My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it’s Christmas again. They can’t see that we live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren’t much good. But Johnny and children can’t see this. What a pity it is that our neighbours have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we’ve saved isn’t nearly enough.

The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn’t eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer(下水道). Why , is it only because they have money? There is more to happiness than money in the world, isn’t there?

Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn’t rich, but she knows things. She understand people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I’d like to see the children will be like Miss Jackson when they grow up.

This passage mainly suggests that the writer _______.

A. is easy to get along with　　　　　　

B. is unhappy with the life they are living

C. is good at observing and understanding　　

D. is never pleased with her neighbours

What do you think of McGarity girl?

A. She is proud and hungry.            B. She is selfish and cruel.

C. She is lonely and friendless.          D. She is unhappy and misunderstood.

In this text, the writer tries to tell us that _______.

A. money is the key to everything　　

B. the more money you have, the less happy you’ll be

C. there is something more important than money

D. when talking to people we should look into their eyes

Pick out the one that does NOT describe the writer’s view on money.

A. Why, is it only because they have money?

B. There is more to happiness than money.

C. Miss Jackson isn’t rich, but she knows things.

D. The money we saved isn’t nearly enough.

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring—and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.
“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out.
“It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’. Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her –that was the night that I won her heart.
【小题1】Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

任务型阅读：请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最适当的单词。注意：每空一个单词。

Many animal lovers would like to do more to help animals, but aren’t sure where to start or feel like they just don’t have the time. The good news is that there are many simple things you can do to help protect animals.

  Think twice before you decide

  The decisions you make when it comes to eating meat or other animal products can go a long way toward stopping the killing of animals. Consider eating a vegetarian（素食的） diet. If you aren’t ready to make this change, there are still things you can do. Do not buy animal products from companies known to use practices that go against the law such as using drugs to increase milk production in cows.

  Help get the word out

  Getting the word out about the problems faced by animals can be as easy as putting up a notice on your car. Also, talk to your friends and family members about important issues that are related to animals. Give some simple advice to a friend with a new pet about the serious pet over-population problem we’re facing. Turn to some books on the subject if you are not so clear about the advice you give your friend.

  Write a letter

  We’ve all heard the saying, “ The pen is more powerful than the sword”. Put this idea to the protection of animals. If a company has practices or rules that are harmful to animals, write them a letter to let them know you are angry about them, and that you won’t buy their products until they make some changes. Write letters to state and local legislators（立法者） to let them know how important it is that they support legislation that protects animals. Make them know that their actions will have a great effect on your vote.

  Be more loving

  If you’re considering adding a dog or a cat to your family, think about getting one from a homeless-animal house rather than buying a pet. There are many wonderful animals just waiting for a home. By taking back an animal from there, you will be helping in the fight against pet over-population, as well as giving your money to those who are responsible for taking care of pitiful animals.

  Let your actions be an example to others

  It may sound simple ,but one of the best ways to help animals is to let your actions speak to the world. You should do the following things first by yourself: Treat all living creatures with respect. Care about your pets and look after them well. Avoid (避免)entertainment places that use animals to perform. Support legislation （立法）that protects animals. All of these things set an example for others to follow.

                           Title: Ways of _______ animals

If there is one thing I’m quite sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we still be reading newspapers. Not those newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of the news from the television or have the radio switched on in the background or in the car. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.

The basic British character won’t change, and one of the characteristics of the British is that we don’t much like talking to each other when we get up. So what better way is there to keep yourself thinking in the morning than to wrap yourself in a newspaper?

Over the past couple of centuries, human beings have developed a close relationship with the newspaper. It has become as natural as breathing or enjoying the sun. And it is not just the British who love newspapers. On suburban trains in Calcutta, for instance, just one person in the whole car will buy a newspaper and read aloud the best bits to his fellow passengers, much to everybody’s enjoyment.

The nature of what is news may change. What essentially (本质上) makes news is what affects our lives and the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do, whether it’s love or depression. We develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.

It’s quite possible that in the next century newspaper will be transmitted electronically from the national equivalents of Fleet Street (伦敦的舰队街，以报馆集中而著称) and printed out in our own homes. In fact, I’m pretty sure that that is how it will happen in future. You’ll be probably selecting from a menu, making up your own bespoke newspaper by picking out the things you want to read and say. You might even have an intelligent screening device (装置) to do the job for you.

I think people have got it wrong when they talk about the competition between the different media. They actually have a relationship, feeding off each other. It was once predicted that television would kill off newspapers, which hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page is more enduring (持久的) than pictures on a flickering screen or sound lost in the sky. And as for the Internet, it’s never really satisfying to read something just on a screen.

1.The author of the passage is most probably from _______________.

   A. Russia       B. India        C. Britain       D. America

2.According to the passage, the future of newspapers ____________.

   A. will be mainly connected with scientific research

   B. will report more important political activities

   C. will directly cover more on scientific research

   D. will build a bridge between different people

3.The underlined part “bespoke newspaper” of the passage probably refers to _____________.

A. a newspaper which dares to report the truth

B. a newspaper edited to one’s own interest

C. a newspaper edited and published for the public

D. a newspaper which only covers the life of family members

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

A. It was centuries ago that newspapers came into being  .

B. Televisions have taken the place of newspapers .

C. The Internet will gradually take the place of newspapers.

D. The nature of news may remain the same over generations.

  If there is one thing I’m sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It is not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.

The nature of what is news may change. What basically makes news is what affects our lives—the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic(基因)engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do—as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.

  It’s quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted(传送)electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact, I’m pretty sure how it will happen in the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read—sports and international news, etc. .

        I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media. They actually feed off each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound lost in the air. And as for the Internet, it’s never really pleasant to read something  just  on  a screen.

1..

. What is the best title for the passage?

A The Best Way to Get News

B The Changes of Media

C  Make Your Own Newspaper

D The Future of Newspaper

2..

In the writer’s opinion, in the future,_____.

A. more big political affairs, wars and disasters will make news

B. newspapers will not be printed in publishing houses any longer

C newspapers will cover more scientific research

D more and more people will watch TV

3..

 From the passage, we can infer____.

A newspapers will win the competition among the different media

B newspapers will stay with us together with other media

C television will take the place of newspaper

D the writer believes some media will die out

4..

. The phrase “feed off” in the last paragraph means____.

A depend on         B compete with                    C fight with        D kill off