Don’t Wait Until Flowers Fade
Each spring brings a new blossom of wildflowers in the ditches (路沟) along the highway I travel daily to work.
There is one blue flower that has always my eye. I’ve noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours, and the afternoon sun is too warm it. Every day for approximately two weeks, I see those beautiful .
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in our yard. I can look out of the window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I’ve often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the ditch would look in that bed alongside wildflowers.
Everyday I drove the flowers thinking, “I’ll stop on my way home and dig them.” “Gee, I don’t want to get my good clothes ...” Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband gave me a folding shovel(铁锹) one year to be used for that purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was to see that the highway department had moved the ditches and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, “Way to go, you too long. You it when you first saw them blooming this spring.”
A week ago we were shocked and saddened to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a terminal brain tumor(脑瘤晚期). She is 20 years older than my husband and , because of age and distance, we haven’t been as as we all would have liked.
I couldn’t help but see the between the pretty blue flowers and the between my husband’s sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some valuable that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, you can bet I'll stop and them to my wildflower garden
1.A．sweetB．interesting C．differentD．particular
2.A．fascinated B．struckC．caughtD．charm
3.A．forB．toC．withD．on
4.A．plantsB．flowersC．onesD．wilds
5.A．openB．main hall C．frontD．kitchen
6.A．greatB．wellC．horribleD．ugly
7.A．manyB．variousC．otherD．colorful
8.A．passedB．pastC．passD．pasted
9.A．damagedB．readyC．dirtyD．smelly
10.A．everB．onceC．neverD．even
11.A．expressed B．temporary C．unfinishedD．permanent
12.A．annoying B．saddened C．interestedD．helpless
13.A．wastedB．ignoredC．thoughtD．waited
14.A．would have done B．need have done C．should have doneD．muse have done
15.A．unconsciously B．fortunately C．unfortunately D．consciously
16.A．closeB．closelyC．closedD．near
17.A．connection B．difference C．meaningD．significance
18.A．friendship B．relationship C．supportD．relative
19.A．treesB．memories C．speciesD．roses
20.A．digB．rescueC．transmitD．transplant
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Life comes in a package, which includes happiness and sorrow, failure and success, hope and despair. Life is a learning process. 1.
Happiness achieved by bringing a smile on another face gives a certain level of fulfillment. _2. Sorrow is basically due to death of a loved one, failure and despair. But these things are temporary（暂时的）.
3.. It helps us to succeed and teaches us to survive and shows us an exact way, while success brings in money, fame, pride and self—respect. The only way to express our thanks for our success, achievements and happiness is to be respectful to the failure.
Hope is what keeps life going. 4. Hope builds in patience.
5.. Life also teaches us not to regret over yesterday, because it has passed and is beyond our control. Tomorrow is unknown, for it could either be bright or dull. So the only alternative is to work hard today, so that we will enjoy a better tomorrow.
A. Life teaches us not to despair even in the darkest hour, because after every night, there is a day.
B. With each passing day we learn to deal with various situations.
C. Different people have different attitudes towards success and failure.
D. Hope makes us dream.
E. Failure is the path to success.
F. Never stop doing whatever you are fond of.
G. Only when we are in sorrow can we realize the true worth of happiness.
Autumn blues? Let the sunshine in falling leaves, flowers, and cold winds. For many people late autumn can be a season of depression.
Those who suffer from “the autumn blue” are often extremely tired, lack energy, need more sleep, feel increased appetite and gain weight. “The exact cause of this condition, often called seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder（SAD）, is not known yet,” says Chen Jue, associate professor at Shanghai Mental Health Center. “But recent studies indicate that weather change is influential and strongly suggest that this condition is caused by changes in the availability（得到）of sunlight.”
One theory is that with decreased exposure to sunlight, the biological clock that regulates mood, sleep, and hormones is delayed, running more slowly in winter. Exposure to light may reset the biological clock. Another theory is that brain chemicals that transmit information between nerves, called neurotransmitters （for example, serotonin）, may be altered in individuals with SAD. It is believed that exposure to light can correct these imbalances. “It is a sad season, but you can try to make it happy. Remember, spring always lives in your heart ,” Chen says. “Going outdoors to get some sunlight may reduce the tension that brings you the low spirits. Relax at work. Stretch, breathe deeply. Take a tea break. Think of your next vacation. Color treatment also works in handling low mood. Music also plays a role in treating autumn blues.”
1.Autumn blues is also called autumn _______.
A. depression B. sunshine C. blue music D. cold winds
2.From the 3rd paragraph we know that there ________ that can help to deal with autumn blues.
A. is no biological clock B. is a real example
C. is no possibility D. are some ways
3.Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Autumn blues can be feelings of happiness.
B. The real cause for autumn blues is still unknown.
C. People feel tired in autumn.
D. Weather doesn’t change people.
4.Which of the following CAN’T you do in order to deal with autumn blues?
A. Eat more food very low in calories and sugar.
B. Reset the biological clock regulating mood, sleep and hormones.
C. Keep the balance of nerves that transmit information.
D. Take outdoor activities or sports.
At first sight, you would think the collection of hundreds of colored shards（碎片）could be a work of abstract art. But the objects are the contents of the stomach of a sea turtle that lost its battle with plastic pollution.
Environmentalists examined the stomach of the turtle found off the coast of Argentina. What they found is the symptom of the increasing threat to sea turtles from a human addiction to plastic.
Sea turtles often mistake plastic items for jellyfish or other food. Ingesting（摄取）ocean pollution can cause a digestive blockage and internal cuts. The result can be dangerous, followed by death.
Humans produce 260 million tons of plastic a year. When those products are pulled into the sea’s currents, the plastics are just broken into smaller pieces which are consumed by marine life at the bottom of the food chain. An examination of a green turtle found off Florida discovered that, over the course of a month, the animal’s faeces（粪便）had contained 74 foreign objects, including “four types of balloons, different types of hard plastic, a piece of carpet--like material and two 2--4 mm tar balls.”
“The oceans have become a giant refuse bin for all manner of plastics. All sea turtle species may be seriously harmed, “according to the biologists Colette Wabnitz, from the University of British Columbia. ”The symptom of this growing crisis can be seen inside and on sea turtles as well as their oceanic and terrestrial habitats. It is urgently necessary to directly confront the source of plastic pollution, redesign packaging and rethink the very idea of ‘throwaway culture’.”
Almost all marine species, from plankton to whales, have ingested plastic. But, even in small quantities, plastic can kill sea turtles, the biologists said.
Fifty out of 92 turtles found dead, stranded on the shorelines of Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil, had ingested a “considerable amount of man-made debris”.
1.What’s tile passage mainly about?
A. How to prevent the sea turtle from plastic.
B. Why plastic is dangerous to the sea turtle.
C. Protecting the sea turtle from being polluted.
D. Sea turtles suffering from plastic pollution.
2.The author mentions the “throwaway culture” probably in a（n） _________ tone.
A. praising B. positive C. ironic D. comedic
3.The underlined word in the last paragraph probably means _________.
A. a kind of food B. a kind of fish
C. pieces of cloth D. pieces of rubbish
4.The paragraph following the last one will probably talk about ________.
A. the way the biologists examined the sea turtle
B. some tips on how to make sea turtles avoid plastic
C. how to prevent plastic pollution
D. the reason why we should protect the sea turtle
Fucheng Garden Villas is situated along the North 4 th Ring Road , just 2 kilometres east away from the Asian Games Village with easy traffic connection. It is 5 kilometres from the Beijing Lufthansa Centre.
Fucheng Garden Villas occupies an area of 34.7 hectares, over 80% of which is covered by trees and green, just like a garden in the city.
All the 108 villas were designed by American Company IDI, in American style, luxurious besides comfortable.
All materials of the construction and decoration as well as equipment are famous American products.
From now to July 31st, preferential（优惠）prices for sale and rent are offered. You can move into Fucheng Garden Villas on signing an agreement.
Bank will provide a 50％ mortgage（抵押）for 5 years.
Overseas sales License: NO. 124.
Developer: Beijing Hongda Read Estate Co. Ltd.
60East, North 4th Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
Tel:（8610）64967050 64967049
Fax:（8610）64933575
（From Wednesday, June 25, 1997 CHINA DAILY）
1.The advertiser is _________.
A. Fucheng Garden Villas
B. American Company--IDI
C. Beijing Hongda Road Estate Co. Lid
D. The Beijing Luftthansa
2.How many hectares is Fucheng Garden Villas covered by trees and greens?
A. 6.94 B. More than 27.76
C. 27.76 D. 80%
3.According to the advertisement, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. From June 25 to July 31, 1997, you can buy or rent the Fucheng Garden Villas with a low price.
B. You can’t move into Fucheng Garden Villas before signing agreement
C. If you haven’t got enough money at the moment, you can’t buy the Villas
D. Not only equipment but also all materials of the construction and the decoration are made in America
The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel. The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sports car. Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras. The bride wore a silk wedding dress. She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time.
Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station’s competition. The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other. Miss Germaine, 23, is a model. Mr. Cordell, 27, is a TV salesman. They were among the two hundred people who entered for a particular “experiment” organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham, England. Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on radio. They took a lie detector （测谎仪）test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities. The competition judges included an astrologer（占卜家）who declared that they were suited.
The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening, but not everyone shared their joy. Miss Germaine’s mother looked anxious through-out the wedding and Mr. Cordell’s parents are reported to be less than delighted.
Organizations, including the marriage guidance service Relate, have criticized the marriage. As one expert put it, “we have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously. Marriage should always be about love.”
The couples are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists. Their other prizes include a year’s free use of a wonderful apartment in the centre of Birmingham, and a car. But will it last?
1.How did the couple’s parents react to the wedding?
A. The bride’s mother shared their joy.
B. The bridegroom’s parents were not that joyful.
C. The bridegroom’s parents were quite delighted.
D. The bride’s father felt uncomfortable about the wedding.
2.Some experts believe that ________.
A. marriage without the couple’s meeting each other first ends up in divorce.
B. most young people take marriage seriously except this couple.
C. taking a lie detector test can not solve all the marriage problems.
D. young people nowadays are too careless about marriage.
3.One of the prizes for the couple is ________.
A. to use an apartment free for some time.
B. to spend their honeymoon wherever they like.
C. to have a wedding dress free.
D. to own an American sports car.
4.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A. A Wedding Based on love. B. Two Strangers and a Wedding.
C. A Short--lived Marriage. D. A Well--Matched Couple.
