Catherine Destivelle is a rock star. She loves rock, but she can’t sing or play the guitar! She is a rock climber and a big star in France and Italy. She is the most famous woman climber in the world because she often climbs without ropes. She climbs in many countries but most often in the French Alps near Chamonix, where she lives. She started climbing near her home in Paris when she was five. Then, at fourteen, she joined the French Alpine Club to learn more, but immediately she climbed better and more quickly than the older members of the club. She won her first competition in Italy in 1995.
Three years ago she found a new route up the Dru Mountain near Chamonix. The climb took eleven days and for four days the snow was so heavy that she could not move. Last year other climbers tried to follow the new Destivelle Route, but they failed. They are going to try again this year.
People always ask her about her climbing. She says, “I climb because I’m in love with mountains. I like touching the rock and reading the face of the rock. I like it a lot. I felt at home on the side of a mountain. I prepare well before I go, so I’m never worried.”
Catherine chooses new mountains from books—like buying from a shopping catalogue(目录)! “I see a nice mountain and I go to climb it!” Her next mountain is in Pakistan. She is going there next month. “It’s much bigger than the Dru, so it’s going to take longer to climb. An American climber, Jeff Lowe, is coming with me to help.”
【小题1】Catherine Destivelle is called ‘a star’ because ________.

A.she won a competition in 1995B.she loves rocks
C.she’s a famous woman climber D.she found a new route up to the Dru Mountain
【小题2】She had great trouble finding a new route up the Dru Mountain because _______.
A.she lost her wayB.the climb took 11 days
C.she needed help from an American climberD.there was heavy snow
【小题3】On the side of a mountain she feels _______.
A.independentB.easy and happyC.energetic and challenged D.nervous
【小题4】We can infer from the passage people often ask her “________”.
A.Why do you like climbing? B.Are you in love with an American climber?
C.Do you enjoy reading books on mountains?D.What do you do before you go climbing?

 

    So I’m driving the lovely and patient older daughter to work. At 7 a. m., she pushes the seat

warmer button as her new Honda zooms across L. A., the City of Padded Shoulders.

"Oh, look, I’m low on gas," she says.

First, we pick up her boss, then we pick up her other boss. They are all headed to Staples Center for some awards show. My daughter does something in public relations, I’m not sure what. But when this show comes along, she gets very busy.

"In the past two nights I’ve gotten, like, seven hours sleep," she notes, the implication being that I sleep all the time, which is pretty much true.

In Los Feliz, a dashboard light confirms that we are, indeed, low on fuel. This does not perturb my daughter.

"Don’t worry, we’ll get there," she says.

My daughter says nothing about getting back home, which is my job. I’ve just agreed to drop her off, so she can avoid traffic later. My task is simple, though now full of uncertainty.

I don’t know how I ended up dropping my daughter and her bosses off at 7 a.m. on a Sunday. I just know that J.D. Salinger may now be dead, but I still feel like Holden Caulfield -- at the mercy of too many yammering adults.

Now, I’ve had mixed luck with adults.

Apparently, my daughter’s job in PR is to keep everyone happy while telling the truth as much as possible. I sent her to college to study that. Now she is an expert.

"After you drop us off, you can get gas," my daughter assures me.

I have been her chauffeur for 26 years. By the time she was 3, I’d snapped her into a car seat some 14,000 times. I took her to seventh-grade dances, ski trips, college.

Even after all that, we continue to have a civil relationship, sort of a queen-mum-and-her-

driver sort of dynamic. When I screw up, she just raises her pretty chin and snorts. It’s very British.

By the way, my daughter now has a nicer car than I do, which is a sign she is doing well. Or, as with so many young people, she is up to her hoop earrings in consumer debt.

1.Which of the following statements in NOT true about the author’s daughter?

         A.She is fashionable.     B.She always tells the truth.

         C.She is doing well in her work.    D.She lives a fast-paced life.

2.The author’s tone suggests that_________.

         A.he is feeling left behind when his daughter has grown up and begun adult life

         B.he is content with his grown daughter

         C.he does not like his daughter’s bosses

         D.he will not believe his daughter any more

3.It can be concluded from the passage that_________.

         A.the author won’t have any difficulty in getting gas

         B.the daughter cares for her father a lot

         C.the author has done a lot to help his daughter get where she is 

         D.the British people have pretty chin and snort often

4.By referring to J. D. Salinger and Holden Caulfield, the author is most probably_________.

         A.recalling his daughter’s childhood

         B.mentioning his family members who are now dead

         C.comparing his situation to a scene in a famous literary work

         D.telling a story about his daughter’s friends

5.What is the best title for this passage?

         A.A PR’s Busy Life

         B.Relationship Between Dad and Daughter

         C.A Loving Father

         D.Go Ahead and Fill Her up, Dad

 

  Dear Betty,

  My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.

  Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late?  At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?

Yours,

Knowing Nothing

Dear Knowing Nothing,

  It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.

  You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.

  Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.

  If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.

Yours,

Betty

1. Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.

A.tell Betty some good news

B.ask for some advice

C.answer some questions

D.invite her to dinner

2.According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.

A.can only bring some flowers

B.can’t bring wine

C.should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late

D.should arrive twenty minutes late

3. Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.

A.relax at the dinner table

B.watch the other guests

C.ask the person beside him

D.keep silent at table

 

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