The old couple who lived in a cottage on the edge of the village were envied for the happiness of their marriage. They never quarreled and were always affectionate to one another. Sadly, after thirty-four years of this happiness, the husband became ill and died.
The wife was overcome with grief. Her children tried to comfort her, but to no avail Her neighbors tried to comfort her, but with similar lack of success. Weeks and months went by, and still the woman was grieving; tears fell down her cheeks from morning till night.
Then a holy man came to the village. People told him about the woman, and asked him to try to help her. The holy man went to the woman’s house. Dressed in his rough woolen robe, he sat down with the grieving widow and listened, carefully, to her story. When she had spilled out all her sorrow, he reached into one of the deep pockets in his robe, and drew out a tiny, little mustard(芥末) seed. “I think I may have a cure for your grief,” he said. “I want you to go round the people in this region, and look for a family that has no sorrows. When you find this family, give them this little mustard seed, and then come back to me.
The woman set off in search of such a family. She visited every home in the district, and talked to the people. She listened to their stories, just as the holy man had listened to hers. In time, she almost forgot about the mustard seed, because every single family she met was carrying some kind of sorrow.
One day, she happened to meet the holy man again, and he stopped to ask how she was feeling. She was surprised at first, at his question, and then she suddenly remembered the mustard seed, still safely in her purse. “I’m sorry, I haven’t found a family without sorrows yet,” she told him. “But you yourself are cured of your grief,” he smiled. “The mustard seed is a great healer!”
【小题1】What does the underlined word “grieving” mean?

A.amusedB.sadC.angryD.astonished
【小题2】What did the holy man ask her to do to end her sorrow?
A.to go to church for help.
B.to live with the family that has no sorrows with the mustard seed.
C.to help others so that she can feel the happiness from the bottom of her heart.
D.to find a family that is always happy and give them the mustard seed before returning to him.
【小题3】How did the woman treat the families she visited?
A.She was a good listener.
B.She helped them to solve the problems they met.
C.She gave every family a mustard seed..
D.She told them her unfortunate story.
【小题4】Who on the earth heals the woman’s grief?
A.The mustard seedB.Her children
C.The families in the districtD.She herself

It was a week before Christmas, but things were far from cheery. Our task was to deliver as many boxes of food as possible to those in need in Camden, New Jersey. There were no Christmas carolers (唱颂歌的人) walking these streets that were lined with boarded-up (用木板封住的) houses and broken windows. Mothers kept their children close as they hurried down the streets.  It was mid-afternoon, but even the bright sun couldn't warm this place.
Red tickets in the windows marked which houses we were to visit. Our white truck stopped in front of one townhouse and our group knocked on the door. In our arms were boxes filled with ham, bread and other essentials to make the perfect Christmas dinner. Four small faces glanced through the curtains and one exhausted mom answered the door. She seemed embarrassed to be caught in her nightgown with undone hair. She was in her mid-20s, but her rough skin and tired eyes added years.
"Sacred Heart food delivery service," I smiled. "Where can we put this for you?"
She pointed and as we entered the house, I noticed the conditions they lived in. The children climbed around, wearing only diapers (尿布). There were no carpets, only cold concrete beneath our feet. There was no Christmas tree or decorations. My heart sank. It was so cold, and I found it hard to believe that this was reality for this family. We set the boxes down and the mother grabbed my hand.
"You don't know how much of a blessing this is to me and my family," she said, crying. "We are just getting by." I opened my arms and gave her a hug.
"Happy holidays!" I replied before I headed out the door. I realized how warm I felt inside.
This was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We cannot help what family we are born into, but we can help each other.
【小题1】From Paragraph 1, we can infer that Camden may be a place where ________.

A.the living conditions were terribleB.people had no belief
C.there was no sign of lifeD.little sunshine was received
【小题2】What impression did the woman leave on the author?
A.She was shy and cold to visitors.B.She was confident and energetic.
C.She wasn't good at dressing herself up.D.She looked much older than her age.
【小题3】By saying "We are just getting by", the woman meant __________.
A.they were waiting for helpB.they were looking for food and clothing
C.they were going to move awayD.they were living a very poor life
【小题4】The passage mainly tells us that _______________.
A.the poor can also help othersB.assisting the poor needs actions
C.people should help each otherD.having more children causes poverty

Summerfest Arts Faire 2010
Summerfest Arts Faire is an arts festival in Logan, Utah, celebrating local, regional and national artists. Visitors can expect to see high quality artworks from nationally recognized artists. Summerfest also features live entertainment and a variety of delicious food.
Place: 50 North Main Street, Logan, UT 84321
Dates: June 17-June 19, 2010
Time: Thursday-Saturday 1:00 pm-10:00 pm
Venture Outdoors Festival
The 5th Annual Venture Outdoors Festival is a celebration of outdoor recreation (娱乐). This unique festival is designed to increase knowledge and understanding of and participation (参与) in the many recreational activities available in Utah. This family-friendly event features live music, guest speakers, giveaways, creative children’s activities, and great food all day long.
Place: 3100 South 2900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Date: June 19, 2010
Time: Saturday 3:00 pm -10:00 pm
The Days of ‘47 KSL 5 Parade (游行)
The parade is one of the largest and oldest parades in the United States. Colorful floats, bands, horses and clowns thrill tens of thousands of people each year. Many parade-goers camp out on the streets the night before just to make sure of a great position to catch it all.
Place: 900 South 700 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Date: July 24, 2010
Time: Saturday 9:00 am
Taylorsville Dayzz 2010
Experience Taylorsville Dayzz 2010, a celebration of the city’s birthday. Enjoy a 5K Family Run, Carnival, Food and Exhibit Booths and Fireworks. Listen to a live concert by Taylorsville Symphony and Utah Symphony, and a live performance of Jayson Hewlett (an American entertainer).
Place: 5100 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84118
Dates: June 25-June 28, 2010
Time: Monday 8:00 pm, Friday 7:00 pm, Saturday 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
【小题1】If you have to go to work in the afternoon, you can only take part in        .

A.Summerfest Arts Faire 2010B.Venture Outdoors Festival
C.The Days of ‘47 KSL 5 Parade D.Taylorsville Dayzz 2010
【小题2】A person who wants to watch fireworks can go to       .
A.50 North Main Street, Logan, UT 84321
B.3100 South 2900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
C.900 South 700 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
D.5100 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84118
【小题3】Which of the following time is proper for one to enjoy a live concert?
A.Monday 8:00 am.B.Friday 6:00 pm.C.Saturday 9:00 pm.D.Sunday 10:00 pm.
【小题4】We can learn from the text that       .
A.The Days of ‘47 KSL 5 Parade attracts a large crowd
B.Summerfest Arts Faire 2010 is mainly intended for writers
C.people can take part in various matches at Taylorsville Dayzz 2010
D.Venture Outdoors Festival will become more and more popular

For as early as I could remember, my mother had been a bright, cheerful woman deeply interested and involved in the world around her. However, in the last fifteen years of her life, she had to live with senile dementia (老年痴呆). I would go to my home to pay her a visit in California and she would curiously look at me and then ask, “Who are you?” I would answer, “I’m your own son, of course.” “Where do you live?” She would ask. “In Virginia”, I would tell her. “Isn’t that interesting,” she would say, “I have a son in Virginia.”

Mother seemed only forgetful as well as confused at the beginning of that disease, but sometime later she would go through different time of intense anxiety. She would keep walk ing through the house she used to live in most of her life crying uneasily that she would like to go home. Or sometimes she left home and wandered away if she were unattended for a short time.

Hoping to make her happy and put her mind at ease I would take her in my car, visiting sites where she used to live when she was a child. In the yard of the hillside house in Shipman I sat in the car and admired the view of the old oaks and long green lawn(草坪). I pictured my mother there was a little girl playing with the pet lamb she had been so fond of. I looked to her for some response. She shook her head and said, “I want to go home.”

Over the years I have decided that what my mother was calling home was not a place, but a time. I think it was a time when she was much younger, when her children were still underfoot, when her husband was still energetic and attentive.

Watching my mother’s suffering set me wondering where I would have in mind if someday I couldn’t find home and wanted to go there. In this family we tend to be long-lived and we grow fuzzy (糊涂的) minded as the years go by. At eighty I have already noticed some alarming symptoms. My doctor says the forgetfulness is only natural and that it comes with age. Still the fear of senile dementia is haunting there. Someday if and when I become even more cloudy minded than I am now, unable to drive and unable to tell you where "home" is, my dear son, I expect I will ask you to take me home, I know you will do your best to find the place I need to be. I leave these notes for your guidance.

1.What’s the main idea of the first and second paragraphs?

A. The mother of the author could not find her home.  

B. The mother of the author could not remember who’s his son.

C. The author’s mother suffered with serious senile dementia.

D. The author didn’t know how to cure his mother.

2.Which of the following is NOT the symptom of the mother of the author?      

A. forgetful                         B. confused      C. cheerful       D. uneasy

3.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “picture”?

A. photograph                  B. describe                 C. appear                   D. paint

4.What can you infer from the third paragraph?

A. The author cared much about his mother.    

B. The mother of the author liked pet lambs very much.

C. The author found a very little girl who was playing with a pet lamb.

D. The mother of the author did not like her usual home.

5.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Where Is Home?                                              B. A story about a son and a mother.

C. Everyone will suffer with senile dementia.              D. Take Mother Home.

 

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