A
The choice to adopt and hold gratefulness is the one that is different from those who suffer misfortune and those who enjoy a full life.
My mother died when I was 24. It was a very difficult time in my life — everything seemed to fall apart. I lost my job, and then my utilities were turned off. I had to take cold showers for six months. A neighbor who knew about my situation came to my house and made me an offer. I took care of her children as a job, and I no longer went hungry. I was surprised that someone would trust me — a young woman with her children. And it was with the very confidence that before long I began taking care of other people’s children, too. I have since moved 300 miles from Boise, Idaho. For more than 23 years I have made every effort to reach out to all the kind-hearted people who helped me when I was down and out. Without their trust, I don’t know what I would have done. I am very involved in my community and volunteer at the local food bank, and I help out whenever I can. I’d like to owe what I am to whoever has offered me generosity.
If you are grateful for what you already have, the world will work together to give you more to be grateful for. Otherwise, the world will give you more to complain about.
Moreover, the true master learns to be grateful, in advance, for the things that are desired, because, being grateful in advance for some attainment or accomplishment does two very important things: one…it tricks your subconscious into believing that the goal is certain and two…it convinces other people, with whom you must interact to achieve your desires, that you know what you are about, that you are a winner, not a whiner (哀诉者).
【小题1】The underlined word “utilities” refers to __________ in the passage.

A.water and gas suppliesB.gas and electricity supplies
C.shower equipment and water supplyD.heating and TV signals
【小题2】 The writer was grateful mainly for ___________.
A.his neighbor’s donationB.his community
C.having got the jobD.others’ trust
【小题3】 The writer’s personal story in the second paragraph tells us that __________.
A.to be grateful will get you nowhere but away from home
B.a grateful person is most likely to be successful
C.we need to be grateful to be helpful and useful
D.the fragrance (芳香) stays in the hand that gives the rose
【小题4】The best title for the passage would be ____________.
A.A Thank-You Note to Trusting Neighbor
B.You Are a Winner, Not a Whiner
C.Be Grateful to Life in Advance
D.Gratefulness Brings a Great Fullness to Life

There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.

    When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”

    Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.

    Many years ago, a French priest(神父), Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.

    Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.

    The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.

    How many hand signs do you use every day?

1.. Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?

A. It is a special language used in a few countries in the world.

B. It is a way to express one’s ideas without words.

C. It is only used by the deaf.     

D. It can be heard.

2.. If you want to express the idea that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.

A. raise your hand                   B. put one hand onto the other

C. smile to the person                   D. make a roof with your hands

3.. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Hand signs instead of finger signs are used everyday.

B. There are schools, colleges and universities for the deaf in the USA.

C. The French priest Charles invented sign language.

D. Even babies are using sign language.

4..The passage is mainly about ______.

A. an introduction to sign language      B. the importance of sign language

C. a famous priest in France        D. how to use sign language 

 

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