The meaning of the word “volunteer” may be a little different in different countries, but it usually means “one who offers his or her services”．Volunteers don’t expect any kind of pay．
Tracy, a good friend of mine, however, recently came back from India with a new idea of what being a volunteer means．She worked for two and a half weeks in one of Mother Teresa’s homes in Calcutta．The following is her story．
“I watched a video（视频） about her．I was so moved by her spirit to help others and her endless love for every human being that, after I graduated from a high school, I wanted to try her kind of work．So with two friends I flew to Calcutta for a few weeks．”
“I was asked to work in a home for sick people．I helped wash clothes and sheets, and passed our lunch．I also fed the people who were too weak to feed themselves and tried to cheer them up．I felt it was better to share with them than to think that I have helped them．To be honest, I don’t think I was helping very much．It was then that I realized that I had not really come to help, but to learn about and experience another culture that helped improve my own understanding of life and the world．”
1.Why did Tracy choose to be a volunteer?
A．She liked to work with Mother Teresa．
B．She had already had some experience．
C．She was asked to do so by Teresa.
D．She wanted to follow Mother Teresa’s example．
2.Tracy started her work as a volunteer _______．
A．after she met Mother Teresa
B．after she finished high school
C．when she was touring Calcutta
D．when she was working in a hospital
3.What is Tracy’s “new idea” of being a volunteer?
A．Going abroad to help the sick．
B．Working in Mother Teresa’s home．
C．Doing simple things to help the poor．
D．Improving oneself through helping others．
I made a pledge (誓言) to myself on the way down to the vacation seaside cottage(别墅). For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a Biblical（圣经的）passage about husbands being thoughtful of their wives. Then he went on to say, “Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love.” To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said, “That new yellow sweater looks great on you.”
“Oh, Tom, you noticed.” she said, surprised and pleased. Maybe a little puzzled.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk along the seaside. I started to refuse, but then I thought, “Evelyn’s been alone here with the kids all week and now she wants to be alone with me.” We walked along the seaside while the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed. I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love.
There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. On the last night at our seaside cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“Tom,” she said in a voice filled with sadness, “do you know something I don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…that checkup（体检）I had several weeks ago…our doctor…did he tell you something about me？Tom, you’ve been so good to me…am I dying?”
It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I burst out laughing.
“No, honey,” I said, hugging her in my arms. “You’re not dying; I’m just starting to live.”
1. In the first paragraph, “No ifs, ands or buts” probably means “_________.”
A. unconditionally B. by chance
C. unfortunately D. in advance
2. During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because __________.
A. she looked lovely in her new clothes
B. he had made a lot of money in his Wall Street firm
C. he was determined to be a good husband
D. she was seriously ill
3. The author says, “There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment.” What was the one thing that went wrong?
A. He praised her sweater, which puzzled her.
B. She insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated.
C. He knew something about her illness but didn’t tell her.
D. He was so good to her that she thought she must be dying.
4. By saying “I’m just starting to live,” Tom means that __________.
A. he is just beginning to understand the real meaning of life.
B. he is just beginning to enjoy life as a loving husband.
C. he lived an unhappy life before and is now starting to change.
D. he is beginning to feel regret for what he did to his wife before
The other night, I had to go to a meeting, which lasted past my daughter’s bedtime. I home and was brushing my teeth when I , and there on the bathroom mirror was a note in the of a heart. It said, “Hi, Mom! I Love You. Laurel.” Immediately, I cut a heart out of a piece of paper, and taped a next to hers, saying, “I Love You, too, Laurel. Love, Mom,” which she read the next morning.
Our family has that by integrating (交互式的) writing into our activities, we become more thoughtful of each other. Meanwhile, our daughter is learning to enjoy writing and becoming a(n) writer.
While teaching in a primary school, I how influential parents can be as children learn to write. when our daughter first began to scribble (涂鸦), I became by her work．I offered praise for her efforts, for I found that scribbling is far more complex and important than I had realized. It was obvious that her scribbles, being lovely art objects, showed a lot about her of the world of writing.
Gradually, our family began writing a great deal. I sensed that writing helped Laurel learn to read. As a matter of fact, by observing my own child and her friends and by reading professional books, I became more and more about how writing develops and how can help children become eager writers.
1.A．1eft B．returned C．missed D．headed
2.A．turned up B．turned down C．looked up D．looked on
3.A．size B．shade C．model D．shape
4.A．picture B．composition C．note D．page
5.A．found B．imagined C．dreamed D．doubted
6.A．relative B．useful C．daily D．personal
7.A．important B．ordinary C．fortunate D．skilled
8.A．learned B．regarded C．considered D．discussed
9.A．Yet B．Though C．But D．So
10.A．disappointed B．attracted C．puzzled D．worried
11.A．apart from B．because of C．instead of D．rather than
12.A．arguments B．fear C．understanding D．dislikes
13.A．when B．how C．where D．whether
14.A．particular B．clear C. anxious D．crazy
15.A．teachers B．friends C．books D．parents
The computer system __________ suddenly while he was searching for information on the Internet.
A. broke down B. broke out
C. broke up D. broke in
Someone is ringing the doorbell . Go and see ______?
A. who is he B. who he is
C. who is it D. who it is
_______ from what he said and did , Mr White is a doctor.
A. Judge B. Judged
C. Judging D. Being judged
