D

Every morning Grandpa got up early sitting at the table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don't understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?" His grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied? "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.,,

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out befcare he got back to the house. His grandpa laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible tp carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. His grandpa said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,"

丁he boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, 'tGrandpa^ it's useless!""So, you think it is useless?" the grandpa said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean,

"Grandson, that's what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you'll be changed, inside and out."

12.  What puzzled the grandson most was .

A. what kind of book he could understand

B,  why he forgot what he read soon

C,  whether it was useful to read books

D. how he could read books like his grandpa

13.  Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?

  A.  To punish him for not reading carefully.

B.  To get him to realize the use of reading books.

C.    To train him to run faster.

D.  To clean the dirty basket in the river.

14.  What lesson can we learn from the story?

  A.  It is foolish to carry water with a basket.

B.  The old are always wiser than the young.

C.  You can't expect to remember whatever you read.

D.  Reading books can change a person gradually.

15.  What can be the best title for the text?

A. Grandpa and grandson          B.  Carrying water in a basket

C.  Reading for total changing     D.  Baskets and books

 Working Women Over 70 Caught in the Retirement Trap At 74 ,Marie Maes is scrambling to find a work.

Even though she spent four 1 working in Colorado hospitals and Seattle nursing homes,the retired licensed practical 2 lives just above the poverty line on little more than $12 a day after she pays her rent.

  She is among a near-record and 3 number of women working well into their 70s, thanks to smaller Social Security checks,4careers,smaller pensions,longer life spans than men and bad 5 planning.

"Of course I 6to get back to work," said Maes,a direct and optimistic woman. Asked whether she considers herself poor,she replied, " I never gave it a thought,but I guess I

  Over the past 14 years,the number of women 8 in the United States between the ages of 70 and 74 nearly 9 from 324,000 to 618,000,according to the Labor Department.

  More elderly people are looking for work these days,10 city job fairs not necessarily because they want to, 11 because they need the money.

  Single older women like Maes are particularly weak. Nearly one in five of them lives in 12 ,more than three times the rate of the 13people of the same age. And many carry fewer resources into their 70s than men.

The gap suggests the nation's retirement system is 14 Maes and plenty of other women. Instead of 15 the New Mexico native for decades of hard work,it left her an empty bank account, $824 a month from Social Security and 16 to get back to work.

  Maes' 17 is not uncommon. She started work later in life, 18 less money and relied on her husband to prepare for their retirement.

  Marge Hampton, 70 ,chairwoman of a community group for older 19   ,once said,

  "We looked to the man to take care of us... Then one day we 20   and said, ' Oh my God, what is here?'"

(   ) 1. A. years    B. months     C. weeks    D. decades

(   ) 2. A. nurse    B. doctor    C. teacher    D. professor

(   ) 3. A. decreasing   B. extending  C. spreading    D. growing

(   ) 4. A. longer    B. better     C. earlier    D. shorter

(   ) 5. A. working    B. family    C. financial    D. studying

(   ) 6. A. need    B. ought      C. used    D. plan

(   ) 7. A. do        B. have       C. am    D. will

(   ) 8. A. living    B. playing    C. working    D. staying

(   ) 9. A. doubled    B. rose       C. appeared    D. grew

(   ) 10. A. taking    B. leaving     C. packing    D. visiting

(   ) 11. A. but        B. and        C. instead    D. then

(   ) 12. A. richness    B. poverty   C. danger    D. trouble

(   ) 13. A. single    B. married      C. rich    D. poor

(   ) 14. A. preventing    B. discouraging   C. failing    D. stopping

(   ) 15. A. saving    B. paying      C. prizing    D. rewarding

(   ) 16. A. pressure    B. worry      C. power    D. pleasure

(   ) 17. A. example    B. situation     C. suffering    D. optimism

(   ) 18. A. took    B. wasted        C. made    D. spent

(   ) 19. A. women    B. men           C. workers    D. nurses

(   ) 20. A. cheered up    B. picked up     C. stood up    D. woke up

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