Bobby Moresco grew up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, a poor working-class neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side. But Hell’s Kitchen lies right next door to Broadway, and the bright lights attracted Bobby from the time he was a teen. Being stage-struck was hardly what a street kid could admit to his partners. Fearing their making fun of him, he told no one, not even his girlfriend, when he started taking acting lessons at age 17. If you were a kid from the neighborhood, you became a cop, construction worker, longshoreman or criminal. Not an actor.
Moresco struggled to make that long walk a few blocks east. He studied acting, turned out for all the cattle calls (试戏通告)-- and during the decade of the 1970s made a total of $2,000. “I wasn’t a good actor, but I had a driving need to do something different with my life,” he says.
He moved to Hollywood, where he drove a cab and worked as a waiter. “ My father said, 'Stop this craziness and get a job; you have a wife and daughter.' ”But Moresco kept working at his chosen career.
Then in 1983 his younger brother Thomas was murdered in a killing. Moresco moved back to his old neighborhood and started writing as a way to explore the pain of Hell’s Kitchen. Half-Deserted Streets, based on his brother’s killing, opened at a small Off-Broadway theater in 1988. A Hollywood producer saw it and asked him to work on a screenplay.
His reputation grew, and he got enough assignments to move back to Hollywood. By 2003, he was again out of work and out of cash when he got a call from Paul Haggis, a director who had befriended him. Haggis wanted help writing a film about the country after September 11. The two worked on the writing Crash, but every studio in town turned it down. They kept trying. Studio executives, however, thought no one wanted to see hard lives in modern America.
Crash slipped into the theaters in May 2005, and quietly became both a hit and a critical success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three -- Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Paul Haggis and the kid from Hell’s Kitchen.
At age 54, Bobby Moresco became an overnight success. “If you have something you want to do in life, don’t think about the problems,” he says, “think about other ways to get it done.”
1.Why Bobby Moresco did not tell anyone that he started taking lessons at age 17?
A. He wanted to give his girlfriend a surprise.
B. His girlfriend did not allow him to do this.
C. He was afraid of being laughed at.
D. He had no talent for acting.
2.Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
A. His father did not support his work as a bartender.
B. Before he became an overnight success, his life experienced ups and downs.
C. His brother’s death inspired his writing Half-Deserted Streets.
D. Moresco grew up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen which is a few blocks east of Broadway.
3.The Studio executives turned the script Crash down because ______________.
A. they thought the script would not be popular.
B. the script was not well written.
C. they had no money to make the film based on the script.
D. they thought Moresco was not famous.
4.Which of the following can best describe Bobby Moresco?
A. ambitious and persistent B. shy but hardworking
C. caring and brave D. considerate and modest
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Bobby Moresco grew up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, a poor working-class neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side. But Hell’s Kitchen lies right next door to Broadway, and the bright lights attracted Bobby from the time he was a teen. Being stage-struck was hardly what a street kid could admit to his partners. Fearing their making fun of him, he told no one, not even his girlfriend, when he started taking acting lessons at age 17. If you were a kid from the neighborhood, you became a cop, construction worker, longshoreman or criminal. Not an actor.
Moresco struggled to make that long walk a few blocks east. He studied acting, turned out for all the cattle calls (试戏通告)-- and during the decade of the 1970s made a total of $2,000. “I wasn’t a good actor, but I had a driving need to do something different with my life,” he says.
He moved to Hollywood, where he drove a cab and worked as a waiter. “ My father said, 'Stop this craziness and get a job; you have a wife and daughter.' ”But Moresco kept working at his chosen career.
Then in 1983 his younger brother Thomas was murdered in a killing. Moresco moved back to his old neighborhood and started writing as a way to explore the pain of Hell’s Kitchen. Half-Deserted Streets, based on his brother’s killing, opened at a small Off-Broadway theater in 1988. A Hollywood producer saw it and asked him to work on a screenplay.
His reputation grew, and he got enough assignments to move back to Hollywood. By 2003, he was again out of work and out of cash when he got a call from Paul Haggis, a director who had befriended him. Haggis wanted help writing a film about the country after September 11. The two worked on the writing Crash, but every studio in town turned it down. They kept trying. Studio executives, however, thought no one wanted to see hard lives in modern America.
Crash slipped into the theaters in May 2005, and quietly became both a hit and a critical success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three -- Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Paul Haggis and the kid from Hell’s Kitchen.
At age 54, Bobby Moresco became an overnight success. “If you have something you want to do in life, don’t think about the problems,” he says, “think about other ways to get it done.”
1.Why Bobby Moresco did not tell anyone that he started taking lessons at age 17?
A. He wanted to give his girlfriend a surprise.
B. His girlfriend did not allow him to do this.
C. He was afraid of being laughed at.
D. He had no talent for acting.
2.Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
A. His father did not support his work as a bartender.
B. Before he became an overnight success, his life experienced ups and downs.
C. His brother’s death inspired his writing Half-Deserted Streets.
D. Moresco grew up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen which is a few blocks east of Broadway.
3.The Studio executives turned the script Crash down because ______________.
A. they thought the script would not be popular.
B. the script was not well written.
C. they had no money to make the film based on the script.
D. they thought Moresco was not famous.
4.Which of the following can best describe Bobby Moresco?
A. ambitious and persistent B. shy but hardworking
C. caring and brave D. considerate and modest
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I grew up in New York my whole life. I studied in a perfect college that happened only to be an hour away from home. Then, about three weeks before the spring term was over, my parents told me we were moving to Arizona that summer. They asked me if I was going to transfer (转学) to another college. I said no. I was not going to change everything in my life at one time and I loved my college and all the amazing things I was doing there. It was my second home; I would not leave everything I knew at the same time since that was asking for trouble.
I never imagined it would be this hard but, at the same time, the best thing that could have happened to me.
When out in Arizona, life was hard. I didn't know anyone other than my family and friends. I couldn’t bear the extreme heat. But it has helped me so much. I have started working on my writing. I also have time to work out in the gym. It has helped me realize that no matter where you are or who you know you can always find something that you enjoy.
When back at school in New York, it was hard as well. Living close to home was my security blanket. If something was wrong I could get in my car and drive home and see my family. After my family moved to another city, I lacked security and was always controlled by anxiety. However, it helped me learn independence and forced me to be brave.
I' m so thankful that I didn't transfer to a different school, which has given me the opportunity to go back and see best friends in my hometown. A year ago, I officially left my hometown for good. It has helped me grow and I am so thankful that I have had this experience. Now, when I graduate from college, I can go anywhere I want. I am no longer afraid to go out on my own into the world. The world is full of opportunities and pleasure and I can' t wait to see where I will be next.
1.In Paragraph 1, the author .
A. preferred to stay at school than at home
B. would not change both school and home
C. would rather stay at his hometown
D. was glad to go to a new school
2.How was life like to the author in Arizona?
A. He liked the cool weather there.
B. He couldn’t find anything he enjoyed.
C. He found his life difficult but helpful.
D. He worked for a student organization.
3.The underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 means that living near home .
A. gave me a sense of security
B. meant I could be safe every day
C. meant I could do everything I wanted bravely
D. allowed me to get a blanket easily if needed
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. My school life in New York B. My home and college
C. My moving during college D. My experience in Arizona
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My grandfather lived only half a mile away from where I grew up in New York. Every day, he would walk down to our house and bring my dad newspapers. Along with the papers he would bring a small bag of treats (美食) for my two brothers and me.
Western New York had terrible winter weather: rain, sleet (雨夹雪), or even 3 feet of snow. Even when he was 81, he still walked the half mile every single day. As a child, I looked forward to the daily treats, but now I’m older and I realize he braved the rough weather each day just to see us smile; I now value that more than anything else.
My grandfather touched many lives. A woman who had been in hospital for five years told me her story. She said my grandfather would visit her twice a week at her home: to read to her, play bridge, or just chat. It lasted for years without stop. She had few visitors. Even a hitch-hiker who had traveled by getting free rides from passing cars told me of my grandfather’s influence on his life. My grandfather had picked him up for free and took the traveler to his home. After learning that the man was homeless, my grandfather gave him a place to stay. The man told me that no one had ever been so nice to him. He later found a job in a supermarket.
I was touched, but not surprised to know all of the touching stories from which I understood my grandfather’s selflessness. I have since tried to learn from him to help others. Although he died years ago, we still respect him.
1.The writer’s grandfather walked to his grandson’s home each day in order to ________.
A. bring his son newspapers
B. give his grandchildren some food
C. take exercise by walking
D. see his son and grandchildren
2.All of the following can describe the writer’s grandfather EXCEPT ________.
A. kind B. selfless C. strict D. helpful
3.The underlined word “hitch-hiker” in Paragraph 3 refers to ________.
A. 喜欢乘车旅行的人 B. 免费搭便车旅行的人
C. 被父母遗弃的人 D. 独自旅行并迷路的人
4.From the text we can infer that ________.
A. the writer didn’t know his grandfather’s selflessness until years later
B. the writer’s grandfather went to his house except on snowy days
C. the writer’s grandfather ever looked after a woman in hospital for five years
D. the writer’s grandfather ever helped a stranger find a job in a supermarket
5.After learning about his grandfather’s stories, the writer ________.
A. felt a little surprised at first
B. followed the example of his grandfather
C. was much sad all the time
D. didn’t like his grandfather’s action
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I grew up poor---living in the housing projects (住房) with six brothers, three sisters, a varying assortment (各式各样东西的混合) of foster kids (养子), my father, and a wonderful mother, Scarlette Hunley. We had little money and few worldly goods, but plenty of love and attention. I was 36 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 37 a dream.
My dream was 38 . By the time I was sixteen, I could crush a baseball, and hit anything that moved on the baseball field. I was also 39 : My high school coach Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but taught me how to believe in myself. He 40 me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with Coach Jarvis changed my life forever.
It was the summer between my junior and senior years, and a friend 41 me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—cash for dates with girls, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a 42 for my mother. The prospect of a summer job was attractive and interesting, and I wanted to jump at the opportunity. Then I realized I would have to 43 summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was 44 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said. “Your 45 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.”
I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the words that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 46 to me.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” He demanded. “3.5 dollars an hour.” I replied. “Well,” he asked, “Is $3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”
That question, the plainness of it, laid bare for me the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I dedicated myself to sports that summer and with the year I was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 47 a $20,000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1998 for $1.7 million, and bought my mother the house of my dreams.
1.A. happy B. polite C. shy D. honest
2.A. live B. afford C. make D. need
3.A. athletics B. music C. business D. money
4.A. right B. popular C. lucky D. confident
5.A. persuaded B. taught C. brought D. asked
6.A. sent B. advised C. gave D. recommended
7.A. ticket B. car C. house D. job
8.A. give in B. give up C. give away D. give off
9.A. disappointed B. mad C. frightened D. shameful
10.A. living B. playing C. working D. learning
11.A. sadness B. regret C. hopelessness D.disappointment
12.A. paid B. got C. offered D. presented
高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York., in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store, selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly form the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always run his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”
1.Frank took a short business course in order to ____________.
A.earn more money for his family
B.learn something from a salesman
C.get away from the farm
D.get enough to eat.
2.Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because _____________.
A.he knew how to get people to buy his goods.
B.he cut down the price by half
C.he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way.
D.the sign he put on the table was well designed.
3.The price of the knives was cut down by half because ______________.
A.the factory workers worked 24 hours a day.
B.knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory.
C.the knives were made in Germany, where labor (劳动力) was cheap.
D.the knives were produced in one factory.
4._____________make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A.His business skills and his wealth.
B.The low price of the goods he sold.
C.His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives.
D.His natural skill for showing things.
5.The belief that : “ The customer is always right” suggests that _______________.
A.whenever there is a quarrel between the customer and shop assistant, the customers are always right.
B.If you want to succeed, the rule is the only way.
C.stores must always follow the customer’s orders if they want to make more money.
D.stores should do their best to meet the customer’s needs if they want to be successful.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York., in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品 ) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said five cents each. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store., selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly form the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always ran his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ The customer is always right.”
1. Frank took a short business course in order to ____________.
A. earn more money for his family
B. learn something from a salesman
C. get away from the farm
D. get enough to eat.
2.. The price of the knives was cut down by half because ______________.
A. the factory workers worked 24 hours a day.
B. knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory.
C. the knives were made in Germany, where labour (劳动力) was cheap.
D. the knives were produced in one factory.
3._____________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A. His business skills and his wealth.
B. The low price of the goods he sold.
C. His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives.
D. His natural skill for showing things.
4. The belief that : “ The customer is always right” suggests that _______________.
A. whenever there is a quarrel between the customer and shop assistant, the customers are always right.
B. If you want to succeed, the rule is the only way.
C. stores must always follow the customer’s orders if they want to make more money.
D. stores should do their best to meet the customer’s needs if they want to be successful.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York., in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品 ) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store., selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly from the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always run his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”
1.Frank took a short business course in order to ____________.
A. earn more money for his family
B. learn something from a salesman
C. get away from the farm
D. get enough to eat.
2.Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because _____________.
A. he knew how to get people to buy his goods.
B. he cut down the price by half
C. he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way.
D. the sign he put on the table was well designed.
3.The price of the knives was cut down by half because ______________.
A. the factory workers worked 24 hours a day.
B. knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory.
C. the knives were made in Germany, where labour (劳动力) was cheap.
D. the knives were produced in one factory.
4._____________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A. His business skills and his wealth.
B. The low price of the goods he sold.
C. His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives.
D. His natural skill for showing things.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York., in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品 ) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store., selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly form the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always run his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”
1.Frank took a short business course in order to ____________.
A.earn more money for his family
B.learn something from a salesman
C.get away from the farm
D.get enough to eat.
2.Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because _____________.
A.he knew how to get people to buy his goods.
B.he cut down the price by half
C.he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way.
D.the sign he put on the table was well designed.
3.The price of the knives was cut down by half because ______________.
A.the factory workers worked 24 hours a day.
B.knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory.
C.the knives were made in Germany, where labour (劳动力) was cheap.
D.the knives were produced in one factory.
4._____________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A.His business skills and his wealth.
B.The low price of the goods he sold.
C.His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives.
D.His natural skill for showing things.
5.The belief that : “ The customer is always right” suggests that _______________.
A.whenever there is a quarrel between the customer and shop assistant, the customers are always right.
B.If you want to succeed, the rule is the only way.
C.stores must always follow the customer’s orders if they want to make more money.
D.stores should do their best to meet the customer’s needs if they want to be successful.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York, in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be a farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store, selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly from the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always run his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”
1.Frank took a short business course in order to _________.
A. get enough to eat. B. learn something from a salesman
C. earn more money for his family D. get away from the farm
2.Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because _________.
A. he knew how to get people to buy his goods.
B. he cut down the price by half
C. the sign he put on the table was well designed.
D. he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way.
3.The price of the knives was cut down by half because ________.
A. the factory workers worked 24 hours a day.
B. the knives were made in Germany, where labour (劳动力) was cheap.
C. knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory.
D. the knives were produced in one factory.
4.________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A. His natural skill for showing things
B. The low price of the goods he sold
C. His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives
D. His business skills and his wealth
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York., in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品 ) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store., selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly from the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always run his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”
1.Frank took a short business course in order to ____________.
A. earn more money for his family
B. get away from the farm
C.learn something from a salesman
D. get enough to eat.
2.Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because _____________.
A. he cut down the price by half
B. he knew how to get people to buy his goods.
C. he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way.
D. the sign he put on the table was well designed.
3.The price of the knives was cut down by half because ______________.
A. the factory workers worked 24 hours a day.
B. the knives were produced in one factory.
C. the knives were made in Germany, where labour (劳动力) was cheap.
D. knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory.
4._____________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A. His business skills and his wealth.
B. The low price of the goods he sold.
C. His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives.
D. His natural skill for showing things.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析