Nobody Benefits

NEW YORK—America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history.Incomes have risen, unemployment has fallen, and cities such as New York are bursting with new office buildings.

But just a short walk from Manhattan's skyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice and bits of fish over a can of cooking fuel.

Brown is homeless — one of the 2.3 million people in the US who end up on the street.

During the day, Brown collects aluminium cans and sells them for five cents a piece.At night, he sleeps on the street.w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m

"I have been on the street about eight or nine years, something like that," said the 62-year-old former construction worker.

Brown admits he's had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine.But he said he still wants a more stable housing arrangement.He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cans and small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available.

However, he sees no hope of finding affordable housing in New York.

With the strong economy and unemployment down, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand.

A US report shows rents in New York city rose more than 27 percent between 1984 and 1999, from US $549 to US $700 a month.

One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up.

The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help.

But few housing companies have been built for the poor.Many small apartments in the city now rent for US $1,500 a month or more.

Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he has a daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her.She is angry about his drinking and won't allow it in her house.

Smiling, he said he also has seven grandchildren whom he'd like to see more often.

"All I've got to do is clean up my act," he said.

What kind of life does George Brown lead?

       A.Homeless and dangerous.              

       B.Homeless and childish.

       C.Homeless and miserable (痛苦的).            

       D.Homeless and sleepless.

From George Brown's life we can find that ______.

       A.old Americans lead a hard life

       B.old Americans want to live alone

       C.American cities are crowded with poor people w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m

       D.bad habits play a role in some poor people's Life

It can be inferred from this passage that ______.

       A.America is short of housing companies

       B.the poor can't benefit from the increasing economy

       C.poor people in America will become rich

       D.housing companies will build more houses for the poor

If this passage comes from a paper, on which page would it be?

       A.Society.      B.Science.        C.Economy.                D.Business.


One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river. When he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
The woodcutter told him that he had dropped his axe into water. God went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe.
"Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "No."
God again went down and came up with a silver axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "No."
God again went down and came up with a iron axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "Yes."
God was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all the three axes.
The woodcutter went home happily. One day while he was walking with his wife along the river, his wife fell into the river. W hen he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
"My wife has fallen into water."
God went down into the water and came up with Jennifer Lopez.
"Is this your wife?" God asked him.
"Yes." he said.
God was furious(狂怒的),"YOU CHEAT !Now I am going to curse you."
The woodcutter quickly said, “Forgive me my lord. It is a misunderstanding. IF I say 'No' to Jennifer Lopez, you will come up with Catherine Zeta Jones, If I also say 'No' to her, you will finally come up
With my wife and I will say, 'Yes.' Then you will give all the three to me .I am a poor man .I will not be able to look after all the three. So that's why I've to say 'Yes' "
【小题1】          Which of the following best describes the author's tone in telling the story?

A.OptimisticB.HumoristicC.ObjectiveD.Critical
【小题2】          The impression that the woodcutter makes on you is that he is -----
A.foolish but honestB.foolish and honest
C.smart but honestD.smart and honest
【小题3】          What can you infer about Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta Jones?
A.They are the secret lovers of the woodcutter
B.They look much like the woodcutter's wife.
C.They are both rich women with a lot of gold and silver.
D.They are both popular with women, much worthy than his wife

One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river. When he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"

The woodcutter told him that he had dropped his axe into water. God went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe.

"Is this your axe?" God asked.

The woodcutter said "No."

God again went down and came up with a silver axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.

The woodcutter said "No."

God again went down and came up with a iron axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.

The woodcutter said "Yes."

God was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all the three axes.

The woodcutter went home happily. One day while he was walking with his wife along the river, his wife fell into the river. W hen he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"

"My wife has fallen into water."

God went down into the water and came up with Jennifer Lopez.

"Is this your wife?" God asked him.

 "Yes." he said.

God was furious(狂怒的),"YOU CHEAT !Now I am going to curse you."

The woodcutter quickly said, “Forgive me my lord. It is a misunderstanding. IF I say 'No' to Jennifer Lopez, you will come up with Catherine Zeta Jones, If I also say 'No' to her, you will finally come up

With my wife and I will say, 'Yes.' Then you will give all the three to me .I am a poor man .I will not be able to look after all the three. So that's why I've to say 'Yes' "

【小题1】           Which of the following best describes the author's tone in telling the story?

A. Optimistic    B. Humoristic   C. Objective   D. Critical

【小题2】           The impression that the woodcutter makes on you is that he is -----

A. foolish but honest           B. foolish and honest

C. smart but honest            D. smart and honest

【小题3】           What can you infer about Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta Jones?

A. They are the secret lovers of the woodcutter

B. They look much like the woodcutter's wife.

C. They are both rich women with a lot of gold and silver.

D. They are both popular with women, much worthy than his wife

 

第四部分:写作(共两节,满分35分)

第一节   对话填空(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)

阅读下面的对话,掌握其大意,并根据首字母的提示,写出一个英语单词的完整,正确形式,使对话通畅。

R—Rose                L—Lisa

L: Hi, Rose, you look pale today, What’s (76) h    to you?

R: Nothing serious, I was told that I had been (77)a        to Zhejiang University.

L: Well, you should have been happy about that, That’s exciting news, (78) a          all. And your parents will take pride in you.

R: That’s true, but that means a problem, too. You know, school (79) e       have been increasing

rapidly these years. What worries me is that my family is too poor to afford them.

L: Well, what do your parents do? Do they have (80) j          with fixed income (收入)?

R: My father (81) u        to, but he was laid off years ago. With my mother earning the bread for the  

family of five, it is often hard to make ends meet.

L: That’s really a problem then. But you can consider (82) b       money from your relatives and

even from the bank.

R: Yes, I think so. And my head teacher told me that a few days ago.

L: By the (83) w       , what will you learn there?

R: Computer science is my (84) m      .

L: That sounds great! I wish I could go to the same university and learn the (85) s        subject too.

R: you surely can. I know you are a top student in your class. Work hard and good luck!

 

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