It was shortly before midnight, and Dr Patricia was getting ready for bed. The p

It was shortly before midnight, and Dr Patricia was getting ready for bed. The p

题型:不详难度:来源:
It was shortly before midnight, and Dr Patricia was getting ready for bed. The phone rang on the end of the line was a woman about to break a promise.
The woman was her mother’s neighbor. Flora Harris had made the neighbor swear she wouldn’t tell her daughter she’d had a heart attack and was in the hospital, for fear her daughter would worry. The neighbor wisely decided to disobey orders.
Harris desperately wanted to get to the hospital immediately, but she couldn’t. She lives in Washington, D. C, and her mother lives in California.
For the past year a half, Harris has gone to Los Angeles every other month to take care of her mother. Flora Harris takes care of her husband, James, who’s 91 and has Alzheimer’s disease. They live in their own home, and a caregiver comes to help them a few hours a day.
Harris is one of many Americans facing the heartache of how to take care of aging parents from afar. She’s often worried, not to mention exrtemely busy with a demanding job, two teenage daughters and the frequent trips to California.
In some ways, Harris is lucky. She has the resources to make the trips to Los Angeles. Plus, Harris is a doctor who treats the elderly.
“But it’s still tough,” she says. “I can foresee what the next few years are going to look like, and it’s not a pretty picture. My father’s going to need diapers (尿布). There will come a time when he won’t recognize me and he’s easily excited. I worry he’s going to be violent and hurt my mother.”
So what do you do when you live a continent away from your aging, sick parents? There are no magic answers. You can hire someone to help, but you can’t oursource it completely.
小题1:Why was the woman thought to have broken a promise?
A.She failed to take care of Flora.
B.She was not supposed to call Harris at midnight.
C.She couldn’t go to hospital on time.
D.She told Harris about her mother’s illness.
小题2:What can we learn about Patricia Harris from the passage?
A.She thinks it harder to look after her parents the next few years.
B.Her parents cannot take of themselves at all.
C.She cannot do a demanding job.
D.She cannot afford to go to California often.
小题3:What does the underlined word “outsource” in the last paragragh mean?
A.Arrange somebody outside to do a job.
B.Work something out by oneself.
C.Speak something out for help.
D.Understand something.
小题4:What’s the main idea of this passage?
A.Aging people in the USA are increasing.
B.The rate of heart disease is high in America.
C.It is difficult to tend aging parents from afar.
D.Harris advises on tending aging parents from afar.

答案

小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:A
小题4:C
解析

举一反三
On the day of a big event, many people came to Big Bend Mountain to watch. John Henry and the salesman stood side by side. Even early in the day, the sun was burning hot.
The competition began. John Henry kissed his hammer and started working. At first, the steam-powered drill worked two times faster than he did. Then, he started working with a hammer in each hand. He worked faster and faster. In the mountain, the heat and dust were so thick that most men would have had trouble breathing. The crowd shouted as clouds of dust came from inside the mountain.
The salesman was afraid when he heard what sounded like the mountain breaking. However, it was only the sound of John Henry at work. Polly Ann and her son cheered when the machine was pulled from the tunnel of the mountain. It had broken down. Polly Ann urged John Henry to come out. But he kept working, faster and faster. He dug deep into the darkness, hitting the steel so hard that his body began to fail him. He became weak, and his heart burst.
John Henry fell to the ground. There was a terrible silence. Polly Ann did not move because she knew what had happened. John Henry’s blood spilled over the ground. But he still held one of the hammers. “I beat them,” he said. His wife cried out, “Don’t go, John Henry.”“Bring me a cool drink of water,”he said. Then he took his last breath.
His friends carried his body from the mountain. They buried him near the house where he was born. Crowds went there after they heard about John Henry’s death.
Soon, the steam drill and other machines replaced the steel-drivers. Many laborers left their families to look for work. They took the only jobs they could find. As they worked, some sang about John Henry.
小题1:What does the big event mentioned in Paragraph 1 refer to?
A.John Henry’s work on a machine.
B.A competition between John Henry and a salesman.
C.John Henry’s work with his hammer and the steel.
D.A competition between John Henry and a drill.
小题2:The underlined word “tunnel ”in Paragraph 3 probably means “          ”.
A.flat groundB.big rockC.underground passageD.hard metal
小题3: What happened to John Henry when he fell to the ground?
A.He was tired and had to have a rest.
B.He had heart trouble and was dying.
C.He was thirsty and wanted to drink some water.
D.He was injured slightly and was bleeding.
小题4:What do we know about John Henry?
A.He won the competition finally.B.He was buried under the mountain.
C.He loved his work very much.D.He said nothing before his death.
小题5:What can we infer from the passage?
A.Humans can never beat machines.B.John Henry was regarded as a hero.
C.Laborers hated machines very much.D.It was easy for laborers to find work.

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案

  第二节:完形填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从36—55各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I got up and dressed, with my violin under my jacket, and went out into the streets to try my luck. I wandered about for  36  , looking for a likely spot,  37  as though I were about to commit a crime. Then I stopped   38  under a bridge near the station and  39  to have a try.
I felt tense and nervous. One moment I was  40  the hurrying crowds ,  41 I stood apart, my back to the wall, my hat on the side of the street  42 me , the violin under my chin.
The first  43  I played were loud and unskilled, then they  44 down and began to run more smoothly.   45  ,I was neither caught nor told to shut up.  46  , nobody took any notice at all. Then an old man without stopping  47   threw a penny into my hat, as if getting rid of some guilty evidence.
Other pennies followed, slowly  48  steadily , dropped by   49 who appeared not to see or hear me. It seemed too easy, like a secret  50 .
 51  there for several days , gradually getting the  52 of the trade by trial and error(反复试验). It was not a good thing,   53 , to let the hat fill up with money; nor was it wise to empty it completely. Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to  54  the thing going soon became a  55 rule.
36. A. an hour       B. a day             C. some time              D. too long
37. A. running                     B. crying     C. feeling                D. sounding
38. A. at first                  B. at last     C. at most                  D. at once
39. A. wanted           B. allowed            C. refused                 D. decided
40. A. part of                B. familiar with     C. far from              D. away from
41. A. the last                    B. once again      C. the next                    D. as a result
42. A. before                B. behind          C. next to                D. beside
43. A. music                   B. notes             C. piece                    D. parts
44. A. broke                B. fell           C. settled             D. slowed
45. A. Surprisingly        B. Interestingly      C. Undoubtedly            D. Pitifully
46. A. In a word              B. Moreover    C. Indeed              D. That is
47. A. immediately        B. secretly         C. bravely                    D. carefully
48. A. but                       B. and             C. while                   D. or
49. A. the old                B. fans      C. the passengers   D. shadows
50. A. trick                  B. business     C. story             D. joke
51. A. remained                   B. searched        C. left            D. worked
52. A. value                 B. truths            C. wealth                  D. conditions
53. A. however      B. therefore       C. for example           D. after all
54. A. make                    B. open         C. leave                         D. start
55. A. normal       B. regular              C. smart                 D. suitable
题型:不详难度:| 查看答案

    Leo married my mother when I was 1l, two years later we moved into a house in a new suburban development. At first our lawn (草坪) was just a mud pile with a few untidy clumps of grass, but Leo saw bright possibilities. "Your mother wants flowers; she can plant them here, where there"s lots of sun," he said, "We"ll plant trees over there, to give us shade. And in the backyard, I"d like a barbecue.” Then he smiled. "After so many years of apartment living, now we can have cookouts (野餐)!”
Weekday mornings when the weather was bad, Leo often drove me to school. Having a father drop you off may have been taken for granted, but I always thought it was wonderful. During dinner, Leo would tell my brother and me stories about his job and we"d talk about our friendship and school-work.. "If you need any help, just ask me," he would say. "But I doubt that you need it. You two are so clever."
Some people might think that doing errands (差事) and eating meals together are nothing special, but , I , who had spent my childhood watching other families do these everyday activities before, enjoyed them now with great delight. Looking back, I realize that Leo gave me what I needed most--the experience of doing ordinary things together as a family.
One day, we learned that my "real" father -- who hadn"t seen or supported my brother or me for more than five years --- wanted to see us again, on a regular basis. We remembered too well the early years we had spent with him. He had been angry and cruel, violent and unloving. Since my brother was then 17 years old, he didn"t have to follow family-court rules. But because I was still a "minor", I had to meet with the judge.
When Leo, my mother, and I entered the courtroom, my "real" father was already present. I avoided his look and told the judge I was one of a new family now, and that Leo taught me how to make things, that he always listened to me and never raised his voice. I said I didn"t want to see my "real" father any more because he had never shown any love for me or even much attention.
The judge looked at Leo. "How are things going?" he asked.
"They couldn"t be better," Leo answered. "I"m a lucky man to have such a family."
Aren’t the best parents also good friends to their children, accepting them without reservation and telling them they can be counted on? Step families aren"t bound by traditional ties, so the love and friendship they develop is extremely precious. Was Leo "perfect""? He"d deny it if I said so. And that"s one reason why he was so "perfect" to me.     
Soon after we moved to the suburb, one of our new neighbors introduced herself to me. She had already met my mother and Leo. "You know," she remarked, "you look just like your father."
I knew she was just making conversation---- but even so...
"Thank you," I said.
Why tell her anything different?
67. What is the best title for the story?
A. My childhood               B. My “Real father”, My Enemy
C. My Stepfather, My Friend      D. Precious Friendship
68. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Leo had lived in a large house alone in the country before he married my mother.
B. Thanks to Leo, our lawn took on a new look.
C. Before Leo came. I was always picked up by my "real" father when the weather was bad.
D. Leo wouldn’t like to help my brother and me because we were very clever.
69. What was very important to step families according to the writer?
A. Love and friendship                B. Care and respect
C. Wealth and understanding           D. Politeness and kindness
70. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. My "real" father’s request was refused and he was out of my life.
B. My mother and "real" father didn’t separate until my brother was 17.
C. Leo was no one special in my life.
D. Leo and I were so alike that my neighbors couldn’t tell us apart.
题型:不详难度:| 查看答案

第二部分:阅读理解(第一节20小题,第二节5小题;每小题2分,满分50分)
  第一节:阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项。
   Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores (杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering. I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn’t sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.
  My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper … On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition (过渡), that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.
  A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound “happiness” and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That’s all. My bags were packed and by the door.
  The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.
  Now, it seems, the tables have turnedSome days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment (责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I’ve gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!
  41. What did the writer expect to do after he retired?
  A. To stay away from busy schedules.
  B. To write some great books.
  C. To teach his grandchildren.
  D. To plan for his future.
  42. Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?
  A. He missed his students in that country.
  B. He couldn’t refuse his colleague’s favor.
  C. He was concerned about the people there.
  D. He was not satisfied with his retired life.
  43. The underlined part “the tables have turned” (Paragraph 5) means that the writer _________.
  A. improved the situation in his school
  B. felt happy to work with students again
  C. became a learner rather than a teacher
  D. changed his attitude toward his retired life
  44. What does the writer think of his retired life now?
A. Disappointing. B. Troublesome. C. Relaxing. D. Meaningful.
题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从16-25各题所给的A、B、C和D项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Most children want to be pop stars or footballers when they grow up. But 11-year-old Amy Jones had the chance to ____16____ more about her ____17____ job—a medical biologist —when she won an essay writing competition for primary students.
Amy’s __18__ for the best essay on “What I want to be when I’m older” was a day at Oxford Medical Science Institute. Staff organised a special programme for the would-be __19__, introducing her to the projects being worked on by medical biologists at Oxford. The sessions included a look at the ___20___ of medical biologists in fighting cancer and ___21___ to become a medical biologist.
Amy said she was ___22___ to become a biologist after watching a television programme. In her essay she wrote: “The medical biologist plays a big part in many discoveries and it would be a challenging, exciting and ___23__ job.”
Dr. Kathryn Robson, the Institute director said: “ It’s ___24___that we encourage young people to study science and think about scientific research as a job. I hope Amy now has a better __25__of what it takes to become a medical biologist.”
小题1:
A.carry outB.sort outC.find outD.look out
小题2:
A.dreamB.father’sC.firstD.mother’s
小题3:
A.ideaB.prizeC.wishD.topic
小题4:
A.pop starB.journalist C.scientistD.writer
小题5:
A.performance B.action C.operationD.role
小题6:
A.whenB.whether C.howD.where
小题7:
A.inspiredB.chosenC.madeD.forced
小题8:
A.disappointingB.tiringC.surprisingD.rewarding
小题9:
A.vitalB.simpleC.funnyD.unusual
小题10:
A.decisionB.understandingC.desireD.taste

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
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