题目内容
Last year.I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, DC.I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended.Immediately, I pulled out all of my change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her.But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money.I just need help finding the post office.”
In an instant, I realized what I had done.I acted with prejudice―I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be.I hated what I saw in myself.
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant.I left Honduras and arrived in the US at the age of 15.I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister.Through the years, I have been a doorkeeper, cashier and pizza delivery driver among many other humble(卑微的)jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer.
In my own life, I have experienced prejudice.I remember a time―at the age of 17―when I was a busboy, I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me.
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am, where I have been ,and to lose sight of where I want to be going.That blind woman on the streets cured me of my blindness.She reminded me of my belief in humility(谦虚).By the way, I helped that lady to the post office.I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.
1.How did the writer give the blind woman money?
A.In a modest way B.In a polite way
C.In an impatient way. D.In a painful way
2.According to the text, the writer__________.
A.still lives a poor life B.was busy with his work
C.was born in Honduras D.was a native of Washington D.C.
3.According to the text, the author most probably agrees that one should__________.
A.be nice to the elderly and the disabled
B.try to experience different kinds of culture
C.treat others equally with love and respect
D.think about one’s past as often as possible
4.What would be the best title of the text?
A.A priceless lesson B.An act of prejudice
C.A sightseeing trip D.A humble moment
CCCA
As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.
Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money to buy more things is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them.
Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year. One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs (郊区), leaving their two children with a nanny (保姆). Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock, and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.
Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm here,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it has been worthy of. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.”
Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”
【小题1】What do the first two paragraphs tell us?
A.People seldom work long hours to make money. |
B.People hardly buy more things than necessary. |
C.People are sure everything they own is in the right place. |
D.People realize there is more to life than just making money. |
A.lived in central London | B.disliked his job |
C.missed his children | D.was well paid |
A.was easy to organize | B.has improved family life |
C.was extremely expensive | D.has been a total success |
A.Child-caring. | B.Liz’s advice. | C.Downshifting. | D.Liz’s job. |
Catherine Destivelle is a rock star. She loves rock, but she can’t sing or play the guitar! She is a rock climber and a big star in France and Italy. She is the most famous woman climber in the world because she often climbs without ropes. She climbs in many countries but most often in the French Alps near Chamonix, where she lives. She started climbing near her home in Paris when she was five. Then, at fourteen, she joined the French Alpine Club to learn more, but immediately she climbed better and more quickly than the older members of the club. She won her first competition in Italy in 1995.
Three years ago she found a new route up the Dru Mountain near Chamonix. The climb took eleven days and for four days the snow was so heavy that she could not move. Last year other climbers tried to follow the new Destivelle Route, but they failed. They are going to try again this year.
People always ask her about her climbing. She says, “I climb because I’m in love with mountains. I like touching the rock and reading the face of the rock. I like it a lot. I felt at home on the side of a mountain. I prepare well before I go, so I’m never worried.”
Catherine chooses new mountains from books—like buying from a shopping catalogue(目录)! “I see a nice mountain and I go to climb it!” Her next mountain is in Pakistan. She is going there next month. “It’s much bigger than the Dru, so it’s going to take longer to climb. An American climber, Jeff Lowe, is coming with me to help.”
【小题1】Catherine Destivelle is called ‘a star’ because ________.
A.she won a competition in 1995 | B.she loves rocks |
C.she’s a famous woman climber | D.she found a new route up to the Dru Mountain |
A.she lost her way | B.the climb took 11 days |
C.she needed help from an American climber | D.there was heavy snow |
A.independent | B.easy and happy | C.energetic and challenged | D.nervous |
A.Why do you like climbing? | B.Are you in love with an American climber? |
C.Do you enjoy reading books on mountains? | D.What do you do before you go climbing? |