When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer(自动换币器) fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a quarter(两角五分钱) out of his coin changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese, eggs and so on. If we needed to change our order, my mother would pen a note --- “Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery.”--- and place it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.
All of this was about more than convenience. There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr. Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch(门廊). Every so often my son’s friends will ask what it is. So I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.
1.What was Mr. Basille?
2.How did Mr. Basille deliver milk to people’s doorsteps?
3.What else did Mr. Basille deliver besides milk?
4.What would the boy’s mother do if she wanted to add a bottle of buttermilk?
5.What can we learn from the fact that Mr. Basille had the key to the boy’s house?
6.Why did the writer bring back home an old milk box?
The sports utility vehicle (SUV多用途车辆) was invented in the early 1990s. It quickly became very popular in the United States. There are several r 1. for this. It is larger than most of cars. It can carry lots of people, bicycles, toys, dogs and other things. This makes it popular with families. It also has four doors and a big back door, so getting in or out is e 2. . Since an SUV is taller than most cars, the driver can see above other cars and have a better sight of the road. With a lot more p 3. , an SUV can go faster than most cars. It can also go on very rough roads where other cars cannot go.
The SUV is popular with many people, but other people do not like these cars. First, they are larger than most other cars. This means that drivers of other cars may not be able to see the road w 4. . Also, SUVs are very heavy. If an SUV gets into an accident with a small car, the small car may be in s 5. trouble. Another problem with SUVs is that they are very expensive. They are expensive to buy --- about 50 percent more expensive than an average small car. They are also expensive to use, since they use a lot more gasoline(汽油) than smaller cars.
There are two ways to solve these problems. One way is to change the way we think about them. Now they are sold as large cars. In the future, maybe they should be sold as trucks. Then people with just a car license could not d 6. them. They would have to get a truck license. These licenses are more expensive and difficult to get, so p 7. fewer people would buy SUVs. The other way to solve SUV problems is to make them differently. Some people think that car companies should make big SUVs smaller and less dangerous. They should also make SUVs with less powerful engines. Then they would not use so much gasoline.
Music forms an important part of many cultural and social activities. People use music to feeling and ideas. Music also serves to entertain(娱乐) and relax.
Music is a performing art. It differs from such art as painting and poetry, in which artists create works and then display or publish them. Music composers(作曲家) need musicians to explain the meaning of their works --- perform them. Thus, musical performances are partnership between composers and performers.
Music is one of the arts. Hunting tools struck together may have been the first musical instruments. Many ancient people, including the Egyptians, Chinese and Babylonians, and the people of India, used music in court and religious ceremonies(宗教仪式). The first written music dates from about 2500 B.C.
Classical music, also art music, is composed according to certain rules and performed by musicians from written music. Classical composers have written different styles of music during different periods of .
Popular music includes many kinds of music, country music, jazz, rock music and music from films. Popular music is generally much simpler than classical music.
Folk music is made up of the old songs. Most folk songs began in distant areas. One person makes up a song and other people it and learn to sing it. Some folk songs have been passed on in this way for thousands of years. Many composers of classical music have used folk music in their works.
1.A.writeB.expressC.findD.take
2.A.oldestB.finestC.loudestD.softest
3.A.callsB.to callC.callingD.called
4.A.language B.societyC.historyD.art
5.A.such asB.instead ofC.for exampleD.as well
6.A.pay B.hearC.inviteD.take
Jay Kohl, an American student, posted an online advertisement two weeks ago searching for a Chinese family to stay with so that he can learn the language and culture.
“I’m a clean, non-smoking, and warm-hearted American man looking for a homestay in the Wudaokou area to improve my Chinese language skills,” he wrote. “I’m willing to offer help with English tutoring(家教) and even can help you with applying to foreign universities.”
He still hasn’t found a suitable home.
“Most of the families that contacted me seem to be interested in doing business instead of cultural exchange,” he said. “I think I might have to rent an apartment in the end.”
Kohl isn’t the only foreigner finding it difficult to find a homestay in Beijing. Michael Benson, who wants to come to Beijing in September, has also faced the same problems.
Why is finding a homestay family so difficult? Beijing Today consulted a Chinese teacher, Jessie Xi, who has been teaching foreign students at the University of International Business and Economics for more than six years.
Xi has accepted many homestays, and from her own experience and what she’s been told, she said there were four major problems visitors may meet when applying for homestays.
Problem 1: Having too high expectation for language improvement.
Problem 2: Considering oneself as a guest instead of a family member.
Problem 3: Not making clear what a family’s rules are beforehand.
Problem 4: Overly(过分) high demands for the living environment.
1.Kohl wanted to look for a homestay in China because he ________.
A.hoped to learn Chinese language and culture further
B.wanted to do a research on the Chinese daily life
C.would like to make friends with Chinese families
D.was interested in Chinese food
2.The reason why Kohl hasn’t found a suitable home yet now is that he ________.
A.can’t be an English tutor in home stays
B.can’t help apply to foreign universities
C.might expect too much for language improvement
D.might refuse to do housework in home stays
3.Most of the families that contacted Kohl might be interested in ________.
A.English tutoringB.cultural exchange
C.foreign universitiesD.making money
4.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Foreign visitors can do something helpful for their homestays.
B.Foreign visitors usually have problems with their homestays.
C.Foreign visitors should know clearly about the rules of their homestays.
D.Foreign visitors should consider themselves as the members of their homestays.
5. The underlined word “consulted” in the passage means “________”.
A.gave advice toB.discussed ideas with
C.wanted information fromD.raised questions for
6.The best title of the passage might be ________.
A.A few things to know about the local families
B.Suggestions for renting apartments in Beijing
C.How to search for a Chinese family to stay with
D.Why to find a homestay in Beijing so difficult
1.We usually have our class meeting in that big hall. (改为一般疑问句)
________ you usually ________ your class meeting in that big hall?
2.It’s great fun to ride on a camel in the desert! (改为感叹句)
_________ _________ it is to ride on a camel in the desert！
3.They went home after they had finished cleaning their classroom. (保持句意基本不变)
They ________ go home ________ they had finished cleaning their classroom.
4.My mum went to hospital to have a check-up on her eyes yesterday. (对划线部分提问)
_________ _________ your mum go to hospital yesterday?
5.The guide will show our friends around the old town tomorrow afternoon. (改为被动语态)
Our friends will _________ _________ around the old town tomorrow afternoon.
6.When will you go to the airport with us? Could you tell me? (合并为一句)
Could you tell me ________ ________ will go to the airport with us?
7.speaking, be, places, don’t, in, afraid, public, of (连词成句)
_____________________________________________.
1.I often help mum wash some ______ when I am free at weekends. (dish)
2. “Tom, how did you enjoy ______ at Jim’s birthday party?” his mother asked. (you)
3.I’m afraid it’s hard for you to take the ______ on time, Jim. (medical)
4.______ food in small packages has a great variety, so people like to buy it. (freeze)
5.The father and the son are now having a very warm and ______ talk. (friend)
6.My son hasn’t made a ______ whether he will go abroad for further study. (decide)
7.I am sorry to hear that our school team ______ lost the football game yesterday. (complete)
8.Tim is really ______ because he always tells us the same thing whenever he meets us. (bore)
