My parents were in a huge argument, and I was really upset about it. I didn’t know who I should talk with about how I was feeling. So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at my best friend’s house. Though I knew I wouldn’t tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to getting out of the house. I was in the middle of packing up my things when suddenly the power went out in the neighborhood. Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on.

     I was really disappointed because I felt that we did not have much to talk about. But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark. I went to his room and told him that I’d stay with him until the power was restored. He was quite happy and said, “Great opportunity.”

   “What is?” I asked.

   “To talk, you and I,” he said. “To hold a private little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad, and what we’re going to do with ourselves now that we’re in the situation we are in.”

    “But we can’t do anything about it, Grandpa,” I said, surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same “boat” as I was.

      And that’s how the most unbelievable friendship between my grandfather and me started. Sitting there in the dark, we talked about our feeling and fears of life---from how fast things change, to how they sometimes don’t change fast enough. That night, because the power went out, I found a new friend, with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains, whatever they may be.

     Suddenly, the lights all came back on. “Well,” he said, “ I guess that means you’ll want to go now. I really like our talk. I hope the power will go out every few nights!”

56. I wished to get out of the house because ________.

   A. I was angry about my parents’ quarrel        B. I found nobody to share my feelings with

   C. I wanted to escape from the dark house           D. I planned to tell my friend about my trouble

57. Grandpa was happy to see me because___________.

   A. he could discuss the problem with me         B. he had not seem me for a long time

   C. he was afraid of darkness                          D. he felt quite lonely

58. What can be inferred from the passage?

   A. The grandchild was eager to leave.                 B. They would have more chats.

   C. The lights would go our again.                   D. It would no longer be dark.

Dear Dad,
Today I was at the shopping mall and I spent a lot of time reading the Father’s Day cards. They all had a special message that in some way or another reflected how I feel about you. Yet as I selected and read, it occurred to me that not a single card said what I really want to say to you.
You’ll soon be 84 years old, Dad, and you and I will have had 55 Father’s Day together. I haven’t always been with you on Father’s Day but I’ve always been with you in my heart.
You know, Dad, there was a time when we were separated by the generation gap. You stood on one side of the Great Divide and I on the other.
The Father-Daughter Duel shifted into high gear ( 档位) when you taught me to drive the old Dodge and I decided I would drive the '54 Chevy whether you liked it or not. The police officer who sent me home, after you reported the Chevy stolen, didn't have much tolerance for a stub­born 16 year old, while you were so tolerant about it, Dad, and I think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life.
Our relationship greatly improved when I married a man you liked, and things really turned around when we began making babies right and left. Somewhere along the line, the generation gap disappeared. I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together, rather like a fine wine.
But the strangest thing happened last week. I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car. It didn't immediately occur to me that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and fragile behind the wheel of that huge car. It was rather like a slap in the face delivered from out of nowhere. Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day.
I guess what I'm trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today. Honoring a father on Father's Day is about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. It's about loving someone more than words can say, and it's wishing that never had to end.
I love you, Dad.
Love,
Jenny
1.How did Jenny probably feel on the night she was sent home by the police?

ADisappointed. ????????????? BNervous. ????????????? CGuilty.????????????? DFrightened.

2.We can learn from the passage that Jenny and her father_________.

Akept in touch by writing each other

Bare separated due to the generation gap

Chave been getting along very well

Dhad a hard time understanding each other

3.Why did Jenny feel strange when she saw her father last week?.

AShe seldom saw him driving that huge car.

BShe had never realized his being old and weak.

CShe didn't expect to meet with him there.

DShe had never seen him driving so slowly before.

4.Jenny wrote his father this letter to _________

Atell him about their conflicts????????????? Bsay sorry for her being stubborn

Cexpress her gratitude to him????????????? Dremind him of the early incident

 

Each week, this program explains the many meanings of English expressions. Today’s expressions include a very important word—“heart”. We will try to “get to the heart of the matter” to better understand the most important thing about words and their stories. So “take heart.” Have no fear about learning new expressions. Besides, popular English words can be fun. There is no need for a “heavy heart.” Such feelings of sadness would only “break my heart,” or make me feel unhappy and hopeless.

Now, let us suppose you and I were speaking freely about something private. We would be having a “heart to heart” discussion. I might speak from “the bottom of my heart, ” or say things honestly and truthfully. I might even “open up my heart” to you and tell you a secret. I would speak with “all my heart”.

When a person shares her feelings freely and openly like this, you might say she “wears her heart on her sleeve”. Her emotions are not protected.

If we had an honest discussion, both of us would know that the other person’s “heart is in the right place.” For example, I would know that you are a “kind-hearted” and well-meaning person. And, if you are a very good person, I would even say that you have “a heart of gold.” However, you might have a “change of heart” based on what I tell you. Our discussion might cause you to change the way you feel about something.

But, let us suppose you get angry over what I tell you. Or worse, you feel no sympathy or understanding for me or my situation. If this happens, I might think that you have a “heart of stone.” And, if you say something to make me frightened or worried, my “heart might stand still”.

1.If you are not so happy, you may feel that ________.

A. you “have a heart of stone”                                B. you have to “take heart”

C. you “break you heart”                                          D. you “speak from the bottom of the heart”

2.From the above passage we may see ________.

A. English words can all be used differently

B. some phrases do not have a fixed meaning

C. languages change with the time

D. the same word may have various meanings

3.What is the passage trying to impress the readers?

A. To explain how “heart” is used in phrases.

B. To show the author’s perfect English.

C. To tell English learners to learn English in phrases.

D. To advertise an English course.

4.Which of the following may serve as the best title of the passage?

A. A change of heart                                                  B. Open up the heart of “heart”

C. Never let your heart stand still                          D. Wear your heart on your sleeve

 

Americans, generally speaking, make an effort to be friendly with their colleagues, neighbours and other people they often run into. This often takes the form of a simple greeting like “How’s it going?” or “What’s up ?” This is simply a way of saying I see you and I recognize you.

Americans also show this friendliness in “small talk”. Small talk is a casual conversation that Americans engage in when they meet on the street, in the shop or in the office before a meeting. Usually the topics of such small talk will be something that everyone is familiar with, the weather, sports, traffic, hobbies or what’s on television. The topic of the conversation is not as important as the effort make to spend a few minutes with the other person. Small talk shows that you are a considerate person who is interested in others and who is willing to take the time to get to know people.

Small talk is used in the business world to create a friendly atmosphere and to put everyone at ease before the serious matters of business are discussed. Often businessmen will spend a few minutes talking about the weather or sports before a meeting. This form of small talk only lasts a few minutes before the American businessman wants to “get down to business.”

Asians are very skilled at making casual conversation. However, they often find it difficult to make small talk with Americans because they don’t know what to say, how to say it and who to say it to. Americans may see Asians who are reluctant to make small talk as unfriendly and cold.

1. American people ask others how it is going because      .

A.they are curious about others’ affairs

B.they are eager to help others

C.they want to start a long conversation

D.they only want to show their kindness

2.Businessmen talk about weather before a meeting       .   

A.so that everyone present will feel relaxed

B.in order that everyone will be warned against the possible bad weather

C.because weather is very important to American people

D.in order to make people fresh

3.The word “reluctant” means       .        

A.willing

B.eager

C.unwilling

D.skilled

4.Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A.You should keep the conversation short.

B.Asians are not friendly and don’t like to talk with others

C.“To get down to business” means to start the work.

D.The topics of the small talk are not very important.