下面文章中有5个段落需要添加首句。请从以下选项（A、B、C、D、E和F）中选出适合各段落的首句，并在答题纸上将相应选项的标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。
A. Be a good listener. B. Care about the details.
C. Strike up a conversation. D. Make time for friendships.
E. Reach out to the newcomers. F. Avoid causing inconveniences
Develop Better Relationships with Neighbors
Good neighbors are a lot like electricity or running water：we don’t know how much we depend on them until we don’t have them. They make our lives more pleasant and give us a sense of who we wrte, both as an individual and as a member of the community. Here is how to develop your relationships with these very important people in your life.
1. _________ Often neighbors don’t even know each other’s names. But it’s okay to be the one to break the ice , even if you’ve lived next door for years.Most neighbors enjoy making small talk with the folks on the other side of the fence. So as you see them at work in their yards, smile, wave, and say hello. Ask how their kids are (whether they’re babies or in college), whether they could use an extra cucumber from your garden, or what they think of the price at the local supermarket.
2. _________ These days, the old Welcome Wagon is a thing of the past. But your new neighbors may be feeling lonely and unsure, especially if they’re far from home, and might appreciate a friendly face bearing fresh-baked chocolate cakes. If they have kids, tell them where the children in the neighborhood live. Recommend the best places to eat and sleep. Invite them over for coffee or tea when they get settled, give them your number, and point to your house as you say good-bye.
3.__________ Return anything that you borrow from a neighbor, such as tools, in good repair and as soon as you’ve finished with them. Replace anything that belongs to your neighbor that you, your children, or your pets break or soil. Make sure that your car is not blocking their doorway. Such random acts of consideration will have your neighbors talking — and the talk will be good.
4. __________ If you value a friendship with your neighbors, spend time with them. What better way to meet your neighbors than to invite them to an informal barbecue, pool party, or holiday open house? Better yet, you might even consider throwing a get-together in their honor. Deliver the invitations in person to everyone who lives on your street and chat with each for five minutes before moving on to the next house. This way, you will get an idea of what your neighbors are like so that you can plan for appropriate food and music.
5. ___________ In a good relationship, it’s really the little things that count. Help to bring in the mail for the elderly neighbor when there is a heavy rain. When your neighbor gorgets to take in his rubbish cans, roll them back into his yard. If you’re truly concerned, you’ll know when your neighbor needs some cheering up — a bunch of flowers or a helping hand when it’s needed. All it takes to develop your relationship with neighbors is the respect for their feelings.
A city child’s summer is spent in the street in front of his home, and all through the long summer vacations I sat on the edge of the street and watched enviously the other boys on the block play baseball. I was never asked to take part even when one team had a member missing—not out of special cruelty, but because they took it for granted I would be no good at it. They were right, of course.
I would never forget the wonderful evening when something changed. The baseball ended about eight or eight thirty when it grew dark. Then it was the custom of the boys to retire to a little stoop(门廊) that stuck out from the candy store on the corner and that somehow had become theirs. No grownup ever sat there or attempted to. There the boys would sit, mostly talking about the games played during the day and of the game to be played tomorrow. Then long silences would fall and the boys would wander off one by one. It was just after one of those long silences that my life as an outsider changed. I can no longer remember which boy it was that summer evening who broke the silence with a question: but whoever he was, I nod to him gratefully now. “What’s in those books you’re always reading?” he asked casually. “Stories,” I answered. “What kind?” asked somebody else without much interest.
Nor do I know what drove me to behave as I did,for usually I just sat there in silence, glad enough to be allowed to reain among them; but instead of answering his question, I told them for two hours the story I was reading at the moment. The book was Sister Carrie. They listened bug-eyed and breathless. I must have told it well, but I think there was another and deeper reason that made them to keep an audience. Listening to a tale being told in the dark is one of the most ancient of man’s entertainments, but I was offering them as well, without being aware of doing it, a new and exciting experience.
The books they themselves read were the Rover Boys or Tom Swift or G.A.Henty. I had read them too, but at thirteen I had long since left them behind. Since I was much alone I had become an enthusiastic reader and I had gone through the books-for-boys series. In those days there was no reading material between children’s and grownups’books or I could find none. I had gone right fromTome Swift and His Flying Machine to Theodore Dreiser and Sister Carrie. Dreiser had hit my young mind, and they listened to me tell the story with some of the wonder that I had had in reading it.
The next night and many nights thereafter, a kind of unspoken ritual (仪式) took place. As it grew dark, I would take my place in the center of the stoop and begin the evening’s tale. Some nights, in order to taste my victory more completely, I cheated. I would stop at the most exciting part of a story by Jack London or Bret Harte, and without warning tell them that that was as far as I had gone in the book and it would have to be continued the following evening. It was not true, of course; but I had to make certain of my new-found power and position. I enjoyed the long summer evenings until school began in the fall. Other words of mine have been listened to by larger and more fashionable audiences, but for that tough and athletic one that sat close on the stoop outside the candy store, I have an unreasoning love that will last forever.
1.Watching the boys playing baseball, the writer must have felt ________.
A. bitter and lonely B. special and different
C. pleased and excited D. disturbed and annoyed
2.The writer feels grateful even now to the boy who asked the question because the boy ________.
A. invited him to join in their game
B. liked the book that he was reading
C. broke the long silence of that summer evening
D. offered him an opportunity that changed his life
3.According to Paragraph 3, story-telling was popular among the boys basically because ________.
A. the story was from a children’s book
B. listening to tales was an age-old practice
C. the boys had few entertainments after dark
D. the boys didn’t read books by themselves
4.The boys were attracted to Sister Carrie because ________.
A. it was written by Theodore Dreiser
B. it was specifically targeted at boys
C. it gave them a deeper feeling of pleasure
D. it talked about the wonders of the world
5.Sometimes the writer stopped at the most exciting part of a story to _______.
A. play a mean trick on the boys
B. experience more joy of achievement
C. add his own imagination to the story
D. help the boys understand the story better
6.What is the message conveyed in the story?
A. One can find his position in life in his own way.
B. Friendship is built upon respect for each other.
C. Reading is more important than playing games.
D. Adult habits are developed from childhood.
Last summer, two nineteenth-century cottages were rescued from remote farm fields in Montana, to be moved to an Art Deco building in San Francisco. The houses were made of wood. These cottages once housed early settlers as they worked the dry Montana soil; now they hold Twitter engineers.
The cottages could be an example of the industry’ s odd love affair with “low technology,” a concept associated with the natural world, and with old-school craftsmanship (手艺) that exists long before the Internet era. Low technology is not virtual (虚拟的) —so, to take advantage of it, Internet companies have had to get creative. The rescued wood cottages, fitted by hand in the late eighteen-hundreds, are an obvious example, but Twitter’s designs lie on the extreme end. Other companies are using a broader interpretation (阐释) of low technology that focuses on nature.
Amazon is building three glass spheres filled with trees, so that employees can “work and socialize in a more natural, park-like setting.” At Google’s office, an entire floor is carpeted in glass. Facebook’s second Menlo Park campus will have a rooftop park with a walking trail.
Olle Lundberg, the founder of Lundberg Design, has worked with many tech companies over the years. “We have lost the connection to the maker in our lives, and our tech engineers are the ones who feel impoverished (贫乏的) , because they’re surrounded by the digital world,” he says. “They’re looking for a way to regain their individual identity, and we’ve found that introducing real crafts is one way to do that.”
This craft based theory is rooted in history, William Morris, the English artist and writer, turned back to pre-industrial arts in the eighteen-sixties, just after the Industrial Revolution. The Arts and Crafts movement defined itself against machines. “Without creative human occupation, people became disconnected from life,” Morris said.
Research has shown that natural environments can restore(恢复) our mental capacities. In Japan, patients are encouraged to “forest-bathe,” taking walks through woods to lower their blood pressure.
These health benefits apply to the workplace as well. Rachel Kaplvin, a professor of environmental psychology, has spent years researching the restorative effects of natural environment. Her research found that workers with access to nature at the office—even simple views of trees and flowers—felt their jobs were less stressful and more satisfying. If low-tech offices can potentially nourish the brains and improve the mental health of employees then, fine, bring on the cottages.
1.The writer mentions the two nineteenth-century cottages to show that ________.
A. Twitter is having a hard time
B. old cottages are in need of protection
C. early settlers once suffered from a dry climate in Montana
D. Internet companies have rediscovered the benefits of low technology
2.Low technology is regarded as something that _______.
A.is related to nature B. is out of date today
C. consumes too much energy D. exists in the virtual world
3.The main idea of Paragraph 5 is that human beings ________.
A. have destroyed many pre-industrial arts
B. have a tradition of valuing arts and crafts
C. can become intelligent by learning history
D. can regain their individual identity by using machines
4.The writer’s attitude to “low technology” can best be described as ________.
A. positive B. defensive C. cautious D. doubtful
5.What might be the best title for the passage?
A. Past Glories, Future Dreams
B. The Virtual World, the Real Challenge
C. High-tech Companies, Low-tech Offices
D. The More Craftsmanship, the Less Creativity
Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
1.The passage is mainly about ________.
A. communication types
B. the workplace atmosphere
C. customs and social manners
D. living conditions and standards
2.Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
A. They put efficiency in the first place.
B. They dislike face-to-face communication.
C. They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible.
D. They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank.
3.In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?
A. When greeting seniors.
B. When meeting the host alone.
C. When attending a presentation.
D.When dining with business partners.
4.In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
A. In Brazil. B. In Singapore.
C. In the United Arab Emirate. D. In Switzerland.
Wealth starts with a goal saving a dollar at a time. Call it the piggy bank strategy(策略). There are lessons in that time-honored coin-saving container.
Any huge task seems easier when reduced to baby steps. I f you wished to climb a 12,000-foot mountain, and could do it a day at a time, you would only have to climb 33 feet daily to reach the top in a year. If you want to take a really nice trip in 10 years for a special occasion, to collect the $15,000 cost, you have to save $3.93 a day. If you drop that into a piggy bank and then once a year put $1,434 in a savings account at 1% interest rate after-tax, you will have your trip money.
When I was a child, my parents gave me a piggy bank to teach me that, if I wanted something, I should save money to buy it. We associate piggy banks with children, but in many countries, the little containers are also popular with adults. Europeans see a piggy bank as a sign of good fortune and wealth. Around the world, many believe a gift of a piggy bank on New Year’s Day brings good luck and financial success. Ah, but you have to put something in it.
Why is a pig used as a symbol of saving? Why not an elephant bank, which is bigger and holds more coins? In the Middle Ages, before modern banking and credit instruments, people saved money at home, a few coins at a time dropped into a jar or dish. Potters(制陶工) made these inexpensive containers from an orange-colored clay(黏土) called “pygg,” and folks saved coins in pygg jars.The Middle English word
for pig was “pigge”. While the Saxons pronounced pygg, referring to the clay, as “pug”, eventually the two words changed into the same pronunciation, sounding the “i” as in pig or piggy. As the word became less associated with the orange clay and more with the animal, a clever potter fashioned a pygg jar in the shape of a pig, delighting children and adults. The piggy bank was born.
Originally you had to break the bank to get to the money, bringing in a sense of seriousness into savings. While piggy banks teach children the wisdom of saving, adults often need to relearn childhood lessons. Think about the things in life that require large amounts of money--- college education, weddings, cars, medical care, starting a business, buying a home, and fun stuff like great trips. So when you have money, take off the top 10%, put it aside, save and invest wisely.
1.What is the piggy bank strategy?
A. Paying 1% income tax at a time.
B. Setting a goal before making a travel plan.
C. Aiming high even when doing small things.
D. Putting aside a little money regularly for future use.
2.Why did the writer’s parents give him a piggy bank as a gift?
A. To delight him with the latest fashion.
B. To encourage him to climb mountains.
C. To help him form the habit of saving.
D. To teach him English pronunciation.
3.What does then underlined word “something”(Paragraph 3) most probably refer to?
A. Money B. Gifts
C. Financial success D. Good luck
4.The piggy ban originally was _________.
A. a potter’s instrument
B. a cheap clay container
C. an animal-shaped dish
D. a pig-like toy for children
5.The last paragraph talks about ________.
A. the seriousness of educating children
B. the enjoyment of taking a great trip
C. the importance of managing money
D. the difficulty of starting a business
I had worried myself sick over Simon’s mother coming to see me. I was a new , and I gave an honest account of the students’ work. In Simon’s case, the grades were awfully low. He couldn’t read his own handwriting. he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his .
So when Simon’s mother entered the room, my palms(手掌心) were sweating. I was completely for her lisses on both my cheeks. “I came to thank you,” she said, surprising me beyond speech. me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he me, he had began to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had spent an afternoon at a friend’s house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the I had nurtured(培养) in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat, stunned (惊呆), for about half an hour, what had just happened. How did I make such a life-changing difference to that boy without knowing it? What I finally came to was one day, several months before, when some students were reports in the front of the class, Jeanne spoke , and to encourage her to raise her voice, L had sai, “Speak up. Simon’s the expert on this. He is the one you have to convince, and he can’t hear you in the of the room.” That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, more, and became happy. And it was all because he to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I’m thankful that it came and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
1.A. cleaner B. reporter C. monitor D. teacher
2.A. Or B. And C. But D. So
3.A. courage B. abilities C. feelings D. dream
4.A. desperate B. responsible C. unprepared D. unsuitable
5.A. Because of B. In spite of C. Apart from D.As for
6.A. loved B. envied C. pleased D. criticized
7.A. gradually B. constantly C. recently D. obviously
8.A. self-respect B. self-doubt C. self-pity D. self-defence
9.A. imagining B. observing C. wondering D. regretting
10.A. also B. even C. always D. still
11.A. expect B. remember C. believe D. accept
12.A. writing B. reviewing C. editing D. giving
13.A. quietly B. repeatedly C. quickly D. firmly
14.A. lucky B. lonely C. only D. likely
15.A. entrance B. middle C. front D. back
16.A. slept B. smiled C. shouted D. quarreled
17.A. intended B. pretended C. refused D. happened
18.A. change B. praise C. thanks D. visits
19.A. difficult B. painful C. valuable D. enjoyable
20.A. early B. slowly C. frequently D. occasionally
