Several decades of years ago, I ran a service station and roadhouse on the main road between Melbourne and Adelaide. One very cold, wet night at about 3∶30 a.m., there was a ___ on the front door of our house. A young man, wet from ____ to toe, explained that he had ____ out of petrol about 30 km up the road. He had left his pregnant wife and his two children ____ at the car and said that he would hitchhike(搭便车) back.
Once I had ____ a can with petrol, I took him back to his car where his two-year-old and four-year-old children were both ____ , saying that they were cold. Once the car had started, I suggested that he ____ me back.
Before leaving, I had turned the heater ____ in the roadhouse, so that when we went in, it was nice and ____ .While the little ones played and ran ____ , I prepared bread and butter for the children, and hot chocolate for the ____ .
It was about 5 a.m. before they ____ .The young fellow asked me how much he ____ me and I told him that the petrol pump(加油泵)had ___ $15.He offered to pay “call-out fee”, but I wouldn’t accept it.
About a month later, I received a ____ from Interstate, a large bus company that we had been trying to ___ to stop off at our roadhouse for a long time. It ____ out that the young fellow I had helped was its general manager, the most ____ person in the company.
In his letter, he thanked me again and ____ me that, from then on, all their buses would stop at my service station. In this ____ , a little bit of kindness was rewarded with a huge amount of benefits.
1.A. kick B. hit C. beat D. knock
2.A. shoulder B. finger C. hand D. head
3.A. used B. driven C. run D. come
4.A. behind B. away C. out D. over
5.A. poured B. supplied C. filled D. equipped
6.A. crying B. sleeping C. fighting D. quarreling
7.A. ring B. allow C. follow D. lead
8.A. off B. on C. over D. in
9.A. hot B. neat C. attractive D. warm
10.A. inside B. around C. along D. nearby
11.A. guests B. drivers C. adults D. customers
12.A. arrived B. left C. disappeared D. ate
13.A. paid B. gave C. offered D. owed
14.A. exhibited B. appeared C. shown D. calculated
15.A. letter B. call C. notice D. check
16.A. force B. get C. hope D. requite
17.A. turned B. pointed C. found D. worked
18.A. successful B. generous C. powerful D. serious
19.A. persuaded B. praised C. convinced D. informed
20.A. business B. lesson C. case D. aspect
We’ve all heard about the power of our attitude, and it’s our attitude that determines how much we succeed in life.
All the things that you have been through, all the people you have met and interacted with can have an impact on your attitude. If you think that all these factors have molded you into a person with a poor attitude towards life, there is no need to worry. 1.
1.Identify and understand what you want to change.
The first step towards change is clearly understanding what needs to be changed. 2.When it comes to changing your attitude, you need to do an honest and in-depth self-evaluation so you could point out exactly which of your traits need to be improved or totally changed.
2. 3.
Find someone who has the kind of attitude that you want to have, and let his or her life give you inspiration and encouragement to move beyond your temporary failures in your journey towards becoming a better person.
3. Choose the right company.
As they say, “Bad company corrupts good character.” You don't expect yourself to be able to change if you go on surrounding yourself with people who possess all the negative traits that you want to change. Consider befriending new people, especially those who are optimistic and have a healthy attitude towards life. 4.
4. Believe that you are able to change.
5. If you don’t believe in yourself or believe that you or your life can change, it just won't happen—you will either never start, or give up quickly that you won't have even given yourself the opportunity to succeed.
A. Your effort to change will be easier with these people as friends.
B. Setting clear goals is the key to success in any endeavor.
C. The greatest obstacle is our inability to trust in what we can do.
D. Look for a role model.
E. Think about how your attitude change will affect your life.
F. There is always an opportunity for change.
G. Fix your mind on the things that would come as a result of your attitude change.
Tea，the most typical English drink，became established in Britain because of the influence of a foreign princess，Catherine of Braganza，the queen of Charles II．As a lover of tea since her childhood in Portugal，she brought tea-drinking to the English royal court and set a trend for the beverage in the 17th century．The fashion soon spread beyond the circle of the nobility to the middle classes，and tea became a popular drink at the London coffee houses where people met to do business and discuss events of the day．Many employers served a cup of tea to their workers in the middle of the morning，thus inventing a lasting British institution，the“tea break”. However，drinking tea in social settings outside the workplace was beyond the means of the majority of British people．It came with a high price tag and tea was taxed as well．
Around 1 800，the seventh Duchess of Bedford，Anne Maria，began the popular practice of“afternoon tea，”a ceremony taking place at about four o’clock．Until then，people did not usually eat or drink anything between lunch and dinner．At approximately the same time，the Earl of Sandwich popularized a new way of eating bread—in thin slices，with something like jam or cucumbers between them．Before long，a small meal at the end of the afternoon，involving tea and sandwiches，had become part of the British way of life．
As tea became much cheaper during the 19th century，its popularity spread right through all corners of the British society．Thus，tea became Britain’s favorite drink．In working-class households，it was served with the main meal of the day，eaten when workers returned home after a day’s labor．This meal has become known as“high tea”．Today，tea can be drunk at any time of the day，and accounts for over two-fifths of all drinks consumed in Britain-with the exception of water．
1.What is mainly discussed about tea in the text?
A. Its popularity in Europe．
B. Its development in Britain．
C. Its influence around the world．
D. Its traditional ways of drinking．
2.Why was tea unable to be accepted as a common drink in Britain in the 17th century?
A. It was merely served in London．
B. It was taxed as an alcoholic drink．
C. It was too expensive for most people．
D. It was forbidden in business settings.
3.How is the text organized?
A. In time order．
B. By comparison．
C. By cause and effect．
D. In frequency order．
Bad news sells. If it bleeds, it leads. No news is good news, and good news is no news. Those are the classic rules for the evening broadcasts and the morning papers. But now that information is being spread and monitored(监控) in different ways, researchers are discovering new rules. By tracking people’s e-mails and online posts, scientists have found that good news can spread faster and farther than disasters and sob stories.
“The ‘if it bleeds’ rule works for mass media,” says Jonah Berger, a scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. “They want your eyeballs and don’t care how you’re feeling. But when you share a story with your friends, you care a lot more how they react. You don’t want them to think of you as a Debbie Downer.”
Researchers analyzing word-of-mouth communication—e-mails, Web posts and reviews, face-to-face conversations—found that it tended to be more positive than negative, but that didn’t necessarily mean people preferred positive news. Was positive news shared more often simply because people experienced more good things than bad things? To test for that possibility, Dr. Berger looked at how people spread a particular set of news stories: thousands of articles on The New York Times’ website. He and a Penn colleague analyzed the “most e-mailed” list for six months. One of his first findings was that articles in the science section were much more likely to make the list than non-science articles. He found that science amazed Times’ readers and made them want to share this positive feeling with others.
Readers also tended to share articles that were exciting or funny, or that inspired negative feelings like anger or anxiety, but not articles that left them merely sad. They needed to be aroused(激发) one way or the other, and they preferred good news to bad. The more positive an article, the more likely it was to be shared, as Dr. Berger explains in his new book, “Contagious: Why Things Catch On.”
1.What do the classic rules mentioned in the text apply to?
A. Research papers. B. Private e-mails.
C. News reports. D. Daily conversations．
2.What can we infer about people like Debbie Downer?
A. They’re socially inactive. B. They’re good at telling stories.
C. They’re careful with their words. D. They’re inconsiderate of others.
3.Which tended to Dr. B be the most e-mailed according to erger’s research?
A. Personal accounts. B. Sports news.
C. Science articles. D. Financial reviews.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Good News Beats Bad on Social Networks
B. Reading Habits Change with the Times
C. Sad Stories Travel Far and Wide
D. Online News Attracts More People
“Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton(骨骼) in the closet?” Jessica asked. “A skeleton in the closet?” her mother paused thoughtfully. “Well, it’s something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad’s family had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be ‘a skeleton in his family’s closet’. He really wouldn’t want any neighbor to know about it.”
“Why pick on my family?” Jessica’s father said with anger. “Your family history isn’t so good. you know. Wasn’t your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?” “Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners .” “Gosh, sorry I asked, I think I understand now,” Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica’s parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica’s closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica’s mother sank into a faint(晕倒), waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter.
“What happened？Where am I?” she asked. “You just destroyed the school’s skeleton, Mum,” explained Jessica. “I brought it home to help me with my health project, I meant to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad.” Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. “they’re both crazy,” she thought.
1.According to Jessica’s mother, “a skeleton in the closet” means ______.
A. a family honor B. a family treasure
C. a family story D. a family secret
2.What can we learn about some Australians’ ancestors from Paragraph 2?
A. They were brought to Australia as prisoners.
B. They were the earliest people living in Australia
C. They were involved in some crimes in Australia.
D. They were not regarded as criminals in their day.
3.Jessica’s mother fell down into a faint because she was ________.
A. frightened B. surprised
C. injured D. knocked
4.Jessica’s parents laughed madly at the end of the story probably because_________.
A. they were crazy
B. they realized their misunderstanding
C. they were overexcited
D. they both thought they bad won the quarrel
Many kids help out around the house with chores(家庭杂务) such as emptying the dishwasher, putting laundry away, and taking out the trash. In exchange, some kids get allowances(补贴) or other rewards such as extra computer time.
But some people do not think that kids should get rewards for doing chores. Susie Walton, a parenting educator and family coach, believes that by rewarding kids, parents are sending a message that work isn’t worth doing unless you get something in return. "Running any kind of household is a team effort," Susie said. "A home is a living space for everyone in the family. It’s important for kids to see that we all have responsibilities in the house, and that families decide together how they want their home to look, and how they are going to keep it looking like everyone wants it to look."
Other people believe that getting a cash allowance or other rewards motivates kids to do chores, and it also teaches them real world lessons about how we need to work to earn money. There are also new applications that give kids points and digital gifts that can be redeemed(兑取) either online or in the real world. With the ChoreMonster app, kids earn digital points by completing chores that they can turn in for real-life rewards such as extra Xbox time or a trip to the mall. "Our goal is to encourage kids to earn rewards," says Chris Bergman, founder of ChoreMonster. "Kids need positive reinforcement(强化) to help motivate them."
What do you think? Should kids be rewarded for doing chores? Or should kids help out around their homes without getting anything in return?
Write a 200-word response. Send it to tfkasks4youtimeforkids.com. Your response may be published in a future issue of Time For Kids. Please include your grade and contact information of your parent or teacher if you want your response to be published. The deadline for responding is February 18.
1.How does the author start the passage?
A. By comparing different views.
B. By listing some evidence.
C. By presenting some facts.
D. By stating his own experiences.
2.According to Susie Walton, _______.
A. kids should be rewarded for doing chores
B. parents decide what kids can do for the family
C. kids can get extra computer time for doing chores
D. kids have the responsibility to share housework
3.Paragraph 3 is mainly about ________.
A. Chris Bergman’s opinion on raising kids
B. main reasons why kids need encouragement
C. the advantage of rewarding kids for doing chores
D. how to motivate kids to try new applications
4.The purpose of writing the text is to __________.
A. inform readers of two different opinions
B. call on readers to reflect on their behavior
C. invite readers to express their opinions
D. present the author’s viewpoint about parenting
