When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter(炼铜厂), and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him.
Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was “No.”
Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said there weren't any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. Everyone knew that, he was told. Even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn’t get his idea accepted.
Paul later got married and had some kids. But his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. As Samuel Johnson wrote, “It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Attainable good is often ignored by minds busied in wide ranges.” Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting.
And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against the plain common sense. Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing. Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow he made to himself as a child.
1.When Paul was a boy, _____.
A. he had decided never to leave his hometown
B. the economy of Utah depended wholly on the copper smelter
C. no laws were made to protect the environment against pollution
D. he had determined to stop the copper smelter polluting the area
2.Why did Paul go to college to study the science of plants?
A. He wanted to find out the best way to save the area himself.
B. He was interested in planting trees since he was young.
C. He wanted to get more knowledgeable people to help him.
D. He thought his knowledge would make his advice more persuasive.
3.What does the underlined phrase “the plain common sense” probably refer to?
A. That it was impossible for trees to grow on the wasteland.
B. That his normal work and life would be greatly affected.
C. That no one would like to join him in the efforts.
D. That he had to keep everything he did secret.
4.The message of the passage is that _____.
A. action speaks louder than words
B. perseverance(持之以恒) will work wonders
C. God helps those who help themselves
D. many hands make light work
A while ago my family and I went sledding(滑雪橇) and as I watched my children climbing up the slope I started thinking.
Many people are convinced that most of today’s 1problems are because of the “me” generation. Youngsters are just out for themselves and pay no 2to others or their needs. Indeed, a common belief is that today’s youngsters won’t do anything 3there is something in it for them.
Yet, while sledding, I saw a 4side. I watched my two oldest children (then five and four) take my youngest(then two years old)by the hand to help her up the slippery slope 5they went up. They would have been 6without her, but not once did they try to sneak （溜掉）by her without helping. And when the sled 7my two daughters was aimed toward the edge, it was my five year old son who ran to them to 8them from falling and hurting themselves.
These children sometimes 9among themselves and, on occasion, behave horribly. But I can 10them shopping and know that they won’t ask for anything, I can talk to them about tsunami or hurricane victims and know that they will offer to 11some of their own money to the cause, and I can ask them to play with those children 12on the sideline(作为旁观者) and know that they will befriend（照顾）them.
Perhaps, therefore, the “me” generation is to blame 13much of society’s problems—not the youngsters who want everything, 14the adults who have taught them to selfishly 15only of themselves.
Most adults have been 16at some time or another, sadly, many 17that disappointment down to their children. Then the children learn to put themselves first!
Most young children want to help. We can 18that feeling by teaching the lesson my children learned while sledding: Life is a slippery slope with 19of bumps(撞伤) and bruises(擦伤), but we can all make it to the 20if we remember to help those who need it.
1.A.social B.private C.serious D.slight
2.A.thought B.attention C.permission D.pleasure
3.A.if B.as C.while D.unless
4.A.same B.different C.strange D.moral
5.A.some time B.any time C.each time D.the time
6.A.faster B.slower C.easier D.lighter
7.A.containing B.loading C.driving D.carrying
8.A.avoid B.stop C.help D.warn
9.A.cry B.cooperate C.assist D.fight
10.A.take B.drive C.accompany D.guide
11.A.lend B.send C.collect D.pay
12.A.forgotten B.missed C.left D.ignored
13.A.of B.within C.on D.for
14.A.and B.but C.thus D.though
15.A.consider B.speak C.believe D.think
16.A.depressed B.surprised C.disappointed D.embarrassed
17.A.extend B.intend C.pass D.spread
18.A.encourage B.strengthen C.discourage D.approach
19.A.opportunities B.occasions C.promises D.fates
20.A.top B.bottom C.middle D.tip
I’ll just _______ your phone number in my book.
A. tear down B.look down C. put down D. turn down
Sorry! I can’t play outside, with much homework ________.
A. finished B. to finish C. finishing D. to be finished
The flowers will die soon unless often ________.
A.watering B. to water C. water D. watered
The report shows that we’re making some progress but ______ we need to make greater efforts.
A. that B. whether C. what D. why
