Some years ago, writing in my diary used to be a usual activity. I would return from school and spend the expected half hour recording the day's events, feelings, and impressions in my little blue diary. I did not really need to express my emotions by way of words, but I gained a certain satisfaction from seeing my experiences forever recorded on paper. After all, isn't accumulating memories a way of preserving the past?

When I was thirteen years old, I went on a long journey on foot in a great valley, well equipped with pens, a diary, and a camera. During the trip, I was busy recording every incident, name and place I came across. I felt proud to be spending my time productively, dutifully preserving for future generations a detailed description of my travels. On my last night there, I wandered out of my tent, diary in hand. The sky was clear and lit by the glare of the moon, and the walls of the valley looked threatening behind their screen of shadows. I automatically took out my pen...

At that point, I understood that nothing I wrote could ever match or replace the few seconds I allowed myself to experience the dramatic beauty of the valley. All I remembered of the previous few days were the dull characterizations I had set down in my diary.

Now, I only write in my diary when I need to write down a special thought or feeling. I still love to record ideas and quotations that strike me in books, or observations that are particularly meaningful. I take pictures, but not very often only of objects I find really beautiful. I'm no longer blindly satisfied with having something to remember when I grow old. I realize that life will simply pass me by if I stay behind the camera, busy preserving the present so as to live it in the future.

I don't want to wake up one day and have nothing but a pile of pictures and notes. Maybe I won't have as many exact representations of people and places; maybe I'll forget certain facts, but at least the experiences will always remain inside me. I don't live to make memories--I just live, and the memories form themselves.

1.Before the age of thirteen, the author regarded keeping a diary as a way of ________.

A. observing her school routine

B. expressing her satisfaction

C. impressing her classmates

D. preserving her history

2.What caused a change in the author's understanding of keeping a diary?

A. A dull night on the journey.

B. The beauty of the great valley.

C. A striking quotation from a book.

D. Her concerns for future generations.

3.What does the author put in her diary now?

A. Notes and beautiful pictures.

B. Special thoughts and feelings.

C. Detailed accounts of daily activities.

D. Descriptions of unforgettable events.

4.The author comes to realize that to live a meaningful life is ________.

A. to experience it

B. to live the present in the future

C. to make memories

D. to give accurate representations of it

For most people, Christmas is a time to relax in the company of family and friends. But for Santa Claus, and the thousands of fake Santas who impersonate(模仿) him every year, the Christmas season is time to get to work.

Although Santa Claus waits until Christmas Eve to take his famous sleigh (雪橇) ride, Santa impersonators can be found at shopping malls around America throughout the six weeks leading up to December 25. "When you see Santa talking with kids at your local mall, that's when you know Christmas really is on the way," says Mary Lewine of New York City.

With the excitement of Christmas, people often forget about the real people behind the red robes (长袍) and white beards, but being a mall Santa. is a tough job. "There is more to it than just sitting in a chair. There is more to it than just a red suit," said Timothy Connaghan, who has worked as a Santa for.38 years. "Children can really put the wear and tear on you.”

A recent survey showed some of the challenges that mall Santas face every year. About 90 percent of Santas claimed that children pulled their beards to see if they were real, and 60 percent said that up to ten kids cough or sneeze on them every day. Even more disturbing, one-third of the Santas admit to having children wet themselves while sitting on their laps.

So why would anyone take this job? For Ben Brauch, a retired high school teacher who has worked as a Santa for the last six years, the answer is simple-the children. "I see maybe 12,000 kids in a six-week period.

It's hard work, but it's worth it because you get to play with kids." In fact, Brauch loves his job so much that he keeps his white beard long all year.

1.According to Timothy Connaghan, we can conclude that _

A. all children are moved to tears when seeing Santa

B. a mall Santa is always sitting in a chair

C. a mall Santa tolerates a lot during Christmas

D. Santa impersonators are greatly admired

2.The underlined word "claimed" in the 4th paragraph probably means “

A.hesitated B. stated C. worried D. insisted

3.Why does Ben Brauch love his job of Santa impersonator?

A. Because he can keep his white beard long all year.

B. Because he as nothing else to do after retiring.

C. Because he can earn a large sum of money.

D. Because he enjoys playing with children.

4.What is the best title of the text?

A. Santa impersonators during Christmas

B. The coming Christmas

C. Shopping malls in America

D. A disturbing job

完形填空

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Nowadays, most people like to enter the university or college in order to increase their knowledge and find their career. Some people believe that college or university education should be _____ to all students. Others, _____ , think that higher education should be ready only for good students . If I have to agree with one of these two conditions. I would rather _____ the former.

Firstly, university and college _____ students to change their habits and behavior. There are two kinds of students at schools: clever and _____ students. Classroom environment of the university and powerful students are the most important _____ which can influence the weak students to _____ their lifestyle.

Secondly, educatees with low IQs are able to help their _____ . Students with low intelligence can work hard to _____ their knowledge by paying attention to their own professors and performing their assignments _____ delay. Therefore, they can increase the _____ level of their country by using their knowledge and experience. _____ , I have a friend who was poor and had to work all the day to _____ his tuition fees at high school. Thus, he did not have enough time to read his books and do homework, and he got _____ scores in all of his subjects. However, after he was _____ to a college, he paid more attention to his courses. He _____ an instrument which _____ the disabled people to move from one _____ to another. If he hadn’t gone to college, he would not have created that machine.

In short, all types of students have equal rights. They have to be allowed to enter the college and university to receive a higher education and improve their _____ . Attending university can _____ lead to reduce the crime rate in advanced countries.

1.A. available B. accessible C. attractive D. alternative

2.A. though B. however C. besides D. moreover

3.A. live on B. come out C. stand behind D. fight for

4.A. approve B. forbid C. encourage D. force

5.A. foolish B. good C. lazy D. weak

6.A. effects B. factors C. efforts D. purposes

7.A. show B. follow C. improve D. collect

8.A. country B. education C. family D. development

9.A. gather B. increase C. seize D. review

10.A. despite B. with C. without D. through

11.A. productive B. mental C. political D. scientific

12.A. For instance B. In case C. Such as D. At least

13.A. offer B. pay C. give D. find

14.A. good B. low C. enough D. equal

15.A. absorbed B. adopted C. adapted D. admitted

16.A. discovered B. invented C. researched D. repaired

17.A. permitted B. assisted C. allowed D. decided

18.A. level B. door C. place D. college

19.A. personality B. control C. condition D. position

20.A. timely B. suddenly C. namely D. Indirectly

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