underlined word “it” refers to (指的是) .
A. the beginning B. the ending C. the story D. the show
3.Which is the reason for the success of the show?
A. A large number of viewers.
B. Her life as an office worker.
C. The wonderful performance.
D. Two Golden Globes awards.
4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Betty is a girl of wisdom.
B. Betty acts as a beautiful swan on the show.
C. Betty is an American favourite TV character.
D. Betty is often looked down on by the people around.
5.What can be the best title for the passage?
A. Beauty from within. B. A romantic story.
C. An ugly girl. D. An exciting experience.
Special Offers
1.The information above is probably taken from .
A. a sports report B. a story book
C. a fashion magazine D. an advertisement poster
2.If the price of the book is 40 yuan, you need to pay .
A. 4 yuan B. 36 yuan C. 40 yuan D. 44 yuan
3.You can get another tie for free at LOTTE-Mart’s Menswear.
A. on November 9 B. on November 11
C. on December 10 D. on Christmas Day
4.How long can you park your car for free at most after spending 108 yuan in RT-Mart?
A. 1 hour. B. 5 hours. C. 6 hours. D. 7 hours.
5.What can Tom get for free after he has spent 7 yuan at Mike’s Café?
A. A soft drink. B. The best hamburgers.
C. The best snacks. D. A delicious meal.
Rachel lived in a small town in America. She always wanted to help others when she was young. At the age of 5, she learned about an organization named Locks of Love. It uses hair donations to make wigs (假发) for children who have 16 their hair because of cancer or other illnesses. Rachel then asked her mother to cut her long hair and send 17 to the organization.
At 8, she learned that other children had no clean 18 in Africa, and she was shocked. When her school began 19 money to build wells (井) there, she asked her parents to 20 holding her birthday party. Also, she asked her friends each to donate $9 to the project in Africa 21 giving her birthday presents.
One year later, it was her 22 birthday on June 12. She made a 23 page on the Internet with a goal of $300. However, Rachel was able to raise only $200. This made her a little 24 .
Unluckily, Rachel was badly hurt in an accident 25 eight days. That was a terrible shock to her friends. They wanted to find some ways of showing 26 to her. They began donating on Rachel’s birthday page. Donations 27 her $300 goal quickly and kept rising.
When it was clear that she would 28 come back to herself(苏醒), her parents donated her organs (器官) to other children. They also donated her hair a 29 time to Locks of Love.
More 30 was being raised. The total donations soon reached $100,000, then $300,000. So far more than $850,000 has been raised from all over the world, including donations from the Africans who are moved (感动) by the little American girl.
1.A. sold B. lost C. borrowed D. used
2.A. them B. her C. one D. it
3.A. room B. air C. toy D. water
4.A. spending B. making C. raising D. saving
5.A. stop B. prevent C. keep D. finish
6.A. because of B. out of C. instead of D. such as
7.A. eighth B. ninth C. tenth D. eleventh
8.A. birthday B. family C. child D. game
9.A. angry B. satisfied C. excited D. sad
10.A. before B. after C. in D. during
11.A. interest B. support C. protection D. thanks
12.A. passed B. offered C. showed D. brought
13.A. ever B. hardly C. seldom D. never
14.A. final B. first C. following D. next
15.A. clothes B. money C. stationery D. food
—Could you tell me _________?
—More than a month.
A. when was Yangzhou-Taizhou Airport built
B. how often you go to Yangzhou-Taizhou Airport
C. how soon will Yangzhou-Taizhou Airport be built
D. how long Yangzhou-Taizhou Airport has been in service
—Look! All the students are clapping with excitement. How nicely you sing!
—_________.
A. You are right B. I don’t think so C. Thank you D. That’s all right