The easy way out isn’t always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Doug loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough (面团) covered with ugly yellowish marks. Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in our rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast (酵母) made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the ‘living thing’ was and why it was there. I don’t know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing, Doug or me.
1.The writer’s purpose in writing this story is ________.
A. to tell an interesting experience
B. to show the easiest way out of a difficulty
C. to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman
D. to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books
2.Why did the woman’s attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful?
A. The canned orange had gone bad.
B. She didn’t use the right kind of flour.
C. The cookbook was hard to understand.
D. She did not follow the directions closely.
3.Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin?
A. She didn’t see the use of keeping it
B. She meant to joke with her husband.
C. She didn’t want her husband to see it.
D. She hoped it would soon dry in the sun.
4.What made the dough in the rubbish bin look frightening?
A. The rising and falling movement.
B. The strange-looking marks.
C. Its shape.
D. Its size.
5.When Doug went out the third time, the woman looked out of the window because she was ________.
A. surprised at his being interested in the bin
B. afraid that he would discover her secret
C. unhappy that he didn't enjoy the meal
D. curious to know what disturbed him
The Channel Islands are a group of British-owned islands lying in the English Channel, 10 to 30 miles off the French coast, and 70 to 90 miles from the English coast. There are ten islands with a total land area of 75 square miles and a total population of 123,000. The three largest islands, Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney, have long been known for the fine breeds (品种) of cattle that are raised on them and named after them.
In earliest known history the islands were considered part of Normandy, which was part of France, but the ruler of Normandy became king of England in 1066, and from then on the islands were looked upon as British land. English control was unbroken until World War II, when the Germans held the islands for five years.
Although people on the islands speak both languages and they are considered English, their customs are more French than English.
1.Which of the following maps gives the right position of the Channel Islands?
Br = Britain Fr = France Ch = Channel Islands
2.Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney breeds of cattle are __________.
A. considered best in England
B. named after their birthplaces
C. brought to the islands by the Germans
D. raised on well-known farms by the French
3. The Channel Islands have been continuously under British rule since__________.
A. earliest known history B. 1066
C. 1930s D. the end of World War II
4.Why do people on the Channel Islands follow French way of living?
A. Their islands used to be part of France.
B. Their islands are often visited by the French.
C. They came from France.
D. They speak French.
The Best Holiday
I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter. Emily 41 to buy a mountain bike. She’d been saving her pocket money all year, 42 doing small jobs to earn extra money.
By Thanksgiving, she had collected only $49. I said, “You 43 have your pick from my bicycle 44 .” “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old.” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950’s models, not the kind a kid today would 45 choose.
As Christmas 46 near, Emily and I went bike shopping. As we left one store, she __47 a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot. “Can we give something, Daddy?” she asked. “Sorry, I’m out of 48 .”
Throughout December, Emily continued to 49 hard. Then one day, she made a __50 announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $ 58 to a volunteer who was really very 51 .
52 by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute 53 of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children. 54 I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow (发光). Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t 55 the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later 56 the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very __57 , sir. Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re 58 away one chance to win a girls’ mountain bike.”
Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the 59 ? I like to think it was God’s way of 60 a little girl for a sacrifice beyond her years－while giving her dad a lesson in the process.
|
1. A. promised |
B. amazed |
C. determined |
D. organized |
|
2. A. as well as |
B. in addition |
C. because of |
D. except for |
|
3. A. need |
B. should |
C. must |
D. can |
|
4.A. collection
|
B. contribution |
C. shop |
D. club |
|
5.A. seldom |
B. likely |
C. slightly |
D. merely |
|
6.A. drew |
B. became |
C. went |
D. pulled |
|
7.A. observed |
B. sensed |
C. watched |
D. noticed |
|
8.A. charge |
B. change |
C. control |
D. order |
|
9.A. study |
B. try |
C. listen |
D. work |
|
10.A. disappointing disappointing |
B. surprising |
C. formal |
D. public |
|
11.A. agreeable |
B. hopeful |
C. thankful |
D. pitiful |
|
12.A. Moved |
B. Shocked |
C. Persuaded |
D. Demanded |
|
13.A. one |
B. some |
C. two |
D. any |
|
14.A. While |
B. When |
C. Because |
D. Though |
|
15.A. express |
B. describe |
C. explain |
D. shake |
|
16.A. returned |
B. delivered |
C. chose |
D. shared |
|
17.A. sweet |
B. healthy |
C. happy |
D. fair |
|
18.A. putting |
B. giving |
C. storing |
D. signing |
|
19.A. present |
B. harvest |
C. winner |
D. chance |
|
20.A. greeting |
B. praising |
C. sheltering |
D. rewarding |
________ for the free ticket, I would not have gone to the theatre so often.
A. Were it not B. Had it not been C. Had not it been D. Were not it
________ as he was, he looked quite calm in that difficult situation.
A. A child B. The child C. Children D. Child
“Sorry, sorry…,” he whispered, ________ talking to himself.
A. while B. even if C. as if D. when
