Not many people know that U.S. President Calvin Coolidge did not always live in the White House. Sometimes he lived in the nearby Willard Hotel.
Once, in the middle of a night, the President awoke to see a thief searching his clothes. Coolidge calmy spoke up from the darkness, “I wish you wouldn’t take that watch.”
“Why?” asked the shocked man.
Coolidged answered, “Take it near the window and read what is engraved on the back of it.”
The man read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidged, Speaker of the House, by the Massachusetts General Court.” He was very surprised!
“Are you President Coolidge?” he asked. He had never thought he would find the president sleeping in a hotel!
“Yes, I am” Coolidge said. Then he asked, “Why are you doing this,Son?”
The young man explained that he and a friend traveled to Washington during their college vacation. They spent all of their money and had no money to pay the hotel bill and the train tickets back to school.
Coolidge added up those fees. It came to $32. That may not sound like much now, but it was a big sum then. “I’ll give you the $32 as a loan,” the President said, “And I expect you to pay me back.”
The youth thanked him. Coolidge left him with this warning: “Son, you are a nice boy, you are better than you are acting. You are starting down the wrong road. Just remember who you are.”
It wasn’t until after the death of Mr.Coolidge that this story was allowed to come out. It was first published in the Los Angeles Times. And the most interesting of all is that the President’s notes show that the young man was indeed better than he was acting. He repaid the $32 loan in full.
1..The president stopped the youth from stealing the watch because
A. It was his favorite watch.
B. He wanted to give some money to the youth
C. He wanted to help the young man from getting into trouble
D. He used it for work and daily life
2. It can be inferred from the passage that
A. the youth’s family was in financial difficulty
B. hotel fees were rather expensive at that time
C. the youth never connected with the president again
D. the youth learned a lesson from his experience with the president
3. How did people first get to know the story of the president with the youth?
A. From the president himself
B. From a newspaper
C. From the youth’s notes
D. From the youth himself
4. We can learn from the passage that
A. possessions can be given up when necessary
B. generosity should be encouraged in some cases
C. people can benefit from their unforgettable experiences
D. an act of kindness may change a person’s life
第二节 完形填空 （共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
I believe that small acts of kindness have the biggest influence on our lives. While on a vacation in Mexico with my family, I learned this valuable 36 . Our room was on the 8th floor of our hotel, so we would 37 the elevator every day. 38 other people use it ,too.
One afternoon I rode it alone. The bellboy greeted me and 39 the button for my floor.I smiled and took the elevator in 40 . The elevator stopped at the next floor, and an elderly maid 41 in with a large bundle of clean towels. I could tell she was 42 to carry the large load and was probably 43 from having worked all morning. I felt it was not my place to interfere（干涉）, so I 44 to do something to help. The bellboy, also sensing her 45 , took the heavy bundle from her arms.
The maid looked at the boy with 46 and then smiled gratefully to his 47 . They then began to speak in Spanish to each other. 48 I couldn’t understand what they were saying , I could tell by their 49 that the boy’s act of kindness had made her day. He could have ridden in silence like me. It wasn’t his 50 to help her ,but he did 51
After I came out of the elevator ,guilt overcame me as I 52 what I should have done in that situation. Why didn’t I take the towels? The boy wasn’t 53 of how his actions would affect all the people 54 his thoughtful deed. He probably doesn’t even 55 helping the woman in the elevator. To me , his small act of kindness made my day as well.
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1. A. lesson |
B. view |
C.attitude |
D. news |
|
2. A.hold |
B.drive |
C. use |
D. try |
|
3.A. More or less |
B.One by one |
C. Sooner or later |
D.Now and then |
|
4.A.counted |
B.pushed |
C.announced |
D.checked |
|
5.A.silence |
B.peace |
C.darkness |
D.coldness |
|
6.A.caught |
B.called |
C.stepped |
D.turned |
|
7.A.preparing |
B.struggling |
C.entertaining |
D.pretending |
|
8.A.absent |
B.sick |
C.separate |
D.tired |
|
9.A.hesitated |
B.doubted |
C.promised |
D.agreed |
|
10.A.ability |
B.age |
C.smile |
D.burden |
|
11.A.sadness |
B.surpise |
C.loniness |
D.anger |
|
12.A.loyalty |
B.business |
C.help |
D.duty |
|
13.A.since |
B.as |
C.while |
D.if |
|
14.A.description |
B.introduction |
C.explanation |
D.expression |
|
15.A.problem |
B.influence |
C.job |
D.purpose |
|
16.A.anywhere |
B.anyway |
C.somewhere |
D.someway |
|
17.A.thought of |
B.brought about |
C.carried on |
D.insisted on |
|
18.A.afraid |
B.aware |
C.fond |
D.free |
|
19.A.repeating |
B.improving |
C.recognising |
D.witnessing |
|
20.A.suggest |
B.remember |
C.imagine |
D.enjoy |
----Could I ask you a private question?
----Sure,
A. pardon me B. go ahead C. good idea D. forget it
The boy stood his head down, listening to his mother scolding him for breaking the windows.
A. for B. of C. with D. around
----Can I park my car here?
----Sure not, we don’t allow here.
A. to parking B. park C. to park D. parking
I like this dress better than that one, but it costs almost four times
A. as much B. as many C. so much D. so many
