Last night my husband and I were taking a walk. Then we saw a man _______ over on the ground, crushing(砸碎) something with rock. He was completely _______ his task and didn’t look up at anyone _______. We kept noticing him. I thought he was crushing stones to make _______, but why would he do that?
Finally we decided to go up and _______ to him. He was crushing pieces of left-over bread to make feed for the birds that _______ there early morning. The large pieces of hard bread would be _______ for the birds to eat so he crushes them into a fine powder.
He’s been doing this every night, by himself, for the last 3 to4 years. What _______ us more was that he was surprised we were even taking an _______ in this, since for him it wasn’t a big deal. Every night, after ________ so his accommodation from his job as a tailor, he goes around ________ left-over bread from all his housemates. He ________ eats a quick meal and comes here, and spends the next 1 to 2 hours. ________ crushing each piece and makes a neat pile for the birds, which he says will be ________ by next evening. He also leaves grains on top of the pile, which he ________ every month from his wages.
When we asked him what ________ him to do this simple, small but devoted act of ________, he shrugged his shoulders and said. It’s just something ________ I do: so that the left-over bread doesn’t go into the rubbish and the birds get ________.” We shared his story and perhaps it might inspire someone to start something ________ in their own area,
1.A. looking B. bending C. going D. watching
2.A. tired of B. interested in C. focused on D. addicted to
3.A. passing by B. sending off C. running away D. dropping in
4.A. soil B. fun C. mud D. sand
5.A. reply B. turn C. speak D. point
6.A. leave B. come C. remain D. live
7.A. convenient B. dangerous C. easy D. difficult
8.A. moved B. benefited C. frightened D. disappointed
9.A. effect B. interest C. action D. attempt
10.A. changing B. improving C. reaching D. cleaning
11.A. collecting B. choosing C. begging D. eating
12.A. still B. finally C. ever D. then
13.A. sincerely B. carefully C. eventually D. exactly
14.A. gone B. deserted C. delicious D. bad
15.A. grows B. borrows C. buys D. arranges
16.A. reminds B. forces C. warns D. inspires
17.A. service B. curiosity C. patience D. happiness
18.A. great B. important C. small D. pleasant
19.A. rest B. food C. comfort D. protection
20.A. strange B. equal C. simple D. Similar
The news media in the U. S. consist of radio, television and newspapers. Together they are everywhere on the lives of many Americans and influential on their daily routines. Many Americans begin their day by reading the newspaper or watching a morning news program on television while drinking their coffee. 1. Throughout the day the news is broadcast repeatedly on the radio and television.
In the evening news is a main feature on television with up to two hours of news in the early evening and more news late at night. For those who prefer reading, the evening newspaper offers the reader the possibility of reading the news others see and hear on television.
2. It is up to the general public to choose what to read, watch or listen to. Therefore, the media must have sensitivity to the interests of the public.
News is a big business. However, it is a very competitive business, as each station or each newspaper competes for audiences and readers. 3. When an item becomes news worthy, such as an election or a war, Americans will become familiar with the details as the news media try to be as informative as possible. 4.
The news media report the same news items regarded as the most interesting and impressive. 5. However, most Americans would not criticize their news media too harshly. The truth of the news media is generally acknowledged and accepted by the American public.
A. Americans don’t have to pay for the services.
B. The news media are free of government control.
C. But the result is that the news becomes repeated.
D. Sometimes they have to bear boring advertisements.
E. Each tries to present the news Americans want to know.
F. While driving to work, the news can be heard on the car radio.
G. Listeners, viewers or readers might find it difficult to be selective.
Americans are worried about new technology. They are concerned that machines. Including robots, will take over work now done by humans. These findings come from a new report by the Pew Research Center of Washington DC.
About 75 percent of Americans questioned by Pew said automation will increase income inequality between the rich and the middle class and the poor. And 64 percent of people expect automation to be so common in America that people will face difficulty finding things to do with their lives.
Some of the concerns about technology come from a distrust about whether machines will always make the right decision. Many Americans believe humans have better judgment in dealing with complex matters. One example is selecting a person for a job. Three quarters of Americans said they would not want to apply for a job that uses a computer program to choose the most qualified person.
Most Americans want the government to limit automation, For example, 87 percent support a requirement that all driverless vehicles have a human in the driver s scat who can take control when needed. And 85 percent want to limit machines to mostly doing jobs that are dangerous or unhealthy for humans. And only 25 percent expect more jobs to come from automation. Pew said,
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, spoke last May to graduating seniors from Harvard University in Massachusetts, His talk centered on the uncertain future facing young people. “Our generation will have to deal with tens of millions of jobs replaced by automation like self-driving cars and trucks,” Zuckerberg told the graduates,
Zuckerberg said young people will have to find projects that will bring both jobs and direct benefits to the people of the world. He said in his speech that 300,000 people worked to put a man on the moon, and millions of people built, the Hoover Dam as well as other great projects over the last 100 years.
1.What do Americans think of technology?
A. Useful.
B. Effective
C. Dangerous.
D. Undependable.
2.Which of the following do the majority of Americans want the government to do?
A. Use machines to do dangerous and harmful jobs.
B. Increase job chances by introducing machines
C. Select a person for a job by computer.
D. Get rid of all driverless vehicles.
3.What did Zuckerberg encourage the students to do?
A. Refuse self-driving vehicles.
B. Create new job chances.
C. Consider large projects.
D. Fight against robots.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. New Technology Creates More Jobs
B. New Technology Makes New Unfairness
C. Americans Worry Robots Will Take Jobs
D. Robots Make Work Easy to Do for Workers.
We started in 1993 with a simple idea: that people could help each other by sharing stories about their lives. For years people had told our founders, motivational speakers Jack and Mark, inspiring stories about themselves. Jack and Mark included these stories in their talks, and their audiences repeatedly asked if they had ever been published.” That story about the boy and the puppy—is that in a book anywhere?” a parent asked Jack. “That story about the boy with the amputated(截肢)leg who became a tennis star, I need to read that to my staff,” a manager told him. Jack was asked repeatedly, “ Is that story in a book anywhere?”
Eventually Jack and Mark decided their audiences must be on to something, so they collected the best 101 stories they’d been told in a book. They called it Chicken Soup for the Soul because they wanted it to provide comfort just like their grandmother’s cooking.
They took the book to New York, hoping to sell it to one of the big publishers but every single one turned them down. The project appeared to have stalled until they met Peter Vegso, the owner of a small health and wellness polisher in Florida named HCI. Peter read some of the stories and loved them, so he decided to give the book a chance, becoming Chicken Soup for the Soul’s founding publisher.
Never, in Jack and Mark’s wildest dreams had they imagined what the book would become. Chicken Soup for the Soul turned into one of the most popular and loved books ever published, selling 11 million copies around the world. Readers asked for more stories so we published a “second helping” of Chicken Soup for the Soul and a third after that, Today, we’ve published more than 250 books, which have become the best-selling trade paperback book series of all time.
1.What droved Jack and Mark to publish these inspiring stores?
A. The rich source of good stories.
B. The good chance to be famous.
C. The benefits from the book.
D. The demand of audience
2.How did the title of the book come from?
A. The taste of chicken.
B. The way of cooking
C. The purpose of the book.
D. The experiences of children.
3.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “stalled” in Paragraph 3?
A. Stopped.
B. Failed.
C. Succeeded.
D. Progressed.
4.What do we know from the last paragraph?
A. The wildest dreams of two people.
B. An unexpected success of a book
C. An introduction to a series of books.
D. Calling on people to buy a best seller.
A little boy discovered what looked like a map to an unknown place. He soon realized it was the beginning of an exciting treasure hunt.
He found two pieces of paper along with the mysterious map. One was written with the instructions, “FIND THE WORDS.” The other piece of paper had several strange symbols scattered all over it.
Dad, fortunately, was there to help his son figure out the mystery. He folded up the paper with the symbols on it, and together they formed a message, which had another set of instructions, “UNDER STEPS.” The smart little boy knew exactly what to do so he went to look under the steps of his house. Without too much effort, he found a box below the staircase.
It didn’t take him long to figure out what to do next: open it up! Inside the box were some very interesting objects, including another piece of a treasure map and two broken pieces of paper. These were the most interesting finds because they contained what appeared to be a collection of letters on them. Finally, they knew where the treasure was from the letters: IN THE BUSH UNDER YOUR YARD.
After searching all over the yard, following several clues and wondering where everything would lead, the pair finally found what they had been looking for. And it was exactly what you would want after such an adventure: a treasure box!
The pair pulled it out of the ground and cleaned away all the dirt. The dad put the box in front of his son, and the little boy couldn’t contain his excitement. So he opened it up and finally found out what was inside.
Inside was more treasure than any little boy could ever want. There were hundreds of coins and all sorts of pirate treasure, including what looks like a pearl necklace and some silver dishes.
1.What led the little boy to start his treasure hunt?
A. His father’s encouragement
B. A possible treasure map.
C. His nature of curiosity.
D. Attraction of treasure.
2.How did the little boy and his father finally determine the exact treasure place?
A. By following the symbols on the paper.
B. By folding up the map.
C. By searching their yard.
D. By listing the letters on the paper.
3.Where did the little boy find the treasure?
A. In the bush.
B. Under the steps.
C. Under the ground.
D. In a box below the staircase.
4.How did the little boy feel about his finding?
A. Overjoyed.
B. Disappointed.
C. Grateful.
D. Unworthy.
Summer is approaching and the following books can accompany you during the hot season.
◆And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner
The smell of fresh-cut grass. The coldness of ice cream on your tongue. The sound of crickets(蟋蟀) at night, This romantic feast for senses is as much a celebration of the season as it is a summer bucket list! Attractive illustrations(插图)and descriptive text warm your heart and inspired play like never before.
Available from Amazon. $11.28
◆Three Little Words by Amy Novesky
Dery’s “Just keep swimming!” message of perseverance is perfect for any one who has ever felt like they were drowning. Follow Dory an unforgettable adventure as she finds her way in this beautiful watercolor adventure of friendship and survival.
Available from Amazon. $12 06
◆There Might be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi
Meet Suki. She’s a small dog with a big fear of the beach. When a rescue is in order, Suki saves that the day, proving that there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. Quite possibly the perfect picture book for anxious kids fearful to try new experiences, this timeless treasure opens the door to calming dialogues and messages of bravery and victory.
Available from Amazon. $11.84
◆Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
You know that feeling when you’re as excited as you are scared to make a leap? That’s how Jabari feels about his first jump off the diving board. He knows how to swim. He knows jumping off sure looks fun. But does he have what it takes to take a try? With some gentle encouragement from his loving father, Jabari jumps.
Available from Amazon. $11.26
1.What can you enjoy in the book And Then Comes Summer?
A. Swimming skills.
B. Fun of summer.
C. Art exhibition.
D. A lovely dog.
2.What do There Might be Lobsters and Jabari Jumps have in common?
A. They have the same prices.
B. Their characters do the same sports.
C. They can be bought in different places.
D. Their characters succeed in ridding fear.
3.Which book describes the experience of learning to swim?
A. And Then Comes Summer
B. There Might be Lobsters
C. Three Little Words
D. Jabari Jumps
