People who put a smiley face at the end of a message, in an attempt to show feeling, show no feeling. I wish there was a symbol for two fingers in the air.
I had some bad news this week. My manager informed me of this news via email. It was like hearing about the death of a loved one via pigeon. Bad news should only ever be delivered face to face or voice to voice.
We seem to celebrate our numerous methods of communication, but really there is no communication at all. I talk to my plants more than I talk to my neighbors, I get text messages that take me three hours to read because they’re written like this: “Hi, I ope you av a gr8 day. Call me La8tr.” I had an email from someone this week that read, “Da ut ov 2day are really annoying me!” Ut? I had to say this 20 times before I understood it. Youth has now become ut. Haven’t we taken enough from them—now we have to take their letters?
I had an email recently from a girl who used to live over the road from me as a child. She wrote, “Hi Shazia, howz u? Im sure u used 2 live across the road from me. We sumtimes played tennis 2 gever at the park and you was in your eliment. I am married now wif 3 daughters.” Then, to my horror, she ended the email with: “Im now teachin in Leeds. Luv Clare.”
Teaching? With English like this. It’s like saying you’re a train driver when you’ve never seen a train. It was like reading modern Morse code.
Getting bad news via email makes it seem so much worse than it actually is. Just a few lines, no emotion, no comfort, not really an explanation. Just a few cold hard words. It’s an excuse. Just write a few words and the problem of delivering it is no longer yours. A close friend recently told me she was very happy to announce she was getting married—and made the announcement by email. I don’t know how she didn’t fall off her chair with excitement while writing it. If you are really happy or really sad to announce something important, wouldn’t you like a human reaction? Some euphoria, elation, tears, a punch in the face?
I receive long text messages every day with information and explanations that I don’t bother reading. They’re boring, and annoy me. In the time it took someone to write me three laborious texts, they could have called, spoken to me, made some tea. People who put a smiley face at the end of a sentence, in an attempt to show feeling, show no feeling. I wish there was a symbol for two fingers in the air, because that’s the one I’d send back.
The telegram has been responsible for reporting world-shattering events when there were very few other options(选择权). Now we have options, and people opt for the least humane one. My mum, in an attempt to get down with the ut of today, asked me to teach her to text. Now she constantly texts me in block capitals, so it looks as if she is still angry and annoyed with me after all these years.
People don’t even write by hand any more. My doctor prints out prescriptions from his computer; even my mechanic prints out a receipt. I get typed Christmas cards and my friends send me emails. I get very excited when hand-written letters come through my door, only because they rarely do.
When I was at school, the girls used to write letters to each other, even though we sat side by side and spoke to one another all day. I think it was a way of expressing private things we were afraid to say when we were 14 and too shy. We used to write things like, “You are my best friend, can’t wait to sit next to you in math.”
I miss the personal method of communication. Once the pen was mightier than the sword, now it seems the keyboard is mightier than the pen.
【小题1】We can learn from paragraph 3 and paragraph 4 that the writer wants to say ________.

Last week I went to a supermarket. After I 　36 the bill and was passing through the door, the alarm suddenly started to ring. Suddenly, a young guard ran toward me and ordered me to 　37 him. I felt so upset and 　38 . He took me to a small room, but I was 　39 frightened that I stopped at the door. Finding me 　40 to enter the room, he shouted that I had to go into the room.

He closed the door. I thought he was going to hurt me. Suddenly, a 　41 voice said in my ear: “Take out the things you’ve stolen!” “I stole nothing.” I said. “Do as I tell you. If we find them, you’ll be in trouble.” “There is nothing.” I answered. “I didn’t take anything.” I said, taking everything out of my pockets and bag. 42 this point, a guard came in and asked a salesgirl to 　43 me. 　44 , they found nothing.

But they didn’t believe that I hadn’t stolen anything. So the young guard ordered me to pass through the door alarm again.

I was 　45 when it rang again. I felt 　46 and burst into tears. I didn’t know how to prove 　47 I was innocent(清白的).

They made me go into the small room again.

“Take out the stolen things quickly, 48 we will dial 110.” They said.

“OK, call the police. I’ m not afraid.” I said 　49 .

Suddenly, they 50 their tone. After a while, a salesgirl asked me to raise my feet. I did 　51 she had told me. There was a label (标签) on the bottom of my shoe. That was it! That was the 　52 thing that had brought me such great trouble. But it 　53 my innocence.

After that, they 　54 to me in the small room, But they should have apologized 55 , shouldn’t they? A lot of people were there when I was taken away. What did they think of me?

36．A．buy　　　　　　　　　　　 B．paid　　　　　　　　　　 C．passed　　　　　　　　 D．paid for

37．A．obey　　　　　　　　　　　 B．beg　　　　　　　　　　　 C．follow　　　　　　　　 D．listen to

38．A．angry　　　　　　　　　　 B．excited　　　　　　　　 C．happy　　　　　　　　　 D．puzzled

39．A．very　　　　　　　　　　　 B．much　　　　　　　　　 C．such　　　　　　　　　　 D．so

40．A．disagree 　　　　　　　 B．unwilling　　　　　　　 C．voluntarily　　　　　　 D．willingly

41．A．high　　　　　　　　　　　 B．low　　　　　　　　　　 C．sound　　　　　　　　　 D．sharp

42．A．On　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．In　　　　　　　　　　　　 C．At　　　　　　　　　　　 D．From

43．A．look at　　　　　　　　　 B．watch　　　　　　　　　 C．examine　　　　　　　 D．keep

44．A．Needless to say B．So far C．On one hand　　　　 D． As a result of

45．A．afraid　　　　　　　　　　 B．frightened　　　　　　 C．shocked　　　　　　　 D．sad

46．A．wronged　　　　　　　　 B．upset　　　　　　　　　 C．scared　　　　　　　　 D．unpleasant

47．A．what　　　　　　　　　　 B．whether　　　　　　　 C．that　　　　　　　　　　 D．how

48．A．and　　　　　　　　　　　 B．but　　　　　　　　　　　 C．or　　　　　　　　　　　 D．so

49．A．unhappily　　　　　　　 B．forcefully 　　　　　 C．terribly　　　　　　　　 D．widely

50．A．changed　　　　　　　　 B．raised　　　　　　　　　 C．increased　　　　　　 D．closed

51．A．like　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．as　　　　　　　　　　　　 C．according to　　　　 D．as if

52．A．only　　　　　　　　　　　 B．last　　　　　　　　　　　 C．very　　　　　　　　　　 D．just

53．A．tested　　　　　　　　　　 B．showed　　　　　　　　 C．proved　　　　　　　　 D．gave

54．A．said　　　　　　　　　　　 B．apologized　　　　　　 C．agreed　　　　　　　　 D．promised

55. A．loudly 　　　 B． together 　　 C．politely 　　　　 D．in public

Anna lived on the side of a valley．One summer, there was a very big 　     , and a lot of houses down below Anna＇s were washed away．Anna＇s house was 　   enough to escape the flood, so when the water had      and the other houses were 　    there with no roof and no walls and all covered with mud（泥）, her house was just all right．

 Her house was quite small, her husband was dead, and she had four children,   　 Anna took in one of the families that had lost 　   in the flood and she 　    her home with them until it was 　  　 for them to rebuild their house．

 Anna＇s friends were 　  when they saw Anna do this．They could not understand why Anna wanted to give   so much more work and trouble when she already had quite a few children to 　   ．

 “Well,” Anna  　    her friends, “at the end of the First World War, a woman in the town where I then lived found herself very  　   , because her husband had been killed in the 　   　  and she had a lot of children I have now．The day before Christmas, this woman said to her children, ‘We won’t be able to have much for Christmas this year, so I’m going to 　      only one present to all of us．Now I’ll go and get it．’ She came back with a  　    who was even poorer than they, and who had no parents．‘Here’s our 　   ,she said to her children．

 The children were 　   and happy to get such a present．They 　   the little girl, and she grew up as their sister．Such was that Christmas present．”

1.A．accident    B．flood         C．fire            D．earthquake

2.A．below       B．big           C．high           D．small

3.A．reduced     B．come         C．disappeared      D．appeared 

4.A．rising       B．standing       C．flowing         D．falling    

5.A．so         B．for            C．but             D．since

6.A．nothing    B．anything       C．something        D．everything

7.A．gave       B．shared        C．found           D．built

8.A．necessary  B．important      C．obvious          D．possible

9.A．worried    B．disappointed   C．satisfied          D．puzzled

10.A．them      B．him          C．herself           D．us

11.A．supply     B．grow         C．support          D．educate

12.A．asked for  B．talked with     C．turned up         D．explained to

13.A．sad       B．rich           C．poor            D．happy

14.A．storm     B．rain           C．war            D．flood

15.A．because   B．which         C．that            D．as

16.A．get       B．make         C．send             D．buy          

17.A．boy      B．student        C．teacher          D．girl

18.A．child     B．daughter       C．present          D．sister        

19.A．angry     B．lovely         C．excited          D．sorry

20.A．disliked   B．gained         C．led             D．welcomed

Just before Christmas 1978, Kenneth was a passenger in a car as it drove through the Navajo Nation．The night was dark, and the driver, an elderly woman, 　 1 and killed an eight-year-old boy．

　 Later, when he saw how sad the boy’s family were, Kenneth made a（n） 　2 ．He would “do whatever it takes to make 　3 happy at Christmas time.”

　 A year later, at the age of 18, he was living with his mother and younger brother. They were hardly making ends meet on his low wages, but Kenneth bought a used Santa suit and went around 　4

people as poor as himself to give candy and fruit for families even more needy．

　 Just before midnight on Christmas Eve, he went knocking on doors of 　5 houses in the poorest section of the Navajo Nation. Many of the darkened homes didn’t have 　6 .

　 Some families were 　7 to open their doors so late at night. “It’s a man! He has a big bag!”

He 　8 a boy, holding up a lantern and watching from behind the curtains, tell his parents. Kenneth convinced them he was 　9 ．

At every opened door, he 　10 candies, oranges, toys and so on. Many Navajo kids had never seen 　11 before, so his old costume and store-bought beard didn’t 　12 them．It touched Kenneth that the kids were excited by so 　13 ．

　 He 　14 it up year after year, gathering more “elves （精灵）” to help him．His Christmas

Eve 　15 have grown into an annual Navajo feast with gifts of clothing, tools and toys for over 700 people．Kids who can’t make it to the event because they’re sick or lack transportation get a personal visit from Kenneth or one of his elves．

　 “My grandfather taught me that you learn to be a man by sharing and by keeping promises,” he says．

1．A．struck　　　 B．touched　　 C．found　　　 D．stopped

2．A．conclusion　 　　　　　　　 B．excuse　　　 C．promise D．effort

3．A．the family　 B．children　　 C．brothers　　 D．his mother

4．A．suggesting 　 B．persuading　 C．requiring　 D．calling

5．A．old　　　　　 B．big　　　　 C．bright　　　 D．lonely

6．A．electricity　 B．food　　　　 C．doors　　　 D．windows

7．A．happy　　　　 B．angry　　　 C．afraid　　　 D．eager

8．A．thought 　　 B．hoped　　　 C．let　　　　 D．heard

9．A．gentle 　　　 B．generous 　 C．harmless 　 D．helpful

10．A．reached for B．put down 　 C．picked out D．handed out

11．A．Kenneth 　　 B．candies　　 C．elves　　　 D．Santa Claus

12．A．disappoint B．satisfy 　　 C．attract 　　 D．please

13．A．much 　　　 B．big　　　　 C．little 　　 D．many

14．A．held 　　　 B．kept 　　　 C．gave 　　　 D．took

15．A．gifts 　　　 B．experiences C．excitements D．visits

Kenneth will never forget what happened on a dark night just before Christmas in 1978．He saw a driver，an elderly woman     1     and kill an eight—year-old boy．Later，when he saw how sad the boy’s family were，Kenneth made a（n）    2    ．He would “do    3  it takes to make．4   happy at Christmas time．”

   Kenneth was not      5     ，but he bought a used Santa suit and went around  6  people as poor as himself to give candy and fruit to families who were eyen mote needy．

    Just before midnight on a wind-bitten Christmas Eve，he went knocking on doors of   7    

houses in the poorest section of a Nayaio Village，Many of the darkened homes didn’t have  8

    Some families were      9     to open their doors so late at night．“It’s a man! He has a

big bag！”he   10   a boy，holding up a lantern（灯笼）and watching  11  the curtains，tell his parents．Kenneth convinced them be was    12 ．

  At every opened door，he     13      candies，oranges and toys．Many Navajo kids had never seen      14    before，so his old costume and store-bought beard didn’t  15  them．1t touched Kenneth that they were excited by so  16 ．

    He     17    this up year after year，gathering“ elves（精灵）”to help him．His Christmas

Eve     18    have grown into an annual Navajo feast with gifts of clothing，tools and toys for over 700 people．Kids who can’t    19  it to the event because they’re sick or lack transportation get a __ 20     visit from Kenneth or our of his elves．

    “My grandfather taught me that you learn to be a man and a warrior by sharing and by keeping promises，”he says．

1．A．touched                    B．found                     C．strike                      D．stopped

2．A．promises                  B．excuse                    C．conclusion                     D．effort

3．A．whichever                B．whatever                 C．however                 D．wherever

4．A．brothers                   B．his mother               C．the family               D．children

5．A．rich                          B．small                      C．tall                         D．strong

6．A．calling                   B．persuading              C．suggesting                     D．requiring

7．A．bright                    B．lonely                     C．old                         D．big

8．A．electricity                 B．windows                 C．doors                            D．food

9．A．angry                       B．eager                      C．happy                     D．afraid 

10．A．thought                   B．heard                      C．hoped                     D．let

11．A．out for                    B．from under              C．from behind            D．out of

12．A．helpful                    B．generous                 C．gentle                     D．harmless

13．A．picked out               B．handed out              C．put  down             D．reached for

14．A．candies                   B．Kenneth                  C．Santa  Claus          D．toys

15．A．disappoint               B．please                     C．attract                    D．satisfy

16．A．much                            B．little                        C．big                         D．many

17．A．took                       B．held                        C．gave                       D．kept

18．A．visits                      B．adventures                     C．excitements             D．gifts

19．A．make                      B．do                          C．get                         D．have

20．A．usual                      B．formal                    C．personal                  D．normal