It was the week before Christmas, and the line at the post office snaked twice around the lobby(大厅). It seemed that no one was moving. The office looked like an exhibit in the Postal Wax Museum. I came to the self-service machine where the line was much shorter.
I don’t like self-service. I tell people it’s because I don’t approve of taking jobs away from people, but the real problem is that I’m not good at it. The machine always asks me something I don’t know the answer to. I hate this. I am a retired letter carrier, and we moved mail in the old-fashioned way hand to hand, human to human. We were fast, friendly, and frequently accurate.
The woman in the front of the line was clicking away at the screen. And the clicks were surprisingly loud. Any signs of hesitation on her part were telegraphed to the whole lobby. I felt sorry for her: The machine could smell fear. The next person took a long time, too. I breathed deeply. By the time it was my turn, I had the heart rate of a yogi(瑜伽修行者).
Under the weight of concern from the people in line behind me, I felt a growing obligation to minimize the seconds between clicks. Finally it was time to slide in a credit card. The machine didn’t take it. “Try putting it in the other way” the gentleman behind me suggested. No good.
“I’ve got a different card,” I said, and fished around for that one, beginning to sweat. The machine wanted a PIN, but not the one I suggested.
“Start over.” I clicked, intending to try the first card again.
Oh no. I had to start all over again.
“I’ m sorry,” I said, looking back, sheepish. “I guess I don't know what I’m doing. You all go ahead.”
“Don’t give up,” said the nice man behind me. “Try it again. We’re all friends here, right?”
Smiles were blooming all down the line. I tried again, clicked with deliberation and sincerity, and introduced my credit card as though I were presenting it to the queen. Finally, I made it!
I couldn’t have been happier. Everyone burst into applause. Comfort and joy!
1.What do we know about the post office?
A.It was pretty large. B.Something went wrong there.
C.It was very busy at Christmas. D.Efficient services were provided.
2.While waiting for his turn, the author was .
A.a little excited B.totally relaxed
C.bored and impatient D.nervous and anxious
3.What does the underlined word “sheepish” in Paragraph 8 mean?
A.Grateful B.Surprised
C.Embarrassed D.Determined
4.What did the man behind the author do?
A.He rushed the author. B.He laughed at the author.
C.He mailed for the author. D.He encouraged the author.
Author Talks &Lectures in the Toronto Public Library
Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition
Thu Apr 27, 2019
1:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Watson on the epic hunt for the lost Franklin Expedition and the rare mix of marine science and Inuit knowledge that led to the shipwreck’s (海难的) recent discovery.
No registration required.
Toronto 1910: Tales of Our Past: Clergy and Convicts
Tue May 02, 2019
12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m.
Location: Barbara Frum
Learn about your city’s history and participate in reading and slide show featuring excerpts(节选) from a new historical fiction novel series.
To register, please call 416-395-5440.
Beneath the African Sun with Author Maria Lynch
Wed May 03, 2019
7:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Location: Bloor/Gladstone
Join us for a book talk and Q &A with Maria Lynch, the author of Beneath the African Sun. Beneath the African Sun is a migrant’s story about moving from Portuguese India to British East Africa during the early 20th century. More than a history, it is a story about family, home, social justice and what it means to truly belong somewhere.
Drop in. No registration required.
The Science of Shakespeare
Wed May 10, 2019
7:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m.
Location: Beaches
William Shakespeare lived in the first stage of the scientific revolution. New ideas about the human body, the earth, and the universe were transforming western thought—and—yet “Shakespeare” and “science” are rarely talked about in the same breath. Dan Falk will explore Shakespeare’s interest in the scientific discoveries of his time—asking what he knew, when he knew it, and how that knowledge is reflected in his works.
No registration necessary.
1.Where can you hear a lecture by a Pulitzer-Prize winner?
A.Beaches. B.City Hall.
C.Barbara Frum. D.Bloor/Gladstone.
2.For which event do you need to register?
A.The Science of Shakespeare.
B.Beneath the African Sun with Author Maria Lynch.
C.Toronto 1910: Tales of Our Past: Clergy and Convicts.
D.Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition.
3.What can be inferred from the last lecture?
A.Shakespeare was interested in the universe.
B.Science is touched upon in Shakespeare’s works.
C.The scientific revolution changed Shakespeare’s thought.
D.Shakespeare had a deep understanding of the scientific revolution.
Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
假设你是陈芳。你的好友王敏是新华中学的学生，下个月将去英国的姐妹校交流访问。王敏想拍摄一个短片，向英国的同学和老师介绍自己的学校。她通过邮件向你征求意见。写一封回信，内容须包括:
1、短片的主题以及与之匹配的主要内容；
2、你选择这些内容的理由。
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Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1.我家门口的街道成天车水马龙。(crowd)
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2.中国女排成功卫冕世界冠军，给全国人民以极大的鼓舞。(succeed)
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3.本次“城市公共交通周”的活动旨在提高公众节能环保的意识。(aim)
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4.我实在想不通为什么大伙儿都觉得他这个人高不可攀，我印象中他挺和蔼可亲的。(strike)
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Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
The Decline of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the range of living things in an area. During the last 100 years, scientists have seen a great decline in biodiversity. Some studies show that one in eight plant species is threatened with extinction. It is estimated that 140,000 species of plants are lost each year.
Most of the extinctions in the last thousand years are due to humans. The main cause is the chopping down of tropical rain forests. Most of this destruction is done to create pasture (牧场) for beef cattle. Many rainforests in Central and South America have been burnt down to make way for cattle farming, which supplies beef to the rest of the world. It is estimated that for each pound of beef produced, 200 square feet of rainforest are destroyed. The forests are also cut down to make wheat for bread as well as fruit for human consumption.
The introduction of exotic (外来的) species is another threat. The latest research from the University of Southampton has revealed the impact of exotic species upon native wildlife, which could potentially lead to the extinctions of local species. When exotic species are introduced to a place, they try to establish a self-sustaining population. While the local species, which haven’t had a chance to evolve, often lack defenses and thus cannot compete against the exotic species.
The disappearance of certain food animals can be disastrous not only to larger animals but also to the entire ecosystem. It is these small creatures which convert much of the energy in an ecosystem from unusable (i.e. microscopic plants, decaying matter, etc.) into usable forms, namely their bodies. Their absence makes most energy and nutrients trapped in forms unusable to other species. This makes the environment less suitable for healthy living, and less capable of producing resources that humans need.
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Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.
Essential Creativity
In a recent survey in America, 62% of people said that creativity was more important to success in the workplace than they had anticipated it would be when they were in school.
1. It is of course possible to scan people’s brains and see which parts are firing when an idea is created, but rather more romantically it can be thought of as something that cannot be identified. Creativity is what comes to you when you least expect it. You cannot demand creativity from your mind, nor can you demand that you are creative in a particular way.
One misconception about creativity is that it is reserved for a few special people. This is not true. 2. Another misconception is that creativity is all about the arts but this simply isn’t true: creativity extends to maths and science in just the way it does to music and literature.
Those who see things differently to others and are confident enough to make their ideas a reality are the ones who make the greatest changes in the world. Consequently, it is incredibly important that schools do not prevent creativity. 3. Students should be taught to ask questions and investigate when things do not make sense. They need to learn to view mistakes as opportunities for learning rather than something that was unsuccessful.
It is worrying that many schools are less concerned now with nurturing creativity when this is the most important time in history for it. It used to be that people worked hard, went to university, and got a job. That was it. But now, everyone works hard, goes to university — and there aren’t the jobs out there that guarantee a safe future. 4. We can use it to set ourselves apart, and channel it to face the challenges of the future.
A. Creativity is associated with many factors.
B. Rather, they should work to expand, grow, and exercise it.
C. Without creativity, we are indistinguishable from the masses.
D. However, creativity can be acquired at any age.
E. It’s hard to work out where exactly creativity comes from.
F. Everyone has the capacity to be creative.
