John Milton was born in 1606. his father expected him to enter the church of England, but Milton wanted to be a poet. At twenty-nine Milton set off for a travel on the continent. He traveled in France, Switzerland and Italy, winning the friendship of many artists and scientists, including Galileo, the famous Italian scientist who suffered for his discovery in prison. In 1639, he was planning to go on this journey when the news reached him of the break between the king and Parliament(国会). Milton returned to England immediately, and put himself into the struggle against the king, for which he had long been prepared. During the Civil war, Milton worked as the spokesman of the revolution. By the beginning of 1652, Milton had become completely blind, yet he didn’t stop fighting. After the Restoration(复辟), his books were burnt, and he himself avoided being killed because of his blindness.
John Milton was not only a brave revolutionary but also a great poet. His famous poem Paradise Lost(失乐园) was an immediate success. But, for its publication (being published), Milton received only 18 pounds. He died in 1671.
1.Milton set off for a travel on the continent here “continent” means ________.
A. Asia B. Europe C. America D. Africa
2.It was ______ who was put in prison in Italy.
A. Milton B. the king C. Galileo D. Milton’s father
3.Milton would have been killed if ________________.
A. he had been the spokesman of the revolution
B. his books hadn’t been burnt
C. he hadn’t written the poem Paradise Lost
D. he hadn’t been completely blind
4.Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
A. John Milton was an ordinary poet, who wasn’t interested in politics.
B. John Milton spent many years traveling around the world.
C. John Milton wrote the poem Paradise Lost, which was liked by the King.
D. John Milton was a fearless revolutionary and a famous poet.
Many years ago, when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver, I was driving to my parents’ home in Missouri for Christmas. I stopped at a gas station(加油站) about 50 miles from Oklahoma City, where I was planning to stop and visit a friend. While I was standing in line at the cash register(收款台), I said hello to an older couple who were also paying for gas.
I took off, but had gone only a few miles when black smoke poured from the back of my car. I stopped and wondered what I should do. A car pulled up behind me. It was the couple I had spoken to at the gas station. They said they would take me to my friend’s. We chatted on the way into the city, and when I got out of the car, the husband gave me his business card.
I wrote him and his wife a thank-you note for helping me. Soon afterward, I received a Christmas present from them. Their note that came with it said that helping me had made their holidays meaningful.
Years later, I drove to a meeting in a nearby town in the morning. In late afternoon I returned to my car and found that I’d left the lights on all day, and the battery(电池) was dead. Then I noticed that the Friendly Ford dealership—a shop selling cars—was right next door. I walked over and found two salesmen in the showroom.
“Just how friendly is Friendly Ford?”I asked and explained my trouble. They quickly drove a pickup truck to my car and started it. They would accept no payment, so when I got home, I wrote them a note to say thanks. I received a letter back from one of the salesmen. No one had ever taken the time to write him and say thank you, and it meant a lot, he said.
1.The underlined words“took off”in Paragraph 2 mean .
A. turned off B. moved off C. put up D. set up
2.What happened when the author found smoke coming out of his car?
A. He had it pulled back to the gas station.
B. The couple sent him a business card.
C. The couple offered to help him.
D. He called his friend for help.
3.The battery of the author’s car was dead because .
A. something went wrong with the lights
B. his meeting lasted a whole day
C. he forgot to turn off the lights
D. he drove too long a distance
4.By telling his own experiences, the author tries to show .
A. how to write a thank-you letter
B. how to deal with car problems
C. the kind-heartedness of older people
D. the importance of expressing thanks
He met her at a party. She was outstanding; many guys were 41 her, but nobody paid any attention to him. After the party, he 42 her for coffee. She was 43 . In order not to appear rude, she went 44 .
As they sat in a nice 45 shop, he was too nervous to say anything and she felt 46 .
Suddenly, he asked the waiter, “Could you please give me some 47 ? I’d like to put it in my coffee.”
They stared at him. He turned red; but when the salt came, he put it in his coffee and drank. 48 , she asked. “Why salt with coffee?” He explained, “When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing on the sea… I could 49 its salty taste, like salty coffee. Now every time I drink it, I 50 my childhood and my hometown. I miss 51 and my parents, who are still there.”
She was 52 touched. A man who can admit that he’s homesick must love his home and care about his family. He must be 53 .
So they dated, 54 and lived happily together. And every time she made coffee for him, she would put in some salt, the way he liked it.
After 40 years, he 55 and left her a letter which said:
My dearest, please 56 my life-long lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous that I asked for salt 57 sugar.
Sweetheart, I don’t exactly like salty coffee. But as it mattered so 58 to you, I’ve 59
to enjoy it. Having you with me was my greatest happiness. If I could live a second time, I hope we can be together again, 60 , it means that I have to drink salty coffee for the rest of my life.
1.A. before B. beyond C. after D. near
2.A. invited B. paid C. forced D. asked
3.A. interested B. frightened C. moved D. surprised
4.A. away B. along C. over D. down
5.A. coffee B. tea C. beer D. wine
6.A. comfortable B. different C. uncomfortable D. indifferent
7.A. sugar B. pepper C. candy D. salt
8.A. Angrily B. Curiously C. Worriedly D. Happily
9.A. feel B. see C. notice D. find
10.A. think over B. bring up C. think of D. remind of
11.A. this B. it C. him D. her
12.A. highly B. specially C. hardly D. deeply
13.A. responsible B. reasonable C. sensible D. representative
14.A. married B. engaged C. separated D. split
15.A. walked away B. left away C. passed away D. got away
16.A. forget B. forgive C. imagine D. value
17.A. instead B. instead of C. in spite of D. other than
18.A. many B. more C. any D. much
19.A. studied B. learnt C. adapted D. used
20.A. however B. as it C. when D. even if
---The weather report says the fine weather is _____ in a day or two.
---We’d better get in our corn before that.
A. breaking down B. breaking up C. breaking through D. breaking off
She said that I could use her car while mine _________________.
A. was repaired B. repaired C. was being repaired D. would be repaired
If you’d like me to do the job for you, I want to ____________ in cash.
A. get paid B. paid C. be paying D. pay
