It was a very hot day. An eight-year-old girl went into Tom’s shop for an ice cream. When Tom saw ten dollars in her hand, he thought perhaps the girl didn’t know an ice cream was only two dollars. So he asked her to pay eight dollars. The little girl looked at Tom without a word. Then Tom gave her the ice cream and said, “I hope you will enjoy it. Now only a few children come to my shop for ice creams.” When the little girl heard this, she answered, “I’m not surprised, because they can get one ice cream for only two dollars in other shops.” When Tom heard her words, his face turned red and he said “sorry” to her. Finally, he returned the money to her.
1.What was the weather like that day?
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2.How old was the little girl?
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3.What did the girl want to buy in the shop?
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4.Why did Tom's face turn red when he heard the little girl's answer?
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5.How much money did Tom have to give back to the little girl?
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Canada Geese(鹅)are large blue and white birds. When autumn comes, they have to go to the south where the weather is warmer. The winters are so cold in Canada that the birds will die if they stay there. Here's a story about some Canada Geese.
Bill Lishman is a farmer who loves birds. Last spring, he found sixteen young Canada Geese on his farm. They had lost their parents. Bill thought, "These young birds won't know what to do in autumn. I will do something to help them.” He had a small plane and he decided to teach them to follow him. Last summer, he went on short trips in his plane and the young geese flew after him. When it became cold in autumn, Bill flew to Virginia(弗吉尼亚)in the United States, 600 miles south of his home in Canada. The geese followed him all the way. Bill left the geese in Virginia and returned home.
This spring, Bill was waiting for the birds to come back. They didn't arrive, so Bill flew to Virginia to get them. He looked for them for two weeks but he couldn't find them. So he had to fly home. To his surprise, when he arrived back home, Bill found the geese waiting for him. They had found their way home without him!
1.Where did Bill find sixteen young geese last spring?
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2.How did Bill take the geese to Virginia?
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3.If you find the geese, will you help them like Bill? Why or why not?
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Tom was a college student. He often made excuses(借口)not to have classes. Also , he spent
much of his free time playing football. He never want to the library to study.
How time flew! At the end of the term，the teacher was coming.“What should I dog” Tom
walked up and down in the room the day before the exam.
The next morning，Tom went into the exam room very early. He found a young man next to him who looked so confident(自信).“Hey your” Tom greeted. “What?” The young man asked.
“Can you do me a favor?” Tom begged(恳求)，“ please let me copy your paper during the exam I have to depend on you!” When hearing his words，the young man just smiled but said nothing.
When the bell rang, the young man stood up immediately and came to the front, saying, “Now I will hand out(分发)the papers to all of you and collect them in one hour.” Tom sat there with his mouth wide open.
1.What was the young man?
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2.Why did Tom walk up and down the day before the exam?
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3.Do you often make excuses not to have classes or why not?
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College entrance exams(高考) in Korea
In Korea, the high school students have to take the college entrance exams on the 2nd Thursday of November. The rest of their life may be decided on this day when they are 17 years old.
The exam begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 5:40 p.m. It is at the same time all over the country. Results are officially released (发布) during the second week of December.
Under government orders, many factories and markets open one hour later than usual. Planes mustn’t land or take off at local airports during the listening test. And there is no traffic around 200 metres of each of the test centers. Police cars help late comers to the test.
In the morning, taxis offer free rides to exam takers. Younger students stand at the entrance of the school to welcome and cheer for them. After sending off their daughters or sons, mothers go to a temple(庙) or a church(教堂) to pray(祈祷) to help their children.
In South Korean society, going to a famous college is very important for students to get a successful job in the future.
Answer the following questions with No more than 6 words.
1.When do students take the college entrance exam in Korea?
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2.How many hours do factories and markets open later than usual on this day?
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3.How do late comers go to the test?
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4.Why do mothers go to a temple or a church to pray?
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5.What is important for students to get a successful job?
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The kangaroo is the world’s largest living marsupial (有袋动物). It was first found on the island of southwestern Australia. The animal was given its name by a famous English tourist in the 18th century.
The kangaroo may be 7 feet(2.1m) tall when standing upright and the male can weigh as heavy as 200 pounds(90kg). The female (雌性) is smaller and lighter than the male. The kangaroo’s head is small, but its ears are large, and its fore feet are really small. The animal has strong back legs and long tail.
The kangaroo usually covers from 5 to 10 feet(1.5 to 3m) with each jump. The female is usually faster than the male. The mother kangaroo has a pouch (育儿袋) in its abdomen (腹部). The baby kangaroo grows up in the mother’s pouch slowly.
The kangaroo lives on grass and other plants. It is always moving from one place to another, lying down to sleep on the ground during the night. It likes to enjoy the warm sunshine. When it’s in danger, it can use its back legs and strong tail to protect itself.
Answer the following questions with No more than 6 words.
1.Who gave the kangaroo its name in the 18th century?
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2.Which kind of kangaroo looks smaller and lighter, the male kangaroo or the female kangaroo?
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3.Where does the baby kangaroo grow up?
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4.What does the kangaroo eat?
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5.What does the kangaroo use to protect itself in danger?
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“In this life, what did you miss?” The wife asked the husband when she was 25. The husband replied: “I missed a new job opportunity.” When the wife was 35, the husband angrily told her that he just missed the late bus. At 45, the husband said sadly, “I missed the chance to see my close relative before his last breath.” At 55, the husband said he missed a good chance to retire(退休). At 65, the husband complained, “I missed a dental appointment(牙医预约).” At 75, the wife did not ask the husband anymore, the husband was kneeling(跪)in front of the very sick wife.
The husband hugged the wife tightly. “How did I allow myself to miss your deep love for me for 50 years?” he asked himself. This time he asked the wife the same question. The wife, with a smile and peaceful look, replied: “In this life, I did not miss having you!” The husband’s eyes were full of tears. He always thought that they could be together forever. He was always busy. So much so that he was never thoughtful to his wife.
In this way, when you are gone, your loved ones would have nothing to feel sorry about. In the busy city life, there are many people who are always busy with work and neglect(忽视)the loved ones who care for them. But life is not permanent(永恒的), so always live in the moment. Express thanks to your loved ones in words. Show your care with actions. Treat every day as the last moment of life.
1.What did the husband miss when his wife was 55?
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2.How old was the wife when she married her husband?
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3.Why didn’t the wife ask her husband the question anymore?
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4.What was the wife’s answer to the same question?
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5.What should we do since life is not permanent(永恒的)?
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