The small unframed painting called “Fisherman” was signed by a little-known Ital

The small unframed painting called “Fisherman” was signed by a little-known Ital

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The small unframed painting called “Fisherman” was signed by a little-known Italian artist, Maveleone (1669-1740). When it was sold recently in New York for $27,000, the seller, Mr. Oliver Pitt, was asked to explain how the picture had come into his possession.
Pitt said, “I didn’t know it was so valuable. I’m not an art expert. Photography is my hobby. I bought ‘Fisherman’ in Italy in 1970 for $140. The picture was dirty, and I couldn’t see the artist’s signature. But anyway it wasn’t the picture that I liked. I bought it because of the frame. ”
“It’s a most unusual frame, made of tiny, silvery sea-shells. They are set in such a way that they reflect perfect light onto the surface of a picture. I now have a photograph of my wife in that frame, and I’ll never part with it.”
“When I returned to New York I showed the painting in its frame to a customs officer. I told him that I had paid $140 for it but admitted I didn’t know its actual worth. The customs man valued it at $140, and I was asked to pay duty on that value. I did so, there and then. ” 
“Later, I took off the frame, and that uncovered Maveleone’s signature. My wife suggested in fun that the painting might be a valuable one, so I cleaned it and put it up for sale.”
As a result of this explanation, Oliver Pitt had to appear in court. He was accused of knowingly making a false statement of the value of a picture so as to cheat the Customs Department.
Pitt was not happy. “I told the truth as I knew it then,” he said, “What else could I say?”
And then the judge agreed with him. “The Customs Department is to be responsible,” he said, “for making a true valuation of goods brought into the country, so that the correct amount of duty may be charged. Mr. Pitt did not cause or try to cause the mistake that was made. He paid the duty that was demanded. If, now, the Customs Department finds that its valuation was not correct, it cannot be allowed to have another try. Pitt is not guilty”.
小题1:When Oliver Pitt bought the picture, ________.
A.it was unframedB.Maveleone signed the deal
C.he suggested that it was valuableD.it was the frame that attracted him
小题2: From the passage we can infer that if Maveleone had been a well-known artist,        _.
A.the painting would have cost much more than $ 140
B.he wouldn’t have sold his painting
C.the customs officer wouldn’t have been cheated
D.Pitt wouldn’t have had the intention to buy any of his paintings
小题3: Pitt took off the frame probably in order to        _.
A.clean the painting to put it up for sale
B.look for the artist’s signature
C.use it for his wife’s photograph
D.find the painting’s true value
小题4:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?  
A.In the end Pitt was asked to pay the correct amount of duty.
B.In the end Pitt sold the frame of the painting at an even higher price.
C.In the end the Customs Department had no right to revalue the painting.
D.In the end Pitt’s wife was regarded as an expert because of her wise suggestion.

答案
小题1:D小题1:A小题1:C小题1:C
解析

举一反三
There is, for many of us, a moment in life when we make a choice that changes us forever. This moment marks a turning point, when we realize that the life we"re living is not a mirror of who we really are.
For some, the moment comes as a result of something dramatic: the sudden loss of a job, or the death of a loved one. For others, they have to deal with difficult situations, such as financial hardship. In these challenging times, it"s more critical(关键时刻的) than ever for us to seize the possibility of positive change. As I travel and talk to people about their lives, I often see a distant, vacant look in their eyes -- a look that says “I’m so busy trying to survive my life that no soul left to live it”.
As a result, we end up feeling lonely. Yet we keep on going the way we"ve been going. We tolerate high levels of stress at work, take important relationships for granted, or put our health needs on hold. We get so caught up in the details of living that our busyness becomes an excuse from the inner voice that begs us to listen. When you finally pay attention to that little voice and begin to make even small changes, you will slowly improve yourself.
To start positive change, you need the power of your mind. I"ve come up with a five-step strategy that will help you. You will be able to identify what you want and then go after it. It"s easier than you might think.
1. Reset your happiness set point. Don"t limit yourself! When I decided that I wanted more control over my life, I set goals in physical, emotional, financial, professional, material, and play. I challenged myself to consider every possible choice. Imagine things you"ve never believed you could achieve. Don"t let your past determine your future.
2. Trust your courage. Too often, when you"re first learning to take control of your life, you doubt yourself. It"s important to develop a strong connection with your inner guidance system. I"ve heard many stories about the persistent voice inside your head.
3. Take action. Once you have set goals, adjusted your beliefs, and got ready, you can start making things happen. Again, turn to those people you respect -- the ones achieving what you desire -- for support and guidance. They will both inspire you and give you practical advice on what steps you need to take.
4. Have faith. Believe that the positive energy of grace will support your efforts to improve your life. When you"ve done all you can, let go and trust that the right result will occur. When we have faith, we give up the need to be in control, and we set ourselves up to actually enjoy the process of change.
5. Be patient. This can be the toughest step. It"s not easy to trust that your life will improve in a best way. Remind yourself of the benefits of patience. In my experience, those life changes are always worth the wait.
小题1:What does the author intend to say in the second paragraph?
A.The start of some turning points in one’s life is caused by crisis.
B.Loss of a job or the death of a loved one are all dramatic things.
C.No one can live a life without any turning points.
D.No one can predict his future of being good or not.
小题2:In the author’s opinion, we should ______________.
A.adjust our beliefs from time to timeB.always control ourselves for anything
C.keep on going the way we are goingD.seize the challenging times to live an active life
小题3:The author suggests that when setting your happiness set points, you should _______.
A.know the limitation of your set pointB.build self-confidence without doubt
C.limit your goals in different waysD.consider every possible choice with care
小题4:Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.When you"ve done all you can, you may believe that the right result will occur.
B.When you set goals, and take action, it is possible to make things happen.
C.When you first learn to take charge of your life, you will always doubt yourself.
D.If things do not happen in a way that is best, patience is always worth the wait.

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
完形填空
I had my first job at the age of thirteen , when a friend of my mother who owned a bookshop hired me for six hours a week to help her in the shop . I was very  36  to earn my own pocket money and my parents   37 interfered (干涉) with how I spent it , even when I was spending it  38  .They believed that by earning money ,spending it ,and learning from the  39  ,I would become more mature (成熟的)and  40  in how to handle work ,relationships with others ,and money.
Like many  41  parents ,my parents also let me and my brothers do things about which they  42  a great deal .When I was sixteen ,for example ,after I finished high school and before I entered university ,I wanted to spend the summer months traveling around  43  .My mother was against the idea of my traveling alone at such a young age, but my father felt that it would be a great  44  for me .In the end , my father won the  45  on the condition that I limited my traveling to France ,my mother’s home, where I had many uncles, aunts and cousins  46  through the country who could  47  shelter and help if I needed them .
Three years later ,my younger brother decided to  48  a year off after his first year in university and travel through the United States and the Caribbean. Again my mother was very worried and not  49  to see my brother leave school, but my father encouraged him and my brother spent a (n) 50  year working his way on trains and ships to  51  his passage to different ports and cities, and discovering many fascinating places and people.
These kinds of experiences are probably  52  for children in many countries but in the US they are fairly common. Most parents start  53  their children at a young age to do small things by themselves .By the time they have finished high school, many American kids have already had  54  jobs and traveled around the US or other countries on their own , have selected the university they plan to attend , maybe even have decided on their future  55 ,and so on .
小题1:
A.anxiousB.worriedC.proudD.nervous
小题2:
A.neverB.everC.alwaysD.even
小题3:
A.carefullyB.foolishlyC.seriouslyD.honestly
小题4:
A.workB.mistakesC.othersD.books
小题5:
A.strictB.reasonableC.politeD.responsible
小题6:
A.AmericanB.JapaneseC.ChineseD.British
小题7:
A.helpedB.supportedC.sharedD.worried
小题8:
A.AsiaB.AfricaC.EuropeD.Oceania
小题9:
A.journeyB.experienceC.chanceD.possibility
小题10:
A.argumentB.gameC.discussionD.plan
小题11:
A.sending outB.giving outC.carrying outD.spreading out
小题12:
A.promiseB.decideC.provideD.serve
小题13:
A.leaveB.makeC.takeD.prepare
小题14:
A.angryB.eagerC.sorryD.sad
小题15:
A.unusualB.hardC.strangeD.busy
小题16:
A.acceptB.earnC.findD.search
小题17:
A.welcomeB.fitC.necessaryD.rare
小题18:
A.bringingB.forcingC.pushingD.protecting
小题19:
A.part-timeB.full-timeC.goodD.well-paid
小题20:
A.lifeB.careerC.hopeD.benefit

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way.
I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception.
My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land and loved to work in the garden among her flowers and vegetables. The place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.
In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk. She loved to tell how my playpen(婴儿圈栏)sat in the kitchen next to the radio and there was one song I particularly loved called "Ivory Tower".
As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle(喧闹)of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she reminisced.
Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me.
My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note.
Then the radio announcer of this oldie station came on. "Here"s one we haven"t heard in a while," and an unfamiliar song began. I began to cry harder as I heard the words sung over the airwaves. "Come down, come down from your Ivory Tower...."
小题1: The writer didn’t like staying in the farm for the following reasons EXCEPT that ________.
A.it was too cold and quiet
B.she could only sing one song in the small farm
C.there was nothing more that could make her excited
D.The place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat
小题2: From the first paragraph, we know that the writer’s mother ________.
A.passed away four years ago
B.left the small farm with Lord
C.left for Lord to live her own way
D.preferred to be with Lord
小题3:The underlined word reminisced in the fifth paragraph probably means ________.
A.recalledB.comfortedC.shoutedD.sighed
小题4: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage _______.
A.The writer was able to sing before she could speak.
B.The writer preferred to live a busy life in the city.
C.The writer was still quite familiar with the song "Ivory Tower".
D.The writer treasured all her childhood memories in the small farmhouse.
小题5: Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? _______
A.Cherish lifeB.My happy childhood
C.Our small farmhouseD.Mom’s music

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)
阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Laughter and tears are part of living.But do you find enough time for laughter? I am not
asking if you  __21__ lots of good times.__22__  we should laugh during the happy times.But do you also laugh during the__23__times?
Erma Bombeek is known for her humorous books, but she wrote one that __24__  a more serious topic:__25__ in children.Erma talks with many children with cancer and learns __26__
life lessons from them.She learns, for instance, that cancer survivors know how to__27__.
She __28__ the experience of 15-year-old Jessica from Burlinton.Jessica’s leg was cut
off at the knee because of cancer.She was learning to __29__  a prosthesis(假肢).Jessica tells
about playing __30__.She kicked the ball __31__ and it flew off in one __32__  while her artificial leg flew into another.She fell on the __33__ and laughed.
Jessica may not have laughed about her cancer,but she laughed about handling the__34__
of it.And her laughter helped her a deal.
There is the story of 17-year-old Betsy.She __35__her way to the radiation room for her regular radiation therapy(化疗).As __36__,she dropped her hospital gown and,wearing only her birthday suit,__37__ onto the table and waited.The extra people in the room were not the medical students she had thought,but__38__painters giving an estimate on painting! Betsy laughed heartily about the incident.And like Jessica, her __39__ to laugh helped her to deal with one of the most difficult things a young person can endure — cancer.
Do you find plenty of__40__ for laughter? You can…if you also find reasons to laugh during the especially difficult times.
Survivors know how to laugh.If you can laugh even when the going is rough,you’ll make
it.And you’ll smile at the end.
小题1:
A.loseB.missC.experienceD.laugh
小题2:
A.Of courseB.In additionC.At firstD.First of all
小题3:
A.ordinaryB.difficultC.pleasantD.usual
小题4:
A.connectedB.reportedC.referredD.covered
小题5:
A.cancerB.disabilityC.illnessD.laughter
小题6:
A.seriousB.importantC.carefulD.thoughtful
小题7:
A.cryB.shoutC.laughD.face
小题8:
A.describesB.learnsC.keepsD.imagines
小题9:
A.putB.haveC.wearD.make
小题10:
A.basketballB.badmintonC.volleyballD.soccer
小题11:
A.gentlyB.hardC.slightlyD.straightly
小题12:
A.wayB.methodC.directionD.point[
小题13:
A.floorB.tableC.chairD.bed
小题14:
A.causesB.resultsC.processD.ends
小题15:
A.foughtB.tookC.madeD.pushed
小题16:
A.commonB.oftenC.beforeD.usual
小题17:
A.climbedB.layC.jumpedD.sat
小题18:
A.alsoB.ratherC.alreadyD.almost
小题19:
A.strengthB.willingnessC.abilityD.confidence
小题20:
A.timesB.placesC.daysD.moments

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
  The trend in everyday conversation is to use grandiose(夸大的)words.“Outstanding” is the
new “good,”  “amazing” is the new “OK, ” and “huge” is the new “big.”
I was in a restaurant in Washington D.C.last weekend and every question I asked was answered with exaggeration.
Me:How is the salmon?
Sever:Fantastic!
Me:Does it come with rice?
Sever:Absolutely!
Would a “good” and a “yes” have been enough? Of course!
My father is an average-sized man.He hasn’t gained weight or height for the past 30 years. Therefore, his size remains the same.However,in the same amount of time,his T-shirt size has gone from small to medium to large to extra large.
The reason for the exaggerated word is clear:we are bored with our lives. We want the next
—next thing now.Immediately!
And we also want others to think that we still care,that we can still be delighted,that we know that everything is just great.Even when deep inside we know it can’t be.Everything can’t be great.
I’m not a scientist,so many methods of proof leave little to be desired,or a lot to be desired,or an immensity(无限).   
Listen to the voices around you.Listen to your own voices.There is nothing on the radio that is good or bad,weather is either beautiful or horrible.
Listen,the next time when someone asks you something and you agree,because when you
could simply say “yes”, instead you will say “absolutely’’ or “without doubt ” or “Oh,yeah,unquestionably ---- absolutely without doubt."
Have people forgotten what it is like to be OK? Simply OK with what they have and who they are? If everything is outstanding,if everything is the most amazing thing ever,is anything ever amazing at all?
小题1:By telling his experience in the restaurant,the author intends to ________.
A.show his interest in exaggerated words
B.prove that exaggerated words are widely used
C.blame the restaurant for using exaggerated words
D.tell us the food in the restaurant is extremely good
小题2:What do we know about the author’s father?
A.He has gained height and is now a tall man.
B.He likes following the fashion in clothing.
C.His weight is getting greater and greater.
D.The size of his T-shirt is described in exaggerated words.
小题3:.So many people like using exaggerated words because_________.
A.they are not satisfied with being normal
B.they don’t want to be looked down upon by others
C.they want to be different from others
D.they are brave in telling their true feelings
小题4:According to the passage,if you approve of something,you’d better say “________”.
A.fantasticB.perfectC.OKD.absolutely

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
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