It was the summer of 1965. Deluca, then 17, visited Peter Buck, a family friend. Buck asked Deluca about his plan for the future. “I’m going to college, but I need a way to pay for it,” Deluca recalls saying. “Buck said, ‘you should open a sandwich shop.’ ”
That afternoon, they agreed to be partners. And they set a goal: to open 32 stores in ten years. After doing some research, Buck wrote a check for $ 1,000. Deluca rented a storefront (店面) in Connecticut, and when they couldn’t cover their start-up costs, Buck kicked in another $1,000.
But business didn’t go smoothly as they expected. Deluca says, “After six months, we were doing poorly, but we didn’t know how badly, because we didn’t have any financial controls.” All he and Buck knew was that their sales were lower than their costs.
Deluca was managing the store and to the University of Bridgeport at the same time. Buck was working at his day job as a nuclear physicist in New York. They’d meet Monday evenings and brainstorm ideas for keeping the business running. “We convinced ourselves to open a second store. We figured we could tell the public, ‘We are so successful, we are opening a second store.’” And they did — in the spring of 1966. Still, it was a lot of learning by trial and error.
But the partners’ learn-as-you-go approach turned out to be their greatest strength. Every Friday, Deluca would drive around and hand-deliver the checks to pay their supplies. “It probably took me two and a half hours and it wasn’t necessary but as a result, the suppliers got to know me very well, and the personal relationships established really helped out,” Deluca says.
And having a goal was also important. “There are so many problems that can get you down. You just have to keep working toward your goal,” Deluca adds.
Deluca ended up founding Subways Sandwich, the multimillion-dollar restaurant chain.
1.Deluca opened the first sandwich shop in order to ________.
A. support his family B. pay for his college education
C. help his partner expand business D. do some research
2.Which of the following is true of Buck?
A. He put money into the sandwich business.
B. He was a professor of business administration.
C. He was studying at the University of Bridgeport.
D. He rented a storefront for Deluca.
3.What can we learn about their first shop?
A. It stood at an unfavorable place.
B. It lowered the prices to poor management.
C. It made no profits due to poor management.
D. It lacked control over the quality of sandwich.
4.They decided to open a second store because they _________.
A. had enough money to do it
B. had succeeded in their business
C. wished to meet the increasing demand of customers
D. wanted to make believe(假装)that they were successful
5.What contributes most to their success according to the author?
A. Learning by trial and error. B. Making friends with supplies.
C. Finding a good partner. D. Opening chain stores.
I work as a volunteer(志愿者)for an organization that helps the poor in Haiti. Recently I took my son Barrett there for a week, hoping to 36 him.
Before setting out, I told Barrett this trip would be tiring and 37. For the first two days, he said almost nothing. I worried the trip was too 38 for a 17-year-old. Then, on Day three, as we were 39 over high rocky mountains, he turned to me and grinned(咧嘴笑), “Pretty hard. ”
After that there was no turning back. A five-year-old girl, wearing a dress several sizes 40 large and broken shoes, followed Barrett around, mesmerized (着迷). He couldn’t stop 41 . Later he said 42. “I wish I could speak French.” I was 43 -this from a boy who hated and 44 French classes throughout school.
Usually silent, he 45 Gaby, our host, and kept asking questions about the country and its people. He blossomed(活泼起来).
46 , the moment that really took 47 breath away occurred in a village deep in the mountains. I was 48 a woman villager for an article. 135 centimeters tall, she was small in figure but strong in 49 . Through determination, she had learned to read and write, and 50 to become part of the leadership of the 51 .
Learning her story, Barrett was as 52 as I by this tiny woman’s achievements. His eyes were wet and there was a 53 of love and respect on his face. He had finally understood the importance of my work.
When leaving for home, Barrett even offered to stay 54 as a volunteer. My insides suddenly felt struck. This 55 achieved all I’d expected. Soon he will celebrate his 18th birthday. He’ll be a man.
1.A. comfort B. please C. attract D. educate
2.A. rough B. dangerous C. troublesome D. violent
3.A. little B. much C. fast D. slow
4.A. moving B. running C. climbing D. looking
5.A. too B. very C. even D. so
6.A. joking B. crying C. shouting D. smiling
7.A. patiently B. regretfully C. lightly D. cheerfully
8.A. ashamed B. disappointed C. determined D. surprised
9.A. took up B. went in for C. fought against D. called off
10.A. befriended B. disregarded C. avoided D. recognized
11.A. Thus B. Even C. Meanwhile D. However
12.A. my B. his C. our D. her
13.A. asking B. interviewing C. arranging D. describing
14.A. brain B. wish C. will D. health
15.A. appeared B. struggled C. hesitated D. failed
16.A. village B. city C. organization D. state
17.A. pleased B. bored C. puzzled D. touched
18.A. combination B. composition C. connection D. satisfaction
19.A. in B. behind C. out D. away
20.A. interview B. flight C. article D. trip
When the news came ___ the war broke out , he decided to serve in the army.
A.since B. which C. that D. because
The prize will go to the witer ___story shows the most imagination.
A. that B. which C.whose D.what
Every boy and every girl ___ to attend the English evening party to be held on Saturday.
A.wish B.enjoys C. wishes D. have wished[
--Pity you missed the lecture on nuclear pollution.
-- I ___ it, but I was busy preparing for a job interview.
A. attended B. had attended C. would attend D. would have attended