My granddaughter, Shari, owns The Berry (莓果) Factory in Sacramento, California, and her mother, Joan, and I were helping with the Valentine’s Day rush. We’d dipped (浸泡) hundreds of berries, arranged gift baskets and packaged orders to be shipped around the country.
By the end of the day, the two middle-aged women, Joan and I, were exhausted. Shari didn’t seem tired. That was typical Shari. Though she was very busy, I’d seen her give away berries to everybody — parking attendants, mail carriers and hairdressers. “For me?” they would say, bursting into a smile.
As a “thank you”, Shari took us out for dinner. But there was a 45-minute wait at her favorite restaurant. “No big deal. There’s another place just up the road,” she said, driving us there. This time we walked right in.
When the waitress came to take our drink orders, Shari reached into her handbag, pulling something out. “I want you to have these,” she said, handing the waitress a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries. “She will love those berries!” I thought. But the waitress seemed startled. She only let out a “thank you” before grabbing the box and rushing into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, the waitress returned with our iced tea. “I apologize,” she said. “My best friend and I had promised to send each other something every Valentine’s Day. But she passed away last year. I didn’t know how I’d get through this day without her. Then you handed me that box.” “I’m so sorry to hear that,” said Shari. “It’s not much, but I hope you can enjoy them.” “Oh, I will,” the waitress said. “See, every year we always sent each other the same thing; a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries bought from our favourite store, The Berry Factory.”
1.What can be inferred in the first paragraph?
A. The Berry Factory is a gift store
B. The Berry Factory has few shop clerks.
C. The Berry Factory has many branches around the country
D. The Berry Factory has customers from different parts of the country.
2. Which of the following words can best describe Shari?
A. Talkative B. Creative C. Kind-hearted D. Well-known
3. The underlined word “startled” in Paragraph 4 probably means _________.
A. shocked B. excited C. tired D. frightened
4.We can learn from the last paragraph that _________.
A. the waitress’ best friend didn’t like chocolate
B. the waitress’ best friend broke up with her
C. the waitress’ best friend worked for Shari
D. the waitress’ best friend was Shari’s customer
I devote myself to music because of my grandmother. My mom and I lived with my grandparents from the time I was two __36__ I was eight. And even then, I was at their house before and after school every day while my mother was __37__.
Grandma loved music. It was she that first __38__ me to Elvis Presley (猫王) as a very young child, and once I heard his music, I was truly in __39__ with it. Most five-year-olds ask for __40__ for birthdays, but I wanted Elvis’ albums. I would play them non-stop and __41__ to the music in my grandma’s family room though my movements didn’t look good.
Grandma played the piano and __42__ me to sing “America the Beautiful” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. I __43__ started playing music on the piano, and soon Grandma was paying for me to __44__ piano lessons from a lady living in the __45__. I would come home from __46__ and walk three houses down for my lesson. I __47__ took about nine months of lessons, but it was enough to give me a foundation (基础) and __48__ me to continue to teach myself.
Last month when I came home to visit Grandma in the hospital, I __49__ my guitar with me. She was in a lot of pain, but the music seemed to __50__ her soul. She had me sing some songs and when I started to sing “Somewhere over the Rainbow”, her weakened voice __51__ in with mine for a few lines. That experience was one of the most __52__ of my lifetime and one I will certainly cherish forever. I told her of my music career and she was very __53__ and said, “That’s wonderful!” I __54__ to play for her throughout the week I was home.
My grandma passed away two days ago. In my opinion, part of her will live on through every __55__ I write or sing in my life.
1.A. unless B. until C. after D. when
2.A. at work B. in trouble C. on board D. in danger
3.A. sent B. left C. remembered D. introduced
4.A. debate B. love C. agreement D. doubt
5.A. music B. space C. gifts D. toys
6.A. wave B. sleep C. dance D. play
7.A. forced B. prepared C. enabled D. taught
8.A. generally B. eventually(最后) C. suddenly D. fortunately(幸运地)
9. A. observe B. make C. take D. enjoy
10. A. hotel B. apartment C. neighborhood D. countryside
11.A. school B. hospital C. street D. office
12.A. exactly B. only C. completely D. seldom
13.A. ask B. make C. let D. allow
14.A. gave up B. gave away C. brought along D. brought up
15.A. comfort B. blame C. attract D. find
16.A. joined B. poured C. moved D. fell
17. A. surprising B. touching C. puzzling D. tiring
18.A. sad B. calm C. bored D. pleased
19.A. refused B. expected C. continued D. pretended (假装)
20.A. project B. article C. book D. song
— Frank, I’ve learned your plan. Could I make some suggestions?
— ________.
A. Just for fun B. Go ahead C. With pleasure D. Take it easy
We are kept ______ of what is happening in the world by reading newspapers and watching TV.
A. to inform B. to be informed C. informing D. informed
The time and effort he has devoted during the past few years _____ trees in that village are now considered to be very important.
A. to planting B. to plant C. plant D. planting
— So you have met Maria?
— Yes, it was last week ______ we attended Jack’s party.
A. where B. that C. when D. why
