When I was fourteen years old, I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn’t the first time I had been abroad (Like many English children, I had often been to France). So when I went to America I thought I would have a nice easy holiday without any language problem.

How wrong I was! The misunderstanding began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to tell my American friend Danny that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking lost and asked if he could help me.

“Yes,” I said, “I want to give my friend a ring.”

“Well, that’s nice,” he said, “Are you getting married? But aren’t you too young?”

“Who is talking about marriage?” I replied, “I only want to give my friend a ring to tell him I’ve arrived. Can you tell me where there is a phone box?”

“Oh,” he said, “there is a phone downstairs.”

When at last we met, Danny explained the misunderstanding to me.

“Don’t worry,” he said to me, “I had so many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which Americans use differently in meaning from British people. You’ll soon get used to all the funny things they say. Most of the time, British and American people understand each other.”

1.The writer was from________.

A. Japan B. France C. America D. England

2.The writer thought ________ in America at first.

A. he wouldn’t have any language difficulties

B. he would be lost and he had to call the police for help

C. he wouldn’t understand the Americans

D. he would have a terrible holiday

3.The writer wanted to ________ at the airport.

A. have a meal B. buy a map

C. call his friend D. find an old man

4.According to the friendly old man, “give somebody a ring” means “________”.

A. make a telephone call to somebody

B. be going to get married

C. buy a ring for somebody

D. ask somebody to wear a ring

5.The underlined word “they” refers to ________.

A. the old man and the boy

B. the British

C. the French

D. the Americans

阅读下列短文,根据短文内容完成表格中所缺信息,每空一词。

One of the most famous scientists to study adaptations (适应) was Charles Darwin. He was born in England in 1809. He wasn’t the best student in his school, but when he was 16, his father sent him to a medical school. Charles liked spending time outdoors observing nature more than attending medical classes. He dropped out without graduating.

Next, Charles’s father sent him to school to become a minister (牧师). This time he made it to graduation. But he didn’t want to do the work of a minister. His friends encouraged him to follow his interest in science.

After graduation, Charles was invited to sail on the Beagle as an unpaid scientist. He wasn’t the first choice, but he was the lucky one to go. The Beagle was to travel to South America and then around the world. The crew's task was to make maps of the places they visited.

On December 27th, 1831, Charles Darwin sailed from England on the Beagle. The trip was planned to last two years. In fact, it lasted five. During this time, he saw many amazing things. He collected lots of plants and animals and took them back to England to study.

Twenty-three years later, Darwin published an important scientific paper with another man named Wallace. Darwin described how some animals have adaptations that help them survive. They are passed on to offspring (后代). Darwin’s ideas about adaptations are still very important to the study of living things.

The title

One of the most famous 1. to study adaptations

Be born

In 2.

At age 16

He was 3. to a medical school by his father.

He 4. spending time outdoors observing nature to attending medical classes.

He left school without graduation.

Graduation

His father wanted him to be a 5. after graduation.

He became 6. in science instead.

After graduation

He was lucky 7. to be invited to sail on the Beagle to make maps of the places they visited.

The trip

It 8. Charles Darwin five years to sail from England on the Beagle.

He collected many plants and animals for further 9. .

Later

His ideas about adaptations still have an 10. influence on the study of living things.

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网