On April twenty-second, some American children stayed out of school but they were not punished. They were with their parents. As Faith Lapidus tells us, it was Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
The Ms. Foundation for Women started the program seventeen years ago, in 1993. At first it was just called Take Our Daughters to Work. Gloria Steinem and other foundation leaders pointed to studies showing that self-image suffers as girls become teenagers. They can lose trust in their abilities and intelligence, especially in areas like science, math and technology. So the Ms. Foundation planned a day for parents in New York City to show girls all the possibilities for them in the professional world. But there was so much interest, the organizers decided to make it national.
At first, girls mostly followed their mom or dad around at work to learn about their jobs. Later, employers and schools began to offer organized activities. But from the beginning there were protests(反对) from parents and others about the exception of boys. So in 2003 the day was renamed Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work.
2007 was the last year that the Ms. Foundation for Women headed the program. Now, the event is run by a twelve-person group called the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation.
The event is connected with Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls.
Carolyn McKecuen is president of the foundation. She says a total of about thirty-three million children and adults are involved in the program. About one-third of the adults work at large companies or nonprofit organizations. Another third are in small businesses. The rest work in education.
Carolyn McKecuen says the numbers from this year's event are not final yet. But early reports suggest that participation was up at least ten percent from last year. And she says the foundation is hoping to find support to expand the program internationally. She says there are lots of requests from other countries for information about how to set up similar programs.
1.It was called Take Our Daughters to Work at first because ______.
A. girls are considered to be clever than boys
B. girls are considered to be more foolish than boys
C. girls aren’t confident in some areas as they becomes older
D. girls don’t want to learn some science subjects
2.Why was the day renamed as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day later?
A. Because some parents were against only girls’ having the chance.
B. Because some parents wouldn’t like to take their daughters to work.
C. Because some employers were against parents’ taking their children to work.
D. Because some schools didn’t want to give any students’ time to leave school.
3.How many years did the Ms. Foundation for Women head the program?
A. 17 B. 18 C. 14 D. 10
4.From this passage we can learn ______.
A. April twenty-second is a day for some American children to stay out of school for punishment
B. the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is a national in America
C. Mattel is the president of the foundation whose company makes Barbie dolls
D. Lots of other countries want to set up similar programs for parents and children
5.The last paragraph shows that ______.
A. the program becomes more and more welcome
B. the program will come an end without international support
C. the program has been copied by many other countries
D. Carolyn McKecuen wants more and more children to take part in the program
Many of the stories written by Mark Twain take place in Hannibal, Missouri. The small wooden house where he lived as a boy still stands there. Next to the house is a wooden fence. It is the kind described in Twain's book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," published in1876.
In that story, Tom has been told to paint the fence. He does not want to do it. But he acts as if the job is great fun. He tricks other boys into believing this. His trick is so successful that they agree to pay him money to let them finish his work. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is considered one of the best books about an American boy's life in THE the1800s.
Tom Sawyer's good friend is Huckleberry, or "Huck," Finn. Mark Twain tells this boy's story in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Huck is a poor child, without a mother or home. His father drinks too much alcohol and beats him.
Huck's situation has freed him from the restrictions of society. He explores in the woods and goes fishing. He stays out all night and does not go to school. He smokes tobacco.
Huck runs away from home. He meets Jim, a black man who has escaped from slavery. They travel together on a raft made of wood down the Mississippi River. Huck describes the trip: "It was lovely to live on the raft. Other places seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft... Sometimes we'd have that whole river to ourselves for the longest time... We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them---. “
1.From the second paragraph we learn Tom Sawyer is a ______ boy.
A. kind B. smart C. clumsy D. honest
2.The reason why Huck runs away from home is that ______.
A. his family is poor B. he wants to find a friend live with
C. there’s no warn in his home D. he loves nature and likes to adventure
3. The underlined word “restrictions” can be replaced by _____.
A. limits B. prohibition C. forces D. rules
4.Why did Huck feel comfortable living in a raft? Because _____.
A. Huck made the raft by himself B. Huck could eat fresh food here
C. Huck could have the river there D. Huck likes to be free
5.The stories of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” are probably _____.
A. completely imaginary B. according Mark Twain’s experiences
C. Mark Twain’s autobiography(自传) D. records from his last generation
Jesse was a great teacher, tutor, mentor, and family member. He was a dedicated (忠诚的)volunteer in the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa. He went to a place where he knew he could make a difference and wanted to help teach children who otherwise would not have a teacher. He made friends wherever he went and touched the hearts of many.
Jesse was never one to go anywhere without making a good impression on everyone he met. His sudden death in a tragic car accident in Africa brought his family and friends together in a celebration of his life. They came from all over: Africa, Canada, the US. The church was filled with people who knew that Jesse had made a difference in their lives, in the lives of the children, and in the hearts of his loved ones.
Jesse volunteered with the Peace Corps to help educate children in Guinea, Africa. Guinea is a very poor and complex country where tribalism（种族主义） is strong. Each tribe that Jesse worked with wanted him to commit（致力于）to one or the other.
Jesse would not surrender（投降）to tribalism when he took an African name, and he wanted a tribal last name. Each of the two tribes in which he taught insisted that he choose their name. He would not choose but married the tribes' two names into one.
Jesse was a light to all who knew him. We will always remember the joy and love he brought to his work, to his family, his friends. The people who loved Jesse are planning to build a school in Guinea in his honor. So his work continues...
1.Why were there so many people remembering Jesse?
A. Because he was a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Guinea.
B. Because he was kind and helpful to people from heart.
C. Because he wanted to make friends with all people.
D. Because he loved children who needed education.
2.Jesse died from _____.
A. a tribal fight B. a traffic accident C. a sudden disease D. tiredness of overwork
3.The way he dealt with the tribalism was ______.
A. giving in to one side B. criticizing both sides
C. uniting both sides D. satisfying both sides
4. From this passage we can learn _____.
A. Jesse was a person had great influence in Guinea
B. Jesse was a person who had religion belief
C. Jesse was a hero of many local people
D. Jesse did great contribution to local peace
5. The writer wrote this passage _____.
A. in memory of the teacher B. in praise of a teacher
C. in honor of a teacher D. in approval of a teacher
Just Help the Next Person
The only highway to go to work that we had to drive was closed down due to an accident on the bridge. A truck had hit the bridge and made it 36 for any traffic to go over it. So in order to get to 37 I had to go a number of miles out of my way.
Not being that 38 with this road and not knowing 39 all the pot holes in the road were, I topped a hill and right in my path was a big pot hole. I felt and heard the familiar sound of a flat tire. I 40 as far to the right as possible and stopped. I tried several times to change the tire, but 41 .
There I sat out in the country and no way to 42 with anybody. Just then, I looked in my rear view mirror and a 43 was pulling out of a pasture behind me. I was 44 and scared at the same time.
I was struggling to get the 45 out when this man in the pickup pulled in behind me. He got out to introduce himself and 46 to help me. When he got the spare out we discovered that the spare is also 47 . He told me he would take the tire and have it 48 and call my husband.
We got the tire fixed 49 he took me back to my car. My husband was there 50 us when we got back. The kind stranger stayed there and helped my husband 51 the tire. After they finished we 52 thanked him and offered to pay him for his 53 .
I will never forget his words, " your thanks is 54 enough pay and I just hope if this ever happens to my wife or daughter someone will be so 55 as to help them."
1. A. busy B. narrow C. fearful D. unsafe
2. A. school B. city C. work D. shop
3. A. satisfied B. involved C. identified D. familiar
4. A. where B. what C. when D. which
5. A. placed B. rode C. pulled D. managed
6. A. failed B. abandoned C. passed D. dropped
7. A. catch up B. get in touch C. have to do D. put up
8. A. truck B. pickup C. car D. bike
9. A. excited B. relieved C. determined D. nervous
10.A. car B. wheel C. spare D. trunk
11.A. refused B. offered C. pretended D. promised
12.A. flat B. damaged C. invisible D. lost
13.A. sold B. painted C. packed D. fixed
14.A. but B. so C. and D. though
15.A. listening to B. worrying about C. waiting on D. searching for
16.A. break B. change C. clean D. repair
17.A. both B. all C. neither D. everyone
18.A. imagination B. trouble C. diligence D. patience
19.A. more than B. less than C. rather than D. better than
20.A. polite B. active C. kind D. wise
Energy drinks are not allowed ____ in Australia but are brought in from New
Zealand.
A. to make B. to be made C. to have been made D. to be making
----Look,Mr.Hu is on the other side of the street.
----It____ be him.He has gone to Lanzhou.
A. mustn't B. can't C.wouldn't D. couldn't
