I try not to be biased（偏见）but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His social worker assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee. He was short, a little fat, with the smooth facial features and thick-togued speech of Down’s Syndrome（唐氏综合症）. I thought most of my customers would be uncomfortable around Stevie, so I closely watched him for the first few weeks.
I shouldn’t have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my regular trucker customers had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot. After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table. Our only problem was persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were finished.
Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was disabled. Money was tight, and what I paid him was probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie being sent to a group home.
That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place that morning last August, the first morning in three years that Stevie missed work. He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a heart surgery. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome often had heart problems at an early age and there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and be back at work in a few months.
A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine. Frannie, my head waitress, did a little dance when she heard the good news. Belle Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at her and asked, “Okay, Frannie, what was that all about?”
"We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay."
"I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was the surgery about?"
Frannie quickly told Belle Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it is."
Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Frannie hurried off to wait on the rest of her tables.
After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand.
"What's up?" I asked.
“I cleared off that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting after they left, and I found this. This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup."
She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something For Stevie".
That was three months ago. Today is New Year’s day , the first day Stevie is supposed to be back to work. His placement worker said he had been counting the days until the doctor said he could work, I arranged to have his mother bring him to work, met them in the parking lot and invited them both to celebrate his day back. I took him and his mother by their arms. “To celebrate you coming back, breakfast for you and your mother is on me.”
I led them toward a large corner booth. I could feel and hear truck customers and the rest of the staff following behind as we marched through the dining room. We stopped in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups and dinner plates, all sitting slightly on dozens of folded paper napkins.
"First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess," I said.
Stevie looked at me, and then pulled out one of the napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table. Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath the tableware, each with his name printed on it.
I turned to his mother. “There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on that table, all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems. Happy Thanksgiving!”
While everybody else was busy shaking hands and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy clearing all the cups and dishes from the table.
1.Why did the author have doubts about hiring Stevie?
A．Stevie was not that reliable. B．Stevie was mentally disabled
C．Stevie was too short and fat. D．Stevie was bad-tempered
2.What made the author not fully satisfied with Stevie’s work?
A．That he made customers uncomfortable. B．That he couldn’t pay attention to his duties.
C．That he often spilled cups of coffee. D．That he usually cleaned the table too early.
3.By saying the underlined words in Paragaraph3, the author meant that the money she paid Stevie .
A．could help Stevie out of the trouble B．could send Stevie to a group home
C．couldn’t thoroughly solve Stevie’s problem D．could make a great difference to Stevie’s life
4.Why did the author ask Stevie to clean up the mess on the table?
A．Stevie could pick up the money that was given to him.
B．The table was so dirty that it needed cleaning.
C．It was Stevie’s duty to clean the table.
D．She wanted to congratulate Stevie on his coming back.
5.What made Stevie popular among the staff and customers in the restaurant?
A．His special appearance. B．His hard work and optimism.
C．His funny speeches and actions. D．His kind-hearted behaviour.
Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space industry!
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
1.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?
A. To express his doubts. B. To compare different ideas.
C. To introduce points for discussion. D. To describe the conditions on Earth.
2.What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?
A. Humans are nature-born to do so. B. Humans have the tendency to fight.
C. Humans may find new sources of food. D. Humans don’t like to stay in the same place.
3.The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.
A. survival chances B. potential resources
C. unexpected benefits D. physical possessions
4.What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
A. O ur genetic makeup. B. Resources on the earth..
C. The adaptive ability of humans. D. By-products in space exploration.
5.Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?
A. Space exploration has created many wonders.
B. Space exploration provides the best value for money.
C.Space exploration can benefit science and technology
D. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.
Today, there’s hardly an aspect of our life that isn’t being upended by the tons of information available on the hundreds of millions of sites crowding the Internet, not to mention its ability to keep us in constant touch with each other via electronic mail. “If the automobile and aerospace technology had exploded at the same pace as computer and information technology,” says Microsoft, “a new car would cost about $ 2 and go 600 miles on a small quantity of gas. And you could buy a Boeing 747 for the cost of a pizza.”
Probably the biggest payoff, however, is the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and serving for the needs of their customers. Nothing like it has been seen since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when power-driven machines began producing more in a day than men could turn out in nearly a year. “We view the growth of the Internet and e-commerce as a global trend,” says Merrill Lynch, “along the lines of printing press, the telephone, the computer, and electricity.”
You would be hard pressed to name something that isn’t available on the Internet. Consider: books, health care, movie tickets, construction materials, baby clothes, stocks, cattle feed, music, electronics, antiques, tools, real estate, toys, autographs of famous people, wine and airline tickets. And even after you’ve moved on to your final resting place, there’s no reason those you love can’t keep in touch. A company called FinalThoughts.com offers a place for you to store “afterlife e-mails” you can send to Heaven with the help of a “guardian angel”.
Kids today are so computer literate that it in fact ensures the United States will remain the unchallenged leader in cyberspace for the foreseeable(能预测的) future. Nearly all children in families with incomes of more than $75,000 a year have home computers, according to a study by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Youngsters from ages 2 to 17 at all income levels have computers, with 52% of those connected to the Internet. Most kids use computers to play games (some for 30 hours or more a week), and many teenage girls think nothing of rushing home from school to have e-mail chats with friends they have just left.
What’s clear is that, whether we like it or not, the Internet is an ever growing part of our lives and there is no turning back. “The Internet is just 20% invented,” says cyber pioneer Jake Winebaum. “The last 80% is happening now.”
1.What can we learn from the Microsoft’s remark?
A. Today’s cars and airplanes are extremely overpriced.
B. Information technology is developing at an amazing speed.
C. Information technology has reached the point where improvement is difficult.
D. There’s more competition in information technology industry than in car industry.
2.According to the author, the biggest benefit of the Internet is that___.
A. it saves companies huge amounts of money B. it speeds up profit making
C. it brings people incredible convenience D. it provides easy access to information
3. The author gives the example of FinalThoughts.com to make the point that____.
A. there are some genius ideas on the Internet
B. almost anything is available on the Internet
C. people can find good bargains on the Internet
D. some websites provide novel services to increase hits
4.What can we learn from the fourth paragraph?
A. There is a link between income and computer ownership.
B. Many American children don’t put computers to good use.
C. Studies show that boys are more computer literate than girls.
D. The U.S. will stay ahead in the information technology in years.
5.What is the message the author intends to convey?
A. The Internet is going to get firm hold of our lives some day.
B. The Internet is going to influence our lives even more greatly.
C. We should have a positive attitude towards the changes the Internet brings.
D. Children should be well prepared for the challenges in the information age.
Every evening, 15-year-old Rashida returns home from school, changes out of her uniform, and rushes to a neighboring farm to help her mother harvest vegetables. Her father is disabled, so the modest profit the two of them earn must cover food, clothing and other necessities for all seven children and their parents. Despite having precious little time to study, Rashida is one of the top students at her junior secondary school. But with so much responsibility on her small shoulders, she admits that it is sometimes hard for her to imagine a more promising future.
Last year, Rashida was invited to join 155 other girls at Camfed Ghana’s first Girls’ Career Camp, a program designed to inspire girls growing up in the country’s Northern Region to dream big, and to support them to pursue those dreams. “We organized this camp because we wanted to let girls know that even if they are struggling with poverty, their lives will not be defined by limitations,” says Dolores Dickson, Camfed Ghana’s Executive Director.
Over the course of five days, the camp led the junior and secondary school students through a range of experiences and career opportunities that were entirely new to them. Dr. Agnes Apusiga, a lecturer from the University of Development Studies, ran the workshop on goal-setting and career choices, describing the universities and training colleges in Ghana that could help them achieve their dreams. Participants then visited the University for Development Studies, where they toured the medical school and science labs. Another highlight was a workshop at the computer lab at Tamale Secondary School. Many of the girls had studied information technology from a book but had never before seen a computer.
“When the girls arrived at camp, they were not ambitious, because they didn’t have any idea what the world held for them,” says Eugenia Ayagiba, Project Officer with Camfed Ghana. “Many had scarcely traveled beyond their own villages.”
“I think the most important thing that happened at the camp is that we opened a window of hope for a group of girls coming from backgrounds of poverty,” says Eugenia. For Rashida, who has been laughed at in the past by her schoolmates because of her father’s disability, the experience was important. “She told one of the camp mentors(辅导员) that when she is at school, she often feels like a misfit, and she prefers to keep to herself,” says Eugenia. “But at the camp, it was different. She made friends with girls who have similar struggles. She took part in every single activity, every single game. On the last day, she said to her mentor, “The camp has challenged me to study hard. Now I see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
1.How many members are there in Rashida’s family?
A．Seven B．Eight C．Nine D．Ten
2.According to the passage, Camfed Ghana’s first Girls’ Career Camp is ．
A．a program to help poor girls to have ambition
B．a program to help poor girl students to get university education
C．a program to help poor girls to study hard
D．a program to help the poor families
3.Why did the camp lead the students to visit universities and training colleges?
A．To show they are better than their schools
B．To encourage them to get good education．
C．To show them what they are like
D．To get them to touch the advanced equipment there
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A．Rashida has become friends with her mentors
B．Rashida’s mentors has encouraged her a lot．
C．Rashida was sad because of her father’s disability．
D．Rashida has had her new dream since the camp
5.The best title of the passage is ___________．
A．Poor Girls in Ghana B．Girls’ Career Camp
C．Camfed Ghana D．Students in Ghana Dream Big
Coming home from school that dark winter day so long ago, I was filled with excitement of having the weekend off. But I was 41 into stillness by what I saw. Mother, seated at the far end of the sofa, was 42 with the second-hand green typewriter on the table. She told me that she couldn’t 43 fast and then she was out of work. My shock and embarrassment at finding Mother in tears was a perfect proof of how 44 I understood the pressure on her. Sitting beside her on the sofa, I began very slowly to understand. “I guess we all have to 45 something,” Mother said quietly. I could 46 her pain and the tension of 47 the strong feeling that were interrupted by my 48 . Suddenly, something inside me lit up. I reached out and put my arms around her. She broke then. She put her face 49 my shoulder and sobbed. I held her 50 and didn’t try to talk. I knew I was doing what I should, what I could and that was 51 . At that moment, feeling Mother’s 52 with feelings, I understood for the first time her being easy to 53 . She was still my mother, 54 she was something 55 : a person like me, capable of fear, 56 and failure. I could feel her pain as she must have felt mine on a thousand occasions when I sought 57 in her arms.
A week later Mother took a job selling dry goods at half the salary the radio station __58 .
“It’s a job I can do, though.” She said simply. But the evening practice on the green typewriter continued. I had a very 59 feeling now when I passed her door at night and heard her 60 away across the paper. I knew there was something more going on in there than a woman learning to type.
1. A. fooled B. tricked C. puzzled D. shocked
2.A. crying B. smiling C. thinking D. whispering
3. A. write B. type C. grasp D. glance
4.A. seldom B. adequately C. little D. much
5.A. fail B. win C. forgive D. gain
6.A. realize B. understand C. sense D. recognize
7. A. holding back B. putting away C. holding on D. coming out
8. A. attitude B. attempt C. arrival D. admission
9. A. by B. upon C. beside D. against
10. A. tightly B. attentively C. gently D. cheerfully
11. A. enough B. little C. all D. nothing
12.A. forehead B. face C. fingers D. back
13.A. content B. break C. conquer D. control
14.A. therefore B. although C. yet D. however
15. A. more B. excellent C. strange D. huge
16.A. wound B. pride C. success D. hurt
17.A. kindness B. memory C. comfort D. support
18.A. supplied B. offered C. paid D. contributed
19. A. different B. distinct C. pleasant D. sympathetic
20.A. crying B. striking C. tapping D. sewing
— He’s fifteen years younger than you!
— _________ ?
A. What may B. So what C. What if D. What about it
