Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores(杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering. I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn’t sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.
My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper… On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition(过渡), that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.
A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound “happiness” and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That’s all. My bags were packed and by the door.
The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.
Now, it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment(责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I’ve gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!
1.What did the writer expect to do after he retired?
A. To write some great books. B. To stay away from busy schedules.
C. To teach his grandchildren. D. To plan for his future.
2.Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?
A. He wasn’t satisfied with his retired life. B. He couldn’t refuse his colleague’s favor.
C. He was concerned about the people there. D. He missed his students in that country.
3.The underlined part “the tables have turned” (Paragraph 5) most probably means that the writer ______.
A. improved the situation in his school B. felt happy to work with students again
C. changed his attitude toward his retirement D. became a learner rather than a teacher
4.What does the writer think of his retired life now?
A. Meaningful. B. Troublesome. C. Relaxing. D. Disappointing.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
At the beginning of this century, medical scientists made an interesting discovery: we are built not just of flesh(肌肉) and blood but also of time. They were 1to show that we all have a ‘body clock’ 2us, which controls the 3and fall of our body energies, 4us different from one day to the next.
The 5of a ‘body clock’ should not be too 6since the lives of most living things are controlled 7the 24-hour night-and-day cycle(循环). We feel 8and fall asleep at night and become 9and energetic during the day. If the 24-hour cycle is 10most people experience unpleasant 11. For example, people who are not 12to working at night can find that 13of sleep causes them to 14badly at work.
15the daily cycle of sleeping and 16, we also have other cycles which 17longer than one day. Most of us would 18that we feel good on some days and not so good on 19; sometimes our ideas seem to flow and at other times, they 20do not exist.
1.A. anxious B. careful C. able D. proud
2.A. around B. inside C. between D. on
3.A. rise B. supply C. use D. movement
4.A. showing B. treating C. changing D. making
5.A. idea B. opinion C. story D. invention
6.A. difficult B. exciting C. interesting D. surprising
7.A. from B. over C. by D. during
8.A. dull B. dreamy C. tired D. peaceful
9.A. regular B. excited C. clear D. lively
10.A. shortened B. disturbed C. reset D. troubled
11.A. moments B. senses C. feelings D. effects
12.A. used B. allowed C. expected D. prevented
13.A. miss B. none C. need D. lack
14.A. show B. perform C. manage D. control
15.A. With B. Except C. As well as D. Rather than
16.A. waking B. moving C. living D. working
17.A. repeat B. remain C. happen D. last
18.A. believe B. agree C. realize D. allow
19.A. others B. the other C. all other D. other
20.A. only B. just C. still D. yet
---I’m afraid that Mr. Wood can’t see you until 4 o’clock.
---Oh, ______ I won’t wait.
A. no doubt B. after all C. in that case D. in this way
Little ______ about her own safety, though she was in great danger herself.
A. did Rose care B. Rose did care C. Rose does care D. does Rose care
______ to reach them on the phone, we sent an email instead.
A. Fail B. Failed C. To fail D. Having failed
Our bodies are strengthened by taking exercise. ______, our minds are developed by learning.
A. Probably B. Likely C. Similarly D. Generally
