Count Me Out
Call me old-fashioned. Call me old. Call me what you want, but refuse to become part of this new Internet world.
I do not possess a computer at home or at the office. Actually, I stopped going to an office 35 years ago, when all communications were done with a pen, a typewriter, or, if the matter was of world-shaking importance, over the telephone. Likewise, if you like something advertised in a newspaper or magazine, you visited the shop selling it at the given address, or you phoned, the number shown. Then you spoke to the fellow and asked for further details.
Tell me what you think of the following ad that appeared the other day in the newspaper. It was for a cure for cancer and this is what it said: “Awareness is the key. Visit spfulford. com at the awareness site.” There was no address or telephone number for the site. So what do unfortunate people without a computer do it they are seeking a cure for their illness?
There are, I am told, certain advantages in having access to the Internet. You can, for example, send love messages across the world or even get married to someone that you meet online. This bit doesn’t interest me; I have been happily married for 60 years. There are, of course, other activities for Internet users besides finding love. They can pay bills, order groceries, or discuss with their doctors.
And this is by no means all. More amazing things are yet to come in the near future. I read a newspaper report recently that quoted Stephen Hawking, an important British scientist. “The complexity of a computer as it exists today is probably less than the brain of an earthworm,” he said. “But, as technology advances, computers will become more complex, and a time may come when the Internet may develop ‘consciousness.’ In other words, the Internet will be able to think, have feelings, and may well be able to act on its own.”
If Professor Hawking is right, I may change my attitude about conjurers. As I grow older each day, I would like one of those that not only thinks for me but also accepts responsibilities for all my mistakes.
1.What’s the meaning of the title “Count Me Out”?
A．Get me out of the Internet world.
B．Computers are trying to take control of life.
C．Modern technology pushes old people away.
D．Do not expect me to be a supporter of the Internet.
2.According to Paragraph 2, the author thinks computers are .
A．unnecessary B．convenient C．expensive D．advanced
3.What might the author like about the future computer?
A．Taking blames. B．Curing illnesses.
C．Delivering messages. D．Responding to emotions.
On Christmas morning, I went to the Cockhedge Mall. People there were all busy buying their last minute requirements. I needed to buy a birthday card for my son-in-law whose birthday is the 29th of December. Picking up a few more things as well as my cared I went to join the line for the express checkout which was for people who only had a few items in a basket and not a trolley load. This line was next to the Customer Service desk.
Seemingly waiting quite a long time, I was jogged out of my thoughts by a voice behind me making comments on the things I bought.
It was so funny when I realized that she was describing the contents of my basket. The owner of the voice was a very pretty young lady. I said to her that I was going to buy a box of Christmas cookies but the only ones left were not to my liking. The lady told me that just opposite Cockhedge in Superdrug they had lots of cookies. I said, “I’m not going to bother now. I had enough of shops and I’m going home.”
The assistant from the Customer Service came across at this time saying “If there is anyone in the line with a few items in their basket, none of which needed to be weighed, I will check out their groceries at the desk.” Because I had the sprouts which needed to be weighted, the young lady accepted the offer and walked away waving goodbye.
Eventually my turn came at the checkout. I was walking away when I met my new friend once again who handed me a beautiful box of Christmas cookies. With a big hug she said “Hope you have a lovely Christmas.” She had been into Superdrug to buy me the cookies while I was still queuing in Cockhedge.
What a generosity to a stranger! I was so surprised you could have knocked me down with a feather. My Good Samaritan would never know what a joyful Christmas day I had with my family. Telling them this story, as we ate around the table, kept everyone spellbound.
1.The underlined word “spellbound” in the last paragraph probably means .
A．interested B．disappointed C．astonished D．frightened
2.Which of the following could be the best title of the story?
A．A Piece of Lucky Feather B．A Surprise Christmas Gift
C．The Boring Shopping Experience D．The Unforgettable Big Hug
3.How does the writer feel about the pretty young lady?
A．Worried. B．Satisfied. C．Grateful D．Proud.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A．Nobody is sure what will happen the next moment.
B．A simple action can bring other people happiness.
C．Being patient will decrease the waiting time.
D．Life without hope and faith is a full thing.
完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Tried and exhausted, I came back home from work. I found the front door was 36 open and I felt a little scared. Did I carelessly forget to lock it after I left? I looked around 37 to see what could be 38 . Why would someone come into my home only to 39 with nothing? After searching every inch, I realized that everything was 40 I had left it. No 41 cushions, broken lamps, or 42 emptied out on the carpet. Feeling much 43 . I looked out my oversized window of my dinning room at Ms. Sullivan’s house. Jimmy, the little boy next door was visiting her. Jimmy cared a lot about Ms. Sullivan and was very concerned with her health after she became ill. She used to 44 Jimmy when he was just a baby.
Forgetting about the 45 with my front door, I decided to walk over to Ms. Sullivan’s house to see how she was 46 . With a warm hello, she invited me into her home. I noticed twelve beautiful roses delicately presented on the table next to her bed. They looked exactly like the 47 on my dinning room table in front of my oversized window. With a pleasant smile, she told me Jimmy brought them to her as a “get-well gift”. Suddenly Jimmy 48 out of his seat in an instant and said that he had to go home for a while to do some homework but he promised to be back to 49 up on Ms. Sullivan.
Talking for a while, Ms. Sullivan began to get very tired so I gave her my phone number in case she 50 needed help, and left her home. I thought about how 51 it was for little Jimmy to be so concerned for Ms. Sullivan. I got home, laughing at how 52 I was that morning about what had happened over 53 . I walked passed the dinning room and noticed my roses 54 in the vase were missing. Without a second 55 , I glanced out the window at Ms. Sullivan’s house and with a smile on my face I turned off the light in the room and went to sleep.
The next morning my door bell rang. I opened the door Jimmy was there…
1.A．easily B．slowly C．slightly D．silently
2.A．tensely B．patiently C．eagerly D．calmly
3.A．burning B．losing C．lacking D．missing
4.A．get B．deal C．steal D．leave
5.A．what B．where C．that D．how
6.A．worn B．changed C．unwashed D．overturned
7.A．lockers B．kettles C．drawers D．coats
8.A．eased B．angry C．surprised D．curious
9.A．watch B．guard C．follow D．visit
10.A．accident B．experience C．incident D．condition
11.A．working B．doing C．sleeping D．acting
12.A．lamps B．vases C．roses D．gifts
13.A．stood B．ran C．stepped D．jumped
14.A．look B．check C．pick D．call
15.A．ever B．still C．only D．just
16.A．smart B．sensitive C．sweet D．thankful
17.A．strange B．nervous C．careless D．wrong
18.A．everything B．something C．anything D．nothing
19.A．growing B．sitting C．lying D．arranging
20.A．thought B．intention C．expectation D．delay
—I don’t care for baseball.
—How can you say you don’t like something you’ve never even tried it!
A．till B．after C．unless D．when
Lifting off at sunrise, the hot air balloon goes wherever the wind blow.
A．may B．must C．need D．should
—Where on earth have they gone?
—I have no idea, but I wish I .
A．know B．knew C．would know D．would have known
