Many years ago in a small village, an old man was hired to clear the spring (泉水) up on the mountain. He patrolled (巡逻) the spring every day, and swept away all the leaves and other things that would dirty the fresh flow of water. Soon, beautiful swans (天鹅) came to the clear spring, and the village became a popular attraction for visitors.
Years passed. One evening the town leaders held a meeting. As they looked at the salary list, one of them said, “Why do we keep this old man on year after year? I don’t think we need him or his work.” Later, the old man was asked to leave.
For several weeks, nothing changed. By early autumn, the leaves began to fall off the trees, and the spring was covered with leaves. A few days later, the water was much darker. Only a few months after the old man left, all the swans left, as did the tourists. Disease reached deeply into the village.
Quickly, the leaders held a special meeting. Realizing their mistake, they rehired the old man. Then within a few weeks, the spring began to clear up. Soon new life returned to the village.
So, my friends, do you see? No matter how small your work or your life seems to be, never overlook it. Anything we can do will make a difference.
1.The leaders decided to ask the old man to leave because they thought ______.
A.his work was unnecessary B.he did his work carelessly
C.he was too old to do the job D.he could do other better jobs
2.How did the leaders feel a few months after the old man left?
A.Regretful. B.Moved. C.Excited. D.Calm.
3.What does the underlined word “overlook” mean in the last paragraph?
A.Believe. B.Ignore(忽略). C.Praise. D.Punish.
4.With this story, the writer wants to tell us that ______.
A.even a small job can be important B.work can bring old people happiness
C.everyone should always respect others D.everyone can be his own master
One day an old woman was traveling alone in the mountains. Suddenly she saw something shining(发光) in the stream. When she came close, she found it was a precious(宝贵) stone. She put the stone into her bag and went on with her trip.
The next day the old woman met a young man, who was also a traveler in the mountains. The young man looked very hungry, so the old woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked carefully, “The stone is beautiful. Would you like to give it to me?”
“Sure. Why not?” the woman said, and handed the stone to him.
The young man left happily with the stone. He knew it was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back and hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within your bag.”
The woman opened her bag. It was almost empty. She looked at the young man and smiled, “I have nothing special in my bag, but I do have something precious — the joy of giving!”
The young man felt ashamed(羞愧) and left silently.
1.How did the young man find the precious stone?
A.He found it in his food. B.He dug it out in a valley.
C.He saw it in the woman’s bag. D.He noticed it shining in the stream.
2.What does the underlined word “security” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Money. B.Worry. C.Health. D.Trouble.
3.The man returned the stone to the woman because ______.
A.he found the stone was not precious
B.he understood the real meaning of joy
C.he felt embarrassed at taking away the stone
D.he wanted to get something even more precious
4.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A.A special stone B.The joy of giving
C.A woman and a young man D.An experience in the mountains
A farmer found a wounded eagle (鹰) in his field. He was so 26 that he took it home and cleaned its wounds. After that he placed it 27 in the yard, in the hope that it 28 recover soon.
Strangely enough, the eagle soon got used to the 29 of all the chickens in the yard. It learned to 30 from side to side like chickens, and eat happily from a trough (食槽). For many years, the eagle 31 his new life on the farm.
Then one day, one of the farmer’s friends pointed to the playing 32 and asked, “ 33 is that eagle acting like a chicken?” The farmer told him what had 34 , and the friend felt quite 35 .
“I can’t believe that!” said the friend. “It should fly in the 36 , not live here!” He picked up the eagle, and 37 it into the air. The eagle was 38 , and cried loudly. Then it just fell down on the ground.
That night, the friend could 39 sleep as he remembered the chicken-like eagle. The next morning, he headed back to the farm for another 40 . This time he carried the eagle to the 41 of a nearby mountain.
When he stood at the highest place of the mountain, he looked into its eyes and shouted, “Don’t you 42 ? You weren’t made to live like a chicken!” As he 43 the eagle up, he made sure it was facing into the bright 44 of the rising sun. Then he 45 tossed (抛) the bird into the sky. This time the eagle opened his wings, and disappeared into the clouds.
1. A.polite B.brave C.kind D.proud
2. A.forward B.outside C.inside D.backward
3. A.would B.should C.must D.need
4. A.food B.sounds C.water D.habits
5. A.walk B.sleep C.talk D.drink
6. A.wasted B.forgot C.lost D.enjoyed
7. A.chicken B.eagle C.farmer D.plane
8. A.When B.How C.Why D.What
9. A.suffered B.experienced C.happened D.found
10. A.pleased B.surprised C.worried D.satisfied
11. A.sky B.sea C.land D.lake
12. A.pulled B.moved C.took D.threw
13. A.afraid B.interested C.excited D.angry
14. A.hardly B.exactly C.actually D.finally
15. A.drink B.meeting C.rest D.try
16. A.top B.foot C.center D.side
17. A.believe B.cry C.understand D.work
18. A.held B.put C.filled D.tied
19. A.sight B.light C.space D.shape
20. A.easily B.softly C.quickly D.powerfully
Can you make sure ______ the gold ring?
A.where Alice had put B.where had Alice put
C.where Alice has put D.where has Alice put
It is careless _______ such a mistake.
A.of you to make B.of your making
C.for you to make D.for your making
The teacher said that the sun ________ in the east and ________ in the west.
A.rose; set B.rises; sets C.raises; sets D.raised; set