A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack(裂缝) in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

This went on daily. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. Of course, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

  “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you.”

  “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

  “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back. And youdo no get full value for y our efforts” the pot explained.

  The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

  As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it a little.

The bearer said, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?” That is because I have known about you, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

1.Why did the cracked pot feel ashamed?

  A.Because it didn’t hold water.

  B.Because the water bearer didn’t like it.

  C.It couldn’t water the flowers well.

  D.Because it could only accomplish half of its load.

2.How would the cracked pot feel at the end of the story?

  A.Delighted with itself.    B.Disappointed with itself.

  C.Prouder than the other pot. D.Still ashamed of itself.

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

  A.There were flowers on both sides of the path.

  B.The cracked pot was more useful than the perfect one.

  C.We sometimes don’t have to mind too much the way we are.

  D.The water bearer preferred the perfect pot to the cracked one.

4.Which of the following proverbs can best go with this passage?

  A.Every dog has his day.    B.Every man has his price.

  C.Every picture tells a story. D.Who laughs last is the best.

 

The plastic identification cards carried by all Chinese citizens over 16 are to be replaced with electronic cards.

The new cards, which most people will have by 2007, contain a microchip(微芯片) on which personal information is stored. This can be checked against databases(资料库) kept by the government.

“The information will be locked into the card so that people won’t be able to use false identities.”said Ren Tianbu, a security official in Shenyang.

China’s present plastic identity cards were introduced 17 years ago, and many other countries use a similar system. However, the information shown on a card differs from nation to nation. Most ID cards show the holder’s name, sex, date of birth and photograph.

Germany, France and Spain all use ID cards, but there are some developed nations who dislike the idea. The US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and Britain are among those with no national ID card. However, some of the countries have ID cards for particular uses. For example, Australia and the United States use a driving license to identify people.

Identity cards are introduced for a variety of reasons. Race, politics and religion were often at the heart of older ID systems. In recent years, though, ID cards have been linked to national information databases, which form the basis of how a government manages a country.

The US, Britain and some other countries are considering a national ID system as a way of preventing terrorist attacks.

However, such plans have been met with strong resistance by those who believe identity cards work against human rights and personal information.

“ID cards make us suspects, not citizens,” said UK human rights group Liberty.

1.What is one of the differences between China’s new and present ID cards?

A.The new ones contain different personal information.

B.The present ID cards are easier to copy.

C.Even little kids can have the new ID cards.

D.The information on present ID cards isn’t in the databases kept by the government.

2.Which of the following countries does not have an ID card system?

A.France.      B.Spain.     C.Sweden.    D.Germany.

3.What is the main reason why government use ID card systems nowadays?

A.To prevent terrorist attacks.    

B.To fight against crimes.

C.To support government services.  

D.To have more control on its citizens.

4.The purpose of this passage is to ___________.

A. inform  

B. entertain  

C. clear up some mysteries  

D. remove some misunderstanding

 

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