You may have heard the term “the American Dream”. In 1848, James W. Marshall found gold in California and people began having golden dreams. That 19th century “American Dream" motivated(激发) the Gold Rush and gave California its nickname of the "Golden State".
The American Dream drove not only 1800s gold-rush prospectors(采矿者) but also waves of immigrants throughout that century and the next. People from Europe, and a large number of Chinese, arrived in the US in the 19th century hoping that in America they would find gold there. But most, instead, worked as railroad laborers. They created the oldest Chinatown, in San Francisco, and gave the city a Chinese name "the old gold hill".
In the 20th century, some critics said that it was no longer possible to become prosperous through determination and hard work. Unfair education for students from poor families and racial discrimination almost made the American Dream a nightmare(噩梦).
Then, in the 1990s, California saw a new wave of dreamers in Silicon Valley. People poured their energy into the Internet. This new chapter of the American Dream attracted many business people and young talents from China and India to form start-ups and seek fortune in America.
Better pay, a nice house, and a rising standard of living will always be attractive. However, the new American Dream is no longer just about money. It encourages Americans to consume wisely to protect the environment, improve the quality of life, and promote social justice（正义）.
The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the model of the new American Dream. After
years of hard work, he grew from a poor young man from Austria into a super movie star and then a governor.
Many people hope his story can save the American Dream and give California a brighter future.
1.It can be inferred that_________.
A. America’s golden dream could never be realized
B. America’s golden dream had bought great fortune to Chinese immigrants
C. different times have different themes of the American dream
D. determination and hard work are the best way to realize the American dream
2.Why did most of the early immigrants work as railroad laborers?
A. Because they could earn more money as railroad laborers.
B. Because they had to make a living by working as railroad laborers．
C. Because they thought railroad was the first step to find gold.
D. Because railroad laborers were greatly honored at that time.
3.The underlined sentence “his story can save the American Dream” (in the last paragraph) indicates that________．
A. the dream of seeking fortunate in America is easy to realize
B. most of the immigrants to America don’t reach their previous goals
C. the success of Arnold Schwarzenegger is among the common examples of the immigrants
D. the immigrants have made great contributions to California
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Wave of Immigrants to America
B. Make Fortunes Abroad
C. Hard Work Leads to Success
D. Changes of America’s Golden Dream
Once we got home, there was barely time to enjoy our presents. We had to go off to our grandparents' house for our annual Christmas dinner. As we drove down the highway through town, I noticed that the family was there, standing outside the closed gas station.
My father was driving very slowly down the highway. The closer we got to the turnoff for my grandparents' house, the slower the car went. Suddenly, my father U-turned in the middle of the road and said, "I can't stand it!"
"What?" asked my mother.
"It's those people back there at the gas station, standing in the rain. They've got children. It's Christmas. "
When my father pulled into the service station, I saw that there were five of them: the parents and three children- two girls and a small boy.
My father rolled down his window. "Merry Christmas," he said.
"Howdy," the man replied.
"You’re waiting on the bus?" my father asked.
The man said that they were.
"Well, that bus isn't going to come along for several hours, and you're getting wet standing here. Winborn's just a couple miles up the road. They've got a shed with a cover there, and some benches," my father said. "Why don't y'all get in the car and I'll run you up there."
The man thought about it for a moment, and then he beckoned to his family. They climbed into the car. They had no luggage, only the clothes they were wearing.
Once they settled in, my father looked back over his shoulder and asked the children if Santa had found them yet. Three glum faces mutely gave him his answer.
"Well, I didn't think so," my father said, winking at my mother, "because when I saw Santa this morning, he told me that he was having trouble finding all, and he asked me if he could leave your toys at my house. We'll just go get them before I take you to the bus stop."
All at once, the three children's faces lit up, and they began to bounce around in the back seat, laughing and chattering.
When we got out of the car at our house, the three children ran through the front door and straight to the toys that were spread out under our Christmas tree. That was the Christmas when my sisters and I learned the joy of making others happy.
When they left, my father reached into his pocket and pulled out two dollars, which was all he had left. He pressed the money into the man's hand. The man tried to give it back, but my father insisted. “Take it. I've been broke before, and I know what it's like when you can't feed your family." We left them there at the bus stop in Winborn. As we drove away, I watched out the window as long as I could, looking back at the little girl hugging her new doll.
1.For the majority, what the story impresses most on us is __________.
A. father’s kind offer to the family in the rain
B. mother’s generosity to give all our Christmas presents away
C. that my sister and I had no alternative as to my parents’ decision
D. that the family who got help seemed to be indifferent
2.The writer didn’t get the Christmas presents, but he/she was happy. The reason was_________.
A. his/her parents taught his/her a good lesson
B. they learned the joy of making others happy
C. they would get another presents somewhere else
D. they were likely to get more presents from others
3.We can draw a conclusion from the story that _________.
A. only you help others heart and soul can you feel more happy
B. God helps those who help themselves
C. Present rose to others with fragrance lingering at hand.
D. Happiness takes no account of time
4.After reading the story, you will have the feeling of _________.
A. great happiness B. light sadness
C. little sorrow D. some warmth
The host poured the tea into the cup and placed it on the small table in front of his guests, who were a father and daughter, and the cover on the cup. Apparently thinking of something, he hurried into the inner room, leaving the thermos(热水瓶) on the table. His two guests heard a cupboard opening.
They remained sitting in the sitting room, the ten-year-old daughter looking at the flowers outside the window, the father just about to take his cup, when the crash came, right there in the sitting room. Something was hopelessly broken.
It was the thermos, which had fallen to the floor. The girl looked over her shoulder, shocked, staring. It was mysterious. Neither of them touched it, not even a bit. True, it hadn’t stood steadily when their host placed in on the table, but it hadn’t fallen then.
The explosion caused the host to rush back. Gawking at the steaming floor, the host said, “It doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter!”
The father started to say something. Then he said softly, “Sorry, I touched it and it fell.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said the host.
When they left the house, the daughter said, “Daddy, did you touch it?”
“No, but it stood so close to me.”
“But you did not touch it. I saw your reflection in the window glass.”
The father laughed. “What would you give as the cause of its fall?”
“The thermos fell by itself. The floor is not smooth. Daddy, why did you say that you…”
“That won’t do, girl. It sounds more acceptable when I say I knocked it down. There are things which people accept less the more you defend. The truer the story you tell, the less true it sounds.”
The daughter was lost in silence for a while. Then she said, “Can you explain it only in this way?”
“Only in this way,” her father said.
1.Which statement is a possible theme of this story?
A. People should take the blame for what they didn’t do.
B. People rarely tell the truth.
C. If you defend yourself, people will believe you.
D. You can’t always make people believe the truth.
2.The underlined phrase “Gawking at” probably means ___________.
A. staring at with anger
B. looking at curious
C, looking at in a dull way
D. glancing at hopelessly
3.It can be inferred from the story that the father____________.
A. didn’t know the host well
B. didn’t think the host would believe the truth
C. was sorry that he told the truth
D. felt satisfied that he didn’t tell the truh
4.From the story we know that the daughter ___________ .
A. thought her father should tell the truth
B. didn’t know why the thermos fell
C. glancing at hopelessly
D. looking at in a dull way
We don’t know how different our life in the future. We can only try to imagine it.
At first we think about human relationship. In the year 2050, we will use computers almost every day, we will be making new friends through the Internet--- even our husbands or wives will be met in this way. It will be much faster and easier for us. On the other hand, our relationships with people won’t be as important as they are today--- we will feel a little lonely.
Computers will also help us in many other activities in 2050. For example, they will be used by the children at school to make their learning easier. In addition, there will be more other machines which will play a similar role as computers, like robots which will do the housework for us.
Spending holidays will also be completely different. Traveling to other planets or to the moon will be available for everyone. Means of transport will, of course, change, too. We will be using solar-powered cars, which will be much environmentally friendly.
We could expect that the faster economic development would lead to a more polluted environment. But it isn’t true. We will pay more attention to protecting the environment. Scientists will probably find cures for many dangerous diseases, like cancer or AIDS. Therefore, our surroundings as well as health will be in better condition.
Although we cannot predict the exact changes which will be made in the world, we often think about them. We worry about our and our children’s future; we have expectation, hopes as well as fears. But I think we should be rather sanguine about our future. We should be happy and believe good things will happen.
1.The underlined word “sanguine” in the last paragraph most probably means __________.
A. disappointed B. surprised
C. curious D. optimistic
2.According to the passage, which of the following will happen in 2050?
A. It will not be difficult for people to travel to other plants.
B. Our environment will be much polluted with a growing number of cars.
C. The way of spending holidays will be the same as that of today
D. The relationship between people will be more important than today.
3.The third paragraph mainly tells__________.
A. that computers will do all the things for human being
B. how people will use robots to do housework.
C. that machines like computer and robots will help people a lot.
D. how people will use computer to communicate with each other.
4.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. What high technology will appear in the year 2050.
B. What our life will be like in the year 2050.
C. How people will communicate in the year 2050.
D. How people will travel and spend their holidays in the year 2050.
My class and I visited Chris Care Center in Phoenix, Arizona to comfort the old people who needed a little cheering up during the holiday season.
The first two there were for persons requiring help in taking care of themselves. We sang for them. They loved our sweet songs and the flowers that we left with them.
As we were on the third floor for old people with Alzheimer (老年痴呆症), most of them off at the walls or floor. However, one lady my eye. She was sitting by the door, in a wheelchair, singing songs to herself. They weren’t the songs that we were singing; at least they didn’t like that. As we got with each festive song, she did as well. The louder we got, the louder she sang. she was singing, she was also out to us with her hands and body. I knew that I should have gone over to her, but I thought that my were to my students. People who worked at the care center could to her, I thought. Just when I stopped feeling about not giving her the attention she needed, one of my students, Justin, showed me what the holiday season is really about.
Justin also the same lady. The difference between us is that he on her needs, but I didn’t. During the last song, “Silent Night,” Justin walked over to her and held her hand. He looked this aged lady in her and with his actions said, “You are important, and I will take my to let you know that.”
This tired, elderly lady stopped singing and held his hand. Then she touched his cheek with the other hand. Tears began to fall down her face. No can completely describe that touching moment.
It a boy to teach me, a man, about kindness and love. Justin’s example of a complete, selfless attitude toward another was a that I will never forget. He was the teacher that day, and I consider myself to have witnessed his lesson.
1.A. rooms B. building C. floors D. groups
2.A. bravely B. beautifully C. madly D. shyly
3.A. dancing B. meeting C. gathering D. singing
4.A. stared B. shut C. paid D. glared
5.A. looked B. escaped C. caught D. hurt
6.A. appear B. sound C. hear D. feel
7.A. higher B. nearer C. faster D. louder
8.A. As B. Because C. Since D. Though
9.A. moving B. reaching C. coming D. spreading
10.A. interests B. abilities C. feelings D. responsibilities
11.A. attend B. object C. speak D. compare
12.A. afraid B. sure C. guilty D. scary
13.A. feared B. avoided C. helped D. noticed
14.A.called B. acted C. insisted D. kept
15.A. tears B. hands C. eyes D. face
16.A. cheek B. flower C. body D. time
17.A. words B. poems C. expressions D. songs
18.A. caused B. wasted C. took D. made
19.A. message B. lesson C. activity D. class
20.A. lucky B. foolish C. right D. clever
At the door Winston looked back, but O'Brien seemed already to be in process of putting him ________.
A. out of sight B. out of reach
C. out of mind D. out of order
