I went through a training program and became a literacy volunteer last surnmen The training

I received, though excellent, did not tell me how it was to work with a real student, however. When I began to discover what other people's lives were like because they could not read, I realized the true importance of reading.

My first student Marie was a 44-year-old single mother of three. In the first lesson, I found out she walked two miles to the nearest supermarket twice a week because she didn't know which bus to take. When I told her I would get her a bus schedule, she told me it would not help because she could not  read it. She said she also had difficulty once she got to the supermarket,because she couldn't always remember what she needed. Since she did not know words, she could not write out a shopping list. Also, she could only recognize items by sight, so if the product had a different label, she would not recognize it as the product she wanted.

As we worked together, learning how to read built Marie's self-confidence,which encouraged her to continue her studies. She began to make rapid progress and was even able to take the bus to the supermarketelt. After this successful trip, she reported how self-confident she felt. At the end of the program, she began helping her youngest son,Tony, a shy first grader with his reading. She sat with him before he went to sleep and together they would read bedtime stories. When his eyes became wide with excitement as she read, pride was written all over her face. As she described this experience, I was proud of myself as well. I found that helping Marie to build her self-confidence was more rewarding than anything I had ever done before.

As a literacy volunteer, I learned a great deal about teaching and helping others. In fact, I may have learned more from the experience than Marie did.

1.What did the author do last summer?

A．She worked in the supermarket

B．She helped someone to learn to read

C．She gave single mothers the help they needed

D．She went to a training program to help a literacy volunteer

2.Why didn’t Marie go to the supermarket by bus at first?

A．Because she liked to walk to the supermarket

B．Because she lived far away from the bus stop

C．Because she couldn’t afford the bus ticket

D．Because she couldn’t find the right bus

3.How did Marie use to find the goods she wanted in the supermarket?

A．She knew where the goods were in the supermarket

B．She asked others to take her to the right place

C．She managed to find the goods by their looks

D．She remembered the names of the goods

4.What did the writer think of her work as a literacy volunteer?

A．Interesting                            B．Meaningful

C．Tiring                                D．Touching

A number of times Rosemary edged closer to Gordon , meaning to take his arm, but he edged away from her. She thought that she had offended him deeply, and that he was disappointed because she had pushed him away. She would have apologized if he had given her half a chance. But as a matter of fact, he was scarcely thinking of this any longer. It was the money business that was troubling him now. And the fact was that he would soon have to confess it. What nonsense it made of all he had said! Presently she stopped him, and swung him round to face her. “Gordon, why won’t you speak to me?” she said. “Are you still angry with me for what happened just now?”

“No, I was never angry with you. You’re not to blame. Something else has been worrying me all the way along, I’ve only eight pence left. I had just enough money for today when we started out, but that dinner bill upset everything. Can you lend me some money?’

Rosemary was amazed. “What does it matter if you’ve only eight pence left? How can you let yourself be worried by a thing like that? As though I objected to lending you money, aren’t I always telling you that I want to pay for myself when we go out together?’

“Yes, and you know how I hate you paying.”

“Oh, how silly you are.” She said. “Do you think there’s anything to be ashamed of in having no money?”

Gordon’s face went bright pink. “Of course there is ! It’s the only thing in the world there is to be ashamed of. I can’t be a complete human being—I don’t feel a human being –unless I’ve got money in my pocket.”

1.What gave Rosemary the idea that she had hurt Gordon’s feelings deeply?

2.Rosemary made him look at her because ______.

3.Gordon felt that if he asked rosemary to lend him some money _____.

4.It is clear that Gordon had not intended to _____.

Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.

My earliest memories of my father are a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and his family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult I feared him and felt bitter（痛苦的） about him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.

On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We talked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical (挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?

The next day dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.

1.Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?

A．He was silent most of the time.             B．He was too proud of himself.

C．He did not love his children.               D．He expected too much of her.

2.When the author went out with her father on weekend, she would feel         .

A．nervous          B．sorry             C．tired             D．safe

3.What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?

A．More critical.                          B．More talkative

C．Gentle and friendly.                      D．Strict and hard-working.

4.The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to         .

A．the author’s son                       B．the author’s father

C．the friend of the author’s father           D．the café owner

I have a friend who lives by a three-word philosophy: Seize the moment. Just possibly, she may be the wisest woman on this planet. Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too strict to depart from their routine.

I can't count the times I called my sister and said,“How about going to lunch in half an hour?” She would gasp and stammer(结结巴巴地说), “I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast. It looks like rain.”And my personal favorite response:“It's just Monday.”She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

Life has a way of going faster as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises made to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all have to show for our lives is repetition of “I'm going to”,“I plan on” and “Someday, when things are settled down a bit.”

When anyone calls my“seize the moment” friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to, not something on your SHOULD DO list.

1.The example of the writer's sister serves as__________.

A．an argument       B．an introduction     C．a support          D．a conclusion

2.The writer thinks that the underlined excuse “It's just Monday.”is acceptable, because __________.

A．it is still likely that they can have lunch together some time later

B．it sounds most reasonable of all the excuses.

C．it shows respect for the writer's suggestion

D．it indicates the time when they can have lunch together

3.The underlined word “contagious” in the fourth paragraph means “_________”.

A．appropriate        B．influential         C．practical          D．evident

4.What is the purpose of the writer by writing this passage?

A．To suggest how time flies.

B．To persuade busy people to relax.

C．To advise people to keep their promise.

D．To convince readers to be flexible on their schedule for practical joy.

When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie”. My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games, Brownie, in return. loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them .We always felt better when she was around.

One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, ”Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.

Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet, she went everywhere with us .People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she’d let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. she never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she lovely everyone.

Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.

1.What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?

2.We can infer from Paragraph 2 that Brownie__________.