After many years, I can still remember that day. My parents, at the height of the Great Depression, were _______ to go on home relief (救济) in 1935. I was ten years old at that time, and we lived on the first floor of an apartment _______ an elevator in Brooklyn, New York.
A few days before Christmas, I _______ of a kitchen window to see my father sitting on the front steps,_______, with tears in his eyes. The mailman was _______ our building and asked my father what was wrong.
I heard my father say that he had _______ all his vouchers(代金券) to buy food and pay the rent. He had _______ to work as a laborer, but he wasn’t a very strong man, and the work had been too_______ for him. I was scared, and I could almost _______ us being thrown out and ending up on the street with all our________.
“ How much do you need?” the mailman asked. My dad said he needed $33 for the rent. Without________, the mailman took $50 from his wallet and ________ it to my father. My dad said, “ I don’t know when I’ll be ________ to pay you back.” The mailman put an arm around my father and said it would be okay ________ he paid him back or not.
The mailman ________ me looking through the window and said, “Things will not be this way forever. If you ________ this day, there will be times in the future when someone needs your help. Help them within your ________ and tell them what happened this day. This will be what I want________. Merry Christmas.”
As long as he lived, my father ________others whenever he could, and I’ve done my best to do my part in paying the mailman’s ________ back. I will never forget the mailman for that wonderful thing he did for us.
1.A. forced B. ordered C. banned D. opposed
2.A. beneath B. between C. behind D. without
3.A. went through B. ran out C. looked out D. glanced through
4.A. disappointed B. grateful C. amused D. casual
5.A. renting B. approaching C. advocating D. recycling
6.A. used up B. come up C. ended up D. put up
7.A. succeeded B. exchanged C. tried D. quitted
8.A. flexible B. busy C. tough D. complex
9.A. imagine B. admit C. predict D. guarantee
10.A. debts B. belongings C. checks D. loads
11.A. difficulty B. judgement C. attention D. hesitation
12.A. tended B. borrowed C. handed D. transformed
13.A. lucky B. able C. ashamed D. satisfied
14.A. whether B. unless C. since D. while
15.A. requested B. noticed C. appointed D. glanced
16.A. refresh B. range C. remember D. review
17.A. means B. duties C. skills D. talents
18.A. at risk B. in place C. on average D. in return
19.A. abused B. allowed C. helped D. changed
20.A. reputation B. generosity C. appreciation D. contribution
How to Pick a Good Book
It’s not news that we spend more time texting and surfing online than ever. But a recent study shows that more teenagers are reading good old-fashioned and ink-on-paper books. Reading is a good way to widen your knowledge and learn about yourself. You probably know how to find the best application programs for your phone. 1.
1.Start with your interests
Reading on your own isn’t like reading for school. 2.It could be ancient martial arts, computers, or fashion design. If you can name the subject, you can find books about it.
2. Find your “type”
3. Books of fiction, like novels or short-story collections, can transport you to another world or help you to imagine something beyond your own experience. Not all fiction is the same. Try some different types of fiction and see which one you prefer. Non-fiction books give you the “who”, “what”, “when” and “why” of something. They tell stories using facts, but that doesn’t mean they are dull.
3.Read the “blurb(简介)”
The reviews and quotes on the back and inside covers of many books are known as “blurbs”. These comments not only give you an idea of what the book is about, but also help you to pick out future books. If you find a book you really like, take a minute to read the blurb and see which authors praised the book.4.
4. 5.
Your local library can provide you with a lot of great books. Explain your interests and mention any writer you like, and the librarian can point you towards books that you will like. Then you can enjoy what you’re reading in a quiet place.
A. Often, they will have similar styles, and you might find you like books by those authors, too.
B. You can pick something that suits your interests.
C. Read in a quiet place.
D. Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
E. Ask an expert.
F. It is necessary to work out what the book is mainly about before reading.
G. But do you know how to pick a book that you will really like?
Summers around the world are already warmer than they used to be, and they are going to get dramatically hotter by the century’s end if carbon pollution continues to rise. That problem will be felt most acutely in cities.
The world’s rapidly growing population coupled with the urban “heat island” effect, which can make cities up to 7.8℃ warmer than the countryside, adds up to a recipe for dangerous and potentially deadly heat.
Currently, about 54 percent of the world’s population lives in cities, and by 2050 the urban population is expected to have grown by 2.5 billion people. As those cities get hotter, weather patterns may shift and make extreme heat even more common. That will, in turn, threaten public health and the economy.
Under the high-pollution situation, currently mild Ottawa, Canada could have the tropical climate of Belize City by 2100. Mountainous Kabul, Afghanistan could feel like coastal Colombo, India. Already hot Cairo, Egypt could feel like its sweltering (闷热的) neighbor, Abu Dhabi.
The average land temperature is projected to rise 4.8℃, but due to the differences in geography, some cities will warm much more. Sofia, Bulgaria is predicted to have the biggest overall temperature shift, with temperatures rising nearly 8.4℃ by 2100. That would make its summers more like in Egypt.
The average summer temperature in Khartoum, Sudan is projected to skyrocket to 44.1℃ if carbon pollution continues to be unchecked. That shift emphasizes that unless carbon pollution is limited, the planet could be headed toward a state that humans have never experienced.
Dealing with less extreme heat makes adaptation easier and less expensive, and given that choice, perhaps it’s no surprise cities are leading the charge on climate change. They face the worst impacts of extreme heat and are home to billions. That’s why thousands of mayors from around the world have banded together and promised to reduce their emissions. That includes lots of U.S. cities committing to meet the Paris Agreement goals after President Trump announced he was pulling the U.S. out of the agreement.
1.What may happen by the end of the century according to the passage?
A. Carbon pollution will be worse and worse.
B. The world’s population living in cities will decline.
C. The temperature in cities will be too high to bear in summer.
D. The economy and population will be impacted severely by pollution.
2.Which city mentioned in the passage will have the greatest climate change?
A. Ottawa, Canada. B. Sofia, Bulgaria.
C. Khartoum, Sudan. D. Kabul, Afghanistan
3.The underlined word “skyrocket” in the sixth paragraph probably means “ ”.
A. rise rapidly. B. change gradually
C. reverse completely D. drop naturally
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Dealing with the climate problems right now is hard and expensive.
B. Officials are unwilling to deal with climate change.
C. Extreme heat will have no impact on the climate in the countryside.
D. Many U.S. cities are dealing with climate problems actively.
During lunch all my friends were talking about their families’ plans for winter break, and I was a little jealous since my parents couldn’t take a vacation during Christmas week.
I came home from school that day to find a newsletter from the Jewish CommunityCenter, which contained an ad for an “alternative vacation” community-service trip to New Orleans during Christmas week. I wondered whether cleaning neighborhoods destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag were really the way I wanted to spend Christmas vacation. I sent in an application anyway, went for an interview, and was actually very excited when I was accepted into the program.
We arrived in New Orleans on December 23. First, we had dinner at a pizza place that had been destroyed by the hurricane. The owners told us about what they had gone through to rebuild their homes.
On Christmas Eve, we spent the day removing garbage as part of a beautification project in the Lower Ninth Ward, which was most heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
On Christmas Day, we worked at a center for homeless people. The people really appreciated our work, and we felt like we had made Christmas a little more special for them. My favorite project was helping at an animal rescue center. We walked the animals, cleaned their places, and fed them. Six thousand dogs and cats, separated from their owners, were rescued by that shelter after the hurricane.
When I returned to New York and told my friends about my trip, I realized how ridiculous I had been to be jealous of their Christmas plans. I looked around at my house, my dog, my family and everything I owned and felt really spoiled. All the things I saw in New Orleans, all the amazing people I met and the small ways l was able to contribute to the rebuilding of the city made that week the most memorable vacation I can imagine.
1.What was the author’s first reaction to the community-service trip?
A. He felt upset. B. He was excited.
C. He felt hopeful. D. He was doubtful.
2.Which did the author like most?
A. Removing garbage. B. Helping the homeless.
C. Working with animals. D. Dining with survivors.
3.What can be the best title for the text?
A. The Most Memorable Day B. My Special Christmas Vacation
C. Post-Disaster Reconstruction D. A Big Contribution to Society
Roald Dahl is one of the greatest storytellers the world has ever known. He was born in Llandaff in Wales on 13 September 1916. Roald’s dream was to go to exciting foreign places, and he got the chance when he got a job with the Shell Company supplying oil in East Africa. When the Second World War broke out, he became a fighter pilot and he almost died when he crashed his plane in the desert. Afterwards he was sent home and given a new job in the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. There, he started writing speeches and war stories, and his first pieces of writing were published.
Have you heard of any of these stories?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie is a young boy from a poor family and, like most children, he loves chocolate. Charlie buys Wonka chocolate bars hoping to find a golden ticket inside because whoever finds a golden ticket is invited to visit the Wonka chocolate factory. However, there are some wonderfully strange things inside the factory!
The BFG
The BFG is the Big Friendly Giant and he brings sweet dreams to children while they are sleeping. One night he is seen by a girl called Sophie, and he kidnaps(绑架) her and carries her away to his homeland because he is scared she’ll tell the world about his existence. He is actually friendly, but the other giants are not. They want to eat people. Sophie decides to get someone to help: the Queen!
Matilda
Matilda is a genius(天才) and she loves books, but her parents don’t understand her intelligence and are cruel to her. Matilda’s brainpower is discovered by her teacher, Miss Honey, who helps her to develop her intellect. But Miss Honey is also being mistreated by the cruel head teacher, so Matilda tries to find a way to help her…
Boy: Tales of Childhood
This book is told like a story, but it’s not a novel. It’s an autobiography (自传) of Roald Dahl’s childhood and school experiences. In it he describes his experiences with the dead mouse, horrible teachers, summer holidays to Norway and getting the job with Shell.
1.What did Roald do right before working in the British Embassy?
A. He wrote stories and speeches. B. He traveled in foreign countries.
C. He worked for a famous oil company. D. He served as a member of the air force.
2.To know about Roald’s personal experiences, which story should you read?
A. Matilda. B. Boy: Tales of Childhood.
C. The BFG. D. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
3.What do the four stories have in common?
A. They are amusing. B. They are about kids.
C. They are works of fiction. D. They are based on true stories.
完成句子
1.听到这个令人震惊的消息，他崩溃大哭。
Hearing the shocking news, he ________ _________ and wept.
2.老师原谅了他迟到，让他进入教室坐下,因为这是他第一次迟到。
The teacher ____________ him _______ his being late and let him get seated in the classroom，for this was his first time to be late.
3.辛迪爱吃甜点，但她从不长胖。
Cindy likes eating dessert, but she never __________ ________ weight.
4.抚养三个孩子长大成人，他们的父母感到很有成就感，累并快乐着。
__________ ________ the three children, their parents felt a sense of achievement, tired and happy.
5.我们的新房子是老房子的两倍大。
Our new house is _______ _______ ________ of the old one.
6.玛丽重重关上门，哭了起来，没有人知道她为什么这么生气难过。
Mary shut the door _________ and ________ __________ tears. No one knew _________ she was so angry and sad.
7.比尔在偷窥他人商业机密时他被抓住了，他们决定不轻饶他。
Bill was caught __________ __________ others’ trade secrets; they decided not to let him_______ _______ ________ it.
