【题目】It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather. Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr. Johnson's famous comment that “When two English meet, their first talk is of weather.” Though Johnson's observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago, most commentators fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather speak.

Bill Bryson, for example, concludes that, as the English weather is not at all exciting, the obsession with it can hardly be understood. He argues that “To an outsider, the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply, the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost un-known in the British Isles.

Jeremy Paxman, however, disagrees with Bryson, arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive. Bryson is wrong, he says, because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena. “The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty.” According to him, the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.

Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather-speak among the English. Both commentators, somehow, are missing the point. The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all. English weather-speak is a system of signs, which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually tal to each other. Everyone knows conversations starting with weather-speak are not requests for weather data. Rather, they are routine greetings, conversation starters or the blank “fillers “. In other words, English weather-speak is a means of social bonding.

【1】 The author mentions Dr. Johnson's comment to show that _________.

A. most commentators agree with Dr. Johnson

B. Dr. Johnson is famous for his weather observation

C. the comment was accurate two hundred years ago

D. English conversations usually start with the weather

【2】 What does the underlined word “obsession “most probably refer to?

A. A social trend. B. An emotional state.

C. A historical concept. D. An unknown phenomenon.

【3】 According to the passage, Jeremy Paxman believes that _________.

A. Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather

B. there is nothing special about the English weather

C. the English weather attracts people to the British Isles

D. English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty

【4】 What is the author's main purpose of writing the passage?

A. To explain what English weather-speak is about.

B. To analyse misconceptions about the English weather.

C. To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman.

D. To convince people that the English weather is changeable.

【题目】On Sunday I had my own Father's Day celebration. Suddenly I about my dad a lot. My dad is absolutely the man in the world. He would refuse to help anyone in trouble.

Every Thursday night, my dad would Shreveport, LA to a church there. I always drove the car for him.

this happened many times, I recall(回想起)one incident on one of those trips to Shreveport. That time on the ,my dad saw a hitchhiker(搭便车的人). He asked me to pull the car over and offer him a . Dad asked him his name and ad-dress, told him ours, and talked to him about all sorts of things.

At first the hitchhiker was hesitant (迟疑的),but he changed his as he could tell we were really listening to him. I did know that it was quite outside and the hitchhiker was very happy to be able to get a lift in our warm car.

We another forty-five minutes and learned that the hitchhiker was many difficulties in life. Dad told him to keep his head up and said that would become better for him soon. He reached into his pocket and the hitchhiker a twenty-dollar bill, leaving only a ten-dollar bill for himself. The hitchhiker then became very

I was always told never to a hitchhiker and yet my dad did it every time he saw one. Dad always gave them money he did not have very much of his own.

From that I've earned a lot about my dad and . I've learned that if you come from a place with ,you will show a lot of kindness to people who are . Just one single kind act may someone's life.

【1】 A. learnt B. talked C. thought D. worried

【2】 A. kindest B. cleverest C. funniest D. bravest

【3】 A. sometimes B. never C. often D. ever

【4】 A. head for B. drive to C. come from D. stay in

【5】 A. Because B. So C. Unless D. Although

【6】 A. field B. way C. job D. side

【7】 A. dinner B. sign C. ride D. chance

【8】 A. attitude B. trip C. route D. plan

【9】 A. dark B. cold C. sunny D. windy

【10】 A. walked B. escaped C. drove D. flew

【11】 A. facing B. forgetting C. understanding D. causing

【12】 A. habits B. choices C. ideas D. things

【13】 A. returned B. handed C. paid D. charged

【14】 A. sad B. angry C. nervous D. grateful

【15】 A. look at B. laugh at C. listen to D. pick up

【16】 A. as soon as B. except that C. even if D. as if

【17】 A. business B. Life C. entertainment D. adventure

【18】 A. laughter B. success C. complaint D. love

【19】 A. suffering B, traveling C. playing D. studying

【20】 A. destroy B. change C. risk D. share

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