Last week, I was invited to a doctor’s meeting at the Ruth Hospital. In one of the rooms a patient, an old man, got up from his bed and moved slowly towards me. I could see that he hadn’t long to live, but he came up to me and placed his right foot close to mine on the floor.
“Frank!” I cried in surprise. He couldn’t answer, as I knew, but he tried to smile, all the time keeping his foot close to mine.
My thoughts raced back more than thirty years － to the dark days of 1941, when I was a student in London. The scene was an air-raid shelter (防空洞), in which I and about a hundred other people slept every night. Among them were Mrs West and her son Frank, who lived nearby. Sharing wartime problems, we got to know each other very well. Frank interested me because he was not normal. He had never been normal, ever since he was born. His mother told me he was 37 then, but he had less of a mind than a baby has. Mrs West, then about 75, was a strong, able woman, as she had to be, of course, because Frank depended on her completely. He needed all the attention of a baby.
One night a policeman came into our shelter and told Mrs West that her house had been all destroyed. That wasn’t quite true, because the Wests went on living there for quite some time. But they certainly lost nearly everything they owned.
When that kind of thing happened, the rest of us helped the unlucky ones. So before we separated that morning, I stood beside Frank and measured my right foot against his.
They were about the same size. That night, then, I took a spare pair of shoes to the shelter for Frank. As soon as he saw me, he came running － and paced his right foot against mine. After that, he always greeted me in the same way.
1.How did the writer know that the patient was Frank?
A. He was told that Frank was in the hospital. B. He was invited to study Frank’s illness.
C. Frank’s name was written on the door. D. Frank greeted him in a special way.
2.When and where did the writer first meet Frank?
A. In Mrs West’s house in 1941.
B. In an air-raid shelter during the war.
C. At the Ruth Hospital about ten years ago.
D. In London after he Wests’ house was destroyed.
3.The unlucky ones mentioned by the doctor were ______.
A. those who suffered from illness B. those who slept in the air-raid shelter
C. those who were killed during the war D. those whose homes were destroyed in air-raids
4.The writer placed his foot against Frank’s before he left the shelter ______.
A. to be friendly towards Frank
B. to see if Frank’s feet were normal
C. to find out if Frank could put on his shoes
D. to teach Frank to greet people in a special way
In 1901, H.G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise. “Why,” they asked. “are you travelling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it. Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”, a tunnel (隧道) connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems called “Alice Cities”. The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome (太阳能穹顶) would cover the whole city. Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H.G. Wells’ “moon people” would agree. Would you?
1.The explorers in H.G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the “moon people” ______.
A. understood their language B. knew so much about the earth
C. lived in so many underground cities D. were ahead of them in space technology
2.What does the underlined word “it” (paragraph2) refer to?
A. Travelling to outer space. B. Using the earth’s inner space.
C. Meeting the “moon people” again D. Discovering the moon’s inner space
3.What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations. B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.
C. Gardens, car parks, power stations. D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A. Alice Cities － Cities of the Future B. Space Travel with H.G. Wells
C. Enjoy Living Underground D. Building Down, Not up
It must have been after two o’clock in the morning when the last guest took his leave. __1__ we had enjoyed their stay, my wife and I were quite __2__ to shut the door on them. We __3__ all the dirty dishes and glasses __4__ they were, and after opening a few windows to let some __5__ air in and the smell of food out, we climbed into bed and fell asleep.
I couldn’t have been asleep for more than half an hour __6__ I awoke with a strong smell of smoke. __7__ half asleep, I stepped into the living-room, and there, __8__ heavy clouds of smoke, I saw one of the curtains was on fire. I should have __9__ the windows then without delay, __10_ instead I tried to beat out the fire with a folded newspaper. When this __11__, I hurried into the kitchen to __12__ a bucket of water. At the same time, I shouted to Barbara, who __13__ phoned to summon (请求) the fire brigade (消防队) __14__ coming to help me. We had to work at top speed __15__ buckets of water from the kitchen to __16__ the fire, fanned by the wind from the windows, from __17__. We were unable to put out the fire, but we managed to __18__ it under control until the arrival of the firemen. __19__, they arrived in no time, and they had little difficulty __20_ the fire stop burning.
1.A. Although B. Because C. If D. Since
2.A. pleasant B. comfortable C. thankful D. free
3.A. laid B. left C. washed D. put
4.A. that B. like C. which D. as
5.A. new B. cool C. fresh D. warm
6.A. when B. until C. while D. after
7.A. Thus B. Still C. Only D. Yet
8.A. through B. with C. from D. by
9.A. broken B. opened C. removed D. closed
10.A. and B. but C. or D. so
11.A. finished B. failed C. continued D. succeeded
12.A. bring B. find C. pump D. borrow
13.A. eagerly B. nervously C. hurriedly D. certainly
14.A. besides B. till C. before D. for
15.A. moving B. taking C. using D. carrying
16.A. prevent B. fight C. strike D. kill
17.A. rising B. developing C. lighting D. spreading
18.A. keep B. place C. hold D. catch
19.A. However B. Therefore C. Fortunately D. Especially
20.A. causing B. getting C. letting D. making
The old man never fails to help___ is in need of his help.
A. whom B. who C. whoever D. whatever
This dictionary, few pages ___are missing, is of great importance.
A. among which B. of which C. in which D. to which
---It is a pity that you have ___from the company. After all, it is a well-paid job.
---There is nothing serious. I don’t like the way they____ me .
A. left; think B. retired; regard C. resigned; treat D. designed; behave
