I have only once been in trouble with the law.The whole process of being arrested and taken to court was a rather unpleasant experience at the time, but it makes a good story now. What makes it rather disturbing was the arbitrary(随意的)circumstances both of my arrest and my subsequent (随后的) fate in court.

It happened in February about twelve years ago.I had left school a couple of months before that and was not due to go to university until the following October.I was still living at home at the time.

One morning I was in Richmond, a suburb of London near where I lived.I was looking for a temporary job so that I could save up some money to go traveling.As it was a fine day and I was in no hurry, I was taking my time, looking in shop windows, strolling in the park, and sometimes just stopping and looking around me.It must have been this obvious aimlessness that led to my downfall.

It was about half past eleven when it happened.I was just walking out of the local library, having unsuccessfully sought employment there, when I saw a man walking across the road with the obvious intention of talking to me.I thought he was going to ask me the time.Instead, he said he was a police officer and he was arresting me.At first I thought it was some kind of joke

But then another policeman appeared, this time in uniform, and I was left in no doubt.

'But what for?" I asked

‘Wandering with intent to commit an arrestable offence,' he said.

‘What offence?' I asked

'Theft,' he said

'Theft of what?'I asked

'Milk bottles,' he said, and with a perfectly straight face too!

'Oh,' I said.

It turned out there had been a lot of petty thefts in the area, particularly that of stealing milk bottles from doorsteps.

Then I made my big mistake.At the time I was nineteen, had long untidy hair, and regarded myself as pan of the sixties' 'youth counterculture'.As a result, I wanted to appear cool and unconcerned with the incident, so I said, 'How long have you been following me?  in the most casual and conversational tone I could manage.I thus appeared to them to be quite familiar with this sort of situation, and it confirmed them in their belief that I was a thoroughly disreputable (品行不端的) character.

         A few minutes later a police car arrived.

         'Get in the back,' they said.'Put your hands on the back of the front seat and don't move them.'

         They got in on either side of me.It wasn't funny any more.

         At the police station they questioned me for several hours.I continued to try to look worldly and familiar with the situation.When they asked me what I had been doing, I told them I'd been looking for a job.'Aha,' I could see them thinking, 'unemployed'.

Eventually, I was officially charged and told to report to Richmond Magistrates' Court the following Monday.Then they let me go.

I wanted to conduct my own defense in court, but as soon as my father found out what had happened, he hired a very good solicitor (律师) .We went along that Monday armed with all kinds of witnesses, including my English teacher from school as a character witness.But he was never called on to give evidence.My 'trial' didn't get that far.The magistrate (法官) dismissed the case after fifteen minutes.1 was free.The poor police had never stood a chance.The solicitor even succeeded in getting costs awarded against the police.

And so I do not have a criminal record.But what was most shocking at the time was the things my release from the charge so clearly depended on.I had the 'right' accent, respectable middle-class parents in court, reliable witnesses, and I could obviously afford a very good solicitor.Given the obscure nature of the charge.I feel sure that if I had come from a different background, and had really been unemployed, there is every chance that I would have been found guilty.While asking for costs to be awarded, my solicitor's case quite obviously revolved (回转) around the fact that I had a 'brilliant academic record'.

Meanwhile, just outside the courtroom, one of the policemen who had arrested me was gloomily complaining to my mother that another youngster had been turned against the police. 'You could have been a bit more helpful when we arrested you,' he said to me reproachfully (责备地) .

What did he mean? Probably that I should have looked outraged (暴怒)and said something like, 'Look here, do you know who you're talking to? I am a highly successful student with a brilliant academic record.How dare you arrest me!' Then they, probably, would have apologized perhaps even taken off their caps, and let me on my way.

1.Judging from the first paragraph, the writer's attitude towards his story is _______.

A.angry                                          B.sad

C.amused                                      D.more than just one of the above

2.The first man who came up to him was ______.

A.a uniformed policeman                  B.a policeman in plainclothes

C.not a policeman                          D.a good joker

3.The court never asked the author's English teacher to give evidence because _______.

A.the time for the trial was limited to fifteen minutes only

B.the author wanted to conduct his own defense in court

C.the case was dismissed before the trial reached that stage

D.he was found to be unqualified as a character witness

4.The author believes that he would most probably have been declared guilty if _______.

A.the magistrate had been less gentle

B.he had really been out of work

C.he had been born in a lower—class family

D.both B and C

5.In the opinion of one of the policeman who had arrested the author, the whole thing might not have occurred if ______.

A.he had protested strongly at the time

B.he had begged to be allowed to go home

C.he hadn't wandered aimlessly

D.he had tried to look cool

6.We can see from the passage that the author ______.

A.has broken the law only once

B.has never broken the law

C.has broken the law on more than one occasion

D.once broke the law without knowing it

 

Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of imagination, ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.

  One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.

  Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.

  On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!

1.The text is mainly about ________.

A.a strange man

B.an unusual party

C.how roller skating began

D.how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

2.People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.

A.often gave others surprises                B.was a gifted musician

C.invented the roller skates                 D.was full of imagination

3.Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________.

A.impress the party guests                  B.arrive at the party sooner

C.test his invention                        D.show his skill in walking on wheels

4.What is the main point that the writer tries to convey(表达) in the last paragraph?

A.The roller skates was dangerous and harmful.

B.The party guests thought Merlin was a fool.

C.Merlin succeeded beyond expectation.

D.Merlin should never do that again.

 

I lived on a farm with my parents and my elder brothers and sisters when I was a little boy. We had the 36 to play and run wherever we wanted to go.

We often 37 games just by pretending we were cowboys. Sometimes we played hide-and-seek. One of us would 38 and the others would come and find him. I remember one 39 I hid behind some old wood in the cottage. All was 40 . I couldn’t hear a sound, just the wind 41 . The situation became tense (紧张的) 42 the possibility of someone finding me, and the longer I 43 , the more tense I became. 44 , I heard footsteps coming down the yard. My 45 beat fast and I stood 46 , frozen like a block of ice. I saw my brother getting closer and closer. When he saw me, he laughed 47 , shouting at the top of his voice so that 48 could hear him say, “Eh, I’ve   49 our Tommy!” I can still see the 50 on his face today. Afterwards he said he didn’t think I would hide there. I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Why, it’s a good place, isn’t it?”

I don’t have any 51 of these events, just memories, as we had no camera at that time. 52 it was a long time ago, I can see them now as if they 53 yesterday.

Now I live in town on a busy street. My girls don’t have the freedom that we   54 have to run off down the road and play whatever they want. Anyway, is it 55   to let children out of sight these days?

1.                A.right           B.freedom        C.pride D.confidence

 

2.                A.set up          B.worked out      C.helped out    D.made up

 

3.                A.disappear       B.leave           C.hide D.run

 

4.                A.thing           B.time           C.place D.period

 

5.                A.silent          B.beautiful        C.dark D.colorful

 

6.                A.flying          B.flowing         C.blowing   D.changing

 

7.                A.because of      B.except for       C.according to   D.instead of

 

8.                A.expected       B.slept           C.waited   D.moved

 

9.                A.In time         B.At last          C.At times  D.Once again

 

10.               A.hand          B.mind           C.face  D.heart

 

11.               A.hard           B.still            C.tall   D.straight

 

12.               A.softly          B.sadly           C.loudly D.confusedly

 

13.               A.nobody        B.someone       C.anyone    D.everyone

 

14.               A.attracted       B.found          C.met  D.touched

 

15.               A.look           B.color          C.feel  D.spirit

 

16.               A.notes          B.proofs         C.photos    D.diaries

 

17.               A.Because        B.Although       C.Unless D.As

 

18.               A.appeared       B.showed        C.existed    D.happened

 

19.               A.ought to        B.used to         C.had to D.set to

 

20.               A.funny          B.bad            C.safe  D.strange

 

 

Five Smart Habits of Successful Children

Have you ever wondered what actions make the most difference in your children's lives?

Children don't have to be smart to succeed. They don't have to be born rich and famous. All they need is the right outlook and a few smart habits.

Successful children make friends wherever they go. Children who learn to get along with others from an early age are more successful in life.Without them, we'd have no support. Whatever the goal, friends are needed to achieve it. Do your children a favor by encouraging social interaction early.

 2  They don't just hope for success; they are certain of it. They don't complain. They have a smile on their face and get on with the business of living. They feel pain just like the other children. The difference is that they don't let it hinder(妨碍) their progress.

Successful children become successful because they never give up. They fall. They fail. The difference is that they use their mistakes the way they were intended. They embrace failure because it pushes them forward.

Successful children ignore the naysayer (反对者). They don't worry about what other people think. They follow the path that is right for them, regardless of gossip.They are too busy working towards their goals. They do have concern for the feelings of others.

Successful children share their success. They don't forget all the people who helped them get where they were going.They don't criticize(批评) and reject(抛弃) those who are struggling. They take them by the hand and guide them up the ladder.

A.Do you want to be a successful child?

B.Social skills are vital(重要的) to human survival.

C.Successful children look on the bright side.

D.They make just as many mistakes as the other children.

E. They take the time to teach others what they have learned.

F. They don't engage in gossip either, because they don't have time for it.

G. In fact, they don't even have to become rich and famous.

 

It’s not polite to arrive at a dinner party more than 15 to 20 minutes late. The host or hostess usually waits for all the guests to arrive before serving the meal. If someone is late, the food may be spooked , and so might the host of hostess’s spirit. If you will have to be late, call and tell them to start without you.

It’s even worse to be early !the host or hostess will probably not be ready. If you are early, drive or walk around the block a few minutes, or just sit in your car until the right time.

Though it’s often important to arrive at a party on time, yet on the other hand, for open houses, he host or hostess invites guests to arrive and leave between certain times, so you can arrive at any time within the times he or she gives you.

It’s nice to bring an empty stomach, but it’s even nicer to bring a small present. The present should not cost a lot, or you might embarrass the host or hostess. Flowers, wine, or a box of candy will do fine. Never bring more as a present.

In an introduction, the order of a name is (1)the given name, (2)the family name. In other words, the given name comes first. It’s important not only to learn and remember names, but to repeat them often in conversation. After the introduction, we usually call friends by their given names. Older people may want you to call them by their titles and family names, such as “Mr.Jones”, “Mr.Smith”,”Ms.Johson”,or “Dr.Brown”.

A maiden name is a woman’s family name at birth. In the United States and Canada, after a woman marries, she takes the family name of her husband in place of her maiden name. It is now becoming common, however, for women to keep their maiden names after they get married.

1.If someone is late for a dinner party, _______

A.the guest will have to go hungry

B.the host and the hostess will be in low spirits

C.the host and the hostess will be very angry

D.he guests will be angry

2.If you find you will have to be late for a finer party, you should _____

A.send someone to tell the host or hostess not to wait for you

B.call and tell the host or the hostess not to wait for you

C.call and tell the host or the hostess to wait for you

D.send someone to tell the host or hostess to wait for you

3.It can be guessed from the text that an open house is______

A.a house which is open day and night

B.a party which is open to anybody

C.a party at which guests can come and go between certain times

D.a party which is open at night

4.It’s nice to bring a _______ present.

A.cheap

B.small

C.good

D.big

5.Some older people usually want to be called by _____

A.their given names

B.their titles and their family names

C.their family names

D.surnames

 

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