For a commuter rushing to catch a train, a minute can mean the difference between dinner with the family and leftovers (剩饭) in the microwave. What most passengers don’t realize is that their minute is already there.
Every commuter train that departs from New York City — about 900 a day — leaves a minute later than scheduled. If the timetable says 8:14, the train will actually leave at 8:15. In other words, if you think you have only a minute to get that train — well, relax. You have two.
The courtesy (礼貌) minute, in place for decades and published only in private timetables for employees, is meant as a grace period（宽限期）for those who need the extra time to get off the platform and onto the train.
“If everyone knows they get an extra minute, they’re going to waste time doing unimportant things,” explained Marjorie Anders, a spokeswoman for the Metro-North Railroad. Told of this article, Ms. Anders laughed. “Don’t blow our cover!” she said.
Entirely hidden from the riding public, the secret minute is an odd departure from the railroad culture of down-to-the-second accuracy. The railroad industry helped invent the concept of standard time, and time zones were established in the United States in the 1880s, 35 years before they were written into law. And most commuters know their train by the precise minute it departs. The trains quickly make up the minute: at all other stops, the public timetable prevails. The phantom minute does not exist at commuter railroads in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, or San Francisco. But in New York, the secret minute dates back decades.
“That’s been done forever, from my knowledge,” said Jack Swanberg, 70, an unofficial historian of Metro-North. “I was the trainmaster starting in 1970 and I’m sure it’s been the case since 1870 for all I know.”
1.The courtesy minute was hidden from the public to _____.
A. prevent the passengers’ idleness B. help invent the concept of standard time
C. show the railroad company’s consideration D. follow the ancient tradition of New York City
2. The underlined part “Don’t blow our cover” in Para. 4 probably means “_____”.
A. Don’t publish the timetable B. Don’t blame commuter trains
C. Don’t make it known by the public D. Don’t forget our chances of catching trains
3.What can we conclude from the passage?
A. The courtesy minute exists in many cities in the US.
B. One minute means a lot for most of the commuters.
C. The courtesy minute has been in place for about ten years.
D. Most railroad staff in New York have no idea of the courtesy minute.
4. The passage mainly talks about _____.
A. the railroads in the US B. the secret New York minute
C. the mistake of the railroad industry D. the history of New York commuter trains
The area south of the Thames at Greenwich has a long history. Throughout time different buildings have been constructed on the same site. The Palace of Placentia, an English Royal Palace built in 1447, no longer exists apart from a few remains under the present buildings.
The grand buildings on the South Bank of the Thames at Greenwich were designed by Sir Christopher Wren, most famous for St. Paul’s Cathedral. The buildings were finally completed in 1745, although some parts started to be used as early as 1705. They’re now part of a university — having served as a naval（海军）hospital and a naval college and the setting for several cinemas.
But the buildings stand on a site which has a much longer history, of which now only a part remains that is below the ground. For nearly two hundred years, from around 1450 to 1650, Greenwich was one of the main royal palaces of England. Some of the most famous English rulers, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, not only lived there, but also were born there.
Henry VIII put an armory（兵工厂）there, and there were also gardens, a great fountain (喷泉) and a mass of buildings. The Palace was also in a strategic location, because at the time either side of Greenwich on the Thames were important Royal Dockyards (船厂).
Eventually, though, the Palace fell into disrepair. In 1664, the King at the time, Charles II, decided to replace it with completely new buildings in a modern style. Only a cellar (地窖) from the former Royal Palace now remains, under one of the new buildings. Its red brick, typical of the 16th century, contrasts (对比) sharply with the white stone above it.
Would you like to join us to have a good view of Greenwich?
1.We can learn from the passage that the Palace of Placentia _____.
A. had served as a university B. was constructed with white stones
C. was designed by Christopher Wren D. was of particular importance in a war
2. The buildings on the South Bank of the Thames at Greenwich now _____.
A. are in need of repair B. differ from those in the 16th century
C. were designed in the style of Elizabeth I D. have a history of more than half a century
3.According to the passage, when did the Palace of Placentia disappear from the ground?
A. In the late 1400s. B. In the early 1600s.
C. In the late 1600s. D. In the early 1700s.
4.Where can we most probably read this passage?
A. In a science report. B. In a personal diary.
C. In a geography textbook. D. In a travel magazine.
I recall my mother’s voice which called me to order, and often ended with some strong proverb to express the gravity of the wrong done. It was common practice for my mother to send me off soul-searching with a proverb.
Of the many interactions I had with my mother those many years ago, one stands out with clarity. I remember the occasion when Mother sent me to the main road, about twenty yards away from the farmhouse, to invite a passing group of seasonal work-seekers home for a meal. She instructed me to take a container along and collect dry cow dung (牛粪) for making a fire. I was then to prepare the meal for the group of work-seekers.
The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that high heat, was enough to upset even an angel. I did not manage to hide my feelings from my mother, and after serving the group, she called me to the balcony, where she usually sat to attend to her sewing (缝纫).
Looking straight into my eyes, she said, “Tsholofelo, why were you so unhappy when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor people?” Despite my attempt to deny her allegation (断言), and using the heat of the fire and the sun as an excuse for my alleged behavior, Mother, giving me a firm look, said, “A foot has no nose.” It means, “You can’t detect what trouble may lie ahead of you.” Had I denied the group of people a meal, it may have happened that, in my travels some time in the future, I found myself at the mercy of those very individuals. As if that was not enough to shame me, Mother continued, “A person is a person because of another person.”
1.We learn from the passage that Tsholofelo’s mother often _____.
A. quoted proverbs when she was talking with others
B. asked Tsholofelo to read more proverbs
C. collected proverbs in her spare time
D. used proverbs to teach Tsholofelo
2.What was Tsholofelo’s attitude towards the meal?
A. Unwilling. B. Interested. C. Critical. D.Unconcerned.
3.The atmosphere on the balcony was probably _____.
A. very strange B. a bit tense C. quite lively D. pretty relaxed
4.According to the passage, Tsholofelo’s mother seemed to hope Tsholofelo could be _____.
A. flexible and creative B. sincere and honest
C. active and confident D. sympathetic and helpful
A person may have a false idea about himself that will stop him from doing good work..
He may have the belief that he is unable to do it. A child may think he is 36 because he doesn’t understand how to make 37 use of his mental gifts. Old people may have a false idea that they are unable to learn new things because of their 38 .
A person who believes that he is stupid will not make a real 39 because he feels that it would be useless. He won’t go at a job with confidence necessary for 40 . Besides, he won’t work his hardest way, even though he may think he is doing so. 41 , he is likely to fail, and the failure will 42 his belief in his incompetence（无能）in turn.
Alfred Alder, a famous doctor, had 43 like this. When he was a small boy, he had a poor 44 in math. His teacher told his parents he had no ability in math in order that they would not 45 too much of him. In this way, his teacher and parents 46 the idea. He 47 their false judgment of his ability, feeling that it was useless to 48 . Then, he was very poor at math, 49 as they expected.
But one day everything changed. He worked out a problem which 50 of the other students had been able to solve. He 51 in solving the problem which gave him confidence. Soon he became especially good at 52 .
Alder now 53 with interest, determination and purpose. He not only proved that he could learn math well, but luckily he learned it 54 , not too late. From his own experience, we can tell that if a person goes at a job with determination and purpose, he may 55 himself as well as others by his ability.
1.A．clever B．shy C．useless D．stupid
2.A．big B．full C．high D．great
3.A．age B．ability C．brain D．knowledge
4.A．decision B．plan C．effort D．promise
5.A．work B．study C．improvement D．success
6.A．Truly B．Really C．However D．Therefore
7.A．lead to B．strengthen C．improve D．get rid of
8.A．an experience B．an example C．a thought D．a story
9.A．state B．mind C．start D．ending
10.A．blame B．expect C．get D．win
11.A．developed B．organized C．discovered D．found
12.A．broke B．refused C．doubted D．accepted
13.A．manage B．argue C．try D．act
14.A．only B．almost C．just D．then
15.A．none B．all C．some D．most
16.A．broke B．succeeded C．failed D．believed
17.A．physics B．medicine C．English D．math
18.A．studies B．works C．plays D．graduates
19.A．early B．deeply C．later D．simply
20.A．discourage B．love C．surprise D．disappoint
Your cousin is said ________ a new computer program recently, but do you know when he will finish it?
A. to design B. to be designing C. to have been designing D. to have designed
-- I just can’t stop worrying about the result of the job interview.
--_______ . There’s nothing you can do now but wait.
A. Relax B. Go ahead C. Go for it D. Good luck
