题目内容
India first, college can wait!
It was an opportunity 19-year-old Jodi Sagorin felt she couldn’t pass up.
The California student had received an admission letter to New York University, but she wanted to follow a calling to volunteer in India. When she got an offer to do just that, she decided there would be no better time to do it.
“It matches everything I’m interested in,” she said. “It’s just one of those things; it was meant to be.”
Last month, Sagorin packed up her belongings and headed over to Uttar Pradesh as an intern(实习生) for Drishtee, an organization that works for the economic and social development for the needy in India.
During her stay in India — for up to seven months — Sagorin will help with programs involving micro-finance, entrepreneurship(创业), healthcare and women’s empowerment.
Since her younger days, Sagorin had read inspiring stories of change makers throughout the world and decided she wanted to get involved somehow.
She decided volunteering would be the path she’d take and NYU could wait. She wanted to make a difference even when others said it wouldn’t be possible.
When Sagorin broke the news about deciding to put off college, her parents felt pride, nervousness, fear and excitement.
“We’re really proud of her of wanting to do this,” said Mike Sagorin, her father. “We’re a little concerned about a 19-year-old girl going out there by herself and hope she’ll be safe.”
Sagorin and her family researched everything they could about the organization and bought more than a dozen books about the country.
Before her trip to India, Sagorin raised $3,500 to pay for her travel and living expenses, along with some to donate to the people she would work with in India.
She has promised to send various levels of gifts — from a personal postcard to a personalized video touring the Taj Mahal — to those who pledge money towards her trip.
(Visit Sagorin’s blog at ifyouneverdid. com for more information.)
56. Sagorin chose to go to India instead of New York University because ____.
A. she decided that going to university would be a waste of time
B. she could put off college but only had one chance to volunteer in India
C. she had long dreamed of going to India to work for the needy there
D. New York University didn’t appeal to her
57. Sagorin became volunteer as a result of ____.
A. her determination to change the world B. her parents’ encouragement and help
C. the training she’s received at school D. being inspired by Drishtee volunteers
58. Which statement shows that Sagorin’s parents supported her decision?
A. They were a little worried about her safety in India.
B. They gave money for her travel and living expenses.
C. They helped her to get more information about India.
D. They were proud of her for choosing not to go to university.
59. The underlined word “pledge” probably means ____.
A. help to collect B. decide to return C. refuse to donate D. promise to give
60. What is the main point of the article?
A. To prove helping the needy is a great experience.
B. To call on teenagers to follow Sagorin’s example.
C. To introduce a volunteer named Sagorin and the decision she made.
D. To encourage more volunteers to work for Drishtee.
BACDC
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I came to India a year ago to find a village in which I could live and write but it was many months before I settled down happily in this Himalayan community.I wasted a lot of time looking for the “typical” village, yet no such thing exists. Conditions vary too widely.But the villages I stayed in had much in common—poverty, dirt, ignorance. Often the villagers themselves were puzzled, suspicious. Why had I come? I had put aside my work as a political journalist because my ideas had changed. I had come to believe that what was happening in the Third World was more important than anything else. But to understand how three quarters of the world’s people live, and how their future might affect ours, I felt that I first had to try and share their way of life.In the end I chose a mountain village because it was a little cooler than those in the plains. I took the bus from town along a bumpy road. Then came a rough walk down a steep path to the river. After this I began the climb into the Mils. Whenever I stopped to catch my breath, there was a magnificent view. After several hours’ walk the village came into view.
【小题1】After the writer had arrived in India,________.
| A．he spent a year writing about the place he lived in |
| B．he spent quite some time looking for a suitable place to live in |
| C．he stayed in an Indian village working for the poor |
| D．he lived in a Himalayan community for many months. |
| A．he was searching for the impossible |
| B．all the villages were exactly the same |
| C．he was doing something enjoyable |
| D．the villagers were curious about him |
| A．had been a successful politician |
| B．had made a decision to work for India |
| C．had studied India culture for some months |
| D．had worked for newspapers and magazines |
As a boy growing up in India，I had longed to travel abroad. I used to listen to the stories my father would tell me about his stay in Canada and tours to Europe in the 1970s’ with great interest.
My big moment finally came in the summer of 1998 when I was able to accompany my parents to Europe，where my father was to attend a meeting. We planned to travel to Belgium，Netherlands and West Germany.
I have vivid memories even today of going to Mumbai airport at night all excited about finally going abroad. I had heard several great things about Lufthansa till then but now I finally got to experience them first hand during the flight to Frankfurt. We flew business class and even today I can remember the excellent service by the Lufthansa crew. The flight was really smooth and thoroughly enjoyable，even for someone like me，who is otherwise scared of flying.
After spending almost two weeks in Europe，we took the Lufthansa airport express from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt airport for our return flight. What a journey that was! All along the Rhine (莱茵河)，it was simply an unforgettable experience. I was in a sombre mood on the flight back to Mumbai as it marked the end of a wonderful vacation，but the Lufthansa crew members were able to change it into a most enjoyable experience yet again，with the quality of their service.
Being the first airline to take me overseas，Lufthansa will always hold a special place in my heart. Even today，I continue to enjoy flights on Lufthansa and simply cannot dream of choosing any other airline. Flying，in general，for me，has always been an ordeal (terrible and painful experience)．Flying on Lufthansa，however，is something I always have and always will look forward to.
【小题1】Which country does the author live in now?
| A．India. | B．Canada. | C．Belgium. | D．Germany. |
| A．Growing up in India. |
| B．Once staying in Canada. |
| C．Once traveling to Canada with his father. |
| D．His father's stories about his traveling experiences. |
| A．The author traveled with one of his parents. |
| B．Both their going and return were by air. |
| C．They traveled in spring that year. |
| D．They stayed in Europe for nearly two months. |
| A．a city in India | B．a city in Europe | C．an airline company | D．a travel agency |
| A．happy | B．sad | C．angry | D．enjoyable |
What’s delicious to eat and comes in a variety of colors? Eggplant! And no, it has nothing to do with chickens! This strangely named vegetable is, however, as versatile as an egg．It can be steamed, fried, and baked．It can be eaten by itself or combined with meats and other vegetables．
Eggplant was first grown in India in the 5th century BC．Its popularity soon spread to China and then throughout Asia．Finally, during the Middle Ages the vegetable made its way to Europe．At that time, eggplant was not the shiny purple vegetable most people know today．Instead, it’s like a white egg．Due to this egg - like appearance, eggplant got its name．In its early days, the vegetable was so bitter that people often called it a “mad apple.” This nickname started because people believed its bitterness was bad for one' s health．People actually thought eggplant could cause madness and cancer．
Fortunately today people know that eggplant doesn't cause insanity or cancer．In fact eggplant is so healthy that it may prevent cancer．In addition, the brain and the heart benefit from this super vegetable．Since it's high in fibre, eggplant can improve digestion．
Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant in the world today．Depending on its location, eggplant may be purple, green, orange or yellow - white．And it can be as small as a tomato or as large as a cucumber．Dish varieties range from simple to complex, with all of them being delicious．
Today, thousands of people gather in Loomis, Calif, for the annual Loomis Eggplant Festival．The main activity at the festival is eating delicious eggplant dishes．There is plenty more to do and see, though．Recipe contests, arts and crafts, performers, races and children's activities all “egg – cite” festival - goers．Most people at the festival would agree—eggplant is an “egg—cellent” vegetable．
【小题1】Eggplant got its name because of its _____．
| A．appearance | B．taste | C．color | D．value |
| A．It can be cooked in various ways． |
| B．It is easy to digest． |
| C．It can prevent cancer． |
| D．It is valuable and priceless． |
| A．Eggplant can be eaten to cure cancer |
| B．Eggplant used to taste bitter． |
| C．India produce the most eggplant in the world today． |
| D．Eggplant has a history of nearly 1,000 years． |
| A．see arts and crafts |
| B．enjoy food with eggplants |
| C．take part in recipe contests |
| D．promote eggplant |