To the woman and child who sat at table 9,
My name is Tony Posnanski. I am the manager of the restaurant 1._______ you ate a few weeks ago. The guests at a table close to yours asked to talk to me. 2.______ (obvious), they were angry. They said your child was so loud 3.______ they couldn’t enjoy their meal.
When I got to your table, you looked at me and asked, “Do you know 4.______ it is like to have a child with autism(自闭症)?” You were not rude when you asked the question. On 5.______ contrary, you were quite polite.
I know what I was supposed 6.________(say) when I went to your table, but I just wished you a happy meal and promised that your meal tonight was on me. Although I didn’t know 7.______ to answer your question, as a father of a 5-year-old boy, I do know the feeling of 8._______(be) a parent.
I wrote this to you and your beautiful daughter because I wanted to thank you both. You have taught me a 9.______(value) lesson and given me a great restaurant memory. Nothing can prevent me 10.________ doing the right thing. Sometimes doing the right thing does not make everyone happy; just the people who need it the most.
Sincerely
Tony Posnanski
“Daily Star, sir,” called Jason, carrying some newspapers under his arm. The little boy had been running up and down the street, but there were still twenty left. His voice was almost gone and his heart was . The shops would soon close, and all the people would go home. He would have to go home too, carrying the papers money. He had hoped to sell more papers tonight to make more money to buy a for his mother and some seeds for his bird. That was why he had bought the papers with all his money. He almost as he thought of his failure to sell all his papers.
“You don’t know the of selling papers. You must shout, “Hot news! Bomb bursting(炸弹爆炸)!” another newsboy Chad told Jason. “ such news is not in the paper at all,” replied Jason. “Don’t be so honest. Just run away quickly they have time to see, and you’ll out the paper and get your money,” Chad said.
It was a new to Jason. He thought of his bird with no and the cake he wanted to buy for his mother, but was that he would not tell a lie. Though he was a poor newsboy, he had been some good qualities.
The next afternoon Jason went to the office for his papers . Several boys were crowding around Chad, who declared with a smile that he had sold six dozen papers the day before. He added that Jason money because he would not tell a lie. The boys at Jason. “You wouldn’t tell a lie yesterday, my boy?” A gentleman at the office came up and patted(轻拍) Jason’s shoulder , “You’re just the boy I am looking for.” A week later Jason started his new . He lost the sale of twenty papers because he would not tell a lie, but got a well-paid job because he told the truth.
1.A. shops B. papers C. people D. coins
2.A. open B. cheerful C. heavy D. weak
3.A. in search of B. in return for C. in charge of D. instead of
4.A. cup B. card C. cake D. hat
5.A. broke down B. gave in C. got away D. turn up
6.A. secret B. limit C. goal D. difficulty
7.A. And B. So C. For D. But
8.A. since B. before C. though D. unless
9.A. call B. drop C. reach D. sell
10.A. idea B. celebration C. permission D. fault
11.A. bread B. seeds C. insects D. water
12.A. concerned B. amazed C. determined D. excited
13.A. only B. already C. still D. also
14.A. sentenced B. handed C. awarded D. taught
15.A. at once B. as usual C. by accident D. on purpose
16.A. gentle B. proud C. warm D. polite
17.A. borrowed B. made C. lost D. saved
18.A. stared B. shouted C. nodded D. laughed
19.A. fondly B. violently C. bravely D. sadly
20.A. tradition B. theory C. job D. trick
Sarah Hutchins has won a prize from Amazon.com in a competition for young inventors. She invented “camoculars”! Now what are “camoculars”? Camoculars are binoculars(双筒望远镜) and a camera combined. Amazon.com, a web company, organized a competition for young inventors. 1.
Sarah was at a concert when she thought of her invention. “I was sitting a long way from the stage and I was watching the band through my binoculars. While I was watching, I thought,‘ 2. ’Then I got an idea. Why not have binoculars with a camera inside them?”
When she got home, she took some plastic binoculars and a cheap camera and put them together. 3. So Sarah sent her idea to Amazon.com and two months later, she got a surprise. 4. They didn’t give her the top prize in the competition, but she won $1,000 and a trip to New York.
People are already asking Sarah what she is going to invent next. “I don’t know,” says Sarah. “If you just sit there and think, you won’t invent anything, because you get ideas at strange moments. 5. ”
A. Sarah likes music very much.
B. I’d love to be able to take a picture of this!
C. Amazon.com phoned to say that she was a winner.
D. I have always dreamed of travelling around New York.
E. The only thing you can do is keep your eyes and ears open!
F. Her sister was watching her and told her about the competition.
G. Sarah was one of thousands of young people who took part in this competition.
It’s true to say that technology makes our lives easier. However, increasingly scientists are saying that we need to give ourselves a break-----otherwise we put ourselves at risk(风险) of developing hundreds of health problems. Over the summer the days are longer and sunnier. Why not put this free time to good use and do something away from technology?
You could learn a new skill. There are hundreds of possibilities: cooking, a musical instrument or a new sport. Haven’t you always wanted to learn how to knit(编织)? You could use your free time to practice these new things, which might lead to an exciting opportunity in the future.
If you just want to relax, why not head to a beach? Take along your favorite book and relax on the sand, or go for a walk along the coastline. If you don’t live near a beach, you could go to your local park. Why not have a picnic, or try to explore some of the local wildlife? You could even get involved in the latest craze(狂热): adult coloring books! Coloring is a surprising thing to help you relax, and it can be a nice way to escape from the stress of modern life!
Whatever you choose to do, try something new! You might surprise yourself and find a hidden gift within you; you might make new friends along the way. Next time you find yourself changing TV channels(频道) from one to another without a clear purpose, think about what else you could spend your time doing.
1.According to the text, technology_______.
A. makes our life harder
B. may bring us illness
C. keep us busy
D. gives us a break from work
2.In the author’s opinion, one of the best ways to relax is probably_______.
A. doing net shopping
B. watching TV at home
C. reading books on a beach
D. learning a new skill
3.Which of the following might be the best title of the text?
A. Spending your free time away from technology.
B. The disadvantages of Watching TV.
C. The relationship between technology and health.
D. Finding the hidden gift in you.
Seal(海豹) seizes raft
This seal really rocked the boat when he found himself an unusual place to hang out. After the seal came across a boat in the harbor where he lives, he fell inside and wouldn’t budge for four days.
“One morning the seal just pulled himself aboard,” says Ed Stubbings, who owns the boat-turned-bed. Probably thinking the boat was a rock, the seal made himself at home. The seal didn’t move an inch-----not even to eat or drink.
Stubbings was a little worried that the 500-pound animal might sink it. Luckily on the fifth day, the seal fell back into the water and swam off.
Alligator(短吻鳄)gets new tail
When Mr. Stubbs the alligator swims through his pool at the Phoenix Herpetological Society, he looks like any other gator-----except that his tail is made of rubber. Mr. Stubbs is the first alligator known to wear an artificial tail.
Mr. Stubbs was brought to the society nine years ago. “His tail was missing when he arrived,” says President Russ Johnson. Mr. Stubbs couldn’t walk or swim properly. “We showed him how to swim in the water,” Johnson says. “But that hurt his back.” Later, the scientists used rubber to build an artificial tail attached to Mr. Stubbs’s back legs. “Once we put the tail on him, he walked with ease,” Johnson says.
Dog delivers papers
Morgan started her “paper route” when she was young. One day as Morgan and her owner Bill set out on a walk, she spotted a rolled-up paper. To Bill’s surprise, Morgan grabbed the object in her mouth, walked back to the house, and dropped it on the doorstep. Morgan enjoyed the activity so much that she wanted to deliver every paper she saw on her walks.
Now three-year-old Morgan brings the paper to her owner and neighbors, even in bad weather. “Morgan has a natural instinct(本能) to carry things with her mouth,” dog behaviorist Pat Miller says. “And she feels rewarded by the activity, so she keeps it up.”
1.The underlined word “budge” can be replaced by________.
A. move B. change C. swim D. sleep
2.It can be learned that Mr. Stubbs_______.
A. injured his back
B. lost his tail and back legs
C. quickly got used to his new tail
D. was found by Ed Stubbings
3.What made Morgan deliver papers?
A. Her owner Bill’s praise.
B. Her neighbors’ rewards.
C. Pat Miller’s encouragement.
D. Her natural ability.
Most people who move to a foreign country may experience a period of time when they have a lot of stress in the new culture. This feeling is often called “culture shock” and it is important to learn how to deal with culture shock. First of all, you should know that everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock. There are four general stages of cultural adjustment(适应).
The first stage is usually referred to as the honeymoon stage. Upon arriving in a new environment, you’ll be interested in the new culture. Everything will seem exciting, and everyone will seem friendly and helpful.
The second stage is called the withdrawal stage. The excitement that you felt before changes to frustration(沮丧) as you find it difficult to deal with new problems. The language is hard to learn; friends are hard to make; simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick.
If you are one of those who manage to stick it out (坚持下来), you will enter the third stage---- the recovery stage. At this point, you’ll feel more confident in the new culture. You’ll start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment.
The last stage is the stability stage---- this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. At this stage, you will behave well in the new culture, and prefer some aspects(方面) of the new culture to your own culture.
There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called “reverse culture shock”. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture “foreign”, because you’re so used to the new culture. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild(温和的) and doesn’t last for very long.
1.At the honeymoon stage, people will__________.
A. find the new culture is hard to accept
B. miss their family and friends very much
C. begin to understand what culture shock is
D. have a good impression of the new culture
2.In which stage will people feel most uncomfortable?
A. The honeymoon stage. B. The withdrawal stage.
C. The recovery stage. D. The stability stage.
3.At the stability stage, people usually feel__________.
A. lucky B. relaxed
C. nervous D. disappointed
4.Which of the following opinions does the author agree with?
A. It’s important to know that culture shock is natural.
B. People will suffer less from culture shock in future.
C. Reverse culture shock usually happens in the foreign countries.
D. Reverse culture shock is as difficult to deal with as culture shock.
