FFather was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes,hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better. paid job. Except. for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best that money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing,fine food and vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he took another course in an open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough. It would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium. Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients.
Over again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
As expected, Father's hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take any more courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to
his family, and it was a promise.
Father did not wake up the next day.
1.Father worked and studied very hard because ________.
A.he had to support his family
B.he was enthusiastic in attending classes
C.he wanted to bring his family a better lire
D.he had to so as to reduce his family’s complaint
2.What CAN’T Father get through his hard work?
A.Family time. B.Higher education. C.Better housing. D.Vacation abroad.
3.How would the family feel when “Father did not wake up the next day”?
A.To their joy, Father can have a good rest in the end.
B.They should have stopped Father from working so hard.
C.Thank God, Father can stay home with them.
D.There is no point working hard for a better life.
4.What is the function of the italicized(斜体)paragraphs in this passage?
A.To make readers show sympathy for Father.
B.To show how stubborn Father was.
C.To make readers fee l how hard Father worked.
D.To imply a sad ending to the story.
Helen was loved as a friendly 1ady by a11 who knew her. She had belonged to the same church for almost all her adult lire and was highly 36.______. Poor Helen was well into her 90’s. Since her husband passed away,she moved in with Jennifer, her young granddaughter. However, life is 37._______. One night driving home from the store, Jennifer was hit dead by a drunk driver. Once again, Helen was alone.
The 38._______ of losing those closest to her and the loneliness of being all alone were 39.______ she could bear. She changed--she fell into 40._______ and hopelessness. Naturally, people around her saw the change. But nobody seemed to know how to 41._______ her. Months passed. It was now December, and the holiday season was 42._______ to be harder than Helen imagined it would be. She felt like she was 43._______, slowly inside. She wondered if she would see Christmas this year.
44._______, the second Sunday of December, the Sunday School teacher came to her with a special request. Would she be 45.______ enough to help decorate the tree that was in the middle of the children’s classroom? Each child had handmade a special decoration to 46.______ on the tree, and they needed assistance. Helen attempted to 47._______ refuse, but the teacher said that the children had requested she be the 48._______ that year. It was important to them for some reason, the teacher whispered.
The night of the special event, Helen was present and wore the best smile. The 49.______ of the young children was bittersweet, which held memories of her dear Jennifer. For the first time in months, though, you could see her eyes 50._______ through tears. She was happy that the children had 51.______ her. Most decorations had been placed on the tree 52._______ a group of nine children came and sat in front of her. Each of them either had no grandmother any longer, 53.______ had never even known theirs. This was a very special celebration and union. In the middle lay a gift-wrapped box 54._______ for her with a card reading “Our Grandma, with love. ”
Christmas this year wasn’t unkind to Helen. No, it was a new 55._______, a brand-new start and nine new reasons to her…
1. A.valued B.rewarded C.approved D.respected
2. A.funny B.challenging C.boring D.diverse
3. A.weakness B.coldness C.sadness D.tiredness
4. A.other than B.more than C.rather than D.1essthan
5. A.nervousness B.anxiety C.depression D.separation
6. A.acknowledge B.distinguish C.appreciate D.comfort
7. A.desired B.pictured C.aiming D.proving
8. A.crying B.dying C.moving D.struggling
9. A.Gradually B.Recently C.Then D.Meanwhile
10. A.kind B.optimistic C.patient D.enthusiastic
11. A.base B.place C.hide D.set
12. A.politely B.personally C.seriously D.unwillingly
13. A.volunteer B.visitor C.teacher D.assistant
14. A.view B.thought C.sight D.scenery
15. A.staring B.shining C.looking D.1ighting
16. A.helped B.treated C.invited D.amused
17. A.while B.when C.as D.after
18. A.or B.nor C.and D.but
19. A.intended B.written C.sent D.1eft
20. A.ending B.process C.goal D.beginning
--Sorry, it's already 6 o’clock. I have to be off for an appointment.
--OK. ________.
A.It couldn’t be better B.You really have me there
C.Let’s call it a day D.Take your time
Over 200, 000 hotel reservations were made in Hong Kong through Taobao last year, _______ it the most popular travel destination among Chinese netizens.
A.making B.to make C.having made D.made
The sleeping baby would be scared _______ a sudden loud noise.
A.was there B.there was C.should there be D.there should be
Life isn’t meant to be easy and you have to _______ some pain to 1earn the skills to move forward.
A.get across B.go over C.get into D.go through