Allan goes everywhere with Birgitta Anderson, a 54-year-old secretary. He moves around her office at work and goes shopping with her. ‘Most people don't seem to mind Allan,’ says Birgitta, who thinks he is wonderful. 'He's my fourth child,' she says. She may think of him and treat him that way, buying his food, paying his h
ealth bills and his taxes, but in fact Allan is a dog. Birgitta and Allan live in Sweden, a country where everyone is expected to lead an orderly life according to rules laid down by the government, which also provides (提供)a high level of care for its people. This level of care costs money. People in Sweden pay taxes on everything, so aren't surprised to find that owning a dog means yet more taxes. Some people are paying as much as 500 Swedish kronor in taxes a year for the right to keep their dog, money that is spent by the government on dog hospitals and sometimes medical treatment for a dog that falls ill. However, most such treatment is expensive, so owners often decide to pay health and even life insurance (保险)for their dog. In Sweden dog owners must pay for any damage (损坏)their dog does. A Swedish Kennel Club official explains what this means: if your dog runs out on the road and gets hit by a passing car you, as the owner, have to pay for any damage done to the car, even if your dog has been killed in the accident.
【小题1】 Birgitta pays taxes for Allan because .
| A.he is her dog | B.he is her child | C.he follows her everywhere | D.he often falls ill |
| A.keep a high level of care for the people | B.pay for damage done by dogs |
| C.provide medical care for dogs | D.buy insurance for dog owners |
| A.The owner of the car. | B.The owner of the dog. |
| C.The insurance company(公司). | D.The government. |
| A.dogs are welcome in public places | B.keeping dogs means asking for trouble |
| C.many car accidents are caused by dogs | D.people care much about dogs |
Why is setting goals important? Because goals can help you do, be, and experience everything you want in life.Instead of just letting life happen to you, goals allow yourself to make your life happen.
Successful and happy people have a vision of how their life should be and they set lots of goals(both short-term and long-range)to help them reach their vision.By setting goals you are taking control of your life.It’s like having a map to show you where you want to go.Think of it in this way.There are two drivers.One has a destination in mind(her goal) which is laid out for her on a map.She can drive straight there without any wasted time or wrong turns.The other driver has no goal or destination or map.She starts off at the same time from the same place as the first driver.But she drivers aimlessly around, never getting anywhere , just using up gas and oil.Which driver do you want to be?
Winners in life set goals and follow through on them.They decide what they want in life and then get there by making plans and setting goals.Unsuccessful people just let life happen by accident.Goals aren’t difficult to set, and they aren’t difficult to reach.It’s up to you to find out what your goals,ideals and visions really are.You are the one who must decide what to pursue and in what direction to aim your life.
Research tells us that when we write a goal down we are more likely to achieve it.Written goals can be reviewed regularly, and have more power.Like a contract (合同) with yourself, they are harder to neglect or forget.
Also when you write your goals in a particular way you are able to make yourself continuously aware of situations that will bring you nearer to your goals.
【小题1】The author gave the example of two drivers to show_______.
| A.the foolishness of the first driver |
| B.the importance of having a map and right direction |
| C.the foolishness of the second driver |
| D.the importance of setting goals |
| A.try to be realistic about one's ability |
| B.have a clear understanding of what he or she wants in life |
| C.let others understand him or her first, then work together with them |
| D.let others help him or her to make his or her dream come true |
| A.write down their goals |
| B.sign a contract with other people |
| C.face the difficulties in front of them |
| D.discuss with others and ask for their help |
| A.study hard | B.have a goal and achieve it |
| C.live happily | D.sleep well |
Packaging is an important form of advertising.A package can sometimes motivate someone to buy a product.For example, a small child might ask for a breakfast food that comes in a box with a picture of a TV character.The child is more interested in the picture than in breakfast food.Pictures for children to color or cut out, games printed on a package, or a small gift inside a box also motivate many children to buy products or to ask their parents to buy for them.
Some packages suggest that a buyer will get something for nothing.Food products sold in reusable containers are examples of this.Although a similar product in a plain container might cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free.However, the cost of the container is added to the cost of the product.The size of a package also motivates a buyer.Maybe the package had “Economy Size” or “Family Size” printed on it.This suggests that the larger size has the most product for the least money.But that is not always true.To find it out, a buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit.
The information on the package should provide some answers.But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement.The words and pictures do not tell the whole story.Only the product inside can do that.
【小题1】From the passage we know the buyer pays more attention to __________.
| A.the size of a container |
| B.a container with attractive picture |
| C.a well-designed container |
| D.a plain container with low cost |
| A.It’s not good to buy the product which is sold in a glass or dish. |
| B.The quality of a container has nothing to do with the quality of the product. |
| C.The best choice for a buyer is to buy a product in a plain package. |
| D.A buyer should buy what he needs most rather than a well-designed package. |
| A.How to Package a Product. |
| B.How to Make an Advertisement. |
| C.How to Sell Product. |
| D.How to Treat the Package Wisely. |
Parents whose children show a special interest in a sport feel very difficult to make a decision about their children’s careers.Should they allow their children to train to become top sportsmen and sportswomen? For many children it means starting schoolwork very young.And going out with friends and other interests have to take a second place.It’s very difficult to explain to a young child why he or she has to train five hours a day, even at the weekend, when most of his or her friends are playing.
Another problem is of course money, In many countries money for training is available from government for the very best young sportsmen and sportswomen.If this help can not be given, it means that it is the parents who have to find the time and the money to support their child’s development and sports clothes, transport to competitions, special equipment, etc.All can be expensive.
Many parents are worried that it is dangerous to start serious training in a sport at an early age.Some doctors agree that young muscles may be damaged by training before they are properly developed.Professional trainers, however, believe that it is only by training when young that you can reach the top as successful sports person.It is clear that very few people do reach the top, and both parents and children should be prepared for failure even after many years of training.
【小题1】Where can we most probably find this passage?
| A.An advertisement. | B.A diary. |
| C.A newspaper. | D.A notice board. |
| A.to become less important |
| B.To put it at another place |
| C.To happen again |
| D.They are the most important of all the things |
| A.It’s easy to make a decision when your children want to take up sports. |
| B.Most of the students may become top sports men after a long period of training. |
| C.Early training may damage young muscles. |
| D.It’s not very expensive for parents to support their children’s development in sports. |
“Dad! He took a book without paying!” I yelled .
My father looked surprised. Before the boy could say anything, his mother grabbed his arm and shook it. “Is it true? You stole? Tell me!”
Everyone was quiet. The boy began to cry, and he nodded his head. He pulled out the comic book (漫画书) from under his shirt.
“Oh, Mr. Kim. I am sorry! My Ted made a big mistake!” Mrs. Diaz told my father. She tried to take the comic book, but Ted wouldn’t let go.
“It’s OK. He can keep it,” my father said with a smile.
“Oh no,” Mrs. Diaz said. “Let me pay right now ...” She dug in her purse. “How much?”
“Three seventy-five.”
Mrs. Diaz’s eyes widened, and she dug deeper. I saw her mouth make a small line. “Three seventy-five?” she asked.
“It’s OK. You can pay later,” my father said.
“No,” Mrs. Diaz said. She kept looking in her purse. “I have money here.”
I felt bad for yelling, for I realized that Ted had tried to steal the comic book because he didn’t have the money. Maybe the boy could have a job, I thought.
I had an idea.
“What if he worked with me?” I asked. They turned to me.
I said, “He can work with me to pay for the comic book.”
“Good,” my father said smiling at me. Mrs. Diaz nodded. She turned to her son, “You hear? You will work and buy the comic book!”
“Yes, Mama,” Ted said, hanging his head.
As they left, Ted looked back, and though he still seemed sad, he stuck out (伸出) his tongue at me.
Ted has been working here for two weeks. He has paid for the comic book, but my father says he is such a good worker that he can work with me as long as he wants. We are friends now.
【小题1】 Where did the story most probably take place?
| A.In a classroom. | B.In a supermarket. | C.At a bookstore. | D.At a library. |
| A.took the book by mistake | B.wanted to keep the book |
| C.didn’t want to go home | D.didn’t think he was wrong |
| A.didn’t think her son stole the book |
| B.had been out of work for a long time |
| C.forgot to take money with her that day |
| D.couldn’t afford to pay for the book |
| A.His idea was successful. | B.Ted didn’t like the job. |
| C.He liked Ted very much. | D.Ted was a naughty boy. |