A new pastor(牧师) named John reopened a church that had been abandoned in a suburb. He found it broken, and in need of a lot of repair work. His goal was to have everything done in time for his first service on Christmas Eve.
He worked hard. However, when John went to the church on Dec. 21, his heart sank: a large area of plaster (石膏) had fallen off the front wall due to a terrible storm the night before. John headed home, and on the way he stopped at a market selling items for charity.
One of the items was an exquisite( 精致的)handmade tablecloth. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. It started to snow. An old woman had missed her bus, and he invited her to wait in the warm church for the next one. As John put up the tablecloth the woman asked him to check the corner for the initials(手写字母). They were her initials: she had made this tablecloth 35 years before. Then the war broke out, and forced her to part with her husband.
John wanted to give her the tablecloth. but she asked him to keep it for the church. John insisted on driving her home which he thought was the least he could do.
What a wonderful service he had on Christmas Eve! John noticed one old man staring at the tablecloth on the front wall. The man said it was similar to one that his wife had made many years before.
John brought the old man to the house where he had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped him climb the three flights of stairs to her apartment, and saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever have imagined.
1.According to Paragraph one, we learn that John decided to_______.
A. help people affected by a terrible storm
B. buy goods for charity in the neighborhood
C. repair the abandoned church before his first service
D. do some work for the local people
2.Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
A. The woman’s husband had to leave her because of a war
B. Johns service on Christmas Eve was disappointing
C. Everyone was surprised by the beauty of the tablecloth.
D. John drove the old man home because he was lost.
3.The tablecloth drew the old man's attention because________.
A. he loved its colors B. he had seen it in a church
C. It was like one his wife had made D. it looked strange hanging on a wall
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. A kind pastor who had difficulty repairing an ancient church
B. A new pastor who gave his first service with a couples help
C. A tablecloth made 35 years ago being discovered by a pastor
D. An old couple being reunited on Christmas Eve through a tablecloth
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
If you're travelling with kids in London, many London hotels have special services and features to help the family holiday, offering services for kids as well as games, bike hire and free ice cream!
Athenaeum
The five-star Athenaeum is a fantastic family hotel, particularly with the addition of its kids' services. Even before you arrive, they'll be in touch to make sure your kids have their favorite DVDs, treats and anything else to keep them happy. And they can arrange your perfect family activities, from bike hire to theatre tickets.
Chessington Safari Hotel
At Chessington Safari Hotel, kids will love staying in an African adventure-themed room, having breakfast overlooking the animals of the Wanyama Reserve, watching family-friendly movies and getting into the theme park before it opens.
Marlin Apartments
Marlin Apartments operate more than 700 serviced apartments in London. Apartments are all within five minutes walk of the Tube (good for tired little legs!) with flat screen TVs, fully equipped kitchen and free Wi-Fi. One or two bedroom family apartments have extra room for fold out beds in the living area too.
Novotel
Novotel's family rooms are designed to accommodate two adults and two children. Accommodation and breakfast are free for under-16s (up to two staying in their parents' room). You can also enjoy a late check-out at 5p.m. on a Sunday, and while you lie in, the kids can entertain themselves with the Cartoon Network.
The Ritz
Kids at The Ritz are treated just as well as their parents, if not better! Children can enjoy computer games and DVDs, free ice cream and their own bathrobes and slippers. Under-16s can stay for free in their parents' bedroom, depending on the room type.
1.Before you check in Athenaeum, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
A.you should ask about the kids' services
B.you can buy bikes and order theatre tickets
C.you will be asked about what your kids like
D.you must arrange your family activities
2.If your kids love to see animals, you will choose ________________________________________________________________________________________________.
A.Athenaeum B.Chessington Safari Hotel
C.Novotel D.The Ritz
3.If you choose to stay at Marlin Apartments, ________________________________________________________________________________ .
A.you can enjoy the best service in London
B.you can enjoy free ice cream
C.you can have an extra room for free
D.you can surf the Internet free of charge
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Tourism wasn’t as important as it is today. In the past, only people with a good deal of money could travel on holidays to your countries. More people travel today than in the past because there is growing middle class in many parts of the world; that is to say, people now have more money for travel. Special plane fares for tourists make travel less expensive and more attractive than ever before .One person doesn’t travel for the same reason as another. But most people enjoy seeing countries that are different from their own. They also like to meet new people and to taste new food.
Tourism causes many changes in a country and in people’s lives. People build new hotels and restaurants and train native men and women as guides to show visitors interesting places. There’re new nightclubs and other amusements. International tourism is clearly a big business.
1.In the old days _______ could travel to other countries.
A.boys and girls, men or women, young or old
B.either kings or queens
C.both the poor and the rich
D.nobody but those who had money
2.More people travel today than in the past because________.
A.people have become interested in traveling.
B.traveling today is easier than in the past.
C.people now have spare money for travel.
D.great changes have taken place in the world.
3.What makes travel more attractive than before?
A.Travel by air to other countries is much cheaper today.
B.More guides are being trained to show beautiful spots.
C.Modern telegraph(电报) lines make travel less expensive.
D.New hotels and restaurants have been built.
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the article?
A.Tourism won’t bring any changes in people’s mind.
B.People have some trouble in making journey.
C.With the development of tourism, great changes have taken place in many parts in the world.
D.Tourism causes only some changes in clothing.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
We are often unable to pay close attention to what we hear. Just like when we try to grab a sponge(海绵) that is full of water, some water will run out of it. But sometimes we try to remember everything a speaker says and try to take in a speaker’s every word as if every word was equally important. We try to remember all the names, all the dates, and all the places. In the process we often miss the speaker’s main point.
Erik Waldman works at a design company. Knowing he had never been good at budgeting his money, he was determined to begin thinking about his economic future. When his employer circulated an e-mail announcing a financial planning workshop(研讨会), Erik signed up right away.
The first session was about retirement planning. Simone Fisher, the lecturer, explained that 7 of 10 Americans between the ages of 22 and 35 do not have a regular savings plan. Erik wrote down every number Simone mentioned.
"If you want to have a retirement income equal to 75 percent of your current salary," Simone continued, "you will need to save at least of 6 percent of your present earnings, taking into account future inflation rates(通货膨胀率). In the meantime, I want to stress that the most important thing is to start saving now."
Erik recorded all the statistics Simone used. When she opened the floor(自由发言) for question, Erik raised his hand and said, "I have two question. When is the best time to start saving for retirement? And how can I figure out my savings target if I don’t know what inflation rates will be in the future?"
This is a typical example of losing the speaker’s point by concentrating on details. Erik had fixed his mind on remembering all the statistics in Simone’s presentation, but he blocked out the man message. Rather than trying to remember everything, we should concentrate on main ideas and evidence.
1.What does the author mean by saying "Just like when we ... run out of it."?
A.We tend to reject what others say.
B.We always try to remember all details.
C.It is difficult for us to remember all things.
D.We often fail to focus on what we are listening to.
2.During the workshop, Erik .
A.got Simone Fisher 's main idea
B.focused on the lecture's details
C.showed little interest in the lecture
D.didn't agree with what Simone had said
3.When hearing Erik's questions, Simone would most probably think .
A.they are very good questions
B.Erik was an excellent listener
C.it was hard to answer the questions
D.his questions were meaningless
4.The passage is written to help those who want to be .
A.a good listener B.a financial planner
C.an excellent lecturer D.a successful employee
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Money Matters
Parents should help children understand money. 1. So you may start talking about money when your child shows an interest in buying things, candy or toys, for example.
1. The basic function of money
Begin explaining the basic function of money by showing how people trade money for goods or services. It’s important to show your child how money is traded for the thing he wants to have. If he wants to have a toy, give him the money and let him hand the money to the cashier (收银员).2.When your child grows a bit older and understands the basic function of money, you can start explaining more complex ways of using money.
2. Money lessons
Approach (着手处理）money lessons with openness and honesty. 3. If you must say no to a child’s request to spend money, explain, “You have enough toy trucks for now.” Or, if the request is for many different things, say, “You have to make a choice between this toy and that toy.”
3. 4.
Begin at the grocery store. Pick out two similar brands of a product — a name-brand butter and a generic (无商标产品), for example. You can show your child how to make choices between different brands of a product so that you can save money. 5. If he chooses the cheaper brand, allow him to buy other things with the money saved. Later, you may explain how the more expensive choice leaves less money for other purchases.
A.Wise decisions
B.The value of money
C.Permit the child to choose between them.
D.Tell your child why he can—or cannot—have certain things.
E.Ask yourself what things that cost money are most important to you.
F.Talk about how the money bought the thing after you leave the toy store.
G.The best time to teach a child anything about money is when he shows an interest.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Usually, there is a teacher-parent meeting in every school year. Some students enjoy it, some don’t. Tom, a little boy invited his mother to attend his school's first teacher-parent meeting. To the little boy's ______, she said she would go. This ______ be the first time that his classmates and teacher ______ his mother and he felt ______ of her appearance. Although she was a beautiful woman, there was a severe scar (疤痕) that _____nearly the entire right side of her face. The boy never wanted to_______why or how she got the scar.
At the meeting, the people were ______ by the kindness and natural beauty of his mother ______ the scar, but the little boy was still embarrassed and ______ himself from everyone. He did, however, get within ______of a conversation between his mother and his teacher.
The teacher asked ______, "How did you get the scar on your face?"
The mother replied, "______ my son was a baby, he was in a room that caught fire. Everyone was ______ afraid to go in because the fire was ______，so I went in. As I was running toward his bed, I saw a long piece of wood coming down and I placed myself over him trying to protect him. I was knocked ______ but fortunately, a fireman came in and saved both of us." She ______ the burned side of her face. "This scar will be ______, but to this day, I have never ______ what I did."
At this point, the little boy came out running toward his mother with tears in his eyes. He held her in his arms and felt a great ______ of the sacrifice (牺牲) that his mother had made for him. He held her hand ______ for the rest of the day.
1.A.enjoyment B.excitement C.disappointment D.surprise
2.A.would B.could C.should D.must
3.A.noticed B.greeted C.met D.accepted
4.A.sick B.ashamed C.afraid D.tired
5.A.included B.passed C.covered D.shaded
6.A.hear about B.think about C.care about D.talk about
7.A.surprised B.impressed C.excited D.comforted
8.A.in sight of B.by means of C.by way of D.in spite of
9.A.separated B.protected C.hid D.escaped
10.A.hearing B.reminding C.understanding D.learning
11.A.nervously B.carefully C.seriously D.anxiously
12.A.As B.Now that C.Since D.When
13.A.so B.much C.quite D.too
14.A.under control B.out of control C.in control D.over control
15.A.helpless B.hopeless C.useless D.senseless
16.A.pointed B.showed C.touched D.wiped
17.A.beautiful B.lasting C.serious D.frightening
18.A.forgot B.recognized C.considered D.regretted
19.A.honor B.happiness C.sense D.pride
20.A.quietly B.tightly C.slightly D.suddenly
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Have you ever asked 1. (you) why children go to school? You will probably say that they go to learn languages, arithmetic, history, science and some other 2. (subject). That is quite accurate. But why do they learn these things?
We send our children to school 3. (prepare) them for the time when they will be big and will have to work for themselves. Nearly everything they study at school has some 4. (practice) use in their life. But is that the only reason for 5. they go to school?
There is more in education than just 6. (learn) factors. We go to school to learn how to learn, so that when we have left school, we can continue to learn. A man who really 7. (know) how to learn will always be successful, because when he has to do something new, he will not only be able to do it well himself, 8. be able to teach others how to do it in the best way. The uneducated person, on the other hand, is either unable to do something new, or just does it 9. (bad). The purpose of schools, therefore, is not to teach languages, arithmetic, history science, etc., but to teach pupils 10. way to learn.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉
修改：在错词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Yesterday, I made a visit to“Sea World”, which I could swim with fishes. It was a first time that I had come to Sydney, Australia. I enjoyed I very much. I felt exciting to see so many fishes swimming around me. At first, I am a little frightened but soon I calmed down enough enjoy the trip. I could swim around as freely to fishes. The food there was deliciously too. I must have put up on weight, I was tired but I looked forward to have another fun-filled day before I returned home.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
4 月 22 日是世界地球日，请根据下面的内容提示，结合实际，以 Making Every Day Earth Day 为题写一篇短文寄给21st Century杂志社。词数 100 左右。
提示：1. 地球的现状和存在的问题；
2. 人们在“地球日”这天用什么行动关爱地球；
3. 号召人们把每一天都当作地球日，天天关爱地球。
Making Every Day Earth Day
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难度: 困难查看答案及解析