Have you ever wished for a thirty-hour day? Surely this extra time would relieve the tremendous pressure which we live. Our lives leave a trail of unfinished tasks. Unanswered letters, unvisited friends, unwritten articles, and unread books haunt quiet moments when we stop to evaluate. We desperately need relief.

But would a thirty-hour day really solve the problem? Wouldn't we soon be just as frustrated as we are now with our twenty-four allotment? A mother's work is never finished, and neither is that of any manager, student, teacher, minister, or anyone else we know. Nor will the passage of time help us catch up. Children grow in number and age to require more of our time. Greater experience brings more exacting assignments. So we find ourselves working more and enjoying it less. We are accuslomed to working without stop.

When we stop to evaluate, we realize that our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically the problem of priorities（优先顺序）.Actually hard work does not hurt us. We all know what it is to go full speed for long hours, totally involved in an important task. The resulting weariness is matched by a sense of achievement and joy. Not hard work, but doubt and misgiving (疑虑) produce anxiety as we review a month or year and become oppressed by the pile of unfinished tasks. We sense demands have driven us onto a reef of frustration. We confess, quite apart from our sins, “we have left undone those things, which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.” To do the urgent thing or to finisnh the important thing, is a sharp question.

Several years ago an experienced cotton-mill manager said to me, "Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out of the important." He didn't realized how hard his maxim hit. It often returns to haunt and rebuke  me by raising the critical problem of priorities.

We live in constant tension between the urgent and the important. The problem is that the important task rarely must be done today, or even this week. The urgent task calls for instant action — endless demands, pressure every hour and day.

A man's home is no longer his castle; it is no longer a place away from urgent tasks because the telephone breaches the walls with imperious（专横的） demands. The momentary appeal of these tasks seems irresistible and important, and they devour our energy. But in the light of time's perspective their deceptive prominence fades; with a sense of loss we recall the important tasks pushed aside. We realize we’ve become slaves to the "tyranny（暴政） of the urgent."

51．The reason why we sometimes wish to have a thirty-hour day is that we       .

       A．have too much work to complete          B．need more time to enjoy our lives

       C．need longer hours to ease pressure        D．are used to working without stop

52．From Paragraph 3, we find anxiety increases when we         .

       A．stop to think about our dilemma            B．go full speed working at our task

       C．are doing meaningless things                 D．recall lots of unfinished work

53．The motto that hits the writer tells us        .

       A．to finish the urgent and the important thing

       B．to avoid the urgent pushing out the important

       C．the urgent thing shouldn’t be done instantly

       D．the important thing is different from the urgent

54．The writer presents the article to remind us that         .

       A．the urgent is not always to come first

       B．the problem of time shortage is tough

       C．the important is not always depressing

       D．the way to deal with the urgent is hard

阅读下列文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

Certain dustmen prefer to be known as “Refuse Collection and Disposal Office”. You may think that this is rather silly and that it is better to call a spade a spade. But dustmen can be as sensitive as people of any other occupation, though we must admit that their job is not the most romantic one in the world. We often take dustmen for granted. Perhaps because they usually come very early in the morning, before most people are up, we are inclined to forget that they exist. Our dustbins are emptied regularly, but we rarely stop to think about the men who do this. However it is one of the most important jobs in the world, and when there are no dustmen to take away the rubbish the general public soon becomes aware that something is wrong.

    Recently the dustmen of England went on strike for higher wages. During the first few days it was regarded as a joke. For some reason, jokes have always been made about dustmen, and some people thought this strike was very amusing. But when the first two weeks had passed, and the dustbins were overflowing in nearly every, backyard in the country, the joke did not seem so funny any more. As the strike continued, people could not bear the accumulation of rubbish around their dustbins, and they looked for other places in which to get rid of it. Even Leicester Square, in the heat of the west end of London, was piled high with the plastic sacks full of smelly rubbish. This was a tourist attraction that the people of London were not at all happy to see. Even when the strike was over, and the wages dispute had been settled, it took several weeks for the country to get cleaned up immediately, as so much rubbish had accumulated. Perhaps now the English people appreciate the work of their dustmen rather more highly, and won't take them for granted any more.

1．Why are dustmen often taken for granted?

    A. Because they are very sensitive people.

    B. Because the dustbins are always emptied at regular intervals.

    C. Because their job is a very important one.

    D. Because this job is not the most romantic one in the world.

2．When do ordinary people stop to think about dustmen and their work?

    A. Very early in the morning before other people are up.

    B. During a strike, when the dustbins were not emptied.

    C. Never.

    D. At regular intervals.

3．Why did people at first think that the strike started by the dustmen was funny?

    A. Because they predicted the strike would end soon.

    B. Because the purpose of the dustmen was to amuse the Londoners.

    C. Because funny stories had been created about dustmen.

    D. Because a city couldn't go on for quite a long while without the rubbish being collected.

4．Why do the English people appreciate the work of their dustmen rather more highly, and won't take them for granted any more now?

    A. Because the dustmen have done their work well.

    B. Because they have realized the dustmen's job is very important.

    C. Because the dustmen often go on strike for higher wages.

D. Because the dustmen usually come early in the morning, before most people are up.

阅读理解

阅读下列文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

Certain dustmen prefer to be known as “Refuse Collection and Disposal Office”. You may think that this is rather silly and that it is better to call a spade a spade. But dustmen can be as sensitive as people of any other occupation, though we must admit that their job is not the most romantic one in the world. We often take dustmen for granted. Perhaps because they usually come very early in the morning, before most people are up, we are inclined to forget that they exist. Our dustbins are emptied regularly, but we rarely stop to think about the men who do this. However it is one of the most important jobs in the world, and when there are no dustmen to take away the rubbish the general public soon becomes aware that something is wrong.

    Recently the dustmen of England went on strike for higher wages. During the first few days it was regarded as a joke. For some reason, jokes have always been made about dustmen, and some people thought this strike was very amusing. But when the first two weeks had passed, and the dustbins were overflowing in nearly every, backyard in the country, the joke did not seem so funny any more. As the strike continued, people could not bear the accumulation of rubbish around their dustbins, and they looked for other places in which to get rid of it. Even Leicester Square, in the heat of the west end of London, was piled high with the plastic sacks full of smelly rubbish. This was a tourist attraction that the people of London were not at all happy to see. Even when the strike was over, and the wages dispute had been settled, it took several weeks for the country to get cleaned up immediately, as so much rubbish had accumulated. Perhaps now the English people appreciate the work of their dustmen rather more highly, and won't take them for granted any more.

1．Why are dustmen often taken for granted?

    A. Because they are very sensitive people.

    B. Because the dustbins are always emptied at regular intervals.

    C. Because their job is a very important one.

    D. Because this job is not the most romantic one in the world.

2．When do ordinary people stop to think about dustmen and their work?

    A. Very early in the morning before other people are up.

    B. During a strike, when the dustbins were not emptied.

    C. Never.

    D. At regular intervals.

3．Why did people at first think that the strike started by the dustmen was funny?

    A. Because they predicted the strike would end soon.

    B. Because the purpose of the dustmen was to amuse the Londoners.

    C. Because funny stories had been created about dustmen.

    D. Because a city couldn't go on for quite a long while without the rubbish being collected.

4．Why do the English people appreciate the work of their dustmen rather more highly, and won't take them for granted any more now?

    A. Because the dustmen have done their work well.

    B. Because they have realized the dustmen's job is very important.

    C. Because the dustmen often go on strike for higher wages.

D. Because the dustmen usually come early in the morning, before most people are up.

阅读理解

　　Certain dustmen prefer to be known as “Refuse Collection and Disposal Officers”. You may think that this is rather silly, and that it is better to call a spade a spade. But dustmen can be as sensitive as people of any other occupation, though we must admit that their job is not the most romantic one in the world. We often take dustmen for granted. Perhaps because they usually come very early in the morning, before most people are up, we are inclined to forget that they exist. Our dustbins are emptied regularly, but we rarely stop to think about the men who do this. However it is one of the most important jobs in the world, and when there are no dustmen to take away the rubbish the general public soon becomes aware that something is wrong.

　　Recently the dustmen of England went on strike for higher wages. During the first. few days it was regarded as a joke. For some reason, jokes have always been made about dustmen, and some people thought this strike was very amusing. But when the first two weeks had passed, and the dustbins were overflowing in nearly every backyard in the country, the joke did not seem so funny any more. As the strike continued, people could not bear the accumulation of rubbish around their dustbins, and they looked for other places in which to get rid of it. Even Leicester Square, in the heart of the west end of London, was piled high with the plastic sacks full of smelly rubbish, This was a tourist attraction that the people of London were not at all happy to see. Even when the strike was over, and the wages dispute had been settled, it took several weeks for the country to get cleaned up immediately, as so much rubbish had accumulated. Perphas now the English people appreciate the work of their dustmen rather more highly, and won't take them for granted any more.

1．Why are dustmen often taken for granted?

[　　]

A．Because they are very sensitive people.

B．Because the dustbins are always emptied at regular intervals.

C．Because their job is a very important one.

D．Because this job is not the most romantic one in the world.

2．When do ordinary people stop to think about dustmen and their work?

[　　]

A．Very early in the morning before other people are up.

B．During a strike, when the dustbins were not emptied.

C．Never.

D．At regular intervals.

3．Why did people at first think that the strike started by the dustmen was funny?

[　　]

A．Because they predicted the strike would end soon.

B．Because the purpose of the dustmen was to amuse the Londoners.

C．Because funny stories had been created about dustmen.

D．Because a city couldn't go on for quite a long while without the rubbish being collected.

4．Why do the English people appreciate the work of their dustmen rather mare highly, and won't take them for granted any mare now?

[　　]

A．Because the dustmen have done their work well.

B．Because they have realized the dustmen's job is very important.

C．Because the dustmen often go on strike for higher wages.

D．Because the dustmen usually come early in the morning, before most people are up.

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. “Where shall I put up?” he said; “I hope the town has made preparations.”

Then he saw the statue on the tall column.

    “I will put up there,” he cried; “it is a fine position, with plenty of fresh air.” So he flew down and settled just between the feet of the Happy Prince.

    “I have a golden bedroom,” he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. “What a curious thing!” he cried; “there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful.”

    Then another drop fell.

    “What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?” he said; “I must look for a good chimney-pot,” and he determined to fly away.

    But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw--Ah! What did he see?

    The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.

    “Who are you?” he said.

    “I am the Happy Prince.”

    “Why are you weeping then?” asked the Swallow, “you have quite wetted me.”

    “When I was alive and had a human heart,” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very high wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. People called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep.”

“What is he not solid gold?” said the Swallow to himself. He was too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.

67. The swallow wanted to put up when he arrived at the city because ________.

   A. he saw the statue of the Happy Prince.        

   B. he flew into a lovely golden bedroom.

   C. he had a whole-day flight and wanted to sleep. 

   D. it was night and a rain was likely to come soon.

68. Why did the swallow feel curious when a drop of water fell on him?

A. Because of the heavy rain though there was no cloud in the sky.

B. Because the statue couldn’t keep the rain off though made of gold.

C. Because he thought it was raining despite bright and clear stars.

D. Because he couldn’t understand why the Happy Prince was weeping.

69. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

   A. Seeing the Prince’s beautiful face, the swallow had pity on him.

   B. The swallow flew away immediately he found it was raining.

   C. The Prince lived happily because he didn’t know what tears were.

   D. The swallow had wanted to find a good chimney-pot but failed.

70. What made the Happy Prince weep according to the passage?

   A. The high wall stopping him from going out.

   B. His not being able to play with his companions.

   C. His sudden death and his statue being too high.

   D. The hard life of the people and his inability to help.