It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit (追寻) of the dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral（葬礼） is Wednesday.” Memories flashed（闪现）through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“Jack, did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. it’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it, ” Mom told him.
“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.
“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence (影响) in your life,” she said.
“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things that he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.” Jack said.
Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture … Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.
“The box is gone,” he said.
“What box?” Mom asked.
“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.
Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.
“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.
Jack tore （撕）open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope（信封）. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside,
“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bernett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.
Inside he found these words carved: “Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”
“Oh. My God! This is the thing he valued most …”
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.
“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.
1.Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?
A．Because he had no children or relatives.
B．Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.
C．Because he thought he had to keep his word.
D．Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.
2.Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?
A．He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.
B．He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.
C．He had missed his son and his family for days.
D．He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.
3.Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?
A．College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Belser.
B．Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.
C．Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.
D．His present busy life washed away his children memories.
4.Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that _________.
A．Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing
B．Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday
C．Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address
D．Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together
5.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?
A．The Good Old Times
B．The Lost Childhood Days
C．An Old Gold Watch
D．What He Valued Most
Of course, the main difference on the Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of knife and fork, but that’s only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough. The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you’re in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes.
The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all.
Perhaps one of the things that surprise a western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always “public” chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it, just leave the food in the plate.
People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat!
1.What’s the main difference on dinner table between China and West is ___________.
A．On Chinese dinner table, chopsticks replace knife and fork.
B．The host will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes.
C．You’re treated to a formal dinner for the first time.
D．You have your own plate of food in West while in China everyone shares the dishes.
2.If you have a dinner in a Chinese home, in which order will the food be served in China?
a. a set of four cold dishes.
b. staple food such as rice, noodle or dumplings.
c. the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes.
d. serving soup.
A．acbd B．cabd C．acdb D．cadb
3.According to the passage, we can infer that ___________.
A．Chinese all think it impolite for guests to ask for a pair of knife and fork.
B．Chinese think it impolite for guests to leave food in the plate.
C．People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed.
D．Chinese think it polite to put food into the plated of the guests with their own chopsticks.
4.The sentence, in passage 2, “you should say so in good time” means ______________.
A．you should say so happily
B．you’d better say so
C．you should say so early
D．you should say so kindly.
5.The “public chopsticks and spoons” are used to ______.
A．show the politeness to the guests.
B．put food into the plates of their guests
C．share the food together
D．show the genuine friendship and politeness
I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I used to give a lot of money to the homeless, feeling 31 for them. But as time passed, I became a mom with no home, a huge 32 , and hardly any income. As a result, I 33 giving money to the people on the side of the road and became very 34 .
Things started to change for me 35 . I had a home, a backyard for my daughter, and plenty of food, and I started to 36 myself out of debt. One day we saw a homeless person with the 37 , “Will work for food.” I 38 . My daughter commented. “Mommy, you used to always give money to those people in 39 .” I replied, “Honey, they just use that money for 40 , or other bad things.” She didn’t respond. 41 when I said that, I didn’t feel right.
Three days later, I was driving to 42 my daughter from school. A man was standing on the corner, and something deep 43 me said, “Just help the guy.” So I 44 down my window, and he ran over excitedly. He said, “God bless you, I only need 77 cents.” I 45 into my ashtray (烟灰缸) and strangely enough, there 46 three quarters and two pennies.
I picked them up and gave them to him. He 47 with joy and tears in his eyes. “Wow, you just made it 48 for me to see my mom for Christmas! Thank you so much; the 49 that had this great sale is leaving in 20 minutes!” It was a moment I’ll 50 forever. I think that man won’t forget it either, but I was the one who got the best gift in life—GIVING.
1. A．angry B．grateful C．sorry D．strange
2. A．problem B．burden C．disease D．debt
3. A．continued B．stopped C．hated D．appreciated
4. A．rich B．bitter C．relaxed D．pleased
5. A．slowly B．immediately C．quickly D．greatly
6. A．save B．pull C．run D．feed
7. A．determination B．sign C．child D．advertisement
8. A．ran away B．turned back C．passed by D．sped up
9. A．danger B．love C．need D．sadness
10. A．life B．book C．food D．smoking
11. A．And B．So C．But D．Even
12. A．bring up B．carry out C．pick up D．take out
13. A．on B．inside C．behind D．over
14. A．rolled B．pushed C．blew D．took
15. A．reached B．went C．knocked D．shouted
16. A．hid B．stood C．sat D．slept
17. A．burst out B．turned up C．set out D．stood up
18. A．wonderful B．meaningful C．possible D．interesting
19. A．plane B．man C．woman D．bus
20. A．thank B．remember C．respect D．hold
You don’t have to ______every little incident in your life.
A．settle down B．break down C．set up D．set down
--Why are they _____ the forest?
--They are _____ a thief.
A．searching; searching B．searching for; searching
C．searching; searching for D．searching for; searching for
Facing the enemies, Liu Hulan ______ .
A．would die than give in B．rather die than give in
C．preferred to die rather than give in D．rather than die prefer give in
