I made a pledge (发誓) to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving . No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting (引用) a Biblical (圣经的) passage about husbands being thoughtful（体贴的） of their wives. Then he went on to say," Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love." To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well , for two weeks that would change.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said," That new yellow sweater looks great on you."
"Oh, Tom, you noticed," she said, surprised and pleased, maybe a little puzzled.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, "Evelyn's been alone here with the kids all the week and now she wants to stay with me. " We walked on the beach while the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed, I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love. There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. Last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“ Tom ,” se said in a voice filled with distress, “ do you know something I don’t?”
"What do you mean?"
"Well...that checkup(体检) I had several weeks ago...our doctor...did he tell you something about me? Tom , you've been so good to me... am I dying?"
It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I burst out laughing.
"No, honey," I said, wrapping her in my arms. "You're not dying; I'm just staring to live."
1.In the first paragraph, "No ifs, ands or buts" probably means___.
A. unnecessarily B. unexpectedly C. impossibly D. unconditionally
2.From the story we may infer that Tom went to the beach cottage___.
A. with his family B. with Evelyn C. alone D. with his children
3.During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because___.
A. she looked lovely in her new clothes
B. he had made a lot of money in Wall Street
C. he was determined to be a good husband
D. she was seriously ill
4.The underlined words "one thing" in the passage refer to the fact that___.
A. he praised her sweater, which puzzled her
B. she insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated
C. he knew something about her illness but didn't tell her
D. he was so good to her that she thought she must be dying
5.By saying "I'm just starting to live", Tom means that___.
A. he is just beginning to understand the real meaning of life
B. he is just beginning to enjoy his life as a loving husband
C. he lived an unhappy life before and is now starting to change
D. he is beginning to feel regretful for what he did to his wife
It has always been said that women are not good drivers, because they simply don't have very good driving ability. On the other hand, most car accidents happen to men; very few happen to women.
From this, we can see that women are much more careful while driving. Another very interesting fact that we should point out is that in the past, women preferred to let their husbands be the only driver in the family rather than have a driving license. Somehow they were prevented from making this step in their lives, but nowadays there are many women that want to pass their driving tests from an early age.
However, we have to admit that men are more skillful drivers than women, but this does not mean that a woman cannot become a good driver by accumulating (积累) experience. So more and more teenagers and women around the age of thirty now want to pass their driving tests. While taking their driving lessons, they also have a number of special lessons with their parents or somebody in the family that has a driving license, this is just to improve their driving abilities and help them to pass the tests more easily.
To conclude, we can say that women are not such bad drivers. They just need more experience than men in order to be able to drive well. And on the other hand, there are a number of women that show better driving skills than the men around them.
1.Compared with the past, nowadays many women___.
A. prefer to have a driving license
B. have more accidents while driving
C. are somehow prevented from driving
D. are the only driver in the family
2.What advantage do women have over men in driving?
A. They have more skills.
B. They are much more careful
C. They know more traffic rules
D. They have more driving experience
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Teenage girls cannot take driving tests.
B. Men didn't allow women to drive in the past.
C. With enough experience, women can become good drivers.
D. Women can easily pass their tests by taking driving lessons.
4.The passage mainly talks about___.
A. women and their driving ability.
B. men and their driving ability.
C. why men are better drivers than women.
D. why more women like to have a driving license
The Los Angeles Zoo has many public programs that aim to teach the public about animals and natural protection.
Safari shuttle(旅游电车)
While you’re here, take the Safari shuttle for a quick trip from one end of the Zoo to the
other. All day long, seven days a week (from 10 am to 5 pm), the Safari Shuttle picks up passengers, circles the Zoo, and returns to the main flamingo (火烈鸟) exhibit near the front entrance. You can get on and off the shuttle as often as you like.
Food
Safari Café (at the Zoo entrance) offers Starbucks coffee, fresh-baked cookies, and ice
cream. Gorilla Grill is the spot for grilled (烤的) food, kids’ meals, refreshments (点心), and ice cream. La Casita serves a variety of Mexican food and refreshments. Silverback's Cafe offers sandwiches, salads, bread bowls, cold beer, and refreshments.
Hour
The Zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day of the year except Christmas Day. Special summer long hours are until 6 pm from July 1 to September 7. Please remember, the Zoo starts putting animals in for the night at 4 pm during regular hour, and at 5 pm during summer hours.
Admission Prices(票价)
Adults (aged 13 and above):$9
Seniors(aged 62 and above):$6
Children(aged 2 to 12):$4
Children(under 2):free
Items Not Allowed on Zoo Grounds
Alcohol, Glass bottles, Pets, Bicycles, Skateboards, and In--line skate.
If you are planning a picnic while visiting the Zoo, please do not bring any glass items or other things that are easy to break. Also for the safety of the animals, no plastic bags are allowed within the Zoo.
1.Which of the following provides kids' meals?
A. Safari Cafe. B. Gorilla Grill. C. La Casita. D. Silverback's Café
2.People can see all the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo at ___.
A. 11 am on Christmas Day B. 4:30 pm on May 5
C. 3 pm on March 5 D. 6 pm on September 7
3.How much does it cost if a couple with their one-year-old twins visit the Los Angeles Zoo?
A. $18 B. $26 C. $22 D.$17
4.When visiting the Los Angeles Zoo, people can___.
A. ride a bike through the Zoo B. have a picnic on the Zoo grounds
C. take food with plastic bags D. take their pets along
One Canada, Two Languages
Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.
Canada left the British empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.
Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare.
The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland (中心地带) of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels (标签) and instructions in both languages.
In Canada’s English speaking provinces, official bilingualism (双语) means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this program, they are taught most of their subjects in French.
If a student begins the course in kindergarten (幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school, 25 percent of the teaching will continue to be in English.
1.How many provinces are there in Canada?
A. Ten. B. Nine. C. Eleven. D. Two.
2.Which country controlled Canada before its independence?
A. France. B. Britain. C. America. D. Germany
3.Where can you watch French television programs?
A. Only in Quebec.
B. In Quebec and a few other places.
C. From the two national television networks.
D. All over Canada
4.What do we know about the education in Canada?
A. In English speaking provinces only English courses are offered.
B. If you choose a special French language course, most of the subjects are taught in French.
C. The courses in primary school are all taught in English.
D. Most of the courses in junior high schools are taught in English.
Shane Thomas is a 10-year-old pianist from England. He’s being called the next Mozart because of his amazing abilities.
He has only been having piano lessons for four months, and practices four hours a week, but he has already played difficult classical pieces. He was just seven when he sat down at the piano, and could play at once. He also says he never gets nervous.
When Shane was three years old, he said that he could play the piano, but nobody took him seriously. At school, he could listen to the teacher and do his work while composing (作曲) in his head. Shame remembers all the melodies（旋律）,and when he gets home he plays them on the piano, while his father records them. Shane loves playing the piano, and when he grows up he wants to be a composer.
His tutor, Richard Goffin-Lecar, says he is like Amadeus Mozart, who lived during the 18th century in Salzburg, Austria, and was one of the most famous composers ever. Mr. Goffin-lecar says, “I don’t teach Shane very much. I just give him directions, then sit back and watch.”
His father, a single parent with two other children, says that although he has little money, he wants to send Shane to a good music school. “I’m a single father, but I have this gifted child. I don’t have much money, but I want to give him the best teachers, and also take him into a studio to record.”
1.When did Shane tell others that he could play the piano?
A. At age three. B. At age ten. C. At age seven. D. At age four.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about Shane?
A. He feels nervous while playing the piano
B. He can compose in his head while doing his work.
C. He wants to be a piano tutor when he grows up.
D. He doesn’t like to listen to the teacher at school.
3.What do we learn about Shane’s father?
A. He also plays the piano well.
B. He’s a single father with two children.
C. He believes in Shane’s talent for music and will support him.
D. Not having enough money, he will ask the teachers for help
My husband hasn’t stopped laughing about the thing that happened to me. It’s 1now but it wasn’t that time.
Last Friday, after doing all the family shopping in town, I 2a rest before catching the train, so I bought a 3and some chocolate and went to the station coffee shop that was a cheap, self-service place with long 4to sit at. I put my heavy bag down on the floor, put the newspaper and chocolate on the table to 5a place and went to get a cup of coffee.
When I came back with the coffee, there was someone in the 6seat. It was one of those 7young man, with dark glasses and torn clothes, and hair colored bright 8at the front, not so unusual these days. What did 9me was he’d started to eat my chocolate! Naturally, I was annoyed. However, to avoid trouble—then really I was rather uneasy about him—I just 10down at the front page of the newspaper, tasted my coffee, and took a bit of chocolate. The boy looked at me 11. then he took another piece of my chocolate. I could hardly 12it. Still I didn’t want to start an argument. When he took a 13piece , I felt more 14than annoyed. I thought, “ Well, I shall have the last piece.” And I 15it.
The boy gave me a 16look, and then stood up. As he left, he shouted out, “This woman is mad!” Everyone 17. That really made me feel silly, but it was 18when I finished my coffee and got ready to leave. My face went red—as red as his hair when I 19I’d made a mistake. It wasn’t my chocolate he’d been taking. There was mine, unopened, just under my 20.
1.A. serious B. wonderful C. funny D. exciting
2.A. enjoyed B. took C. had D. wanted
3.A. cake B. newspaper C. magazine D. bag
4.A. chairs B. tables C. benches D. beds
5.A. order B. find C. keep D. visit
6.A. very B. same C. free D. next
7.A. wild-looked B. wild-looking C. good-looking D. good-looked
8.A. red B. black C. brown D. white
9.A. interest B. surprise C. frighten D. hurt
10.A. looked B. lay C. sat D. put
11.A. eagerly B. friendly C. closely D. shyly
12.A. believe B. hear C. notice D. stop
13.A. last B. big C. single D. third
14.A. angry B. lucky C. happy D. curious
15.A. covered B. threw C. got D. wrapped
16.A. strange B. exhausting C. nervous D. pleasant
17.A. agreed B. promised C. stared D. followed
18.A. better B. worse C. later D. easier
19.A. wondered B. realized C. decided D. recognized
20.A. bags B. clothes C. book D. newspaper
