On May 29, 1973, Thomas Bradley, a black man, was elected mayor of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the third largest city in the United States, with a population of three million. About sixteen percent of the city’s population are black.

News of this election appeared on the front pages of newspapers everywhere in the United States. Here is how one major newspaper reported the event:

LOS ANGELES ELECTS BRADLEY MAYOR UNSEATING YORTYBLACK WINS 56% OF VOTES

Bradley called his victory over Yorty “the fulfillment (实现) of a dream”. During his childhood and youth, people had kept telling him, “You can’t do this, you can’t go there, because you are a Negro.” Nevertheless he had won a decisive victory over a man who had been won 43.7 percent.

Los Angeles voters have had many opportunities to judge. Thomas Bradley had to form an opinion of him. The son of a poor farmer Texas, he joined the Los Angeles police force in 1940. During his twenty-one years on the police force he earned a law degree by attending school at night. He was elected to the city council (市政厅) ten years ago.

At the time of the Los Angeles election, three other American cities already had black mayors, but none of those cities had as large a population as Los Angeles. Besides, the percentage of blacks in those other cities was much larger. Cleveland, Ohio, had thirty-six percent black when Carl Stokes was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1967. In the same year Richard Hatcher was elected mayor of Cary. In Newark, New Jersey, sixty percent of the population were black when Kenneth Gibson was elected in 1970. Thus election of a black mayor in those cities was not very surprising.

In Los Angeles thousands of white citizens voted for Thomas Bradley because they believed he would be a better mayor than the white candidate(候选人). Bradley had spent forty-eight of his fifty-five years in Los Angeles. Four years ago Bradley lost mayoral election to Yorty. This time Bradley won.

1. In the author’s opinion, it was surprising that _______.

A. the whites would vote for a black mayor  

B. a black mayor would be elected in such a large city

C. a black from a poor farmer’s family could be elected mayor of Los Angeles

D. there would be so many black mayors

2. From the passage we can infer that people ________.

A. voted for Bradley because of his black color

B. didn’t care much about his color when they voted

C. voted for him to give a chance to fulfill his dream

D. voted for Bradley because they trust him

3. Bradley hit the front page headline for _______.

A. he was the first black mayor in history

B. he was the first black mayor in the south of USA

C. he was the first black mayor of one of the largest cities in USA

D. a poor farmer’s son could also win an important election

4. From Bradley’s victory in the election we can see that ________.

A. blacks had equal rights as whites in the USA

B. black people’s situation began to be improving much more than before

C. one can be successful through hard work in the USA no matter what color he is

D. it is certain that someday the USA will have a black president

Here is an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV`s Spring Festival Gala. Liu`s magic tricks have made the centuries-old art of magic fashionable (时髦的)once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.

         As a seasoned (老练的) young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.

         Witnessing (目击)something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people`s love for magic.

         Liu is known for his interaction(互动) with his audiences. He has a special understanding of performing skills.

         “It is actually thinking , rather than one`s performing skills, that is more important to achieve a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively,to make them appear more attractive.” Liu said.

         Liu Qian`s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan`s Youth Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.

         Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur (业余的) magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent (体面的) job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.

         To improve his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for passers-by, policemen and farmers.

         “Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough(难对付的) crowds.” Liu said.

63.The story is about _________.

how Liu Qian became China`s hottest magician

why people love magic

what magic tricks are

what fashionable magic is

64. People love to watch magic because __________.

they can`t figure out the secret of magic

it arouses their curiosity

they love watching magicians make the impossible happen

it is a centuries-old art

65. Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?

He was interested in magic when he was little

He had won Taiwan`s Youth Magic Contest

He became an amateur magician in his spare time

He couldn`t find a decent job after graduation

66. From the story, we know that________.

      A. Liu Qian competed in many magic competitions

B. Liu Qian often invites audiences to be in his magic shows

C. Liu Qian performs on streets in order to increase his fame 

D. Liu Qian does street shows to make money

The other day I decided to teach my son about the power of small acts of kindness. He had won some lollies(棒棒糖) in a prize machine in the local supermarket, so I asked him if he would like to   46  his prizes with another child. He hesitated(犹豫) for a while because he is a(n)   47  boy, but said yes after I   48  him a bit.
A father and his daughter were   49 . I approached the father and asked if my son could give his   50  a lolly that he had won. The father looked at me in   51  and was unsure what to say. I   52  explained that I was teaching my son about the power of kindness. Eventually he said it was okay.
  53 , his daughter, who was looking at us sideways(侧向一边地),   54  accept the lolly! At this moment, my son was rather embarrassed(尴尬) and then he   55  to me, “We go to the same   56 , Mum.”
Rather than say sorry to my son for embarrassing him and give up this   57 , I put a couple of lollies into their shopping bags and   58  them a great day!
When we left the supermarket, I   59  to my son, “People in the world today are not so open to   60  because their thoughts and opinions have been   61  by the past. However, we can reshape their opinions by   62  small acts of kindness. So don’t be embarrassed. Hey, they may have been standoffish(冷淡的), but I’m sure we left them   63 , moved and inspired in some way. Not only that,   64  the young girl will probably remember you as the boy with a   65  heart when she comes across you at school!”

【小题1】
A.giveB.showC.eatD.share
【小题2】
A.shyB.outgoingC.handsomeD.kind
【小题3】
A.praisedB.encouragedC.persuadedD.blamed(责备)
【小题4】
A.far away B.out of sightC.nearbyD.lost
【小题5】
A.daughterB.friendC.wifeD.mother
【小题6】
A.joyB.sorrowC.surpriseD.anger
【小题7】
A.onlyB.furtherC.hardlyD.difficultly
【小题8】
A.Therefore(因此)B.BesidesC.AnywayD.However
【小题9】
A.shouldn’tB.mustn’tC.wouldn’t D.couldn’t
【小题10】
A.shoutedB.whispered(小声说)C.smiledD.cried
【小题11】
A.shopB.schoolC.hospitalD.park
【小题12】
A.momentB.girlC.lollyD.lesson
【小题13】
A.hopedB.helped C.wishedD.offered
【小题14】
A.explainedB.shoutedC.pointedD.cried
【小题15】
A.happinessB.kindnessC.luckD.presents
【小题16】
A.turnedB.viewedC.testedD.shaped
【小题17】
A.doingB.readingC.learningD.knowing
【小题18】
A.disappointedB.touchedC.sad D.angry
【小题19】
A.andB.orC.butD.so
【小题20】
A.smallB.bigC.coolD.hot

A professor I have worked pretty closely with has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.It has been devastating for his family and heartbreaking for his students.

What made him extraordinary was not only that he was a rising star.He had only recently collected the highest honors for young researchers at the White House.We truly admired him—as someone put it, “He always has a smile and a kind word for everyone.” It is very hard to find someone who is extremely intelligent should be so nice a human being.

I decided that we needed him to know our_attitude and also how we are all praying for his recovery.I bought him a simple card which read, “Healing thoughts and wishes coming your way.” I met all the students he worked closely with and got them to sign on it.Each student in his laboratory signed and also added a message.“We love you so much”“We miss youWe need you back here—get well soon”“Please come back”“Thank you for being such an inspiring teacher”“I hope you recover soon”..These were some of the messages that were written.Most of the students were really glad we were doing this and said it was a very good idea to give it to him.

He is still undergoing(经历) intense treatmentand along with his family is trying his best to stay optimistic and hopeful.I didn’t see a trace of self?pity or sadness when I met him last week.Insteadhe paid attention to every word of my presentation and asked me several questions related to my work.I was amazed at how much he gave his 100% on that day in spite of being in pain because of chemotherapy(化疗)He did not know if he even had another month to live.“I am trying to focus on staying positivehoping to be back this summer”he said.

Needless to sayI saw an expression of joy and hope on his face as he opened the card.He said he was truly touched to see the messages from the students he worked closely with.

There is one thing I learnt from last weekIt is so important to tell people how much they mean to us and what an inspiration they are before it becomes too late.My professorin spite of being too sick to teach classeshas managed to continue being a great teacherintroducing his last valuable message to us.

1.The professor was admired because ________.

Ahe was very intelligent

Bhe had won many honors

Che had noble personalities

Dhe was very determined

2. What do the underlined words “our attitude” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

AOur worry about his health.

BOur pray for his health.

COur admiration for him.

DOur pity for him.

3.When the writer visited the professor at hospitalwhat surprised him was that the professor ________.

Awas suffering from great pain

Bwas still very confident

Cdidn’t know he would die soon

Dstill cared for others

4.Of the following statementsthe writer may agree that ________.

Athe professor loves his job very much

Bfew students supported the writer’s decision at first

Cthe professor will go back to teach this summer

Dthe professor often feels sorry for himself

 

While watching the Olympics the other night, I came across an unbelievable sight.It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.

         The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks.For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified.That left only one to complete.It would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to race against, even though the time on the clock is important.

         I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong.I'm not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality.When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle.The crowd started to laugh.Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.

         I listened to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time.Finally he made his turn to start back.It was pitiful.He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out.

         But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.

         No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer.Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did.

         A clear minute past the average swimmer, this young man finally finished his race.The crowd went wild.You would have thought that he had won the gold, and he should have.Even though he was recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.

         Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race.His country had been invited to Sydney.

         In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold, or when they act so proudly in front of their competitors, it is nice to watch an underdog

1.From the passage we can learn that the young man ________

A. made his turn to start back pitifully

B. was skillful in freestyle in the game

C. swam faster than the average swimmer

D. was not capable enough to win the medal

2.The crowd changed their attitudes because ________

A. they felt sorry for the young man

B. they were moved by the young man

C. they wanted to show their sympathy

D. they meant to please the young man

3.According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means _______.

A. it’s amusing to watch a man with awful swimming skills

B. it’s amazing to watch an ordinary man challenging himself

C. it’s cheerful for athletes to act proudly before their competitors

D. it’s brave enough for some athletes to remove the silver medals

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A. Compete for Gold!

B. Try again!

C. Break a Record!

D. Go for it!

 

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