题目内容
A very old tree had been growing quite slowly for many years. It was nearly the 1 tree in the forest, and it raised its head high above the 2 trees towards the sky like a king of trees.
One spring day, the wind brought a little seed and dropped it 3 the roots of the tree. Soon it grew into a plant. “I’ll climb to the top of the tree,” said 4 little plant. “They’ll see how quickly I can grow.” So it held tightly to the tree, climbed and climbed 5 it climbed up to the top branch. It said to the tree, “You have grown for a great many years, and I only began this summer – see 6 high I have got!”
But the old tree just said nothing at all. Later, a great storm came, bringing snow and heavy winds. The old tree didn’t mind the cold at all, but the poor little plant had grown so fast 7 it had forgotten to grow well. 8 that cold night it fell onto the ground. And that was the end of the little plant.
【解析】略
This is time of year when we think about giving and receiving presents. Can you find a little extra to give? On this page we suggest a few organizations you might like to help.
Littleton Children’s Home
We don’t want your money, but children’s toys, books and clothes in good condition would be very welcome.
Also—we are looking for friendly families who would take our children into their homes for a few hours or days as guests. You have so much—will you share it?
Phone Sister Thomas on 55671.
Children’s Hospice
We look after a small number of very sick children. This important work needs skill and love. We cannot continue without gifts of money to pay for more nursing staff. We also need story books and toys suitable for quiet games.
Please contact The Secretary, Little Children’s Hospice, Newby Road.w.^w.k.s.5*u.c.#o@m
Street Food
In the winter weather, it’s no fun being homeless. It’s even worse if you’re hungry. We give hot food to at least fifty people every night. It’s hard work, but necessary. Can you come and help? If not, can you find a little money? We use a very old kitchen, and we urgently need some new saucepans. Money for new ones would be most welcome indeed.
Contact Street Food, c/o Mary’s House, Elming Way, Littleton. Phone 27713.
Littleton Youth Club
Have you got an unwanted chair?—a record player?—a pot of paint?
Because we can use them!
We want to get to work on our meeting room!
Please phone 66231 and we’ll be happy to collect anything you can give us.
Thank you!
The Night Shelter
We offer a warm bed for the night to anyone who has nowhere to go. We rent the former Commercial Hotel on Green Street. Although it is not expensive, we never seem to have quite enough money. Can you let us have a few pounds? Any amount, however small, will be such a help.
Send it to us at 15, Green St, Littleton. Please make check payable to Night Shelter.
【小题1】Reading the passage, you might like to help these organizations which work for
A.homeless and sick children |
B.less fortunate members of our society |
C.hungry people who have no beds to sleep in |
D.friendly members of our society to help others |
A.Street Food | B.Night Shelter | C.Children’s Home | D.Children’s Hospice |
A.there are too many social problems in this country |
B.people are very poor during the time for giving presents |
C.warm-hearted people like to give away money |
D.this passage is taken from a local newspaper |
A.Children’s Home and Children’s Hospice | B.Youth Club and Children’s Home |
C.Children’s Hospice and Night Shelter | D.Youth Club and Night Shelter |
Expressions about water are almost as common as water itself.
The expression to be in hot water is a very old expression. Hot water was used five hundred years ago to mean being in trouble. One story says it got that meaning from the custom of throwing extremely hot water down on enemies attacking a castle.
That no longer happens. But we still get in hot water. When we are in hot water, we are in trouble. It can be any kind of trouble—serious or not so serious. A person who breaks a law can be in hot water with the police. A young boy can be in hot water with his mother, if he walks in the house with dirty shoes.
Beingin deep water is almost the same as being in hot water. When you are in deep water, you are in a difficult position.
To keep your head above water is a colorful expression that means staying out of debt. A company seeks to keep its head above water during economic hard times. A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until he finds a new job.
Water over the dam is another expression about a past event. It is something that is finished. It cannot be changed. The expression comes from the idea that water that has flowed over a dam cannot be brought back again.
Another common expression to hold water, is about the strength or weakness of an idea or opinion that you may be arguing about. It probably comes from a way of testing the condition of a container.; If it can hold water, it is strong and has no holes in it. If your argument can hold water, it is strong and does not have any holes.
Throwing cold water also is an expression that deals with ideas or suggestions. It means to not like an idea. For example, you want to buy a new car because the old one has some problems. But your wife throws cold water on the idea, because she says a new car costs too much.
【小题1】If Robert says he is in deep water, we may guess_________.
A.he is swimming under the water |
B.he is tired of changing shoes |
C.he nearly breaks a law |
D.he faces a difficult choice |
A.Keep your head above water. |
B.Throw cold water. |
C.It is water over the dam. |
D.It can hold water. |
A.weak | B.convincing | C.logical | D.disappointing |
A.to be in hot water |
B.to keep your head above water |
C.water over the dam |
D.to hold water |