When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years. I spent at least 20 minutes, knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around, relaxed. What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly. It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care.
Over the next few days, there were other prisoners responding to the cat. Every yard period, a group of prisoners gathered there. They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other. Several times I saw an officer in the group, not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners. Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it.
The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape. People said that the cat came to the right place. He’s getting treated like a king. This was true, but as I watched, I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us. There was a lot of talk about what’s wrong with prisons in America. We need more programs. We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds. Some may even talk about making prisons more kind. But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness. Not receive it, but give it. After more than two decades here, I know kindness is not a value that’s encouraged. It’s often seen as a weakness. Instead, the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business, and never letting yourself be weak.
The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here. By simply saying, “I need some help here”, he did something important for us. He needed us. And we needed to be needed. I believe we all do.
1.From the passage, we can learn that the author was ______.
A. an animal protector B. the owner of the cat
C. a prison officer D. a prisoner
2.Which of the following statements is true?
A. The cat was dirty because it was kept in prison.
B. The officer in the prison enjoyed petting the cat.
C. The prisoners prepared food for both the cat and bird.
D. The author realised the importance of practising kindness
3.We can infer from the third paragraph that ______.
A. showing love to others can make prisoners strong
B. the American prison culture will be improved
C. the author is not content with the prison culture
D. caring for others is encouraged in American prisons
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Caring Makes Us Human B. Prison Culture Is Important
C. Animals Need Care D. Everyone Needs to Be Cared for
The Writers’ Strike: Making the Best of the Worst
By now you are probably feeling the effects of the TV writers’ strike—the decision of television writers to stop working. With few new TV shows, I present to you a list of shows available on DVD worth your viewing time to keep you going during this painful period.
Arrested Development is one of the funniest and most clever shows ever to have appeared on network TV. With a most perfect cast, the show sets out to cover the daily happenings of the Bluth family, a group of selfish staff who manage to still put family first.
For more comedy goodness, I recommend one of the sharpest comedies to have ever aired, 30 Rock. Starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, two stars with impressive comic timing, the show gives you a glimpse into the making of a sketch show(幽默短剧), similar to Saturday Night Live, from the funny writers to the self-centered cast all the way up to the boss.
If you are looking for something more serious, or perhaps more juicy, Friday Night Lights might be more to your liking. If you are a fan of football, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of great drama, both soapy and serious, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of good-looking people, this show is definitely for you.
If those show were not enough for you, might I recommend a show with a more heart-pounding excitement? The Amazing Race, after twelve seasons, still remains one of the most exciting shows on TV. Teams of two travel the globe with little to no money and experience far-out adventures in an attempt to remain the last team standing.
1.If you are fond of soapy TVshows, you will probably choose to watch ______.
A. Friday Night Lights B. 30 Rock
C. the Amazing Race D. Saturday Night Live
2.From the DVD shows listed above, we can learn that ______.
A. two teams won the amazing race
B. football fans enjoy the Amazing Race
C. the Bluths care about their family though selfish
D. 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live have nothing in common
3.The author writes the passage to tell us that ______.
A. the effects of the TV writers’ strike are great
B. the strike puts TV shows in the worst situation
C. watching DVD is a good choice during the strike
D. we should choose DVD shows according to our tastes
4.The passage is most probably taken from ______.
A. a book review B. a newspaper
C. a film poster D. a DVD menu
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
I work as a volunteer for an organizaiton that helps the poor in Haiti. Recently I took my son Barrett there for a week, hoping to 1him.
Before setting out, I told Barrett this trip would be tiring and 2. For the first two days, he said almost nothing. I worried the trip was too 3for a 17-year-old. Then, on day three, as we were 4over high rocky mountains, he turned to me and grinned(咧嘴笑), “Pretty hard.”
After that there was no turning back. A five-year-old girl, wearing a dress several sizes 5large and broken shoes, followed Barrett around, fascinated. He couldn’t stop 6. Later he said 7, “I wish I would speak French.” I was 8—this from a boy who hated and 9French classes throughtout school.
Usually silent, he 10Gaby, our host, and kept asking questions about the country and its people. He blossomed(活泼起来).
11, the moment that really took 12breath away occurred in a village deep in the mountains. I was 13a woman villager for an article. 135 centimeters tall, she was small in figure but strong in 14. Through determination, she had learned to read and write, and 15to become part of the leadership of the 16.
Learning her story, Barrett was as 17as I by this tiny woman’s achievements. His eyes were wet and there was a 18of love and respect on his face. He had finally understood the importance of my work.
When leaving for home, Barrett even offered to stay 19as a volunteer. My insides suddenly felt struck. This 20achieved all I’d expected. Soon he will celebrate his 18th birthday. He’ll be a man.
1.A. comfort B. please C. attract D. educate
2.A. rough B. dangerous C. troublesome D. violent
3.A. little B. much C. fast D. slow
4.A. moving B. running C. climbing D. looking
5.A. too B. very C. even D. so
6.A. joking B. crying C. shouting D. smiling
7.A. patiently B. regretfully C. lightly D. cheerfully
8.A. ashamed B. disappointed C. determined D. surprised
9.A. took up B. went in for C. fought against D. called off
10.A. befriended B. disregarded C. avoided D. recognized
11.A. Thus B. Even C. Meanwhile D. However
12.A. my B. his C. our D. her
13.A. asking B. interviewing C. arranging D. describing
14.A. brain B. wish C. will D. health
15.A. appeared B. struggled C. hesitated D. failed
16.A. village B. city C. organization D. state
17.A. shocked B. bored C. puzzled D. touched
18.A. combination B. composition C. connection D. satisfaction
19.A. in B. behind C. out D. away
20.A. interview B. flight C. article D. trip
There was such long queue for coffee at the interval that we _______ gave up.
A. eventually B. unfortunately C. generously D. purposefully
The little boy slipped into his bedroom quietly _______ he might wake up his mother.
A. so long as B. for fear that C. on condition that D. in order that
A good many cases will be discussed by the students _______ English beginners fail to use the language properly.
A. which B. as C. why D. where
