In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what “keeping up with the Joneses” is about. It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbors.

The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $ 125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants. Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors.    

It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They had to move back to an apartment in New York City.

Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich lifestyle of their neighbors. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it “Keeping up with the Joneses” because “Jones” is a very common name in the United States. “Keeping up with the Joneses” came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand’s series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years.

People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are “Joneses” in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.

1.Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ______.

A.want to be as rich as their neighbours

B.want others to know or to think that they are rich

C.don’t want others to know they are rich

D.want to be happy

2.It can be inferred from the story that rich people like to ________.

A.live outside New York City

B.live in New York City

C.live in apartments

D.live with many neighbours

3.What’s the author’s attitude to keeping up with the Joneses?

A.Negative.

B.Positive.

C.Supportive.

D.Objective.

 

When I was a teenager I volunteered to work at the water station at a 10,000m race. My job was to   34   water to the runners. I remember being so  35   to see all the different kinds of people who passed by and grabbed a cup of water. Some ran past, some walked past and a few wheeled past. I saw so many types of people doing it. I thought maybe I could do it too! So the next year I 36  up for the race.

That first 10,000m race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked  37  , I didn’t know if I could finish. Then came a defining (决定性)  38  .

At one point near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me, very, very fast, and I felt  39  because I was 50 years younger than he but I couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt  40  for a second.

But then I realized something. He was running his race and I was running mine. He had  41   abilities, experience, training and goals for himself. I had mine. Remember my  42  was only to finish.

After a minute, it  43  me that this was a lesson I could draw from. I learned something about myself in that moment. I turned my embarrassment into 44    .

I decided that I would not give up on running races. In fact, I would run even more races and I would learn how to train and prepare  45 and one day I would be one of those 70-year-old persons who were still running. As I crossed the finish line, I was proud of my accomplishment. In life we all have those moments where we  46  ourselves to others. It’s only natural . Don’t allow those moments to  47  you. Turn them into motivation and let them inspire you. With the proper preparation and training, you can improve your result to 48  anything you want in life.

1.A. bring out    B. pass out    C. take out       D. pick out

2.A. excited      B. worried     C. concerned       D. anxious

3.A. gave       B. made         C. signed    D. dressed

4.A. At times   B. In time      C. In all      D. After all

5.A. victory   B. decision     C. moment      D. conclusion

6.A. embarrassed   B. annoyed    C. moved       D. thrilled

7.A. relaxed      B. defeated    C. puzzled  D. inspired

8.A. special    B. evident      C. common        D. different

9.A. motto      B. plan        C. goal         D. direction

10.A. worried      B. hit      C. reached    D. hurt

11.A. attraction    B. devotion     C. inspiration  D. expectation

12.A. slightly     B. hardly   C. clearly      D. properly

13.A. introduce   B. relate  C. present      D. compare

14.A. weaken     B. wound    C. amuse         D. cheer

15.A. reserve    B. deliver    C. achieve        D. abandon

 

Homestay provides English language students with the opportunity to speak English outside the classroom and the experience of being part of a British home.

What to Expect

The host will provide accommodation and meals. Rooms will be cleaned and bedcovers changed at least once a week. You will be given the house key and the host is there to offer help and advice as well as to take an interest in your physical and mental health.

Accommodation Zones

Homestays are located in London mainly in Zones2,3 and 4 of the transport system. Most hosts do not live in the town center as much of central London is commercial and not residential(居住的).Zones3 and 4often offer larger accommodation in a less crowed area. It is very convenient to travel in London by Underground.

Meal Plans Available

?Continental Breakfast

?Breakfast and Dinner

?Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

It’s important to note that few English families still provide a traditional cooked breakfast.Your accommodation includes Continental Breakfast which normally consists of fruit juice, cereal (谷物类食品), bread and tea or coffee. Cheese, fruit and cold meat are not normally part of a Continental Breakfast in England. Dinners usually consist of meat or fish with vegetables followed by desert, fruit and coffee.

Friends

If you wish to invite a friend over to visit, you must first ask your host’s permission. You have no right to entertain friends in a family home as some families feel it is an invasion of their privacy.

Self-Catering Accommodation in Private Homes

Accommodation on a room-only basis includes shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and often a main living room. This kind of accommodation offers an independent lifestyle and is more suitable for the long-stay student. However, it does not provide the same family atmosphere as an ordinary homestay and may not benefit those who need to practice English at home quite as much.

1.What can be inferred from Paragraph3?

A.Zone 4 is more crowded than Zone 2.

B.Hosts dislike travelling to the city centre.

C.The business centre of London is in Zone1.

D.Accommodation in the city center is not provided.

2.According to the passage, what does Continental Breakfast include?

A.Dessert and coffee.

B.Bread and fruit juice.

C.Fruit and vegetables.

D.Centre and cold meat.

3.Why do some people choose self-catering accommodation?

A.To experience a warmer family atmosphere.

B.To enrich their knowledge of English.

C.To enjoy much more freedom.

D.To entertain friends as they like.

 

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