Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October as a day to make someone happy. It is an occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, the aged, and children who have lost their parents, but also friends, workmates, relatives and neighbors whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed.
Over 60 years ago, when a Cleveland man noticed that some people, such as children who lost their parents and patients who lay in bed, too often felt forgotten and neglected, he developed in his mind the idea of showing them that they were remembered. He did this by giving them small gifts. With the help of his friends and neighbors, he gave those people small gifts on a Saturday in October. During the years that followed, other Clevelanders began to take part in the celebration, which came to be called “Sweetest Day”. Over time, the Sweetest Day idea of spreading cheer to the poor, the sick and children who had lost their parents was broadened to include everyone, and became an occasion for remembering others with a kind act or a small gift. Soon the idea spread to other cities all over the USA.
Sweetest Day is not based on any single group’s religious beliefs or on a family relationship. It is a reminder that a thoughtful word or deed enriches life and gives it meaning.
Because for many people remembering takes the form of gift giving, Sweetest Day offers us the opportunity to show others that we care, in a positive way.
1.What is Cleveland?
A. An island. B. A country.
C. A city in America. D. A village in England.
2.What do most people usually do to show their care to others according to the passage?
A. They give gifts. B. They give money.
C. They send regards. D. They offer help.
3.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A. Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in October.
B. Sweetest Day is just an occasion to care about disabled people.
C. Sweetest Day is an occasion for lovers to express love.
D. Sweetest Day is a day to make others happy.
4.The underlined word “neglected” in the second paragraph means “______”.
A. remembered B. hated
C. disappointed D. paid little or no attention to
5.Which of the following has little relationship to Sweetest Day?
A. Visiting sick people of the hospital.
B. Visiting children who have lost their parents.
C. Giving flowers to sweethearts.
D. Giving friends small gifts.
There is a wonderful story about a young girl who had no family and no one to love her.
One day, feeling very sad and lonely, she was walking through a grassland when she noticed a small butterfly caught in a thorn (荆棘) bush. The young girl carefully released the Butterfly. Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
“For your wonderful kindness,” the good fairy said to the girl, “I will give you any wish you would like.” The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, “I want to be happy.”
The fairy leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. Then the fairy disappeared.
As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she. Everyone asked her secret of happiness .She would only smile and answer, “The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl.”
When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbors all gathered around her, that her unbelievable secret of happiness would die with her. “Tell us, please,” they begged, “Tell us what the good fairy said.” The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, “She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, had need of me.”
1. ______ the girl felt sad and lonely.
A. There were many friends but
B. There was nobody to love her so
C. There was nothing to do
D. Seeing the butterfly was caught
2. Noticing the butterfly was caught by the thorn, the orphan girl ______.
A. helped the butterfly escaped from the thorn
B. felt sorrow, but she didn’t go up to help it
C. fell down on it too
D. failed to help it release from the thorn
3. The butterfly ______ after was saved by the little girl.
A. flied away B. still died
C. changed into a fairy D. was more beautiful than before
4.The only thing that the little girl wanted was________.
A. to be rich B. to have her own parents
C. to have a lot of friends D. happiness
5. The neighbors all gathered around the old happy woman when she was dying, because ______.
A. they loved this woman deeply and they didn‘t wanted her to die
B. the woman had lots of money to be shared as soon as she died
C. they wanted to know the secret of her lifetime happiness
D. they wanted to pray for her after her death
After that we often read, played and talked together. My friends are always 38 to help me. It made me 39 I am handicapped(残疾的).
Once they asked me, "What is the most beautiful thing in our school ?" Without hesitation I said, "It is the 40 . "
1.A. with B. without C. under D. on
2.A. walk B. run C. sit D. stand
3. A. school B. wheelchair C. home D. hospital
4.A. he B. she C. everyone D. nobody
5. A. thought B. interest C. anger D. surprise
6.A. red B. brown C. white D. black
7.A. entering B. hiding C. coming D. turning
8.A. feeling B. kindness C. sorrow D. pain
9.A. made B. prevented C. kept D. let
10.A. walk B. study C. practice D. speak
11.A. laughed B. smiled C. stared D. looked
12.A. quickly B. slowly C. happily D. shyly
13.A. brave B. sad C. hurt D. excited
14.A. honest B. friendly C. luckily D. handsome
15. A. pushed B. placed C. drew D. pulled
16.A. satisfied B. sorry C. loyal D. grateful
17. A. signs B. sights C. buildings D. students
18.A. ready B. smart C. wise D. unwilling
19. A. forget B. remember C. imagine D. think
20.A. teachers B. schoolyard C. classmates D. friendship
