Many people think a telephone is a necessity. But I think it is of great harm and a time waste. Very often you find it impossible to escape from it. If you have a telephone in your own house, you will admit that it tends to ring when you least want it to ring: when you are asleep or in the middle of a meal or a conversation, or when you are just going out, or when you are in your bath. Are you strong-minded enough to ignore it? You are not. You think there may be some important news or message for you. I can assure you that if a message is really important it will reach you sooner or later. Have you ever gone to answer a telephone in a hurry from the bath, or from the table, or from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong number?
But you will say, you need not have your name printed in the telephone directory, and you can have a telephone which is only usable for outgoing calls. Besides, you will say, isn’t it important to have a telephone in case of sudden emergency---illness, accident, or fire? Of course, you are right, but here in a thickly populated country like England one is seldom far from a telephone in case of dreadful necessity.
I think perhaps I had better try to justify myself by trying to prove that what I like is good. I admit that in different circumstances---if I were a wealthy and powerful businessperson, for instance, or badly ill and had to lie in bed. I might find a telephone a necessity. But then if I were a taxi-driver I should find a car a necessity. Let me put it another way: there are two things for which the English seem to show particular talent: one is mechanical invention, the other literature. My own business happens to be with the use of words but I see I must now stop using them. For I have had just been handed a piece of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important.
Title: The 1. | |
Different 2. towards it | Many people: It is 3. when one wants to make a call, especially in time of emergency. The author: It can 4. time and even be 5. . Not everyone, 6. a businessperson or a sick person who has to stay in bed, needs it. |
Problems with it | It7. to ring when one doesn’t want it to ring. Almost 8. can ignore it even if they want to. One 9. to answer it only to find that he is a wrong number. Anyway, one has to answer it, because it may be something10. . |
Seventy years ago I was quite a small little girl, the baby of the family, with an older brother and sister. My father was very ill at the time, and my mother took in sewing(缝纫) of any kind so we could live. She would sew far into the night with an old sewing machine. She never complained even when the food would be very scarce. She would sew until the early hours of morning.
Things were very bad that particular winter. Then a letter came from where her sewing machine was bought, saying that they would have to pick up her machine the next day unless payments were brought up to date. I remember when she read the letter I became frightened; I could picture us starving to death and all sorts of things that could come to a child‘s mind. My mother did not appear to be worried, however, and seemed to be quite calm about the matter. I, on the other hand, cried myself to sleep, wondering what would become of our family. Mother said God would not disappoint her, that he never had. I couldn‘t see how God was going to help us keep this old sewing machine.
The day when the men came for our machine arrived. There was a knock at the kitchen door. I was frightened as a child would be, for I was sure it was those men who would take away our sewing machine. Instead, a nicely dressed man stood at our door with a darling baby in his arms.
He asked my mother if she was Mrs. Hill. When she said she was, he said, "I‘m in trouble this morning and you have been recommended by the druggist and grocer down the street as an honest and wonderful woman. My wife was rushed to the hospital this morning, and since we have no relatives here, and I must open my dentist office, I have nowhere to leave my baby. Could you possibly take care of her for a few days?" He continued, "I will pay you in advance." With this he took out ten dollars and gave it to my mother.
Mother said, "Yes, yes, I will be glad to do so," and took the baby from his arms. When the man left, my mother turned to me with tears streaming down a face that looked as though a light was shining on it. She said, "I knew God would never let them take away my machine."
1.The turning point in the story may refer to ______.
A. a letter to the family
B. the man’s coming for help
C. the man’s wife being rushed to the hospital
D. the nicely dressed man’s trouble
2.Why did the man turn to the writer’s mother for help?
A. The people around him recommended the mother to him.
B. He was familiar with the mother.
C. The mother had sewn for him.
D. The mother was hired by the man.
3.According to the text all the following are true to the man EXCEPT _____.
A. his wife stayed in hospital
B. he was confused when in trouble
C. he had few men to turn to for help
D. he was a dentist
4.What does mother mean by saying “I knew God would never let them take away my machine?”
A. God can solve all the problem.
B. The sewing machine is my only support.
C. Never give up when in trouble.
D. Everybody should believe in God.
A scientist turns out to be able to see the future by offering each of four-year-olds a piece of candy and watching how he or she deals with it. Some children reach eagerly for the candy they see. Some last a few minutes before they give in. But others are determined to wait until the last moment.
By the time the children reach high school, something amazing has happened. A survey found that those who as four-year-olds had enough self-control to hold out generally grew up to be more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. The children who gave in to temptation (诱惑) early were more likely to be lonely, easily upset in time of difficulties and inflexible (固守己见的).
Actually, the ability to delay reward is a sign of emotional intelligence which doesn’t show up on an IQ test.
The hardware of the brain and the software of the mind have long been scientists’ concerns. But brain theory can’t explain what we wonder about most, like the question why some people remain upbeat in the face of troubles that would defeat a less resistant (有抵抗力的) person.
Here comes the theory of Daniel Goleman, writer of Emotional Intelligence: when it comes to predicting people’s success, brain ability as measured by IQ may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as “character”.
EQ is not the opposite of IQ. What researchers have been trying to understand is how they work together; how one’s ability to handle stress, for instance, affects the ability to concentrate and put intelligence to use. Among the ingredients (要素) for success, researchers now generally agree that IQ counts for about 20%; the rest depends on everything from social class to luck.
While many researchers in this relatively new field are glad to see emotional issues finally taken seriously, some few fear EQ invites misuse.
1.Why does the author mention the experiment at the beginning of the text?
A. To introduce the topic of the text.
B. To prove the scientist’s wisdom.
C. To amuse both the children and readers.
D. To show us how to do an IQ test.
2.The experiment with the four-year-olds makes it clear that .
A. the age of 4 is a proper time for scientific experiment
B. emotional intelligence won’t show up until adolescence
C. the ability of self-control plays a role in personal success
D. candy can be used to measure a person’s emotional intelligence
3.The underlined word “upbeat” in Paragraph 4 probably means .
A. kind B. positive
C. floating D. negative
4.Which of the following is TRUE of EQ and IQ according to the text?
A. There is no link between EQ and IQ.
B. The higher a person’s IQ is, the higher his or her EQ is.
C. Some people can be blessed with lots of both, but some with little of either.
D. Scientists are trying to discover the way in which EQ and IQ work together.
The morning had been a disaster．My tooth was aching, and I’d been in an argument with a friend．Her words still hurt, “The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place．Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head stubbornly---and felt the ache in my tooth．I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable．I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately．Finally, at about lunchtime, l got lucky．
“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in．”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car．But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist．What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around．I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried．The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one．
When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry．The dentist is very good．”
“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked impatiently．
“Come on, he is coming．Just lie down and relax．And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said，“The artwork?” I was puzzled．
The chair went back．Suddenly I smiled．There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling．How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, l began to understand what my friend meant by her words．
What a relief!
1.Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?
A. Cheerful. B. Nervous. C. Satisfied. D. Upset.
2.What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?
A. The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.
B. The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.
C. The surroundings of the dentist’s office.
D. The laughing assistant of the dentist.
3.What does the author want to tell us in the text?
A. Strike while the iron is hot.
B. Have a good word for one’s friend.
C. Put yourself in others’ shoes.
D. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
General Airport Tips
Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will reduce the stress of the flight．If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a meal before the flight．
Flight Delays
Find out why your flight is delayed．Call the free call numbers．Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays．If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion （怀疑） and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same air-line or a competing one．This is called "Rule 240", and all airlines are required to do it．Use the lingo （行话）; ask, "Can you 240 me?" when speaking with an agent．They will know what you mean．
Flight Cancellations（取消）
If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination．Usually, air-line officials will try to book everyone on their next flight out．Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it．
Getting bumped（不能登机）
To avoid getting bumped, you must be at the loading gate at least 10 minutes ahead of scheduled departure for a U.S. Flight, 20 minutes to /from Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico and 30 to/ from all other international points．You must be at the loading gate, not the airport entrance．
1.By arriving at the airport earlier, one can _______．
A. get on the airplane immediately
B. reduce the pressure of the flight
C. have a good rest in the airplane
D. buy what he wants in the airport
2.If a person calls "Rule 240", he wants to _______．
A. make sure the time for the next plane
B. get a ticket for the next flight
C. know if other flights are also delayed
D. ask about the cause of the plane delay
3.People heading for Germany must be at the loading gate at least__________．
A.40 minutes ahead of time
B.20 minutes ahead of time
C.30 minutes ahead of time
D.10 minutes ahead of time
4.The purpose in writing this text is to________．
A. show us how to get on a plane
B. tell us what to do before and after a flight
C. put forward suggestions for a flight
D. give us advice on dealing with airlines
I was walking in my school campus from my office to my car at about 9 p.m. On the way, I ran into a who was obviously lost. He asked me for , saying he needed to get to East Palo Alto. But the was that he was walking the complete opposite direction!
I him in the correct direction, but warned him it was a long way off. He didn't speak English very well, and generally seemed without of direction. I quickly felt like helping him. he was a big guy, I got the impression that he was .
I sent him on his way, and I walked away towards my car. Just as he was going out of a short way, something in me clicked, and I offered him a . He gratefully accepted, and he to show me his ID. I declined, but my hand and introduced myself. He said his name was Mario.
Mario followed me to my car. When I unlocked the passenger door for him, he didn't get in I assured him it was fine. As we sat in the car together, I suddenly got . “If this guy wanted, he could hurt me and take my car”, I calling my brother as a safety precaution (预防措施), but then I felt determined not to feel scared.
Mario and I got into some . He told me about his family in Mexico, how he works doesn't ever earn enough, how he live near Fresno and work on the farms but now earns more in the Bay Area. It was good talking to him, though I couldn't shake the nervousness completely. I asking him questions that would give me clues as to whether he was being truthful.
When we got into East Palo Alto, I pulled into a gas station and told him it was as as I could take him. He quickly got out and me several times, saying he could find his way home from there.
Thinking back on it, I am glad to give a ride to Mario. Although it was , I think such things should be done without fear, or not at all. I wouldn't say I'd pick up a hitchhiker（搭车人）again, but I know that if I did, I would make sure I could offer more love and less fear.
1.A. friend B. stranger C. teacher D. beggar
2.A. money B. directions C. education D. books
3.A. problem B. chance C. cause D. effect
4.A. approved B. expressed C. pointed D. announced
5.A. desire B. sense C. feeling D. definition
6.A. While B. Since C. As D. When
7.A. harmless B. interesting C. harmful D. interested
8.A. greeting B. present C. suggestion D. ride
9.A. forced B. offered C. ordered D. commanded
10.A. put up B. turned out C. looked up D. held out
11.A. when B. after C. until D. since
12.A. nervous B. generous C. distant D. familiar
13.A. suggested B. imagined C. considered D. appreciated
14.A. friendship B. conversations C. instructions D. cooperation
15.A. and B. or C. but D. so
16.A. was used to B. used to C. got used to D. being used to
17.A. stopped B. kept C. practiced D. fell
18.A. long B. far C. high D. late
19.A. praised B. encouraged C. warned D. thanked
20.A. fun B. interesting C. risky D. Curious
