They leap from helicopters or speeding boats, bringing aid to swimmers who get into trouble off Italy’s popular beaches.
For these dog lifeguards, the doggie paddle （狗刨式游法）does just fine.
These “lifedogs” tow a buoy(救生衣) that victims can grab, or a raft they can sit on to be towed back to shore, and unlike their human counterparts(与对方地位相当的人), they can easily jump from helicopters and speeding boats to reach swimmers in trouble.
With millions flocking(人群) to Italy’s crowded beaches each summer, the Italian Coast Guard says it rescues about 3,000 people every year — and their dog helpers are credited with saving several lives.
It takes three years for the canines to reach expert rescue status, and currently 300 dogs are fully trained for duty, said Roberto Gasbarri, who co-ordinates the Italian School of Canine Lifeguards program at a centre outside of Rome in the seaside town of Civitavecchia.
“Dogs are useful in containing the physical fatigue（疲劳） of the lifeguard, to increase the speed at which casualties（遇难者） are retrieved（找到并衔回）, to increase the security of both the casualty and of the lifeguard,” Gasbarri said.
The Civitavecchia centre is one of a dozen around the country for the school founded more than 20 years ago in the northern province of Bergamo by Ferruccio Pilenga, whose first trainee was his own Newfoundland.
The school will train any breed（品种）, as long as they weigh at least 30 kilograms, but Labradors, Newfoundlands and golden retrievers are most commonly used because of their natural instinct for swimming. Each dog works in tandem with（同 ……合作） a human lifeguard, who also acts as the animal’s trainer.
1.Which of the following can act as the best title fo the passage?
A. Dogs to the Rescue B. Dogs Are Good at Doggie Paddle
C. The Wonderful Performance of Dogs D. Dogs: Our Loyal Friends
2.What advantage do these life-dogs have over human lifeguards in a rescue?
A. Dog can swim very fast B. Dogs can finish rescue work with ease.
C. Dogs can finish the great work free of charge. D. Dogs can easily be trained
3. Which of the following is TRUE about the Civitavecchia center according to the text?
A. Any breed can be trained there.
B. The ones who have the gift for swimming are welcomed.
C. After a better training, the dogs can work alone.
D. It is the only place for training dog lifeguards in the school.
4.What does the writer want to tell us in the 4th paragraph?
A. Without the dog lifeguards, 3,000 people would lose their lives every year.
B. The buautiful beaches attract millions of people every year.
C. Dog lifeguards play an important part in a rescue.
D. Italy is a famous place of interest.
One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humbles(卑微的) to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and sopke about a wide range of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked.
“ May I get you something?”
“A coffee would be nice.” Then I bought him a cup of coffee. We talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit, at the door I met one of my friends. He asked.
“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I way buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Glbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.
1. What does the underlined word”disheveled’ mean?
A. Unfriendly B. Untidy. C. Gentle. D. Kind.
2. The author bought coffee for the old man because ______.
A. he thought the old man was poor B. he wanted to start a conversation
C. he intended to show his politeness C. he would like to thank the old man
3. How did the authr probably feel after he talked with his friend?
A. Proud. B. Pitiful. C, Surprised. D. Regretful.
4.What is the message mainly expressed in the story?
A. We should learn to be generous.
B. It is honorable to help those in need.
C. People in high positions are not like what we expect.
D. We should avoid judging people by their appearances.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
As the hot tears rolled down her cheeks, I knew I had asked the wrong question. The ___21___reverberated(回荡)in my mind: Widowed or divorced? I looked into the lady’s __22___, now dampened （使潮湿）with the __23___ tears my words had caused.
“ Well, you could call me widowed,” she replied. “ My husband ___24___ five months ago .”
“ I am so ____25___ ,” I mumbled. “ I need it to fill out your credit application.”
“Don’t worry about it, honey,” she ____26___. “if I never thought about it, I would not ___27____ the love and the memories we shared. Even after 50 years of ___28____ ,each passing moment would bring a deeper meaning to the word love. Now, trust me, I know how ____29___ that sounds. We had our share of challenging times, but in the end ____30___ of that mattered.”
Unsure of what to say, I laughed ___31___ . I picked up the phone to relay her information. After finally completing the credit application, I ____32____ to find myself riveted（固定） to the lady’s face again.
Her eyes began to sparkle ___33___ she continued in a heart-to-heart way. I couldn’t believe someone could open up to a perfect stranger, but it was not my place to ___34____ . I enjoyed listening to her just as much as she ___35___ having somebody to talk to.
“ Have you ever been ____ 36___?” she asked.
I couldn’t help but ___37____. “Ah, no.” I replied. “I’m only 16.”
“Sixteen?” she murmured. “That’s a great age, an age of ____38____. There’s so much worth learning.”
She then spoke in a whipser, “Never take anyone for granted. If you are in ____39___ with someone, let it known. Otherwise, life may pass you by. Don’t spend your life angry . The ridiculous arguments which you think are important won’t even be remembered in a short time.”
Then, she hugged me and thanked me for letting her talk. As she turned to walk away, I could see that tears still hung in her eyes, but the smile that lit her face was amazing. After that, I have never seen that woman again, but her words of inspiration still live in me. At that time, the words were only little bits of advice. Now, ___40___, they are the words which I try to live by, words that will always remind me of my special friend.
1. A. tunes B.whistles C. songs D. words
2. A. eyes B. hands C. ears D. arms
3. A. grateful B. miserable C. happy D. sweet
4. A. failed B. worked C. died D. retired
5. A. sorry B. lucky C. anxious D. gloomy
6.A. encouraged B. explained C. persuaded D. comforted
7. A. understand B. remember C. experience D. enjoy
8. A. teaching B. struggle C. marriage D. life
9.A. foolish B. terrible C. mysterious D.wonderful
10. A. few B. all C. some D. none
11. A. loudly B. nervously C. bravely D. bitterly
12. A. attempted B. began C. turned D. went
13. A. as B. because C. before D. until
14. A. comment B. surprise C. doubt D. criticize
15. A. avoided B. appreciated C. imagined D. considered
16. A. blamed B. interviewed C. married D. employed
17.A. laugh B. sigh C. cry D. complain
18. A. success B. wonder C.failure D. lessons
19. A. peace B. love C. agreement D. harmony
20.A.but B. so C. however D.although
---- Would you please ______ the form for me?
------ _____________.
A. fill; It’s a pleasure B. fill in; With pleasure
C. fill in; My pleasure D. fill in; I’ll be happy to
Little ______ that we were watching his every move, so he seemed to be going his own way in this business.
A. he realized B. he didn’t realize C. didn’t he realize D. did he realize
Just use this room for the time being, and we’ll offer you a larger one _____ it becomes available.
A. as soon as B. unless C. as far as D. until
