A small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree and it has been there for ten years or so.
It all began because my husband Justin hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas. Overspending was one thing, but compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts—running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and a pair of gloves for Grandma…, spending money is nothing.
I felt too tired to think of any special gifts. Knowing Justin felt the same way, I decided one year not to buy the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something special just for Justin. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in such worn-out shoes that shoe strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, while our boys were in their blue and gold uniforms and new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was shocked to see that the other team were wrestling without wearing helmets to protect their heads. Well, our boys ended up defeating them. We took every weight class.
Justin, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot potential, but losing like this could take the heart out of them." Justin loved kids—-all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football and baseball. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought different kinds of wrestling helmets and shoes. I sent them to the inner-city church without leaving my name.
On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Justin what I had done and that was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and since then the envelope has become the highlight of our Christmas.
1. Justin hated Christmas because________.| A．he thought Christmas makes no sense |
| B．he had a hard time choosing gifts |
| C．he spent too much money buying gifts |
| D．he disliked putting gifts under the Christmas tree |
| A．were well dressed | B．paid no attention to safety |
| C．feared Kevin's team | D．couldn't afford helmets |
| A．didn't wear any helmets |
| B．were dressed in worn-out shoes |
| C．may lose confidence completely |
| D．failed in the match against his son |
| A．what the writer had done | B．the envelop on the tree |
| C．the note inside the envelop | D．the gifts the writer sent to church |
| A．A Church Gift | B．A Special Note |
| C．A White Envelope | D．A Christmas Card |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Long ago, there lived a group of pigeons (鸽子) in the forest. Among them was a wise old pigeon. Every pigeon looked up to the wise old pigeon.
One day, while searching for food, they saw rice spread on the ground. All pigeons, at once decided to fly down and eat the rice. But the wise pigeon thought, “How could so much rice be found in this thick forest?” He tried to stop all other pigeons but he failed.
When all pigeons finished eating the rice and tried to fly back, they were unable to move as their feet got stuck in a net. Soon, bird catcher saw pigeons trapped (陷入困境). He shouted, “Ah! So many pigeons, I will put them in cages and sell them in the market.”
Nothing could help pigeons to get free from the net. They all cried, “What should we do now?” They looked at the wise old pigeon and said, “Please save us.” The wise pigeon advised, “Stop pulling the net in your own direction. Instead, try to fly up together and carry the net with you.” All pigeons listened to him and started to pull together and in no time started to fly away together.
Then the wise old pigeon said, “Unity (团结一致) has great strength to protect you from harm. It’s your act of unity that saved your lives today.”
1. What did pigeons decide to do when they saw rice spread on the ground?(不超过10个词)2. Why were pigeons unable to move?(不超过10个词)
3. What does the story tell us?(不超过15个词)
【推荐2】Due to a scheduling accident, one Waffle House worker was left alone to run the entire restaurant on a Sunday night.
Ethan Crispo was just one of about 30 hungry customers who wanted food at midnight. After sitting at his table for a while, he noticed there was just one upset employee available to take orders, cook food, clean tables and manage the cash register.
The 24-year-old patron was losing hope of ever getting a meal. The employee who was recognized only by his name tag reading “Ben”-seemed to be on the edge of panic until Crispo saw him speaking to a male customer in a blue shirt sitting at the counter. After a brief conversation, Ben handed him an apron (围裙) and the man got to work washing dishes.
“It was a transition so smooth. I initially assumed it was a staff member returning to his shift,” Crispo told AL.com. “It wasn’t. It was a kind stranger.”
A couple of minutes later, a woman in high heels and a stylish dress walked behind the counter to make more coffee. She then took a few orders before resigning herself to clearing tables. Suddenly, a third customer in a red shirt marched over to help as well, though Crispo failed to catch his name or take a photo of the man at work.
The term “customer service” took on a whole new meaning that night. “It was the most fascinating thing,” Crispo said. “It was just one of the wildest instances of really, really cool people just coming together. It made a difference to many people that night. Certainly, their actions made an impact on me,” he added. “Humanity isn’t just good－it’s great.”
1. What does the underlined word”patron”probably refer to?| A．The employer of the Waffle House. | B．Ethan Crispo. |
| C．Ben. | D．A beggar wanting food at midnight. |
| A．He was a staff member returning to work. |
| B．He intended to try new “customer service”. |
| C．He wanted to give the only worker a hand. |
| D．He liked to do something before getting his meal. |
| A．A new term “customer service” was created that night. |
| B．The strangers were paid to help in the Waffle House that night. |
| C．Many cool people went to the Waffle House to have a party that night. |
| D．The customers who were willing to offer help showed great humanity. |
| A．show an example of humanity at its finest |
| B．describe the strangers who helped Ben |
| C．define what good humanity is |
| D．show appreciation for the waiter’s hard work |
【推荐3】“What's your 'Thing of the Day'?” I asked my fourteen-year-old son as he got a piece of potato onto his plate. This is a question our four kids and whichever friends are staying for supper expect to be asked each evening at suppertime. Usually, it's followed with, “Uhh... Umm... We had pizza for lunch.” And then I have to refuse the response and ask for something meaningful—either something he learned or something that happened with his friends.
But, this day, my son surprised me as he went into great detail about how he had been honestly wronged by a couple of classmates and laughed at in front of the class. I asked more questions and learned that the teachers knew the situation clearly. It had been dealt with as much as the teachers and staff were able to. It was really just a matter of kids being mean and deciding to treat someone unfairly.
I thought about the situation all night. I vacillated between contacting the teachers, contacting the parents of the classmates, and not doing anything since the story had been told to me in a matter-of-fact way—not overly excitedly.
I waited until the next day after school. On the car ride home, I questioned my son what about today after yesterday's situation. My son was honestly surprised that I brought it up again. “What? No, it's over, Mom. They're my friends. They were just being stupid. They apologized. Forgive and forget, you know? We're all good.”
I was worried that perhaps he was trying to hide his concern or sadness about the thing. But as I watched him over the next days and weeks, everything seemed “normal”. Wouldn't it be great if everyone could live the “forgive and forget” way of life?
1. How are children's usual answers to the author's daily question?| A．Serious. | B．Interesting. |
| C．Valuable. | D．Meaningless. |
| A．Her son was made fun of unkindly. | B．Her son invited his friends to dinner. |
| C．Her son was punished by his teacher. | D．Her son lied to her about his mistake. |
| A．Talked to oneself. | B．Made preparations. |
| C．Was undecided. | D．Gave suggestions. |
| A．It is good to forgive and forget. | B．It is necessary to watch her son. |
| C．It is difficult to understand children. | D．It is surprising for her son to apologize. |
【推荐1】Parent-child relationships can be very complex.
Be loving. It's important to show your affection to your parents. Go ahead and hug and kiss them, no matter how old you are. If you don't live with your parents anymore, then take the time to call them to let them know you care. Don t forget birthdays, holidays and some special occasions.
Be appreciative. No matter what your age and whom you are dealing with, you need to show your appreciation for the things other people do for you. Of all the people in the world, it is probably your parents who will do the most for you.
Be forgiving. Your parents aren't perfect though you may grow up thinking that they are. Forgive them for their shortcomings.
| A．Be respectful. |
| B．Whatever they do is good for the society. |
| C．Appreciation is a good manner for friends. |
| D．So say thank you for their acts of kindness. |
| E．Know that they are trying their best with whatever they have. |
| F．Buy Presents for your parents, so you can give something back. |
| G．To have a good relationship, you need to treat your parents well. |
【推荐2】Communication in family conflicts
Communication is an important factor in managing family conflict. Unresolved disagreements can result in stress for both parents and children, difficulty in everyday interaction, and increased frequency of argument.
Family conflict can occur between parents and children, between siblings or between spouses (配偶). How family members approach a conflict can mean the difference between positive and negative effects on the family unit. Productive conflict can help a family become closer and assist members in moving through their problems.
Healthy communication, which includes listening, respecting the opinions and feelings of others, and staying calm, can help family members be more receptive to each other during a conflict. Open and honest communication can aid in problem solving and can help family members acknowledge any potential issues involved in conflict.
When family members adopt unhealthy styles of interaction or have difficulty relating to each other altogether, disagreements can become more serious.
| A．Causes of family conflicts can be various. |
| B．There is no way to completely avoid family conflicts. |
| C．It can also help to avoid future problems on the same subject. |
| D．It comes as no surprise that family conflicts have been worsening. |
| E．So family members should learn skills that work in future disagreements. |
| F．However, in its destructive form, it can be rather harmful to any relationship. |
| G．Examples include exhibiting extreme emotions, changing the subject, making excuses, etc.. |
【推荐3】Top tips for home-learning
The following are some general tips to help you learn at home.
Exercise and have a healthy diet. Try to take some exercise each day. There are lots of exercise guides being shared online. So find one you enjoy and follow the videos that are offered. Try to eat meals at regular times.
Keep in touch with school friends.
Think of others and help when you can.
Learn something new.
| A．Plan your day |
| B．You can benefit from it |
| C．This is a difficult time for you |
| D．Set yourself a challenge to learn something new |
| E．Continuous learning helps keep pace with times |
| F．Keeping in touch with your school friends is important |
| G．Ensure you eat fresh fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water |
【推荐1】In the tenth grade，I began working for free at a vet’s that was run by a friend of my parents．I wanted to get experience for what I thought would be my future job．However，on one particular Saturday morning I learnt something perhaps more important．
The hospital was in the middle of one of the poorer sections of the city and some people could only pay for the most basic treatments．On this Saturday，a man and his young son，who was probably about 7 years old，walked in with a small cat in a cardboard box．There was something wrong with the cat’s left eye．But the man could not afford to pay for the cost of the medicine．He kept quiet for a while，and then he asked where the nearest animal shelter was．Hearing this，his son cried and started to argue with him．All of a sudden，an older woman who was sitting in the waiting room stood up，walked up to the counter，and told the man that she would pay for the cost．The man thanked her and the son got to keep a healthy cat．
I always thought it was the right thing to help out a needy person，but I only saw people do acts of kindness on TV or in the movies．What the woman did made me believe that these things do happen in real life，and quite often．
Now，when I can’t decide whether to help someone who is in need，I think of this woman，and then I have the courage to step up to the plate sometimes other people follow．
1. We can infer that a vet’s is most probably a hospital for ．| A．kids | B．the poor |
| C．animals | D．women |
| A．To help his parents’ friend with his work． |
| B．To make some pocket money． |
| C．To learn more about society． |
| D．To gain some work experience． |
| A．Give it up． |
| B．Take it home without treatment． |
| C．Give it to the woman． |
| D．Give it to someone on the street． |
【推荐2】In my childhood, my mother spent her evening hours doing something for someone else. Sometimes she knitted(编织)hats for babies, and at other times, she cooked chicken soup for sick neighbors. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when one evening my mother announced she had undertaken a new project.
“I am going to telephone seniors,” said my mother. “Every night? But you don’t even know these people.” “It doesn’t matter,” she said, “What’s important is that I listen.”
I was sixteen years old and couldn’t understand why my mother was willing to spend her evenings talking to strangers. She had friends and my two older sisters to call if she felt lonely. “They will talk your ear off. Some people didn’t even stop to catch breath.” I said.
My attitude didn’t stop my mother’s enthusiasm for the project. That evening, she settled on the sofa and dialed. When she finished the call, I said, “Why do you care whether she had cookies or rice pudding for dessert? ” My mother grasped one of my hands and said in a proud tune, “I’m the only person she talked to today.”
It took me more than thirty years to fully understand the meaning of that statement. Now, as my mother is near eighty, I find myself thinking about those nightly calls she used to make. I am often the only person who telephones my mother, and sometimes I’m the only person she speaks to all day. I ask her what she cooked for dinner, but mostly I just listen as she describes a walk she took, or how her dog Lucky stole foods from the refrigerator. I realize that my mother’s calls were life lines that ensured housebound seniors remained connected to the world. Without her, their world would have been empty.
1. What is the mother’s purpose of calling the seniors?| A．To improve their living conditions. |
| B．To inquire their eating habits. |
| C．To ease their loneliness. |
| D．To teach them surviving skills. |
| A．Speak all the time. | B．Blame others’ behaviours. |
| C．Miss important information. | D．Hurt your hearing. |
| A．The author started to telephone seniors as her mother. |
| B．The author realized the value of her mother’s efforts. |
| C．The author’s mother preferred to live alone. |
| D．The author’s mother remained connected to the world. |
| A．Seniors’comfort | B．Mother’s evenings | C．Aging:my concern | D．Nightly calls, lifeline calls |
【推荐3】The Golden Week is just about to end and soon we will be back at school. It’s with both happiness and sadness. I look forward to seeing my friends and starting practice again, but it also means that I’m officially going through the placement test (分班考试) in less than half a year. From that time on I can choose some subjects I am good at and like. With school starting there are new club activities to try out and experience. For example, Lily is starting a new sport, Track. It’s similar to Cross Country, which I did before The Golden Week.
Being here for a month now, I can easily tell the differences between my junior and senior schools. The hardest or most different part for me was to have the same schedule every day here. Honestly, I prefer to have different classes every day, as I did in my junior school. However, I have fallen in love with the Friday football games. Football is one of my favorite sports now. Before I came, I knew nothing about it. Now I love it, especially to watch it with my junior schoolmates. In Golden Week, we have also been so lucky to go to two school football games.
Before I left school on the Golden Week, I had a test called Weekly Test. Mostly because I didn’t have too many hard classes, it went pretty smoothly. My favorite class is English, and also my hardest. Personally I really like English, where I could write essays (文章), challenge writing skills and improve English talking.
With the end of the Golden Week, I expect to get starting again, starting a new sport and see my friends and classmates.
1. Why does the author feel sad before school starts again?| A．Her homework is not finished. | B．The placement test will take place soon. |
| C．Her school life will get harder. | D．The new sport no longer attracts her. |
| A．The holidays are longer. | B．The teachers are kinder. |
| C．The meals are healthier. | D．The courses are richer. |
| A．Watching football matches. | B．Playing video games. |
| C．Having a talk in English. | D．Visiting her relatives. |
| A．Class. | B．Game. | C．Test. | D．Student. |
【推荐1】Following Christmas dinner, my family was relaxing around the table. We had all enjoyed traditional turkey and sweet potatoes lightly shining with brown sugar. The good cooking smells still filled the air; and the oven remained warm. My sister, our chef, was enjoying the admiration.
My nephew, never one to sit still for long, began dribbling (运球) his basketball around the table. Upon nearing Dad, he stopped — almost uncertainly. With shaking wrinkled hands, Dad had reached out for the ball. The boy, confused, looked up and over at us.
I watched my father closely to see what he would do. The twinkle in his eyes shone brighter than any Christmas lights. Holding the ball and reaching forward with a playful smile, Dad bounced it and then caught it.
This action was repeated. Gently throwing the ball away, Dad began a game of catch. The ball continued to be passed through eager pairs of outstretched hands. Cries of “Over here!” rang through the warm kitchen. Dad’s active participation was remarkable to me, for he had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, which had robbed him of many memories and the recognition ability. Despite this, Dad clearly recognized the ball and what you could do with it.
In my younger years, playing with Dad was rare. To his credit, Dad worked hard and provided for us. He was very private and never showed nor shared much emotion; his game of choice was chess, which he did eventually teach me how to play. As an adult, I had become a caregiver as Dad declined. Connecting moments between father and son had been few and far between before he took the basketball.
I’m not sure how long we played catch. What I do know is that our game ended all too soon, and it was time to face the reality of dirty dishes piled high on countertops. The moment, though, will certainly last forever.
1. What can we know about the family’s Christmas dinner?| A．Dishes were cleaned up. | B．All food was sugar-free. |
| C．It was a sweet moment. | D．It was disturbed by the game. |
| A．He rarely played basketball. | B．He had severe Alzheimer’s disease. |
| C．He had astonishing skills. | D．He played with family members. |
| A．He often accompanied kids. | B．He was willing to share feelings. |
| C．He forced kids to learn chess. | D．He seldom interacted with kids. |
| A．A game of catch | B．A devoted father |
| C．A dinner of reunion | D．A bond between father and son |
【推荐2】If your fingers get chilly all year round—even in the peak of summer—you’re not alone. Many people get cold hands during all of the seasons, due to a number of causes, from genetic to chronic illnesses.
Common reasons include being elderly and thin. If your hands are regularly cold or numb, however, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to rule out more serious causes. Cold hands are one of the symptoms of both anemia (贫血症) and hypothyroidism (甲状腺机能减退). Diabetes, which reduces blood circulation, can also trigger it. And if your heart is weak from heart disease, your body may prioritize sending blood to your core over your limbs.
For many others, cold hands are a sign they have a largely harmless condition called Raynaud’s disease. When any of us goes out in the cold, our bodies activate the muscles in our smallest blood vessels to make them even smaller—a survival mechanism to keep blood, and thus warmer temperatures, in our core. For people with Raynaud’s, this reaction is too strong, and instead of just a bit less blood going to their fingers, far too little gets there.
Raynaud’s is more common in women, and it most often develops before the age of 30. In fact, if you develop Raynaud’s when you’re older—usually after 40—it can be a sign of another underlying issue. That could be a smaller problem—a previous incident of frostbite (冻伤) or a sign of a more serious autoimmune condition, like lupus (狼疮).
For the majority of people living with Raynaud’s, medication won’t be necessary. However, a rare, more severe form of Raynaud’s affects less than one in 1,000 people. In these cases, blood can become completely blocked, causing sores on the hands. If they go untreated, it can lead to gangrene (坏疽) and, very rarely, amputation (截肢).
1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．introduce a topic | B．present an argument |
| C．describe the characters | D．clarify his writing purpose |
| A．diabetes | B．heart disease | C．aging | D．obesity |
| A．It appears when blood vessels in your body overreact to high temperatures. |
| B．Males never suffer from it before the age of 30. |
| C．In some cases, it can be a sign of some health issues. |
| D．For most people, it is a serious health problem. |
| A．The reasons why people have cold hands |
| B．Ways to treat Raynaud’s disease and prevent cold hands |
| C．Medical research on Raynaud’s Disease |
| D．Disadvantages of cold hands |
Noah's Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos(胚胎), semen and DNA of these animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M's College of Veterinary, Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.
It is estimated that as many as 2, 000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will probably become extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years. This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal. The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete. "The nuclear transfer of one species to another is not easy, but the lack of available panda eggs could be a major problem," Kraemer believes. "They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it's difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort," adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A&M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog.
"They are trying to do something that's never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah's Ark. We're both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there's a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. The cooperation between us is very much needed."
1. The final aim of "Noah's Ark" project is to ___________.
| A．make efforts to clone the endangered pandas |
| B．save endangered animals from dying out |
| C．collect DNA of endangered animals to study |
| D．transfer the nuclear of one animal to another |
| A．the long time lasting cloning research could be successful. |
| B．the eggs transfers immediately result in having a baby. |
| C．the lack of nuclear transfer could be a major problem to have new pandas. |
| D．if species should die out, basic building blocks would heal them. |
| A．China's Success in Pandas Cloning |
| B．Helping Ways to Avoid Extinction |
| C．Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas |
| D．The Practice in Noah's Ark |
| A．Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a panda |
| B．scientists try to implant a panda's egg into a rabbit |
| C．Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches |
| D．about two thousand species are to die out in a century |
