A well-dressed man entered a famous jewelry shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl for his wife’ s birthday. The price didn’t matter, since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a nice black one that costs $5, 000, he paid for the pearl in cash, shook hands with the jeweler, and left.

   A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality as she wanted a pair of earrings made. "Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl?" said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, "I would say it’s exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl."

   The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right.

   Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse." " I don’t like to part with it." she said sadly,  I got it from my mother, and ,my mother  got it from her’ s. But I really need the money.

   The jeweler was quickly to pay her before she changed her mind .Then he called the rich man’s hotel to tell him the good news .The man ,however ,was nowhere to be found.

1.The man said he wanted to buy a pearl for _____ .

A. his wife      B. his mother-in-law    C. his own mother     D. no one

2.He paid $5,000 for the black pearl without bargaining (讨价还价) because______.

A. he was very rich.

B. he wanted to make the jeweler believe him

C. he was anxious to get it

D. his business had been successful

3. He told the jeweler to get him another pearl that must be______.

A. exactly the same size as the black one

B. exactly the same quality as the black one

C. worth more than $25,000

D. exactly as big and nice as the black one

4. Many people answer the advertisement because they wanted______.

A. to see the perfect pearl

B. to buy some beautiful pearl too

C. to get in touch with the rich man

D. to sell their own pearl at a high price

5.The jeweler couldn’t find the man anywhere because ______.

A. he died suddenly

B. he happened to be out

C. he got $20,000 by cheating and had run away with the money

D. he wouldn’t show up until the jeweler called him a second time

 

Two traveling angels (天使) stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor,the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied: “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable(好客的)farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had,the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning,the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, “How could this happen?” “Why did you not watch out for the cow? The first man had everything, yet you watched over his house,” she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you did not help.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement,I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune,I asked God if I could seal(封口) the wall so he wouldn’t find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed,the angel of death(死神) came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

1.The underlined part “the pair” in the second paragraph two refers to     .

A. the poor couple         B. the rich couple           C. the angels           D. the guests

2.The younger angel was very angry because     .

A. the older angel killed the farmer’s cow           

B. the older angel treated the two families unfairly

C. the wealthy man gave them a bad place to live 

D. the angel of death took the cow away

3.Why did the older angel let the farmer’s cow die?

A. Because God wanted the older angel to take the cow.

B. Because she wanted to teach the younger angel a lesson.

C. Because she was sympathetic to the rich.

D. Because she wanted to save the farmer’s wife. 

4.The story tries to tell the reader that     .

A. sometimes things are not what they seem    

B. angels are always ready to help the poor

C. angels are always ready to help the rich 

D. the young should always learn from the old

 

My grandson, Daniel, and I have always been very close. When Daniel’s father remarried after a divorce, Daniel, who was eleven, and his little sister, Kristie, came to live with us. My husband and I were more than happy to have kids in the house again.

    Things were going along just fine until the diabetes (糖尿病) I’ve lived with most of my adult life started affecting my eyes, and then more seriously, my kidneys (肾). Then everything seemed to fall apart.

    Three times a week, I had to go to the hospital to be hooked up to a dialysis machine (透析机). I was living, but I couldn’t really call it a life — it was an existence. I had no energy. I dragged myself through daily chores and slept as much as I could. My sense of humor seemed to disappear.

    Daniel, seventeen by then, was really affected by the change in me. He tried as hard as he could to make me laugh, to bring back the grandma who loved to clown around (开玩笑) with him. Even in my sorry state, Daniel could still bring a smile to my face.

    But things were not improving. After a year on dialysis, my condition was deteriorating (恶化) and the doctors felt that if I didn’t receive a kidney transplant within six months, I would surely die. No one told Daniel this, but he knew — he said all he had to do was look after me. To top it off, as my condition worsened, there was a chance that I would become too weak to have the transplant surgery at all, and then there would be nothing they could do for me. So we started the tense and desperate wait for a kidney.

    I was adamant (坚决的) that I didn’t want a kidney from anyone I knew. I would wait until an appropriate kidney became available, or I would literally die waiting. But Daniel had other plans. The time that he took me to my dialysis appointments, he did a little secret research on his own. Then he announced his intention to me.

    “Grandma, I’m giving you one of my kidneys. I’m young and I’m healthy …” He paused. He could see I wasn’t at all happy with his offer. He continued, almost in whisper, “And most of all, I couldn’t stand it if you weren’t around.” His face wore an expression of appeal mixed with determination. He can be as stubborn as a mule (驴) once he decides on something — but I’ve been told many times that I can out-stubborn any mule!

    We argued. I couldn’t let him do it. We both knew that if he gave up his kidney, he would also give up his life’s dream; to play football. It was all he ever talked about. And he was good, too. Daniel was co-captain and star defensive tackle (防守阻截队员) of his high school team; he expected to apply for a football scholarship and was looking forward to playing college football. He just loved the sport.

    “How can I let you throw away the thing that means the most to you?” I pleaded with him.

    “Grandma,” he said softly, “compared to your life, football means nothing to me.”

    After that, I couldn’t argue anymore. So we agreed to see if he was a good donor (捐赠者) match, and then we’d discuss it further. When the tests came back, they showed Daniel was a perfect match. That was it. I knew I wasn’t going to win that argument, so we scheduled the transplant.

    Both surgeries went smoothly. As soon as I came out of the anesthesia (麻醉) , I could tell things were different. I felt great! The nurses in the intensive care unit had to keep telling me to lie back and be quiet — I wasn’t supposed to be that lively! I was afraid to go to sleep, for fear I would break the spell (魔法) and wake up the way I had been before. But the good feeling didn’t go away, and I spent the evening joking and laughing with anyone who would listen. It was so wonderful to feel alive again.

    The next day they moved me out of ICU and onto the floor where Daniel was recuperating (复原) three doors away. His grandfather helped him walk down to see me as soon as I was moved into my room. When we saw each other, we did not know what to say. Holding hands, we just sat there and looked at each other for a long time, overwhelmed by the deep feeling of love that connected us.

    Finally, he spoke, “Was it worthwhile, grandma?”

    I laughed a little ruefully (懊悔). “It was for me! But was it for you?” I asked him.

    He nodded and smiled at me. “I’ve got my grandma back.”

    And I have my life back. It still amazes me. Every morning, when I wake up, I thank God —and Daniel — for this miracle. A miracle born of the purest love.

1.Grandma’s diabetes brought about all the following EXCEPT that _______.

A. her eyes and her kidneys were affected

B. grandma became quite a different person

C. Daniel had to be sent back to his father

D. everything was thrown into confusion

2.When grandma was at her lowest, what did Daniel do to bring her back to her usual life?

A. He tried his best to make her laugh.     

B. He helped her with the daily chores.

C. He gave up his dream of going to college.     

D. He searched desperately for a good donor match.

3.How did grandma feel when Daniel announced his intention to give her one of his kidneys?

A. She was moved by his selfless decision.

B. She wasn’t at all happy with his offer.

C. She felt relieved that an appropriate kidney was available.

D. She was enthusiastic about having a kidney of someone she loved.

4.What would giving up a kidney mean to Daniel, according to the passage?

A. He wouldn’t be young and healthy thereafter.

B. He didn’t have to search for a good match any more.

C. He could apply for a full scholarship to a college he desired.

D. He would also give up his life’s dream: to play football.

5.How was grandma when she came out of the anesthesia after the surgery?

A. She was feeling low.                B. She was full of life.

C. She was exhausted.                D. She was the way she had been before.

6.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Grandma got her life back thanks to Daniel’s selfless donation.

B. Grandma thought her returning to life was a miracle of pure love.

C. Daniel agreed with grandma that the transplant was worthwhile for her, not for him.

D. Much as he loved football, grandma’s life meant the most to Daniel.

 

One Sunday morning in June 1959 my mother walked into my room. “Surprise!” she said, proudly holding up a yellow dress. “I made it just for you. What do you think?”

         I bit my tongue. How could I tell Mom it was the ugliest dress I had ever seen?

         “It’s perfect for church,” my mother continued delightedly.“I wish someone had made a dress like this for me.”

         Too bad you can’t wear it, I thought. But I knew Mom had spent a lot of time on the dress. No one should refuse.

         Unwillingly I put it on.

         All through church I prayed(祈祷),Lord, let me get out of here without anyone seeing me. Especially Dennis Pearce, the boy I had a crush on, one of the coolest boys at Neptune High School. Although we were in some of the same classes, Dennis had never taken any notice of me. Every time I got near him, I became tongue-tied.

         At the end of the service I rushed for the door. But I had to wait on the steps while my parents chatted with their friends. Just a little while longer…Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the Pearces coming near. Before I could escape, Dennis was right beside me.

         I started talking, hoping if I kept it up he wouldn’t notice my ugly dress. “I’m going to college in September,” I said.

         “That’s great,” Dennis replied “I got accepted to police academy(学院).”

         “Wow!” I said. Somehow I kept the conversation going. The next thing I knew Dennis had asked me out on a date!

         We courted(恋爱)through college, and eventually got married. Months after our wedding I asked Dennis if he remembered the day he had first asked me out.

“Certainly I do,” he said.“You were always quiet in school. I didn’t think you’d be much fun. But you were so lively when we talked on the church steps, I wanted to get to know you better.” Maybe that yellow dress wasn’t what I would have chosen, but that day it was the perfect dress for me.

1.Why did she accept such a dress?

         A.She was fond of its new pattern.

         B.Her Mom just brought it for her.

         C.It was proper to go to church in it.

         D.She understood her Mom’s love.

 

2.The author tried to carry the dialog on,hoping        .

        A.she would catch other boys’ attention

        B.Dennis would get her out for a date

        C.Dennis wouldn’t take notice of her dress

        D.she could be noticed by Dennis’s parents

3.The underlined part“had a crush on’’ in Paragraph 6 probably means:“      ”.

       A.10ved deeply          B.met by chance      C.100ked down on   D.worried about

4.What would be the best title for the text?

         A.An Ugly Dress                                                B.A Perfect Dress

    C.A Dress for the Church                                 D.A Dress for the Date

 

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