Luisa’s Letter
Luisa checked the mailbox. An eggshell-white envelope lay on top of all the letters. It was still there, thank goodness. She picked it and put it into her bag.
Upstairs, she handed the remaining letters to her mother. “How was school, Luisa?” Mom asked.
“It was fine,” said Luisa, giving her mother a quick hug.
In her room Luisa tried to focus on her English homework, but the letter called to her. It had traveled more places than she had. All her life, Luisa had lived in Seville, an ancient city in the southwest of Spain. Luisa loved her hometown, but she wanted to see the world.
A year abroad! What an attractive possibility! But Luisa couldn’t bring herself to raise the subject with her parents because her parents just wanted her to stay in Seville, get married, give them grandchildren. Last spring, on her own, she applied for(申请) a year of high school in England. Now, this envelope held her answer.
Luisa went to the kitchen to help with dinner. She asked, “Mom, do you ever think about traveling?
I mean, I want to. And maybe someday…live somewhere else.”
Luisa’s heart beat harder as she waited for her mother’s reaction. But Mom nodded. “Luisa, of course you’d like to travel. I want that for you and…”
Just then Dad arrived. When they sat down at the table to eat, Dad said, “Seville is the best, yes, my Luisa?” Luisa’s heart sank(为之一沉). Dad continued, “Why would people want to leave Seville?” Mom smiled, “When Luisa is old enough, we can discuss with her what’s best for her future.”
Dad raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.
Luisa couldn’t wait any longer, but her parents’ easy chatter(聊天)was the sound of her childhood. She sank deeper into her chair and listened. Home would always be here. But when the time was right, she’d leave. And she wanted it to be with her parents’ support.
“Something came in the letter,” she said at last. “I want you to see.” She took out the letter. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” her voice was shaking. “I wanted this more than anything.” Luisa waved at the unopened envelope. “But only if you say it’s okay.”
1.Last spring, Luisa________.
A.traveled abroad with her parents B.got married and started a family
C.discussed her future plan with her mother D.applied for a year of high school in England
2.How did Luisa feel as she waited for her mother’s reaction in the kitchen?
A.Excited. B.Nervous. C.Proud. D.Regretful.
3.Luisa decided to tell her parents about the letter because________.
A.she wanted her parents’ support B.she had already known the answer
C.her parents asked her for the letter D.her parents were unwilling to wait
Cool Places to Visit In the World
| Beipanjiang Bridge in China is 565 meters above Beipanjiang Canyon and it is the highest bridge in the world. It links Guizhou and Yunnan, and it reduces travel time from five hours to one. On the bridge, visitors can have a wonderful view of the canyon. |
| CopenHill is a power plant in Denmark（丹麦）and it creates energy by burning waste. A 1,300-foot man-made ski slope（斜坡） on the roof makes it special. The slope doesn’t depend on machine- made snow or cold temperature. That means visitors can enjoy Earth- friendly fun throughout the whole year. |
a roller coaste | Canada’s Wonderland is home to 17 roller coasters including the world’s fastest and longest dive（潜水）coaster. Riders hang over a 90-an underwater passage. |
| Icehotel in Sweden（瑞典）is the world’s first hotel made of ice. Every winter, this magical place is completely rebuilt by artists using more than 3,000 tons of ice and snow. They are made into works of art that make up every part of the hotel. |
1.The world’s highest bridge is in________.
A.China B.Sweden C.Canada D.Denmark
2.Which of the four places is a power plant?
A.Icehotel. B.Beipanjiang Bridge.
C.CopenHill. D.Canada’s Wonderland.
3.What makes Canada’s Wonderland a cool place to visit?
A.A 1,300-foot man-made ski slope. B.Works of art made of ice and snow.
C.A wonderful view of Beipanjiang Canyon. D.The world’s fastest and longest dive coaster.
When a Man Made Fun of His Seatmate
Soon after Savannah Phillips, a 33-year-old mother, sat down in her window seat on a United Airlines flight this past May, she glanced（瞥见）over at her seatmate. He was busy ___________. His phone was not far from her face and the letters were unusually _________, making it easy for Phillips to read the message on it: “Hey Babe, I’m sitting next to a smelly fatty.”
Tears streamed down the poor woman’s face as she tried to hide herself to the corner, trying to make herself as _________as possible.
“It awoke all the unpleasant things I think about myself. I always preferred to sit alone on flights because of my _________, fearing others next to me would feel uncomfortable. ” Phillips wrote in a Facebook post after the flight.
Sitting a row behind them was Chase Irwin, a 35-year-old bar manager. He could see Phillips crying—and then he oversaw the man’s texts.“I could not have this guy,who’s making fun of her, sit next to her this whole flight,” he said in an interview later.
_________, Irwin unlocked his seat belt and went over to the texter. “Hey, I need to talk to you,” Irwin said. “We’re switching（交换）seats—now.” When the texter asked why, he said, “You’re texting about her, and I’m not putting up with that.”
The texter quickly _________. Irwin took his place next to Phillips and was soon cheering up his new seatmate.
“He ___________me not to let that guy get to me and that everything was going to be fine,” Phillips wrote. They spent the rest of the flight chatting like friends.
With her trust in humanity restored, Phillips wrote this on Facebook: “I was so grateful（感激的）he was there. What he did set such a good_______for others to follow, that is, sticking up for people when they need help.”
1.A.texting B.talking C.playing D.working
2.A.beautiful B.large C.discouraging D.surprising
3.A.warm B.brave C.small D.light
4.A.build B.face C.manner D.character
5.A.Probably B.Fortunately C.Successfully D.Immediately
6.A.promised B.remained C.agreed D.insisted
7.A.encouraged B.ordered C.warned D.trained
8.A.goal B.example C.task D.time
—Could you tell me________?
—At six o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
A.when we will start training B.when will we start training
C.where we will start training D.where will we start training
Since a new road________two years ago, this village has developed very fast.
A.builds B.built C.is built D.was built
—Excuse me, can we check in now?
—Just a moment please. I________a problem of our computer.
A.fix B.fixed C.am fixing D.have fixed
