The “Doorman”

On a trip to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man, with a __36__ beard and dirty hair, jumped up from a bench and opened the door for us. Regardless of his __37 __ ，he greeted us in a friendly way.

Once inside, my daughters whispered, “Mom ，he __38 __ ” After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look __39__the dirt. We then watched other customers approach the restaurant but many __40 __ him. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me. The day I became a mother, I had resolved to set a good __41__ for my children. Yet sometimes when things didn’t go right, being a good example was __ 42__When our meal arrived，I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so I __43__ myself from the meal and went to get them.

Just then, the “doorman” was opening the door for a couple. They rushed past him without even acknowledging his __ 44__ Letting them in first, I said a loud “thank you” to him as I __45 ___ .

When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside __46__ he purchased food. I went back and told my family his __47__Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked __48 ___as we had already eaten，but when I said the order was for the “doorman”，they smiled. When it was time to __49__ our trip, I noticed the “doorman” enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then__ 50 __his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes—tears of __51__

What happened next drew great astonishment :I gave the “ doorman” a __ 52__! He pulled away, with tears __53 __ down his face.

Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can’t choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had __54__ held open a door for me, and also said thanks for that __55__ to teach my children by example.

36. A. heavy　　　　　　　 B. long　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. messy　　　　　　　　　　　 D. grey

37. A. service B. appearance C. status D. attitude

38. A. smokes B. smiles C. sniffs D. smells

39. A. beyond 　　　　　 B. over　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. around　　　　　　　　　　　 D. into

40. A. hated　　　　　　　 B. ignored　　　　　　　　　　　 C. missed　　　　　　　　　　　 D. refused

41. A. target　　　　　　　 B. rule　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. record　　　　　　　　　　　 D. example

42. A. stressful　　　　　 B. accessible　　　　　　　　　 C. awkward　　　　　　　　　 D. tough

43. A. excused　　　　　 B. freed　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. prevented　　　　　　　　　 D. withdrew

44. A. company　　　　　 B. presence C. effort D.　 attempt

45. A. quitted B. marched C. exited D. approached

46. A. before　　　　　　　 B. unless　　　　　　　　　　　 C. though　　　　　　　　　　　 D. since

47. A. story　　　　　　　 B. deed　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. experience　　　　　　　　 D. demand

48. A. concerned　　　　 B. shocked　　　　　　　　　　 C. puzzled　　　　　　　　　　 D. bored

49. A. make　　　　　　　 B. start　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. take　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. continue

50. A. extended　　　　　 B. washed　　　　　　　　　　 C. raised　　　　　　　　　　　 D. waved

51. A. approval　　　　　 B. affection　　　　　　　　　　 C. sympathy　　　　　　　　　 D. gratitude

52. A. hug　　　　　　　　 B. nod　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. lift　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. clap

53. A. slipping　　　　　　 B. streaming　　　　　　　　　 C. rushing　　　　　　　　　　 D. breaking

54. A. firmly　　　　　　　 B. constantly　　　　　　　　　 C. simply　　　　　　　　　　　 D. politely

55. A. journey B. wisdom C. opportunity D. coincidence

In a class I teach for adults, I recently did the “unpardonable.” I gave the class homework!

The assignment (任务) was to “go to someone you love 　36 the next week and tell them you love them. It 　37 to be someone you have never 　38 those words to before or at least haven’t shared those words with for a long time.” That doesn’t 　39 like a very tough assignment, 　40 you stop to realize that most of the men were over 35 and were 　41 in the generation of men that were taught that expressing emotions is not “macho (男子汉气概的).” Showing feelings or crying (heaven forbid!) was just not done 　42 this was a very threatening assignment for some.

At the 　43 of our next class, I asked if someone wanted to 　44 what happened when they told someone they loved them. I fully expected one of the 　45 to volunteer, as was usually the 　46 , but on this evening one of the men raised his hand. He appeared quite moved and a bit 　47 . As he unfolded out of his chair, he began by saying, “Dennis. I was quite 　48 with you last week when you gave us the assignment. I didn’t feel that I had 　49 to say those words to and 　50 , who were you to tell me to do something that personal? But as I began driving home my conscience (良知) started talking to me. It was telling me that I 　51 exactly who I needed to say I love you to. You see, five years ago, my father and I had a heated 　52 and really never resolved it since that one. We 　53 seeing each other unless we absolutely had to at Christmas or other family gatherings. But 　54 then, we hardly spoke to each other. So last. Tuesday 　55 I got home, I had convinced myself. I was going to tell my father I loved him.”

36．A．after　　　　　　　　　 B．before　　　　　　　　 C．for　　　　　　　　　　 D．within

37．A．has to　　　　　　　　 B．ought to　　　　　　 C．had better　　　　　 D．can

38．A．told　　　　　　　　　　 B．said　　　　　　　　　　 C．talked　　　　　　　　 D．spoken

39．A．look　　　　　　　　　 B．hear　　　　　　　　　 C．listen　　　　　　　　　 D．sound

40．A．when　　　　　　　　 B．until　　　　　　　　　 C．that　　　　　　　　　　 D．unless

41．A．born　　　　　　　　　 B．grown　　　　　　　　 C．raised　　　　　　　　 D．risen

42．A．And　　　　　　　　　 B．But　　　　　　　　　　 C．So　　　　　　　　　　 D．For

43．A．beginning　　　　　 B．end　　　　　　　　　　 C．middle　　　　　　　　 D．stating

44．A．announce　　　　　 B．share　　　　　　　　　 C．answer　　　　　　　 D．ask

45．A．men　　　　　　　　　 B．adults　　　　　　　　 C．students　　　　　　 D．women

46．A．case　　　　　　　　　 B．thing　　　　　　　　　 C．story　　　　　　　　　 D．experience

47．A．afraid　　　　　　　　 B．shaken　　　　　　　 C．terrible　　　　　　　 D．worried

48．A．happy　　　　　　　　 B．pleased　　　　　　　 C．angry　　　　　　　　 D．satisfied

49．A．everybody　　　　　 B．nobody　　　　　　　 C．someone　　　　　　 D．anyone

50．A．else　　　　　　　　　　 B．except　　　　　　　　 C．beside　　　　　　　　 D．besides

51．A．thought　　　　　　　 B．considered　　　　　 C．knew　　　　　　　　 D．guessed

52．A．disagreement　　　 B．encouragement　　 C．disappointment　　 D．discouragement

53．A．imagined　　　　　　 B．risked　　　　　　　　 C．avoided　　　　　　　 D．escaped

54．A．still　　　　　　　　　　 B．even　　　　　　　　　 C．just　　　　　　　　　　 D．only

55．A．by the time　　　　 B．at the time　　　　　 C．for the time　　　　 D．during the time

　　　 Nuclear energy has always been controversial. But since the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima (Japan) last year the issue is back in the headlines. And the world is divided— some countries are planning more nuclear plants, while others have promised to shut theirs down.

　　　 After Fukushima, Germany decided to switch off all its nuclear plants by 2022. Switzerland and Italy are also phasing out nuclear power. But France and the United States remain staunch supporters of atomic energy. In fact, almost 80% of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power, the highest percentage in the world. And in the US, the Obama administration said it “continues to support the expansion of nuclear power, despite the crisis in Japan.”

　　　 Nuclear supporters claim nuclear power can help the environment. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear power doesn’t create greenhouse gases. So, pro-nuclear countries argue that nuclear power allows them to generate energy without contributing to climate change. Britain’s chief scientific adviser (John Beddington) supports this view. He recently said that the world doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring nuclear energy.

　　　 Nuclear power is also relatively cheap. Renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro and wind power may be clean, but they’re expensive; and right now, they require a lot of investment. This higher cost of using “green energy” is usually passed onto the consumer. So, while many people may prefer their energy to come from a renewable source, not so many are prepared to pay higher energy bills. This is of particular concern while the world economy is in such bad shape.

　　　 The main argument against nuclear energy is that it isn’t safe. For a start, nuclear waste is very difficult to dispose of, and remains toxic to humans for thousands of years. And even before Fukushima, there were several high-profile nuclear disasters. The most famous is probably the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, in the Ukraine. The radiation from the meltdown spread all over Europe, affecting thousands.

　　　 The nuclear energy issue is very complex. And it doesn’t look like it’ll be resolved anytime soon. As a Japanese commentator recently said, “it’s been a bad year for the ‘nuclear village’, but I don’t think they’re down and out yet.” The battle continues.

57. Which of the following may NOT be the advantage of nuclear energy over other energy sources?

　 A. Nuclear energy doesn’t produce any greenhouse gases.

　 B. Nuclear energy can help prevent the climate damage.

　 C. Nuclear energy is more environmental-friendly than other green energy sources.

　 D. Nuclear energy can save the consumers some money, compared to other renewable energies.

58. What does the underlined word “this” refer to in paragraph 4?

　 A. The fact that many people prefer to use the green energy sources while unwilling to pay higher bill.

　 B. The cost of using renewable sources

　 C. The fact that the nuclear power is cheaper.

　 D. The investment of renewable energy sources

59. We can learn from the last paragraph that _______.

　 A. the Japanese commentator is positive about the future of nuclear energy

　 B. the nuclear energy issue will be soon settled

　 C. a battle will break out in the future

　 D. Japan is considering to build a nuclear village in the future

60. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

　 A. To highlight the danger of using nuclear energy.

　 B. To introduce some serious nuclear disasters.

　 C. To show the argument between nuclear supporters and protesters.

　 D. To give some advice on how to use nuclear energy safely.