The familiar yellow school bus is the largest system of mass transportation in the US and every school day transports roughly 25 million young people to school and home again after the school days end. Meanwhile it is the safest method for getting kids to and from school according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Admission. Children are 70 times more likely to arrive at school safely on the school bus than if they travel to school driving themselves or riding with friends.
These school buses meet more of the nation's motor vehicle safety standards than any other vehicles on the road. Also, several new technologies available today are making school buses even safer, such as video cameras on the inside and outside, GPS tracking and crash lessening systems. Another safety tool on school buses is high seat backs, closely-spaced seats and energy-absorbing seats.
But even the security of school buses would not completely sum up why children are safer when riding the big yellow bus. The bus is only as safe as the professional men and women who drive them. All drivers must be equipped with a Class B or C Commercial Driver's License. They are randomly （随机地）tested for alcohol and drugs, usually have their driving record checked and are given the same review of criminal history as teachers and other employees who have contact with students. In order to serve as a school bus driver, most applicants are required to successfully complete a training course, along with instructions in the classroom and behind the wheel.
School buses are safe for the environment, not only because each bus takes the place of 36 passenger cars that would, but for the buses, be on the road taking and picking up school children. Apart from that, school buses use renewable green fuels（燃料） like natural gas, and electric power.
Todd Monteferrario, president of the National School Transportation Association, said parents should remember that the safest and smartest choice is to put their children on the big yellow bus when they can.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?| A．More school buses are needed to transport kids. |
| B．The majority of American citizens use the bus. |
| C．The yellow school buses are popular and safe. |
| D．All school children ride the school bus in the US. |
| A．the use of green fuels. | B．the professional drivers. |
| C．the advanced equipment. | D．the high safety standard. |
| A．To persuade Americans to use the green public transport. |
| B．To tell us the reasons why the yellow school bus is secure. |
| C．To introduce us to the yellow school bus across the globe. |
| D．To encourage American parents to have their kids ride the bus. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Here are some of the world’s most impressive subways.
| The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines | Features: The Tokyo Metro and Toei lines that compose Tokyo’s massive subway system carry almost 8 million people each day, making it the busiest system in the world. The system is famous for its oshiya—literally, “pusher”—who shove passengers into crowded subway cars so the doors can close. And you think your commute is hell. |
| The Moscow Metro | Features: The Moscow Metro has some of the most beautiful stations in the world. The best of them were built during the Stalinist era and feature chandeliers(枝形吊灯), marble moldings and elaborate murals(精美的壁画). With more than 7 million riders a day, keeping all that marble clean has got to be a burden. |
| The Hong Kong Metro | Features: The Hong Kong MTR has the distinction of being one of the few subway systems in the world that actually turns a profit. It’s privately owned and uses real estate development along its tracks to increase income and ridership. It also introduced “Octopus cards” that allow people to not only pay their fares electronically, but buy stuff at convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and even parking meters. It’s estimated that 95 % of all adults in Hong Kong own an Octopus card. |
| Shanghai Metro | Features: Shanghai is the third city in China to build a metro system, and it has become the country’s largest in the 12 years since it opened. Shanghai Metro has 142 miles of track and plans to add another 180 miles within five years. By that point, it would be three times larger than Chicago “L”. The system carries about 2.18 million people a day. |
| The London Metro | Features: Londoners call their subway the Underground, even though 55 percent of it lies above ground. No matter when you’ve got the oldest mass-transit system in the world, you can call it anything you like. Trains started in1863 and they’ve been running ever since. Some 3 million people ride each day, every one of them remembering to “Mind the gap”. |
| A．The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines. | B．The London Metro. |
| C．The Moscow Metro. | D．The Hong Kong MTR. |
| A．The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines | B．The Hong Kong MTR |
| C．The London Metro | D．The Moscow Metro |
| A．carries the most people each day | B．is the world’s largest |
| C．is the busiest in the world | D．may be larger than the Chicago “L” in the future |
| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
【推荐2】Increasing numbers of airports, especially in Europe, are promoting a “silent airport”idea. It is to reduce noise pollution, such as airport-wide announcements, without sacrificing timely and helpful updates of information.
International airports were once characterized by their high voices, competing gate announcements and so on. This is all changing. Angela Gittens, director general of Airports Council International(ACI), says there is a growing desire among airports and airlines they serve to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere without being disturbed by announcements. “Passengers can relax while they wait for their flight to board in the common airside lounges(休闲区), and food and drink areas,” she says.
In June, Helsinki Airport in Finland--a country where the tourism slogan(口号) is “silence, please”--became the most recent airport to adopt the silent concept. As part of its commitment to quieting things down, announcements for flights are made only in boarding gate areas.
Lost track of time in the shops?
Too bad.
Nobody’s going to call you to your flight, as announcements in all terminals will be made only in exceptional(尤其) emergency circumstances.
Heikki Koski, vice president of Helsinki Airport, says that improved flight information display system and interactive kiosks(交互式自助服务机), together with advances in mobile technology,are changing the way airports communicate with passengers. At Munich airport,InfoGate kiosks allow for video-based face-to-face conversation with a live customer service representative in the traveler’s language of choice. Interactive signs, on the other hand, give directions at the touch of finger. Passengers can tap a “you are here”display to get directions to approximate walking time to their destinations.
Of course, an airport will never be as silent as a temple. There will continue to be a need for airport-wide emergency announcements along with boarding calls. But at silent airports, the latter can be restricted to specific gates, as has adopted in Helsinki.
1. What is Angela Gitten’s opinion on the silent airport concept?| A．It makes airport noise-free. |
| B．It is intended for passengers’ benefit. |
| C．It has changed international airports’ reputation. |
| D．It has encouraged the catering industry in airports. |
| A．Their boarding time. |
| B．Finland’s tourism slogan. |
| C．The shop’s opening hours. |
| D．The “you are here”display. |
| A．To show its popularity. |
| B．To introduce Infogate kiosks. |
| C．To prove Heikki Koski’s words. |
| D．To be compared with Helsinki Airport. |
【推荐3】Many African people have always dreamed that one day the capitals of all African countries will be linked by high-speed railway lines. Now they have one step closer to realizing that dream.
On October 10, 2016, Africa’s first modern electrified railway, the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, became fully operational. This railway, built by Chinese companies, is the first railway built using a complete set of Chinese standards outside China.
But it has not been easy for Chinese companies to win Ethiopian support for the project. The Ethiopian government once considered Western standards the best ones. But thanks to China’s outstanding performance in building and managing railways, Chinese firms ended up getting the project.
“After rounds of talks, the Ethiopian government came to realize that Chinese standards are not inferior (次于) to western ones, and more importantly, they best suit the country, ＂ Meng Fengchao, board chairman of China Railway Construction Corp, told Xinhua.
This is just another of China’s recent achievements in railway building. China has the world’s longest railway and they make up a huge 60 percent of the world’s total. Besides length, China also does well in speed. China is the only country with trains running at 350 km per hour on lines such as Beijing-Tianjin and Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railways.
Thanks to these achievements, it’s easy to forget that China wasn’t an early starter in the high-speed rail network game. Japan started 50 years ago, while Germany began 20 years ago. China only launched its high-speed railway14 years ago.
How has China’s high-speed railway been able to develop so quickly? The driving force behind the fast development has been the country’s great need for transportation.
“The high-speed railway not only covers the distance, but also connects people, information and goods, greatly boosting the regional economy, people’s lives and tourism, ” Huang Xin, an official from China Railway Corporation, told China Daily. The high-speed railway has become the transportation of choice for many Chinese people. According to China Railway Corp, about 4, 200 bullet trains run in China each day, meaning that more than 4. 5 million passengers can travel.
This is only the beginning of China’s high -speed railway development. The National Development and Reform Commission said that China plans to have 38, 000 km of high-speed railways by 2025.
1. What can be learned about the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway?| A．It was still under construction. |
| B．It links capitals of several countries. |
| C．It was the first electrified railway in Africa. |
| D．It was a combination of Chinese and West standards. |
| A．China helps many other countries build railway. |
| B．Chinese standards suit most of the countries in the world. |
| C．China excels at both the length of railway and speed of trains. |
| D．China is one of the countries whose trains can run at 350km/h. |
| A．China was the pioneer of building high-speed rail networks. |
| B．China spent 14 years building a longest railway in the world. |
| C．China’s railway accounts for less than 60% of the world’s total. |
| D．China’s great need for transportation has driven railway development. |
| A．China’s Railways Go to the World. |
| B．The Corporation between China and Africa. |
| C．The Railway Development in Africa. |
| D．The History of High-speed Railway in the world. |
【推荐1】Are you crazy about something cool and delicious? Why not reach for one of the frozen treats around the world?
Parfait
A favorite in France is the parfait, which means “perfect”. This partly frozen dessert is made with egg yolks, sugar, whipped cream and often flavored syrup(糖浆). It is then served in a tall glass usually with ice cream and fruit in layers.
Turkish mastic ice cream(dondurma)
Like other kinds of ice cream, dondurma is made with milk and sugar. Thickening agents and flour are also added. These ingredients make the dessert so chewy that it’s usually eaten with a knife and fork!
Mango shaved ice
When mangoes are in season, it’s time for a summer favorite: mango shaved ice. For this delicious treat, shaved ice is covered with fresh mango cubes and milk. Some shops top it off with a scoop of ice cream.
Italian gelato
Many people consider gelato the best ice cream in the world. It’s made with a lower percentage of fat than regular ice cream and churned(搅拌) more slowly. This produces less air and gives gelato a richer quality. It’s often made with fruit flavors.
La Dame Blanche
This simple yet pretty dessert is from Belgium, a place known for its chocolate. The treat consists of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, topped with chocolate sauce.
1. Which of the following treats is difficult to chew?| A．Parfait. | B．La Dame Blanche. | C．Mango shaved ice. | D．Turkish mastic ice cream. |
| A．France. | B．Turkey. | C．Belgium. | D．Italy. |
| A．Its shape. | B．Its quality. | C．The fruits it uses. | D．The procedure it is made. |
Han Guorui, a folk artist specializing in making Dongming grain pictures, is generally busy in autumn as he needs to collect materials for his work. This year, he has been even busier, as he has attended fairs to demonstrate his skills and promote grain art.
The grain pictures, which take their name from Dongming county in Heze, Shandong province, are a traditional folk craft with a history of more than 200 years. The practice was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage(非物质文化遗产) in 2016 by the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.
After being treated to prevent decay and insect infestation, grains, grass and vegetable seeds are glued together to form a picture.
“We use the different shapes and colors of grains and seeds, which are all collected from the field,” says Han.
Born in Dongming, a county along the banks of the Yellow River, he attended a regional fair in mid-October. His pictures attracted many children who asked questions, such as, “will these seeds sprout”, and “can these grains be eaten?”
Han answered the children’s questions while showing them how to use grains and seeds to make a picture.
“Only now, when food is sufficient, can people make a picture with surplus grain,” he says.
To make pictures that more people like, Han works in the style of Chinese ink and Western oil paintings. Now his grain pictures are not only sold in cities across China, but also to overseas markets, including some European countries, South Korea and Japan, he says.
“Grain pictures have become a cultural product that is helping to enrich farmers living on the Yellow River plain,” says Han.
The Yellow River, the country’s second longest, is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. For thousands of years, the people living along its banks have nurtured rich and vibrant cultures that have endured to this day.
To give people the opportunity to familiarize themselves with its rich culture and plentiful products, Shandong province has organized fairs named after the river throughout the year, with some events held in communities to involve more people.
At the fairs, intangible cultural heritage items, handicrafts, local delicacies, performances, and agricultural products are available.
At one fair in a community in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong, in late October, more than 10 types of handicrafts were on show, including gourd-carving, paper-cutting, textiles and hemp rope weaving.
“The fair builds a bridge between intangible cultural heritage producers and consumers. Using items that are embodied with traditional culture is a good way to pass on culture,” says Sun Xicai, deputy director of Jinan Folk Literature and Art Association.
At the fair, 60-something Yu Shaoqing, who was selling animal-shaped textile products, attracted a lot of buyers.
“Many young people show an interest in my products. They buy them to decorate their rooms and cars,” says Yu.
Yu, who worked in embroidery design before retiring, designs her products, which take the shape of animals like tigers, rabbits and ducks. Currently, she is working on a dragon design for next year to welcome the Year of the Dragon.
1. What do the grains undergo before being used in the artwork?| A．Grains are carefully selected, painted in various colors and air-dried. |
| B．Grains and seeds are bonded following certain preservative treatment. |
| C．Grains and seeds are well preserved so that they will spout. |
| D．Grains are carved and then assembled into a picture. |
| A．due to advancements in technology |
| B．because of nurtured rich and vibrant cultures along the Yellow River |
| C．in situations where there is a sufficient and excessive supply of grains |
| D．as a result of government’s financial supports for local artists |
| A．Electronics and fashion items; performances showcasing modern technology |
| B．Handicrafts, local delicacies, performances, and items embodied with traditional culture |
| C．Industrial machinery and tools; demonstrations of manufacturing processes |
| D．Luxury goods and designer fashion; fashion shows featuring international designers |
【推荐3】Do you have a sore throat, a running nose and a headache? Do you keep coughing and sneezing? If you do, the chances are that you have a cold or perhaps flu, but which one? Although both colds and flu are caused by viruses, they are very different illnesses.
Colds, which usually last about a week, affect the nose most. They commonly cause a runny nose and sneezing. Sometimes, they cause a headache, a cough and slightly aching muscles.
Flu is a much more serious illness and is caused by different group of viruses. People with flu usually get all the symptoms described above. However, they also get a high fever, a dry cough and much worse aching. Fever is one of the characteristic symptoms of the flu for all ages. The symptoms also last much longer. Sometimes they don’t disappear for at least two weeks.
Flu can be a deadly disease. The elderly, who are weaker and less healthy than most young people, can die from flu. This is one reason why old people are advised to have a flu injection (预防针) before the start of winter when flu is most common. This injection is inexpensive and definitely worth it.
If you have a cold or flu, you must always deal with used tissues(纸巾) carefully. Don’t leave dirty tissues on your desk or on the floor. Someone else has to pick these up and viruses could be passed on. And finally, remember to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze! You don’t want to see the small drop of liquids blown out of your nose and mouth when you sneeze, do you? Disgusting, eh? Now you can understand why it’s a good idea to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze!
1. According to the passage, people with colds rarely get _______.| A．a headache | B．a high fever | C．a runny nose | D．aching muscles |
| A．flu injection can cause death | B．most old people die from flu |
| C．flu is most common in summer | D．flu can kill old people easily |
| A．it helps keep your classroom tidy | B．people hate picking up dirty tissues |
| C．it prevents the spread of colds and flu | D．picking up lots of tissues is hard work |
| A．Both colds and flu last the same time. |
| B．Both colds and flu can be prevented by injection. |
| C．Both colds and flu are caused by the same viruses. |
| D．Both colds and flu have an aching symptom. |
| A．Cold or Flu? | B．The Different Symptoms of a Cold and Flu |
| C．Prevention Is Better Than Cure | D．Cover Your Nose and Mouth When Sneezing |
The students who use dictionaries most do not learn especially well either. The ones who look up every new word do not read fast. Therefore they do not have time to read much. Those who use small two-language dictionaries have the worst problems. Their dictionaries often give only one or two words as translations of English. But one English word often has many translations in a foreign language and one foreign word has many translations in English.
The most successful students are those who use large college edition dictionaries with about 100,000 words but do not use them too often. When they are reading, these students first try to get the general idea and understand new words from the context. Then they reread and use the dictionary to look up only key words that they still do not understand. They use dictionaries more for writing. If they are not sure how to spell a word, they always use a dictionary. Also, if they think a noun might have an unusual plural form, they check this in a dictionary.
1. The writer thinks that ________.
| A．choose a good dictionary, and you’ll be successful in learning English |
| B．dictionaries are not necessary to the students who learn English |
| C．it is very important for students to use good dictionaries properly |
| D．using dictionaries very often can’t help to improve writing |
| A．Dictionaries have little effect on learning to speak English. |
| B．Whatever new words you meet while reading, never use dictionaries. |
| C．Small two-language dictionaries have serious shortcomings. |
| D．Reading something for the first time, you’d better not use dictionaries. |
| A．At the beginning of the reading | B．At the end of the reading |
| C．During the first reading | D．After the first reading |
| A．that students shouldn’t use small two-language dictionaries |
| B．what were the shortcomings of small two-language dictionaries |
| C．why students should use large college edition dictionaries |
| D．what dictionary students should choose and how to use it |
| A．How to make good use of a dictionary. | B．When to use a dictionary. |
| C．How to improve spoken English. | D．How to practice reading fast. |
【推荐2】Hybrid cars are cars that run on both petrol and electricity. They have a small standard petrol engine and a battery and electric motor to provide electric power.
There are some differences between different models of hybrid cars, but the general principle is that the car runs on petrol, and the electric motor kicks in when additional power is required, for example when going uphill or speeding up. In some hybrid cars the petrol engine turns itself off when not needed, for example when the car has stopped at traffic lights, keeping only the electric engine running.
Traditional cars have large engines to cope with driving uphill and speeding up.Most of the time, this high engine capacity is not needed, but the engine continues burning up fuel. Hybrid cars have much smaller petrol engines, powered by electric motors when needed, so they use less petrol.
Hybrid cars are also lighter and aerodynamically(空气动力学的)designed for greater fuel efficiency.
Another way that fuel consumption is cut is by a system of“regenerative braking”(刹车). The electric motor is used to slow down the car, rather than traditional brakes. The energy produced by the slowing car is transformed into electrical power, which is automatically stored in the battery. In effect, the battery recharges when you brake. In traditional cars the energy produced when braking is wasted.
Car producers and engineers have been experimenting with electric and hybrid cars since the late 19th century. In 1928 Ferdinand Porsche built an experimental hybrid car that used both an internal burning engine and electric motors.The first mass-produced hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, came out in Japan at the end of 1997.However, Hybrid cars became available in the USA only in 1999, when the Honda Insight went on sale.
As they use less fuel, hybrid cars are cheaper to run. There are also many advantages in place to encourage people to buy them. In some countries, hybrid car owners pay a lower rate of tax, and don’t have to pay on certain toll roads(收费公路). In some cities around the world, hybrid cars are allowed to park for free.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?| A．Hybrid cars don’t need petrol any more. |
| B．Petrol engine and electric motor work all the way. |
| C．Hybrid cars mainly depend on electric power to run. |
| D．Some hybrid car petrol engines will quit when unnecessary. |
| A．Smaller petrol engines. | B．Scientific design. |
| C．Traditional brakes. | D．Energy storage. |
| A．Hybrid cars are cheaper to buy. |
| B．Hybrid car owners don’t have to pay tax. |
| C．Hybrid car owners don’t need to pay parking fee. |
| D．Hybrid cars will have a bright future. |
| A．To advertise hybrid cars. |
| B．To introduce hybrid cars. |
| C．To compare traditional cars and hybrid cars. |
| D．To inform the development of hybrid cars. |
【推荐3】When my family moved to America in 2010 from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises or jogging, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.
1. The author brought the couple their food very fast because _______.| A．the manager asked him to do so | B．the couple wanted him to do so |
| C．he respected the elderly | D．he wanted more pay |
| A．nervous | B．unhappy |
| C．satisfied | D．excited |
| A．changed his way with older people | B．made friends with the couple |
| C．no longer respected the elderly | D．lost his job in the restaurant |
| A．The more the author explained, the angrier the couple got. |
| B． The author wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience. |
| C．From this experience, the author learned more about American culture. |
| D．The manager went back to the table and apologized to the couple. |
However, the idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington．A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909．Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her．It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices（牺牲） and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a selfless and loving man．Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spikane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910．
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day．Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died．
When children can’t visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card．Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental（伤感的）．Most greeting cards are too special so fathers laugh when they open them．Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child need Dad．
1. The United States is special in Father’s Day because ________．
| A．many people celebrate the day | B．only America celebrates the day |
| C．America makes it an official day | D．all men are honored in America |
| A．Sonora honored her father on her father’s birthday |
| B．Sonora’s birthday was June 19 |
| C．it was decided by the president at that time |
| D．her mother died on June 19 |
| A．4 | B．10 | C．14 | D．24 |
| A．people will wear the same flowers to honor their fathers |
| B．only daughters wear red flowers to honor their fathers |
| C．children must go home to honor their fathers |
| D．fathers are often honored in different ways |
| A．was very kind to anyone | B．was the first father honored in 1924 |
| C．did a lot for his daughter | D．always help others by giving money |
【推荐2】 Hearing the Sweetest Songs
My parents said I lost my hearing as a baby, but I knew I hadn't lost anything. None of my parts had dropped off. Nothing had changed： I could hear music that was close enough to me. I could also hear my mom when she was in the same room. I could even hear my cat purr if I put my good ear on top of him.
I wasn't aware of any hearing loss until I began to wear a hearing aid when I started living alone. I noticed it ruined my peace of mind: pencils tapping, phones ringing, and refrigerators humming. Then, I began to discover many things I couldn't do. I couldn't tell where sounds came from, nor could I tell fire alarms from burglar alarms. I once missed a job interview because I misheard the address on the phone. For the first time, I had to admit that I had lost something.
Unlike a wheelchair, my disability doesn't announce itself. When I got jobs, I chose to keep it as a secret. One day a business friend said, "Nicolette, sometimes in meetings you answer the wrong questions. People don't know you can't hear, so they think you're strange, stupid﹣or just plain rude. It would be better to just tell them." But I knew if I told, people might see only my disability, and they might forget that I was also a writer, a painter, and a good gardener. I felt disabled and helpless.
This bothered me till I met my husband. One morning at the shore I was listening to the sounds of the sea when my husband said, "Hear the bird?" "What bird?" I listened hard until I heard a tiny sound. If he hadn't mentioned it I would never have noticed it. As I listened, slowly I began to hear﹣or perhaps imagine﹣a distant song. Did I really hear it? Or just heard in my heart what he shared with me? I realized that songs imagined were as sweet as songs heard and songs shared were sweeter still.
This sharing is what both the disabled and non-disabled want. Every one of us, if we live long enough, will become disabled in some way. Let's share. Now, just let me see your lips when you speak. And ask what you want to know. These are conversations we all should have, and it's not that hard to begin.
1. When the author wore the hearing aid, she_____.| A．felt better prepared for the job interviews |
| B．was able to enjoy different sounds |
| C．experienced a sense of loss |
| D．was teased by others |
| A．people might focus on her hearing loss |
| B．she could get the work done as abled |
| C．people might be curious about it |
| D．she wanted to do more jobs |
| A．To draw people's attention to the hearing problem． |
| B．To tell people not to treat the disabled differently． |
| C．To remember the challenges she faced． |
| D．To show how much she missed before． |
【推荐3】The annual marathon in my town occurred as scheduled. My job was to follow behind the runners in an ambulance in case any of them needed medical attention. As the athletes began to pace themselves, the front runners started to disappear. It was then that my eyes were drawn to the woman in blue running shorts and a baggy white T-shirt.
I knew we were already watching our “last runner？” Her feet were turned in, yet her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled（跛足的）and bent that it seemed impossible for her to walk, let alone run a marathon.
The driver and I watched in silence as she slowly moved forward. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to gain some distance. Then we’d slowly move forward a little bit more. As I watched her struggle to put one foot in front of the other, I found myself breathing for her and urging her forward. I wanted her to stop, and at the same time, I prayed that she wouldn’t.
Finally, she was the only runner left in sight. I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with respect and amazement as she pushed forward with sheer determination through the last miles. When the finish line came into sight, the cheering crowds had long gone home. Yet, standing straight and proud waited a man. He was holding one end of a ribbon tied to a post. She slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the ribbon fluttering behind her.
I don’t know this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life- a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn’t about beating the other runners or winning a prize. It was about finishing what she had set out to do. When I think things are too difficult or I get those “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.
1. What words can best describe the woman？| A．Proud and determined. | B．Modest and courageous. |
| C．Diligent and considerate. | D．Strong-willed and honorable. |
| A．Don’t depend on others when facing hardships. |
| B．Nothing is too tough to accomplish if one is brave enough. |
| C．It’s not winning but holding on straight to the end that really matters. |
| D．The disabled can also run a marathon despite their walking difficulty. |
| A．The Annual Marathon. | B．The Last Runner. |
| C．An Unforgettable Job. | D．A Crippled Woman. |
