I wandered into the small store where I usually buy milk, when the store owner received a call from a customer. The customer and his wife had shopped there several months earlier. He noticed that his wife really liked one thing in the store, so he wanted to buy it as a surprise.

But the customer was in Tennessee, far away from the store which was in Maine. What’s more, he had been to the store several months earlier, and it was difficult to believe that the store owner would remember him, or what he was looking for.

The store owner took a few close-up photos with her camera, and e-mailed them to the customer on the computer. The customer looked at the photos, decided which one he wanted. They talked and discussed a price over the phone. She took care of the credit card transaction (交易) online, and promised the gift would be shipped out that afternoon.

The store owner was really smart. She was willing to push herself to find new ways to make the transaction actually happen. And it did work. However, it was the first time she had ever done it.

I was amazed that the store owner discovered a creative solution that could lead to a new way of doing business. I was impressed by what she did—so easily, but how difficult it is for many of us to make that leap(飞跃,跳跃). I’m not just talking about technology, but about learning how to adapt to change. Most people hate or fear change unless they get to know exactly what change needs to be made. However, we should realize that challenge and opportunity go hand in hand.

1.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. The gift was sent out by train that afternoon.

B. The customer had ever been to the store before.

C. The owner often did business by using her camera.

D. The owner and the customer discussed the price on the computer.

2.The author was impressed by the store owner because .

A. she was always ready to help others

B. she told the writer how to run a store

C. she was a successful businesswoman

D. she managed to find a new way when facing change

3.What’s the correct order of the store owner’s solution?

a. taking a few close-up photos with her camera

b. taking care of the credit card transaction online

c. talking about the price of the gift with the customer

d. e-mailing the photos to the customer on the computer

A. abcd B. adcb

C. bcda D. bacd

4.Which of the following words can best describe the store owner?

A. Honest. B. Creative.

C. Confident. D. Humorous.

A sense of humor is something highly valued. A person who has a great sense of humor is often considered to be happy and socially confident. However, humor is a double-edged sword. Sometimes it can damage self-respect and annoy others.

People who use bonding humor tell jokes and generally lighten the mood. They're thought to be good at reducing the tension in uncomfortable situations. They often make fun of their common experiences, and sometimes they may even laugh off their own misfortunes. The basic message they deliver is: We're all alike, we find the same things funny, and we're all in this together.

Put-down humor, on the other hand, is an aggressive type of humor used to criticize others through teasing. When it's aimed against politicians, as it often is, it's extremely funny and mostly harmless. But in the real world, it may have a harmful effect. An example of such humor is telling friends an embarrassing story about another friend. When challenged about their teasing, the put-down jokers might claim that they are "just kidding," thus allowing themselves to avoid responsibility. This type of humor, though considered by some people to be socially acceptable, may hurt the feelings of the one being teased and thus have a bad effect on personal relationships.

Finally, in hate-me humor, the joker is the target of the joke for the amusement of others. This type of humor was used by comedians John Belushi and Chris Farley—both of whom suffered for their success in show business. A small amount of such humor is charming, but routinely offering oneself up to be embarrassed destroys one's self-esteem, and fosters depression and anxiety.

So it seems that being funny isn't necessarily an indicator of good social skills and well-being. In certain cases, it may actually have a negative effect on interpersonal relationships.

1.In bonding humor, people create a relaxing atmosphere by ________.

A. joking about experiences they share

B. showing their personal relationships

C. teasing experiences of their friends

D. laughing at other's misfortunes

2.Which of the following is among the common targets of put-down humor?

A. Comedians. B. Jokers.

C. Politicians. D. Actors.

3.In the passage, the author mainly conveys ________.

A. humor can be classified into three kinds

B. humor has its bright side and dark side

C. humor deserves to be studied

D. humor is highly valued

"Joe? Is that you?" The woman speaking to me at the baseball game looked a little familiar. "Marci?" I asked.

"It IS you!" she cried out, smiling broadly. "Gosh, it's good to see you again!"

It was good to see Marci, too. Off and on during the past few decades, I've wondered about her. I almost tried to search for her a few years ago after talking to a friend who had indicated that the 1990s had been pretty rough for Marci. So meeting her at the baseball game was really out of expectation.

We spent a few minutes talking about our lives—the good old, bad old days. Then Marci grew quiet for a moment. “You know, Joe,” she said, “ I’ve always wanted to tell you…how…how sorry I am for the way I treated you. You must have been hurt both physically and mentally.” I was a little embarrassed. I turned and looked at her. “It’s OK,” I said, “No big deal!” “But I was such a jerk.” she continued. Yes you were, I thought. “We were both pretty young,” I smiled. “I know.” she said, “It’s just always bothered me, remembering how mean I was to you. And I’ve wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”

The expression on her face was warm and sincere. And there was something in her eyes—it looked a lot like relief. “OK,” I said. "Apology accepted!” Overcome by the sweetness of the moment, I reached an arm around her and gave her a quick hug. Just then, the crowd erupted with a huge cheer, and Marci and I both returned our attention to the game. By the time I looked over to where she had been, she was gone. But the warm, wonderful feeling of our brief exchange was still there, and continues to this day whenever I think about it .

It isn't enough to just say “I’m sorry” and "You're forgiven." But when those words are truly felt and sincerely expressed, they can open the door to miracles of the heart. Forgiveness can bring peace to an injured soul—even years after the fact. Even at a baseball game.

1.What kind of life did Marci live during the late 20th century according to the passage?

A. Happy. B. Busy. C. Hard. D. Simple.

2.What does the underlined word “jerk” in the third paragraph mean?

A. A humorous person.

B. A cruel person.

C. A careless person.

D. An honest person.

3.Why did Marci look in relief after talking with the author?

A. Because her favorite team won the game.

B. Because she learned Joe was living a good life.

C. Because she made an apology to the author.

D. Because she found she was not mean any longer.

4.What might be the best title for the passage?

A. Excitement of A Baseball Game

B. Mental Burden of A Woman

C. Miracles of Forgiveness

D. Relief of Finding A friend

"Everybody is a genius.But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree,it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."—Albert Einstein

If you have a kid with special needs in the school system,chances are you have come across that saying hanging on a classroom wall.My five-year-old daughter Syona has cerebral palsy(脑瘫)and it means,combined with her communication and sight problems,that normal standard isn't always an accurate measure of her abilities.

By now you have probably heard about Chris Ulmer,the 26-yearold teacher in Jacksonville,Florida,who starts his special education class by calling up each student individually to give them much admiration and a high-five.I couldn't help but be reminded of Syona's teacher and how she supports each kid in a very similar way.Ulmer recently shared a video of his teaching experience."I have seen their confidence increase rapidly."he said.All I could think was: how lucky these students are to have such good teachers.

Syona's teacher has an attitude that can best be summarized in one word: awesome.Her teacher doesn't focus on what can't be done—she focuses on what can be done.Over the past several months,my husband Dilip and I have seen Syona's confidence increase tenfold.She uses words she wouldn't have thought of using before.She recently told me about her classmate's trip to Ecuador and was very proud when I understood her on the first try.

I actually wonder what the influence would be if we did something similar to what Ulmer does with his students in our home.We've recently started our day by reminding each other of the good qualities we all possess.If we are reminded of our strengths on a regular basis,we will become increasingly confident about progress and success.

1.What does the author think of Albert Einstein's saying?

A. Funny. B. True.

C. Strange. D. Confusing.

2.What can we learn about Syona's teacher?

A. She is Syona's favorite teacher.

B. She puts Einstein's quote on the wall.

C. She uses videos to teach her students.

D. She helps increase her students' confidence.

3.Why did Syona feel proud in the third paragraph? .

A. Her mother knew what she expressed.

B. Her progress was appreciated by her parents.

C. She had developed a positive attitude.

D. She had been to Ecuador with her classmate.

4.What change has taken place in the author's family?

A. They've invited Ulmer's students to their home.

B. They visit Ulmer's classroom regularly.

C. They give each other praise every day.

D. They feel grateful to people in their lives.

Recently, my friend, who is a physician, told me she wasn’t doing a "good enough" job being a parent and was missing out on her children’s lives.

I’ve learned that other physicians also believe the ________ of their profession will somehow adversely(不利地)affect their children’s _________.

I tell my colleagues not to ________, and that one day their child will appreciate them for their life as a ________ child.

I can say this ________ my mother was a palliative-care physician. Being the daughter of a palliative care physician wasn’t ________: I came to understand mother’s absence, having to ________ her with others, and being ________ to human suffering and death were just ________ of my life. ________, being the child of a physician had a ________ effect on my life. I learned love was sacrifice and you would get love and appreciation in return. If I could have my ________ over again, I wouldn’t change much.

Sure, there were times when I wanted to ________ my mother’s pager(传呼机)out of the window, or ________ that she could have attended school events. But even as a child I knew what I was ________, and what she was sacrificing, were ________ worth it for the life that I got to lead. My mother’s work as a palliative-care physician provided me with experiences that enriched my life, teaching me ________ lessons, skills and the knowledge of kindness, sympathy and generosity.

So, to anyone who is concerned about ________ a career with raising children, I offer you my reassurance. While there will be tough times, one day your child will ________ you for the experiences and the life they’ve had as a result of your ________.

1.A. demands B. standards C. challenges D. opportunities

2.A. intelligence B. schooling C. future D. growth

3.A. quit B. mention C. worry D. hurry

4.A. doctor’s B. teacher’s C. mother’s D. colleague’s

5.A. though B. when C. if D. because

6.A. tough B. correct C. easy D. normal

7.A. assist B. share C. compare D. substitute

8.A. familiar B. related C. devoted D. exposed

9.A. motivation B. meaning C. part D. aim

10.A. However B. Besides C. Somehow D. Therefore

11.A. negative B. passive C. side D. positive

12.A. occupation B. childhood C. adult D. education

13.A. keep B. make C. throw D. take

14.A. wished B. hoped C. requested D. demanded

15.A. expecting B. imagining C. doing D. sacrificing

16.A. less than B. more than C. other than D. rather than

17.A. special B. unforgettable C. tough D. valuable

18.A. balancing B. combining C. offering D. swapping

19.A. prepare B. thank C. forgive D. praise

20.A. contribution B. devotion C. career D. care

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网