When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s，we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap, and drove a white truck. As a five-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer(硬币兑换器) fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery, and gave me a quarter out of his coin changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese and eggs and so on. If we needed to change our order, my mother would pen a note, “Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery,” and put it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.
All of this was about more than convenience. There was a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr Basille even had a key to my house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we could box indoors, So that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr Basille from time to time, taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allow the production of cheaper milk, so making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere. And it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and fixed it on the back porch(门廊). Every so often my son’s friends will ask what it is, so I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milk man who brought us friendship along with his milk.
1.Mr. Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changer______.
A. to please his mother
B. to pay for the delivery
C. to show his magical power
D. to satisfy the boy’s curiosity(好奇心)
2.If they needed to change their order, they should____
A. call the milkman
B. wait for the milk
C. leave a note in the box
D. leave a note on the door
3.Why is there no longer milk delivery today?
A. It is not allowed by the law.
B. Its service is getting poor.
C. It has been driven out of the market.
D. Nobody wants to be a milkman now.
4.Why did writer bring back home an old milk box?
A. He planted flowers in it.
B. He missed the good old days.
C. He needed it for his milk bottles.
D. He wanted to tell interesting stories.
5.What can be inferred(推断) from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy’s house?
A. He was a funny person.
B. He wanted to have tea there.
C. He was fully trusted by the family.
D. He was treated as a family member.
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All announced that they were the best, the most important and the most useful,
Green said, “_____ I am the most important, I’m the sign of life. Look around, and you will see that I am almost everywhere.”
Blue interrupted, “You only think about the earth. But consider the sky and sea, they gives space and peace. Without my peace, you would all be______.”
Yellow chuckled, “I bring laughter and warmth into the world. Every time you looked at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no____. “
Orange started next to blow her trumpet, “Who is the ________ of health and strength? It’s me, think of carrots, pumpkins, and oranges. Although I don’t hang around all the time, I carry the most important vitamins.”
Red could no longer______it and he shouted out, “I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and bravery. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. “
Purple_____Up to his full height. He was very tall and said, “ I am the color of power. Kings, have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom.”
And indigo(靛青色) started to Speak…… The colors’ quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly rain started to pour down. The colors were all_______, and crowded close to one another for comfort.
Rain began to speak, “You foolish colors. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose? Join hands with one another and come to me, “
Doing_______they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued, “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch(伸展)_ ___ the sky to form a great rainbow, the rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow. And so, whenever a heavy rain washes the world , a rainbow with ______ colors appears in the sky. Let us remember to appreciate one another.”
1.A. luckily B. clearly C. carefully D. firstly
2.A. everything B. something C. nothing D. anything
3.A. fun B. problem C. life D. trouble
4.A. mark B. reason C. sign D. sense
5.A. sit B. listen C. hear D. stand
6.A. rose B. looked C. put D. turned
7.A. excited B. surprised C. afraid D. angry
8.A. because B. as C. when D. since
9.A. in B. through C. over D. across
10.A. five B. six C. seven D. eight
We never know____________ because happiness is everywhere.
A. how happiness will show up next.
B. where will happiness show up next,
C. how will happiness show up next,
D. where happiness will show up next,
_______ high marks, many middle school students stay up to study.
A. Getting B. To get C. Got D, Get
----How do you like your school life?
----Great. I will never forget the people______helped me,
A. who B. which C. that D. what
----When did you go to bed last night, Tom?
----At 10 pm. But my mother___________,
A. is working B. works
C. was working D. worked
