Whether I’m looking for a good chat with some old Mends or a quiet place to meet a colleague, the pub will be the place I always choose.
I could, of course, go to a bar. But a pub, I always find, is far more comfortable and has a more relaxed atmosphere.
Many people in the UK also have a favorite pub at the end of the road where they live or nearby to where they work. I can almost always guarantee that I’ll bump into someone I know at my “local”, as we British call our nearest pub.
In fact, many people from the UK say that the pub is a cornerstone (基础) of British life. Coming together over a drink, usually of beer, is generally considered the best way to catch up with friends. For those who are a little reserved (内向的), as the British sometimes are, it’s the best way to open up and get chatting.
However, this habit is slowly changing among some British people. According to a survey completed in August by UK trade magazine The Publican, eating, rather than drinking, has become the main source of income for our 52,000 pubs.
The gastropub (美食酒吧), with its greater emphasis on food, is primarily responsible. All over the country, this more expensive type of pub has been springing up, providing a place for more formal meetings with business partners. Wine is often drunk instead of the traditional beer.
But not everyone’s happy. Many people hate the fact that some local pubs are closing because new gastropubs are proving more profitable. “Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive,” Rob Haward, of the British Beer and Pub Association, told UK newspaper The Daily Mail.
For my part, I’m going to do all I can to keep the local British pub alive. It will be the first place I visit when I go back home.
1.. The article is mainly about .
A. the British pub losing popularity B. the author’s love of pubs
C. how the British socialize D. the local British pub
2.. Many British people say that the pub is a cornerstone of British life because .
A. it is nearby and convenient
B. it is a great place for meeting friends
C. it is far more comfortable than a bar to have a drink
D. it is easy to bump into people they know in a pub ,
3.. From the text, we can conclude that gastropubs .
A. will replace the local pubs
B. attach more importance to drinks
C. are somewhere between a restaurant and a bar
D. attract beer lovers as well as wine lovers
4.. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
A. The author is in favor of gastropubs.
B. Wine is thought to show one’s class and taste.
C. British people do not go to pubs as often as before.
D. Local pubs are being seriously affected by gastropubs.
No one else knew about the extra club （球棍）in Zach Nash’s golf bag. It belonged to a friend, and Zach forgot it was there as he played his way to victory in a junior tournament last summer in Wisconsin, US.
The 14-year-old accepted his medal, celebrated with his grandparents who had come from a long way to watch. But when he stopped by his country club to share the news, a professional player noticed something wrong. “Count your clubs,” he told the teenager.
Fifteen—one more than allowed. Zach’s eyes filled with tears.
If Zach had just won a basketball championship or a soccer game and someone had discovered a violation(违反) after the win, it would not have mattered. Bending the rules has become acceptable, if not encouraged, in much of sports.
Golf is different. In a win-at-all-costs world, the game holds itself to a higher standard. Golf isn’t a game where referees watch closely. In golf tournaments, dozens of competitors are spread across acres of land, so officials cannot hope to see each shot. Competitors call penalties（处罚）on themselves.
“It was a sport for gentlemen, and gentlemen did not care about winning. They care about doing the right thing,” said Robert Simon, a golf coach at Hamilton College in New York.
Honesty became a medal of honor. When one of the game’s early stars, Bobby Jones, was praised for calling a penalty on himself at the 1925 US Open, he replied: “You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank.”
So even the error had no effect on Zach’s final score—he has never used the extra club, the teenager packed up his medal and dropped it in the mail. “But this is golf, and rules are rules. I just knew what I had to do,” he said.
Then came another tournament. Before teeing off(开球), Zach counted his clubs—four times.
1..
What can we infer from the text?
A. A friend put an extra club in Zach’s bag.
B. Zach returned the medal that he had won.
C. Zach’s grandparents encouraged him to play fair.
D. Zach regretted meeting with the professional player.
2..
According to Robert, golf is different from other sports in that ______.
A. honor comes before victory
B. players are superior to coaches
C. referees have to watch each shot
D. players needn’t care about medals
3..
What can be learned from the underlined sentence?
A. One should be praised for not robbing a bank.
B. Bobby looked down upon bank robbers.
C. Little did Bobby care about the penalty.
D. Observing rules demands no praise.
4..
Why did Zach count his clubs four times before the following tournament?
A. He remembered the lesson. B. He lacked self-confidence.
C. He felt a little too nervous.
D. He was no good with numbers.
When William, a 10-year-old boy planned to learn the piano, the music teacher was reluctant （不愿意）to accept him. She 31 her students to start their music lessons at a young age when their 32 were able to move quickly and easily.
“William, why do you want to learn the piano?” the teacher asked.
“I want to play for my mother.”
She noticed the 33 in his eyes as he answered her. She had no heart to 34 and accepted William as her student. But at each music lesson, William appeared to be in a hurry and played 35 “My mother is waiting outside for me,” he would tell the teacher. She was tempted to advise William not to 36 his time with lessons anymore as he 37 hit the right notes. 38 there was something about William — - she was fascinated with the tender look in his eyes 39 he mentioned “Mother”.
Suddenly, William stopped coming for his lessons. At the end of the semester year, the music teacher decided to 40 a piano recital (独奏会) for her students and she asked them to participate.
She was 41 to find William’s application to contribute a musical piece. She would place him last in the recital 42 he made mistakes.
The day came and William appeared. 43 it was his turn to play, William bowed before the audience and said he was thankful for the music teacher’s 44 with him. “Tonight I am dedicating (献)my music to my mother.” he said.
Everyone later asked why William did not bring his mother as she would 45 be proud. William replied, “My mother was 46 and she could never 47 me play during her life time. 48 she sacrificed her time and money to let me learn the piano. This morning Mother passed away. I am sure she is now 49 as she can hear my piano recital. I chose a piece of piano music by Beethoven. As you all know, Beethoven was deaf by the end of his career. But music always symbolized his 50 for freedom and I would like to dedicate it to Mother.”
1.. A. hoped B. persuaded C. allowed D. preferred
2.. A. fingers B. brains C. eyes D. arms
3.. A. surprise B. joys C. tears D. disappointment
4.. A. put him down B. turn him down C. put him off D. turn him off
5.. A. badly B. nicely C. carefully D. patiently
6.. A. pass B. take C. kill D. waste
7.. A. ever B. never C. even D. always
8.. A. Instead B. Therefore C. Then D. But
9.. A. at one time B. from time to time C. each time D. the first time
10.. A. support B. take C. intend D. organize
11.. A. delighted B. surprised C. curious D. angry
12.. A. as far as B. if only C. in case D. now that
13.. A. Until B. Since C. While D. When
14.. A. patience B. advice C. guide D. concern
15.. A. surely B. gradually C. finally D. quickly
16.. A. blind B. deaf C. ill D. wounded
17.. A. watch B. appreciate C. teach D. hear
18.. A. Besides B. Then C. Yet D. Otherwise
19.. A. happy B. relaxed C. free D. sad
20.. A. effort B. struggle C. belief D. challenge
For a long time, he hesitated whether he should tell us ____ what had happened.
A. at dusk B. at length C. at present D. at stake
.To improve your health, you can _________ 25— 30 minutes three or four times a week to do simple things such as walking ,cycling or running .
A. give off B. turn down C. take over D. set aside
There is even an animal whose tail will so that it can run away if someone grabs it.
A. break up B. break out C. break off D. break down
