Sneaker is a kind of shoe worn by many people all over the world. Some say that the word “sneaker” is another word for tennis shoe,   36   no one really knows where the word came from.   37  say it came from the old English verb “sneak”, which  38   moving silently and quickly. The only thing we are   39  is that when you put on a pair of sneakers, you   40   light-hearted, light-footed and ready to play.
Sneakers of some kind are used by   41   who play tennis, basketball, and other sports. New design has been made   42   for people who run slowly. But perhaps sneakers are   43   used by children in the United States. In fact American children of  44   ages would much rather play in sneakers than anything else, except perhaps  45   at all.
　　New York City once held a poetry contest (诗歌比赛) for children. The subject was only “sneaker”. Thousands of children sent in their  46   and praised the sneakers they love. One prize winner called  47   poem “The Sneaker and the World Peace”. “When everyone is wearing sneakers,” she said, “it will be impossible to   48 .”
American school children can be seen every day   49  sneakers of all colours. They put them on in the morning and take them off  50 . Sneakers are  51  washed. In fact the older and dirtier they are, the  52  loveable they are. When their sneakers wear out (穿破), children hate to throw them off. How do you explain the closeness between  53  ? Perhaps another young   54  in the New York Poetry Contest said it best. “A shoe is just a shoe,” he said. “But a sneaker is a   55 .”

Sneaker is a kind of shoe worn by many people all over the world. Some say that the word “sneaker” is another word for tennis shoe,   36   no one really knows where the word came from.   37  say it came from the old English verb “sneak”, which  38   moving silently and quickly. The only thing we are   39  is that when you put on a pair of sneakers, you   40   light-hearted, light-footed and ready to play.

Sneakers of some kind are used by   41   who play tennis, basketball, and other sports. New design has been made   42   for people who run slowly. But perhaps sneakers are   43   used by children in the United States. In fact American children of  44   ages would much rather play in sneakers than anything else, except perhaps  45   at all.

　　New York City once held a poetry contest (诗歌比赛) for children. The subject was only “sneaker”. Thousands of children sent in their  46   and praised the sneakers they love. One prize winner called  47   poem “The Sneaker and the World Peace”. “When everyone is wearing sneakers,” she said, “it will be impossible to   48 .”

American school children can be seen every day   49  sneakers of all colours. They put them on in the morning and take them off  50 . Sneakers are  51  washed. In fact the older and dirtier they are, the  52  loveable they are. When their sneakers wear out (穿破), children hate to throw them off. How do you explain the closeness between  53  ? Perhaps another young   54  in the New York Poetry Contest said it best. “A shoe is just a shoe,” he said. “But a sneaker is a   55 .”

1.                A．however        B．but            C．or   D．and

2.                A．All            B．Some          C．People   D．The others

3.                A．appears        B．remains         C．means    D．wants

4.                A．excited about    B．sure of         C．surprised at   D．pleased with

5.                A．think           B．feel            C．consider  D．suggest

6.                A．men           B．women         C．those D．these

7.                A．lovely          B．specially        C．lively D．cheaply

8.                A．only           B．greatly         C．hardly    D．finally

9.                A．all             B．some           C．little D．old

10.               A．some shoes     B．no shoes        C．no children D．some sneakers

11.               A．photos         B．compositions    C．poems    D．drawings

12.               A．her            B．his            C．its    D．their

13.               A．explain         B．guide          C．hate  D．love

14.               A．dressing        B．wearing        C．putting on D．having

15.               A．the next day     B．at noon         C．at bedtime D．in the evening

16.               A．forever        B．always         C．seldom    D．sometimes

17.               A．much          B．many          C．most  D．more

18.                                A．sneakers and other shoes   B．boys and girls

C．children and sneakers               D．winners and sneakers

19.               A．girl            B．man           C．woman    D．winner

20.               A．sneaker        B．friend          C．poem D．shoe

Sneaker is a kind of shoe worn by many people all over the world. Some say that the word “sneaker” is another word for tennis shoe,   1   no one really knows where the word came from.   2   say it came from the old English verb “sneak”, which   3   to move silently and quickly. The only thing we are   4   is that when you put on a pair of sneakers, you   5   light-hearted, light-footed and ready to play.

Sneakers of some kind are used by   6   who play tennis, basketball, and other sports. New design has been made   7   for people who run slowly. But perhaps sneakers are   8   used by children in the United States. In fact American children of   9   ages would much rather play in sneakers than anything else, except perhaps   10   at all.

　　New York City once held a poetry contest (诗歌比赛) for children. The subject was only “sneaker”. Thousands of children sent in their   11   and praised the sneakers they love. One prize winner called   12   poem “The Sneaker and the World Peace”. “When everyone is wearing sneakers,” she said, “it will be impossible to   13  .”

　　American school children can be seen every day   14   sneakers of all colours. They put them on in the morning and take them off   15  . Sneakers are   16   washed. In fact the older and dirtier they are, the   17   loveable they are. When their sneakers wear out (穿破), children hate to throw them off. How do you explain the closeness between   18  ? Perhaps another young   19   in the New York Poetry Contest said it best. “A shoe is just a shoe,” he said. “But a sneaker is a   20  .”

1．A. however                    B. but                           C. or                            D. and

2．A. All                      B. Some                       C. People                      D. The others

3．A. appears                      B. remains                   C. means                      D. wants

4．A. excited about              B. sure of                            C. surprised at                     D. pleased with

5．A. think                          B. feel                         C. consider                   D. suggest

6．A. men                           B. women                     C. those                       D. these

7．A. lovely                        B. specially                  C. lively                        D. cheaply

8．A. only                           B. greatly                      C. hardly                      D. finally

9．A. all                              B. some                        C. little                         D. old

10．A. some shoes                     B. no shoes                   C. no children               D. some sneakers

11．A. photos                            B. compositions            C. poems                      D. drawings

12．A. her                          B. his                           C. its                            D. their

13．A. explain                     B. guide                        C. hate                         D. love

14．A. dressing                   B. wearing                    C. putting on                 D. having

15．A. the next day              B. at noon                     C. at bedtime                D. in the evening

16．A. forever                     B. always                            C. seldom                     D. sometimes

17．A. much                       B. many                       C. most                        D. more

18．A. sneakers and other shoes                              B. boys and girls

C. children and sneakers                                          D. winners and sneakers

19．A. girl                          B. man                         C. woman                    D. winner

20．A. sneaker                    B. friend                       C. poem                       D. shoe

       After 21 years of marriage, I started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife’s idea. “I know that you love her,” she said one day, taking me by surprise. “But I love YOU,” I protected. “I know, but you also love her.”

       The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked.

       My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, then said, “I would like that very much.”

       That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on.

       She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,” she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”

       We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and comfortable. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print.

       “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said.

       “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded.

       During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation—nothing extraordinary—but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.

1．From the text, we can learn that the writer is_____.

       A．a regular moviegoer                                    B．a wealthy businessman   

       C．a frequent visitor to his mother                     D．a busy and middle-aged father of three

2．Why was the mother surprised when getting invited?

       A．She was already in bed                                B．She rarely got invited

       C．She never expected such a call                            D．She seldom watched late night movies

3．Why did the writer feel nervous when he drove to meet his mother?

       A．He was eager to find out how his mother liked the date.

       B．He was excited to express his love for his mother.

       C．He hadn’t seen his mother after he was married.

       D．He didn’t tell his wife that he was to visit his mother.

4．How would the man feel after the dinner?

       A．He should take his mother to a movie some other time.

       B．He should meet his mother’s friends.

       C．His mother wants more invitations.

       D．His mother enjoys spending time with him.

My husband, my four-month-old daughter and I set out on a five-day driving journey from California to Washington. We had to stop frequently because our little child needed to stretch from the car seat.
One of our stops, once we crossed the Oregon border, was at a Black Bear Diner. Walking towards the front door we noticed a gentleman standing at one side. He was clearly untidy, without shoes and wearing worn clothing. We passed right by him and opened the restaurant door. Then something told me to go back.
Holding my daughter, I turned around and said to the gentleman, “Sir. Are you hungry?” He said, “Yes.” I then asked, “May we buy you something to eat?” He responded with, “Sure, I can order something myself.”
My husband opened the door and the gentleman went straight to the counter. I told him to order whatever he wanted. The manager of the restaurant came over quite quickly and looked frightened. I spoke before he had an opportunity to. “This gentleman will have lunch with us today,” I said. “Please add his order to our bill.” The manager said with a frown(皱眉), “Okay.” We turned to our table and the gentleman said, loudly and quickly, “Thank You!” We were seated and upon completing our meal we were handed our bill. I asked my husband what the gentleman had ordered. One fresh orange juice, one coffee, one breakfast combination with a side of hash browns.
When we left the restaurant I looked for the gentleman but didn’t see him, but that very small act just made my day. I hope in some small way we were able to add some joy to his life, even if only for a few minutes.
【小题1】From the appearance of the gentleman, we can guess he was probably a(n) _____.