In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. A father rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.
After the shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: “No matter what happened, I’ll always be there for you!” And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his promise to his son.
Remembering his son’s classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging.
Other parents tried to pull him off the ruins, saying: “It’s too late! They’re all dead! You can’t help!” He replied, “Are you going to help me now?” The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school’s ruins saying, “Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You’re in danger. We’ll take care of it. Go home.” This loving, caring American father asked, “Are you going to help me now?”
The police came and said, “You’re, anxious and it’s over. Go home. We’ll handle it!” He replied, “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped.
Courageously he went on alone. He dug for eight hours...12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...then, in the 38th hour, he heard his son’s voice. He screamed his son’s name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad! It’s me, Dad! You promised no matter what happened, you would always be there for me! You did it, Dad!” “What’s going on in there? How is it?” the father asked.
“There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. ”
“Come out, boy!”
“No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, because I know you’ll get me! No matter what happens, I know you’ll always be there for me!”
1. Why did the father keep digging?
A. Because he promised his wife he would take care of their son.
B. Because others persuaded him to do so.
C. Because he promised his son that he would be with him whatever happened.
D. Because his son was his only child.
2. Many people came up and tried to persuade the father to stop digging except ______.
A. the police B. the fire chief
C. some kind parents D. the medical officer
3.Which of the following best describes the son?
A. Calm, hopeful and strong-minded.
B. Careful, helpful and absent-minded.
C. Frightened, hopeless and thankful.
D. Cold-hearted, honest and faithful.
4.What does the underlined word “they” in the fourth paragraph refer to?
A. those parents B. the students
C. the teachers D. The fire officers
5.We can learn from the passage that ______.
A. sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand
B. you cannot go on well in life until you forget your past failures
C. love can set us free from all fear and overcome the difficulties
D. we have enough happiness to make us sweet and enough sorrow to keep us human
Recently divorced(离婚), I had no job and was on my way downtown to go the rounds of the employment offices despite the great 36 . My old umbrella was broken, and I could not 37 another one.
I sat down in the streetcar — and there against the seat was a beautiful silk 38 with a silver handle inlaid (镶嵌) with gold. I had 39 seen anything so lovely.
I 40 the handle and saw a 41 . I got off the streetcar and 42 opened the umbrella to protect myself. Then I searched a 43 book for the name on the umbrella and found it. I called and a lady answered.
Yes, she said in 44 , that was her umbrella, which her parents, now dead, had given her for a birthday present. 45 , she added, it had been stolen at school (she was a teacher) more than a year before.
She was so excited that I 46 I was 47 a job and went directly to her house. She took the umbrella, her 48 filled with tears.
I refused the 49 she gave me. We talked for a while, and I must have given her my address. I don’t remember.
The next six months were 50 . I was able to obtain 51 here and there. l reached the lowest point in my 52 . Unless a miracle happened, I would be homeless in January, foodless, jobless.
Christmas Eve came. No money to buy my daughter a gift. I was sobbing (抽泣) in the cold little kitchen 53 the doorbell rang and my daughter Peggy ran to answer it. He was a postman, and his arms were 54 of parcels. “This is a mistake” I said, but he read the name on the parcels and there were for me.
Peggy and I sat on the floor and opened them. I looked for the name of the sender. It was the teacher. The address was 55 “California”, where she had moved.
1.A. cloud B. rain C. wind D. snow
2.A. search B. catch C. afford D. sell
3.A. raincoat B. seat C. book D. umbrella
4.A. never B. ever C. almost D. nearly
5.A. concluded B. examined C. learned D. helped
6.A. name B. address C. card D. demand
7.A. deliberately B. specially C. sadly D. thankfully
8.A. technology B. engine C. telephone D. medicine
9.A. anger B. surprise C. danger D. sorrow
10.A. And B. But C. So D. Or
11. A. forgot B. remembered C. indicated D. decided
12.A. applied for B. watching for C. asking for D. looking for
13.A. face B. nose C. eyes D. ear
14.A. reward B. prize C. present D. umbrella
15. A. freezing B. surprising C. shocking D struggling
16.A. failures B. successes C. jobs D. wages
17.A. heart B. favor C. work D. life
18.A. as B. while C. when D. then
19.A. proud B. full C. careful D. glad
20. A. simply B. directly C. finally D. nearly
______ his nose, he’s quite good looking.
A. Besides B. Apart from C. except that D. Now that
— It sounds like something is wrong with the car’s engine.
—______, we’d better have it repaired immediately.
A. Where possible B. If not
C. But for that D. If so
What a(n) ______ it is that they were born in the same year and on the same day!
A. coincidence B. accident C. incident D. confidence
It was not until she had arrived home _______ her appointment with the doctor.
A. when she remembered B. and she remembered
C. did she remember D. that she remembered
