Lily was a young French Canadian girl who grew up in the farming community. At the age of 16, her father thought that she had enough schooling and forced her to drop out of school to contribute to the family income. In 1922, with limited education and skills, the future didn't look bright for Lily. Her father demanded that Lily find a job as soon as possible, but she didn't have the confidence to ask for a job.
One day, Lily gathered her courage and knocked on her very first door. She was met by Margaret Costello, the office manager. In her broken English, Lily told her she was interested in the secretarial position. Margaret decided to give her a chance.
Margaret sat her down at a typewriter and said, “Lily, let's see how good you really are.” She directed Lily to type a single letter, and then left. Lily looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:40 a.m. Everyone would be leaving for lunch at noon. She thought she should at least attempt the letter.
On her first try, she got through one line but made four mistakes. She pulled the paper out and threw it away. The clock now read 11:45. “At noon,” she said to herself, “I'll move out with the crowd, and they will never see me again.”
On her second attempt, things didn't get any better. Again the started over and finally completed the letter, full of mistakes, though. She looked at the clock: 11:55 —five minutes to freedom.
Just then, Margaret walked in. She came directly over to Lily, and put one hand on the desk and the other on the girl's shoulder. She read the letter and paused. Then she said, “Lily, you're doing good work!”
Lily was surprised. She looked at the letter, then up at Margaret. With those simple words of encouragement, her desire to escape disappeared and her confidence began to grow. She thought, “Well, if she thinks it's good, then it must be good. I think I'll stay!”
Lily did stay at Carhartt Overall Company…for 51 years, through two world wars and 11 presidents—all because someone had the insight to give a shy and uncertain young girl the gift of self-confidence when she knocked on the door.
1.Why did Lily leave school at an early age?
A. To learn English well.
B. To get self-confidence.
C. To become a typist.
D. To earn money for her family
2.When Lily applied for(申请) the job, she ________.
A. didn't know much about typing
B. could speak good English
C. knew Margaret very well
D. never wrote any letter
3.Who does the underlined word “someone” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. Margaret B. Lily's father.
C. Lily herself D. A president. .
4. What can we learn from Lily's story?
A. Honesty is the best policy.
B. Money is not everything.
C. Encouragement makes a difference
D. Time waits for no man.
China is a land of bicycles. At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country. Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle. Millions of them, all black. Cars were rare. Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year, I’ve found the opposite is true. There are millions of cars. However, people still use their bicycles to get around. For many, it’s the easiest and cheapest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colors---silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.
It’s fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks(人行道). Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can’t provide.
Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.
My first ride home was orderly (守秩序的). To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn’t want to get hit. So I took the ride carefully.
Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.
I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people. Biking made me feel alive.
1.The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended ______________.
A. to ride it for fun
B. to experience local skills
C. to use it for transport
D. to improve his riding skills
2.How did the author feel about his street crossing?
A. It was boring. B. It was wonderful.
C. It was lively. D. It was difficult.
3.Which of the following best describes the author’s biking experience?
A. The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills.
B. The author was annoyed by the air while riding.
C. The author took great pleasure in biking.
D. The author was praised by the other bikers.
4.According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?
A. Because they are convenient and inexpensive.
B. Because they are traditional and safe.
C. Because they are colorful and available.
D. Because they are fast and environment friendly.
I was recently invited to dinner by a friend. During the meal, the manager of the restaurant came and said that our meal was free. He stood there at me and he seemed a little to me but I couldn’t quite remember him. I asked him if he knew me. He laughed and said I had probably him, but that I’d changed his life. My friend was quite and asked him how I’d done this.
He said that twelve years ago he a stress（压力）management（管理）class that I was giving. I asked the group what their greatest was and most of them, including him, said it was their bosses.
He said I listened and then took a chair and placed it in the center of the room. I on the chair for a few moments and then I everyone to come and do the same. I wanted them to look at the room from up there. After everyone had done it, I asked the group to how the room looked different when they changed their perspective（角度）.
Then I asked them to their bosses. Was this the same person who had seen their good and hired them? Did they remember how happy they were to be for the job? But how did these wonderful people become terrible bosses?
He said I looked at him and asked if he had said thank you to his boss for the to earn a living. He answered he hadn’t. Then I asked him why he hadn’t tried being to his boss.
He told us his changed that night. He went back to work the next day with a thank-you card to his boss. He said I’d him to look at life from different perspectives and express thanks.
1.A. over B. out C. back D. on
2.A. glaring B. smiling C. knocking D. shouting
3.A. similar B. attractive C. strange D. familiar
4.A. Immediately B. Suddenly C. Finally D. Firstly
5.A. disliked B. forgotten C. known D. ignored
6.A. anxious B. curious C. happy D. calm
7.A. missed B. attended C. prepared D. heard
8.A. stress B. hero C. liking D. trouble
9.A. regretfully B. disappointedly C. carefully D. doubtfully
10.A. stood B. lay C. sat D. rested
11.A. invited B. forced C. stopped D. warned
12.A. work on B. look into C. think about D. fill out
13.A. remember B. dislike C. consider D. respect
14.A. personalities B. qualities C. experiences D. looks
15.A. chosen B. meant C. refused D. forgiven
16.A. still B. actually C. ever D. never
17.A. right B. solution C. opportunity D. ability
18.A. grateful B. polite C. friendly D. gentle
19. A. job B. life C. luck D. company
20.A. ordered B. allowed C. persuaded D. taught
One survey shows that large quantities of water ______wasted every year in China.
A. are B. be
C. has been D. is
Although she is pretending hard to be young, grey hair and the lines on her face _______.
A. hold her up B. pick her up
C. take her away D. give her away
It was in the hotel where my father works _______ I met the film star.
A. what B. that
C. when D. where
