Life is difficult.
But life is no longer difficult once we truly understand and accept it. Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that their difficulties represent a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation.
What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is painful. Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet, it is in this whole of solving problems that life has its meaning.
Problems are the serious test that tells success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working our problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.” It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems.
1.The writer uses just one short sentence in the first paragraph probably to _________.
A. make a suggestionB. persuade readers
C. make readers laughD. get readers’ attention
2.According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to __________ .
A. encourage them to learn
B. make them suffer
C. make their life easier
D. help them understand life is difficult
3.“Those things that hurt, instruct.” from Benjamin Franklin suggests that ________ .
A. we do not learn from experience
B. we do not learn when we are in pain
C. pain teaches us important lessons
D. pain cannot be forgotten
4.From the passage, it can be inferred that __________.
A. not everybody has the same problems
B. we become stronger by facing and solving the problems in life
C. life is difficult because our problems bring us pain
D. people like to complain about their problems
Tea, the most important of English drinks, is a relative latecomer to British shores. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China, it was not until the mid 17 th century that tea first appeared in England.
Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked her servant to bring a tray of tea, bread, butter and cake to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.
This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880’s upper class and society women would change into long gowns(长袍), gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock.
Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty(讲究的) sandwiches, scones(烤饼)served with cream and jams. Cakes and pastries(面团) are also served. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from silver teapots into delicate bone china cups.
Nowadays, however, in the average suburban home, afternoon tea is likely to be just a biscuit or small cake and a mug of tea, usually produced using a teabag.
1.The title of the passage is __________.
A. Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford
B. Tea, the most important of English drinks
C. Anna, a person introducing afternoon tea to England
D. Afternoon tea, a very British tradition
2.Afternoon tea was introduced in English in _________.
A. 1880 B. the mid 17th century
C. 1840 D. 3 BC
3.Traditional afternoon tea is made up of __________.
A. sandwiches, scones as well as cakes and pastries
B. a biscuit or small cake and a mug of tea
C. a tray of tea, bread, butter and cake
D. a selection of dainty sandwiches
4.According to the passage, we can learn that _________.
A. Tea appeared in England much earlier than in China
B. The reason why the Duchess was hungry at 4 p.m. is that dinner time came quite late
C. In the suburban home, afternoon tea is also served in a dainty way
D. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from china teapots into delicate bone silver cups.
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired(羡慕) a beautiful sports car in a showroom, and knowing his father could well _____ it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day came near, the young man awaited signs that his father had bought the car. _____, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his ____ study room. His father told him how _____ he was to have such a fine son, and told him how ______ he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and _____ a lovely, leather- bound (皮纸封面) Bible, with the young man's name pressed in gold. _____, he raised his voice to his father, and said "With _____ your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in _____. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him ___ that graduation day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram ____ him his father had passed away, and willed all his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and _____things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden ___ and shame filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift - wrapped Bible _____ as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.
Suddenly, a car key dropped from the back of the ____ . It had a tag (标签) with the date of his graduation on it, and the words PAID IN FULL.
1.A. offer B. afford C. serveD. supply
2.A. Finally B. Instead C. So D. Shortly
3.A . public B. hard C. lazy D. private
4.A. proud B. sad C. upset D. puzzled
5.A. many B. far C. much D. often
6.A. looked B. reached C. showed D. found
7.A. Interested B. Pleased C. Angry D. Disappoint
8.A. none B. all C. little D. bit
9.A. business B. study C. city D. home
10.A. on B. until C. since D. after
11.A. telling B. showing C. saying D. talking
12.A. look for B. take care of C. care D. mind
13.A. excitement B. disappointment C. surprise D. sadness
14.A. but B. right C. just D. only
15.A. Bible B. bed C. desk D. door
----Tony, do remember to send the report to the sales manager!
----___________.
A. Made it. B. Got it.
C. Heard it. D. Followed it.
----What a mess! You need to clean the classroom ________ after school!
----But the final exam is approaching!
A. constantly B. mildly
C. thoroughly D. previously
_________ not to drive after drinking, some drivers are still trying their luck, which is really dangerous.
A. Being reminded B. To remind
C. Having reminded D. Reminded
