Many Americans take their summer vacations in August. President Obama and his family are among them. This August the first family visited the Florida Gulf Coast. The president wants to promote tourism in the area after the BP oil spill (漏油). The first family took a ten-day vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts.
Martha’s Vineyard is known for the sailing, sunsets and its tall cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The island is about 13 kilometers off the coast and is less than 260 square kilometers. Homes designed like those of earlier times line the streets of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven. These are the major towns on Martha’s Vineyard.
For most of the year, the population of Martha’s Vineyard is about 15 000. In summer, more than 100 000 people crowd the island. In addition to the Obamas, you might see some Hollywood stars and other rich and famous people. Many visitors return year after year.
During warm weather the Vineyard is a good place for many different activities. People can play golf or catch fish. They can ride in sailboats or motor boats. They can waterski and swim. They can take quiet walks along sandy beaches and among the thick green trees.
One of the popular places for families with children is the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs. It is the oldest continually operated merry-go-round ride in the United States. The colorful wood horses that turn in a circle were created in 1876. One of the best places for children to swim is the Joseph A. Sylvia state beach. The water there is warmer and calmer. Families also enjoy the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary where they can observe much of the island wildlife.
Visitors watch the sunsets sitting on the beach and on rocks in the fishing village of Menemsha. As the sun goes down in the sky it paints yellow, red, and other colors on the clouds. Fishing boats rise and fall with the waves. Bells sound to help guide the boats to land as darkness covers the water.
Historians say British mapmaker Bartholomew Gosnold first made a map of the island for the rulers of England in 1602. Gosnold named the island to honor his baby daughter, Martha. The Vineyard part of the name came from the many wild grape vines Gosnold found on the island. Later, King Charles of England gave the island to businessman Thomas Mayhew of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, whose son established the first European settlement on the island in 1642. By the middle of the nineteenth century, ships from the American mainland began bringing visitors to the island. Big hotels were built near the edge of the water. Martha’s Vineyard was on its way to becoming the visitors center that it is today.
【小题1】.
We can infer that ______.

A.the BP oil spill has a negative effect on the tourism along the Florida Gulf Coast
B.the BP oil spill has contributed to the tourism along the Florida Gulf Coast
C.President Obama went to the Florida Gulf Coast to deal with the BP oil spill
D.this was the first time that President Obama and his family had taken the vacation on Martha’s Vineyard
【小题2】.
Which month is the peak time for tourism in Martha’s Vineyard?
A.January. B.August. C.December. D.March,
【小题3】.
If children want to see wild animals, the family should go to ______.
A.the Flying Horses Carousel B.the Sylvia state beach
C.the fishing village of Menemsha D.the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
【小题4】.
Bartholomew Gosnold named the island Martha in honor of _______.
A.his motherB.the king of England
C.his daughterD.his father

Dr.Sylvia Earle wants you to stop eating fish.It’s not because fish are endangered, though wild fish stocks in many oceans are very low.It’s not because they’re bad for you, though fish in many areas are exposed to poisonous substances in the water.It’s because they’re smart.
“Fish are sensitive, they have personalities,” says the marine biologist.For Earle, eating a fish would be like eating a dog or a cat.“I would never eat anyone I know personally.”
There’s a lot more to fish than meets the eye: they talk to each other, they like to be touched, and they engage in behavior that can seem very human.They can remember things and learn from experience.Earle and a growing number of animal rights activists see these as strong arguments against eating fish altogether.
The activists also point out that fish feel pain and fish suffer horribly on their way from the sea to the supermarket.“While it may seem obvious that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people think of fish as swimming vegetables,” says Dr.Lynne Sneddon.“Really, it’s kind of a moral question.Is the enjoyment you get from fishing (or eating fish) more important than the pain of the fish?”
Fishermen and (fried) fish lovers are doubtful.“I’ve never seen a smart fish,” says Marie Swaringen as she finishes off a plate of fish at a Seattle seafood restaurant.“If they were very smart,
they wouldn’t get caught.”
“For years, everyone’s been telling us to eat fish because it’s so good for us,” says another diner.“Now I’ve got to feel guilty while I’m eating my fish? What are they going to think of next? Don’t eat salad because cucumbers have feelings?”
64.Dr.Sylvia Earle discourage people from eating fish because _____________.
A.there are not that many wild fish in the ocean
B.fish actually are sensitive and have personalities
C.some ocean fish contain poisonous substances
D.fish are like dogs or cats that people know personally
65.We can infer from the passage that _____________.
A.all people don’t agree with the idea to stop eating fish
B.people will be persuaded not to eat fish in the future
C.stopping eating fish will lead to people’s not eating vegetables
D.we shouldn’t care too much about the feeling of fish
66.By saying “There’s a lot more to fish than meets the eye,” the writer means ____________.
A.there are far more fish than other animals in the world
B.there are more fish in the world than people can see
C.people can see more fish if they pay more attention
D.fish are not that simple as they appear to people’s eyes
67.What is the writer’s attitude towards people eating fish?
A.Neutral.    B.Indifferent.      C.Approving.      D.Opposed.

One spring, when I was 10, during one of my father’s layoffs, I could tell my mother was unhappy. I decided to cheer her up by buying her a special Mother’s Day gift.

One day after school I rode my bike to the Agins, which, I learned years later, was known for its high-end fashions and style. I introduced myself to Sylvia Agins, telling her I was looking for a Mother’s Day present.

“Do you think she’d like a purse?” she asked. “I think she might.” I told her.

She took out an Italian handbag made of leather. She asked me what I thought, and I told her that my mom would like it.

“How much money do you have?” she asked.

“Twelve dollars,” I said.

“You’re in luck,” she told me. “It’s only $11. You have a dollar left over for the card.” She wrapped the purse and thanked me for my business, and I rode off home with the package under my arm.

When my mother opened the gift the next Sunday morning, she asked in an accusing tone, “Where did you get this?”

“I bought it at the Agins. It cost me $11.” I said.

My mother was shocked into silence.

It wasn’t until many years later, when I learned that the purse was worth several hundred dollars, that I appreciated just how wonderful Sylvia Agins had been to me. I always felt regretful that I never had a chance to properly thank her.

“You know, my son, what really amazes me to this day,” my mother said. “Letting you have the purse for just a few dollars was unbelievable enough. But the fact that she let you leave the store with a dollar for the card was a touch of kindness that I’ll never forget.”

1.The author bought his mother a purse to_________.

A. surprise his mother                                         B. make his mother happy

C. show his ability of making money                     D. thank his mother for buying him a bike

2.Why was the author’s mother shocked into silence?

A. The purse was bought from the Agins.

B. She wasn’t expecting a gift from her son.

C. The author bought a card to go with the purse.

D. The Agins charged so little money for the purse.

3.Sylvia Agins’ behavior shows that_________.

A. she is critical and mean                                               B. she is kind and thoughtful

C. she is good at making money                                      D. she knows how to choose presents

4.What amazed the mother most was that_________.

A. the shop owner left one dollar for her son to buy a card

B. her son bought her a beautiful purse on Mother’s day

C. her son rode his bike to buy things by himself

D. the purse was worth several hundred dollars

5.Which can be the best title for the text?

A. An Unforgettable Event               B. A Considerate Mother

C. A Priceless Mother’s Day Gift          D. A Clever Shop Owner

 

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