Count Me Out

Call me old-fashioned. Call me old. Call me what you want, but I refuse to become part of this new Internet world.

I do not possess a computer at home or at the office. Actually, I stopped going to an office 35 years ago, when all communications were done with a pen, a typewriter, or, if the matter was of world-shaking importance, over the telephone. Likewise, if you like something advertised in a newspaper or magazine, you visited the shop selling it at the given address, or you phoned the number shown. Then you spoke to the fellow and asked for further details.

Tell me what you think of the following ad that appeared the other day in the newspaper. It was for a cure for cancer and this is what it said: “Awareness is the key. Visit spfulford. com at the awareness site.” There was no address or telephone number for the site. So what do unfortunate people without a computer do if they are seeking a cure for their illness?

There are, I am told, certain advantages in having access to the Internet. You can, for example, send love messages across the world or even get married to someone that you meet online. This bit doesn’t interest me; I have been happily married for 60 years. There are, of course, other activities for Internet users besides finding love. They can pay bills, order groceries, or discuss with their doctors.

And this is by no means all. More amazing things are yet to come in the near future. I read a newspaper report recently that quoted Stephen Hawking, an important British scientist. “The complexity of a computer as it exists today is probably less than the brain of an earthworm,” he said. “But, as technology advances, computers will become more complex, and a time may come when the Internet may develop ‘consciousness.’ In other words, the Internet will be able to think, have feelings, and may well be able to act on its own.”

If Professor Hawking is right, I may change my attitude to computers. As I grow older each day, I would like one of those that not only thinks for me but also accepts responsibilities for all my mistakes.

1.

What’s the meaning of the title “Count Me Out”?

A.Get me out of the Internet world.

B.Computers are trying to take control of life.

C.Modern technology pushes old people away.

D.Do not expect me to be a supporter of the Internet.

2.

According to Paragraph 2, the author thinks computers are         .

A.unnecessary

B.convenient

C.expensive

D.advanced

3.

What might the author like about the future computer?

A.Taking blames.

B.Curing illnesses.

C.Delivering messages.

D.Responding to emotions.

 

Dear Daddy,

You’ve been gone for six years and I’ve had time to think.Now I’m ready to write this letter to you.

For a long time after Mom died,I thought I liked her more because I didn’t like your tough guy attitude and I thought that her softer side was more desirable.In my 15­year­old’s mind,I thought you could have stopped my mother from drinking herself to death.Instead,you were off playing tennis and working.Later,I realized that no one could make someone stop drinking.Support is important,but at the end of the day,it is a choice.You were just doing your best.

What I have learned is that I am much like you.You taught me self­confidence.I know if I am prepared to work hard enough for something,I will be successful.This is no small thing.What I’ve realized since you died is that you were always there for me.You fought to ensure that I got my place on the Quebec badminton team that I had earned.When I got divorced,you came up to see if I had what I needed to take care of the boys and you paid off my car.

You taught me not to spend money I don’t have.I’ve always kept to that rule.It has served me well.We always had a good home to live in,nice vacations,and everything we needed and most of what we wanted.

You were not a perfect parent and neither am I.My children are much more thankful than I ever was.I am thankful that I had you as my dad.I am still Daddy’s girl and I am proud of it.

54.We can know the writer’s father________ .

A.always put his family in first place

B.didn’t understand his daughter

C.didn’t treat his daughter well

D.died six years ago

55.Which of the following things did the writer’s father teach her?

a.self­confidence  b.to love doing sports

c.not to hate anybody    d.to spend money properly

A.abc                                                B.bd  

C.cd                                                  D.ad

56.What can we infer from the letter?

A.The writer’s father cared about her very much.

B.The writer didn’ t have a good childhood.

C.The writer’s children don’t love her.

D.The writer now lives alone.

57.From the last paragraph we know the writer________.

A.thinks she is a much better parent than her dad

B.is thankful for everything she has

C.considers her father to be perfect

D.is proud to have such a father

Dear Daddy,

You’ve been gone for six years and I’ve had time to think. Now I’m ready to write this letter to you.

For a long time after Mom died, I thought I liked her more because I didn’t like your attitude and I thought that her softer side was more desirable. In my 15-year-old’s mind, I thought you could have stopped my mother from drinking herself to death. Instead, you were off playing tennis and working. Later, I realized that no one could make someone stop drinking. Support is important, but at the end of the day, it is a choice. You were just doing your best.

What I have learned is that I am much like you. You taught me self-confidence. I know if I am prepared to work hard enough for something, I will be successful. This is no small thing. What I’ve realized since you died is that you were always there for me. You fought to ensure that I got my place on the Quebec badminton team that I had earned. When I got divorced (离婚), you came up to see if I had what I needed to take are of the boys and you paid off my car.

You taught me not to spend money I don’t have. I’ve always kept to that rule. It has served me well. We always had a good home to live in, nice vacations, and everything we needed and most of what we wanted.

You were not a perfect parent and neither am I. My children are much more thankful than I ever was. I am thankful that I had you as my dad. I am still Daddy’s girl and I am proud of it.

66.We can know the writer’s father        .

  A.always put his family in first place       B.didn’t understand his daughter

  C.didn’t treat his daughter well            D.died six years ago

67.The writer now doesn’t think her father        .

  A.was a good husband or father

  B.had the right attitude towards her

  C.was responsible for her mother’s death

  D.did his best to prevent her mother from drinking

68.Which of the following things did the writer’s father teach her?

  a.self-confidence                       b.to love doing sports

  c.not to hate anybody                   d.to spend money properly

  A.abc               B.bd             C.cd             D.ad

69.What can we infer from the letter?

  A.The writer’s father cared about her very much.

  B.The writer didn’t have a good childhood.

  C.The writer’s children don’t love her.

  D.The writer now lives alone.

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