Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains. They are a branch of the great Appalachian family, and can be seen to the west rising up to a noble height and towering over the surrounding country. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their beautiful shapes on the clear evening sky, but sometimes when it is cloudless, gray steam gathers around the top of the mountains which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will shine and light up like a crown of glory(华丽的皇冠).
At the foot of these mountains, a traveler may see light smoke going up from a village. In that village, and in one of the houses (which, to tell the exact truth, was sadly time-worn and weather-beaten), there lived many years ago, a simple, good-natured fellow by the name of Rip Van Winkle.
Rip’s great weakness was a natural dislike of all kinds of money-making labor. It could not be from lack of diligence, for he could sit all day on a wet rock and fish without saying a word, even though he was not encouraged by a single bite. He would carry a gun on his shoulder for hours, walking through woods and fields to shoot a few birds or squirrels. He would never refuse to help a neighbor, even in the roughest work. The women of the village, too, used to employ him to do such little jobs as their less helpful husbands would not do for them. In a word, Rip was ready to attend to everybody’s business but his own.
If left to himself, he would have whistled life away in perfect satisfaction; but his wife was always mad at him for his idleness(懒散). Morning, noon, and night, her tongue was endlessly going, so that he was forced to escape to the outside of the house — the only side which, in truth, belongs to a_________
1.Which of the following best describes the Catskill Mountains? ________
A.They are very high and beautiful in this area.
B.They are on the west of the Hudson River.
C.They can be seen from the Appalachian family.
D.They gather beautiful clouds in blue and purple.
2.The hero of the story is probably__________.
A.hard-working and likes all kinds of work
B.gentle, helpful but a little idle
C.simple, idle but very dutiful
D.idle and hates all kinds of jobs
3.The underlined words “henpecked husband” in the last paragraph probably means a man who__________.
A.likes hunting B.is afraid of hens
C.is afraid of his wife D.loves his wife
4.What would be the best title for the text? ________.
A.Catskill Mountains. B.A Mountain Village.
C.A Dutiful Husband. D.Rip Van Winkle.
HOLIDAYS
The Bay Hotel. It's a quiet, comfortable hotel overlooking (俯瞰) the bay in an uncommercialised Cornish fishing village on England's most southerly point. If pop music is no longer your strong point, and you are considering a relaxing holiday where the scenery is breathtaking and the sound of the sea is live music to your ears, come and stay with us. For adults only. Sssh! Don’t tell everyone! 01326 280464
Willapark Manor Hotel. Peaceful situation in 14 acres of separated gardens and woodland, overlooking picturesque bay. Close to coastal path and beach. Excellent cuisine. Our excellent service brings our guests back year after year. Children (reductions) and pets welcome. 01840 770782
The Country Garden Hotel. Delightful hotel set in lovely gardens; calm Island of Wight near Tennyson Downs, Great food! Garden, sea view and ground floor rooms. Please call for brochure (服务指南) and sample menu. Adults only and pets welcome. 0800 980 1943
Boscastle. Romantic 17th Century farmer's cottage in countryside with splendid coastal views. Well equipped. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets/smoking. Garden with furniture. Brochure: 01633 450417
Godshill. 4 star self-served units. Non smoking. Sleeps 2 -4. Open all year. Good walks. Close to pubs. Peaceful. Cosy. No pets. Brochure (服务指南): 01983 840371
The Blakeney Hotel. Overlooking harbour, traditional privately owned friendly hotel with 60 bedrooms, lift, heated indoor pool, spa bath and saunas. Relax, walk, sail, play golf, explore the Norfolk villages, countryside and coast. Special seasonal midweek price for aged citizens. 01263 740797
S W France. Rural setting near Cordes. Two beautifully repainted old houses sleep 4/5 and 6. Gardens, woodland, pool, views, excellent walks. Available all year round. Outstanding. 01962 776967
1.All of the following hotels are close to the sea EXCEPT __________.
A.S W France B.The Blakeney Hotel
C.Willapark Manor Hotel D.The Country Garden Hotel
2.If you want to take your children and your dog with you on holiday, you can choose ______.
A.The Country Garden Hotel B.Willapark Manor Hotel
C.The Bay Hotel D.Boscastle
3.One of the hotels offers special price for __________.
A.young people B.elderly people C.foreign guests D.students
4.The purpose of the passage is to ______________.
A.warn B.advise C.describe D.advertise
Speaking Up
I never looked up when my friends were talking and joking about the ratarded (智障的) boy a few tables away. It didn’t even cross my mind that he might feel _______when people whispered about him. So I just let them talk.
Then came the day when I learned my little brother Martin’s testing for autism (自闭症) came out positive (阳性). I had never thought about him like that. I broke_______, crying.
Everything had just changed. He was no longer a(n) _______little boy.
Over time, I was able to accept his _______a little more. We had to_______because Martin needed treatment. So Martin and I both started at a new school. One day, I was standing in the bus line waiting when a “ short ” bus (for the retarded) came and_______up some kids. The children in the other line started making_______about the “ retarded ” on that bus and I felt a _______feeling in my heart. I said quietly that those comments weren’t very nice, _______no one listened.
My family moved again. In the new school I got a ________ to speak up pretty soon. That day, in a band class, my teacher _________our playing to make some comments, “ …Guys, we’re playing like the kids on the short bus! Come on! ”
The entire room was laughing loudly. I felt very ________. Then, I raised my hand. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but I wanted to be heard.
The whole class ________down. My mouth opened and this came out: “ I don’t think we should make fun of the short bus, because there are people on that bus who have a lot in common with us and have the same feelings as we do.” I could feel my________getting louder. “So I would________it if you didn’t make fun of them.”
The room was very quiet and everyone stared at me. My teacher ________for his words and then started the song again. At the end of the class, everyone was giving me strange looks. But I didn’t _________because I knew three things: I had spoken the ________, I had taught everyone something, and while everyone in the classroom was being a follower, I had ________to take a different path since I wanted to become a ________and a role model.
1.A.amazed B.hurt C.uncertain D.cold
2.A.off B.in C.down D.away
3.A.normal B.noisy C.outstanding D.impressive
4.A.pain B.interest C.opinion D.illness
5.A.change B.move C.quit D.study
6.A.set B.took C.brought D.picked
7.A.jokes B.complaints C.choices D.discoveries
8.A.violent B.strange C.confusing D.clear
9.A.because B.if C.but D.so
10.A.chance B.position C.topic D.point
11.A.encouraged B.bothered C.enjoyed D.stopped
12.A.bad B.embarrassed C.tense D.guilty
13.A.sat B.slowed C.quieted D.looked
14.A.pace B.voice C.pulse D.breath
15.A.excuse B.appreciate C.stand D.permit
16.A.apologized B.fought C.allowed D.argued
17.A.understand B.notice C.return D.care
18.A.wisdom B.importance C.matter D.truth
19.A.helped B.decided C.agreed D.hoped
20.A.reporter B.thinker C.leader D.trainer
— Do you know everyone ________ came to the party?
— No, I donˈt know the one ________ you had a long talk with.
A./; whom B.which; that C.that; which D.who; /
I’m really interested in _____ you have said. Can we discuss some things in detail?
A.all that B.all what C.that D.which
In the game yesterday, our class ______ against Mark's class and we won.
A.had competed B.competed C.has competed D.was competing