It was a cold winter day. A woman drove up to the Rainbow Bridge tollbooth. “I’m paying for myself, and for the six cars behind me,” she said with a smile, handing over seven tickets. One after another, the next six drivers arriving at the tollbooth were informed, “Some lady up ahead already paid your fare.”
It turned out that the woman, Natalie Smith, had read something on a friend’s refrigerator: “Practice random (随意的) kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” The phrase impressed (使某人印象深刻) her so much that she copied it down.
Judy Foreman saw the same phrase on a warehouse wall far away from home. When it stayed on her mind for days, she gave up and drove all the way back to copy it down. “I thought it was beautiful,” she said, explaining why she’d taken to writing it at the bottom of all her letters, “like a message from above.” Her husband, Frank, liked the phrase so much that he put it up on the classroom wall for his students, one of whom was the daughter of Alice Johnson, a local news reporter. Alice put it in the newspaper, saying that though she liked it, she didn’t know where it came from or what it really meant.
Two days later, Alice got a call from Anne Herbert, a woman living in Marin. It was in a restaurant that Anne wrote the phrase down on a piece of paper, after turning it around in her mind for days.
“Here’s the idea,” Anne says. “Anything you think there should be more of, do it randomly.” Her fantasies include painting the classrooms of shabby schools, leaving hot meals on kitchen tables in the poor part of town, and giving money secretly to a proud old lady. Anne says, “Kindness can build on itself as much as violence (暴力) can build on itself.”
The acts of random kindness spread. If you were one of those drivers who found your fare paid, who knows what you might have been encouraged to do for someone else later. Like all great events, kindness begins slowly, with every single act. Let it be yours!
1. Why did Natalie Smith pay for the six cars behind her?
A. She had seven tickets.
B. She hoped to please others.
C. She wanted to show kindness.
D. She knew the car drivers well.
2. Judy Foreman copied down the phrase because she ___ .
A. thought it was beautifully written
B. wanted to know what it really meant
C. decided to write it on a warehouse wall
D. wanted her husband to put it up in the classroom
3.Who came up with the phrase according to the passage?
A. Judy Foreman. B. Natalie Smith.
C. Alice Johnson. D. Anne Herbert.
4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. People should practice random kindness to those in need.
B. People who receive kindness are likely to offer it to others.
C. People should practice random kindness to strangers they meet.
D. People who receive kindness are likely to pay it back to the giver.
Inventions All Around Us
Every invention has a story. These stories often have a lesson to teach, too. Here are the stories of some everyday household inventions.
Canned Food and the Can Opener—Get It Right!
Peter Durand invented canned food in 1810, but there was a problem. Durand didn't have a good way to open the cans. In 1858, Ezra Warner invented a can opener. It used a piece of metal to cut and remove the top from the can, but it was difficult to use. Finally, in 1870, William Lyman added a wheel to the can opener. The metal went around the top of the can and removed it easily. Finally, people were able to open cans without a lot of work. Canned food was soon popular.
Frozen Food—A Little Good Luck Can Help!
Clarence Birdseye had the chance to go on a trip toe Arctic. When people there caught fish, they put the fish in a container (容器) of ice to freeze it quickly. When people cooked the fish later, it was still good! This gave Birdseye an idea. He thought people could also have this kind of food at home. In 1926, Birdseye invented frozen food. People were able to store food in freezers for a long time.
Air Conditioning—One Answer to Two Problems!
Printing companies make books, so they use a lot of paper. Sometimes, changes in the weather can hurt the paper. In 1902, Willis Carrier invented air conditioning to control the temperature inside his printing company. This saved the paper. People soon realized other benefits of air conditioning. They started to air condition their homes in the summer. Carrier's invention changed the world!
1. When was canned food invented?
A. In 1810. B. In 1870.
C. In 1902. D. In 1926.
2.After the trip to the Arctic, Clarence Birdseye invented ____________.
A. canned food B. can openers
C. frozen food D. air conditioning
3.Changes in weather _____________ in Willis Carrier's company.
A. helped to keep food
B. hurt printing paper
C. caused health problems
D. made rooms comfortable
47. 4.According to the passage, which of the following may lead to inventions?
A. People's needs. B. Public support.
C. Modern technology. D. Practical suggestions.
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The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her. She was really small for her age of 12. The boys in my class often laughed at her. She would open a , pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page.
All I knew was that she was an orphan (孤儿) from Africa. She had just been adopted (收养 ) by a family, and they thought that the best way for her to American ways of life is to be with American kids. I looked at this small girl and promised myself that I must help her.
But how could I help her fit in with us? There had to be a way.
One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had opened her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a perfect .
I was surprised and thought that she could do in the coming talent show. So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had drawn. “Why, it’s ,” said Miss Parker, and then showed us a poster she had painted for the talent show. “I need more of these, but I just don’t have enough time. Could you help me, Suzy?
On the day of the talent show, Suzy’s were everywhere ---- all over the hall and all over the school, each one different.
“And ,” said Mr. Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, “We have a special award. I’m sure you’ve all noticed the wonderful posters.” Everyone nodded. “One of our own students painted them.”
I could hear everyone whispering. “Who in our school could that well?”
Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, “Since this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a prize, too. Our mystery (神秘) artist is our new student ---- Suzy Khan!”
Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artist’s set. “Thank you,” she cried.
I realized, at that time when I was looking at her face, she’d probably never owned anything in her whole life.
Everyone started to clap their hands. Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile. I knew then Suzy was going to be all right. ”
1.A.bag B.book C.box D.bottle
2.A.learn B.borrow C.stay D.send
3.A.near B.up C.down D.opposite
4.A.copy B.note C.train D.photo
5.A.somethingB.anything C.everything D.nothing
6.A.colorful B.common C.ugly D.wonderful
7.A.photos B.books C.posters D.gifts
8.A.importantlyB.finally C.sadly D.hopefully
9.A.draw B.make C.write D.think
10.A.sad B.beautiful C.small D.excited
— Could you please tell me _________________?
— Sure. There is a library on Bridge Street.
A.where can I borrow some books
B. where I can borrow some books
C.where did I borrow some books
D.where I borrowed some books
— The 2016 Olympic Games ________ in Brazil. Would you like to go there?
— Maybe, if possible.
A. are held B.were held
C.will be held D.have been held