I stood there listening to my father shout at top of his voice. The look on his face said that one of us had done something wrong.
“Which one of you did this?”
We all looked down at the step. There was child’s handwriting in chalk there. I was very frightened. I hope no one could see it. Would he guess it was me? I was so scared. When he asked me, I lied, “Not me, dad.” The other denied(否认) it as well. Of course, we all knew that one of us must have done it. But as the youngest and smallest of the three, I just couldn’t find courage to tell the truth.
To find out who had written on the step, Father gave us each a piece of paper and a pencil. “I want each of you to write exactly what you see on the step.” I tried my best to write the words differently. I didn’t want dad to be able to tell it was me.
He gathered up our paper and looked at them. “Since none of you will say yes, then I will punish you all.” I stood there and said nothing. The last thing I wanted was for Dad to punish me!
“I did it.” My sister walked forward and said she had done something she hadn’t. she was punished for a month.
We didn’t talk about that day for many years. Not until we were all older and I knew it was safe to finally tell my dad it was really me. I always felt sorry because of it. That was the last time I let anyone take the blame for me. I told myself, “One must see to what he or she has done.”
1. The writer’s father was _____________ when he saw the handwriting in chalk on the step.
A. very happy B. very sad
C. very angryD.very excited
2. The underlined word “take the blame” most probably means ________________ in Chinese.
A. 撒谎 B. 承担责任
C. 接受惩罚D. 解决困难
3. The writer’s sister told a lie because _________________.
A. she liked telling lies
B. she was afraid of being punished
C. she didn’t like her father
D. she didn’t want her father to punish them all
4. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The writer kept telling lies.
B. Her sister told the truth.
C. The writer’s father punished the children.
D. None of the children told the truth.
Before you hit ‘Enter’ on MSN, read this
It is often said that the language we use online is less formal than that we use in a letter, or in direct speech sometimes. This is true, but it can also make us in trouble sometimes.
The thing about online communication is that you have no idea what the person who is reading your messages is feeling. For this reason, it is always a good idea to be polite and cautious when writing e-mails or messages to your friends.
Chinese can be a direct language, but in English, people often talk about a subject in another way. So instead of saying “Please meet me here” or “Do this for me now”, English speakers usually go for indirect phrases like “Would it be possible”, “if you have time” or “It would mean a lot to me if…”
If you have a close friend, you may still run into trouble because of your jokes. If you have asked someone to do something and they need a bit more time, you might joke with him: “What? You still haven’t done it yet? What’s wrong with you?” While this seems funny to you, your friend may feel unhappy.
If you have foreign friends in different countries, the time difference can also be a factor. While you are waking up for class on Friday morning, they may be having a party on Friday night. You will be serious and they will, probably, be excited. So don’t be angry if they seem not to care about you. Just try to message them at the proper time.
1. According to the passage, we learn that our letters are more ______ than the e-mails.
A. formal B. direct
C. differentD. funny
2. As a language, Chinese is ______, but English is not.
A. politeB. rude
C. directD. formal
3. Why should we be polite and cautious while chatting online?
A. Because we mustn’t play jokes online.
B. Because our friends are easy to be angry.
C. Because it can help us avoid lots of troubles.
D. Because we can’t see our friends online.
4. According to the passage, which of the following is right?
A. It is OK to connect your friend by MSN anytime.
B. Using the proper way to chat online is necessary.
C. Don’t ask your friend to do something for you by MSN.
D. Never play jokes with your friends.
1. What time will drinks be served?
A. At 5:30 B. At 7:30
C. At 8:15 D. At 12:00
2. You can do the following things EXCEPT ______________________.
A. bringing your swimming clothes
B. dancing with jazz music
C. taking a taxi to the party
D. wearing jeans and T-shirts
3. Which is the following is NOT true about the party?
A. It is Nicola’s 16th birthday party.
B. It is a swimming pool party.
C. It will be held at Hillview Hotel.
D. You must pay for the towels that the hotel will provide you.
Last night, I was driving from Harrisburg to Lewisburg, a distance of about 80 miles. It was late, I was late, and I was driving ____.
At one point along an open highway, I came to a crossroad with a traffic light. I was ____ on the road by now, but as I came near the light, It turned ____, and I braked to a stop. I looked left, right, and behind me. Nothing. Not a car, no suggestion of headlights, ___ there I sat, waiting for the light to ___, the only human being, for at least a mile in any ____.
I started wondering why I ____ to run the light. I was not afraid of being caught, because there was ____ no policeman anywhere around and there certainly would have been no ____ in going through it.
Much later that ____, after I’d met with a group in Lewisburg and had climbed into bed near midnight, the question of why I’d stopped for that light ____ me. I think I stopped ____ it’s part of a contract(契约) we all have with each other. It’s not only the law, but it’s an agreement we have, and we trust each other to follow ____:We don’t go through red lights.
We do ____ we say we’ll do. We show up when we say we’ll show up.
I was so ____ of myself for stopping for that red light. And as no one would ever have known what a good person I was on the road from Harrisburg, I had to tell someone.
1.A. fast B. slowly C. carefully D. hard
2.A. late B. alone C. worried D. afraid
3.A. green B. yellow C. red D. dark
4.A. and B. or C. so D. but
5.A. return B. change C. start D. continue
6.A. attention B. background C. direction D. information
7.A. refused B. decided C. prepared D. forgot
8.A. hardly B. luckily C. usually D. clearly
9.A. danger B. excuse C. space D. energy
10.A. moment B. night C. afternoon D. morning
11.A. depended on B. looked forward to C. stayed away from D. came back to
12.A. though B. unless C. because D. until
13.A. me B. it C. him D. us
14.A. what B. how C. why D. that
15.A. tired B. ready C. proud D. sorry
---We’re organizing a party next Saturday, and I’d like you to come.
---_____! I have a meeting to attend that day. Thank you all the same.
A. Good luck B. What a pity
C. Never do it again D. Well done
---Would you like to go to the amusement park?
--- If Jim does, _____.
A. I go, too B. so will I
C. neither will I D. so do I
