In many cultures white is often associated with something positive. A white-collar job, for instance, is the kind of job many people look for, working with your brain and not your hands.
White has a clean and pure image. That is why
doctors, dentists, and 
nurses usually wear
white uniforms. Babies are dressed in white at baptisms（洗礼）and brides wear white wedding gowns at weddings.
White in these cases is the symbol of innocence or purity.
Sometimes white is used in expressions that are not good. “Whitewash” is one such expression. At first, “whitewash” meant to paint over something with white paint to make it look better. However, it means something different today: to hide or to cover up mistakes or failures.
A “white elephant” is another example of white used in a negative way. In ancient Thailand, a white elephant was regarded as a sacred animal, but it was very expensive to keep. The kings of those days presented a white elephant to the people they wanted to ruin. Once they received this holy, royal animal as a gift, they were not allowed to sell or kill it. Today, a “white elephant” means something that is big, useless, and unwanted. In America, when people want to get rid of their furniture or clothes, they often have a “white elephant sale”.
1.The text is mainly about________.
A. the meanings of white in English culture
B. the history of some English idioms
C. some interesting customs in English culture
D. some useful English words and expressions
2.Which expression has an historical background ?
A. White-wash. B. White-collar.
C. White elephant. D. White elephant sale.
3.In which statement does “white” have a negative meaning?
A. A boy is dressed in white at baptisms.
B. A bride wears a white wedding gown.
C. A man whitewashes his crime.
D. A girl finds a white collar job.
4.From the text we can learn that _______.
A. a white-elephant sale is useful to the poor
B. the white color is important in our daily life
C. a white-collar job used to be easy to get
D. expressions with white have different meanings
5.The author develops the text mainly by ______.
A. analyzing its cause and effect
B. providing typical examples
C. comparing different ideas
D. following the time order
Every American family has its own traditions on Thanksgiving Day, and mine is no different. Once the national holiday arrives, my mom rises early to make the meal. She puts a turkey in the oven, chops carrots and bakes pies. I’m sorry to say that the men in the family – my dad, my younger brother and myself – rarely pitch in to help. Our job is to wash the mountain of dirty dishes after the meal is over.
Around 2 pm every Thanksgiving Day, family members seat themselves around the kitchen table. Plates of turkey, vegetables, salad, rolls and pies cover it. At this point, we can hardly keep ourselves from drooling (流口水) all over our fancy clothes, but it’s not yet time to eat.
First, we must bow our heads, close our eyes and say a prayer of thanks aloud to God for giving us everything we have. Under normal circumstances, I would have no problem making a list of things I am thankful for. I grew up in a loving family. My parents, who aren’t wealthy, took out loans to help me pay for university.
But, the funny thing is, every time I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner and try to say a prayer of thanks, my mind usually goes blank. I think it has something to do with my growling (咕咕叫) stomach and all of that food sitting right there under my nose.
Eventually, though, we all finish our short prayers and dig in. To be sure, the day includes other highlights – visiting with family and watching football. But usually around 6 pm we are all ourselves stuffed like turkeys and thankful to have a nice warm bed to sleep in.
1.The purpose of the text is to ________.
A. tell what the family do for Thanksgiving Day
B. tell how the family spends Thanksgiving Day
C. introduce foods served on Thanksgiving Day
D. introduce the American Thanksgiving Day
2.On Thanksgiving Day the author’s family do the following except ________.
A. watching a movie B. making visits
C. having a big meal D. watching football
3.Why does the author’s mind usually “go blank” when saying a prayer of thanks?
A. He is too thankful to say a word.
B. His mind is on the food before him.
C. He feels too excited to speak.
D. He is shy to speak in public.
4.The underlined phrase “dig in” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to “________”.
A. chat with others B. make a hole
C. mix things up D. start eating
5.What can we conclude from the text?
A. On Thanksgiving Day, men do nothing but eat.
B. The author is a middle school student.
C. The author’s family is not rich, but it’s a loving one.
D. Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday of December.
When I was young, I belonged to a club that did community service work. There was one specific 36 that was unusual for me. I spent three or four hours handing out warm dinner to the homeless 37 in the streets. After that I went to a homeless shelter not far from the Bay Bridge.
I was in high school and at the time my sister was too young to 38 . She wanted to help, 39 she made many chocolate chip cookies for me to 40 and hand out to people. When getting to the shelter, I passed out the 41 . I began making sandwiches and 42 them with the crowd. I had the containers with my sister’s 43 in them and began to 44 around, offering them to anyone near me.
I approached an 45 gentleman and said, “ Sir, would you like a cookie?” He stopped and turned around, looked at me and said, “What did you say? Did you call me sir?” I told him I had, and his eyes 46 a little bit and said, “ No one has 47 called me sir.’ So he was completely moved.
It 48 me.
I explained I had been raised that 49 color and social status, everyone deserved respect. It 50 me to think that just because he was homeless, no one 51 him the honor. It broke my heart. I just didn’t understand 52 no one ever called him sir. I had never thought that anyone was below me because I wasn’t raised that way. Every 53 person deserves to be treated with respect. Years later, I still carry that memory and the 54 it taught me. Sometimes, what we take for granted can 55 make a difference in someone’s life.
1.A. case B. chance C. event D. accident
2.A. out B. far C. away D. off
3.A. participate B. decide C. choose D. go
4.A. however B. but C. yet D. so
5.A. enjoy B. eat C. collect D. take
6.A. papers B. meals C. books D. gifts
7.A. shared B. provided C. helped D. returned
8.A. dishes B. fruits C. cookies D. sandwiches
9.A. walk B. turn C. run D. show
10.A. well-dressed B. innocent C. old D. modest
11.A. watered B. cried C. opened D. closed
12.A. never B. ever C. still D. yet
13.A. encouraged B. attracted C. struck D. defeated
14.A. in spite of B. regardless of C. in case of D. because of
15.A. persuaded B. saddened C. frightened D. moved
16.A. handed B. offered C. reminded D. promised
17.A. what B. how C. whether D. why
18.A. single B. usual C. ordinary D. normal
19.A. lesson B. class C. truth D. reality
20.A. possibly B. nearly C. really D. usually
Three of our players were ill, and, ________, our main scorer had broken his ankle.
A. to be honest B. to tell the truth
C. as a result D. what’s worse
—I’ve never found a better job.
—________.
A. Good luck B. Too bad C. Congratulations D. Don’t worry
Ladies and gentleman, please fasten your seat belts! The plane ________.
A. takes off B. is taking off C. has taken off D. took off
