My husband and I had been married nearly twenty-two years when I acquired Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a disorder where my immune system (免疫系统) responded to a virus by producing painful blisters (水疱). Although my long-term evaluation was good, I, who had been so fiercely independent, rapidly became absolutely helpless.
My husband, Scott, stepped up to the plate, taking care of kids and cooking dinners. He also became my personal caretaker, applying the medicine to all of my blisters because my hands couldn’t do the job. Needless to say, I had negative emotions, bouncing from embarrassment to shame caused by total reliance on someone other than myself.
At one point when I had mentally and physically hit bottoms I remember thinking that Scott must somehow love me more than I could ever love him. With my illness, he had become the stronger one, and I was the weaker one. And this disturbed me.
I recovered from my illness, but I couldn’t seem to recover from the thought that I loved my husband less than he loved me. This seeming distinction in our love continued to annoy me for the year following my illness.
Then recently Scott and I went on a long bike ride. He’s an experienced cyclist; I’m quite the green hand. At one point with a strong headwind and sharp pain building in my tired legs, I really thought I couldn’t go any further. Seeing me struggle, Scott pulled in front of me and yelled over his shoulder, “Stay close behind me.” As I fell into the draft of his six-foot-three-inch frame and followed his steps, I discovered that my legs quit burning and I was able to catch my breath. My husband was pulling me along again. At this very moment I woke up to what I now believe: during these and other tough times, love has the opportunity to become stronger when one partner learns to lean on the other.
I pray my husband will always be strong and healthy. But if he should ever become the struggling one, whether on a bike ride or with an illness, I trust I’ll be ready to call out to him: stay close behind me — my turn to pull you along.
1.What made the author feel helpless?
A. Her treatment failure.
B. Her husband caring for her too much.
C. Her suffering from illness and losing the previous independence.
D. Her husband stepped up to the plate.
2.Which of the following can best describe the author’s husband?
A. Family-centered. B. Not good at taking action.
C. Career-centered. D. Independent but tired of negative emotions.
3.What did the author’s husband do when going on the long bike ride?
A. Followed her closely. B. Supported her all the way.
C. Gave in to her depression. D. Stopped to take care of her.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. A hopeless husband took good care of his ill wife.
B. A helpful husband cured his wife of blisters.
C. An independent wife shared how her husband had helped her.
D. An appreciative wife showed how her husband had encouraged her.
Shellharbour City Library provides a range of Library Special Needs Services for people who are unable to access our library service in the usual way. As long as you live in Shellharbour City, we’ll provide a full range of library services and resources including: large printed and ordinary printed books, talking books on tape and CD, DVDs and music CDs, magazines, reference and information requests, and so on.You will be asked to complete a “Statement of Need” application form which must be signed by a medical professional.
Home delivery service
Let us know what you like to read and we will choose the resources for you. Our staff will deliver the resources to your home for free. We also provide a service where we can choose the resources for you or someone instead of you choosing the things from the library. You can also choose the resources you need personally.
Talking books and captioned videos
The library can provide talking books for people who are unable to use printed books because of eye diseases. You don’t have to miss out on reading any more when you can borrow talking books from the library. If you have limited hearing which prevents you from enjoying movies, we can provide captioned videos for you at no charge.
Language besides English
We can provide books in a range of languages besides English. If possible, we will request these items from the State Library of NSW(New South Wales), Australia.
How to join
Contact the Library Special Needs Coordinator to register or discuss if you are eligible (合适的) for any of the services we provide—9 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Call 4297-2522 for more information.
1.Library Special Needs Services are provided for .
A. those who are fond of reading
B. only those who have walking disabilities
C. those who can’t get medical help in Shellharbour City
D. people living in Shellharbour City with an illness or disability
2.If people with eye diseases want to learn about history, they can choose .
A. captioned videos B. talking books
C. magazines D. large printed books
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Few entertaining resources are offered here.
B. people with limited hearing have to pay for captioned videos.
C. Books with different languages are available.
D. people have to choose what they need by themselves.
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。
To pollute or not to pollute That is the question. In order to survive, we all need to cause pollution. Factories that process the food we eat, clothes we wear, and cars we drive have to cause pollution. The environment has the ability to absorb our waste or the pollution, but its absorption ability has its limits. If the pollution level is higher than what the environment can cope with, then that's the time when pollution is bad. If the pollution level becomes too high, human health can be affected badly. Then, the productivity level of the sick people is low and the economy suffers. The economy suffers not only because of the lost productivity of the people, but also because the government must pay for the damage the pollution has done to its people. This is the reason why the government prefers taxation policy. Imposing（征收）a tax on firms that pollute the environment can be considered a good strategy, as long as the tax covers all the external costs or the cost of the damage the firm has created during production. Taxation, if enforced（执行）really well, can make firms create a technology that may reduce pollution, if they find out that it will be cheaper than continuously paying the tax. The disadvantage of this policy, however, lies in the possibility that some big firms will find the tax cheap and then they will just produce more and pollute the environment more. If other small firms find the tax expensive, thus closing down, their production will be eaten up by those firms which can afford the tax. Therefore, it is important that lawmakers in each country, when deciding to impose a tax on pollutant emissions, first review and analyze very carefully the real cost of the damage.（307words）
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今天早上，你接到了一个通知你的室友Lily参加社团面试的电话，请你给她写一封便条， 告诉她这件事。 便条的主要内容有：
1.电话的内容；
2.提醒她别忘记。
注意：1. 词数80字左右；
2.可以适当发挥；以使行文连贯。
Sept. 9th
Dear Lily,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Wendy
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
In today’s 1.(globe) economy, English is the international 2. of business. To put it 3.(simple), if you wan tot be 4. success in the business world, you need a high level of English competence. New Future Language School is offering an 5.(excite) course, 6. focuses on English Language skills 7.(use) in areas such as marketing and advertising. A useful overview of different English varieties is also 8.(offer). The 9. of one session is RMB1500, but if you pay 10. advance, you will receive a discount.
I was walking around in a store _______ I saw a Cashier talking to a boy less than 5 or 6 years old. The Cashier said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough money to buy this doll.” Then the little boy _______ me and asked, “Uncle, are you sure I don’t have enough money?”
I counted his cash and nodded. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Out of _______, I asked him who he presented the doll to. “It’s the doll that my sister loved most and longed for it so much. I wanted to _______ her for her Birthday. I have to give the doll to my mommy _______she can give it to my sister when she goes there.” His eyes were so _______ while saying this.
“My Sister _______ to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could give it to my sister.” My heart _______ stopped. Then he showed me a very nice photo _______ him, where he was laughing. He looked up at me, ________: “I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won’t ________ me, I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she ________ my little sister.”
Then he looked again at the doll with grieved eyes, very quietly. I quickly ________ for my wallet and said to the boy. “ ________ we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?” He stared at me ________. I added some of my money to his without his ________ . There was enough for the doll and even some ________ money.
With eyes wide open, the little boy said excitedly, “Thank you God for giving me enough money! I prayed to God to ________ I had enough money to buy this doll. He heard me! I also wished to have some to buy a white rose for mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask ________ . But he gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.”
Two days later, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away. But the ________ that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine.
1.A. when B. while C. since D. though
2.A. went after B. looked after C. turned to D. adjusted to
3.A. excitement B. curiosity C. defense D. confusion
4.A. pass B. give C. hand D. gift
5.A. as if B. so that C. ever since D. in case
6.A. relieved B. grieved C. relaxed D. satisfied
7.A. has gone B. is going C. had gone D. was going
8.A. closely B. almost C. nearly D. just
9.A. in B. to C. by D. of
10.A. adding B. asking C. replying D. suggesting
11.A. doubt B. trust C. forget D. leave
12.A. accompanies B. supports C. visits D. misses
13.A. regained B. reached C. offered D. took
14.A. Suppose B. Imagine C. Considering D. Given
15.A. weakly B. worriedly C. excitedly D. hopefully
16.A. notice B. consent C. praise D. look
17.A. useful B. hidden C. spare D. extra
18.A. ensure B. guarantee C. promise D. commit
19.A. less B. more C. a bit D. a few
20.A. memory B. preference C. interest D. love
