I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A. PhD. student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile-warm and reassuring—and I retuned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady,” whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.
“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one，’”jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week-even when tines were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; be was very romantic and-of course- I miss him since he’s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A. couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her-that was the night than I won her heart .
1.Why was the writer in a hurry that day?
A. He was to meet his girlfriend. B. He had to go back to school soon.
C. He was delayed by an elderly lady. D. He had to pick up some groceries.
2.What does the underlined phrase “her gift” （Paragraph 2 ） refer to?
A. Her words. B. Her smile. C. Her flowers. D. Her politeness.
3.Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?
A. She told him a nice story. B. She allowed him to pay first.
C. She gave him encouragement. D. She liked flowers very much.
4.What is the message conveyed in the story?
A. Flowers are important for a date. B. Small talk is helpful.
C. Love and kindness are rewarding. D. Elderly people deserve respecting.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A.B.C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
The trip to that city was eye-opening for everyone, and near its end, all the young people in our group began to reflect on what it had meant. We __1___the first night we had arrived. We had all gone into the markets of the city ___2__the young people could experience its energy. But what we actually saw simply __3__ us all ---- the rundown houses, the children in rags, the people begging for money … Walking home, ___4____ under a low bridge, we came across ___5___ families of homeless people seeking a bit of dry ground to sleep on __6__ the night. We had to step over bodies as we found our way through the darkness.
The poverty（贫困） was __7__ than anything my young companions had ever imagined. Back in the hotel, an air of sadness settled over the group. Many __8__ and cried. Spending time in this ___9__ moves a person to care about humanity.
That evening, our group spent hours talking about what we had ___10___. Gently, I encouraged everyone to talk about the difficult ___11__ that day’s discoveries had inspired. Sitting together ___12__ a circle as everyone had a chance to speak, we all began to realize that __13___ of us was alone in our struggle to cope with our reactions.
Based on my _14_ in poverty-stricken areas, I suggested that __15___ the emotions we had were painful, they could also be important in helping us to move forward. We all__16__ that we had seen things that should never be allowed to happen. ___17___, what could we do about it? Together, we began to brainstorm ways we could help to case the __18__ we had seen. As I encouraged group members to focus on __19__ they could do, a sense of determination __20___ the previous sadness, Instead of despair, these young people began to feel a call to action.
1.A. put up with B. got back to C. looked back on D. made up for
2.A. now that B. so that C. as if D. even if
3.A. puzzled B. annoyed C. embarrassed D. shocked
4.A. marching B. running C. passing D. moving
5.A. entire B. normal C. average D. general
6.A. beyond B. with C. till D. for
7.A. stronger B. deeper C. worse D. less
8.A. gave up B. broke down C. set off D. held on
9.A. environment B. hotel C. house D. background
10.A. inspected B. attempted C. witnssed D. challenged
11.A. feelings B. decisions C. thoughts D. impressions
12.A. along B. around C. by D. in
13.A. neither B. either C. none D. each
14.A. experiences B. schedules C. data D. position
15.A. once B. while C. since D. unless
16.A. supposed B. advised C. confirmed D. agreed
17.A. Surely B. Rather C. Now D. Indeed
18.A. burden B. suffering C. anxiety D. difficulty
19.A. how B. where C. what D. when
20.A. replaced B. changed C. covered D. improved
—What do you think of the movie?
—It’s fantastic. The only pity is that I the beginning of it.
A. missed B. had missed C. miss D. would miss
In the good care of the nurses, the boy is recovering from his heart operation.
A. quietly B. actually C. practically D. gradually
, the pay isn’t attractive enough, though the job itself is quite interesting.
A. Generally speaking B. On the contrary
C. In particular D. To be honest
—Do you want another drink?
—— .
A. I don’t think so B. No way C. Not at all D. I wouldn’t say no
