In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what “keeping up with the Joneses” is about. It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbors.
The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $ 125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors.
It was like a race, but one could never finish his race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City.
Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich lifestyle of their neighbors. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it “Keeping up with the Joneses” because “Jones” is a very common name in the United States. “Keeping up with the Joneses” came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand’s series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years.
People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are “Joneses” in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.
1.Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ________.
A．want to be as rich as their neighbors
B．want others to know or to think that they are rich
C．don’t want others to know they are rich
D．want to be happy
2.It can be inferred from the story that rich people like to ________.
A．live outside New York City B．live in New York city
C．live in apartments D．have many neighbors
3.Arthur Momand used the name “Jones” in his series of short stories because “Jones” is _____.
A．an important name B．a popular name in the United States
C．his neighbor’s name D．not a good name
Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to get a seat by myself. Just then, a flight attendant 41 me and asked, "Would you mind changing your seat? A couple would like to sit together. “The only other 42 seat was next to a woman with both arms in casts（石膏）, a black-and-blue face, and a depressed emotion." 43 am I going to sit there" was my immediate thought. 44 then a deeper, quieter voice spoke, "Opportunity.”Finally I took my new seat and 45 that Kathy had been in an auto collision, and she was on her way for 46 。
When the snack of nuts and juice arrived, 47 did not take me long to realize that Kathy would not be able to 48 herself. I considered offering to feed her but 49 , as it seemed too close a service to offer to a stranger. But then I decided that Kathy's need was more important than my 50 . I offered to help her eat, and although she too was uncomfortable about __51___it, she did. The experience was 52 and she and I ___53__close in a short period of time. By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart was fully 54, and the time was __55___ better spent than if I had just sat by myself.
I was very glad I had reached beyond my comfort zone to sit next to Kathy and feed her. Love sometimes 56 beyond human borders and dissolves the fears 57 keep us separate. When we stretch to serve another, we grow to live in a larger, more 58 world.
Help me move 59 the small self so I can connect with the hearts of others.
When I give 60 to another, I feed my own soul.
1. A．touched B．approached C．deserved D．proposed
2. A．available B．accessible C．acceptable D．comfortable
3. A．No case B．No means C．No manners D．No way
4. A．So B．Otherwise C．But D．And
5. A．intended B．discovered C．defended D．advocated
6. A．holidays B．treatment C．sightseeing D．interview
7. A．that B．what C．this D．it
8. A．help B．dress C．eat D．drink
9. A．hesitated B．rejected C．insisted D．refused
10. A．discomfort B．guilt C．convenience D．situation
11. A．attending B．accepting C．convening D．behaving
12. A．desperate B．pleasant C．adequate D．awkward
13. A．maintained B．grew C．stayed D．remained
14. A．awake B．alone C．alive D．asleep
15. A．typically B．properly C．reasonably D．definitely
16. A．flows B．suits C．seizes D．drags
17. A．what B．that C．whether D．when
18. A．answering B．demanding C．rewarding D．offering
19. A．toward B．across C．beyond D．through
20. A．sympathy B．care C．virtue D．love
But for the help of my English teacher，I________the first prize in the English Writing Competition.
A．would not win B．would not have won
C．would win D．would have won
She paused _____ over the unfamiliar word but soon continued.
A．frequently B．briefly C．anxiously D．casually
—I’m thinking of the driving test tomorrow. I’m afraid I can’t pass this time.
—_____! I’m sure you’ll make it.
A．Go ahead B．Good luck C．No matter D．Cheer up
______ seems to be no possibility ______ the shy girl can win the first prize in the contest.
A．There; that B．It; that C．There; whether D．It; whether
