For about a decade, I knew that I needed to improve my handwriting, but I always put it off. “My typing skills are good, my communication skills are good, and all my other abilities are adequate for the job I do and the life I live. Why would I need to improve my handwriting in such a modern world?” I thought.
I was sort of hit by the fact that my handwriting needed improving quite suddenly in the form of a note from my boss. Obviously one of the notes I had posted on the office message board had been misunderstood because of my handwriting. My boss demanded that I learn to write in a neat way, something I couldn’t ignore any longer.
I tried a lot of different methods to improve my handwriting. Nowadays, there are more resources than before. You don’t even have to go to the store and can buy handwriting training materials online. I tried out a lot of these, and my handwriting did improve somewhat. Now I make sure I form every letter correctly. This is inconvenient and time-consuming, but it is better than having my comments misread.
People come up to me and tell me how nice my handwriting is. I have never thought of that, but this is exactly what has happened. It really is a pleasure, but it isn’t enough. In the long run, I actually have to go to a handwriting coach to improve my handwriting. It seems like I have years and years of bad habits that I have to break, and this isn’t something I could handle on my own. I need someone to teach me how to write clearly from the ground up.
1.The underlined word “adequate” in the first paragraph probably means “ ”.
Aclear enough B. common enough C. good enough D. special enough
2.The writer made the decision to improve his handwriting because .
A.he had planned for that for a long time
B.he was shocked by his boss’ good handwriting
C.he was often misunderstood because of his handwriting
D.his boss asked him to work on his handwriting
3.How did the writer try to improve his handwriting?
A.He practiced writing mainly on his own.
B.He practiced writing and typing at the same time.
C.He joined a handwriting training class.
D.He employed a coach to teach him online.
4.What does the writer think of his handwriting at present?
A.Unacceptable. B. Perfect. C. Worse. D. Better.
My goddaughter, Shari, owns The Berry Factory in Sacramento, California, and her mother, Joan, and I were helping with the Valentine’s Day rush. We’d dipped hundreds of berries, arranged gift baskets and packaged orders to be 36 around the country.
By the end of the day, the two middle-aged women, Joan and I, were exhausted. But Shari didn’t seem tired. That was 37 Shari. 38 she was very busy, I’d seen her give away berries to everyone—parking attendants, mail carriers and hairdressers. “For me?” they would say, bursting into 39 .
40 a “thank you”, Shari took us out for dinner. But there was a 45-munite 41 at her favorite restaurant. “No big 42 . There’s another place just up the road,” she said, driving up there. This time we walked right 43 .
When the waitress came to 44 our drink orders, Shari 45 into her handbag, pulling something out. “ I want you to have these,” she said, 46 the waitress a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries. “ She will love those berries!” I thought. 47 the waitress seemed very surprised instead. She only let out a “thank you” 48 grabbing the box and rushing into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, the waitress returned 49 our iced tea. “ I apologize,” she said. “ My best friend and I had 50 to send each other something every Valentine’s Day. But she 51 last year. I didn’t know how I’d 52 this day without her. Then you handed me that box.”
“ I’m so sorry to hear that,” said Shari. “ It’s not much, but I hope you can 53 them.”
“ Oh, I will,” the waitress said. “ See, every year we 54 sent each other the same thing: a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries bought from our favorite store, The Berry 55 .”
|
1. |
A. brought |
B. produced |
C. travelled |
D. shipped |
|
2. |
A. ordinary |
B. typical |
C. strange |
D. healthy |
|
3. |
A. If |
B. Since |
C. Though |
D. Until |
|
4. |
A. a smile |
B. tears |
C. laughter |
D. song |
|
5. |
A. By |
B. Without |
C. Through |
D. As |
|
6. |
A. discussion |
B. wait |
C. choice |
D. talk |
|
7. |
A. mistake |
B. deal |
C. idea |
D. matter |
|
8. |
A. out |
B. along |
C. in |
D. away |
|
9. |
A. ask |
B. tell |
C. bring |
D. take |
|
10. |
A. looked |
B. passed |
C. reached |
D. pushed |
|
11. |
A. handing |
B. forcing |
C. removing |
D. providing |
|
12. |
A. But |
B. Or |
C. And |
D. So |
|
13. |
A. until |
B. before |
C. after |
D. while |
|
14. |
A. for |
B. to |
C. from |
D. with |
|
15. |
A. promised |
B. explained |
C. imagined |
D. recognized |
|
16. |
A. passed out |
B. passed away |
C. passed by |
D. passed through |
|
17. |
A.look through |
B.break through |
C.get through |
D. follow through |
|
18. |
A. impress |
B. treasure |
C. value |
D. enjoy |
|
19. |
A. always |
B. hardly |
C. sometimes |
D. still |
|
20. |
A. Market |
B. Store |
C. Factory |
D. Garden |
— Guess what! I came across an old friend at the party last night.
— ____________！ I’m sure you had a wonderful time.
A. Sounds good B. Very well C. All right D. How nice
______ around the cultural relics for almost an hour, we got together under a big tree for a short break.
A. Having shown B. Having been shown C. To show D To be shown
---He ought to have been warned of the danger.
---_______, but he wouldn’t listen to me.
A. He did B. He should C. He ought to D. He was
---You may find the key to the maths problem on page 107.
---Ah, it’s so simple. I wonder why I ________ of that.
A. didn’t think B. haven’t thought C. wasn’t thinkingD. hadn’t thought
