For years I wanted a garden.I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen.I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.
Money was not enough.Neither was time.Often when my children were little,
one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own.I started thinking again about a garden.
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen.Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard.There were things blowing around on it. Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw.
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look.It was true! There were dollar bills(帐单), one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree.There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom.We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books.A new page started in my life.
That was three years ago.My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted.When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did.It feels like they’re right there with me.Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden.I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time.
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees.But I know love does!
1.How many children did the writer have?
A.Three B.Four C.Five D.Six
2.What did the mother mean when she said “Money doesn’t grow on trees”?
A.She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time.
B.She had to save money so that she could have a garden.
C.It wasn’t easy for her to make money to raise all the children.
D.They didn’t have much money because the mother lost her job.
3.The “money tree” appeared in the writer’s yard _________.
A.before her children were born
B.one spring morning when the children were little
C.after the children went to school
D.on a Mother’s Day after the children left her
4.The children planted a money tree in their mother’s yard because _________.
A.their mother needed money badly
B.they wanted to show their love to their mother
C.it was time for them to give the money back to her
D.they wanted to live together with their mother forever
Mark Twain’s First Money
Mark Twain was asked one day if he could remember the first money he ever earned.
He thought a long time and then said , “Yes, it was at school.I can remember everything about it .School boys in those days did not take good care of their chairs and desks.There was a rule in our school that if anyone damaged his desk or chair, he would have to pay five dollars or the teacher would beat him in front of the whole school.”
“One day I damaged my desk in some way, I had to pay five dollars or be beaten before the whole school.My father said it would be too bad to have our family disgraced in front of the whole school.He agreed to give me five dollars to hand over the teacher.But before he gave me the money, he took me upstairs and gave me a beating.”
“But as I had one beating and I decided I would take another beating at school and keep the five dollars.So that’s what I did.That was the first money I ever earned.”
1.Mark Twain earned his first money _________.
A.when he was a pupil B.when he became a writer
C.when he taught at a school D.when he was beaten by his father
2.The school made the rule so that they could_____.
A.teach the students well B.give the students a beating
C.keep the desks and chairs well D.ask the students for more money
3.Mark Twain’s father______.
A.was happy to give him the money
B.got angry when he knew what Mark Twain had done at school
C.said sorry to the teacher when he heard the news
D.agreed to beat Mark Twain and then give him the money
4.Mark Twain was beaten_______.
A.at home B.only by his father C.at school D.both at school and at home
Here is the content ( 目录 ) of a book.
Unit |
Readings |
Skills |
Words |
Unit1 Music |
*Music & Feelings *Sad movies |
*Understanding main ideas *Predicting by title |
*Kinds of Music *Music stars |
Unit2 Sports |
*National Sports *The ancient Olympic Games |
*Understanding main ideas *Guessing meaning of new words |
*Action verbs *Names of sports Sports tools |
Unit3 Weather |
*Weather service *Weather and nature |
*Understanding main ideas *Guessing meaning of new words |
*Weather conditions *Weather information |
Unit4 Culture |
*Travelling in India *Body language in the United States |
*Understanding main ideas *Predicting by title *Making inferences |
*Cultural studies *Culture and art |
Unit5 Space |
*Living in space *The planets |
*Understanding main ideas *Understanding attitude |
*Space news *Space terms |
1.If you’re interested in music, you can read “____”.
A.National sports B.Sad movies C.The planets D.Weather service
2.You can learn something about weather in _____.
A.Unit 1 B.Unit2 C.Unit 3 D.Unit 4
3.In all the units, you can learn the skill of _____.
A.predicting by title B.understanding attitude
C.understanding main ideas D.guessing meaning of new words
Learning Chinese may seem difficult to foreigners outside China. 36 , Daisy Raffan, an 37 girl in Britain, hopes to bring the language to the young people.Daisy has 38 an online learning website(网站) to teach the language to as 39 people as possible all over the world. 40 China’s fast development in the world, Daisy thinks 41 important for people to learn the language sooner rather than later.Daisy has 42 Putonghua since the age of five.Two years ago, after she decided to pass on what she had learned, this teenager 43 the idea for the website, kids Chinese club.com.She said, “People are afraid to learn Putonghua.One of the main reasons is that they think it’s an 44 language to learn, but I have had fun 45 it.And I hope what have done is easy and fun.”Her 46 offers a series(系列)of lessons, which are videos of Daisy teaching a group of students on topics from greetings and numbers to Chinese culture.
Daisy’s website has 47 the support of several important persons—the teenager 48 she has received a letter praising(赞扬)her work from Gordon Brown, who is the British Prime Minister(首相).
She said, “I wrote to him and told him what I was doing and got a letter 49 .He said that what I was doing was a really good 50 .I thought it was amazing.I was excited that someone so important was supporting what we’re doing.”
1. A.Otherwise B.Therefore C.However D.By the way
2. A.5-year-old B.18-year-old C.8-year-old D.28-year-old
3. A.invented B.discovered C.wrote D.set up
4. A.much B.few C.many D.little
5. A.As B.When C.With D.But
6. A.this B.that C.it D./
7. A.taught B.learnt C.drew D.talked
8. A.came out B.came on C.came over D.came up with
9. A.impossible B.interesting C.excellent D.easy
10. A.telling B.learning C.writing D.speaking
11. A.e-mail B.magazine C.essay D.website
12. A.won B.made C.given D.beaten
13. A.wonders B.asks C.doubts D.says
14. A.in B.back C.down D.up
15. A.girl B.design C.idea D.person
—I can’t find my way.Could you tell me ___?
—Sure.You can take a taxi to get there.
A.How long it will take me to the National Museum
B.Where is the post office
C.How far is it to the railway station
D.How I can get to the post office
She speaks English an American, so we all believe that she has stayed in America for many years.
A.as good as B.as bad as C.as badly as D.as well as