Computer programmer David Jones earns ￥35,000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank ready to let him have a credit card (信用卡). Instead, he has been told to wait another two years, until he is 18. The 16-year-old works for a small firm in Liverpool, where the problem of most young people of his age is finding a job. David’s firm releases (推出) two new games for the fast throwing computer market each month.
But David’s biggest headache is what to do with his money. Even though he earns a lot, he cannot drive a car, take out a mortgage (抵押贷款), or get credit cards. David got his job with the Liverpool-based company four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. “I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs,” he said. David spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives his mother 50 pounds a week. But most of his spare time is spent working.
“Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school,” he said. “But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway.” David added: “I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement (退休) is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear.”
1.In what way is David different from people of his age?
A. He often goes out with friends. B. He lives with his mother.
C. He has a handsome income. D. He graduated with six O-levels.
2.What is one of the problems that David is facing now?
A. He is too young to get a credit card.
B. He has no time to learn driving.
C. He has very little spare time.
D. He will soon lose his job.
3.Why was David able to get the job in the company?
A. He had done well in all his exams.
B. He had written some computer programs.
C. He was good at playing computer games.
D. He had learnt to use computers at school.
4.Why did David decide to leave school and start working?
A. He received lots of job offers. B. He was eager to help his mother.
C. He lost interest in school studies. D. He wanted to earn his own living.
I suddenly heard an elephant crying as though frightened. Looking down, I immediately recognized that something was wrong, and ran down to the edge of the near bank. There I saw Ma Shwe with her three-month-old calf struggling in the fast-rising water, and it was a life-and-death struggle. Her calf was floating and screaming with fear. Ma Shwe was as near to the far bank as she could get, holding her whole body against the rushing water, and keeping the calf pressed against her huge body. Every now and then the rushing water would sweep the calf away.
There was a sudden rise in the water and the calf was washed clean over the mother’s body and was gone. Ma Shwe turned quickly to reach it and pressed the calf with her head and trunk (象鼻) against the rocky bank. Then with a huge effort, she picked it up in her trunk and tried until she was able to place it on a narrow shelf of rock.
Just at this moment she fell back into the river. If she were carried down, it would be certain death. I knew, as well as she did, that there was one spot(地点) where she could get up the bank, but it was on the other side from where she had put her calf.
While I was wondering what I could do next, I heard the sound of a mother’s love. Ma Shwe had crossed the river and got up the bank and was making her way back as fast as she could, roaring (吼叫) all the time, but to her calf it was music.
1.The moment the author got down to the river bank he saw _____,
A. the calf was about to fall into the river
B. Ma Shwe was placing the calf on the rock
C. the calf was washed away by the rising water
D. Ma Shwe was holding the calf against the rushing water
2.How did Ma Shwe manage to save her calf from the fast-flowing water?
A. By putting it on a safe spot. B. By pressing it against her body.
C. By taking it away with her. D. By carrying it on her back.
3.How did the calf feel about the mother elephant’s roaring?
A. It was a great comfort. B. It was a sign of danger.
C. It was a call for help. D. It was a musical note.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. A Mother’s Love B. A Brave Act
C. A Deadly River D. A Matter of Life and Death
The True Story of Treasure Island
It was always thought that Treasure Island was the product of Robert Louis Stevenson’s imagination. 1, recent research has found the true story of this exciting work.
Stevenson, a Scotsman, had lived 2for many years. In 1881 he returned to Scotland for a 3. With him were his American wife Fanny and his son 4.
Each morning Stevenson would take them out for a long 5over the hills. They had been 6this for several days before the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. Kept indoors the heavy rain, Lloyd felt the days 7. To keep the boy happy, Robert asked the boy to do some 8.
One morning, the boy came to Robert with a beautiful map of an island. Robert 9that the boy had drawn a large cross in the middle of 10. “What’s that?” he asked. “That’s the 11treasure,” said the boy. Robert suddenly 12something of an adventure story in the boy’s 13.While the rain was pouring, Robert sat down by the fire to write a story. He would make the 14a twelve-year-old boy, just like Lloyd. But who would be the pirate (海盗)？
Robert had a good friend named Henley, who walked around with the 15of a wooden leg. Robert had always wanted to 16such a man in a story. 17Long John Silver, the pirate with a wooden leg, was 18.
So, thanks to a 19September in Scotland, a friend with a wooden leg, and the imagination of a twelve-year-old boy, we have one of the greatest 20stories in the English language.
1.A. However B. Therefore C. Besides D. Finally
2.A. alone B. next door C. at home D. abroad
3.A. meeting B. story C. holiday D. job
4.A. Lloyd B. Robert C. Henley D. John
5.A. talk B. rest C. walk D. game
6.A. attempting B. missing C. planning D. enjoying
7.A. quiet B. dull C. busy D. cold
8.A. cleaning B. writing C. drawing D. exercising
9.A. doubted B. noticed C. decided D. recognized
10.A. the sea B. the house C. Scotland D. the island
11.A. forgotten B. buried C. discovered D. unexpected
12.A. saw B. drew C. made D. learned
13.A. book B. reply C. picture D. mind
14.A. star B. hero C. writer D. child
15.A. help B. problem C. use D. bottom
16.A. praise B. produce C. include D. accept
17.A. Yet B. Also C. But D. Thus
18.A. read B. born C. hired D. written
19.A. rainy B. sunny C. cool D. windy
20.A. news B. love C. real-life D. adventure
Now that we’ve discussed our problem, are people happy with the decisions _______?
A. taking B. take C. taken D. to take
Everybody was touched _____ words after they heard her moving story.
A. beyond B. without C. of D. in
One of the most important questions they had to consider was _____ of public health.
A. what B. this
C. that D. which
