题目内容
I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice.
“Mom, come here! There’s this lady here my size!”
The mother rushed to her son; then she turned to me to apologize.
I smiled and told her, “It’s okay.” Then I talked to the boy, “Hi, Mickey, I’m Darry Kramer. How are you?”
He studied me from head to toe, and asked, “Are you a little mommy?”
“Yes, I have a son,” I answered.
“Why are you so little?” he asked.
“It’s the way I was born,” I said. “Some people are little. Some are tall. I’m just not going to grow any bigger.” After I answered his other questions, I shook the boy’s hand and left.
My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.
It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness. I stand three feet nine inches tall. I was born an dwarf (侏儒). Despite this, I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.
I didn’t realize how short I was until I started school. Some kids laughed at me.. I began to hate the first day of school each year. New students would always stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs.
But I learned to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I decided to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. What I lacked in height, I made up for in personality.
I’m 47 now, and the stares have not diminished as I’ve grown older. People are amazed when they see me driving. I try to keep a good attitude. When people are rude, I remind myself, “Look what else I have---a great family, nice friends.”
It’s the children’s questions that make my life special. I enjoy answering their questions. My hope is that I will encourage them to accept their peers (a person of the same age, class, position, etc.), whatever size and shape they come in, and treat them with respect.
【小题1】Why did the mother apologize to the author?
A.Because the boy ran into the author. |
B.Because the boy laughed at the author. |
C.Because the boy said the author was fatter than him. |
D.Because the mother thought the boy’s words had hurt the author. |
A.When she grew up. |
B.When she was 47 years old. |
C.When she began to go to school. |
D.When she met the boy in the supermarket. |
A.Angry. | B.Calm. | C.Painful. | D.Discouraged. |
The UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities in the world. But to those who are new to it all, it can be something confusing.
October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar (学习日程表). Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life.
However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be uneasy. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?
Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you are worried about starting their university social life. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here are some top tips from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week:
·Make sure you know something about the British social customs. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
·Sometimes cups of tea or even sweets can give you a head start in making friends.
·The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves his rooms.
·Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your wisdom to next year’s newcomers.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage?
A.October is generally the busiest month for universities. |
B.It’s a good idea to put a doorstop in your door. |
C.A bit of planning can make Freshers’ Week easier. |
D.The first week of your every year at university is called Freshers’ Week. |
A.the newcomers usually miss the days living at home |
B.most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities |
C.many freshers are worried about how to fit university life |
D.all the new students will make new friends and join certain clubs |
A.To pass the busy university life. | B.To help make friends with other freshers. |
C.To show yourself a drinker as others. | D.To pass the time in a happy way. |
A.tell the newcomers how to make a new start in universities |
B.introduce something about higher education system of the UK |
C.discuss something about the Freshers’ Week in the UK |
D.advise the freshmen how to behave well in the beginning |
The organization representing British universities has expressed concern about the potential effect of tuition fees(学费)after figures showed a drop of more than 6% in student applications with less than a month to go before the deadline for 2013 applications.
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) showed there were 265,784 university applications by UK-based candidates up to 17 December, 6.3% down on the parallel period in the admissions cycle the year before. While this is less than the 8.4% year-on-urea fall seen in earlier Ucas figures, released in mid-November, the coming January deadline makes it ever more likely that the total 2013 applicant figure will see a second sizeable fall following the introduction of annual fees of up to £9,000.
Nicola Dandridge, the chairman of Universities UK, said : “However, we must be concerned about any drops in the numbers applying to university and in particular, we must look closely at how the increase in graduate contributions in England may be affecting the decisions of promising students. However ,the December figures show a drop in numbers across the UK, suggesting that it is not only a question of tuition fees in England putting off from applying.”
A report of the Uncas figures to mid-December shows a 6.5% fall for applicants in England and 11.7% for those in Wales, with smaller drops of 3.9% for Scotland and 0.5% for Northern Ireland. Scottish students at home institutions pay on fees, while those from Northern Ireland have fees capped to £3,575 for Northern Irish universities.
Dandridge added: “No one should be put off applying to university because of worries about finance.”
“It is important that no one is put off applying to university because they do not have information about the student support available to them. Most new students don’t need to pay directly. There will be more financial support for those from poorer families and everyone will make lower loan repayments than they do now once they are in well paid jobs.”
【小题1】A drop of more than 6% for 2013 applications is probably the effect of .
A.the increased tuition fees |
B.the approaching deadline |
C.the concern from applicants |
D.the difficulties with applications |
A.3.9% | B.6% | C.6.3% | D.8.4% |
A.Because they have more financial support. |
B.Because the tuition is much cheaper for them. |
C.Because the education is better there. |
D.Because the universities are free for them. |
A.The application for universities is on a rise continuously. |
B.The fall for applications is due to family problems. |
C.The education in Scotland and Northern Ireland is worse. |
D.The rise of tuition fees has an effect on applications. |
A.everyone should apply to university |
B.students may get financial supports |
C.lower loan repayments is unavailable |
D.most new students will not pay fees |