Many people say that they are working too many hours. They don't have enough time to relax or to stay with their family.

Work hours are different from one country to another. In France,people spend about 1 646 hours a year at work. In Japan,however,people work about 2 519 hours a year. That means a Japanese worker works 513 more hours a year than a French worker.

Why do people work so many hours?Some people work extra hours because they want to make more money. However,many companies don't pay overtime. Their workers don't get more pay for more work. Some people think it's their duty to work more hours. Some are afraid of losing their jobs if they don't work more hours.

Many people say that their vacations are too short. In France,people get five weeks of paid vacation a year. In Germany,they get four to six weeks,and in the United States,two weeks. One study shows fewer than half of workers used all their vacation days. In Great Britain,there is a saying,“All work and no play makes Jack a dull (迟钝的) boy.” If that is true,there must be a lot of dull people in the world.

1.The word “extra” in Paragraph 3 means “____”.

A. 正常的 B. 额外的 C. 有用的 D. 少量的

2.People in ____ get only two weeks of paid vacation a year.

A. France B. Germany C. the United States D. Great Britain

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. No companies offer vacations to their workers.

B. Many people say they have enough time to relax.

C. Not all companies pay their workers for more work.

D. More than half of workers use all their vacation days.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A. Many workers have to work long hours.

B. Many people have vacations long enough.

C. Work hours are the same around the world.

D. There are a lot of dull people in the world.

Miguel gathered his guitar and all the Ernesto de la Cruz albums he could carry and rushed down from the rooftop. His family surrounded him when he reached the yard.

Abuelita’s eyes darted from the guitar to the albums. “What is all this?” she said. “You keep secrets from your own family?”

“It’s all that time he spends in the plaza,” Tio Berto said.

“Fills his head with crazy fantasies,” Tia Gloria added.

“It’s not a fantasy (幻想)!” Miguel protested. He handed his father the old photograph of Mama Imelda, Coco, and the unidentified (未知身份的) man and pointed to the guitar. “That man was Ernesto de la Cruz! The greatest musician of all time!”

“We’ve never known anything about this man. But whoever he was, he still left his family,” Miguel’s father said. “This is no future for my son.”

“But, Papa, you told me to look to the ofrenda (灵坛). You said my family would guide me! Well, Ernesto de la Cruz is my family! I’m supposed to play music!”

“Never! That man’s music was a curse (诅咒)! I will not allow it!” Abuelita said, raising her voice.

“You will listen to your family. No more music,” added Miguel’s father.

“Just listen to me play – ” “End of argument,” Papa said.

Miguel thought they’d change their minds if they heard him play. He lifted his guitar and prepared to strum, but Abuelita snatched it from his hands. She pointed to the photo. “You want to end up like that man? Forgotten? Left off your family’s ofrenda?”

“I don’t care if I’m on some stupid ofrenda!” The words burst out before Miguel could stop them. He couldn’t take them back, even though he wanted to.

The family gasped. Abuelita’s brow hardened. She raised the guitar in the air.

“No!” Miguel cried.

“Mama,” Miguel’s dad said just as Abuelita smashed (撞击) the guitar against the ground.

“There! No guitar, no music,” she said.

The whole family was silent as Miguel stared at his guitar, shattered into a hundred pieces on the ground. Miguel couldn’t move — he felt like someone had smashed him to pieces.

1.Where would this passage most likely be found?

A. In a book of travel. B. In a history book.

C. In a book of nature. D. In a novel.

2.What does “it” in the passage refer to?

A. photograph B. guitar C. music D. curse

3.How did Miguel’s feelings change in the passage?

A. hopeful → hopeless B. excited → hopeful

C. hopeless → hopeful D. hopeful→ excited

4.Why did Miguel’s father say “This is no future for my son.”?

A. Because he thought his son Miguel was crazy about fantasies because of a curse.

B. Because he thought it impossible for Miguel to be a great musician like his hero.

C. Because he thought Miguel shouldn’t only dream for music after leaving his family.

D. Because he thought music couldn’t guide Miguel to a bright future instead of family.

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