Henry Edwards Huntington

Henry Edwards Huntington was born in 1850 in Oneonta，New York．In 1872 he went to work for his uncle，one of the owners of the Central Pacific Railroad．Twenty years later， Huntington moved to San Francisco at his uncle's request to share management of the Southern Pacific Railroad．On the way to San Francisco，he visited San Marino，and later bought it，which is home to his collections today．

In 1902，Huntington moved his business operations to Los Angeles，where he developed the street railway system that created the structure of the Los Angeles area．He greatly expanded the existing electric railway lines，creating an extensive inter-urban system providing the transportation necessary．Huntington’s business interests continued to grow particularly in the areas of water，power，and land development；at one time he served on as many as 60 corporate boards throughout the United States．

At the age of 60，he announced his decision to retire in order to devote time to his book and art collections and the landscaping of the 600一acre farm．In 1911 the large Beaux Arts building，in the charge of the architect Myron Hunt，was completed．

In 1913，Huntington married Arabella Duval Huntington．She shared his interests in collecting．As one of the most important art collectors of her generation，she was highly influential in the development of the art collection now shown in the former building．

In 1919，Henry and Arabella Huntington signed the agreement that conveyed their San Marino property and collections to a nonprofit educational trust，creating the Huntington，one of the world’s great cultural，research，and educational centers．

Henry E．Huntington died in 1927，leaving his great treasures the Huntington，including the world—famous H untington Library，Art Gallery，and Botanical Gardens in San Marino，California to the public，which hosts more than 500，000 visitors each year.

1.What can you learn about Huntington from the first two paragraphs?

A．He worked in many fields before he came to Los Angeles．

B．He built a house to store his art collection in San Marino．

C．H e did a lot to the USA railway development．

D．He founded the Central Pacific Railroad．

2.What did Huntington do after his retirement?

A．He devoted himself to his personal interests．

B．He worked part time for non—profit business．

C．H e was in charge of an educational center．

D．H e shared his wife’s interests with her．

3.Which of the following can best describe Huntington?

A．An excellent artist．????????????? B．A talented architect．

C．An ambitious educator．????????????? D．A successful businessman．

4.This passage is most probably taken from

A．a science fiction????? ????????????? B．a newspaper report

C．a novel????????????? ????????????? ????????????? D．a biography

Most people in the world like to enjoy nature. Travel is one of the most popular ways. Nowadays modern transportation can take people everywhere. But people who lived before the 1880s probably would not travel very far. They would not have time to travel far from their work. Anyone who travelled  36  would usually walk or ride a horse. But in Germany a man named Karl Benz had an idea that  37  the world in a dramatic way. In 1885, he made  38  . His car had three wheels,  39  most cars today. The car could only go  40  16 kilometres an hour.

At around the same time, the man  41  his first car in Detroit, America is called Henry Ford. Detroit is now still famous all over the world as the centre of American car-making.

Cars were very few and only  42  people could buy them.  43  , in England cars were thought to be  44  at that time, so for a few years someone  45  walk in front of every car  46  a red flag! This was to make sure that the car did not go too fast and hurt  47  .

In the 1910s, Henry Ford had  48  a better kind of car called the Model T Ford and he built a  49  where the cars could be made  50  . In this way the car could be made  51  and the cost was less and more and more people could  52  them. But there was still a problem  53  all the cars were black. That was because it was 54  to produce cars that were all the same color. Now, of course, you can buy cars in all  55  .

Hank Viscardi was born without legs. He had not legs but stumps (残肢) that could he fitted with a kind of special boots, People stared at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him‘Ape Man’(猿人) because his arms practically dragged on the ground.

  Hank went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years to finish his schooling instead of the usual twelve. After graduating from school, he worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, he had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. He would soon have to use a wheel chair.

  Hank felt himself got cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificiallegs(假腿). Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror, for the first time he saw himself as he has always wanted to be-a full five feet eight inches tall. By this time he was already 26 years old.

  Hank had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room, and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.

  When World War II came, he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, a man without legs.

1.Children laughed at Hank and called him ‘Ape Man’ because       .

A. he didn’t talk to them

B. he kept away from them

C. his arms touched the ground when he moved

D. he couldn’t use his arms

2.It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is       .

A. an average height for a fully grown person

B. too tall for an average person

C. too short for an average person

D. none of the above

3.The sentence “he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job” implies that the Red Cross       .

A. was only glad to give him a job

B. give him a job because he was a good soldier

C. gave him a job after he talked to someone whom he knew in the organization

D. was not willing to give him a job at first

4.When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers, he       .

A. did everything the other soldiers did

B. did most of the things the other soldiers did

C. did some of the things the other soldiers did

D. took some special training

5.The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi        .

A. had no friends

B. never saw himself as different from others

C. was very shy

D. was too proud to accept help from others

Heroes of Our Time

A good heart

       Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa among great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship(奖学金) to study medicine — but Coach(教练) John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his fortune with others. He built a new hospital in his old hometown in the Congo. Af friend has said of this good-hearted man: “Mutombo believes that God has given him this chance to do great things.”

Success and kindness

       After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to share her love of music and art with her child. So she borrowed some equipment, and began filming children’s videos(录像) in her own house. The Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business grew to more than $20 million in sales. And she is using her success to help others — producing child safety videos with John Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her new program: “I believe it’s the most important thing that I have ever done. I believe that children have the right to live in a world that is safe.”

Bravery and courage

       A few weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails(铁轨), and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he’s not a hero. He says: “We have got to show each other some love.”

What was Mutombo praised for?

   A. Being a star in the NBA.           B. Being a student of medicine.

   C. His work in the church.                    D. His willingness to help the needy.

Mutombo believes that building the new hospital is ______.

   A. helpful to his personal development

   B. something he should do for his homeland

   C. a chance for his friends to share his money

   D. a way of showing his respect to the NBA

What did the Baby Einstein Company do at its beginning?

   A. Produce safety equipment for children.

   B. Make videos to help protect children.

   C. Sell children’s music and artwork.

   D. Look for missing and exploited children.

Why was Wesley Autrey praised as a hero?

   A. He helped a man get across the rails.

   B. He stopped a man from destroying the rails.

   C. He protected two little girls from getting hurt.

   D. He saved a person without considering his own safety.

Hank Viscardi was born without legs. He had not legs but stumps (残肢) that could he fitted with a kind of special boots, People stared at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him‘Ape Man’(猿人) because his arms practically dragged on the ground.

  Hank went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years to finish his schooling instead of the usual twelve. After graduating from school, he worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, he had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. He would soon have to use a wheel chair.

  Hank felt himself got cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificiallegs(假腿). Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror, for the first time he saw himself as he has always wanted to be-a full five feet eight inches tall. By this time he was already 26 years old.

  Hank had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room, and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.

  When World War II came, he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, a man without legs.

1.Children laughed at Hank and called him ‘Ape Man’ because       .

A. he didn’t talk to them

B. he kept away from them

C. his arms touched the ground when he moved

D. he couldn’t use his arms

2.It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is       .

A. an average height for a fully grown person

B. too tall for an average person

C. too short for an average person

D. none of the above

3.The sentence “he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job” implies that the Red Cross       .

A. was only glad to give him a job

B. give him a job because he was a good soldier

C. gave him a job after he talked to someone whom he knew in the organization

D. was not willing to give him a job at first

4.When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers, he       .

A. did everything the other soldiers did

B. did most of the things the other soldiers did

C. did some of the things the other soldiers did

D. took some special training

5.The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi        .

A. had no friends

B. never saw himself as different from others

C. was very shy

D. was too proud to accept help from others