A few days ago I asked my sons’ governess(女家庭教师)Julia to come into my study. “Be seated, Julia, ”I said, “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month...”

  “Forty.”

  “No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you’ve been here two months, so...”

  “Two months and five days.”

  “Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... you know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays... ”Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but - not a word.

  “Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven - nineteen. Take nineteen off ... that leaves. hmm.... forty one dollars. Correct?”

  Julia’s left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but - still not a word.

  “Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but- forget it. When didn’t I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect (疏忽), Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars.”

  “You didn’t. ”sobbed Julia.

  “But I made a note of it.”

  “Well... if you say so.”

  “Take twenty seven from forty one -that leaves fourteen.”

  Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!

  “Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.”

  “Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen.. leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is !”

  I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.

  “Merci (法语: 谢谢),”she whispered.

  I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. “For what, this - ‘merci’?” I asked.

  “For the money. ”

  “But you know I’ve cheated you - robbed you ! I have actually stolen from you ! Why this‘merci’?”

  “In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all.”

  “They didn’t give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you... I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless (懦弱)?Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws(爪)—to be such a fool?”

  Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression,“It is possible.”

  I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little“merci”several times and went out. I looked after her and thought,“How easy it is to crush the weak in this world !”

While talking to Julia, the wrier expected from her ________.

  A. a protest           B. gratitude

  C. obedience           D. an explanation

What shocked the writer was Julia’s ________.

  A. nervousness in front of her boss

  B. acceptance of injustice

  C. shyness when talking about money

  D. reluctance to express herself

The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess ________.

  A. to be more aggressive

  B. to be more careful in her work

  C. to protect her right

  D. to live independently

At the end of the story, the writer said,“ How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”to show ________.

  A. his understanding of Julia’s anxiety

  B. his worry about Julia’s future

  C. his concern on the living condition of working - class people

  D. his sympathy for the mental state of those exploited

From the story, we can tell that Julia’s employer was ________.

  A. greedy but honest

  B. ill - tempered but warm - hearted

  C. strict but forgiving

  D. none of the above

When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn’t look like any doctor I’d   36  known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn’t   37  lives, he was planting trees.
The good doctor had some   38  theories on planting trees. He believed in “No pains, no gains”. He never   39  his new trees, which was   40  many people. Once I asked why. He   41  that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you water them, each following tree generation will   42  weaker and weaker. So you have to make things   43  for them. He talked about how watering trees   44  shallow roots, and how trees that weren’t watered had to grow deep roots in   45  of water. I came to understand that he meant deep roots were to be   46 . I planted a couple of trees a few years back and I took good care of them. Two years of   47  has resulted in trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot. Whenever a cold wind blows, they   48  and tremble their branches. Funny things about those trees of Dr. Gibbs’. The lack of water seemed to   49  them in ways comfort and ease never could.
I used to   50  for my sons that their lives will be easy. But   51  I’ve been thinking that it’s time to   52  my prayer. I know my children are going to meet   53 , and I’m praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is seldom met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots,   54  when the winds blow, we won’t be   55  away.

【小题1】
A.evenB.ever C.neverD.hardly
【小题2】
A.valuing B.makingC.enjoying D.saving
【小题3】
A.exciting B.dullC.interestingD.terrible
【小题4】
A.watered B.raisedC.loved D.sheltered
【小题5】
A.against B.beyondC.withinD.from
【小题6】
A.wonderedB.answered C.doubtedD.guessed
【小题7】
A.growB.changeC.appearD.show
【小题8】
A.harmfulB.favorable C.toughD.wonderful
【小题9】
A.made forB.headed forC.allowed for D.cared for
【小题10】
A.chargeB.favorC.honorD.search
【小题11】
A.treasuredB.challengedC.respected D.liked
【小题12】
A.educationB.informationC.preparationD.devotion
【小题13】
A.danceB.shakeC.spreadD.lift
【小题14】
A.harmB.raiseC.benefitD.hurt
【小题15】
A.pray B.applyC.standD.call
【小题16】
A.perfectlyB.formally C.obviouslyD.lately
【小题17】
A.attendB.sayC.changeD.keep
【小题18】
A.hardshipsB.worriesC.bossesD.jobs
【小题19】
A.orB.soC.andD.but
【小题20】
A.givenB.sent C.brokenD.swept

Going back to school is a very exciting event for my two boys. It means getting new school bags and books, and seeing friends again after the summer holiday.
My oldest son, 9-year-old Salem, asked me several times where we would go to buy a backpack, while my other son, 6-year-old Abdullah, asked what school would be like this year.
For the last three years, school was a nightmare for many children and their parents as violence increased and there were more attacks on schools and teachers. As a result, many parents prevented their children from going to school. One of six children in this country did not attend primary school in 2009. Many kids who did attend school were accompanied by a parent for the entire day to make sure nothing happened to their children.
For poor families or those with large families, back to school can be an expensive time. The government gives some help to those living in poor neighborhoods, and school bags, note books and other items(商品) are given for free.
Most of the merchants who sell notebooks and pens now sell their products out on the street instead of in stores. They sit on the ground and lay their items on the ground or they have a small table to sell their goods.
The bags cost between $10 and $20, while clothes and shoes cost between $20 and $30. I found all the things I needed for my sons and even bought something for myself. I spent about $50 on each of them, including school uniforms.
At the end of the day, we returned to our home carrying many shopping bags filled with items that made my children happy and excited to go back to school. I just hope this school year will be a peaceful one.
【小题1】The author’s children are ________ to go to school.

A.eagerB.afraidC.unwillingD.surprised
【小题2】The underlined word “nightmare” is the closest in meaning to ________.
A.fantasyB.dream worldC.prisonD.terrible situation
【小题3】Many children are not going to school mainly because of ________.
A.the terrible education systemB.security problems and poverty
C.parents’ distrust in schoolsD.the government’s inability
【小题4】As a parent, the author ________.
A.is unable to afford his kids’ schoolingB.is unwilling to send his kids to school
C.hopes his kids have a happy school lifeD.complains school education costs too much
【小题5】Which of the following statement is NOT true?
A.Many parents prevented their children from going to school for great study pressure.
B.School bags, note books and other items(商品) are given to those living in poor neighborhoods for free.
C.The author spent about $100 for her two sons.
D.The items the author bought made her children happy and excited to go back to school.

Going back to school is a very exciting event for my two boys. It means getting new school bags and books, and seeing friends again after the summer holiday.

My oldest son, 9-year-old Salem, asked me several times where we would go to buy a backpack, while my other son, 6-year-old Abdullah, asked what school would be like this year.

For the last three years, school was a nightmare for many children and their parents as violence increased and there were more attacks on schools and teachers. As a result, many parents prevented their children from going to school. One of six children in this country did not attend primary school in 2009. Many kids who did attend school were accompanied by a parent for the entire day to make sure nothing happened to their children.

For poor families or those with large families, back to school can be an expensive time. The government gives some help to those living in poor neighborhoods, and school bags, note books and other items(商品) are given for free.

Most of the merchants who sell notebooks and pens now sell their products out on the street instead of in stores. They sit on the ground and lay their items on the ground or they have a small table to sell their goods.

The bags cost between $10 and $20, while clothes and shoes cost between $20 and $30. I found all the things I needed for my sons and even bought something for myself. I spent about $50 on each of them, including school uniforms.

At the end of the day, we returned to our home carrying many shopping bags filled with items that made my children happy and excited to go back to school. I just hope this school year will be a peaceful one.

1.The author’s children are ________ to go to school.

A.eager            B.afraid             C.unwilling          D.surprised

2.The underlined word “nightmare” is the closest in meaning to ________.

A.fantasy           B.dream world       C.prison            D.terrible situation

3.Many children are not going to school mainly because of ________.

A.the terrible education system              B.security problems and poverty

C.parents’ distrust in schools              D.the government’s inability

4.As a parent, the author ________.

A.is unable to afford his kids’ schooling       B.is unwilling to send his kids to school

C.hopes his kids have a happy school life       D.complains school education costs too much

5.Which of the following statement is NOT true?

A.Many parents prevented their children from going to school for great study pressure.

B.School bags, note books and other items(商品) are given to those living in poor neighborhoods for free.

C.The author spent about $100 for her two sons.

D.The items the author bought made her children happy and excited to go back to school.

 

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