We have all experienced days when everything goes wrong. A day may begin well en

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We have all experienced days when everything goes wrong. A day may begin well enough, but suddenly everything seems to get out of control. It seems as if a single unimportant event may cause a number of things to happen. Let us suppose that you are preparing a meal and keeping an eye on the baby at the same time. The telephone rings and this means your troubles are beginning. While you are on the phone, the baby pulls the table-cloth off the table, destroying your prepared meal. You hang up hurriedly and attend to your baby. Meanwhile, the meal gets burnt. As if these were not enough to bring you to tears, your husband arrives unexpectedly bringing three guests to dinner.
Things can go wrong on-a number of people on the road. During the rush hour one evening, two cars hit each other and both drivers began to argue. The woman driver behind the two cars happened to be a learner. She suddenly went into a panic and stopped her car. This made the driver following her stop suddenly. His wife was sitting beside him holding a large cake. As she was thrown forward, the cake went right through the window and landed on the road’. Seeing a cake-flying through the air, a truck driver had to stop his truck all of a sudden. The truck was carrying empty beer bottles and hundreds of them slid off the back of the truck and fell onto the road. This led to yet another angry argument. Meanwhile, the traffic piled up behind. It took the police nearly an hour to get the traffic to move again. In the meanwhile, the truck driver had to sweep up hundreds of broken bottles. Only two dogs were enjoying themselves from the accident; for they were happily having what was left of the cake. It was just one of those days.
小题1:What does the writer mainly tell us?

A．Troubles always happen at the same time.

B．Everyone may have trouble every day.

C．A small matter can cause great trouble.

D．Only the lucky man won’t have any trouble every day.

小题2:according to the passage, what should be the correct order?
(1) The woman driver stopped her car suddenly. •
(2) The driver’s wife dropped her cake on the road.
(3) Only two dogs were happy.
(4) Two cars hit each other.
(5) The truck driver had to sweep up hundreds of broken bottles.

A．(2)(3)(3)(5)(1)	B．(4)(1)(2)(5)(3)
C．(3)(5)(2)(4)(1)	D．(1)(4)(2)(3)(5)

小题3:Which of the following is true?

A．The woman’s husband brought three guests home to dinner unexpectedly.

B．The meal got burnt.

C．Her baby pulled the table-cloth off the table.

D．It is not strange to experience such accidents.

小题4:What does the word "these" in the last sentence of the first paragraph refer to?
A. Your husband brings three guests to dinner unexpectedly.
B. The meal gets burnt.
C. The baby pulls the table-cloth off the table.
D. Both B and C.

答案

小题1:A
小题2:B
小题3:D
小题4:D

解析

文章论述了生活中suddenly everything seems to get out of control现象。
小题1:A 主旨题。根据第一段第三句It seems as if a single unimportant event may cause a number of things to happen可知，麻烦的事情总是同时发生。
小题2:B 细节题。将第二段所说的一连串的事件进行比较，可知选B。
小题3:D 推断题。根据文章Let us suppose…可知，选项A、B、C都只是一种假设，可推知选D。
小题4:D 词义题。由下文Let us suppose…可知，它应该指前面的两件事。

举一反三

How often one hears children wishing they were grown up, and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents, he is not so free to do what he wishes to do. He is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong. When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.
小题1:according to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that _______.

A．life for a child is comparatively easy

B．a child is always loved whatever he does

C．if much is given to a child, he must do something in return

D．only children are interested in life

小题2:After a child grows up, he ________.

A．will have little time playing

B．has to be successful in finding a job

C．can still ask for help in time of trouble

D．should be able to take care of himself

小题3:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．People are often satisfied with their life.

B．Life is less interesting for old people.

C．Adults are freer to do what they want to do.

D．Adults should no longer rely on others.

小题4:The main idea of the passage is ________.

A．life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains

B．young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard

C．childhood is the most enjoyable time in one’s life

D．one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life

小题5:The paragraph following this passage will most probably discuss _______.

A．examples of successful young men

B．how to build up one’s position in society

C．joys and pains of old people

D．what to do when one has problems in life

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A is for always getting to work on time.
B is for being extremely busy.
C is for the conscientious(勤勤恳恳的) way you do your job.
You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.
Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn’t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics—a better job, a raise, praise—many people are still unable or unwilling—to “play the game”.
“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative(工于心计的) behavior,” says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University. “But politics derives from the word ‘polite’. It can mean lobbying(游说) and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying, to please your superior, and then expecting something in return.”
In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behavior used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some form of socializing within the office environment—not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.
“The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis,” says Neil P. Lewis, a management psychologist. “But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It’s simple human nature.”
Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery(奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.
Experts suggest altering this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.
小题1:“Office politics” is used in the passage to refer to________.

A．the political views and beliefs of office workers

B．the interpersonal relationships within a company

C．the various qualities required for a successful career

D． the code of behavior for company staff

小题2:To get promoted, one must not only be competent but________.

A．avoid being too outstanding

B．get along well with his colleagues

C．honest and loyal to his company

D．give his boss a good impression

小题3:The author considers office politics to be________.

A．unwelcome at the workplace

B．bad for interpersonal relationships

C．an important factor for personal advancement

D．indispensable to the development of company culture

小题4:It is the author’s view that________.

A．self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery

B．hard work contributes very little to one’s promotion

C．many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery

D．speaking up for oneself is part of human nature

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After a fortnight of extraordinary type, the much-feared computer virus that was supposed to strike the globe’s hard drives last Friday simply fizzled. So many warnings were sounded that most computer owners either fed anti-virus programs into their systems or refused to turn the power on during the dreaded M-day. They dodged one disease, but more strains are on the way. The eponymous Friday-the-13th virus is due to strike this week, and the Maltese Amoeba may detonate on March 15.
Who creates these things? A disproportionate number seems to originate in Bulgaria or Russia, where writing the smallest, most elegant virus programs has become a matter of quirky pride. Viruses are transmitted either by shared disks (as was Michelangelo) or over telephone lines. The virus program hides in a computer until, activated by a date, time, or some other trigger, it springs to life. The most common virus, Stoned, makes your screen announce: “Your computer is now stoned. Legalize marijuana. ” (Regardless of your politics, you don’t want this one around; it can damage your files inadvertently.) Solution: either keep your computer isolated—no trading disks, no on-line communication—or else install one of a dozen or so commercially available anti-virus programs that detect and delete the little time bombs. If they can come up with a virus that is hidden, will they next try to extort a business?—as in, pay me $1 million or my virus will destroy your system.
In the meantime, money is being made by firms selling anti-virus programs. Egghead software stores logged a 3,000 percent jump in anti-virus sales. Was the threat overblown by the companies that make millions selling anti-virus software? Thanks to the media blitz, no one will ever know what might have happened—an unallied number of computer owners discovered and deleted Michelangelo before it was supposed to strike—on the artist’s birthday.
小题1:The much-feared M-day was ________.

A．Friday-the-13th when the eponymous virus was due to strike

B．Friday-the-15th when the Maltese Amoeba would be activated

C．the previous Friday when Michelangelo virus was due to strike

D．the previous Friday which coincided with the artist"s birthday

小题2:Computer viruses are ________.

A．diseases spread from one computer to another by shared disks

B．viruses hidden in a computer’s instructions by the designers

C．little time bombs hidden in a computer waiting to be triggered

D．just those computer programs created by malevolent designers

小题3:Which of the following sayings fits the Michelangelo virus?

A．A burnt child dreads the fire.	B．The bug’s bark was worse than its bite.
C．A barking dog seldom bites.	D．Once bitten, twice shy.

小题4:The author implies that in days to come the viruses might be used ________.

A．to destroy data	B．to commit crimes
C．to commit mischief	D．to create confusion

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What happens to mother-daughter relationships when girls become teenagers. It seems that girls go from playing “dress up”, to arguing with their mothers about how they should dress.
When a girl is 3-4 years old they love to “dress up” in their mothers’ clothes, put on their mothers’ makeup, cook, and do whatever else their mother does. This is the time when she can be classified as being a mama’s girl.
How come girls change so much from childhood to the teenage years? Many parents seek the answer when their daughter becomes a teen. Often when a girl enters high school her behavior changes as well as her physical appearance.
When I was young I always liked playing “dress up”. It made me feel older and more like my mother. Even when I entered middle school, I still depended a lot on my mother to choose and buy my clothes. Once I entered high school there was a big change. To me, my mother’s clothes were no longer “in fashion”, and neither was her opinion. I started becoming interested in boys and tried to improve the way I looked. It was not that I wanted to look cool, I just wanted to look my age.
This is the time that the mother-daughter relationship can take a turn. It’s difficult for a mother to know that her daughter is no longer totally dependent on her.
When the daughter starts wearing revealing clothing, dating, and just wanting to be more independent, a mother starts to feel left out, or not needed. The number of arguments increases, and the number of times when the mother and daughter get along happily decreases.
When these things start to happen, it is a sign that the daughter wants her independence and the freedom to grow up.
When you notice how much your relationship had changed, try to believe positive things come out of the change. Put all the negatives aside and concentrate on what your mother is feeling instead of just on what you’re feeling.
When it seems too hard to handle, take some quiet time and write out your feelings. Maybe at another time, you can share them with your mother and try to find a way to better your relationship as mother and daughter. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your feelings, at least write them down so you can get them out. It’s better than keeping them bottled up inside.
小题1:The girls would argue with their mothers because ________.

A．they need more independence

B．mothers want daughters to be mama’s girls again

C．they think their mothers’ clothes are no longer in fashion

D．all of the above

小题2:From the passage, we know that ________.

A．the teenage period is a sensitive part in human life

B．the parents can’t get the answer why their daughters change a lot

C．they can get on well only in talking, no matter what mothers or daughters do

D．mothers should concentrate on their own feelings

小题3:A “mama’s girl” will Not________.

A．dress up in her mother’s clothes

B．depend a lot on her mother to choose and buy her clothes

C．like wearing revealing clothing

D．think her mother’s clothes are in fashion

小题4:When the daughter starts wanting to be more independent, ________.

A．a mother starts to feel left out

B．it is the time when mother and daughter get on joyfully increases

C．she wants to look cool

D．All of the above

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Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list ___1___ in our past that we felt ___2___ of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very ___3___ process, but there’ s always some ___4___soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then ___5___ that we find ways to ___6___ people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever ___7___ my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my ___8___, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff ___9___ of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a ___10___ on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious ___11___. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one ___12___ found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name ___13___ on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still ___14___. Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few ___15___, I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it？”Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a ___16___ discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you ___17___ your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it ___18___ all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to ___19___ all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to ___20___the past wrongdoings.
1. A. something      B. anything     C. somebody   D. anybody
2. A. ashamed B. afraid C. sure    D. proud
3. A. private   B. secret C. interesting D. funny
4. A. foolish   B. polite C. simple D. brave
5. A. expected B. suggested   C. ordered      D. demanded
6. A. connect with        B. depend on C. make apologize to D. get along with
7. A. improve B. continue     C. realize D. keep
8. A. notes      B. list      C. plan    D. stories
9. A. any B. most   C. none   D. all
10. A. part      B. game C. trick   D. record
11. A. view     B. sign    C. attention     D. remark
12. A. also      B. even   C. still     D. ever
13. A. appears B. considers    C. presents      D. remembers
14. A. angry   B. happy C. doubtful     D. alive
15. A. words   B. rings   C. repeats       D. calls
16. A. cold     B. plain   C. nervous      D. lively
17. A. in case B. so long as   C. unless D. because
18. A. around B. out     C. on      D. away
19. A. build up       B. make up     C. clear up      D. give up
20. A. regret   B. forgive       C. right   D. punish

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