Each year on February 2nd, there is special festival called Groundhog Day (土拨鼠日 )' forecasting event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. When it comes, people from around the world, including 5,000 in the small town today, watch this tongue-twisting(发音饶舌的) small town for a sign from one groundhog that supposedly predicts when that years' spring will arrive.
If it's a cloudy day outside when the groundhog pops from its cave, then spring will arrive early that year. However, if it is sunny outside, the groundhog will supposedly be scared by its own shadow, hiding underground for six more weeks of cold weather.
Of course, Punxsutawney Phil's prediction is no more able to guarantee the extended forecast than your local weatherman. ABC News reports that an analysis by the National Climate Data Center found that Phil's predictions are more often wrong than right.
Philis is also found to have made some unpleasant predictions. Ever since 1887, he has predicted 99 extended winters and just 16 early springs .Nine of the years' predictions were unavailable, according to ABC.
The holiday began as a German tradition in 18th century and became even more of a cultural phenomenon after the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.
Punxsutawney Phil has become a celebrity in his own right. Each year, the fatter animal with long teeth is watched by millions as he emerges from a cave in the town he is named after. Phil has become so beloved by the town that he actually lives in the local library with his “wife" Phyllis.
Taking inspiration from the hard state of Bill Murray’s character in the classic film, Yahoo contributor Owen Rust says Groundhog Day is a good time to reflect on one’s routines.
1.The underlined word “pops” means “ ”.
A. escapes B. appears C. increases D. hides
2.The reason why Phil's predictions aren't pleasing is that_____________.
A. some of the predictions were unavailable
B. Phil wants to do that for fun
C. Phil likes to make unpleasant predictions
D. he has predicted more late springs
3.How does Punxsutawney Phil become a celebration?
A. By an accident.
B. From people's life improving.
C. By his own attractive force
D. From much money raised by the town.
4.Which does this passage mainly talk about?
A. The National Climate Data Center
B. A German tradition
C. A tongue-twisting small town
D. Groundhog Day weather forecasting
Many years ago, I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in Wyoming. Last week I received a telephone call from a woman who could not stop crying as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide. In closing she called me a hero.
That got me thinking about what a hero is. Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car? If so, how could I be a hero just because I wrote a story that saved someone’s life?
Today I looked up the word “hero” in the dictionary to see exactly what it meant. It read “a person who does something brave” and also “a person who is good and noble”.
That statement impressed me more than the part about being brave. So I thought about something very important. And I remembered what happened to me years ago.
After my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours trying to get enough courage to end the pain and misery. When I returned home, someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they would appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero.
The many stories I kept writing in the following years saved the life of a teenage boy. In turn that makes the person who sent me the card a double hero. I suppose that is why I fight so hard to help the children now living in orphanages (孤儿院). Most children come out of these institutions with a very hard and bitter attitude against the world. The gifts we send them let them know that they have not been forgotten. Hopefully, most of them will never hurt anyone because of the kindness shown to them by those of us who cared. If it works, we will also become "heroes".
1.The main idea of the passage is _______________.
A. why the writer should be a hero B. what a hero exactly is
C. whether the writer is a hero D. that everyone is a hero
2.Why did the woman call the writer a hero at the end of the call?
A. Because he asked her son not to kill himself.
B. Because he saved a family from a burning car.
C. Because his story saved her son’s life.
D. Because he was cute and kind to everybody.
3.What does the underlined word “it” in the last sentence of Paragraph 5 refer to?
A. The wonderful card the writer received.
B. The action of sending the card.
C. The fact that the sender helped the writer.
D. The fact that the sender was a friend of the writer.
4. What’s the writer’s attitude to “brave people”?
A. neutral B. supportive C. objective D. irony
Music to My Ears
Robby was 10 for his first piano lesson in my class. Much as he tried, he ____ even the basic rhythm. However, he dutifully reviewed the pieces that I required.
Over the months he tried and tried while I ____ and encouraged him. At the end of each lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." ____ it seemed hopeless.
I only knew his mother from a ____as she waited in her aged car to pick him up. Then one day Robby stopped coming. I was secretly ____ that he stopped because of his lack of ability.
Weeks later I informed the students, including Robby, of the coming recital（独奏）. To my ____, Robby asked me if he could be included. I told him he really did not qualify because he had ____ out. He said his mom had been sick and unable to take him to lessons but he was still ____ .
“I've just got to play!" he ____. Something inside me let me allow him to.
Then came the recital night. The gym was ____ with parents. I put Robby up ____, thinking that I could save his poor performance through my “curtain closer（谢幕）.”
The recital went off smoothly. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was ____. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?" I thought.
Robby pulled out the piano bench and began. I was not ____ for what I heard next. His fingers were ____ on the keys. Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age. After he ended, everyone was ____ their feet in wild applause.
In ____ I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby. "I've never heard you play like that, Robby! How did you ____ it?"
Robby explained, "Well, Miss Hondorf…remember I told you my mom was sick? …____ she had cancer and passed away yesterday. She was born deaf, so tonight she could hear me play in heaven. I wanted to make it special."
There wasn’t a ____ eye in the house. That night I felt he was the teacher and I was the pupil, for it was he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and ____.
1.A. lacked B. had C. showed D. got
2.A. listened B. learned C. checked D. played
3.A. And B. But C. So D. Or
4.A. conversation B. performance C. distance D. picture
5.A. guilty B. sad C. anxious D. glad
6.A. relief B. surprise C. pleasure D. satisfaction
7.A. stepped B. worn C. run D. dropped
8.A. acting B. performing C. practicing D. recording
9.A. insisted B. suggested C. complained D. threatened
10.A. lined B. packed C. piled D. filled
11.A. least B. most C. first D. last
12.A. messy B. cool C. neat D. dull
13.A. eager B. concerned C. prepared D. grateful
14.A. hesitating B. dancing C. touching D. crawling
15.A. over B. under C. in D. on
16.A. chaos B. tears C. silence D. return
17.A. find B. feel C. make D. like
18.A. Gradually B. Suddenly C. Frequently D. Actually
19.A. dry B. curious C. bright D. wet
20.A. regret B. talent C. love D. courage
With all my attention _______ my homework, I didn’t even notice my father standing by me.
A. to fix on B. fixed on
C. fixing on D. to be fixed on
___ he _____ me the news yesterday, I would be at the party now.
A. Should, tell B. Did, tell
C. Had, told D. Were, to tell
— She suggested the number of cars should be limited to stop air pollution.
—_______, the idea is not very practical.
A. Sounds good as it B. As it sounds good
C. As good it sounds D. Good as it sounds
