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I moved from Chicago to Brooklyn in July of 2010, just in time to watch my mother die. Our parents were both gone now. I took with me as many things they had left behind as I could.
I was out walking one Saturday later that summer when something caught my eye - a pale green dress. Laid out on the pavement was stuff like earrings, glass candle-holders, books. Hanging on the fence behind were a few pairs of jeans and a green cotton dress.
The woman, the host of the stoop (门廊）sale, looked like she was getting rid of a past she didn’t need or want. A dress that was too big for her. A chest of drawers that took up too much space, space she needed, maybe, to heal , recover, or grow.
I wasn’t planning on buying anything really, but now I needed to show her that I appreciated her things and I would give them a safe home. Then I had my first stoop sale —I paid her 20 dollars for her green cotton dress and her blue candle-holder.
From that day on, I became interested in stoop sales. Some of my favorite things are from someone else’s life. I find no joy in shopping at regular stores any more. I love trying to sniff out a memory from a bud vase or a drawer. It is comforting to know that someone has breathed and laughed inside a sweater before me.
A few weeks ago, I carried my mother’s dresses to a friend’s stoop. These were her best items, which were once worn by the most important person in my life. For many hours, I watched from across the path people advancing the stoop, some leaving with Mom1S dress. I used to think that her stuff was as forever sacred (神圣的）as my memory of her, I know now that once I love a scarf or shirt too dearly, it needs to find a new home. Even that green dress is long gone by now.
1.The author took her mother’s dresses after her death because ______
A. she valued the things used by her mom
B. she didn’t want to throw them, away
C. she could sell them later
D. they were her mom’s best items
2.From the passage, we know that ______.
A. the things the author bought from the woman are too big
B. the author is fond of imagining others’ life experiences
C. the author will never shop at regular stores any more
D. the author still keeps most of her mom’s things
3.In the last paragraph, the author tries to tell us that ______.
A. her mom is the number one person in her life
B. she didn’t really want to sell her mom’s dresses
C. she still thinks of her mother quite often
D. love doesn’t mean holding on to something tightly
4.It can be inferred that the author will ______.
A. not sell her own things at stoop sales
B. keep her mom in her mind in another way
C. be sad about all the memory of her mom
D. move to another city for a new life
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It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams, the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life, but manners on the road are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel. It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver's seat is another matter altogether.
Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most cool－headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarrelling and fighting. A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and becomes so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such behaviors of politeness are by no means enough. Many drivers nowadays don't even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who waves a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may not be able to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they want to. It always amazes me that the highways are not covered with the dead bodies of these grannies
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings. Unfortunately, modern drivers can't even learn to drive. Years ago, experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-take from all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
1.According to the passage, troubles on the road are often caused by ________.
A. road conditions B. the speed of modern life
C. the large number of cars D. the behavior of the drivers
2.In the writer’s opinion, ________.
A. drivers should show road politeness properly.
B. strict traffic rules are badly needed.
C. unskillful drivers should be punished.
D. drivers should avoid traffic jams.
3.The underlined word “give-and-take” in the passage means________
A. politeness and impoliteness
B. willingness to give in to each other’s wishes.
C. offering help to others as much as possible.
D. good manners and bad manners.
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A. Road politeness B. Traffic problems
C. Bad Manners on the Road D. Good Drivers and Bad Drivers
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Top Kid-Friendly Summer Vacations
Dude Ranch
If you have little cowboys and cowgirls at home, thrill them by visiting a dude ranch (度假牧场) on your next vacation. Your children can learn about nature, enjoy horseback riding, and gain an entirely new perspective. You can choose between programs that have you spending quality time with your kids, and programs that are for children only. This summer, enjoy the great outdoors — at a dude ranch!
For more information, visit: www.ranchweb.com/categorydisplay.htm
Six Flags Great Adventure
Have a classic vacation by visiting one of the most famous theme park chains. With locations all over the USA., there’s sure to be a Six Flags near you. Take the whole family and be back at work on Monday. Escape the summer heat with countless water rides. Take your kids to have brunch with Bugs Bunny, or check out the new Safari Park, where you can interact with real animals.
For more information, visit: www.sixflags.com/national/index.aspx
Roswell UFO Festival
Do you have science fiction fans in your household? Encourage their interests and experience a special vacation at the annual Roswell UFO Festival. Come in costume (化妆服) if you wish, and join the parade (游行). Attend lectures by famous authors and researchers, or watch up-and-coming bands perform. Even if you’re not a believer, you can still enjoy the artwork, music, and great celebration.
For more information, visit: www.roswellufofestival.com
Earthplace
It’s not easy being green, but it can be fun if you visit the exhibits at Earthplace in Westport, Connecticut. This 62-acre wildlife reserve is committed to educating the public about the environment and promoting positive action to preserve nature. The exhibits provide hands-on features that make learning fun for your kids. After touring the exhibits, visit the garden and the playground, and enjoy the summer weather.
For more information, visit: www.earthplace.org/index.html
1.Dude Ranch and Six Flags Great Adventure are similar in that ____
A. they are both suitable for a family vacation
B. they both take place in the city
C. they both allow people to have brunch
D. they both provide water rides
2.Which will you join if you want to learn how to protect nature?
A. Dude Ranch. B. Six Flags Great Adventure.
C. Roswell UFO Festival. D. Earthplace.
3.Who would be most interested in Roswell UFO Festival?
A. A kid who loves music.
B. A kid who likes adventure.
C. A kid who is interested in aliens.
D. A kid who likes first-hand experience.
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It’s good to make mistakes, and here is why.
First of all, mistakes are a clear sign that you are trying new things. It’s always good to try new things because when you are trying new things you are growing. If you never try anything new, how can you improve? How can you expand? The simple answer is “You can’t”. Look around you. With very few exceptions, either everything you see in your physical world or every single detail of every single thing is the result of someone trying something new．
Another good thing about mistakes is this: When you are making mistakes, you are learning. Consider this: Edison failed 10,000 times before he perfected the light bulb. When asked how it felt to fail that many times, he said that he hadn’t failed 10,000 times, but rather had learned 10,000 things that didn’t work．
Finally, when you make a mistake you are much closer to success. Why?
Because when all is said and done, you will have tried some number of things before you succeeded. Every time you make a mistake you eliminate one of those things and are one step closer.
But this all doesn’t mean that you should go ahead without considering the consequences of a mistake. Quite the contrary, when you try something new you have to be willing to set some reasonable limits so that in the event that it doesn’t work out the way you want it to, you will be in a position to try again.
We all have limited resources in the form of time and money, so don’t blow them all on one approach to a problem. Realize that it probably won’t be perfect the first time and allocate（分配）these resources appropriately so you can learn, make corrections, and try it again. Only by accepting and using your mistakes in this way can you make significant advances in your business and your career.
There is an old saying that goes, “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.”
So go forth and make mistakes. And learn. And grow. And prosper（成功）.
1.From the second paragraph, we can conclude that _______．
A. mistakes are unnecessary for development
B. we are afraid of trying new things
C. it’s common for people to make mistakes
D. mi stakes are better than not trying
2.The underlined word “eliminate” means _______.
A. avoid B. remove C. accept D. solve
3.According to the article, one thing you should pay attention to about making mistakes is______ .
A. avoiding making the same mistakes
B. accepting the punishment willingly
C. taking consequences into account
D. trying things out one by one
4.What would the writer probably suggest we say to ourselves when we make a mistake?
A. Never mind, I can always try again．
B. I’d better stay out of trouble．
C. Ok! Now I can learn something．
D. Look at this mess. Anyone would be upset．
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