As prices and building costs keep rising(上涨的), the do-it-yourself (DIY） trend (趋势） in the U.S. continues to grow.
“We needed furniture for our living room,” says John Ross, “And we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decide to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.
Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. “I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself.”
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so that they can fight with the high cost of living. If you want to become a “do-it -yourselfer”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.
1.John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to _______.
A. run a DIY shop B. make it repair things
C. save time and money D. improve the quality of life
2.When the writer says that Jim has a full-time at home, he means Jim _______.
A. makes shoes in his home
B. does extra work at night
C. does his own car and home repairs
D. keeps house and looks after his children
3.Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when _______.
A. his car repairs cost too much
B. the car repair class was not helpful
C. he could not possibly do two jobs
D. he had to raise the children all by himself
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A. The Joy of DIY.
B. You Can Do It too!
C. Welcome to Our DIY course!
D. Ross and Hatfield: Believe in DIY.
Mr. Dawson is an old man with a bad temper (脾气). Kids were afraid to go into his yard to pick apples.
One day, 12-year-old Janet and her friend Amy had to walk past Mr. Dawson’ s house. When Janet saw him outside, she suggested they cross the street and walk on the other side. But Amy said they didn’t need to.
When Mr. Dawson saw Amy, he smiled and said: “ Hello, Amy! I see you have a new friend with you today.” Amy smiled back. Mr. Dawson was friendly and gave them each a fresh apple.
Later, Janet asked Amy: “ Everyone says he is the most unwelcoming(不受欢迎的) person in town. Why was he kind to us?” Amy explained that when she first walked past his house, she was also afraid of him. But she pretended(假装) there was an invisible(看不见的) smile on his face and started talking to him. At first she only said “hello” but then began talking to him more every time she saw him.
“An invisible smile?” Janet was puzzled (困惑的). “Yes,” answered Amy. “My grandma told me to try that. She says smiles can spread. So if we keep trying to smile at someone, sooner or later they will smile back.”
Amy’s grandma realized most people can’t refuse(拒绝) to smile at a friendly face.
1.People thought that Mr. Dawson was a(n) _______ person.
A. honest B. kind C. welcome D. Unfriendly
2.What did Amy do when she first walked past Mr. Dawson’s house?
A. She went into his yard to pick apples.
B. She was so scared that she went away quickly.
C. She smiled to him and greeted him.
D. She talked with him like old friends.
3.What does the story tell us?
A. It’s important to take others’ advice.
B. Being friendly to others is very important.
C. People with bad temper can also make friends.
D. Smile to the world and it will smile at you back.
Zoo One Day Pass
Zoo | |
Adults | ＄24.95 |
Seniors(老年人) 60 and up | ＄22.95 |
Children Ages 3-11 | ＄19.95 |
* Children 2 and under FREE!
* FREE Parking!
* 9:30 a.m. To 5 p.m. Seven days a week.
* Open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
1. If a mother takes her 3-year-old son to the zoo, she will pay _______.
A. ＄24.95 B. ＄22.95
C. ＄49.90 D. ＄44.90
2.You can go to the zoo as early as _______.
A. 8:00 a.m. B. 9:00 a.m.
C. 9:30 a.m. D. 10:00 a.m.
3.We learn from the zoo pass that _______.
A. it can be used for two days
B. the zoo is free for old people
C. kids under the age of 2 don’t need tickets
D. the zoo has no free parking
完形填空。（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
I did very poorly in school. My headmaster thought I was useless. When I was 14 he said “You are never going to be but a failure(失败者).”
After 5 years of working bad jobs, I fell in love a very nice girl. But her mother said to me “You have at everything you’ve ever done. You can’t bring any happiness to my !” it was the most frustrating (令人沮丧的) thing that could have happened to me. I decided to do something about my life because I want to show her that what people said about me was .
So I worked hard on my writing and I during the day and went to evening classes at college. My first book came out at that time. Then I started to write full time. At the same time, I was offered a part-time job at Leeds University. I began to feel proud of -here was once a boy who left school early, now teaching at the university. My writing career(生涯) when I discovered(发现) my own style.
Now I’m rich and , have been on TV, and met lots of film stars. But what does that mean? I just wish all the people who put me down had said: “I believe in you. You’ll succeed.”
1.A. anything B. something C. everything D. nothing
2.A. at B. with C. of D. by
3.A. failed B. won C. spent D. paid
4.A. son B. friend C. parent D. daughter
5.A. terrible B. excellent C. wrong D. right
6.A. stayed B. laughed C. lived D. studied
7.A. ThemselvesB. myself C. himself D. herself
8.A. proud B. rich C. poor D. happy
9.A. set off B. went off C. broke off D. took off
10.A. cool B. famous C. clever D. helpful
—If you have any trouble, be sure to call me.
—_________________________.
A. I’m sorry to hear that.
B. I will. Thank you very much.
C. I have no trouble.
D. I will think it over.
Lily dances _______ than me, but she doesn’t sing _______ Jane.
A. well; as good as B. better; so well as
C. better; as good as D. much well; as well as
