I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A. PhD. student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile----warm and reassuring—and I retuned her gift by smiling back.

 “Must be a special lady,” whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.

 “Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one.’ ”Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”

 “Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week-even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; be was very romantic and---of course---- I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased(bought). “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her-that was the night that I won her heart .

Why was the writer in a hurry that day ? 

A. He was to meet his girlfriend.           B. He had to go back to school soon.

C. He was delayed by an elderly lady.       D. He had to pick up some groceries.

What does the underlined phrase “her gift” (Paragraph 2 ) refer to ?  

A. Her words.     B. Her smile.     C. Her flowers.     D. Her politeness.

Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady ?

A. She told him a nice story.           B. She allowed him to pay first.

C. She gave him encouragement.        D. She liked flowers very much.

What is the message conveyed in the story ?

A. Flowers are important for a date.        B. Small talk is helpful.

C. Love and kindness are rewarding.       D. Elderly people deserve respecting.

Each spring brings a new wildflower blooming in the fields along the highway I travel daily to work. There is one particular blue flower that has always caught my eye. I've noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours. The afternoon sun is too warm for it. Every day each year for about two weeks, I see those beautiful flowers.
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in my yard. I can look out of the kitchen window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I've often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the fields would look great in that bed alongside other wildflowers.
Every day I drove past the flowers, thinking, "I'll stop on my way home and dig them." "Gee, I don't want to get my good clothes dirty…" Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband even gave me a tool one year for that expressed purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was saddened to see that the highway department had cleared up the fields and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, "Way to go, you waited too long. You should have done it when you first saw them blooming this spring. "
A week ago we were shocked and saddened to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a cancer. She is 20 years older than my husband and unfortunately, because of age and distance, we haven't been as close as we all would have liked.
I couldn't help but see the connection between the pretty blue flowers and the relationship between my husband's sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some wonderful memories that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, I'm sure I'll stop and transplant them to my wildflower garden.
【小题1】 How long might the blue flower bloom in spring?

A.The whole day.B.The whole season.
C.About one week.D.About two weeks
【小题2】 Where did the writer want to transplant the flowers?
A.In the gardenB.Along the highway.
C.Across the fields.D.Outside the yard.
【小题3】 Which of the following is NOT true about the writer's sister-in-law?
A.She is seriously ill.
B.She is twenty years old.
C.She lives far away from the writer.
D.She is not in close touch with the writer.
【小题4】 What does the writer want to tell us?
A.Refresh our wonderful moments every year.
B.Visit our relatives only after they get ill.
C.Value now and don't lose chances.
D.Plant flowers and don't enjoy them in the field.

There was a temple, in front of  which stood an ancient banyan ( 菩提树 ). One ____

morning, a monk got up to____the courtyard and noticed the fallen leaves were everywhere. He couldn’t help worrying and stared at the tree to____. Suddenly he dropped the broom and rushed to his master’s room. He knocked at the door to request for____.

When the master caught sight of his worried____,he thought something must have taken place. He asked with ____,“Why are you in a panic?”

The young monk was full of____and questioned,“Master, you persuade us to struggle to____our moral character and grasp the truth. However, even though I learn them well, it is hard to avoid____. Till then, aren't we just like the leaves in autumn or the deadwood in winter? And we will be buried by a handful of soil?”

Having heard it, the master pointed at the ancient banyan and____to him,“There is no____to worry about it. With winds blowing hard and the snow falling down heavily,the leaves in autumn and the deadwood in winter will climb back to the trees____and become the flowers in spring and grow up into the leaves in summer.”

“Why don't I see it?”

“The____is that there isn't any view in your heart, so you can't see the bloom.”

Facing the dancing leaves and____they will be in bloom, you need to be optimistic.  There are always some miseries which may____you when you are unprepared, but we don't need to worry for the____of this day.

Treat life with the attitude of optimism, because it can not only____the pain and misfortune, but also bring a kind of____mood to you. As long as the____is in the heart, the paths full of the sweet smell of flowers are____.

1.A.spring            B.summer      C.autumn         D.winter

2.A.take up    B.make up      C.bring up      D.clean up

3.A.sign B.sigh     C.admire         D.cheer

4.A.interview B.invitation     C.arrangementD.description

5.A.expression       B.impression  C.attitude       D.behavior

6.A.excitement       B.anger  C.concern      D.courage

7.A.doubt       B.pride  C.respect        D.enthusiasm

8.A.change     B.develop       C.show   D.discover

9.A.danger     B.death  C.growth         D.accident

10.A.announced    B.suggested   C.explained    D.declared

11.A.wonder B.choice         C.use      D.need

12.A.quickly   B.silently         C.badly  D.worriedly

13.A.result     B.answer        C.reason         D.course

14.A.imagining        B.realizing      C.demanding D.designing

15.A.relieve   B.occupy        C.strike  D.abandon

16.A.beginning       B.arrival C.harm   D.dream

17.A.agree     B.dissolve       C.compare     D.choose

18.A.disappointed B.puzzled        C.satisfied       D.left

19.A.environment B.view    C.point   D.sight

20.A.somewhere   B.everywhere         C.somehow    D.anyhow

 

Getting married can be one of the happiest moments in a person’s life. Throughout the world, weddings are very important events. Let’s look at some interesting wedding customs from different countries.

         For African Americans, it is tradition for the married couple to jump over a broom covered with flowers. This represents the beginning of family life. It is interesting to note that African slaves who were brought to the USA started this tradition. African American couples were not allowed to have a legal marriage, so instead they had a ceremony where the bride and groom jumped over a broom “into marriage”.

         Making jokes about the bride and groom is a wedding tradition in both France and Germany. In France, this includes making loud noises with pots; in Germany, wedding guests break dishes. Weddings in Germany often last for three days. On Thursday, there is a simple ceremony at a government office noting the official marriage of the couple. Then the couple will have a dinner with family and close friends. On Friday, there is a party. This is when guests break dishes to represent the start of a new life. Then on Sunday, there is a ceremony in a church.

         In Greece and Italy, people eat special kinds of sweets at the wedding. Both Greece and Italy also have their own special wedding dances, which all of the guests enjoy.

         In Russia, couples tie a doll to their wedding car if they want to have a daughter, or a toy bear if they want to have a son.

         In England, it is tradition for the little girls to throw flowers on the ground on the way to the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom walk on these flowers. This represents the hope that the couples will follow the path that leads to a happy life.

 

Topic

·Getting married can be 1. __________ than any other moment in a person’s life.

·Interesting wedding customs differ 2. _________ country to country.

Countries/ People

Wedding Customs

African Americans

·Married couple jump over a broom covered with flowers, which 3. _________ the beginning of family life.

·In the past, African American couples were 4. __________ to get married legally.

 France and Germany

·Make jokes about the bride and groom.

·In Germany, wedding guests get dishes 5. __________.

·A German wedding often 6. _________ three days.

The Greek and the 7. __________

·Either Greece 8. _________ Italy has its own special wedding dances, which all of the guests enjoy.

Russia

·If couples want to have a daughter, they will have a doll 9. _________ to their wedding car.

The English

·The bride and groom walk on the flowers thrown by little girls. It represents the hope of 10. __________ the path leading to a happy life.

 

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