We are often unable to pay close attention to what we hear. Just like when we try to grab a sponge(海绵) that is full of water, some water will run out of it. But sometimes we try to remember everything a speaker says and try to take in a speaker’s every word as if every word was equally important. We try to remember all the names, all the dates, and all the places. In the process we often miss the speaker’s main point.

Erik Waldman works at a design company. Knowing he had never been good at budgeting his money, he was determined to begin thinking about his economic future. When his employer circulated an e-mail announcing a financial planning workshop(研讨会), Erik signed up right away.

The first session was about retirement planning. Simone Fisher, the lecturer, explained that 7 of 10 Americans between the ages of 22 and 35 do not have a regular savings plan. Erik wrote down every number Simone mentioned.

"If you want to have a retirement income equal to 75 percent of your current salary," Simone continued, "you will need to save at least of 6 percent of your present earnings, taking into account future inflation rates(通货膨胀率). In the meantime, I want to stress that the most important thing is to start saving now."

Erik recorded all the statistics Simone used. When she opened the floor(自由发言) for question, Erik raised his hand and said, "I have two question. When is the best time to start saving for retirement? And how can I figure out my savings target if I don’t know what inflation rates will be in the future?"

This is a typical example of losing the speaker’s point by concentrating on details. Erik had fixed his mind on remembering all the statistics in Simone’s presentation, but he blocked out the man message. Rather than trying to remember everything, we should concentrate on main ideas and evidence.

1.What does the author mean by saying "Just like when we ... run out of it."?

A. We tend to reject what others say.

B. We always try to remember all details.

C. It is difficult for us to remember all things.

D. We often fail to focus on what we are listening to.

2.During the workshop, Erik .

A. got Simone Fisher 's main idea

B. focused on the lecture's details

C. showed little interest in the lecture

D. didn't agree with what Simone had said

3.When hearing Erik's questions, Simone would most probably think .

A. they are very good questions

B. Erik was an excellent listener

C. it was hard to answer the questions

D. his questions were meaningless

4.The passage is written to help those who want to be .

A. a good listener B. a financial planner

C. an excellent lecturer D. a successful employee

Good memories are usually thought to be connected with delicious food. It is really________for my experience. My grandmother’s spaghetti sauce was wonderful. On Sundays, our family would always gather around for dinner. The________of the sauce would fill the house and I’d breathe________with joy. My grandmother would slowly cook Italian sausages, potatoes, and pieces of chicken in the kitchen too. Then she’d boil enough spaghetti to_______a small army. When I ______sat down at the table, I could feel my taste buds(味蕾)jumping in ______in my mouth. _______the dinner was done, both my stomach and my heart would be full of happiness.

For years, I _______to copy my grandmother’s recipe, but was never able to get it exactly right. I would always _______out just the right amounts of garlic, salt, sugar, pepper and olive oil to add to the tomato sauce. I’d simmer(炖)it slowly and stir it with care, but it ______came out as good as hers. Finally one day it occurred to me that I was missing the ______ingredient that made hers so ______ : LOVE. You see, my grandmother always _______her spaghetti with a big smile, a gentle hug and the loving _____ : “Mangia! Mangia!”, which means “Eat! Eat!” I could always taste her_______for us in every bite.

Love is the secret ingredient in our ______too. The more you love, the sweeter your life will be. The more love you give to_______, the happier you will become.

I think I’ll try my hand at making my grandmother’s sauce again this week. It may never________as good as hers, _______it will bring back the memory of her love and laughter. And while I’m______stirring it, I may even imagine as if she was smiling at me.

1.A. awful B. true C. false D. imaginable

2.A. smell B. soup C. dishes D. food

3.A. briefly B. surprisedly C. accidently D. deeply

4.A. support B. feed C. reward D. serve

5.A. unwillingly B. immediately C. concern D. suddenly

6.A. wonder B. delight C. concern D. sadness

7.A. By the time B. The time C. Before the time D. The first time

8.A. managed B. pretended C. failed D. tried

9.A. measure B. find C. work D. make

10.A. usually B. ever C. never D. hardly

11.A. secret B. reasonable C. favorable D. forgettable

12.A. particular B. special C. beautiful D. creative

13.A. connected B. provided C. satisfied D. served

14.A. jokes B. names C. words D. songs

15.A. skill B. love C. kindness D. hope

16.A. life B. study C. dream D. career

17.A. others B. yourself C. grandmother D. grandchildren

18.A. look B. sound C. taste D. smell

19.A. and B. but C. so D. or

20.A. slowly B. quickly C. violently D. patiently

The white swan(天鹅) is among the most beautiful of birds. 1.. It floats quietly on the water, unable to sing sweet songs like most other birds.

In ancient times, however, people believed that the swan was given a special gift of song at the end of its life.

2..

The story of the swan's last song found a place in the works of other writers, including the early English writers Chaucer and Shakespeare.

3.. At first, swan song meant the last work of a poet, musician or writer. Now, it means the final effort of any person. Someone's swan song usually is also considered that person's finest work.

4.. The expression may be used to describe a politician's last campaign, his final attempt to win the cheers and votes of the people. The last hurrah also can mean the last acts of a politician, before his term in office ends.

Writer Edwin O'Connor made the expression popular in 1956. He wrote a book about the final years in the political life of a long-time mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. 5..

Some language experts say the expression came from a name given to noisy supporters of Andrew Jackson—America's seventh president. They cheered hurrah so loudly for Andy Jackson during his presidential campaign that they became known as the hurrah boys.

A. It is mostly silent through its life.

B. He called his book "The Last Hurrah".

C. It is often a symbol of love in many writers' works.

D. A political expression with a similar meaning is the last hurrah.

E. They believed a swan sings a most beautiful song just before it dies.

F. They believed the story of the swan's last song was lost to the world.

G. The expression swan song has long been a part of the English language.

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