“I've changed my mind. I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my daddy back." Lucien Lawrence’s letter to Father Christmas written after his schoolteacher father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched every heart. Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn't see the stars in the sky. When those whom we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while.
But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again. And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father is there too, in your mind and in your heart. I find that my parents, long dead now, still figure in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive. I still live to please them and I' m still surprised by their reactions. I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself, that I couldn't wait to cable my parents. The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all Mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!” I haven' t forgotten. The values of my parents still live on.
It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care. Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence have been to face the aggressors (挑衅者)，and to lay down my life for those in my care? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It's a serious thought, one to give me pause.
I pray silently, sometimes, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword (剑), and my darling from the power of the dog.” Yet I know the death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly. We must therefore plan to live forever, but live as if we will die tomorrow. We live on, I'm sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure. If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today.
1.According to the whole text we can see that the first paragraph ________.
A. explains the importance of a telescope
B. shows the writer's pity on the kid
C. acts as an introduction to the discussion
D. makes a clear statement of the writer's views
2.In the second paragraph the author mainly wants to explain to us ________.
A. how much he misses his parents now
B. why his parents often appear in his dream
C. when Lucien will get over all his sadness
D. how proud he was when he succeeded in life
3.In the writer's opinion, the value of a person’s life is ________.
A. to leave behind a precious memory to the people related
B. to have a high sense of duty to the whole society
C. to care what others will remember and treasure
D. to share happiness and sadness with his family
4.What feeling did the author’s mother express in her reply?
A. Proud. B. Happy. C. Disappointed. D. Worried
A year ago, August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but it was hard for Dave to find work, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at the risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift—$7,000, a legacy(遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. “It really made a difference when we were meeting difficulty.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by what the Hatches had done. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They preferred comparison shopping and would go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase.
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camps when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.”
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches gave away their farmland. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents—should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors—that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story.
1.According to the text, the Fusses ________.
A. were employed by a truck company B. led a difficult life
C. worked in a school cafeteria D. lost their home
2.What can we learn about the Hatches?
A. They had their children during the Great Depression.
B. They left the old house to live on their family farm.
C. They gave away their possessions（财产）to their neighbors.
D. They helped their neighbors to find jobs.
3.What Sandy Van Weelden said mainly tells us that the Hatches were _________.
A. understanding B. kind C. childlike D. wealthy
My 4-year-old son now enjoys posting letters. He has formed the 36 of drawing pictures, writing his name on them, and then 37 the artwork in an envelope. He then insists on 38 his handwork to the neighbors, and a mail box he 39 belongs to the elderly couple who live next door. To be 40 , I didn’t think much of it, but I had 41 to warn my neighbors of the drawings 42 appearing in their letterboxes—I just didn’t have the 43 to do so, because I was a little busy recently.
On Tuesday of last week, I was walking down to school to collect my son when I 44 Mary, my elderly neighbor, 45 at her mail box. She said, “Jodie, is it your little son that has been posting items in my letterbox to me?” I was at once 46 , “Oh yes, Mary, it is. I’m sorry. I meant to tell you…” She cut me off, “Jodie, I just love his mail. I’ve 47 every item he has sent. You don’t know how much 48 the letters has made my day. I just love them.” While I was walking down to school after our 49 , many thoughts came to me. Mary doesn’t have a lot to fill her days, 50 she was a mother to a number of children herself who receives fairly regular visitors. The small 51 of getting some mail—pictures drawn by the hand of a young child—has brought 52 to her days, just as my visit to my grandparents does.
I have decided that my son should 53 this practice. He should also start sending some items to his grandparents in Perth as well. It will most 54 make their day.
It’s doing the little, simple things that can often make a big 55 in someone’s life.
1.A. habit B. attitude C. style D. form
2.A. hiding B. writing C. drawing D. putting
3.A. handing B. holding C. posting D. writing
4.A. opened B. set C. chose D. saw
5.A. kind B. surprised C. careful D. honest
6.A. meant B. asked C. hated D. refused
7.A. actually B. suddenly C. hardly D. partly
8.A. intelligence B. strength C. money D. time
9.A. met B. visited C. dated D. called
10.A. crying B. lying C. laughing D. standing
11.A. humorous B. embarrassed C. confused D. amused
12.A. copied B. bought C. kept D. examined
13.A. receiving B. writing C. painting D. exchanging
14.A. report B. expression C. talk D. discussion
15.A. unless B. but C. so D. although
16.A. charge B. offer C. act D. help
17.A. worth B. happiness C. value D. future
18.A. add B. method C. continue D. judge
19.A. certainly B. unfortunately C. accidentally D. confidently
20.A. point B. difference C. sense D. living
－David has made up his mind to continue with his studies.
－_______ and _______.
A. So he has; so have I B. So has he; so have I
C. So he has; so I have D. So has he; so I have
This book is said to be a very special one, because it _______ many events not found in other history books.
A. covers B. writes C. prints D. reads
－Have you finished _______ your composition? It is time to hand it in.
－Not yet, I _______ it the whole morning, but it is so hard that I only finished half of it.
A. writing; had written B. write; wrote
C. written; was written D. writing; have been writing
