Help or Not

Dear editor,

During last year's winter holiday, I went shopping with my grandmother. We saw several beggars. Some of them were disabled, which made me feel sad. Among them were old people, young people and even children! When I wanted to help them, my grandmother stopped me. She told me they were not worth showing mercy to because some beggars cheated people out of their money. Should I help them?

                                                                                           Yours,

                                                                                           Mary from Guangzhou

Dear Mary,

       While I understand your grandmother’s point of view, I think that just because some beggars have cheated people, this doesn’t mean you should never help any beggars.

       Showing mercy to people who are not as fortunate as us is one of the kindest things we can do. While some beggars may use dishonest means to get money, most beggars will not. Even those who use dishonest means are probably hungry for food and feel they have no choice but to cheat people. It is important to be careful for your own safety. But if you want to help, you don’t necessarily have to give it to beggars in the street.

       Another way you can help is by donating money to the China Charity Federation. Visit its website at: www. china charity. cn.net.

18.From the grandmother’s point of view, we can learn that ________.

A. she has never helped the beggars.    

B. she believes not all beggars are honest

C. she has surely been cheated by some beggars  

D. she shows no pity for the poor

19. Mary felt sad for _______.

       A. her grandmother                                                 B. the disabled beggars 

C. the old people                                              D. herself

20. The editor suggests that Mary should _______.

       A. have her own mind                                      B. follow her grandmother

       C. do something for those unfortunate                D. help the China Charity Federation

21. The underlined word “donating” probably means _______.

       A. give out of kindness                                     B. put into a business

C. earn through an organization                         D. give in return for some kindness

I met the old man at a cafe. “Did you hear the radio news yesterday?” he asked me. “No,” I replied. “Anything exciting?”“Exciting? NO! Something very sad. A group of hungry dogs killed and ate my best friend.”?
“Oh, dear!” I cried. “How did it happen?”“He was working on the hillside when the dogs attacked him. When he didn't return, I went to the hillside and found…”“His body?” I asked. The old fellow drank half of his coffee. “No. I told you they were hungry dogs, didn't I? The big bones were lying every where. But they found this.” He pushed open a match box he was holding in his hand. In it was a man's thumb, lying on some white bloody material.?
“This is my friend's right thumb. The dogs ate the rest of him”. The old man began to cry. He finished his coffee quickly and left the cafe. I drank mine and called the waiter. “I'll pay the gentleman's bill. His poor friend—how terrible!”“You've heard the news?” The waiter laughed. “Sure. There's a hole in the bottom of the match box. He put his own thumb through the hole. The blood is red ink, I believe. Is the story worth a cup of coffee, sir?”“But he held the box in his right hand.”“Yes, but listeners look into the box. They just can't take their sight off that terrible thing.”“And when he tells the story, he gets free cup of coffee!” I said, laughing. “Yes, sir, but only from strangers who come to this town, and, of course, he does us no harm!”?

1. 1.

   We can learn from this passage ________.?

   1. A.
      the writer came to the cafe for the first time?
   2. B.
      the old man made a living by telling jokes in the cafe?
   3. C.
      the writer had known about the old man before?
   4. D.
      what had happened to his best friend made the old man mad?
2. 2.

   Having heard the old man's story, the writer _______ .?

   1. A.
      couldn't help laughing immediately?
   2. B.
      showed great mercy upon him?
   3. C.
      didn't believe him at all?
   4. D.
      bought the old man another cup of coffee?
3. 3.

   It turned out that the thumb in the match box was actually __________.?

   1. A.
      the right thumb of his best friend?
   2. B.
      the thumb he stole from the dead body of an unknown person?
   3. C.
      something made of bloody white materials?
   4. D.
      his own right thumb?
4. 4.

   The waiter hadn't let out the truth of the old man's story earlier because _______ .

   1. A.
      he was nobody but the best friend of the old man?
   2. B.
      the old man wouldn't pay for his coffee if he did ?
   3. C.
      the waiter hadn't seen through the old man's trick?
   4. D.
      the old man helped the cafe in some way?
5. 5.

   As suggested by the passage, what might happen in the end?      ??

   1. A.
      The writer refused to pay the old man's bill.?
   2. B.
      The writer decided to make the trick known to the public.?
   3. C.
      More strangers would hear the old man's story.?
   4. D.
      The old man wouldn't visit the cafe any more.

I met the old man at a cafe. “Did you hear the radio news yesterday?” he asked me. “No,” I replied. “Anything exciting?” “Exciting? NO! Something very sad. A group of hungry dogs killed and ate my best friend.”

“Oh, dear!” I cried. “How did it happen?” “He was working on the hillside when the dogs attacked him. When he didn't return, I went to the hillside and found…” “His body?” I asked. The old fellow drank half of his coffee. “No. I told you they were hungry dogs, didn't I? The big bones were lying every where. But they found this.” He pushed open a match box he was holding in his hand. In it was a man's thumb(拇指), lying on some white bloody material.

“This is my friend's right thumb. The dogs ate the rest of him”. The old man began to cry. He finished his coffee quickly and left the cafe. I drank mine and called the waiter. “I'll pay the gentleman's bill. His poor friend—how terrible!” “You've heard the news?” The waiter laughed. “Sure. There's a hole in the bottom of the match box. He put his own thumb through the hole. The blood is red ink, I believe. Is the story worth a cup of coffee, sir?” “But he held the box in his right hand.” “Yes, but listeners look into the box. They just can't take their sight off that terrible thing.” “And when he tells the story, he gets free cup of coffee!” I said, laughing. “Yes, sir, but only from strangers who come to this town, and, of course, he does us no harm!”

57. We can learn from this passage ________.

A. the writer came to the cafe for the first time

B. the old man made a living by telling jokes in the cafe

C. the writer had known about the old man before

D. what had happened to his best friend made the old man mad

58. Having heard the old man's story, the writer _______ .

A. couldn't help laughing immediately B. showed great mercy （怜悯）upon him

C. didn't believe him at all　　　 D. bought the old man another cup of coffee

59. It turned out that the thumb in the match box was actually __________.

A. the right thumb of his best friend

B. the thumb he stole from the dead body of an unknown person

C. something made of bloody white materials

D. his own right thumb

60. The waiter hadn't let out the truth of the old man's story earlier because _______ .

A. he was nobody but the best friend of the old man

B. the old man wouldn't pay for his coffee if he did

C. the waiter hadn't seen through the old man's trick

D. the old man helped the cafe in some way

I met the old man at a cafe. “Did you hear the radio news yesterday?” he asked me. “No,” I replied. “Anything exciting?” “Exciting? NO! Something very sad. A group of hungry dogs killed and ate my best friend.”

“Oh, dear!” I cried. “How did it happen?” “He was working on the hillside when the dogs attacked him. When he didn't return, I went to the hillside and found…” “His body?” I asked. The old fellow drank half of his coffee. “No. I told you they were hungry dogs, didn't I? The big bones were lying everywhere. But they found this.” He pushed open a match box he was holding in his hand. In it was a man's thumb, lying on some white bloody material.

“This is my friend's right thumb. The dogs ate the rest of him”. The old man began to cry. He finished his coffee quickly and left the cafe. I drank mine and called the waiter. “I'll pay the gentleman's bill. His poor friend—how terrible!” “You've heard the news?” The waiter laughed. “Sure. There's a hole in the bottom of the match box. He put his own thumb through the hole. The blood is red ink, I believe. Is the story worth a cup of coffee, sir?” “But he held the box in his right hand.” “Yes, but listeners look into the box. They just can't take their sight off that terrible thing.” “And when he tells the story, he gets free cup of coffee!” I said, laughing. “Yes, sir, but only from strangers who come to this town, and, of course, he does us no harm!”

56. We can learn from this passage ________.

A. the writer had known about the old man before.

B. the old man made a living by telling jokes in the café.

C. the writer came to the cafe for the first time

D. what had happened to his best friend made the old man mad.

57. Having heard the old man's story, the writer _______.

A. couldn't help laughing immediately.

B. didn't believe him at all.            

C. showed great mercy upon him.

D. bought the old man another cup of coffee.

58. It turned out that the thumb in the match box was actually __________.

A. the right thumb of his best friend.

B. the thumb he stole from the dead body of an unknown person.

C. something made of bloody white materials.

D. his own right thumb.

59. The waiter hadn't let out the truth of the old man's story earlier because _______ .

A. the old man helped the cafe in some way.

B. he was nobody but the best friend of the old man.

C. the old man wouldn't pay for his coffee if he did.

D. the waiter hadn't seen through the old man's trick.

60. As suggested by the passage, what might happen in the end?   

A. The writer refused to pay the old man's bill.

B. More strangers would hear the old man's story.

C. The writer decided to make the trick known to the public.

D. The old man wouldn't visit the cafe any more. 

I met the old man at a cafe. “Did you hear the radio news yesterday?” he asked me. “No,” I replied. “Anything exciting?” “Exciting? NO! Something very sad. A group of hungry dogs killed and ate my best friend.”

“Oh, dear!” I cried. “How did it happen?” “He was working on the hillside when the dogs attacked him. When he didn't return, I went to the hillside and found…” “His body?” I asked. The old fellow drank half of his coffee. “No. I told you they were hungry dogs, didn't I? The big bones were lying everywhere. But they found this.” He pushed open a match box he was holding in his hand. In it was a man's thumb, lying on some white bloody material.

“This is my friend's right thumb. The dogs ate the rest of him”. The old man began to cry. He finished his coffee quickly and left the cafe. I drank mine and called the waiter. “I'll pay the gentleman's bill. His poor friend—how terrible!” “You've heard the news?” The waiter laughed. “Sure. There's a hole in the bottom of the match box. He put his own thumb through the hole. The blood is red ink, I believe. Is the story worth a cup of coffee, sir?” “But he held the box in his right hand.” “Yes, but listeners look into the box. They just can't take their sight off that terrible thing.” “And when he tells the story, he gets free cup of coffee!” I said, laughing. “Yes, sir, but only from strangers who come to this town, and, of course, he does us no harm!”

56. We can learn from this passage ________.

A. the writer had known about the old man before.

B. the old man made a living by telling jokes in the café.

C. the writer came to the cafe for the first time

D. what had happened to his best friend made the old man mad.

57. Having heard the old man's story, the writer _______.

A. couldn't help laughing immediately.

B. didn't believe him at all.            

C. showed great mercy upon him.

D. bought the old man another cup of coffee.

58. It turned out that the thumb in the match box was actually __________.

A. the right thumb of his best friend.

B. the thumb he stole from the dead body of an unknown person.

C. something made of bloody white materials.

D. his own right thumb.

59. The waiter hadn't let out the truth of the old man's story earlier because _______ .

A. the old man helped the cafe in some way.

B. he was nobody but the best friend of the old man.

C. the old man wouldn't pay for his coffee if he did.

D. the waiter hadn't seen through the old man's trick.