Where we live, on the eastern shore of Maryland, the gentle waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips.
The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and ducks. In the autumn, they come home for the winter. Once or twice each year, snow and frozen rain move into the area. When this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, there is a freeze which hardens the water to the ice.
One morning, a friend of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which overlooked the Tred Avon River. Suddenly she leaned forward and cried out, “There is a goose out
there.”
We saw the figure of a large Canada goose, very iii, its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to the ice.
Then from the dark sky, she saw a line of swans. They floated from the top of the sky downward and at last landed on the ice. My friend was on her feet now, with one unbelieving hand against her mouth. As the swans surrounded the frozen goose, she feared what life it still had might be pecked（啄）out by those great swan beaks.
Instead, those beaks began to work on the ice. The long necks were lifted and curved down, again and again. It went on for a long time. At last, the goose’s head lifted. Its body pulled. Then the goose was free and standing on the ice. And the swans stood in the air watching. Then, as if it had cried, “I cannot fly,” four of the swans came down around it. Their powerful beaks chipped off the ice and held in the feathers. Slowly, the goose spread its wings as far as they could go, and moved slowly into the sky.
This is a true story. I just think of it in the bad moments, and from it comes only one hopeful question:“ If so for birds, why not for man?”
1.What happened to the Canada goose?
A. It was deserted by other geese. B. It was stuck in the ice.
C. It was wounded and couldn’t fly. D. It was lost in the water.
2. At first the author’s friend was worried that ________.
A. the swans would not help the Canada goose
B. the swans would have the same fate with the Canada goose
C. the Canada goose wouldn’t identify with the swans
D. the swans would peck the Canada goose to death
3.What did the swans do when they saw the Canada goose couldn’t fly?
A. They chipped off the ice held in its feathers.
B. They waited patiently for the ice held in its feathers to melt.
C. They came down and lifted it up to the sky together.
D. They stayed with it and protected it.
4.What would probably happen to the author’s friend in the end?
A. She stood there, watching attentively, still feeling a bit worried.
B. She was on her feet, laughing at the swans and the Canada goose.
C. She was embarrassed and went on with her breakfast silently.
D. She stood there quietly, not realizing tears had come down her cheeks.
When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farmstead, in the winter especially, we wear quite out off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its problems too.
One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma（哮喘）, and at times the air is so dirty that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising - and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.
1.What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
A. Staying on the farm. B. Moving to the countryside.
C. Leaving home for the city. D. Running away from the school.
2.Which of the following is true about the writer?
A. He is very old now. B. He is in good health.
C. He prefers driving a car. D. He lives in the city now.
3.In the passage, the writer tries to _________.
A. express his opinions about way of life
B. describe his life in the countryside
C. show an interest in the outside world
D. persuade the reader to live in the city
4.How is the passage mainly developed?
A. By inferring. B. By comparing.
C. By listing examples. D. By giving explanations.
The Girl with the Cut - out Face
When I was a child, I often looked through a family album. I remember asking my mother why there was a 36 cut out of a photo of a little girl. But it was 37 that my mother did not want to talk about it.
38 I looked at the album I saw that cut - out face and 39 about it. I figured there was something 40 . When I was grown up and had almost 41 about the photo, my mother must have realized I should know her 42 . She sat me down one day and said, “That cat - up photo is 43 your Aunt Anna. She has schizophrenia（精神分裂症）.”
But why did my mother never 44 this before? I still didn’t understand. “Because people are… were… 45 of having mental illness in the family” was the 46 . But I wanted to meet Aunt Anna, and I 47 .
My mother and I traveled to the house 48 Anna lived with an Italian family. Anna looked like a question mark on legs, 49 she had lovely, clear eyes and a gentle manner. I could see the 50 to my mother. “So nice to meet you,” she said to me. “Do you have a trunk （象鼻；行李箱）？”
Did she think that I was an elephant? No, she wanted to run 51 and hide in the trunk of my car. The family that 52 her said that she always wanted to 53 .
The last time I saw Anna she was placed in a smaller old - age facility in Brooklyn.
54 Aunt Anna, I’m not the least bit ashamed of you. I’m 55 about you now for many to see, with your sweet young face showing under a pretty bow.
And you finally found that escape you were seeking.
1.A. space B. picture C. face D. corner
2.A. easy B. necessary C. simple D. clear
3.A. At once B. Every time C. On purpose D. Of course
4.A. wondered B. recognized C. proved D. learned
5.A. wrong B. serious C. difficult D. strange
6. A. forgotten B. remembered C. found D. lost
7.A. thought B. mind C. secret D. reason
8.A. for B. of C. about D. on
9.A. follow B. discover C. stop D. mention
10.A. proud B. tired C. ashamed D. fond
11.A. question B. answer C. voice D. fact
12.A. had B. did C. would D. dared
13.A. where B. when C. how D. why
14.A. so B. and C. but D. or
15.A. difference B. possibility C. chance D. resemblance
16.A. upstairs B. forward C. outside D. back
17.A. housed B. supported C. offered D. accepted
18.A. run B. escape C. hide D. die
19.A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. However D. Anyway
20.A. telling B. writing C. finding D. complaining
In my opinion, only in this way _________ the problem.
A. you can settle B. can you settle C. you do settle D. do you settle
My friend told me it would be months _________ his family settled down in that city.
A. after B. since C. before D. when
_________ beautiful natural scenery of Ireland attracts millions of tourists every year and tourism is now _________ big industry.
A. The; the B. A; the C. A; a D. The; a
