It was very cold and I had been watching a homeless man make himself comfortable in a “shelter” on the river bank. His “shelter” was a tarpaulin (油布) tied to rocks to keep the wind from blowing it away. He had been living there for over a month. I never saw him with warm clothing or food. I knew what I wanted to do.
When I told my parents what I wanted to do they were alarmed. They said I could be putting myself at risk, taking a box to a homeless person at night! But I knew, in my deep heart, that I would be safe.
I got a box. My parents watched as I added warm gloves, a heavy blanket ... into the box until it was full! Then, I put a Christmas card on top. It said, “Even though we hardly know each other, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!” I put ten one-dollar bills inside it as well.
My father insisted he went there with me as it was 10 pm on Christmas Eve. I said he could drive me but he had to stay in the car. He agreed.
I took the box and walked towards his “house”. I called, “Sir, I have a Christmas box for you!”
“Go away!” he shouted.
“Sir,” I repeated.
“Go away!” he shouted.
“Why?” I asked him.
He walked over and I expected to see an angry face. Instead I saw two of the most beautiful, gentle, blue eyes I have ever seen.
“Merry Christmas!” I said.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked.
“Because you matter to me,” I said. With that I gave him the box.
Tears came to his eyes and he thanked me. I got back to the car and watched him carry the box like it was filled with gold. I didn’t want to embarrass (使困窘) him by watching him any more so Dad and I left.
1.The underlined word “alarmed” can best be replaced by _____.
A. pleased B. worried
C. disappointed D. surprised
2.Why did the author ask his father to stay in the car?
A. Because he wanted to prove he was brave.
B. Because he believed the homeless man was bad.
C. Because he wanted to protect his father from being hurt.
D. Because he didn’t want the homeless man to feel bad.
3.When the homeless man saw the author first, he was _____.
A. quite angry B. very excited
C. quite puzzled D. very curious
4.The author’s purpose in writing the text is to tell readers that _____.
A. it is easier said than done
B. poverty is the mother of health
C. where there is a will, there is a way
D. a willing helper does not wait until he is asked
Several years ago a young teacher took a bus to the school where he worked. When he sat down, he that the driver had given him twenty pence too much change by accident. As he what to do, he thought to himself, “I’d better give the twenty pence back. It would be to keep it. ”
Then he thought, “Oh, it, it’s only twenty pence. Who would care about this little amount? , the bus company already gets too much in fares; they will 41 miss it. it as a gift, and keep quiet. These days I have been very because of bad health and I hope the gift can cheer me up.”
When he arrived at his , the teacher paused (暂停) at the door, then he the twenty pence to the driver and said: “Here, you gave me too much .”
The driver smiled and replied: “Don’t you me? I took your science class last year. I am a part-time driver here. I I had given you twenty pence too much. Later I thought why not a joke on you. I just wanted to what you would do I gave you too much change.”
When the young teacher the bus, his knees became weak. He had to catch the nearest street lamp pole (杆) for , and looked up to the sky and cried:
“Oh, I almost lost my , and didn’t pass the !”
1.A. hoped B. discovered C. regretted D. pretended
2.A. explained B. discussed C. considered D. knew
3.A. wrong B. true C. easy D. clever
4.A. believe B. avoid C. throw D. forget
5.A. Instead B. Therefore C. Anyhow D. However
6.A. never B. ever C. forever D. always
7.A. Bring B. Accept C. Show D. Offer
8.A. unhappy B. free C. strange D. angry
9.A. home B. school C. stop D. office
10.A. introduced B. posted C. lent D. returned
11.A. change B. help C. time D. confidence
12.A. find B. doubt C. remember D. refuse
13.A. realized B. expected C. decided D. admitted
14.A. hear B. share C. tell D. play
15.A. ask B. see C. prove D. understand
16.A. unless B. because C. if D. though
17.A. ran for B. waited for C. got on D. got off
18.A. pleasure B. support C. fun D. break
19.A. face B. sense C. money D. way
20.A. lesson B. chance C. risk D. test
I enjoyed the movie very much. I wish I _____ the book from which it was made.
A. have read B. had read
C. should have read D. are reading
If it _____ another ten minutes, the game would have been called off.
A. had rained B. would have rained
C. have seen D. rained
Waving to her family on the platform, _____.
A. sorrow filled the girl’s mind
B. the girl could not hold back tears of sorrow
C. the girl’s mind was filled with sorrow.
D. the train began to move slowly
The novelist knew little about the precious document(文件). _____, he had hardly heard of it before.
A. Instead B. Therefore
C. Actually D. However
