Bernice Gallego sat down one day this summer, as she does pretty much every day,and began listing items on eBay. She dug into a box and pulled out a baseball card. She stopped for a moment and admired the picture. “Red Stocking B. B. Club of Cincinnatti,” the card read, under the reddish brown color photo of ten men with their socks pulled up to their knees.
As a collector and seller, it’s her job to spot old items that might have value today. It’s what Bernice,72, and her husband, Al Gallego, 80, have been doing since 1974 at their California antique store.
This card, she figured, was worth selling on eBay. She took a picture, wrote a description and put it up for auction.She put a $10 price tag on it, deciding against $15 because it would have cost her an extra 20 cents. Later that night she got a few odd inquiries---someone wanting to know whether the card was real, someone wanting her to end the caution and sell him the card immediately.
The card is actually 139 years old. Sports card collectors call the find “extremely rare” and estimate the card could fetch five, or perhaps, six figures at caution.
Just like that, Bernice is the least likely character ever for a rare-baseball card story. “I didn’t even know baseball existed that far back,” Gallego says, “I don’t think that I’ve ever been to a baseball game.” The theory is that the card came out of a storage space they bought a few years back. It is not uncommon in their line of work to buy the entire contents of storage units for around $200.
When she met with card trader Rick Mirigian, she found out what the card was-----an 1869 advertisement with a picture of the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnatti Red Stocking.
“When I came to meet her and she took it out of a sandwich bag and she was smoking a cigarette, I almost fainted,” Mirigian says. “ They’ve uncovered a piece of history that few people will ever be able to imagine. That card is history. It’s like unearthing a Mona Lisa or a Picasso.”
67. 1.What can we conclude from paragraph 3?
A.Bernice had to pay some fees for her card on eBay.
B.Bernice wanted to end the caution that night.
C.Bernice decided to sell the card for $15.
D.eBay charged her 20 cents for the card.
68. 2.The underlined word “fetch” in paragraph 4 most probably means “_______”.
A. go and bring B. add up to C. go down to D. be sold for
69. 3.From the passage we may learn that _______.
A. Bernice is a baseball fan
B. Bernice is the last person to purchase the rare-baseball card
C. Bernice unexpectedly became the owner of the rare-baseball card
D. Bernice didn’t realize the value of the card until she put it up for auction
70. 4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.A Surprisingly Valuable Discovery
B.The History of the Baseball Card
C.Bernice Gallego---A lucky collector
D. Sports Card Collectors
Like most big projects, learning to manage your mother well is what you should do. Here are what I believe the best steps towards a better relationship with her. They are not necessarily surprising or revolutionary, but they have worked for many people. Try them.
Remember your mother’s age. As children, we often do not think of our mother as having an age. Even when we become conscious of her as an individual, age does not change our view; she is still our mother. Knowing our mother’s age, not just in numbers of years but in terms of her psychological and physical state, often helps us to understand her better.
Listen to your mother. I have found that sometimes the things my mother told me long ago are remarkably useful. If your mother knows that you respect her point of view, even if you do not share it, it will help her feel close to you.
Remember that your mother has a past. A key step in managing our relationship with our mother is to find out about her early life.In learning about our mother’s past, we know that it can encourage us to think about her whole life.
Ask your mother about your childhood history. My grandparents died when I was young. If you are fortunate enough to have living family, think of your life as a jigsaw puzzle and ask as many questions as you can to put the picture together. Understanding your roots and your childhood can help you know more clearly who you are, as part of a family which you share with your mother.
Remember that managing your mother is really about managing yourself. Taking any measure to managing our mother is the issue of how we manage ourselves. No matter how difficult we find her, it is important to remember that it is not her behavior itself that is causing us discomfort, but the way we feel about her behavior. We should follow the way of her life. At the heart of managing your mother is being able to accept your flawed self. Only then are you able to accept your mother-----with all her failings.
64. 1.What does the underlined phrase “a jigsaw puzzle” mean?
A.拼图玩具 B.浏览迷宫 C.填充字谜 D.游戏人生
65. 2.Which of the following is implied but not stated in the passage?
A.You will have a better relationship with your mother if you respect her opinion.
B.Knowing your mother’s age is a useful piece of advice.
C.The key measure of managing our mother is how we manage ourselves.
D.It is unreasonable to expect our mother to change totally from the way she was brought up.
66. 3.The main purpose of writing the text is _______.
A.to give information about how you think of your mother
B.to improve the relationship with your mother
C.to keep a sense of humor about your mother all day long
D.to accept your mother-----with all her failings
Toucans(巨嘴鸟), a kind of tropical birds known for its colorful beak, are very smart. In Mexico, my dad became friends with a toucan that was in a “walk in and see the birds” cage. The toucan was so smart that it knew how to get out. It just needed some human to help it. It almost flew out while we were leaving!
I also noticed that all toucans have different beaks! They also have very long unique beaks with an extremely long tongue. It struts(大摇大摆地走) around with its chest sticking out and beak pointed forward. The toucan is a beautiful bird! The beak has a red tip (different shades on every one), but sometimes there is a little turquoise on the bottom half. Then, right where the beak separates there is a splotch of yellow. And the rest of the beak is green. The toucan takes very much pride of itself.
The toucan eats fruit and seeds. The ramphastidae(the toucan family) is known for its long beak, and 37 species. Toucans also feed on insects, small lizards, bird nestlings and eggs. They nest in hollow trees where they incubate and care for their young.They are found in the woody areas.
Of the various toucan facts, here is an odd one. Citizens of Central and South America associate the toucans with evil spirits. They think the birds can be the personification of evils. Where couvades(父代母育) is practiced, the father of a new child must not eat toucan flesh as it is believed to bewitch the new-born child. Yet the toucan can also be a tribal totem(图腾). So the medicine men use it as a symbol to fly to the spirit world.
60. 1.Which of the following words is NOT suitable to describe toucans?
A. Intelligent B. Confident C. Dangerous D. Colorful
61. 2.The second paragraph mainly talks about _______.
A. where toucans strut around B. how toucans get food
C. what toucans look like D. when toucans lay eggs
62. 3.What does the underlined word“incubate”probably mean in paragraph 3?
A.Hatch eggs B.Take cover C.Gather strength D.Keep warm
63. 4.We can learn from the last paragraph that _______.
A. all citizens of Central and South America are afraid of toucans
B. the toucans can also be used as medicine to cure diseases
C. a new child must not eat toucan flesh because it is poisonous
D. some people believe toucans can bring them misfortune
ARIZONA
Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly
A one-night stay at the historic lodge starts at $59 for a single room and the lodge offers half-day tours of Canyon de Chelly ($41 for adults and $32 for children aged 12 and under)
Time: May. 31, 2009 ～ Nov. 1, 2009
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 17.1 percent
Contact: 800/679-2473, tbirdlodge.com
CALIFORNIA
Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe
A three-night stay in a lakeside cabin(小木屋) for two people, an Emerald Bay sightseeing for two, free breakfast and lunch. Rates are $299 per couple --- saving of up to $400.
Details: Hotel taxes are included
Time: Through Dec.15, 2009
Contact: 800/234-8946, zephyrcove.com
NEVADA
Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas
A one-night stay at the Mediterranean-stlye MontelLago Village, 17 miles from Las Vegas. Rates start at $65 per person including ice-skating fees and skate rentals.
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 12 percent
Time: Nov. 17, 2009 ～ Jan. 15, 2010
Contact: 866/399-2753, monteLagovillage.com
YELLOWSTONE
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
A two-night stay, breakfast daily, full-day ski rental, unlimited ice-skating and skates and a book of Yellowstone photos. Rates start at $119 per person. A one-night stay at the hotel starts at $65.
Time: Jan.1, 2010 ～ May.2, 2010
Details: Hotel taxes are an additional 8 percent
Contact: 866/439-2473, travelyellowstone.com
56. 1.If a couple and their 14-year-old son want to have a half-day tour of Canyon de Chelly on Oct.13, 2009, they should pay _______.
A. $114 B. $123 C. $177 D. $189
57. 2.If you are interested in ice-skating, you may find more information in _______.
A. tbirdlodge.com and zephyrcove. com
B. monteLagovillage.com and tbirdlodge.com
C. zephyrcove.com and travelyellowstone.com
D. travelyellowstone.com and monteLagovillage.com
58. 3.If you have a holiday in December, and intend to stay in a European-stlye hotel, you may go to _______.
A. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
B. Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe
C. Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas
D. Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly
59. 4.You needn’t pay extra fees as hotel taxes if you stay in _______.
A. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
B. Zephyr Cove Resort at Lake Tahoe
C. Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas
D. Thunderbird Lodge in Canyon de Chelly
It has been difficult to sit on the bench the majority of my high school basketball career,to watch my team from the sideline and 36 why I am not good enough to be on the floor. 37 endless hours of work and devotion, pushing myself through drill after drill, the 38 thing I want is to be a cheerleader. The feeling of being 39 is sometimes too much and drives me to 40 on the spot. I often feel as though my efforts are wasted and my time is eaten away, devoted to 41 .
It is heartbreaking to be a spectator(旁观者) for the game I love,knowing that no one has enough 42 to give me the chance to 43 on the floor. Tears well up, but I hold them back. I shouldn’t be so 44 over something so silly.
Away from the game, it’s easier to put my thoughts together, 45 letting my emotions drive my reasoning. I consider 46 I am where I am. I have played football my whole life. I have a passion for the 47 and always have. There is nothing like the excitement of 48 : the swish of the net, the sweat rolling off my cheeks, even the bruises(青肿) are battle wounds worn 49 after every game.
Even if I don’t play much, I participate in every 50 . I am part of a team of girls who 51 together like a family. I am there for them, 52 they are for me.
Should I move on? Or should I stay with my team and pursue my passion just a little longer?
The decision isn’t difficult when I consider the 53 that being a part of a team brings me --- and not just any team, 54 my team. I love basketball and my teammates. When I think about that, my view from the bench really isn’t so bad 55 .
1.A.consider B.wonder C.think D.hesitate
2.A.Since B.During C.After D.Before
3.A.other B.next C.first D.last
4.A.worthless B.hopeless C.helpless D.careless
5.A.fight B.quit C.transform D.retire
6.A.something B.nothing C.anything D.everything
7.A.sympathy B.encouragement C.permission D.faith
8.A.respond B.perform C.promote D.practice
9.A.scared B.nervous C.upset D.amazed
10.A.less than B.more than C.other than D.rather than
11.A.why B.how C.whether D.what
12.A.bench B.sport C.drill D.battle
13.A.waiting B.watching C.leaning D.playing
14.A.proudly B.bravely C.unfortunately D.painfully
15.A.decision B.plan C.game D.project
16.A.compete B.stick C.live D.represent
17.A.because B.if C.as D.though
18.A.joy B.patience C.challenge D.position
19.A.so B.as C.but D.like
20.A.above all B.after all C.and all D.all in all
.------ You seem unhappy today, Jane. ______
------ I lost my new bike yesterday.
A.How’s that? B.What’s on?
C.What a pity! D.Did you sleep well last night?
