Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man,” she said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
1.The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to _____.
A. show she was familiar with the city
B. see some places for the last time
C. let the driver earn more money
D. reach the destination on time
2.The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he _____.
A. wanted to do her a favor
B. shut off the meter by mistake
C. had received her payment in advance
D. was in a hurry to take other passengers
3.What can we learn from the story?
A. Giving is always a pleasure.
B. People should respect each other.
C. An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
D. People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.
Mi Teleferico, Bolivia
Crossing the Bolivian capital of La Paz, the Teleferico is both the highest and longest city cable-car system on the planet. Built to relieve the city’s extreme road traffic, the three lines of this "subway in the sky" spirit the city’s 2.3 million citizens. At an altitude of 3,700 metres, you' ll feel the thrill of flying as you’re smoothly carried over entire neighborhoods and business districts—all for a ticket price that' s less than a dollar.
Everest Flights, Nepal
It is no easy work to climb the Everest, a mountain second to none at an altitude of 8 ,848 metres. Most of us know that we'll never move along the Hillary Step and overcome this mountain. Fortunately, a number of local airlines operating out of Kathmandu’s small domestic airport offer a glimpse of this glory for about a hundred dollars. In a few hours, you'll get into the heart of the Himalayas, getting close enough to snap a few fantastic photos from your window seat before circling back. No oxygen tank required !
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
With select routes that lead through Banff and Jasper national parks as well as Lake Louise, Rocky Mountaineer provides a best opportunity to spot the wildlife of western Canada, including elk, bighorn sheep, and possibly even bears of the black, brown, and grayish variety. Rocky Mountaineer' s multi-day journeys include
breakfasts and lunches prepared by world-class chefs, B.C. wines, and an invitation to sit back, relax, and let the Rockies come to you.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, South Africa
Few places in the world have appeal like Table Mountain, the flat-topped monolith( 独石) that serves as the backdrop for most tourists' photos— and memories—of Cape Town. Completed back in 1929, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway carries nearly one million sightseers to the summit every year,rising roughly 1,000 metres in fewer than five minutes.
1.The Teleferico was built to .
A. offer amazing views
B. draw tourists worldwide
C. reduce traffic pressure
D. promote its economy
2.What is special about Mt. Everest?
A. It requires no skills to climb it.
B. It ’s the highest mountain worldwide.
C. It has several local airlines.
D. It's the best place for taking photos.
3.Which of the following would you prefer to see the wildlife?
A. Mi Teleferico.
B. Everest Flights.
C. Rocky Mountaineer.
D. Table Mountain.
4.What can we infer about the four places mentioned in the passage?
A. They cost much money.
B. They all offer mountain rides.
C. They have fancy hotels.
D. They are all within Americas.
听一段材料,回答以下小题。
1.According to the speaker, what is Jen like?
A. Strict but loving. B. New and talented. C. Friendly and funny.
2.Which award did Luisa win?
A. Best Hairdresser. B. Employee of the Year. C. Best Customer Service.
3.How long has Dina worked in the salon?
A. Three months. B. Two years. C. Seven years.
4.What is true about the awards?
A. The awards have different prizes.
B. The winners will get extra vacation days.
C. A total of $1200 was given out.
听一段材料,回答以下小题。
1.What event are the speakers attending?
A. A dinner party. B. A wedding. C. An anniversary celebration.
2.What does the woman want most right now?
A. To dance. B. To eat something. C. To change her clothes.
3.What did the man eat when he first arrived?
A. Some cheese. B. Fish and rice. C. Some cake.
4.According to the woman, what probably cost a lot of money?
A. The flowers. B. Jennie’s clothes. C. Matt’s tie.
听一段材料,回答以下小题。
1.How does the woman know the man ate the cookie?
A. She saw him on the video camera. B. Another customer told her.
C. She saw him in person.
2.Why did the man lie?
A. He didn’t want to pay. B. He thought the cookie tasted bad.
C. He thought the cookie was too expensive.
3.What happened at the end of the conversation?
A. The man paid for the cookie. B. The woman called the police.
C. The speakers went to the back of the store.
听一段材料,回答以下小题。
1.Why does the woman want to go home?
A. She isn’t feeling well. B. She needs to get something to eat.
C. She doesn’t want to attend the meeting.
2.What will the man do for the woman?
A. Drive her somewhere. B. Work on her project for her.
C. Ask for a sick leave for her.