When I was fourteen, I earned money in the summer by cutting lawns(草坪), and with

When I was fourteen, I earned money in the summer by cutting lawns(草坪), and with

题型:不详难度:来源:
When I was fourteen, I earned money in the summer by cutting lawns(草坪), and within a few weeks I had built up a body of customers. I got to know people by the flowers they planted that I had to remember not to cut down, by the things they lost in the grass or struck in the ground on purpose. I reached the point with most of them when I knew in advance what complaint was about to be spoken, which particular request was most important. And I learned something about the measure of my neighbors by their preferred method of payment: by the job, by the month--- or not at all.
Mr. Ballou fell into the last category, and he always had a reason why. On one day, he had no  change for a fifty, on another he was flat out of checks, on another, he was simply out when I knocked on his door. Still, except for the money apart, he was a nice enough guy, always waving or tipping his hat when he’d see me from a distance. I figured him for a thin retirement check, maybe a work-relayed injury that kept him from doing his own yard work. Sure, I kept track of the total, but I didn’t worry about the amount too much. Grass was grass, and the little that Mr. Ballou’s property comprised didn’t take long to trim (修剪).
Then, one late afternoon in mid-July, the hottest time of the year, I was walking by his house and he opened the door, mentioned me to come inside. The hall was cool, shaded, and it took my eyes a minute to adjust to the dim light. 
“ I owe you,” Mr Ballou, “ but…”
I thought I’d save him the trouble of thinking of a new excuse. “ No problem. Don’t worry about it.”
“ The bank made a mistake in my account,” he continued, ignoring my words. “ It will be cleared up in a day or two . But in the meantime I thought perhaps you could choose one or two volumes for a down payment.
He gestured toward the walls and I saw that books were stacked (堆放) everywhere. It was like a library, except with no order to the arrangement.
“ Take your time,” Mr. Ballou encouraged. “Read, borrow, keep. Find something you like. What do you read?”
“ I don’t know.” And I didn’t. I generally read what was in front of me, what I could get from the paperback stack at the drugstore, what I found at the library, magazines, the back of cereal boxes, comics. The idea of consciously seeking out a special title was new to me, but, I realized, not without appeal--- so I started to look through the piles of books.
“ You actually read all of these?”
“ This isn’t much,” Mr. Ballou said. “ This is nothing, just what I’ve kept, the ones worth looking at a second time.”
“ Pick for me, then.”
He raised his eyebrows, cocked his head, and regarded me as though measuring me for a suit. After a moment, he nodded, searched through a stack, and handed me a dark red hardbound book, fairly thick.
“ The Last of the Just,” I read. “ By Andre Schwarz-Bart. What’s it about?” “ You tell me,” he said. “ Next week.”
I started after supper, sitting outdoors on an uncomfortable kitchen chair. Within a few pages, the yard, the summer, disappeared, and I was plunged into the aching tragedy of the Holocaust, the extraordinary clash of good, represented by one decent man, and evil. Translated from French, the language was elegant, simple, impossible to resist. When the evening light finally failed I moved inside, read all through the night,
To this day, thirty years later, I vividly remember the experience. It was my first voluntary encounter with world literature, and I was stunned (震惊) by the concentrated power a novel could contain. I lacked the vocabulary, however, to translate my feelings into words, so the next week. When Mr. Ballou asked, “ Well?” I only replied, “ It was good?”
“ Keep it, then,” he said. “ Shall I suggest another?”
I nodded, and was presented with the paperback edition of Margaret Mead’s Coming of Age in Samoa ( a very important book on the study of the social and cultural development of peoples--- anthropology (人类学) ).
To make two long stories short, Mr. Ballou never paid me a cent for cutting his grass that year or the next, but for fifteen years I taught anthropology at Dartmouth College. Summer reading was not the innocent entertainment I had assumed it to be, not a light-hearted, instantly forgettable escape in a hammock (吊床) ( though I have since enjoyed many of those, too). A book, if it arrives before you at the right moment, in the proper season, at an internal in the daily business of things, will change the course of all that follows.
小题1:.The author thought that Mr. Ballou was ______________.
A.rich but meanB.poor but polite
C.honest but forgettableD.strong but lazy
小题2:. Before his encounter with Mr. Ballou, the author used to read _____________.
A.anything and everythingB.only what was given to him
C.only serious novelsD.nothing in the summer
小题3:. The author found the first book Mr. Ballou gave him _____________.
A.light-heated and enjoyableB.dull but well written
C.impossible to put downD.difficult to understand
小题4:. From what he said to the author we can gather that Mr. Ballou _______________.
A.read all books twiceB.did not do much reading
C.read more books than he keptD.preferred to read hardbound books
小题5:. The following year the author _______________.
A.started studying anthropology at collegeB.continued to cut Mr. Ballou’s lawn
C.spent most of his time lazing away in a hammock
D.had forgotten what he had read the summer before
小题6:. The author’s main point is that _____________.
A.summer jobs are really good for young people
B.you should insist on being paid before you do a job
C.a good book can change the direction of your life
D.a book is like a garden carried in the pocket.

答案

小题1:.B
小题1:.A
小题1:.C
小题1:.C
小题1:.B
小题1:C
解析

小题1:细节题:从第二段的前面四行,可知Mr. Ballou 是友好的吝啬的。选B
小题1:推理题:从第九段的内容,可知作者在遇到Mr. Ballou之前是什么都读。选.A
小题1:推理题:从倒数第五段的内容: Translated from French, the language was elegant, simple, impossible to resist. When the evening light finally failed I moved inside, read all through the night,可知作者放不下这本书了。选C
小题1:从文章中俩个人的对话:“ You actually read all of these?” “ This isn’t much,” Mr. Ballou said. “ This is nothing, just what I’ve kept, the ones worth looking at a second time.”可知Mr. Ballou读的书,比这些多。选.C
小题1:推理题:从最后一段的句子:Mr. Ballou never paid me a cent for cutting his grass that year or the next,可知作者后面还是给Mr. Ballou除草。选 B
小题1:从文章的最后一段的句子:A book, if it arrives before you at the right moment, in the proper season, at an internal in the daily business of things, will change the course of all that follows.可知作者认为好的书对人的影响是很深的。选C
举一反三
Sean and Danielle were leaving the music store when they heard the crash. "What do you suppose that was?" asked Sean.
"I don"t know for sure," said Danielle, "but it sure sounded bad. It"s right over there. Let"s go and look."
Sean and Danielle knew they would see an accident. But they didn"t know what to expect. There in the middle of the street was a bicycle that had been hit by a car. The bicycle rider was sitting in the street, shaking his head.
"Look at that," said Sean, "he"s not even wearing a helmet. He is one lucky guy".
"No kidding," Danielle replied. "Look at the driver of the car. She"s just as lucky. She"s not wearing a seat belt.
Sean and Danielle are right. The bicycle rider is very lucky, he was not hurt. Riding a bicycle is a lot of fun, but it can also be very dangerous. You have to pay attention all the time to what you"re doing. You also have to follow safety rules.
When you ride a bicycle, remember that you share the road with cars and trucks. These vehicles are a lot bigger than you are. So, always wear a helmet when riding your bicycle. Always means "every time" even if you are just riding around the block.
Follow the same rules as car and truck drivers. Bicycle riders also have some special rules. Here are some special rules you should follow:
● Do not ride your bicycle on the sidewalk. By not riding on the sidewalk, you won"t run into a pedestrian.
● Ride on bike paths or trails when they are available.
● Always ride in the same direction as traffic.
● Always ride on the right-hand side of the road.
● When you ride with a friend, do not ride next to each other. Ride in single field, one behind the other.
● Obey all traffic signals and signs. Stop at all stop signs.
● Walk your bicycle across busy crossings.
● Be sure to use hand signals when you turn and stop.
Follow these safety rules when riding a bicycle at night.
● Have a headlight that works.
● Have these reflectors on your bicycle: yellow or white in front, and red ones on the pedals and back.
● Wear light-colored clothing so drivers can see you.
You should always keep your bicycle in good working order. Make sure the brakes work properly and that your tires have enough air. If you find anything wrong with your bike, fix it or have it fixed before you ride it again.
小题1:How did Sean and Danielle know that they would see an accident?
A.They saw somebody falling off the bike.B.They heard the sound of the crash.
C.They were asked to offer some help.D.They remembered what might happen.
小题2:What Sean and Danielle saw in the middle of the street __________.
A.were a bicycle, the rider, a car and the driver
B.was a bicycle under the damaged car
C.was a car without safe belt and the helmet
D.surprised both the rider and the car driver
小题3:Why did Sean and Danielle consider the rider and the driver lucky?
A.Because the bicycle and the car were lost.
B.Because the rider didn’t wear his helmet.
C.Because they both were not badly hurt.
D.Because the driver didn’t wear the seat belt.
小题4: From the passage, we learn that _________.
A.carelessness can result in accidentsB.we can’t ride bicycles in the street
C.the driver was quite rude to the riderD.the bicycle rider was sent to hospital
小题5:Which of the following breaks the rules for a safe bicycle riding?
A.Get off your bicycle and walk across busy crossings.
B.Follow the safety rules as the car and truck drivers do.
C.Fix light reflectors to your bicycle when riding at night.
D.Ride next to other riders, but not too close to each other

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
完形填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分, 满分30分)
It was a rainy day and I was riding on a bus downtown to go to work. I was_36_next to a man in a business suit and J paid little attention_37_ we both got off at the same stop and walked to the same news-stand to get a morning_38_.
The man running the stand was obviously having a_39_day. He was rude and unsmil­ing as we bought our papers,which only_40_ more gloom (郁闷) to my day. The business­man_41_my gloomy feeling and smiled brightly,_42_the news-stand owner for the paper and for being open on such a( n) _43_to make sure we were able to get our papers.
As we_44_away,I asked this man why he was so_45_to the newsman when he didn"t _46_his expression of thanks and friendliness. The businessman smiled at me and said,"Why would I let someone else _47_what I say and what I feel?"
We then_48_to go to our own work places. To this day,I still don"t know who that businessman was,or_49_he worked. He appeared briefly in my life and disappeared just as_50_. But I"ve never forgotten the words he said and his_51_which seemed like a ray of light on a gloomy day.
That was a good 25 years_52_,but the effect this had on my life has lasted. I_53_had a chance to thank him personally,but the way I look at life has changed _54_those words. I have learnt that we cannot control people and_55_that come to us, but we can always control our response to them. 
小题1:
A.whispering B.sitting C.driving D.weeping
小题2:
A.since B.after C.unless D.until
小题3:
A.paper B.suit C.call D.coffee
小题4:
A.good B.nervous C.bad D.long
小题5:
A.providedB.offered C.added D.returned
小题6:
A.breathedB.called C.noticed D.took
小题7:
A.thankingB.envying C.asking D.blaming
小题8:
A.evening B.afternoon C.morning D.midnight
小题9:
A.turned B.passed C.drove D.ran
小题10:
A.cruel B.serious C.pleasant D.rude
小题11:
A.stick to B.refer to C.get used to D.respond to
小题12:
A.explain B.understand C.control D.correct
小题13:
A.attempted B.sought C.continuedD.separated
小题14:
A.where B.why C.whether D.how
小题15:
A.gently B.quickly C.regularly D.strangely
小题16:
A.humor B.smile C.business D.help
小题17:
A.ago B.before C.later D.after
小题18:
A.often B.seldom C.once D.never
小题19:
A.in search of B.in memoryof C.for the purpose ofD.as a result of
小题20:
A.situations B.statements C.possibilities D.positions

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
  How to make friends with people from a different culture? The rules are as follows:
Appreciate the person
Most Americans like to be recognized as individuals as someone special with unique, personalities. Therefore never say,“you are from America so I want to be your friend.” Also don’t imply that the reason why you approached them is that you wanted someone to practice your English with . That turns people off. Instead try saying,”“you seem like a real nice and interesting person and I would like to get to know you better .’ This way , they are much more inclined to be friendly because you see them as a three dimensional person and appreciate them for who they are in the inside . And by doing so , you not only learn about Americans and practice your English , but also gain a real friend in the process
Quit Calling Us Foreigners.
Please avoid calling a foreigner especially in his face . The word makes people feel like an outsider , and even unwelcome , suggesting separation and insurmountable difference , widening an already existing gap in the situation. When Americans travel , they rarely say,“I’m foreign to your place .” They tend to say ,”I’m new in town . I’m new here.” The reason is because new and unfamiliar things can become old and familiar. But can foreign things become native? You catch my drift.
Just Do It .
Some students like to be told about American culture but are less interested in spending the time and effort to actually experience it .As Americans always say ,“get your hands dirty.” You should have first hands on experience, or you will never really know anything.
Find that Common Language.
Now I just must stress the importance of finding a common language. By that I don’t mean English, Chinese , German ,French,etc. I mean finding something you have in common with another person on a spiritual and philosophical level: likes , dislikes, worldviews, ways of thinking and attitudes toward life. And to start , you must first enhance your knowledge of the particular culture from which your potential
小题1: The underlined sentence“get your hands dirty” means     .
A get involved   B talk about American culture    C star with dirty work   D Don’t wash your hands too often
小题2: Americans prefer to make friends with those who    .
A  avoid talking about their homeland     B  recognize their personalities
C  obey rules of communicating with friends   D  needn’t practice English while playing together
小题3:According to the passage , which of the following is friendly?
A   I am longing to make friends with an American.
B   This is my friend Tom , who is a foreigner.
C   There must be a gap between us in many things.
D   You ‘ve  got a great personality
小题4:  In the last paragraph , the author suggests we should   
A  Learn at least one foreign language well
Bfind common interests or opinions with our potential new friend
C make sure we can understand each other
D ask where our potential new friends come from
题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
When I was in the final year of my graduation studies, I visited a friend’s home for lunch. The moment I reached his house, I found the staircases of his building were not so good and his home was not painted very well. I couldn’t  36  in words but it was not even the type of house in which a typical middle-class Indian family lives.
The greatest things I did find there were his parents. We sat on the ground for lunch because they didn’t have a dining  37 . His mother served us very delicious food, smiled throughout and showed care for the  38  lunch session. I can never forget that.
His father worked as a normal  39  and I wondered if he earned enough money to support their two sons. While we were taking lunch, his father returned home to meet us. When he entered their home, his hands were dark black and his clothes were very dirty. My friend had no  40  about his father and made the introductions.
As soon as his father came in, my friend asked me if I wanted “Papad”(a typical Indian food)to eat. Before I could say anything, the father very gently and kindly  41  it for me, after going through many staircases even though he was looking  42 .
Today, my friend is a leader in a big company. He is able to  43  high rent in Hyderabad and have a new beautiful home. Not only that, he helped his brother  44  in his studies and is still helping.
What I want to say is that I consider  45  as richness in a poor family. The amount of money you make won’t  46  other’s hearts; the only way is with love and kindness. Struggle and bad periods are needed for everyone’s life, as they make us strong. If you have strong willpower, goals and also the attitude of hard and smart work, you can  47  be a successful person in some areas of life.
小题1:  
A.describe B.takeC.talkD.speak
小题2:  
A.roomB.carC.tableD.hall
小题3:
A.desirableB.healthyC.temporaryD.entire
小题4:.
A.doctorB.mechanicC.lawyerD.teacher
小题5:
A.commentB.hesitationC.worryD.expectation
小题6:
A.borrowedB.boughtC.broughtD.took
小题7:  
A.tiredB.happyC.sadD.excited
小题8:
A.costB.spendC.tookD.pay
小题9:
A.dearlyB.financiallyC.highlyD.costly
小题10:
A.familiarityB.relationshipC.loveD.friendship
小题11:  
A.winB.getC.gainD.defeat
小题12:  
A.possiblyB.hardlyC.suddenlyD.definitely

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
I think it was my mother who taught me the meaning of honesty. Not because she actually was honest, but because she lied all the time. She felt that the easiest way out of any given situation was generally the best way out. And, for her, that generally meant telling a “little white lie.” As a young child I thought it was kind of cool. And, naturally, when I would come to her with a concern or question wondering what I should do, she generally advised me to lie.
“Mom, I told Theresa that I would go over to her house, but now I would rather go to Sue’s house to play.”
“Tell Theresa you’re sick,” she would advise. And generally I did. But I didn’t seem blessed with her lack of conscience. On many painful occasions Theresa would find out that I really went to Sue’s house without her. These occasions taught me that it is more painful to be caught in a lie than it is to tell the truth in the first place. I wondered how it was possible that my mother had never learned that lesson.
I started thinking of all the lies that I’d heard her tell. I remembered the time she told someone that her favorite restaurant had closed, because she didn’t want to see them there anymore. Or the time she told Dad that she loved the lawn-mower he gave her for her birthday. Or when she claimed that our phone lines had been down when she was trying to explain why she hadn’t been in touch with a friend of hers for weeks. And what bothered me even more were all the times she had involved me into her lies. Like the time she told my guidance counselor that I had to miss school for exploratory surgery, when she really needed me to babysit. And it even started to bother me when someone would call for her and she would ask me to tell them that she wasn’t there.
So, I started my own personal fight against her dishonesty. When I answered the phone and it was someone my mother didn’t want to talk to, I said, “Louise, mom is here, but she doesn’t want to talk to you.” The first time I did it, she punished me, but I refused to apologize. I told her that I had decided that it was wrong to lie. And the next time it happened I did the same thing. Finally, she approached me and said, “I agree that lying is not the best thing to do, but we need to find a way to be honest without being rude.” She admitted that her methods weren’t right, and I admitted that mine were a bit too extreme.
Over the past few years, the two of us have worked together to be honest—and yet kind. Honesty should mean more than not lying. It should mean speaking the truth in kindness. Though I started by trying to teach my mom the importance of honesty, I ended up gaining a deeper understanding of the meaning of the term.
小题1: The author’s mother __________. 
A.thought white lies were not lies
B.helped the author get out of trouble with white lies
C.told the author to lie when in trouble
D.taught the author the importance of being honest
小题2:The author __________.
A.was thankful to her mother’s advice
B.felt more awkward when being caught lying
C.found that telling the truth hurt more than telling a lie
D.felt guilty when hurting people with her honesty
小题3:It can be inferred that the author’s mother __________.
A.met her friends in the same restaurant regularly
B.didn’t get along with the author’s teachers
C.was not popular among her friends
D.wanted to have something else for her birthday
小题4:Finally the author and her mother agreed that __________.
A.kind-heartedness is more important than honesty
B.appropriate methods are the key to telling a good lie
C.honesty is defined as kindness as well as truthfulness
D.absolute honesty is basic to good interpersonal relationships

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