Rome had the Forum. London has Speaker's Corner. Now always–on–the-go. New Yorkers have Liz and Bill.
Liz and Bill, two college graduates in their early 20s, have spent a whole year trying to have thousands of people talk to them in subway stations and on busy street corners. Just talk.
Using a 2-foot-tall sign that says, "Talk to Me." they attract conversationalists, who one evening included a mental patient, and men in business suits.
They don't collect money. They don't push religion. So what's the point?
"To see what happens, said Liz. " We simply enjoy life with open communication."
Shortly after the September 11,2001 attacks, they decided to walk from New York City to Washington, a 270-mile trip. They found they loved talking to people along the way and wanted to continue talking with strangers after their return.
"It started as a crazy idea, "Liz said." We were so curious about all the strangers walking by with their life stories. People will talk to us about anything: their jobs, their clothes, their childhood experiences, anything."
Denise wanted to talk about an exam she was about to take. She had stopped by for the second time in two days, to let the two listeners know how it went.
Marcia had lost her husband to a serious disease. "That was very heavy on my mind," Marcia said. "To be able to talk about it to total strangers was very good," she explained.
To celebrate a year of talking, the two held a get-together in a city park for all the people they had met over the past year. A few hundred people showed up, as well as some television cameramen and reporters.
They may plan more parties or try to attract more people to join their informal talks. Some publishers have expressed interest in a book, something they say they'll consider.
1.What did Liz and Bill start doing after September 2001?
A.Chatting with people. |
B.Setting up street signs |
C.Telling stories to strangers |
D.Organizing a speaker's corner |
2.What they have been doing can be described as_________. .
A.pointless |
B.normal |
C.crazy |
D.successful |
3.Why are Denise and Marcia mentioned in the text?
A.They knew Liz and Bill very well. |
B.They happened to meet the writer of the text. |
C.They organized the get-together in the city park. |
D.They are examples of those who talked to Liz and Bill. |
4.What will Liz and Bill do in the future?
A.Go in for publishing. |
B.Do more television programs. |
C.Continue what they are doing. |
D.Spend more time reading books. |
5.How do they like the idea of writing a book?
A.They have decided to wait a year or two |
B.They will think about it carefully |
C.They agreed immediately |
D.They find it hard to do that |
There
was a king who loved art very much. One day a(n) 36 came
and said, "Please let me 37 a picture on a wall."
The king happened to have a big new hall 38 . So he 39 the
artist to work on one of the walls.
At the same time, another artist came and asked to work on the 40 wall.
He promised he would make the same picture as the first artist’s 41 looking
at the first artist’s work. The second artist asked to have a thick curtain 42 between
the two walls 43 neither of them could see each other.
The following day they began to work. The first artist brought in a(n) 44 supply
of paint, oil, water and so on. The second one came with a 45 and
a bucket (
桶).
A month later, the first artist’s work was completed, and the second artist
said, "My wall is 46 too!"
The king went to 47 the first artist’s wall. He was
pleased with it and gave the artist a large 48 of money.
He then asked people to open the curtain.
49 !
Each line was 50 the same as that on the opposite wall.
The king was quite satisfied and gave him double money. However, he 51
how the second man had made it.
"I just 52 the wall with the cloth," the man
said 53 .The wall was made of white marble (
大理石). He made it shine like a mirror.
The reflection (倒影) of the first painting 54 up
on it!
The 55 is a reflection of you too. If you are sad, the
world will be sad. If you are happy, the world will be happy.
1.
A.editor |
B.artist |
C.server |
D.actress |
2.
A.put |
B.copy |
C.paint |
D.get |
3.
A.created |
B.destroyed |
C.founded |
D.Built |
4.
A.allowed |
B.realized |
C.persuaded |
D.Decided |
5.
A.same |
B.similar |
C.opposite |
D.ordinary |
6.
A.with |
B.under |
C.upon |
D.without |
7.
A.put up |
B.put back |
C.put away |
D.put on |
8.
A.even if |
B.so that |
C.as if |
D.only if |
9.
A.special |
B.strange |
C.extra |
D.regular |
10.
A.mirror |
B.cloth |
C.stick |
D.pen |
11.
A.present |
B.free |
C.ready |
D.useful |
12.
A.see |
B.touch |
C.research |
D.cover |
13.
A.number |
B.total |
C.amount |
D.many |
14.
A.Amazing |
B.Exciting |
C.Famous |
D.Valuable |
15.
A.probably |
B.exactly |
C.certainly |
D.hardly |
16.
A.knew |
B.warned |
C.noticed |
D.wondered |
17.
A.drew |
B.faced |
C.displayed |
D.wiped |
18.
A.briefly |
B.naturally |
C.safely |
D.correctly |
19.
A.set |
B.added |
C.showed |
D.took |
20.
A.story |
B.world |
C.king |
D.painter |
I do
hope that you can give me some good _______ on how to improve my spoken
English.
A.bases |
B.tips |
C.fares |
D.opinions |
I love
animals and that’s the reason ______ I hate the people who kill wild animals
for money.
A.that |
B.in which |
C.which |
D.why |
In the
library, I found a useful book ______ how to use English grammar.
A.to explain |
B.explained |
C.having explained |
D.explaining |
Many
websites have been _______ to help people study foreign languages.
A.set off |
B.set up |
C.set down |
D.set out |