I think people everywhere dream about having lots of money. You could win a large amount of money in the United States through lotteries. People pay money for tickets with numbers. If your combination of numbers is chosen, you win a huge amount of money --- often in the millions.
A few years ago, my friend Al won the lottery. It changed his life. He did not have a rich family. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Instead, my friend was always hard up for cash. And the money he did earn was chicken feed --- very little.
Sometimes Al even had to accept gifts from his family and friends. But do not get me wrong. My friend was not a deadbeat. He was not the kind of person who never paid the money he owed. He was always very careful with the money he spent. In fact, he was often a cheapskate（守财奴）. He did not like to spend money.
One day, Al got together a few dollars for a lottery ticket. He thought he would never strike it rich or gain lots of money unexpectedly. But his combination of numbers was chosen and he won the lottery and won a great deal of money.
Al was so excited. The first thing he did was to buy a costly new car. Then he started spending money on unnecessary things. He started to waste it. It was like he had money to burn. He had more money than he needed and it was burning a hole in his pocket so he spent it quickly.
When we got together for a meal at a restaurant, Al paid every time. He told me the money made him feel like a million dollars. He was very happy.
But, Al spent too much money. Soon my friend was down and out again. He had no money left. He had spent his bottom dollar, his very last amount. He did not even build up a nest egg. He had not saved any of the money. Some might say he was penny wise and pound foolish. He was wise about small things, but not about important things.
1.The role of the first paragraph is to __________.
A.show the attraction of lotteries
B.tell some facts about lotteries
C.explain how to win the lottery
D.introduce the story of Al
2.Before winning the lottery, Al ____________.
A.failed to make both ends meet
B.earned nothing and borrowed money
C.once had a relatively rich family
D.didn’t know how to save money
3.The underlined word “deadbeat” in Para. 3 probably refers to a person who _______.
A.is lazy with no job to do
B.tries to avoid his debts
C.likes to spend money
D.is generous
4.What was to become of Al, according to the passage?
A.He had built up a nest egg.
B.He was a cheapskate again.
C.He felt like a million dollars.
D.He was penny wise and pound foolish.
James knew the decision was not going to be an easy one to make as he sat on the hill near the small town that he lived in. There was no one he could turn to for advice. His only sister lived away and he hardly ever saw her and when his sister came over, they always ended up in an argument.
It had been a hot day and James’s clothes seemed to stick to his body. He had felt terrible for weeks and he was just tired of feeling sick. He had started vomiting（呕吐）after he would eat anything and he knew that something would have to be done.
After going to the doctor, he was told to come back in a few days. The next three days had gone by slowly and it was time for his visit to the doctor. He had been shown into the doctor’s office and James knew it was bad news. The end result was he had stomach cancer.
James sat on the hill looking down at the town and wonder what he would do. Taking out his phone, he dialed his sister’s number and told her the bad news. She started to cry and said, “If anything happens to you, I will be alone in this world.”
Marie, his sister said, “You are moving up here and you will live with me until you get back on your feet, so go home, pack up and I will be there to get you in two days.”
He smiled and said, “It sounds wonderful, but I still haven’t decided if I am going to have the surgery or not?” Hearing this, she softly whispered, “Of course you are having the surgery. I will pick you up in two days. I love you.”
James knew the final word was still up to him and he would think about it because this was a decision that wouldn’t come easy to him.
1.From the very beginning, we know that James ________________.
A.used to sit on the hill when in trouble
B.lived alone and seldom met others
C.didn’t get along well with Marie
D.never made a decision by himself
2.James decided to go to his doctor when _____________.
A.he felt it had been too hot for him
B.he vomited anything he ate
C.he felt sick for several weeks
D.he got a call from his sister
3.The underlined word “it” in the passage refers to _____________.
A.James having the surgery
B.Packing up within two days
C.Marie coming to meet him
D.James moving to live with Marie
4.What is the message expressed in the passage?
A.Health is not valued till sickness comes.
B.Blood is thicker than water.
C.Each day brings its own bread.
D.Good health is above wealth.
After the classmates reunion, some graduates decided to visit their old university professor.
The conversation soon turned into about stress in work and life. his guests with coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and with a large pot of coffee and a variety of cups—porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some , some expensive, some exquisite— them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee , the professor said, “ you have noticed, all the nice-looking expensive cups have been taken up, the plain and cheap ones. While it is for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the of your problems and stress. "
"Be assured that the cup itself adds no to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even what we drink. "
"What all of you really want is coffee, not the cup, but you went for the best cups... and then you began each other’s cups.”
“Now consider this: life is the ; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not , nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. the coffee, not the cups! Don’t let the cups you ... enjoy the coffee 50 .”
1.A. compliments B. conflicts C. challenges D. complaints
2.A. Showing B. Offering C. Providing D. Handing
3.A. turned B. returned C. replaced D. placed
4.A. ever-lasting B. plain-looking C. easy-going D. best-selling
5.A. demanding B. saying C. ordering D. asking
6.A. in order B. in place C. in hand D. in number
7.A. Since B. For C. But D. As
8.A. leaving out B. leaving behind C. leaving aside D. leaving off
9.A. normal B. convenient C. guilty D. unbearable
10.A. key B. source C. resource D. symptom
11.A. cost B. charm C. quality D. credit
12.A. hides B. pollutes C. changes D. rejects
13.A. constantly B. mildly C. positively D. consciously
14.A. looking B. eyeing C. pouring D. stabbing
15.A. coffee B. pot C. cup D. race
16.A. limit B. defend C. define D. deny
17.A. in B. at C. on D. by
18.A. Take B. Buy C. Tell D. Taste
19.A. treat B. defeat C. delight D. drive
20.A. yet B. instead C. meanwhile D. anyway
Tom has agreed to let me use his computer to surf the Internet, and _______ I’m treating him to a good dinner at the newly-built restaurant just around the corner.
A. in charge B. in place
C. in turn D. in return
Mrs. Jones, who let out a cry of pain from time to time, had to ________ an operation on her right ankle to relieve the pain.
A. subscribe to B. link to
C. expose to D. submit to
Every time I take part in a friend’s big party I always go to talk to those who just sit alone so that they don’t feel ________.
A. let out B. wiped out
C. left out D. faded out
