Everybody knows the saying “Two steps forward and three steps back”. That described my life pretty well as a single mom. I was raising two teenagers on a teacher’s aide’s salary. It wasn’t nearly enough to cover the bills, so I moonlighted as a waitress. Every time I thought that I had found a solution to my money worries, something would fall through and I would end up feeling worse off than before.

The next evening at the restaurant I tried on my apron, wishing I could be home with my kids. I walked up to my first table. Around it was a cheerful older couple. The woman gave me a smile that warmed me. I couldn’t help but notice her unusual glass ring. “What a beautiful ring,” I said. We chatted for a minute then I took their order and left. When I came back with their drinks, the woman held out her ring. “I would like to give this to you,” she said.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t,” I said, embarrassed.

She gently placed the ring in my hand and closed my fingers around it. “It’s yours,” she said. “Please accept it and your things are going to be okay.” Right there at their table in the middle of the restaurant I broke down in tears. “Thank you for giving me hope,” I said.

Long after that night, that sense of peace stayed with me. I knew the right job would come in time. Nine months later it did. I got a better position at another school and I started waitressing at a restaurant where I was allowed to spend more time with my kids.

Now in these tough times, I have money worries again, but they don’t get me down. I know things will turn out okay. And when I wear that unusual glass ring, I’m reminded I’m not alone.

1.From the saying “Two steps forward and three steps back”, it means the writer_______.

A.liked stepping forward and backward

B.had difficulty raising her family

C.couldn’t walk regular like other people

D.wanted to look for a better job

2.The writer worked as a waitress in the restaurant in order to_______.

A.live with her children

B.serve the older couple

C.search for a glass ring

D.make more money

3.Hearing the woman’s words, the writer felt .

A.moved

B.embarrassed

C.puzzled

D.successful

4.From the fifth paragraph we can know the writer believed that_______.

A.her children loved her very much

B.she could find a better restaurant

C.the glass ring would bring her good luck

D.it was easy to get a right job

5.Now the writer’s attitude toward her life is_______.

A.positive B.disappointed

C.proud D.worried

There has been an outpouring of love for a 23-year-old disabled woman whose dog was killed in front of her while a groomer(美容师) tried to trim(修剪) its claws.

Calls and e-mails came from as far away as the Upper Peninsula and Arizona as well as Oakland and Macomb counties, offering Laurie Crouch, who uses a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis(硬化症), everything from dogs to money, such as that from Jason Daly of Roseville who said, “ I would like to buy her a new dog.”

A story about the death of Crouch’s pet, Gooch, was printed on the front page of Macomb Daily. Crouch said a man sat on the dog to trim its nails. Gooch died after one claw was trimmed.

Crouch yelled at the groomer to stop when she saw Gooch was struggling to breathe, but she said she was ignored. “If I could have walked, I would have put my hands on her and pulled her off my dog and physically stopped her, but I can’t do that.” Gooch was not a trained service animal, but naturally helped Crouch by picking up things for her.

“This case is absolute animal abuse(虐待),” Larry Obrecht, division manager of the Oakland County Animal Shelter in Auburn Hills, said.

People who read the story contacted Oakland Press to offer help. A message, from Rebecca Amett of Giggles N Wiggles Puppy Rescue, in Roseville, said, “We have puppies to donate … and want to help the young woman who lost her service dog.”

“When Gooch was with me, I was happy,” Crouch said, “I think I can be happy again but no animal can replace Gooch. There’s never going to be another Gooch out there but I think I will find a dog that can bring me joy again.”

1.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. A disabled woman’s service dog.

B. A cruel groomer killed a disabled woman’s dog.

C. People’s love for a disabled woman who lost her dog.

D. Disabled woman loves to have the dog as company.

2.People called and emailed to .

A. offer help and care to Laurie Crouch.

B. give their angry voice to the groomer.

C. offer a cure for Crouch’s disease.

D. tell Crouch how to punish the groomer.

3.We can infer from the passage that .

A. Crouch refused to take another dog.

B. Crouch must be sad after losing her dog.

C. Crouch has accepted another dog from a stranger.

D. Crouch can live well without a dog’s company.

Food serves as a form of communication in two fundamental ways. Sharing bread or other foods is a common human tradition that can promote unity and trust. Food can also have a specific meaning, and play a significant role in a family or culture's celebrations or traditions. The foods we eat—and when and how we eat them—are often unique to a particular culture or may even differ between rural (农村的) and urban areas within one country.

Sharing bread, whether during a special occasion (时刻) or at the family dinner table, is a common symbol of togetherness. Many cultures also celebrate birthdays and marriages with cakes that are cut and shared among the guests. Early forms of cake were simply a kind of bread, so this tradition hits its roots in the custom of sharing bread.

Food also plays an important role in many New Year celebrations. In the southern United States, pieces of corn bread represent blocks of gold for prosperity (兴旺) in the New Year. In Greece, people share a special cake called vasilopita. A coin is put into the cake, which signifies (预示) success in the New Year for the person who receives it.

Many cultures have ceremonies to celebrate the birth of a child, and food can play a significant role. In China, when a baby is one month old, families name and welcome their child in a celebration that includes giving red-colored eggs to guests. In many cultures, round foods such as grapes, bread, and moon cakes are eaten at welcome celebrations to represent family unity.

Nutrition is necessary for life, so it is not surprising that food is such an important part of different cultures around the world.

1.According to the passage, sharing bread______.

A. indicates a lack of food

B. can help to develop unity

C. is a custom unique to rural areas

D. has its roots in birthday celebrations

2.What does the coin in vasilopita signify for its receiver in the New Year?

A. Trust. B. Success.

C. Health. D. Togetherness.

3.The author explains the role of food in celebrations by______.

A. using examples B. making comparisons

C. analyzing causes D. describing processes

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The custom of sharing food.

B. The specific meaning of food.

C. The role of food in ceremonies.

D. The importance of food in culture.

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