Peanuts to This
Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher. Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had slaved over, hoping to hide myself. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task. This was the first real talk I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before. As I searched the name of this fellow, it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; flip (掷) a coin. Heads—the commander, and tails—the peanuts guy. Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.
Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost. Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution.” The whole world became quiet! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was awful. Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade. I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance. Consequently, I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather, now having an entirely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade. Justice is sweet!
1.What did the author’s classmates think about his report?
A.Controversial. |
B.Ridiculous. |
C.Boring. |
D.Puzzling. |
2.Why was the author confused about the task?
A.He was unfamiliar with American history. |
B.He followed the advice and flipped a coin. |
C.He forgot his teacher’s instruction. |
D.He was new at the school. |
3.The underlined word “burning” in Para. 3 probably means _______.
A.annoyed |
B.ashamed |
C.ready |
D.eager |
4.In the end, the author turned things around _______.
A.by redoing his task |
B.through his own efforts |
C.with the help of his grandfather |
D.under the guidance of his headmaster |
The trip to that city was eye-opening for everyone, and near its end, all the young people in our group began to reflect on what it had meant. We 41 the first night we had arrived. We had all gone into the markets of the city 42 the young people could experience its energy. But what we actually saw simply 43 us all --- the rundown houses, the children in rags, the people begging for money… Walking home, 44 under a low bridge, we came across 45 families of homeless people seeking a bit of dry ground to sleep on 46 the night. We had to step over bodies as we found our way through the darkness.
The poverty was 47 than anything my young companions had ever imagined. Back in the hotel, an air of sadness settled over the group. Many 48 and cried. Spending time in this 49 moves a person to care about humanity.
That evening, our group spent hours talking about what we had 50 . Gently, I encouraged everyone to talk about the difficult 51 that day’s discoveries had inspired. Sitting together 52 a circle as everyone had a chance to speak, we all began to realize that 53 of us was alone in our struggle to cope with our reactions.
Based on my 54 in poverty-stricken areas, I suggested that 55 the emotions we had were painful, they could also be important in helping us to move forward. We all 56 that we had seen things that should never be allowed to happen. 57 , what could we do about it? Together, we began to brainstorm ways we could help to ease the 58 we had seen. As I encouraged group members to focus on 59 they could do, a sense of determination 60 the previous sadness. Instead of despair, these young people began to feel a call to action.
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My colleague has been recovering gradually since the operation, and it wont’ be long ______ he comes back to work.
A.before |
B.since |
C.after |
D.when |
Don’t you know ______, my dear friend, it is you that she loves?
A.who |
B.which |
C.that |
D.what |
She was so angry and spoke so fast that none of us understood ______ he said meant.
A.that |
B.what |
C.that that |
D.what what |
What will people die of in 100 years? If you think that is a simple question, you ______ attention to the revolution taking place in biotechnology.
A.have not been paying |
B.had not been paying |
C.were not paying |
D.will not be paying |