An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old son. Suddenly a crow (乌鸦) landed on their window.
The father asked his son, “What is that?”
The son replied, “That is a crow.”
After a few minutes, the father asked his son for the second time, “What is this?”
The son said, “Father, I told you just now. It’s a crow.”
After a little while, the father asked his son the same question for the third time, “What is this?”
This time, the son said to his father in a low and cold tone, “It’s a crow, a crow.”
After a moment, the father yet again asked his son for the fourth time, “What is this?”
This time his son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again? I have told you already, ‘IT IS A CROW’. Are you not able to understand this?”
A minute later the father went to his room and came back with a diary, which he had kept since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page.
Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow suddenly landed on the window edge. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied him 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question. I didn’t at all feel angry, but instead felt affection for my son.
If your parents reach old age, do not look at them as a burden, but speak to them gently, and be kind to them. From today say this aloud, “I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered me with love. I will take care of my old parents in the best way no matter how they behave.”
1.The writer mainly intends to ______ .
A. tell us the function of a diary
B. call on us to love our parents
C. teach us what a crow is
D. introduce a pair of son and father
2.The underlined word “affection” probably means______.
A. Puzzlement. B. Hatred(恨). C. Worry D. Love.
3.We can infer that the father wrote that piece of diary at the age of ______.
A. eighty B. three C. thirty-eight D. forty-five
4.The old man brought out the diary, which he had kept since his son was born, because ______.
A. he forgot what had happened
B. he would like his son to read it
C. it could remind himself of the past
D. he wanted to find what a crow was
My First Marathon（马拉松）
A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do either well. He later informed me that I was ＂not athletic＂.
The idea that I was ＂not athletic＂ stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: ＂GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!＂
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a ＂marathon winner＂.
1.A month before the marathon, the author ____________.
A. was well trained B. felt scared
C. made up his mind to run D. lost hope
2.Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?
A. To acknowledge the support of his teacher.
B. To amuse the readers with a funny story.
C. To show he was not talented in sports.
D. To share a precious memory.
3.How was the author’s first marathon?
A. He made it. B. He quit halfway.
C. He got the first prize. D. He walked to the end.
4.What does the story mainly tell us?
A. A man owes his success to his family support.
B. A winner is one with a great effort of will.
C. Failure is the mother of success.
D. One is never too old to learn.
Some people learn a second language easily.Others have trouble learning a new language.How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel positive about learning English.If you believe that you can learn, you will learn.Be patient.You do not have to understand everything all at once.It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new.We can learn from our mistakes.In other words, do not worry about taking risks.
The second step is to practice your English.For example, write a diary every day.You will get used to writing it in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English.Several weeks later, you will see that your writing is improving.In addition, you must speak English every day.You can practice with your classmates outside class.You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning.You can write this in your journal.After each class, think about what you did.Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it.
You must be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it.It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements.You will enjoy learning English, and you will feel more confident in yourself.
1.When you learn English, you do not need to ________.
A. be patient
B. make mistakes
C. express your ideas in English
D. understand everything all at once
2.What is not helpful for you to enjoy learning English?
A. To communicate in English.
B. To worry about taking risks.
C. To think about what has been done after each class.
D. To make a record of the achievements.
3.What is the main idea of this passage?
A. It is very important to learn a second language.
B. Some people learn a second language easily while other people do not.
C. There are ways to help you learn a second language more easily.
D. Don't worry about taking risks when learning a second language.
4.What does the underlined word “journal” in the 4th paragraph mean?
A. Diary.
B. Composition.
C. Poem.
D. Newspaper.
Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours
Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!
Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)
Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.
Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.
Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (7miles)
Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.
1.Which tour do you need to book in advance?
A. Cherry Blossom like Tour in Washington, D.C.
B. Washington capital Monuments Bicycle Tour.
C. Capital City Bike Tour in Washington.
D. Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour.
2.What will you do on the Capital City Bike Tour?
A. Meet famous people. B. Go to a national park.
C. Visit well-known museums. D. Enjoy interesting stories.
3.Which of the following does the bicycle tour at night provide?
A. City maps. B. Cameras.
C. Meals. D. Safety lights.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What are the people busy with before Christmas?
A. Doing Christmas shopping.
B. Calling on their friends.
C. Doing general cleanings.
2.What is Elizabeth going to buy for her elder brother?
A. A record. B. A watch. C. A toy.
3.Why did Elizabeth fell sorry for Christmas last year?
A. She was ill.
B. Her elder brother didn’t come.
C. She didn’t get any presents.
4.Who do you think Elizabeth is writing to?
A. Her brother. B. A classmate. C. A pen friend.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does Jack think of the snow?
A. Heavy. B. Light. C. Little.
2.What’s the weather be like in the afternoon?
A. A bit colder. B. Very warm. C. Less cold.
3.What’s the woman most probably going to do in the afternoon?
A. Go skating. B. Go out by car. C. Throw snowballs.
4.What can we know about the woman?
A. She still loves snow.
B. She used to love snow.
C. She loves the cold weather.
