Grandparents Answer a Call
As a third－generation native of Brownsville, Texas, Mildred Garza never planned to move away.Even when her daughter and son asked her to move to San Antonio to help with their children, she politely refused.Only after a year of friendly discussion did Ms.Garza finally say yes.That was four years ago.Today all three generations regard the move as a success, giving them a closer relationship than they would have had in separate cities.
No statistics show the number of grandparents like Garza who are moving closer to adult children and grandchildren. Yet there is evidence suggesting that the trend is growing.Even President Obama’s mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, has agreed to leave Chicago and move into the White House to help care for her granddaughters. According to a study by grandparents.com, 83 percent of the people said Mrs.Robinson's decision will influence grandparents in the American family.Two－thirds believe more families will follow the example of Obama’s family.
“In the 1960s we were all a little wild and couldn't get away from home far enough or fast enough to prove we could do it on our own,”says Christine Crosby, publisher of Grand, a magazine for grandparents. “We now realize how important family is and how important it is to be near them, especially when you’re raising children.”
Moving is not for everyone. Almost every grandparent wants to be with his or her grandchildren and is willing to make sacrifices, but sometimes it is wiser to say no and visit frequently instead.Having your grandchildren far away is hard, especially knowing your adult child is struggling, but giving up the life you know may be harder.
1.Why was Garza’s move a success?
A.It strengthened her family ties.
B.It improved her living conditions.
C.It enabled her to make more friends.
D.It helped her know more new places.
2.What was the reaction of the public to Mrs.Robinson’s decision?
A.17% expressed their support for it.
B.Few people responded sympathetically.
C.83% believed it had a bad influence.
D.The majority thought it was a trend.
3.What did Crosby say about people in the 1960s?
A.They were unsure of themselves.
B.They were eager to raise more children.
C.They wanted to live away from their parents.
D.They had little respect for their grandparents.
4.What does the author suggest the grandparents do in the last paragraph?
A.Make decisions in the best interests of their own.
B.Ask their children to pay more visits to them.
C.Sacrifice for their struggling children.
D.Get to know themselves better.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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1.All of the following hotels are close to the sea EXCEPT __________.
A.S W France B.The Blakeney Hotel
C.Willapark Manor Hotel D.The Country Garden Hotel
2.If you want to take your children and your dog with you on holiday, you can choose ______.
A.The Country Garden Hotel B.Willapark Manor Hotel
C.The Bay Hotel D.Boscastle
3.One of the hotels offers special price for __________.
A.young people B.elderly people C.foreign guests D.students
4.The purpose of the passage is to ______________.
A.warn B.advise C.describe D.advertise
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains. They are a branch of the great Appalachian family, and can be seen to the west rising up to a noble height and towering over the surrounding country. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their beautiful shapes on the clear evening sky, but sometimes when it is cloudless, gray steam gathers around the top of the mountains which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will shine and light up like a crown of glory(华丽的皇冠).
At the foot of these mountains, a traveler may see light smoke going up from a village. In that village, and in one of the houses (which, to tell the exact truth, was sadly time-worn and weather-beaten), there lived many years ago, a simple, good-natured fellow by the name of Rip Van Winkle.
Rip’s great weakness was a natural dislike of all kinds of money-making labor. It could not be from lack of diligence, for he could sit all day on a wet rock and fish without saying a word, even though he was not encouraged by a single bite. He would carry a gun on his shoulder for hours, walking through woods and fields to shoot a few birds or squirrels. He would never refuse to help a neighbor, even in the roughest work. The women of the village, too, used to employ him to do such little jobs as their less helpful husbands would not do for them. In a word, Rip was ready to attend to everybody’s business but his own.
If left to himself, he would have whistled life away in perfect satisfaction; but his wife was always mad at him for his idleness(懒散). Morning, noon, and night, her tongue was endlessly going, so that he was forced to escape to the outside of the house — the only side which, in truth, belongs to a_________
1.Which of the following best describes the Catskill Mountains? ________
A.They are very high and beautiful in this area.
B.They are on the west of the Hudson River.
C.They can be seen from the Appalachian family.
D.They gather beautiful clouds in blue and purple.
2.The hero of the story is probably__________.
A.hard-working and likes all kinds of work
B.gentle, helpful but a little idle
C.simple, idle but very dutiful
D.idle and hates all kinds of jobs
3.The underlined words “henpecked husband” in the last paragraph probably means a man who__________.
A.likes hunting B.is afraid of hens
C.is afraid of his wife D.loves his wife
4.What would be the best title for the text? ________.
A.Catskill Mountains. B.A Mountain Village.
C.A Dutiful Husband. D.Rip Van Winkle.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In the course of working my way through school, I took many jobs I would rather forget. But none of these jobs was as dreadful as my job in an apple plant. The work was hard, the pay was poor; What’s more, the working conditions were terrible.
First of all, the job made huge demands on my strength. For ten hours a night, I took boxes that rolled down a metal track and piled them onto a truck. Each box contained twelve heavy bottles of apple juice. I once figured out that I was lifting an average of twelve tons of apple juice every night.
I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much if the pay had not been so poor. I was paid the lowest wage of that time—two dollars an hour. Because of the low pay, I felt eager to get as much as possible. I usually worked twelve hours a night but did receive a low pay.
But even more than the low pay, what made me unhappy was the working conditions. During work I was limited to two ten-minute breaks and an unpaid half hour for lunch. Most of my time was spent outside loading trucks with those heavy boxes in near-zero-degree temperatures. The steel floors of the trucks were like ice, which made my feet feel like stone. And after the production line shut down at night and most people left, I had to spend two hours alone cleaning the floor.
I stayed on the job for five months, all the while hating the difficulty of the work, the poor money, and the conditions under which I worked. By the time I left, I was determined never to go back there again.
1.Why did the writer have to take many jobs at the time?
A.to pay for his schooling B.to save for his future
C.to contribute to charities D.to gain some experience
2.The following facts describe the terrible working conditions of the plant EXCEPT ________.
A.loading boxes in the freezing cold B.having limited time for breaks
C.working and studying at the same time D.getting no pay for lunch time
3.What is the subject discussed in the text?
A.The writer’s unhappy school life.
B.The writer’s eagerness to earn money.
C.The writer’s experience as a full-time worker.
D.The writer’s hard work in an apple plant.
4.How is the text organized?
A.Topic-Argument-Explanation
B.Opinion-Discussion-Description
C.Main idea-Comparison-Supporting examples
D.Introduction-Supporting examples-Conclusion
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen, commonly used to reduce the risk of skin caner, actually increases the risk.
Researchers from the University of Yale based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the association between sunscreen use and melanomas(黑素瘤). They said that they found flaws in studies that had reported associations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.
Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, which is increasing in incidence(发生率) faster than any other cancer in the United States.
But questions have been raised about sunscreen and whether it may have the opposite effect, perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.
The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer—people with fair skin and freckles(雀斑), for example—are more likely to use sunscreen. As a result, it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.
The studies, which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied, said the new study.
1.The underlined word “flaws” in the 2nd paragraph most probably means ________.
A.evidences B.facts C.faults D.failures
2.People with fair skin and freckles ________.
A.seldom use sunscreen B.are more in danger of skin cancer C.can be free from the harm of the sun D.often expose themselves to the sun
3.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A.sunscreen users get skin cancer more often
B.the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen
C.the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers
D.the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America
4.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A.Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer
B.Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer
C.Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen
D.Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Kate _______ his grandfather because he seems to know everything.
A.supports B.admires C.remembers D.encourages
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
I believe we will solve the problem ______. We just need to think harder and try more.
A.somewhat B.sometimes C.somehow D.somewhere
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
— I had a great time playing basketball with you today.
— Then let's do it ________. How about every Sunday?
A.currently B.enormously C.regularly D.hardly
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
__________, Americans eat turkey for Thanksgiving and Chinese people have moon cakes for Mid-Autumn Festival.
A.Actually B.Surprisingly C.Obviously D.Typically
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
You should be _________ for every word you have said in court.
A.responsible B.thankful C.known D.confident
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
My uncle has such a great ______ that he can still tell every detail of the movie that he watched three years ago.
A.memory B.heart C.thought D.behavior
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
They set out to ____ food to a distant village.
A.direct B.destroy C.deliver D.disqualify
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Students feel ______ when they have some difficulties in study.
A.regretful B.anxious C.odd D.disappointing
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
He felt relaxed and comfortable to be back in _________ surroundings.
A.famous B.difficult C.unusual D.familiar
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Despite their different _________, they become best friends.
A.personalities B.qualities C.accents D.types
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The picnic was __________ because of the rain.
A.allowed B.postponed C.maintained D.hung
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Students can ________ knowledge from teachers and books.
A.approach B.illustrate C.acquire D.prove
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The company wants to _______ its leading position in business.
A.maintain B.leave C.recognize D.balance
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The book is popular because the author wrote it in friendly and _________ language.
A.confusing B.difficult C.ordinary D.special
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
— Have you finished your homework?
— Not yet. I _______ it after dinner.
A.do B.am doing C.have done D.will do
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
— Let's go shopping for some new clothes this Sunday.
— I want to, but I can't. I _______ money for a new computer.
A.am saving B.have saved C.saved D.was saving
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Since my parents went to Shanghai, I _________ with my aunt.
A.live B.lived C.have been living D.was living
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
In the game yesterday, our class ______ against Mark's class and we won.
A.had competed B.competed C.has competed D.was competing
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
I’m really interested in _____ you have said. Can we discuss some things in detail?
A.all that B.all what C.that D.which
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
— Do you know everyone ________ came to the party?
— No, I donˈt know the one ________ you had a long talk with.
A./; whom B.which; that C.that; which D.who; /
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Speaking Up
I never looked up when my friends were talking and joking about the ratarded (智障的) boy a few tables away. It didn’t even cross my mind that he might feel _______when people whispered about him. So I just let them talk.
Then came the day when I learned my little brother Martin’s testing for autism (自闭症) came out positive (阳性). I had never thought about him like that. I broke_______, crying.
Everything had just changed. He was no longer a(n) _______little boy.
Over time, I was able to accept his _______a little more. We had to_______because Martin needed treatment. So Martin and I both started at a new school. One day, I was standing in the bus line waiting when a “ short ” bus (for the retarded) came and_______up some kids. The children in the other line started making_______about the “ retarded ” on that bus and I felt a _______feeling in my heart. I said quietly that those comments weren’t very nice, _______no one listened.
My family moved again. In the new school I got a ________ to speak up pretty soon. That day, in a band class, my teacher _________our playing to make some comments, “ …Guys, we’re playing like the kids on the short bus! Come on! ”
The entire room was laughing loudly. I felt very ________. Then, I raised my hand. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but I wanted to be heard.
The whole class ________down. My mouth opened and this came out: “ I don’t think we should make fun of the short bus, because there are people on that bus who have a lot in common with us and have the same feelings as we do.” I could feel my________getting louder. “So I would________it if you didn’t make fun of them.”
The room was very quiet and everyone stared at me. My teacher ________for his words and then started the song again. At the end of the class, everyone was giving me strange looks. But I didn’t _________because I knew three things: I had spoken the ________, I had taught everyone something, and while everyone in the classroom was being a follower, I had ________to take a different path since I wanted to become a ________and a role model.
1.A.amazed B.hurt C.uncertain D.cold
2.A.off B.in C.down D.away
3.A.normal B.noisy C.outstanding D.impressive
4.A.pain B.interest C.opinion D.illness
5.A.change B.move C.quit D.study
6.A.set B.took C.brought D.picked
7.A.jokes B.complaints C.choices D.discoveries
8.A.violent B.strange C.confusing D.clear
9.A.because B.if C.but D.so
10.A.chance B.position C.topic D.point
11.A.encouraged B.bothered C.enjoyed D.stopped
12.A.bad B.embarrassed C.tense D.guilty
13.A.sat B.slowed C.quieted D.looked
14.A.pace B.voice C.pulse D.breath
15.A.excuse B.appreciate C.stand D.permit
16.A.apologized B.fought C.allowed D.argued
17.A.understand B.notice C.return D.care
18.A.wisdom B.importance C.matter D.truth
19.A.helped B.decided C.agreed D.hoped
20.A.reporter B.thinker C.leader D.trainer
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单词拼写
1.He got an _______（最新消息）from the newsletter about job opportunities in the city.
2.He goes up to the man and finds he has a ______（伤疤）on his face.
3._______ （尽管，虽然）arguments over “stupid things”, Alistair agrees that having a brother is an advantage.
4.Should the brothers have been _______（取消资格）or highly praised for their actions?
5.Alistair didn’t want to discuss it with the _______（媒体）
6.At that moment, he was no longer an athlete aiming for a _______.（奖牌）
7.How we make friends and communicate with them has changed _______.（重大地，显著地）
8.What if the only way of getting news from friends was writing letters that took ages to be ________. （递送，传送）
9.I appreciate your _________ （慷慨） in this matter.
10.He wanted to be a ________（专业的）football player.
11.You just ____________（假定，假设）I want to be a lawyer, but that’s only because you are a lawyer.
12.The ________（气氛，氛围） over dinner was warm and friendly.
13.Watch your character, for it becomes your _________.（命运）
14.Most of the food for the homeless is provided by a voluntary _____.（组织）
15.If possible, post a ______ （评论）and let us know how you think about it.
16.If you a ______（习得）something such as a skill or a habit, you learn it, or develop it
17.If you use an example, story, or diagram to i ____ （阐明） a point, you use it to show that what you are saying is true.
18.This t _______（主题） carries through in all his writings.
19.From my perspective , at no time should we i ______（忽略）the value of actions.
20.Many foreigners are surprised by the a ______（进步） of online shopping technology in China.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。
She looks like any other schoolgirl, fresh-faced and full of life. Sarah Thomas is looking forward to the challenge of her new A-level course. But unlike her school friends, 16-year-old Sarah is not spending half-term1.(rest). Instead, she is earning £6500 a day as 2.model in New York.
Sarah3. (tell) that she could be Britain’s new supermodel earning a million dollars in the next year. Her father Peter, 44, wants her to give up school to model full-time. But Sarah, 4.has taken part in shows along with top models, wants5.(prove) that she has brains as well as beauty. She is determined to carry on with her6. (educate).
She has turned down several 7.(invitation) to star at shows in order to concentrate on her studies. After school she plans to take a year off to model full-time before going to university to get a degree8.engineering or architecture.
Sarah says, ＂My dad thinks I should take the offer now. But at the moment, school 9. (come) first. I don’t want to put too much in modeling. It is10. (certain) fun but the lifestyle is a little unreal. I don’t want to have nothing else to fall back on when I can’t model any more.”
难度: 中等查看答案及解析