Marlin Perkins’ keen interest in animals, especially snakes, brought him a lot of trouble when he was young. His landlady never excused him for keeping snakes in his closet. After two years of college, he left school and found a job in a zoo, sweeping the sidewalks for $3.50 a day. He was very happy about it because he could now watch animals and study them all day long. He soon became an official in charge of reptiles (爬行动物)and then director of the Buffalo Zoo.

Through his snake-hunting expeditions, Perkins won his fame as a snake expert. His love for snakes is such that he thinks of them in terms of (根据) personalities. However, snakes do not have the universal appeal as he wishes. Even Perkins’ most favorite animal Bushman, the 550-pound toughest African ape, was frightened by snakes. Bushman once escaped from his cage. Nothing could draw him back. Finally a keeper went to the reptile house, got three little snakes, and dangled (摇晃) them toward Bushman. The great ape nearly tore the place apart getting back to the safety of his cage.

Perkins likes all animals and takes more interest in them than many parents take in their own children. He keeps daily records on all the baby animals, takes their temperature and watches their diet strictly. Speaking about his success, Perkins sums up his philosophy of life as follows: “My life has taught me that the surest path to success is to find out what you most enjoy doing, then set out to do it.”

40.Perkins’ first zoo job was __________.

A. collecting snakes     B. sweeping sidewalks

C. looking after an ape   D. taking notes on animals

41.Bushman’s reaction (反映) suggests that ___________.

A. he was easy to be nervous   B. most people dislike animals

even animals dislike snakes  D. he was a tough animal to manage

42.Perkins believes the best way to success is to __________.

A. do what you like most     B.work hard at it

C.do what people don’t like   D.be brave enough

43. According to the passage, Marlin Perkins entered his life work through ______.

A. help      B.chance        C.choice      D.necessity

44.A good title for the passage would be ________.

A.Lovely Snakes                B.A Good Expert

C.Marlin Perkins’ world          D.Human’s Friend---Animal

“Good morning!” said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years.

“See that cafeteria（自助餐厅）over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while.”

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. “Jack, do you remember me?” Old Jack thought hard and said, “I think so--I mean you do look familiar.”

“I was thin and hungry,” she said. “Maybe I’ve filled out now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger.”

Jack lit up with a smile. “Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company’s policy.”

The woman continued, “Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register.”

“So you started your own business?” old Jack said. “I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.” She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. “When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He’ll find something for you to do around the office.” She smiled, “If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.”

There were tears in the old man’s eyes, “How can I ever thank you?” he said. “Don’t thank me;” the woman answered, “thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you.”

1.Why did the woman invite the beggar to dinner?

A．The beggar was once her friend.

B．She felt very pity for the beggar.

C．The beggar once offered her a free meal.

D．She once worked with the beggar.

2.What does the underlined phrase “fill out” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．wear a beautiful dress.                   B．change one’s features.

C．have a very high position.                 D．become larger or fatter.

3.Years ago the woman walked into the place she caught sight of to __________.

A．find a job there                         B．get herself out of cold

C．get something to eat                     D．meet with the man

4.What conclusion can you draw from this passage?

A．Kindness is an investment that never fails.

B．Nothing is difficult for the man who will try.

C．Don’t judge a person from his/her appearance.

D．God helps those who help themselves.

“Good morning!” said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years.
“See that cafeteria（自助餐厅）over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while.”
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. “Jack, do you remember me?” Old Jack thought hard and said, “I think so--I mean you do look familiar.”
“I was thin and hungry,” she said. “Maybe I’ve filled out now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger.”
Jack lit up with a smile. “Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company’s policy.”
The woman continued, “Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register.”
“So you started your own business?” old Jack said. “I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.” She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. “When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He’ll find something for you to do around the office.” She smiled, “If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.”
There were tears in the old man’s eyes, “How can I ever thank you?” he said. “Don’t thank me;” the woman answered, “thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you.”

1. 1.

   Why did the woman invite the beggar to dinner?

   1. A.
      The beggar was once her friend
   2. B.
      She felt very pity for the beggar
   3. C.
      The beggar once offered her a free meal
   4. D.
      She once worked with the beggar
2. 2.

   What does the underlined phrase “fill out” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

   1. A.
      wear a beautiful dress
   2. B.
      change one’s features
   3. C.
      have a very high position
   4. D.
      become larger or fatter
3. 3.

   Years ago the woman walked into the place she caught sight of to __________

   1. A.
      find a job there
   2. B.
      get herself out of cold
   3. C.
      get something to eat
   4. D.
      meet with the man
4. 4.

   What conclusion can you draw from this passage?

   1. A.
      Kindness is an investment that never fails
   2. B.
      Nothing is difficult for the man who will try
   3. C.
      Don’t judge a person from his/her appearance
   4. D.
      God helps those who help themselves

A company advertised in the newspaper for a sales position. Details of the requirements, salary and benefits were given. It was also clearly stated that applicants needed to take an aptitude test (能力倾向测试) and an interview. However, looking at the whole advertisement, one could not find any contact information of the company.
Most interested applicants thought that it was the company’s HR department’s carelessness or a printing error. They therefore waited patiently for the newspaper to publish an amendment(订正). But instead of waiting for the newspaper to publish the company details, another three applicants took the initiative(主动性) to find out the company’s contact information themselves.
Tim did a search on the Internet. By typing the company’s name, he easily obtained all the information including its contact number. Lisa called up the local telephone number search service and found out the company’s office number. She called up the office and got the required contact information. Donna put in a greater effort in her search. She remembered seeing a poster by the same company in the city so she drove all the way down and made a few rounds to search for it. She finally found it together with the company’s contact information.
Three days after that advertisement was published in the newspaper, most interested applicants were still waiting eagerly for an amendment. On the other hand, the application letters and resumes of Tim, Lisa and Donna had already reached the hands of the company’s HR manager. They were then called up for an interview. During the interview, all went well and immediately they were hired. The three of them were a little surprised at how fast things went on. They were expecting for an aptitude test as stated in the advertisement. The HR director answered them, smiling, “Our test is hidden in the advertisement itself. To be a good salesperson in this age, he or she has to be broad-minded and very importantly, does not follow rigid (死板的) steps or rules. You are all clever. In a short time, you’ve managed to find ways of contacting us. It shows clearly that you have passed the test with flying colors!”
The fools sit around waiting for their chances whereas the wise actively take actions with great initiative.
【小题1】According to the passage the company wanted to test the applicants’ ______.