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Imagine a mystery guest coming to your Thanksgiving dinner, one you have never met. Imagine this “silent guest” being a starving person from a poor country. That is what students at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio want you to think about this Thanksgiving.
Students of the Mount's Impact Cl
ub are urging everyone to feed a “silent guest” at this year's Thanksgiving. These students have been holding fundraisers for the World Food Programme (WFP) and trying to get people to join their “silent guest” plan.
Their idea came from the “silent guest” campaign in 1947, which asked Americans to open up their hearts and share their Thanksgiving abundance. Governor Robert Bradford of Massachusetts, whose forefather started Thanksgiving, announced the new tradition of feeding a “silent guest” at the holiday meal.
American families were asked to donate the cost of feeding their “silent guest” to a committee in Massachusetts. The “silent guest” donations from Americans led to CARE packages of food being sent to starving families overseas. This was important for many countries in Europe, who were still suffering from the destruction caused by World War Ⅱ.
The food from the “silent guest” helped keep Europe afloat until Marshall Plan to rebuild could kick in. As George Marshall said, “Food is the very basis of all reconstruction.”
The “silent guest” idea was started by an activist named Iris Gabriel. She approached Governor Bradford, with the plan and eventually governors across the US were on board. This was a giving spirit.
It is a spirit we must keep with us today because the WFP and other relief agencies are facing an incredible challenge with hunger emergencies. Fighting world hunger is no less important than it was in 1947.
That is why it's inspiring that college students are leading the campaign to bring back the “silent guest”. And you can join them by simply setting aside a place in your heart and your holiday table while donating to a charity fighting hunger.
1.What gave the students the idea of “silent guest”？
A. A historical fact. B. Their rich imagination.
C. A moving story. D. A TV programme.
2.What can we know about the “silent guest” campaign in 1947?
A. It was a worldwide campaign.
B. It helped the development of the US.
C. It was originally put forward by the WFP.
D. It contributed a lot to Europe's rebuilding.
3.What might be the spirit of the “silent guest” campaign?
A. Giving is a virtue. B. Give thanks by giving.
C. Give respect to the poor. D. Giving is better than receiving.
4.What should people do according to the “silent guest” plan?
A. Invite your friends to Thanksgiving dinner.
B. Act as a silent guest to show thanks to people.
C. Raise money for the World Food Programme.
D. Provide shelter to a silent guest on Christmas.
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Imagine you go into a coffee shop, have a cup, and when it comes to paying your bill they tell you it’s already been paid for. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Well, that’s _________ what’s happening at the Corner Perk Cafe in Bluffton, South Carolina. It all started in 2010 with a _________ act of kindness.
The Corner Perk was just a(n) _________ coffee place until one day, when a _________ left a $100 bill with the owner, Josh Cooke. _________ she just wanted the money to be used to pay for the drinks of all the people who came in after, until it _________. According to Cooke it was “just to let them know, you know, that somebody was wanting them to have a great day.” _________, customers who came in all afternoon were puzzled when they found they didn’t have to _________ for their coffee.
This wasn’t the _____________ time the mysterious coffee-donor paid the Corner Perk a visit. Actually she’s been there ______________ eight times in the past two years. When Josh ______________ her most recent visit on the coffee shop’s Facebook page, the word spread quickly. More ____________ came forward to continue the ____________. Cooke says the ____________ lady who started the trend had a kind heart and wanted ______________ to spread in the area. Her efforts did not go ____________. Lots of people who heard about the tradition at Corner Perk Cafe simply walked into the shop and left money, ____________ even ordering anything for themselves. A jar now stands on the counter with dollar bills to pay for people’s coffee.
Josh says “We just want people to continue to show kindness is anyway — ____________ that’s helping somebody with their electric bill or ______________ somebody’s car with gas. I say this just to show that humanity isn’t dead ________________.”
1.A.accidentally B.exactly C.occasionally D.possibly
2.A.deliberate B.serious C.random D.formal
3.A.crowded B.deserted C.interesting D.ordinary
4.A.customer B.hostess C.businesswoman D.traveller
5.A.Aimlessly B.Apparently C.Awkwardly D.Amusingly
6.A.disappears B.dies away C.runs out D.decreases
7.A.Needless to say B.On the contrary C.In other words D.What's more
8.A.wait B.pay C.answer D.apply
9.A.high B.last C.very D.best
10.A.another B.other C.any D.best
11.A.posted B.published C.painted D.printed
12.A.consumers B.donors C.passers-by D.visitor
13.A.trade B.visit C.trend D.payment
14.A.wealthy B.famous C.ambitious D.unknown
15.A.donation B.goodness C.happiness D.puzzlement
16.A.unbelievable B.undesirable C.unnecessary D.unrewarded
17.A.except B.besides C.without D.before
18.A.whether B.because C.since D.while
19.A.charging B.drawing in C.filling up D.starting
20.A.in all B.after all C.above all D.of all
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You're at dinner with your friends on Sunday and the waiter comes up to you and says, “Is this going to be on one check or?”
“Separate!” you all said, barely taking a breath to pause from your conversation.
And why would you? It's pretty usual to pay for your own meal, or to go Dutch.
But it wasn't always the custom to split the check when going out with friends. In fact, in early English society, it was seen as selfish to invite someone out to eat and not pay for their meal. The origins of the phrase "going Dutch" are a little complicated, but Steven Pincus, a historian from the University of Chicago who focuses on early modern Europe, helped us track the complex history of this idiom.
We have to take it back all the way to the 1600s. During the Anglo-Dutch Wars, there were multiple conflicts between the English and the Dutch over trade and naval power. That led to a rise in idioms from the English regarding their enemy, the Dutch: phrases like "Dutch courage," the false courage brought on by alcohol; or "Dutch reckoning," which is a ridiculously high bill on which you've likely been cheated. This was because the English saw the Dutch not only as a trading enemy,but also as a people with questionable morals. The English "claimed that the Dutch had been completely corrupted by their commitment to capitalism." (Funny how tides change, isn't it?)of course, as time changes, so does our sense of self. After all, who wants to pay for their friends' meals all the time? Maybe sometimes it's all right to do like the Dutch do.
1.What did people once do in English history if they dined out with friends?
A.They split the check. B.The inviter paid for the meal.
C.They paid for their meals in turn. D.one of the guests paid for the meal.
2.What does the author say about the idioms containing the word "Dutch”？
A.They show respect to the Dutch. B.They do harm to English language.
C.They are associated with money. D.They mean something dishonorable.
3.The purpose of the text is to explain
A.the English table manners B.the England and Dutch relationship
C.the origin of some English phrases D.the change in English history
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What does Thanksgiving mean to you? I hear one boy say, “It means a big dinner.” I think we all agree with him. Who does not welcome and enjoy a good dinner! I hear Mary say, “Thanksgiving means a day off from school.” I guess you are right too. School is not such a charming place that girls and boys are unwilling to have an occasional holiday.
Now I am going to ask some of the older people what the day means to them. There is a young woman. She is a stenographer (速记员). She says, “Thanksgiving means a day away from the office. I am at the office every day except Sunday, and I do appreciate, now and then, a day that is really my own.” Yonder is a traveling salesman. What does Thanksgiving mean to you? He says, “It means a day at home. Last year I spent one hundred and sixty-nine nights away from home. I have three children. I should like to see them every day. There are times when many days pass and I do not see them. Thanksgiving week I plan to be at home.”
There are others I could ask. Each has his answer. But Thanksgiving has a special meaning for us. It is the Harvest time. I have here an apple. Isn’t this a beautiful apple? What color! Who mixed the paints, who handled the brush to give such color to this apple? God. He, in his infinite love and wisdom, has provided, through the unfailing laws of nature, for the growth, sweetness, coloring and beautifying of all the products of the fields. This apple is but one of many kinds of fruits.
Praise, then, is the great meaning of Thanksgiving. God, our heavenly Father, sends us every good gift. From his generous hand come our daily and nightly mercies. We should praise him every day. But the day for the united chorus of praise is Thanksgiving.
1.The first two paragraphs want to tell us .
A. people have different ways to celebrate Thanksgiving
B. Thanksgiving has a different meaning for different people
C. how people celebrate their Thanksgiving
D. what Thanksgiving really means to most people
2.If the writer continued to ask an orphan what Thanksgiving means to him, he would most probably say, “It means ”.
A. a longer holiday at home
B. a delicious dinner with his friends
C. a beautiful song from a famous singer
D. a good day together with his parents
3.In the writer’s opinion, on Thanksgiving everyone should feel .
A. grateful for what they have
B. satisfied with what God gave us
C. amazed at how perfect an apple is
D. excited about how differently Thanksgiving means
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In the country guests tend to feel they are not highly __________ if the invitation to a dinner party is given only three or four days before the party date.
A．admired B．expected C．wished D．regarded
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As he never raises a finger to help me with the dinner, I________the thanksgiving meal from this afternoon till now.
A. have been preparing B. prepared
C. had been preparing D. prepare
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—Why do you cook this much beef?
—_____ the guests decide to stay for dinner.
A．As long as B．In case
C．Even if D．Now that
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What comes into your mind when you think about robots? Do you imagine armies of evil metal monsters planning to take over the world? Or, perhaps of mechanical men who have been created as guards or soldiers by a mad genius? Or maybe you think of man- like robots who act, think, and look like human beings. In fact robots like these have more to do with science fiction films than with real life. In the real world robots are machines that do jobs which otherwise have to be done by people. Robots either operate by themselves or under the control of a person.
In a car factory, for example, robot machinery can put together and paint car bodies. On the sea bed remotecontrolled（遥控）underwater machines with mechanical arms can perform tasks too difficult for divers. Robot spacecraft can explore the solar system and send back information about planets and stars.
Many robots have computer brains. Some robots are fitted with cameras , sensors, and microphones which enable them to see, to feel, and to hear. And some robots can even produce electronic speech.
All this does not mean that a robot can think and behave like a human being. Present day robots have to be programmed with a good deal of information before they can carry out even simple tasks.
44．Robots in real life________.
A. can behave like human beings B. have the ability to control the world
C. can think by themselves D. can help us with a lot of work
45．According to this article, which of the following is not true about robots in the real world?
A. Some robots are as creative as artists. B. Some robots can help manufacture cars.
C. Some robots can see and hear. D. Some robots can explore outer space.
46．Robots can perform many tasks for man because________.
A. they have intelligence B. they are supplied with computer programs
C. they can imitate human beings D. they have the ability to learn new things
47．The robots in science fiction films and those in real life differ mainly in________.
A. mentality B. appearance C. material D. size
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Imagine jet-setting from Tokyo to Paris, enjoying first-class travel, a four-course dinner and a city tour－all without leaving the ground. This is the future of air travel according to Japanese company First Airlines, which has used the power of virtual reality to create dream vacations.
Passengers avoid the costly airport transfer, the baggage fees or busy airport terminal（航站楼）－and instead enjoy the privileges of business or first-class travel and an expensive tour of Paris－all while remaining motionless in Tokyo. As well as Paris, First Airlines also offers the virtual destinations of New York, Rome and Hawaii.
After boarding, guests can settle down for the two-hour flight on their advanced Airbus seat－surrounded by decoration that is modeled on the inside of an aircraft, for maximum realism. There is flight service and VR, foods, music for every destination. Passengers will be served a delicious meal by air stewards, alongside drinks and other desserts. The menu depends on the destination of choice－Manhattan clam chowder and cheesecake for New York and salmon tartar and onion soup for Paris. After landing at the destination, guests can enjoy a 360-degree tour of the destination－all thanks to projection（投影）mapping and video.
It makes for a supposedly stress-free vacation, perfect for those whose ability to travel abroad is limited by cost or health. Virtual reality is becoming increasingly present everywhere at all times in the world of travel－allowing travelers to appreciate the wonders of the world, all without leaving their house.
At just 4,980 yen（$ 46）for business class and 5,980 yen（$ 56）for first class－these two- hour flights are far more affordable than their real-life flights. Tokyo citizens eager to experience First Airlines can book a trip on the website, with reservations currently being taken until May 2018.
1.What can we learn about the future of air travel from Tokyo to Paris?
A. It is high-flying. B. It is money-saving.
C. It is power-wasting. D. It is time-consuming.
2.When can passengers enjoy the beauty of the destination?
A. Upon arrival. B. During the flight.
C. After boarding the plane. D. On getting off the plane.
3.The flight is perfect for travelers who .
A. do little physical exercise B. work under great pressure
C. desire to travel a long distance D. have health or money troubles
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. A Scientific Fantasy B. The Power of Virtual Reality
C. Japan’s Virtual Air Travel Abroad D. Appreciation of the Global Wonders
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Imagine jet-setting from Tokyo to Paris, enjoying first-class travel, a four-course dinner and a city tour－all without leaving the ground. This is the future of air travel according to Japanese company First Airlines, which has used the power of virtual reality to create dream vacations.
Passengers avoid the costly airport transfer, the baggage fees or busy airport terminal（航站楼）－and instead enjoy the privileges of business or first-class travel and an expensive tour of Paris－all while remaining motionless in Tokyo. As well as Paris, First Airlines also offers the virtual destinations of New York, Rome and Hawaii.
After boarding, guests can settle down for the two-hour flight on their advanced Airbus seat－surrounded by decoration that is modeled on the inside of an aircraft, for maximum realism. There is flight service and VR, foods, music for every destination. Passengers will be served a delicious meal by air stewards, alongside drinks and other desserts. The menu depends on the destination of choice－Manhattan clam chowder and cheesecake for New York and salmon tartar and onion soup for Paris. After landing at the destination, guests can enjoy a 360-degree tour of the destination－all thanks to projection（投影）mapping and video.
It makes for a supposedly stress-free vacation, perfect for those whose ability to travel abroad is limited by cost or health. Virtual reality is becoming increasingly present everywhere at all times in the world of travel－allowing travelers to appreciate the wonders of the world, all without leaving their house.
At just 4,980 yen（$ 46）for business class and 5,980 yen（$ 56）for first class－these two- hour flights are far more affordable than their real-life flights. Tokyo citizens eager to experience First Airlines can book a trip on the website, with reservations currently being taken until May 2018.
1.What can we learn about the future of air travel from Tokyo to Paris?
A. It is high-flying. B. It is money-saving.
C. It is power-wasting. D. It is time-consuming.
2.When can passengers enjoy the beauty of the destination?
A. Upon arrival. B. During the flight.
C. After boarding the plane. D. On getting off the plane.
3.The flight is perfect for travelers who .
A. do little physical exercise B. work under great pressure
C. desire to travel a long distance D. have health or money troubles
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. A Scientific Fantasy B. The Power of Virtual Reality
C. Japan’s Virtual Air Travel Abroad D. Appreciation of the Global Wonders
ub are urging everyone to feed a “silent guest” at this year's Thanksgiving. These students have been holding fundraisers for the World Food Programme (WFP) and trying to get people to join their “silent guest” plan.