There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers, he used two buckers. One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one, which had seen many years of service, but was now past its best.
Every morning, the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path, one on each side, to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled (溢出). The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds, much water had leaked along the path.
Sometimes the new bucket would say, “See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day! I don't know why he still bothers with you. What a waste of space you are!”
And all that the old bucket could say was, “I know I’m not very useful, but I can only do my best. I’m happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me, at least.”
One day, the gardener heard that kind or conversation. After watering the flowers as usual, he said, “You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back. I want you to look carefully along the path.”
Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed, on the side where the new bucket was carried, there was just bare (光秃秃的)earth; on the other side where the old bucket was carried, there was a joyous row of wild flowers, leading all the way to the garden.
1.What does the underlined word “dilapidated” probably mean?
A. Dirty B. Dark
C. Worn-out D. Plain-looking.
2. What was the old bucket ashamed of?
A. His past. B. His aging.
C. His manner. D. His leaking.
3. The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to
A. laugh at the old one
B. take pity on the old one
C. show off its beautiful looks
D. praise the gardener’s kindness
4.Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?
A. Because it was used to keep a balance
B. Because it stayed in its best condition
C. Because it was taken as a treasure
D. Because it had its own function
My father brought home a sailboat when I was ten, and almost each Sunday in summers we would go sailing. Dad was quite skilled in sailing, but not good at 36 . As for me, I 37 both before twelve because of living close to Lake Ontario.
The last time Dad and I set sail together is really 38 . It was a perfect weekend after I graduated from university. I came home and 39 Dad to go sailing. Out we set soon on the__40__ lake. Dad hadn’t sailed for years, but everything 41
well with the tiller (舵柄) in his hands.
When we were in the middle of the lake, a 42 wind came all of a sudden. The boat was hit __43 . Dad was always at his best in any 44 , but at this moment he 45 .
“John! 46 !” he shouted in a trembling voice, with the tiller still in his hands.
In my memory he could fix any 47 . He was the one I always 48 for strength and security. Before I could respond, a 49 of water got into the boat. I rushed to the tiller 50 it was too late. Another huge wall of water 51 the boat in a minute. We were thrown into the water, and Dad was struggling aimlessly. At that moment, I felt fiercely 52 of him.
I swam to Dad 53 and assisted him in climbing onto the hull (船壳) of the boat. Upon sitting on the hull, Dad was a little awkward about his flash of 54 . “It’s all right, Dad. We are safe now,” I comforted him.
That was the first time Dad had counted on me in a moment of emergency. More importantly, I found it was my turn to start 55 for my father.
1. A. boating B. running C. swimming D. teaching
2.A. enjoyed B. desired C. hated D. learned
3. A. unforgivable B. unforgettable C. cheerful D. regretful
4. A. sent B. ordered C. invited D. allowed
5. A. calm B. icy C. stormy D. thundery
6. A. finished B. went C. seemed D. sounded
7.A. strong B. gentle C. cold D. hot
8.A. repeatedly B. lightly C. hardly D. violently
9. A. danger B. place C. sport D. job
10.A. suffered B. fell C. froze D. withdrew
11.A. Look B. Help C. Run D. Jump
12.A. problem B. relationship C. machine D. boat
13. A. turned to B. lived with C. argued with D. objected to
14. A. fountain B. stream C. shower D. wave
15. A. if B. for C. after D. but
16.A. got through B. poured into C. turned over D. lifted up
17. A. ashamed B. protective C. tired D. afraid
18.A. hopelessly B. quickly C. slowly D. helplessly
19.A. pain B. anger C. fear D. shame
20. A. making up B. getting ready C. paying off D. looking out
—Do you have Mary’s phone number?
—Sorry, _____.
|
A. I don’t know |
B. forget it |
|
C. here you are |
D. I can’t remember |
It is not always easy for the public to see _____ use a new invention can be of to human life.
|
A. whose |
B. what |
C. which |
D. that |
Michael put on a picture of Yao Ming beside the bed to keep himself _____ of his own dreams.
|
A. reminding |
B. to remind |
C. reminded |
D. remind |
—Have you seen the film Under the Hawthorn Tree?
—Of course, I have. It was in our village _____ it was made.
|
A. that |
B. where |
C. when |
D. which |
