American author Mark Twain once noted that “life would be surely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.” Twain’s words were only one of many complaints about aging. The ancient Greek poet Homer called old age “hateful”, and William Shakespeare termed it “terrible winter”.
Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world before he died around 323 B.C., may have been looking for a river that healed the ravages of age. During the 12th century A.D., a king called Prester John ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth.
But the name linked most closely to the search for a fountain of youth is 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. He thought it would be found in Florida. In St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., there’s a tourist attraction. It is said to be the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon discovered soon after he arrived in what is now Florida in 1513. However, elderly visitors who drink the spring’s water don’t turn into teenagers.
But the tale of the search for a fountain of youth is so appealing(有吸引力的) that it survives anyway, says Ryan K. Smith, a professor of history. “People are more attracted by the story of looking and not finding than they are by the idea that the fountain might be out there somewhere.”
Still, a few grains of truth have helped to support the story. Kathleen Deagan, a professor of archaeology, says a graveyard and the remains of a Spanish mission dating back to St. Augustine’s founding in 1565 have been discovered near the so-called fountain of youth. Michelle Reyna, a spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, says the fountain has been a tourist attraction since at least 1901 and may have been attracting visitors since 1860.
1.According to the passage, who searched for a fountain of youth?
A. Ponce de Leon B. William Shakespeare. C. Kathleen Deagan D. Michelle Reyna
2.What does the underlined word “ravages” in the second paragraph probably mean?
A. Growth. B. Limits. C. Damages. D. Benefits.
3.What is the attitude of people towards the fountain of youth?
A. People find much pleasure in looking for it.
B. People believe the existence of it somewhere.
C. People have no interest in searching for it.
D. People consider the idea of the fountain of youth absurd(荒谬的).
4.The passage mainly tells us _____.
A. how the fountain of youth came into being
B. why some famous people hate becoming old
C. how to remain young forever
D. whether the fountain of youth exists
5.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The underlined words “the story” refers to Alexander the Great ruling a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth.
B. Augustine, which is the oldest city in the U.S, lies in Florida.
C. Some elderly visitors find themselves younger after drinking the water from the fountain of youth.
D. Kathleen Deagan is the spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
The rumors had been spreading for months but it still came as a shock when the hospital would be closing. It had served this poor neighborhood for nearly 100 years but it would close because of the health care crisis.
The day after the announcement co-workers found out that pretzels(椒盐饼干) had been eliminated. Soft pretzels are the lifeblood of this city. So losing access to soft pretzels is no small matter.
I said, “I only have $6. I’m not sure how
many pretzels I need. You see, I work at a hospital and it’s closing and they
stopped selling pretzels.” The man’s smile disappeared. “What hospital?” “Oh, Northeastern
Hospital.”
The guy looked deeply shocked. “I used to sell medical supplies and that was one of my hospitals.” Then he turned around and grabbed a box of 25 pretzels and slid them across the counter.
I was surprised by his generosity and started to reach for my wallet, “Oh I can pay. Please let me …” The guy smiled, “Just tell them Joe Sullivan said to do something nice for someone else.”
And so that day everyone in medical records was treated to a soft pretzel. Word spread fast as people came asking, “Is it really true?” It was as if I’d carried in a box of gold. It mattered to them that a stranger cared.
1.The underlined word “eliminated” in Paragraph 2 means _____.
A. highly priced B. added C. overcooked D. removed
2.Why did the author decide to buy pretzels for his co-workers?
A. To show his generosity. B. To make them feel less sad.
C. To show his thanks to them. D. To encourage them to work hard.
3.To buy 25 pretzels, the author should pay ____.
A. $25 B. $12.5 C. $12 D. $50
4.According to the passage, Joe Sullivan used to be a ____.
A. cook B. doctor C. shopkeeper D. salesman
5.What can be the best title of the passage?
A. A nice treat
B. The rumor that came true
C. Tell them Joe cared
D. Northeastern Hospital is closing down
Robert was a life insurance(人寿保险) salesman. Try 36 he might, he was still unable to get a couple to sign up for a policy(保单). “I certainly don’t want to frighten you into a 37,” he announced, standing up to 38. “Please sleep on it tonight, and 39 you wake up in the morning, let me know what you think.”
People can be motivated by many different 40. Fear is the common one. 41 many people find that other kinds of motivation are usually 42 effective in getting more out of those with whom we live and work.
A twelve-year-old girl took her younger brother, who 43 from a mental disability, Christmas shopping. As they went into a department store, the 44 accidentally hit a display, knocking shoes in every 45. at that 46 a(n) angry clerk grabbed the boy by the arm and 47, “Pick them up.”
“No,” the boy screamed in defiance(反抗).
“Pick them up,” the clerk 48.
“No,” the boy shouted back.
His older sister began picking up the 49. Then the boy started to 50. Before long, the boy, his sister and the clerk were 51 together to put the shoes back in 52.
When they finished, the girl taught the clerk a(n) 53 lesson with these words: “You have to encourage my brother to do it in action.”
If you live or work with other people, you may benefit from the older sister’s advice. If you want people to respond to you, try encouraging them in action. People prefer 54. When you fill people with what they want, you’re 55 to get what you want out of them.
1.A. however B. as C. since D. in spite of
2.A. trouble B. sale C. bargain D. decision
3.A. defend B. fight C. leave D. argue
4.A. should B. will C. shall D. may
5.A. feelings B. plans C. means D. results
6.A. Thus B. But C. Plus D. Since
7.A. less B. more C. half D. just
8.A. arose B. contributed C. benefited D. suffered
9.A. boy B. girl C. clerk D. salesman
10.A. section B. direction C. shelf D. course
11.A. occasion B. stage C. situation D. point
12.A. demanded B. conflicted C. reminded D. arranged
13.A. expected B. commented C. shouted D. acquired
14.A. shoes B. books C. toys D. bottles
15.A. cry B. help C. complain D. worry
16.A. walking B. organizing C. working D. assisting
17.A. process B. silence C. detail D. order
18.A. thoughtful B. instant C. cautious D. complex
19.A. gift B. stick C. honey D. tears
20.A. positive B. likely C. confident D. probable
The skin is an essential part of your body and is ____ you feel cold, heat or pain.
A. where B. which C. what D. how
---- Tom wants to be another Obama after he graduates from school.
---- That sounds great, but how can he ____ a person like him if he goes on like this?
A. change B. turn C. get D. make
If you happen to see the process of cooking in a restaurant, you might see the cook using rubbish oil, which is a common _____ in China nowadays.
A. sense B. rule C. practice D. activity
