More than 10 years ago, it was difficult to buy a tasty pineapple. The fruits that made it to the UK were green on the outside and, more often than not, hard with an unpleasant taste within. Then in 1996, the Del Monte Gold pineapple produced in Hawaii first hit our shelves.
The new type of pineapple looked more yellowy-gold than green. It was slightly softer on the outside and had a lot of juice inside. But the most important thing about this new type of pineapple was that it was twice as sweet as the hit-and-miss pineapples we had known. In no time, the Del Monte Gold took the market by storm, rapidly becoming the world’s best-selling pineapple variety, and delivering natural levels of sweetness in the mouth, up until then only found in tinned pineapple.
In nutrition(营养) it was all good news too. This nice-tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin C(维生素C) than the old green variety. Nutritionists said that it was not only full of vitamins, but also good against some diseases. People were understandably eager to be able to buy this wonderful fruit. The new type of pineapple was selling fast, and the Del Monte Gold pineapple rapidly became a fixture in the shopping basket of the healthy eater.
Seeing the growing market for its winning pineapple, Del Monte tried to keep the market to itself. But other fruit companies developed similar pineapples. Del Monte turned to law for help, but failed. Those companies argued successfully that Del Monte’s attempts to keep the golden pineapple for itself were just a way to knock them out of the market.
1.We learn from the text that the new type of pineapple is ______.
A. green outside and sweet inside
B. good-looking outside and soft inside
C. yellowy-gold outside and hard inside
D. a little soft outside and sweet inside
2.Why was the new type of pineapple selling well?
A. It was rich in nutrition and tasted nice.
B. It was less sweet and good for health.
C. It was developed by Del Monte.
D. It was used as medicine.
3.The underlined word “fixture” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to something ______.
A. that people enjoy eating B. that is always present
CV. that is difficult to get D. that people use as a gift
4.We learn from the last paragraph that Del Monte ______.
A. allowed other companies to develop pineapples
B. succeeded in keeping the pineapple for itself
C. tried hard to control the pineapple market
D. planned to help the other companies
Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult I feared him and felt bitter about him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We walked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical(挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.
1.Why did the author feel bitter about her father when she was a young adult?
A. He was silent most of the time. B. He was too proud of himself.
C. He did not love his children. D. He expected too much of her.
2.When the author went out with her father on weekends, she would feel ______.
A. nervous B. sorry C. tired D. safe
3.What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?
A. More critical. B. More talkative. C. Gentle and friendly.
D. Strict and hard-working.
4.The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to ______.
A. the author’s son B. the author’s father
B. the friend of the author’s father D. the café owner
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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
After the birth of my second child, I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced 1for a few days. I was 2to wait tables on my own. All went 3that first week. When Saturday night came, I was luckily 4the tables not far from the kitchen. 5, I still felt it a little hard to carry the heavy trays(托盘).
Before I knew it, the 6was full of people. I moved slowly, 7every step. I remember how 8I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables; it looked different from the one I was 9on. It had nice handles, which made it 10to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to 11I was a natural at this job.
Then, an old man came to me and said, “Excuse me, dear, my wife and I loved 12you work. It seems your tray stand has been very 13to you, but we are getting ready to 14now, and my wife needs her 15back.”
At first his 16did not get across. “What was he talking about!” Then, I got it. I had set my trays on his wife’s orthopedic walker(助步器). I stood frozen as ice, but my face was 17. I wanted to get into a hole and 18.
Since then, I have learned from many mistakes such as the one I just 19. I have learned to be more 20and not to be too sure of myself.
1.A. manager B. assistant C. cook D. waitress
2.A. promised B. invited C. allowed D. advised
3.A. well B. quickly C. safely D. wrong
4.A. left B. given C. brought D. shown
5.A. Therefore B. However C. Otherwise D. Finally
6.A. kitchen B. street C. restaurant D. table
7.A. minding B. changing C. taking D. saving
8.A. angry B. calm C. sad D. happy
9.A. fixed B. trained C. loaded D. waited
10.A. slower B. lighter C. quieter D. easier
11.A. believe B. agree C. regret D. pretend
12.A. letting B. making C. watching D. having
13.A. useful B. familiar C. unusual D. interesting
14.A. rest B. order C. eat D. leave
15.A. bag B. walker C. tray D. coat
16.A. idea B. praise C. message D. need
17.A. cold B. full of joy C. pale D. on fire
18.A. lie B. hide C. defend D. stay
19.A. repeated B. discovered C. corrected D. described
20.A. careful B. patient C. honest D. practical
—Sorry, I made a mistake again.
—______. Practice more and you’ll succeed.
A. Never mind B. Certainly not C. Not at all D. Don’t mention it
After studying in a medical college for five years, Jane ______ her job as a doctor in the countryside.
A. set out B. took over C. took up D. set up
The English spoken in the United States is only slightly different from ______ spoken in England.
A. which B. what C. that D. the one
