It was lunchtime and I walked into a small branch bank on the West Side. I had come to __ a checking account. The only officer on __ was a fortyish black man, standing __ a small counter from a young white boy who was wearing a V-necked sweater. I thought I was especially __ of the boy because he looked more like from a prep school than a __ in a West Side bank.
The boy continued to __ my attention because of what happened next. He was holding an open savings-account book and __ an expression of disappointment. “But I don’t understand. I opened the account myself, so why can’t I __ any money?” the boy said, his voice breaking.
“I know it is, but those are the rules. I’ve already explained to you that a fourteen-year-old is not __ to withdraw money without a letter from his parents,” the officer explained patiently.
Suddenly I noticed the __ had a series of small deposits (存款)and withdraws. Then I questioned the officer, “How do you __ that? Why did you let him withdraw money before, but not now?” He looked __ . “Because the tellers were not aware of his age before and now they are. It’s really very __” I turned to the boy with a shrug. “You’re really getting __,” I said. “You ought to get your parents to come here and protest.” The boy looked destroyed. __, he put his savings book in a rear-pocket and walked out of the bank.
The officer turned to me. “You know,” he said, “you really shouldn’t have got __.” I couldn’t believe what he was saying. “We were __ this morning that some neighborhood bully has been shaking down (敲诈) this boy for more than a month. The guy was __ him to take money out every week and hand it over. The poor kid was __ too scared to tell anyone. Anyway, the police are on the case and they’ll probably make a(n) __ today.”
“You mean there is no rule about being too young to withdraw money from a savings account?”
“Not that I ever heard of. Now, sir, what can we do for you?”
1.A. make B. open C. buy D. choose
2.A. duty B. board C. display D. business
3.A. on B. after C. over D. across
4.A. sure B. proud C. aware D. afraid
5.A. guard B. customer C. clerk D. manager
6.A. attract B. pay C. attach D. control
7.A. achieving B. finding C. reaching D. wearing
8.A. use B. spend C. withdraw D. bank
9.A. supported B. inspired C. encouraged D. allowed
10.A. letter B. account C. note D. message
11.A. think B. explain C. do D. claim
12.A. annoyed B. disappointed C. confused D. amused
13.A. difficult B. strange C. fantastic D. simple
14.A. obeyed B. stolen C. cheated D. caught
15.A. Happily B. Silently C. Cheerfully D. Nervously
16.A. Interacted B. interrupted C. Involved D. infected
17.A. occupied B. discovered C. suggested D. Informed
18.A. rushing B. forcing C. requesting D. begging
19.A. hardly B. unwillingly C. apparently D. eagerly
20.A. arrest B. sentence C. apology D. difference
A few things to do during weekends
to improve your life
Weekend at last! Something you’re so looking forward to after a tiring week at work. Here are several tips on how to make the most of your weekends.
Spend time with loved ones. Reconnect with family members or friends you neglected(疏忽) lately. Don’t do it out of guilt or because you have to. Do it because you want to. Reach out to them to see how they are doing. 1. Return their calls if you were busy when they last tried to reach you. Talk to them. Listen to them. Be there for them.
2. Stay away from TV, iPad, iPhone and any other electronic devices. Unplug! Your brain needs to clear up from all the stress you’ve put on yourself during the week. Why not read a book instead? A paper one. Seriously, when was the last time you did that?
Laugh, laugh and laugh again. You can never have enough of it. Laugh is the best medicine ever. 3. For example, it helps you manage stress, strengthen your immune system and you are 40 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack.
Express appreciation. 4. Be grateful for your family, friends, health, the food you put on the table, the clothes you wear and the air that you breathe.
There you are. Doing a few things during weekends will have a positive long-term effect on your life. 5. .
A. Apply the “no technology” rule.
B. Pause and pay attention to your thoughts.
C. Friendship is the best source of happiness.
D. Don’t call them only when you need them.
E. Put them into practice and you’ll beat the Monday Blues.
F. It benefits your mental and physical health in so many ways.
G. This is something you should be doing every day, not only on weekends.
My friend Kathy and I were going to Colorado Springs for holiday. The only problem was, I didn’t have any luggage to pack my belongings in.
My friend Debbie offered to lend me a suitcase that belonged to her father, who had passed away long ago. “I don’t know if you’ll want to use it,” she said so gently, “it’s very old, worn out, and such an ugly yellow color." I was so touched by her offer to lend something that belonged to her father, but I was also concerned about the possibility of it being damaged or lost. She insisted that I take it. So with the suitcase safely in hand, I boarded the train with Kathy.
We spent two days and one night on the train, sleeping in our seats. As we slept, we were awakened at times, by the noises of the train pulling in and out of the stations.
The next morning we eagerly awaited the announcement: Next stop, Colorado Springs. But suddenly, there came another announcement over the loud speaker. “During one of the overnight stops, many pieces of luggage were mistakenly removed from the train and left at the wrong location.”
Kathy and I just looked at each other, as I felt the disappointment swell. Could my worst fear be coming true, was Debbie’s suitcase lost?
Just then two train conductors passed our seats. One of them jokingly said to the other, “Did you ever see such an old, ugly, brighter yellow, piece of luggage in all of your life?”
Before the other conductor could answer, I screamed, “YES, MY SUITCASE MADE IT!”
The two conductors stopped in their tracks! and, very red in the face, couldn’t seem to apologize enough for having insulted my suitcase.
When I returned it, I couldn’t wait to get the suitcase back into Debbie’s safe hands. She asked, “Did everything go well on the trip?” Somehow. I just couldn’t resist telling her what had happened. She laughed heartily.
When I recall the golden suitcase, Fm reminded, that like the suitcase, we can see ourselves as too old, useless, worn out, and of little value. Or, we can take a closer look and realize that we are one of God’s most valued creations -- unique, and holding inside our most valuable possessions -- that of love, faith, hope, and wisdom.
1.Hearing the announcements, the author .
A. was happy to reach the destination
B. felt angry at the service on the train
C. feared that the suit case might be lost
D. asked the conductors to look for the suitcase
2.How did the two conductors feel when the author claimed her suitcase?
A. Puzzled. B. Embarrassed.
C. Astonished. D. Amused.
3.From the last paragraph we can learn that .
A. a friend in need is a friend indeed
B. God helps those who help themselves
C. inner beauty is more important than appearance
D. a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. The Golden Suitcase. B. An Unforgettable Trip.
C. A Warm-hearted Friend. D. Two Impolite Conductors.
Adult Basic Education (ABE) Preparation
Task
The ABE Department serves a huge population of learners. Our task is to teach basic skills and help learners to get more knowledge to function effectively as a family member, citizen, worker, and lifelong learner in a changing world.
Description
ABE Is a non-credit program of self-improvement designed to improve basic skills for students who are of different educational levels. Development of reading, writing, and math skills are paid special attention to, as well as life skills, employability, and technology. Students without a high school diploma also have the opportunity to prepare for the GED (General Equivalency Diploma) exams in the five subject areas: writing, social studies, science, literature, and math.
Prerequisites (条件)
ABE classes are open to anyone 18 or over who desires to improve basic reading, writing, and math skills at the pre-college level. Students who are 16 or 17 must obtain an official permission from high school before attending class.
To be accepted, students must attend an Educational Planning Session. During the Educational Planning Session students will be given an overview of the ABE programs as well as PCC policies, fees, etc.
Students will also have their reading, writing, and math abilities assessed (评估> during the Educational Planning Session. The results of their assessments will help the teachers develop individual programs of study for students to guide them toward their personal goals. Students needing special help must get in touch with the Office for Students with Disabilities (503-977-4341) at least two weeks before the session is held.
Courses
ABE 0741: Beginning Literacy
ABE 0742: Beginning
ABE 0743: Intermediate I
ABE 0744: Intermediate II
ABE 0745: Secondary I
ABE 0746: Secondary II (Includes preparation for the GED Test)
1.The ABE Department serves an aim to .
A. provide learners with basic knowledge and skills to fit in with society
B. help learners successfully get a job in a changing world
C. offer diplomas to those who fail to finish secondary education
D. provide students with opportunities to prepare for the GED exams
2.A 17-year-old student is not accepted to ABE classes only because he .
A. is below eighteen
B. can’t offer a high school diploma
C. can’t provide an official permission from high school
D. is assessed as poor in learning
3.Different courses are offered to different students according to .
A. their own choices
B. the assessments during the Education Planning Session
C. their performances in school
D. how much they pay for the courses
Recently, professor of philosophy (哲学)in the United States has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our daily life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value in life.
He says our relations with others often become dearly defined (清晰的）when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful relationship with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend some money. If he does, it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before or it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn’t. This person may say that he has a certain feeling, but if it is not carried out in the money world, there is something less real about it.
Since money is so important to us, we consider those who possess a lot of it to be very important. The author interviewed some millionaires in researching his book.
Question: What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich, because you are a self-made man?
Answer: The most surprising thing is how people give me so much respect. I am nothing. I don’t know much. All I am is rich.
People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? How much do I need for any given purposes in my life? In his book, the professor uncovered an important need in modem society: to bring back the idea that money is an instrument rather than the end. Money plays an important role in the material world, but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life.
1.According to the first paragraph, people have not realized .
A. how important money is in their daily life
B. how one spends money shows what is important to him
C. that money is more important than their philosophy of life
D. that their understanding of life is more important than money
2.The author seems to believe that asking your friend to lend you some money .
A. is a good way to test your friendship B. will do harm to your friendship
C. will strengthen your friendship D. is a good way to break off your friendship
3.The underlined phrase “enter the picture” in the second paragraph can be replaced by “ ”.
A. is used up B. is spent on pictures
C. is paid in the right way D. is paid attention to
4.What can we learn about the millionaire from his answer in the interview?
A. He doesn’t feel that he is well educated.
B. He doesn’t think he is a very important person.
C. He doesn’t consider himself to be very successful.
D. He doesn’t think that being rich deserves so much attention.
I remember my mother as a strong woman. She came to America when she was 12—old enough to remember her language, she achieved scores and grades high enough to be admitted to Duke University. With a degree in computer science, she finally became the manager of a company in New York. My mother could give fluent speeches, say “wolves” correctly.
It was my mother who always stressed the importance of language. From the time I was born, I was read to. I would fall asleep to the sounds of my parents’ voices, whether it was my dad’s softly accented, or my mother’s clear English. The flow of language was unbroken, and whether in Chinese or English, the stream of communication flowed through our house.
One October morning in sixth grade, after my mother had left to catch the train to the city, I left the house for the bus stop. I was surprised when I saw our car, the door hanging open. As I drew closer, I saw my mother lying on the ground.
In the hospital, it was hard to believe that the lady who lay before me was my mom. My mother could not remember my name. As the leaves changed colors, it became clear that the stroke had created a wall between my mothers mind and mouth: her mind was not any less dear, but the words she spoke were not what she meant.
The battle my mother faced taught me the importance of language. Without it, identity does not exist; relationships cannot be formed; stories cannot be told; directions cannot be given, and knowing anything about anyone is impossible. Without language, communication cannot take place. Without language, one cannot express the beauty of a sunset or the kindness of a stranger. The world would pass us by in silence.
1.From where might the author’s mom come to America?
A. China B. England
C. Russia D. Canada
2.According to the last two paragraphs, the author’s mom was unable to .
A. think clearly B. express herself well
C. speak D. open her mouth.
3.The underlined word “stroke” in the 4th paragraph most probably refers to .
A. an accident B. a hit
C. an illness D. a robbery
4.This passage is mainly about .
A. a strong mother B. the importance of language
C. a family disaster D. the significance of teaching language
