Madeline’s grandma was going through a lot, so the little girl wanted to do something to cheer her up. She made her a special _________ and her grandma loved it!
Four years ago, Madeline’s grandpa _________ unexpectedly from heart failure. MawMaw, Madeline’s grandma, had a very _________ time coming to tears with losing her husband and her health began to _________. Her family were very _________.
Last year Madeline’s grandma received sad _________ just a few weeks before Christmas _______ her that she had lung cancer. She had quite a journey ahead of her and she would be alone for a lot of her _______.
Madeline wanted to find a way to _______ her sweet grandma’s spirits and help her not feel so __________. She thought hard for some time and finally had an __________. She asked to ____________ one of her grandpa’s old T-shirts. MawMaw was __________ about why she wanted it, but she did not ask. Madeline wanted to use the T-shirt to make a blanket for her grandma and ____________ it with her.
The whole ____________ stood around to watch MawMaw ____________ her blanket. She was so excited about the handmade ____________ that her sweet granddaughter had ______________ for her. But she was pleasantly surprised when ____________ that her husband’s shirt was sewn in. “Oh, Madeline!” She cried.
Then she covered the blanket around her. She was so __________ that she began to cry. Now when MawMaw goes to the doctor for her treatments, she will not feel all alone.
1.A. shirt B. blanket C. scarf D. overcoat
2.A. broke down B. turned up C. passed away D. got off
3.A. difficult B. special C. precious D. meaningless
4.A. jump B. decrease C. disappear D. fail
5.A. worried B. astonished C. thrilled D. confused
6.A. stories B. letters C. news D. legends
7.A. convincing B. reminding C. informing D. warning
8.A. operations B. treatments C. tests D. injections
9.A. award B. cure C. fill D. raise
10.A. alone B. asleep C. exhausted D. embarrassed
11.A. advice B. ambition C. impression D. idea
12.A. buy B. observe C. borrow D. design
13.A. concerned B. upset C. enthusiastic D. curious
14.A. share B. surprise C. repay D. bother
15.A. staff B. family C. team D. world
16.A. unlock B. decorate C. unfold D. wrap
17.A. gift B. product C. glove D. souvenir
18.A. made B. invented C. fetched D. bought
19.A. imaging B. seeing C. overlooking D. considering
20.A. saddened B. determined C. devoted D. moved
The Center for Humane Technology is made up of people who created many popular apps(软件)for big tech companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter. 1.
The center has started a movement called the Truth About Tech. Its purpose is to teach students, parents and teachers about the dangers of spending too much time on smart phones and computers.
According to studies on kids and technology, more than 95 per cent of primary school children spend time every day using a computer, or smart phone. About 78 per cent of teenagers check their phones every hour. 2. They are afraid that they may miss an important call or message during night.
3. For example, spending too much time online can cause people to put on weight and also influence how they feel. Many people become worried or nervous because they feel they aren’t having as much fun as their friends are. 4. They may also find it harder to make friends in real life.
5. They say that when big tech companies are designing tech tools for kids, they should think about what they would want for their own children.
A.These people are worth our respect.
B.Now they are telling kids to put their phones away.
C.Most students are forbidden to use a phone in class.
D.And more than half of them sleep with their phones.
E.Students may have a harder time paying attention in school.
F.Using phones or computers too much can cause some health problems.
G.The center also wants governments and tech companies to take steps to protect children.
A group of graduates, successful in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Before offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and a variety of cups — porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking and cheap, some exquisite and expensive — telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”
God brews the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee!
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the most of everything.”
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
1.Why did the professor offer his students coffee with varieties of cups?
A.To give his students many more choices.
B.To teach his students how to enjoy coffee.
C.To show the students his collection of cups.
D.To tell his students the right attitude to life.
2.According to the professor, the happiest people are the ones who _____.
A.get the best type of coffee cups B.make the best of what they have
C.have a wide range of coffee cups D.care about social status and wealth
3.The best title for the passage would be _____.
A.God’s Coffee B.The Pressure of Life
C.The Happiest People D.Professor's Coffee Cups
I was very excited on the first day of high school! I had P.E. for the first period. We hurriedly gathered in the locker room (衣帽间) when the headmaster began to speak, “Good morning, boys and girls! Welcome to the first day of the great new school year. We will begin with the pledge (誓言) of loyalty.”
I pulled my shirt over my head and my right hand immediately rested over my heart. A few tears came to my eyes as every time I pledged. I thought of my grandpa. He had died almost a year before, but I still missed him every day. Grandpa served in World War II and the flag had a very special meaning for him.
The next morning in the locker room, I noticed something strange. Some girls talked through the pledge. After that, even fewer did the pledge, including the teachers. By the second week of school, I was the only girl in the whole locker room that did the pledge.
The next morning, I hid in the bathroom to change clothes and pledge. There I couldn’t see the flag and I had a sense of sorrow to be hiding like that. I kept hiding for the next week and felt worse.
I spent a weekend gathering up my nerve. On Monday, I changed into my gym clothes right away and was standing by my locker when the headmaster began morning announcements. The pledge started and I put my hand over my heart. A girl nearby locked her locker and asked, “Why are you doing that? ” She looked confused.
“My grandpa fought in World War II and he died last year,” I said. “I’m doing it for him.”
She felt embarrassed and looked away. “Oh.” She said.
Over the next few weeks, more girls questioned me about the pledge. I gave them all that same answer. I never inspired other girls to do the pledge along with me. They made their choice; I made mine. I was doing it for my Grandpa, but more than that, I was doing it for myself. Grandpa raised me to be proud of my country and that pride didn’t stop.
1.How did other students behave during the pledge periods?
A.They gradually quit the pledge.
B.They continued to show curiosity.
C.They did the pledge with sincerity.
D.They made fun of those who did the pledge.
2.The author did the pledge every day because ________.
A.the flag had a special meaning for her
B.the headmaster required her to do so
C.all the teachers and students did that
D.it was a way to show love for her grandpa
3.The whole passage is mainly developed by ________.
A.space B.time C.examples D.comparison
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.The first day at school
B.My grandpa
C.The pledge of loyalty
D.The secret in the locker room
When Chris moved in across the hall from Norma Cook four years ago in a Los Angeles-area apartment complex, the 31-year-old actor waved to his 85-year-old neighbor for a few weeks before finally knocking on her door and introducing himself. “The day I entered her apartment and spoke with her face to face was the day my life was changed forever,”Chris said.
He learned that Cook had no family living in California and that she suffered from a long list of illnesses, including leukemia (白血病). The pair quickly became close friends, as Chris took her to doctor’s appointments, cooked with her and they ran errands (差事) together. He shared their adventures on social media. But recently, Cook’s health declined and she was in and out of the hospital several times. She once spent weeks in the hospital fighting pneumonia and breathing issues. Eventually Cook was told by one of her doctors that she could no longer live at home unless she had 24-hour care. Because Cook had no money saved to pay her health care costs, Chris started a Go Fund Me account to help cover her bills.
But caretakers are expensive and Cook quickly ran out of the $34,445 they raised. Knowing her days at home were limited, Chris invited Cook to move in with him to save money.“She loves it! I do most of my work at home so I am here most of the time to care for her. It only made sense to both of us.” Chris wrote. “She is my adopted grandmother after all and I am her grandson she never had.”
“Cook still has weekly hospice health care visits and regular visits from caregivers, so any funds raised cover those expenses,”he wrote. Though doctors say Cook’s days are very limited, the pair are enjoying spending time together drinking champagne and snuggling with her cat, Hermes, who also made a move.
“She does not want to change,” Chris told Today. “My apartment was the only place she would have moved. She has strong opinions about where she wants to carry out the rest of her days, and she wants to stay here.” Chris says he feels like the relationship was fate. “Moving her in....it feels as though it was meant to be all along, ” he said. “It’s really fulfilling to be there for her.”
1.Which of the following statements is true about Cook?
A. She was an 85-year-old actress four years ago
B. She invited Chris to her apartment the day he moved here
C. She was in a poor state of health and wealth
D. She had a grandson of the same age as Chris
2.Chris invited Cook to live with him because she ______.
A. had no other family members B. was told not to live at home by the doctor
C. had no money to pay the rent D. was unable to afford 24-hour care
3.From the passage, we can learn that Chris______.
A. paid Cook’s expensive health care costs
B. collected money for Cook’s private care
C. worked as an actor for Go Fund Me
D. was legally adopted as Cook’s grandson
4.Which of the following words can best describe Chris?
A. kind and thoughtful B. optimistic and generous.
C. patient and hardworking. D. moody and outgoing.
Happy birthday
The China National Opera (CNO) will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/ date: 7:30 p.m., September 7th, 8th
Location: Tianqiao Theatre
Tel: 6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets: 60-500 yuan (U.S. $7.2- 60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works. The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood”, “Memorial Ceremony for God” and “Wine Song”.
Time/date: 7:30pm, September 13th
Location: Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel: 6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets: 30-200 yuan (U.S. $3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year. The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centered on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time / date: 7:30 pm, September 21st
Location: Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel: 6606-8888, 6606-9999
Ticket: 40-240 yuan (U.S. $4.8-27)
1.“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
A.a Chinese opera B.a piece of music
C.a Western opera D.a song
2.If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial ________.
A.6551-4787 B.6606-9999
C.8315-6170 D.6848-5462
3.Which statement is right according to the passage?
A.Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
C.“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
D.Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
4.In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?
A.People. B.Entertainment.
C.Culture. D.Sports.
