The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.
“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.
Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.
“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.
“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.
Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”
“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.
Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.
“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.
Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”
The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.
Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”
In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.
His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.
This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything. |
B.Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing. |
C.Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear. |
D.Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning. |
2.What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?
A.annoyed |
B.got over |
C.convinced |
D.made less angry |
3.What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?
A.She felt disappointed with him. |
B.She was strict with him. |
C.She was supportive of him. |
D.She was afraid of him. |
4.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.
A.how angry she was |
B.how effective she handled Mr. Carr. |
C.that she was able to save him |
D.that she didn’t cry |
5.From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.
A.was no longer a youth. |
B.felt proud of his mother |
C.wanted his mother to be happy |
D.felt guilty and regretful for his deed. |
An old man had been working for many years for a town. His job was to clear away natural waste from the pool water in the hills, which made up the lovely river flowing through the town nearby. Quietly and 36 , the old man guarded the hills, 37 the leaves and branches, and cleaned up the dirt that would have 38 and polluted the fresh flow of water . The town soon became a popular attraction for tourists. Elegant swans (天鹅) floated along the clear river and the view was so beautiful 39 words.
Years passed. One evening the town 40 met. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s 41____caught sight of the salary 42 being paid to the seldom seen keeper of the river. He asked , “Who is the old man? Why do we 43 to employ him? No one in town ever 44 him. For all we know, the strange keeper of the hills isn’t doing his job. His position isn’t 45 any longer.” Then they voted to 46 the man.
For several weeks, nothing changed….
By early autumn, the trees began to 47 their leaves. Small branches broke off and fell into the pools of the hills, 48 the flow of the shining water. One afternoon, someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown 49 in the river. A few days later, the water was much 50 . Within another week, an oily something covered some sections of the water along the banks, and a terrible 51 was soon sensed. Swans left and so did the 52 . The only thing that was now visiting the village was disease and sickness.
Quickly, the 53 town committee called a special meeting. Realizing their huge error in 54 , they rehired the old keeper of the river again, and within a few weeks, the river began to clear up. Swans and tourists came back again and new life returned to the small town in the Alps.
Never ignore the seeming smallness of a task, job or life. They may all make a 55 .
1. |
|
2. |
|
3. |
|
4. |
|
5. |
|
6. |
|
7. |
|
8. |
|
9. |
|
10. |
|
11. |
|
12. |
|
13. |
|
14. |
|
15. |
|
16. |
|
17. |
|
18. |
|
19. |
|
20. |
|
So lost in their computers____that leaders at summer computer camps often have to force them to break for sports and games.
A.became the children |
B.become the children |
C.had the children become |
D.do the children become |
The police need some more evidence ________they can make a conclusion.
A.since |
B.before |
C.after |
D.until |
With the development of science, more new technology ______to the field of IT.
A.has introduced |
B.is being introduced |
C.is introduced |
D.was introduced |
The high-speed rail _________Xiamen with Longyan is to open on June 30th.
A.linking |
B.links |
C.linked |
D.to link |