I never thought I would have a life?changing experience at Wal?Mart.

Although my thoughts were only on speedthe checkout line I was standing in wasn’t moving as quickly as I wantedand I glanced toward the cashier.

There stood a man in his seventieswearing glasses and a nice smile.I thoughtwellhe’s an old guy!

For the next few minutes I watched him.He greeted every customer before scanning the items.Surehis words were the usual“How’s it going” But he did something different—he actually listened to people.Then he would respond to what they had said and engage them in brief conversation.

I thought it was odd.I had grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of robotic conversational habit.After a whileyou don’t give any thought to the question and just mumble something back.I could say“I just found out I have six months to live” and someone would reply“Have a great day

But that wasn’t the end.

He gave them the changewalked around the counterand extended his right hand in an act of friendship.He looked the customers in the eyes.“I sure want to thank you for shopping here today” he told them.“You have a great day.Bye?bye.”

The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless.There were smiles and some sheepish grins.All had been touched by his simple gesture—and in a place they never expected.They would gather their things and walk outsmiling.

Of coursehe did the same to me and I got to know his nameMarty.

Who was that guyIt was as if Sam Walton had come back from the dead and invaded this old guy’s body.

I had never walked away from that shop feeling like that.

1.The checkout line the writer was standing in moved slower than expected because ________.

Athe cashier couldn’t work as fast as others

Bthere were some big purchases

Cthe cashier did more than scanning the items

Dthe writer was not patient enough

2.According to the writerwhen common people ask you “How’s it going” ________.

Athey don’t really care what you may answer

Bthey are just practicing their conversation ability

Cthey are inquiring about your private information

Dthey don’t expect to hear any negative answers

3.What was most customers’ reaction to Marty’s behaviors?

AThey thought it priceless.

BThey were in some way moved.

CThey thought it awful and odd.

DThey felt somewhat offended.

4.What does the writer intend to express through the text?

AOur everyday life is always full of surprises.

BMost customers enjoy being treated this way.

CBeing different is a good way of doing business.

DA little positive action can make a big difference.

 

For most people, graduation is an exciting day – the culmination (顶点) of years of hard work. My graduation day... was not.

I remember that weekend two years ago, Family and friends had traveled far to watch our class walk across the stage. But like everyone else in my graduating class, I had watched the economy go from bad to worse during my senior year. We graduates had degrees, but very limited prospects (前景). I hadn’t secured a job, and I knew that the next day, when my lease (租约) ended, I would no longer have a place to call home.

The weeks ahead weren’t easy. I gathered up everything I couldn’t carry and put it into storage. Then, because I had no opportunities in my small university town, I packed up my car and drove to California to find work. But what I thought would take a week dragged into two, then four, and 100 job applications later, I found myself still jobless. The due date to begin paying back my student loans was creeping even closer.

Have you ever felt utter dread? That feeling became a constant in my life. The most frustrating part was no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t seem to make any progress.

So what did I do to maintain my sanity? I wrote. Something about putting my words on a page made everything clearer. Something about writing gave me hope.

I channeled my frustration into a children’s book. Beyond the river was the story of an unlikely hero, a little fish who refused to give up.

And then one day, with no writing degree or contacts in the writing world – just hard work and perseverance – I was offered a publishing contract for my first book. After that, things were in place, I was offered a second book deal. Then, a few months later, I got an interview with the Walt Disney Company and was hired shortly after.

The moral of this story is… don’t give up, even if things look bleak now.  Two years ago I was drinking cold soup right out the can. Things change. All we need is the courage to push beyond the river.

1.When it was time to graduate, the author felt _____.

A.Bored            B.Relieved          C.depressed         D.hopeful

2.After the author’s graduation, _____.

A.he went on a short trip with his family to California

B.things turned even worse than he had expected

C.he focused on writing instead of applying for jobs

D.he found his salary was hardly enough to pay back his student loans

3.When did the author’s career life begin to run smoothly according to the article?

A.After he got his first publishing contract.

B.After he began to write his book Beyond the river.

C.After he finished his book Beyond the river.

D.After he got hired by the Walt Disney Company.

4.What is the main message the story intends to convey?

A.Opportunity lies everywhere.

B.Perseverance is essential to success.

C.It’s important to adapt yourself to society.

D.We should devote ourselves to whatever we do.

 

E

Safety information for study abroad

Remember you are responsible for the choices you make regarding your safety! Be careful all the time. Not knowing about the culture, language, people and situations may put you at higher risk. Learn what women and men do in the culture to protect themselves.

☆ Avoid walking alone at night. Do not agree to meet a person whom you do not know in a lonely place. Be cautious when meeting new people. Don’t give out your address and phone number to strangers or let out too much personal information about yourself.

☆ Do not attract attention to yourself by speaking English loudly in public in America or wearing expensive jewelry. These manners will certainly attract thieves, or worse. Do not be afraid to be impolite when faced with unwanted situations. Do not let anyone push you into taking risks. If you feel unsafe, you probably are.

☆ Taxis are not safe everywhere, especially late at night. Men and women are often robbed by taxi drivers. In many cities, taxis have gotten so dangerous that people use Radio Taxis to get the names of good companies.

☆ When using public telephones, especially in a lonely place, stand facing out so you can see your surroundings. If someone stops you to ask for the time or to ask for directions, step away to a distance that is safer. Why would they consider asking an obviously foreign person for directions?

☆ Your life will always be more important than any of your possessions (财产). Let them go and run away if necessary.

57. For whom is the passage written?

A. Parents who worry about the safety of their children.

B. Foreign people who are traveling in the USA.

C. Those students who are studying abroad.   

D. People who are interested in foreign culture.

58. What does the underlined word “cautious” probably mean?

A. Friendly.     B. Careful.       C. Active.       D. Calm.

59. You are advised not to speak English loudly in public in America because _______.

A. others will laugh at your bad English  

B. it is bad manners to speak loudly in American culture

C. you will attract too much attention to yourself

D. other people will ask more information about yourself

60. What should you do to protect yourself while studying abroad?

A. Taking public transportation whenever you go out.

B. Not considering others’ feelings as long as you like.

C. Not offering help to anyone in the street. 

D. Having a high sense of safety at any time.

 

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