“Tomorrow we will see the Golden Gate Bridge,” said Peter. “I have never seen a golden bridge before.”
Peter's father smiled, but said nothing.
The next morning, his father took Peter to the bridge. Peter first saw it from far away. How big it looked! But then he saw the bridge was red!
“The bridge isn't golden!” he said. “Why is it called the Golden Gate Bridge?”
“It isn't named for its color,” said his father. “It is named for the Golden Gate.”
“What is the Golden Gate?” asked Peter.
“A gate is either an opening, or the thing that closes the opening,” said his father.
“ The Golden Gate is an opening in the land. Water from the sea comes through this opening into San Francisco Bay.”
“Oh,” said Peter. “And the bridge goes over the opening. But why is the opening called the Golden Gate?”
“Years ago men came to California to look for gold,” his father said. “Many came by ship. They came into the bay through that opening. For them it was a gate to gold. They named it the Golden Gate.”
“Well,” said Peter, “I still think the bridge should look golden.”
When getting home, he sent a letter to a California paper. he said:” Red is not the right color for the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge should look golden, the way most people think it does.”
Peter sent $14.78 with his letter. “The money is to help paint the bridge gold, ” he wrote.
Many people read Peter's letter in the newspaper and things began to happen! Some people sent money. A big company gave real gold to make gold paint. A paint company made the paint.
But some people still wanted the bridge to be red!
Will the Golden Gate Bridge ever be golden? It will, if enough people feel as Peter does. How do you feel about it?
1. Why did father smile when hearing his son’s words?| A．His son had never seen a red bridge before. |
| B．His son was too delighted to visit the bridge. |
| C．His son was about to see the bridge tomorrow. |
| D．His son misunderstood the color of the bridge. |
| A．The color of the bridge. |
| B．The shape of the bridge. |
| C．The location of the bridge. |
| D．The function of the bridge. |
| A．Astonished. | B．Puzzled. |
| C．Determined. | D．Frustrated. |
| A．A firm made a gold paint by using real gold. |
| B．The government painted the bridge golden. |
| C．Some people were against the change of the color. |
| D．Some people raised money for the golden bridge. |
相似题推荐
I have a friend named John Roberts who owns a horse ranch（牧马场）in San Ysidro. The last time I was there he shared a story with me. “It is a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant（流动的）horse trainer. When he was a senior，he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up. ”
That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a200-acre ranch，showing the location of all the buildings，the stables and the track.
The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read，“See me after class. ”
The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked，“Why did I receive an F？”
The teacher said，“This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it. 'Then the teacher added，‘If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal，I will reconsider your grade. ”
The boy went home and asked his father what he should do. His father said, “Look，son，you have to make up your own mind on this. However，I think it is a very important decision for you. ”
Finally，after siting with it for a week，the boy turned in the same paper，making no changes at all. He stated，“You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.”
John continued，“I tell you this story because you are sitting in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace. ”He added，“If I had changed my paper at that time，maybe we would not have the chance to be here talking about the dreams. ”
1. What was the boy's goal described in his seven-page paper？（No more than 8 words）2. Why did the teacher give the boy an “F”？（No more than 15 words）
3. How did the boy's father respond to his son's puzzlement？（No more than10 words）
4. What does the underlined word “unrealistic” in Para. 5 mean？（I word）
5. What can we learn from the article？（No more than 20 words. ）
【推荐2】I never imagined that my routine Sunday walk would turn out so inspiring. It was the first weekend in spring last September and the sun was shining brightly in a cloudless blue sky. Instead of facing the familiar morning crowd of early risers wandering through the John Davidson Park in Strathpine, Queensland, I was greeted with something far more special. Climbing casually towards me was this adorable furry lovely koala.
My first reaction was to second guess myself. I had never seen a koala so close before, let alone finding one wandering along the ground. I was amused that it chose to use the concrete footpath rather than the grass. I stopped in my tracks and watched in amazement.
The cute furry ball clicked away on the path with its black claws, completely unfazed (不担忧的) by my presence. It stopped for a moment, spotted a large nearby gum tree, and then looked over at me. I honestly thought that it was seeking my approval of its chosen tree. I nodded my head, smiling in response. Maybe the koala understood because without further hesitation, it moved off the track and attached itself on to the tree trunk.
I stepped closer gently, mindful not to alarm the animal. Its cute furry ears, pea-sized eyes and black round thick nose made for a picture-perfect moment. I took out my phone and was ready to take pictures while this furry animal patiently posed, innocently blinking(眨眼) at me. When I was satisfied with my photos, it gave me one last dreamy blink, and then made its way to the top of the tree, laying itself in between the fork of two branches.
I was very lucky to have had the opportunity to share this special bond with a koala that day. It reminded me of how precious these lovely creatures are.
1. What can we know from the first two paragraphs?| A．The koala was familiar with the author. |
| B．The koala got close to the author on purpose. |
| C．The author observed a koala so closely for the first time. |
| D．The author went to the park to meet some familiar people. |
| A．He was surprised and worried. |
| B．He was surprised and delighted. |
| C．He was surprised and concerned. |
| D．He was surprised and frightened. |
| A．By getting close. | B．By making sounds. |
| C．By taking pictures. | D．By using body language. |
| A．Koala Protection | B．My Sunday Walk |
| C．An Unexpected Bond | D．Friendship with a Koala |
【推荐3】Have you ever had an embarrassing experience? Last week we asked readers to tell us about embarrassing experiences. We received thousands of letters! Here is a selection.
Tony: My most embarrassing experience happened when I had just left university. I had just started teaching in a Liverpool middle school. One morning my alarm clock didn’t ring. I woke up at half past eight and school began at nine. I quickly washed, dressed, jumped into my car and rushed to school. When I arrived, the students had already gone into class. I didn’t go to the office, but went straight into class. After two or three minutes the students began laughing, and I couldn’t understand why! Suddenly I looked down and understood. I had put on one black shoe and one brown shoe!
Henry: The most embarrassing experience I’ve ever had happened two years ago. After seeing a film, my wife and I had lunch in our favorite restaurant in town. Then we decided to take a walk along the street. The street was very busy and we started holding hands. Suddenly my wife saw a dress that she liked in a shop window, and stopped. I started looking at some watches in the next window. After a minute or two I reached for my wife’s hand. There was a loud scream, and a woman slapped my face. I hadn’t taken my wife’s hand. I’d taken the hand of a complete stranger (陌生人)!
1. Tony arrived at school late that morning because ________.| A．he couldn’t find hid shoes | B．his alarm clock didn’t ring |
| C．he washed and dressed slowly | D．his car went wrong on the way |
| A．wearing a wrong shoe | B．his alarm clock didn’t ring |
| C．looking down suddenly | D．rushing into the classroom |
| A．at the cinema | B．in the shop |
| C．at the restaurant | D．along the street |
| A．尖叫声 | B．笑声 | C．哭声 | D．呼救声 |
| A．slapped the woman in the face | B．took the hand of a complete stranger |
| C．heard his wife screaming in the street | D．knocked over some watches in the shops |
【推荐1】Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was a goal that first attracted me at age 10, when my Dad uncovered an old projector to show me the slides from his own climb. He climbed to the top in 1978. Twenty years of Kilimanjaro stories and “do as I say, not as I did” training advice later, I followed his footsteps to the roof of Africa.
I went into the long journey expecting cold nights. Dad’s advice to sleep in my clothes saved me on those biting, freezing mornings. I prepared well for those headaches caused by high altitude. What I couldn’t have prepared for on this Kili climb, though, was the need for football shoes.
My husband, his brother, and I stopped at a gas station on the way to the Rongai trail gate to pick up snacks and water for the long journey. Sticking to a shopping list has never been our strong suit, which is one of the many reasons a tiny Manchester United football was the first item on our receipt.
Within minutes, this silly little impulse buy changed the entire dynamic of our trip. Our porters went from cold to smiling as we played with the football alongside the fuel tanks. A full game was held as we hit the Rongai Trail’s first camp. We went from climbing clients to fast friends — and then family — with the nicknames to prove it. Shemeji, Swahili for sister-in-law, became my climbing name (I was “in-law” because the porters saw the boys as brothers).
When I first boarded the flight to Kilimanjaro, I was laser-focused on reaching the summit. But this tiny little football — and the relationships it brought — quickly changed that. Our journey up Kilimanjaro was unlike any climbing experience I’d ever imagined. It’s also one I know my football — loving Dad — who passed away three months before our climb — would have been proud of.
1. Why did the author decide to climb Kilimanjaro?| A．She wanted to improve herself. | B．She was inspired by her father. |
| C．She was eager for a change of life. | D．She will fulfil her father’s dream. |
| A．Football could be played anywhere. | B．The porter played football better than us. |
| C．The football became a bond of friendship. | D．It is special to play football on the mountain. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Confused. | C．Regretful. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．Mountain Climbing With a Football | B．Kilimanjaro, a Magical Mountain |
| C．Mountain Climbing, My Forever Dream | D．My Spiritual Support in Climbing |
【推荐2】One of the most famous people in ancient China was a great philosopher called Confucius (Kong Zi).
Philosophy (哲学) is the search for knowledge and understanding of nature and meaning of the world and of human life. In other words, it’s about thoughts that teach people lessons about rules and life. Confucius is famous for his philosophy because he made many famous sayings in ancient China that helped many people learn about nature, the world, and human behavior (行为). He also helped the government and the emperor by teaching them lessons on how the emperor should rule his country successfully.
Confucius was born in a poor family in 551 BC. His father died three years after Confucius was born, so the family lived a much harder life.
Later, in order to make Confucius receive a good education, his mother took him to Ludu where his grandpa lived. The city was well developed at that time. His mother died when Confucius was 17.
Confucius ever worked as a keeper of a market. And then he was a farm worker who took care of parks and farm animals. When he was 20, he worked for the leader of his area because of his hard work.
1. If people know some philosophy, they can ________.| A．have a deeper understanding of things |
| B．know how to live a happy and healthy life |
| C．tell exactly what people will be like in the future |
| D．know how to rule a country successfully |
| A．Because she wanted to make more money. |
| B．Because she wanted to ask her father for help. |
| C．Because she wanted him to meet a famous teacher. |
| D．Because she hoped Confucius could receive a good education. |
| A．was a great artist | B．was an emperor |
| C．once lived a hard life | D．was afraid of his mother |
| A．Confucius’s father died in 551 BC. |
| B．Confucius ever grew crops on a farm. |
| C．Confucius’s mother received a good education. |
| D．Because of his mom, Confucius became a great man. |
【推荐3】In our daily lives, we probably make silly mistakes. While these moments can be worrying, they can also be handled with humor. When we share a laugh at our mistakes, we can calm ourselves down with a thread of understanding and acceptance.
When one morning in a rush to school, I spilled (泼洒) my cup of orange juice. I immediately thought of the precious minutes I would have to spend in cleaning up the floor. I raced back and forth to the sink (洗碗槽)with a kitchen cloth soaked (浸透)with juice to wash off. My legs were shaking as I watched from my window the school bus coming to my street. Within a minute, I had thrown the orange juice-soaked cloth to the sink and ran outside to join the group of kids in entering the bus. When thinking about my morning rush to clean up the spilled juice on the bus, I realized how much unnecessary stress and worry I put myself through. I ended up smiling to myself about my minor nervousness over spilled juice.
These days I don’t usually spill orange juice, but I do sometimes spill a bit of spaghetti sauce on my pant or put on my sweater backwards when I’m really tired and in a hurry for school. In each of my mistakes, I try to remind myself not to take myself so seriously. It takes me a minute to calm down, take a deep breath and smile at my carelessness. It is the ability to see mistakes in a different way that enables me to find humor in everyday moments.
Humor, however, doesn’t always have to arise from silly mistakes. Kids may have a good laugh at comic books, classic jokes and stories told by friends and parents. What matters more is not where you find the humor in life, but that you can appreciate it.
1. When we make mistakes in our daily lives, we ________.| A．should treat them properly | B．may try to enjoy ourselves |
| C．must know the value of them | D．had better forget them in time |
| A．He prepared breakfast busily. | B．He had some clothes washed. |
| C．He made a cup of orange juice. | D．He did some cleaning at home. |
| A．makes many mistakes now the then |
| B．tries to keep himself calm with humor |
| C．has been used to being busy every day |
| D．always makes other people around happy |
| A．We should try to find where humor lies. |
| B．We can be happy by enjoying humor. |
| C．It is natural for us to make mistakes. |
| D．Reading is a good habit for every person. |
【推荐1】Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer who helped shape the course of American literature. His life was full of tragedies, but he had the great influence on the 19th-century American literature and continues to influence writers to this day.
The early life of Edgar Allan Poe was quite unhappy. Born in 1809, Poe was not yet three years old when his parents died. Adopted by a wealthy family, he got into trouble at school. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, but he dropped out without graduating. His misery (不幸) continued to his adult life. Later, because of a failed marriage, he suffered from mental illness. He was so upset about real life that he turned to writing. Expressing himself in an unreal and imaginary world was his only comfort.
The tragedies in Poe’s life influenced the tone, style and contents of his writing. His stories usually include death, which help build his reputation as a master of “dark” literature. In his The Tell-Tale Heart, the main character goes crazy and kills his roommate while in The Black Cat, the main character kills his cat in a fit of madness.
Poe died at the age of 40 in 1849. His life is short, but his influence is very great. Poe is credited with (被誉为) creating crime fiction, and many say he contributed greatly to the appearance of science fiction. Fascinated (着迷) by the scientific theories and new inventions of his time, he wrote about imaginary societies in the future. Writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, regarded Poe as the father of detective fiction. Jules Verne, a French writer who helped popularize science fiction, said Poe’s work had a direct influence on the stories he wrote.
1. Poe began to write to _________.| A．earn his living | B．find comfort in writing |
| C．build a good reputation | D．create a beautiful world |
| A．soldiers’ life | B．his own life stories |
| C．a sense of peace | D．some political problems |
| A．His creation of crime fiction. | B．His unique writing experience. |
| C．His creation of scientific theories. | D．His contribution to new inventions. |
| A．American literature and writers | B．Escape from real life and find comfort |
| C．Edgar Allan Poe: a misunderstood poet | D．Edgar Allan Poe：a tragic yet talented writer |
【推荐2】Electric Underground
7:30pm－1:00am Free at the Cyclops Theatre
Do you know who’s playing in your area? We’re bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract? If so, come early to the talk at 7.30pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He’s going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce your music.
Gee Whizz
8:30pm-10:30pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope
Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He’s the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7.00pm for drinks and snacks (快餐).
Simon’s Workshop
5:00pm-7:30pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage
This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years’ experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.
Charlotte Stone
8:00pm-11:00pm Pizza World
Fine food with beautiful jazz music; this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta (面食). Book early to get a table.
1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?| A．Gee Whizz. | B．Jules Skye. | C．Charlotte Stone. | D．James Pickering. |
| A．The Cyclops Theatre | B．Victoria Stage | C．Kaleidoscope | D．Pizza World |
| A．It is held every Wednesday. | B．It lasts three hours each time. |
| C．It is run by a comedy club. | D．It requires membership status (身份). |
【推荐3】I lay in the hospital bed with my sixyearold daughter, Elizabeth, holding her in my arms. “Mommy, will you stay with me the whole time?” she asked, looking up. “You know I can’t be in the operating room,” I said carefully, not wanting to frighten her. “But Daddy and I will be waiting right outside.” Elizabeth nodded, but her eyes looked troubled.
Elizabeth had broken her right leg in July. Seven months later, it still hadn’t healed (康复). In fact, it had gotten worse. She was here in the hospital for surgery (手术).
I wanted to tell her that everything would be okay and promise that this would be the last time she'd have to go through this. But what if something went wrong again? How could I comfort my daughter when I needed comfort myself?
There was a knock at the door. A nurse? I thought. Time to say goodbye already? But the woman who came in wasn't a nurse. “Hi,” the woman said. “I’m a volunteer here, and I’ve got something for Elizabeth.” She handed a brightblue box to my daughter.
Elizabeth sat up and took the box. She opened it and started pulling out goodies one by one — candies, stickers, a lovely toy in the shape of a star. She hugged the star, perking_up for the first time since she entered the hospital. “Thank you,” she said. “I love them.” There was a big smile on her face. It had been so long since I saw that big smile.
The gift was a great comfort not only to my daughter, but also to me.
1. Why did the author’s daughter feel upset?| A．She would have surgery on her arm. |
| B．The author had no time to play with her. |
| C．She had to stay in the hospital for a long time. |
| D．The author couldn’t stay in the operating room. |
| A．there was no time for her to do so |
| B．she wasn’t sure of the result herself |
| C．she believed everything would be okay |
| D．she thought there was no need for her to do so |
| A．having a rest | B．thinking carefully |
| C．doing her best | D．becoming cheerful |
【推荐1】Endurance (耐力) cyclist Mark Beaumont has announced plans to go around the world in 80 days on his bike, which would break the present record. To be successful, Beaumont will have to complete the 18,000 mile route in less than half the time he took when he set the record nine years ago. He will also have to knock about 40 days off the present world record.
Beaumont, 34, will begin his difficult journey on 2 July and will have to travel 240 miles a day to get around the world on time. Beaumont set the world record in 2008, completing his cycle around the globe in 194 days.
As a warm-up to the trip, he will first cycle around the coastline of Britain. The 3,500-mile, 15-day training ride will be at “80 days” pace and will see Beaumont cycle for 16 hours and 240 miles per day.
The cyclist said his average day would see him on the bike at 4:00 and riding for four sets of four hours with half-hour breaks in between. “I’ll get off the bike at 9:30 at night, get some sleep until the alarm goes off at 3:30 and then get back on the bike.”
He said: “I cycled around the world nine years ago but that was unsupported, wild man-style, trying to find clean water and a place to sleep. This time it is Tour De France-style. I have a support team behind me and it is just about performance. That makes a huge difference.”
Beaumont said he thought cycling round the world “sounds like a good idea”. He said he had cycled across Scotland as a 12-year-old boy and had been doing endurance rides for the past 20 years. “I know what I’m taking on,” he said. “It scares me, but I believe this is possible.”
1. What’s the present around-the-world-cycling record?| A．About 40 days. | B．80 days. |
| C．About 120 days. | D．194 days. |
| A．He will take part in a 15-day training first. |
| B．He cycles16 hours and 240 miles per day. |
| C．He starts cycling at 3:30 am every day. |
| D．He will have two breaks during the cycling every day. |
| A．Beaumont has a support team |
| B．it will probably cost less money |
| C．Beaumont needn’t find places to sleep |
| D．the cycling equipment is more advanced |
| A．Excited. | B．Scared. |
| C．Confident. | D．Uncertain. |
【推荐2】We are looking for two female lead actresses. They can be from any foreign country, but must be extremely beautiful, university students in London, and aged between 19 and 23. Auditions (试镜) will be held in London on May 26th. Shooting (拍摄) will take place in London for two days at the beginning of June. Aml Ameen, Najan Ward and Jason Maza have been cast (选派扮演) as the male leads.
The film will be distributed (发行) to 60 different film festivals across the globe over the next 18 months. It is written and directed by Aml Ameen whose first Hollywood role is in a film called Red Tail directed by George Lucas.
Short introduction to the film
Two handsome young men get to talk to two pretty girl students in a West End bar. Within10 minutes the girls ask the men to walk them back home; it turns out to be the beginning of a strong friendship.
Roxanne
Roxanne is 20 years old and in her second year of university. She lives in an apartment with her best friend Hannah, who studies at the same university with her. Since starting university she has gotten into music, and dreamed of becoming a musician.
Hannah
Hannah is 21 years old. She met Roxanne in their first year, and has also become interested in music.
Successful applicants (申请人) will have their cost paid, and receive a copy of the finished film. Apply now.
1. From the passage we learn that the two actresses must be__________.| A．under nineteen | B．good musicians |
| C．university students | D．from England |
| A．It is starred by George Lucas. | B．It is directed by Aml Ameen. |
| C．It will be shot in early June. | D．It is a Hollywood production. |
| A．friendship and dreams | B．success and happiness |
| C．young people’s musical career | D．young people’s university life |
【推荐3】You are walking over the tan-colored（棕褐色的）sand of the empty desert when a rattlesnake appears out of the sand in front of you. Luckily it had warned you of its presence. Imagine if that same snake were moved to a green leafy rainforest. The colors that helped the snake blend into（融合）the desert would make it stand out against the green environment.
This just goes to show you that camouflage（保护色）doesn't work everywhere. Let's take a look at one animal species that is famous for changing over time to stay camouflaged: the peppered moth. Moth collectors in England noted that most peppered moths collected in the early 1800s were light gray peppered with bits of black. Many years later most of the moths collected were almost completely black. What could have caused the more common light colored moth to become rare?
During the 1800s, Europe and America experienced the Industrial Revolution. One of the new fuel sources that were heavily used during this time period was coal. As the trees darkened with soot（煤烟）, the light-colored moths were easier to see. They were eaten by birds more and more, while the rare dark colored moths blended in better on the darker trees. This made them have a higher survival rate and thus they were more likely to pass their dark colored genes onto their children. Over time, the dark colored moths became the more common of the two color forms. Natural selection favored the dark moths, so they were more successful after the trees changed.
Sound a little hard to believe? Well, more changes have come about since these conditions started to reverse（转变）, starting in the 1950s. Then, a Clean Air Act was introduced. Since that time, technology and cleaner burning fuels have started to decrease pollution in the areas where the peppered moth lives. The black soot no longer settles on the trees. As expected, the light peppered moth has recently been more common in the population. This is because it is better camouflaged.
1. What do we know about the rattlesnake in a desert?| A．It almost has no enemies. |
| B．It attacks travelers often. |
| C．It stands out against the environment. |
| D．It is good at making its presence unknown. |
| A．the soot-darkened tree |
| B．the Industrial Revolution |
| C．dark-colored moths staying camouflaged |
| D．light-colored moths facing more enemies |
| A．Damage to local ecology. | B．More observations of moths. |
| C．An increase in the variety of moth species. | D．A decrease in the number of dark-colored moths. |
| A．Camouflage in the animal world. | B．The battle between two moth species. |
| C．The influence of the Industrial Revolution. | D．An excellent example of environmental adaptation. |
