“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, ” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.
Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn’t spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.
“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”
“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”
“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.
“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.
Aunt Emmy smiled.
“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.”
“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”
“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”
“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.
Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.
“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”
“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”
“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”
“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”
“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”
“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.
There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.
“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”
“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.
1.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.
A. She had to leave Aunt Mary
B. She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy
C. She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts
D. She had no time to make a proper decision
2. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”？
A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver.
B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver.
C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts.
D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody
3.What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?
A. Passion B. Sympathy C. Kindness D. Company
4.What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?
A. respectfully B. confidently C. secretly D. willingly
5. Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?
A. cute and joyful B. kind-hearted and emotional
C. optimistic and wise D. gentle and timid (羞怯的)
6.Which of the following is the best title?
A. A Special Christmas B. Clorinda’s Gifts
C. Aunt Emmy D. Clorinda’s Choice
It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken. In Apple’s case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo.
Senator(参议员) Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday.
“We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information,” Mr. Schumer said. “They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed.”
On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further.
“It worries people to think that one’s personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission,” Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. “If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion, then surely technology exists to close it, and that’s exactly what must happen.”
Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further.
He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues. “I’m optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation,” he said. “If it’s not changed, then we’ll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn’t work then we’ll consider legislative approach.”
The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant(警醒的) in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy.
1.The senators spoke with officials at both Apple and Google___________.
A. to urge them not to invade consumers’ privacy
B. to discuss whether it is illegal to have access to private information
C. to stop them from developing the technology of taking photos
D. to keep them from obtaining the location information for each photo
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Privacy invasion from Apple has existed for a long time.
B. Mr. Schumer takes the privacy concerns caused by Apple and Google seriously.
C. Privacy invasion from Google has existed for a long time.
D. Apple and Google have decided to make a change.
3.Mr. Schumer’s letter to the F.T.C. mainly shows that the technology to open the door to privacy invasion___________.
A. causes privacy invasion to happen frequently
B. can be used if permitted
C. causes people to worry about the safety of their personal information
D. causes personal information to be posted online without permission
4.If the privacy concerns can’t be solved with the help of the F.T.C., ___________.
A. The senators will force the companies not to invade privacy
B. The companies will be closed
C. The companies will be fined
D. The senators will turn to legislation
5.Where can we read about the passage?
A. In a newspaper. B. In a travel brochure.
C. In a science report. D. In a textbook.
The aims of the Illustrators’(插图画家的)Exhibition, staged as part of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, organized by BolognaFiere and held from 23to 26 December 2011,are to bring illustrators and publishers together and to promote illustrators and their works among publishers.
QUALIFICATIONS
•Individual illustrators or groups of illustrators of any nationality, if they were born before 31st December 1992, whose artwork is intended for use in children’s books, are qualified to enter the Exhibition, either directly or through publishing houses or schools.
•Please state in the application form whether you are entering work for the Fiction or Nonfiction Category．Illustrators may only enter one category.
•Artwork previously presented to the Exhibition may not be re-entered.
•The confirmation(确认)form must be filled in and a photograph attached, then presented together with illustrations no later than 15 October 2011.
SHIPMENT
Entries may be delivered by post, express delivery service or by hand．From abroad, please use the following forms: Form “A” for registered mail or post by air; Form “B” if using an international forwarding agent or airline．To avoid delays, material should not be sent by normal post．Material should be sent “carriage paid”, including any customs and delivery costs.
BolognaFiere may not be held responsible for the non-arrival or late arrival of artwork．all published works must be accompanied by a declaration bearing the ISBN number, publisher’s name and address.
REQUIREMENTS
The illustrations(i.e. the size of the sheet)must not exceed(超过) the following dimensions:
Fiction: 32×42 cm (or 42 × 32 cm)
Non-fiction: 50 ×70 cm (70 × 50cm)
Illustrations in larger formats will not be considered, nor will they be returned by BolognaFiere．The illustrations must be on paper or flexible board, maximum thickness 2mm ( for scanner separation purposes).
SELECTION PROCESS
All artwork received by the stated deadline and meeting the specified requirements will be examined and selected by an international group (whose decision is final), including five members (from publishing house and art schools) appointed each year by BolognaFiere.
EXHIBITIONS ABROAD
After the Bologna event, the Illustrators Exhibition will travel to Japan under the supervision of JBBY. The Illustrators Exhibition may afterwards be transferred to other venues(场馆) in other countries. The exhibitions of illustrations held abroad follow the same rules and regulations as the Illustrators Exhibition, and the provisions (条款) of the regulations are extended to the organizers of the exhibitions held abroad.
RETURN OF ARTWORK
All the works will be returned to their owners by BolognaFiere or directly by the organizers of the exhibitions and held abroad by the end of July 2013.
1.Which of the following of the Illustrators’ Exhibition is true?
A. It will last five days in all in July every other year.
B. It is intended for college students who are good at painting.
C. It is held by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in BolognaFiere.
D. It can strengthen the relationship between illustrators and publishers.
2.The illustrators of the Illustrators Exhibition __________．
A. should be at least 16 and no more than 25
B. may re-enter their artwork after it is returned
C. should state the category of their artwork clearly
D. may choose to attach a photo to the application form
3.Which of the following is unacceptable for delivering entries?
A. Normal post B. Airline post C. Registered mail D. Express delivery
4.What is BolognaFiere responsible for?
A. Paying for the delivery costs B. Late arrival of artwork
C. Confirmation of ISBN number D. Returning the illustrators’ works
5.The illustrators’ works will not be considered if they .
A. are received after the day of 15 October 2011
B. are smaller than the required size
C. have already been published abroad before
D. don’t meet the demands of the international experts
American researchers found females are the more talkative sex because of a special “language protein(蛋白质)” in the brain.
The study, conducted by neuroscientists (神经学家)and psychologist from the University of Maryland, concluded that women talked more because they had more of the Foxp2 protein. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that higher levels were found among humans that were women but in rats that were males. Their findings came after it was previously claimed that ladies speak about 20,000 words a day – over 13,000 more than men. “This study is one of the first to report a sex difference in the expression of a language-associated protein in humans or animals,” said Prof Margaret McCarthy, who led the study. In their study, the researchers attempted to determine what might make male rats more vocal than their female friends.
They separated four-day-old rats from their mothers and then counted the number of times they cried out in the “ultrasonic range”, the frequencies higher than humans can hear, over five minutes. While both sexes called out hundreds of cries, the males called out twice as often, they found. But when the pups were returned to their mother’s cage, she fussed over her sons first. Tests conducted on the parts of the brain known to be associated with vocalcalls showed the male pups have up to twice as much Foxp2 protein as the females. The researchers then increased the production in the brains of female pups and reduced it in males. This led to the female rats crying out more often and their mothers showing more interest to them. In contrast, males became less “talkative”.
The researchers then tested samples from ten children, aged between three and five, which showed that females had up to 30 per cent more of the Foxp2 protein than males, in a brain area key to language in humans.
“Based on our observations, we assume higher levels of Foxp2 in girls and higher levels of Foxp2 in male rats is an indication that Foxp2 protein levels are associated with the more communicative sex,” said Prof McCarthy. “Our results imply Foxp2 as a component of the neurobiological basis of sex differences in vocal communication in mammals. “
1.From the second paragraph, we can learn that ________.
A. women always speak more words than men
B. men and male rats have low levels of language protein
C. women and male rats have similar levels of Foxp2
D. McCarthy isn’t the first to find females more talkative
2.The underlined phrase “fussed over” in the third paragraph probably means______.
A. paid attention to B. related to C. put pressure on D. counted on
3.The researchers carried out the experiments on rats in order to _______.
A. test which part of the brain is key to language in rats and humans
B. prove the levels of Foxp2 protein in humans and rats are different
C. determine the reason why female rats are more talkative than male rats
D. discover the association between Foxp2 protein and vocal communication
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage ?
A. Tests on humans and rats
B. Why women are the talkative sex
C. Sex differences in Foxp2 protein
D. Foxp2 protein determines oral ability
For several years, we lived at the end of a long Texas country road. Every evening when I was away from home on business, my little boy would ask permission of his mother to take his black and his daddy’s walking stick, to make the half-mile from the house to the fence which the beginning of the dirty driveway.
One day, I was busy with my business and was for about an hour, completely forgetting about the little boy down the road who might be for his daddy.
On my way home, the rain was so thick that I could not ten feet in front of me. All I could was finishing my journey and getting out of the rain. , the downpour began to abate(减弱). It was only a drizzle(细雨) by the time my car turned the last and approached the final street between me and a warm home and nice meal.
, I caught sight of my little boy, who was an umbrella in one hand, a walking stick in the other, and was wearing the biggest and most beautiful smile ever to lighten the of a little boy.
As I stopped the car and the door, he ran into my arms and held me long and hard. He was wet and with cold, but he never the rain, nor the hour-long wait. He simply said, “Daddy, I missed you. I am so glad you are home.”
Last year, we to a wonderful new home provided for a special season in our lives. We no longer have a long country road. , I have never forgotten the rainy day and the little boy and his black dog. Often, perhaps a thousand times, that has occurred in my mind. all events in our lives, it happens once, and must be treasured.
1.A. bag B. dog C. umbrella D. toy
2.A. journey B. flight C. effort D. ride
3.A. discovered B. explained C. marked D. described
4.A. controlled B. trained C. delayed D. bothered
5.A. hopeful B. grateful C. careful D. faithful
6.A. waiting B. sending C. searching D. calling
7.A. drive B. see C. feel D. hear
8.A. stick to B. think of C. pick up D. hold on
9.A. In fact B. In surprise C. At once D. At last
10.A. moment B. corner C. street D. way
11.A. All of a sudden B. Believe it or not
C. To my pleasure D. For seconds
12.A. holding B. taking C. folding D. carrying
13.A. body B. head C. face D. hand
14.A. closed B. locked C. knocked D. opened
15.A. worrying B. nervous C. trembling D. anxious
16.A. noticed B. doubted C. judged D. mentioned
17.A. moved B. turned C. returned D. traveled
18.A. Therefore B. Besides C. Otherwise D. However
19.A. time B. scene C. act D. sight
20.A. With B. For C. Like D. Among
— It is unwise for some people to drive and talk on a cell phone.
—_______. It’s very dangerous.
A. I couldn’t agree more B. Not really C. Good idea D. That’s great
