This is a story that happened in Europe in the 17th century. Tulips (郁金香) were introduced into Holland before the 17th century but it did not take long for the flowers to gain popularity among the upper classes. Flowers of such beauty soon became symbols of power and the rich tried their best to lay their hands on some to display them in their gardens. When more people learned of the prices that the rich were willing to pay for tulips, they knew they just found a “get-rich-quick” gold mine.
By 1634, the whole country was so attracted by tulips that all other activities almost came to a stop. People were trading in tulips and even buying and selling bulbs (球茎). At that time, one rare bulb cost as much as ten tons of cheese.
Many made a fortune in the beginning. As the prices moved in one direction, they only needed to buy low and sell high, buy high and sell higher. After the gains, confidence rose and many sold away all their property in order to invest more money in tulips, hoping to make more money. The desire was so strong that those who were watching also rushed to the tulip market. Everyone thought that the high demand for tulips would continue forever and prices could only go up because more and more people from all over the world would start to like tulips.
When the prices of tulips was much higher than it should be, few people bought them for planting in their gardens. The real demand for the flowers seemed greater than it really was. Many people were buying them for speculation (投机), not appreciation. In 1637, for some unknown reasons, a group of people suddenly realized the danger. The prices of tulips began to fall and the market crashed. When confidence was destroyed, it could not be recovered and prices kept falling. Soon the nobles and the rich became poor. Cries of suffering were heard everywhere in Holland.
1.Why did the upper classes buy tulips in the beginning?
A. Because the prices of tulips were low.
B. Because they wanted to make a fortune.
C. Because tulips were introduced from abroad.
D. Because tulips were beautiful and represented power.
2.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. greed(贪婪) was the reason why so many people were mad about tulips
B. tulips became popular among the upper classes very slowly
C. people who were mad about tulips bought them for appreciation
D. when the prices were extremely high, most people planted tulips in their gardens
3.The passage is mainly about ________.
A. Europe in the 17th century B. buying and selling tulips
C. being mad about tulips D. the life of the nobles and the rich
It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2009. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries(食品杂货),saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity(人性)as a whole. And it has influenced us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.
1.Why was the bike so important to the couple
A. The man's job was bike racing. B. It was their only possession.
C. It was a nice Kona 18 speed. D. They used it for work and daily life.
2.We can infer from the text that ____________.
A. the couple worked 60 hours a week. B. people were busy before Christmas
C. the stranger brought over the bike D. life was hard for the young family.
3.How did people get to know the couple's problem
A. From radio broadcasts. B. From a newspaper.
C. From TV news. D. From a stranger.
4.What do the couple learn from their experience
A. Strangers are usually of little help. B. One should take care of their bike.
C. News reports make people famous. D. An act of kindness can mean a lot.
请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在机读卡上将该项涂黑。
I was walking down the road one day when my cell phone rang． 1voice on the other end spoke to me, "Dad, please come back soon．I miss you so much! "I judged that it was a 2_ number．A little while later, the call came once again, so I rudely 3, "You've dialed the wrong number! " and then 4
During the following days, I got the same call 5．But I didn't care much about it．
Then one day she constantly called me, 6I didn't answer．Finally I answered the phone and heard a weak voice, "Dad, please come back．I miss you so much! Dad, I'm 7so much pain! Mom said you were too busy to take 8of me．But, dad, please 9me again, OK?" The innocent 10was difficult to reject．I made a 11kiss on the phone and heard the weak voice say, "Thank you．．．Dad, I am so．．．happy, so．．．happy．．．"
Shortly after this, I became 12about who had been on the other end of my phone．So I called back, and a woman answered, "Sorry, sir．I am really sorry to have 13you．My daughter has suffered from bone cancer 14she was born．And her father．．．died in an 15a short while ago．I dare not tell her this 16．Poor baby．When she couldn't 17the painful chemotherapy(化疗), she would cry for her dad, who had always 18her．I really couldn't bear it, so I gave her a random phone number．．．"
"How is your daughter now?" I couldn't wait to 19
"She has 20．You must have kissed her on the phone, because she went with a smile, tightly holding the cell phone．．．"
Tears blurred my eyes．．．
1.A．A boy' s B．A child' s C．My daughter' s D．My son' s
2.A．bad B．different C．new D．wrong
3.A．screamed B．blamed C．returned D．replied
4.A．hung up B．hung on C．held on D．held up
5.A．here and there B．now and then C．more or less D．sooner or later
6.A．so that B．in case C．as if D．even if
7.A．near B．on C．in D．at
8.A．care B．control C．notice D．charge
9.A． comfort B．kiss C．pat D．encourage
10.A．application B．command C．request D．appetite
11.A．soft B．sweet C．low D．loud
12.A．surprised B．curious C．interested D．amazed
13.A．bothered B．confused C．interrupted D．reached
14.A．when B．since C．as D．while
15.A．invitation B．event C．accident D．invention
16.A．fate B．reason C．story D．news
17.A．receive B．fight C．bear D．face
18.A．encouraged B．amused C．satisfied D．supported
19.A．hear B．ask C．tell D．see
20.A．gone B．passed C．gone by D．passed by
_____ with her sister, Jenny pays special attention to her appearance. _____ she earns
is spent on clothing.
A. Comparing; Whatever B. Compared; Whatever
C. Compared; No matter what D. Comparing; No matter what
Father made a promise ___ I passed the examination he would buy me an MP6 player.
A. that B. which C. whether D. that if
There are so many viruses on the Internet. If ____ accidentally, the viruses may make
your computer break down.
A. downloading B. to be downloaded
C. downloaded D. being downloaded
