By the year 1869 when the first transcontinental railroad was finished, over 350,000 pioneers had taken the Oregon Trail to head west and start a new life, which is known as the Gold Rush Period in American history. Many of these were women and most were accompanied by children.
Before heading west, many women often spent their day doing nothing more than visiting, needlework, and the occasional gardening of flowers. Others were not from as wealthy families and had to work alongside their men as laborers. Neither type was in most cases prepared for the hardships that lay ahead.
Once they did reach their destination, the work was far from over. A house would need to be built. Women quickly learned to use all kinds of tools right alongside their husbands. At the first sign of spring, a garden would need to be planted. Pioneer women also had to deal with dangerous wild animals, including bears and lions. Indians were also a concern, and some did fall to their deaths by the Indians’ hand. Where were the men when all this was being done? Working the fields and mining were the two most usual occupations. Their remaining work, which there was plenty of, fell to the women and the oldest children if there were any.
Women who headed west learned quickly that there was much more to life than teas and visiting. They had no choice but to struggle for survival. This was their life.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Changes in the Gold Rush Period.
B. New life in the West.
C. Great people in American history.
D. Pioneer women to the West.
2.By mentioning women’s life before heading west in paragraph 2, the author implies (暗示) that .
A. it was a real struggle for women to adapt to the hard life in the West
B. it was not reasonable for women to give up their comfortable life
C. it was a better choice for women to experience a new and hard life
D. it was necessary for women to change their lifestyle completely
3.According to the passage, which was NOT the problem women faced when heading west?
A. They had no choice but to throw away many of their beloved things.
B. They could not take their children along because of the hard journey.
C. It was common that they lost their husbands in some accidents.
D. They suffered from diseases or even lost their lives.
4.Women were kept busy with all the following work EXCEPT _________.
A. building a house
B. planting a garden
C. driving wild animals away
D. caring for the Indians
In the car, I secretly had a look at him through the rearview mirror (后视镜). He looked sad. “What’s the matter, honey?” “I’m nervous. I don’t know if I’ll be able to learn everything in the first grade. What if I can’t pay attention in class?”
My heart melted. I remembered being nervous on the first day of school and I thought I was the only student who felt that way. I was a nervous kid full of self-doubt. Seth behaved much better than I did.
We walked into his school together. He remembered where his new classroom was and recognized his teacher from the ice cream social party they had the day before. He sat down at his desk and chatted with a few of his classmates. He took a few photos of them (with a camera phone because I didn’t allow him to bring the real camera) and then he said in a very serious manner, “Mom, you can go home now. I’ll be OK.” And so he was.
1.Seth asked his mother to take him to school probably because _______.
A. he was afraid to be late for class
B. he wanted to share his joy with his mother
C. he felt worried about his school life
D. he was frightened of his new teacher
2.What did the writer mean by saying “My heart melted” in Paragraph 4?
A. She was very angry with her son.
B. She felt sad because of her son’s words.
C. She was too weak in the mind to face it.
D. She became more understanding of her son.
3.From the last paragraph we learn that ________.
A. Seth had never seen his new classroom
B. the ice cream social party was to be held soon
C. Seth got along well with his classmates
D. Seth took some photos using a real camera
4.It can be inferred that in the end Seth felt ______.
A. relaxed B. frightened C. serious D. worried
I am a team leader in an insurance company. We are going through a lot of changes right now, which is 36 much stress for all of us.
A few weeks ago I was having a day so 37 that I even doubted if I had the ability to do this challenging work, and was about ready to change to a less stressful job 38 . Something happened that day to change my way of 39 and I am so appreciative of this young lady. I want to let her know that the small act 40 .
On the top of my cubicle (工作隔间) I have a small collection of lighthouses (灯塔) to let people know where I am sitting 41 my team members have to find me for emergencies.
That day I came into the office and was about to get the day 42 when Crystal came over. I asked if she needed anything. And she said, “I 43 you something.” I looked at her with a 44 look and said, “Well, thank you, but why 45 you buy me anything?” I had never spoke to this young lady 46 . She said, “Every day I stand up and look across the 47 and see your lighthouses. Then I feel I am not alone and I encourage myself that there are always 48 things in life. I saw this on the way to work and thought 49 would like it. I wish it would have the same 50 as your lighthouses do.” In her hand she had a small globe with a lighthouse and a ship on it. I gave her a hug and 51 her. I don’t think she knows how much that small act of 52 changed my day: I remained 53 the rest of the day.
For anyone that reads this, I hope you remember, no matter what the 54 is, you could change someone’s day, 55 even his views on life.
1.A. preventing B. reducing C. causing D. suffering
2.A. funny B. nice C. bad D. dull
3.A. everywhere B. elsewhere C. anywhere D. nowhere
4.A. working B. behaving C. speaking D. thinking
5.A. broke my heart B. touched my heart C. lost my heart D. tore my heart
6.A. in case B. so that C. as if D. even though
7. A. ended B. started C. changed D. avoided
8.A. borrowed B. lent C. sold D. bought
9.A. delighted B. puzzled C. thankful D. worried
10.A. might B. dare C. could D. would
11.A. before B. then C. since D. after
12.A. dorm B. office C. ship D. tower
13.A. bright B. challenging C. bad D. stressful
14.A. colleagues B. leaders C. you D. I
15.A. opinion B. cause C. expectation D. effect
16.A. praised B. thanked C. scolded D. refused
17. A. justice B. courage C. kindness D. tolerance
18.A. careful B. encouraged C. tired D. alone
19. A. present B. work C. act D. intention
20.A. so B. for C. or D. nor
At the foot of the mountain .
A. a village lie B. lies a village C. does a village D. lying a village
— Hello, Paul, do you like to join us in playing football? We need one more person to ____ a team.
— Yes, I’d like to.
A. pick up B. pick out C. make up D. make out
He has accepted the job because he likes challenge, and the chance of dealing with difficult problems ____ to him.
A. appeals B. interests C. deserves D. encourages
