My husband and I just spent a week in Paris. Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians(巴黎人). So the first thing we did was rent a rather expensive six-floor apartment which was the size of a cupboard. It was so small that we had to leave our suitcases in the hallway (走廊).
The place wasn't entirely authentic (正宗的), though. Unlike a normal Parisian apartment, the plumbing (水管)worked. There was a nice kitchen and a comfortable bed. Our building even had a small lift with a female voice that said. "Open the door," in perfect French. That is the only French phrase I mastered, and it's a shame that I don't have much use for it.
Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone noted in this paper a couple of weeks ago, they eat great food and never gain weight. The food is so delicious that you don't need much of it to make you happy. French strawberries don't taste like cardboard (硬纸板). Instead, they explode in your mouth like little flavor bombs.
That is not the only reason why the French eat less than we do. On our first morning in Paris, I went around the corner to the food market to pick up some groceries (食品). I bought a handful of perfectly ripe small strawberries and a little sweet melon. My husband and I agreed they were the best fruit we had ever eaten. But they cost $18.
In France, quality of life is much more important than efficiency (效率). You can tell this by cafés life. French cafés are always crowded. Not all customers are tourists. When do these people work? The French take their 35-hour workweek seriously — so seriously that some labor unions recently struck a deal with a group of companies limiting the number of hours that independent contractors can be on call (随叫随到).
1. How was the apartment the author rented in Paris?| A．It was quite small. |
| B．The rent of it was low. |
| C．It had a comfortable living room. |
| D．The plumbing worked like a normal Parisian apartment. |
| A．They visited some of their neighbors. | B．They tidied the apartment up. |
| C．They toured around Paris. | D．They did some shopping. |
| A．To show that not all customers there are tourists |
| B．To show that the French take their holiday seriously |
| C．To show that French people care much about quality life. |
| D．To show that French people enjoy getting together there. |
| A．Making sure that their workers work hard and efficiently. |
| B．Making sure that the companies have good and qualified workers. |
| C．Making sure that their workers work within a proper amount of time. |
| D．Making sure that the companies can make their work plans independently. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】My name is Deirdre Veneracion and I am a paraglider (滑翔伞) pilot.I’ve been paragliding since I was 11.
My dad and I arrive at our local fly site on a June morning.We meet our instructor and spend the first 20 minutes watching the wind cycles.I go through my pre-flight steps and turn on my radio.At last, I take a step and feel the ground under me fall away.I feel the pressure of my weight on the canopy (伞衣).
After 15 minutes of playing with the wind, my father radios me from the place where he is about to take off.“How is the wind?” “Perfect!” I say.Dad takes off behind me.
I have done almost 100 flights and yet every flight amazes me just as much or even more than my first flight.I love the unpredictability of each flight.Every flight is different.After 15 minutes, I decide to land.
Now, I’m over a rice field.It is a much smaller landing than most landing zones but it’s possible.Out of nowhere, I feel my canopy becomes unstable.It loses pressure and falls directly in front of me.I am falling.I have butterflies in my stomach.I pull my brake line, in the hope that my wing will get pressure again but it doesn’t.I look towards my dad and see that he is also in trouble.It’s as if we were inside a washing machine being thrown up and down.I won’t make it to the landing zone in front of me.On my right is a narrow stream with hardly any water in it.I make my decision: The narrow stream is my best chance of landing safely.
As I touch down, I check on my dad and am glad to hear that he is fine.Local villagers come to check on me but, surprisingly, I am uninjured.
This is one of those times when we are reminded that no preparation can prevent Mother Nature from surprising us.
1. What does the author do before taking off?| A．She has a talk with her father. | B．She watches the weather. |
| C．She turns off the radio. | D．She gives instructions. |
| A．The pleasant wind. | B．The success of each flight. |
| C．The excitement of landing. | D．The uncertainty of each flight. |
| A．Nervousness | B．Happiness | C．Anger | D．Luck |
| A．She hurts herself. | B．She asks her dad for help. |
| C．She sees a washing machine below. | D．She changes her mind about the landing site. |
【推荐2】Simple Things That Can Help Change Your Attitude
“Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us.” We've all heard about the power of our attitude, and that it's our attitude that determines how much we succeed in life.
While it's true that humans are born with certain tendencies, our personalities and attitudes are developed through our relationships and experiences.
● Clearly understand what needs to be changed.
Setting clear goals is the key to success in any attempt. When it comes to changing your attitude, you need to do an honest and in depth self-evaluation. Thus, you could point out exactly what needs to be improved or totally changed.
●
We all need to know that what we are trying to accomplish can in fact be achieved; that we can be more optimistic, more social or more patient. Find someone who has the kind of attitude that you want to have, and let his or her life give you inspiration and encouragement to move beyond your temporary failures in your journey towards becoming a better person.
●Believe that you are able to change.
It cannot be denied that a positive attitude is very important for living a successful and satisfying life, so it is only right to strive to have a positive attitude.
| A．Look for a role model. |
| B．Our attitude is the driving force in our lives. |
| C．Fix your mind on what may change your attitude. |
| D．Changing our attitude means a happier family and social life. |
| E．Often, the greatest obstacle between our goals and us is our inability to trust in what we are able to do. |
| F．Our attitudes begin to develop in childhood and constantly evolve and change over the years through day-to-day experiences. |
Take a seat. Daddy has something to share with you. I would like us to have a heart-to-heart-even though, over the years, you have slowly broken mine. Oh shut up; you so have! If you go out and ask any mother or father out there, I guarantee they’ll say the same thing: All children break their parents’ hearts. It’s just what children do. In fact, it’s what Daddy’s own mother continues to remind him still, to this very day, every time they speak on the phone.
In your baby years, you vomited (呕吐), pooped and peed all over me. In your teen years, you came home from parties and vomited red wine all over my already-dirty carpets. There was a time you experimented with drugs and all those things I hate. Where does the heartbreak end?
Still, I want you to know you are loved, because various parenting magazines insist that’s my responsibility: to make you feel special and valued and so on. And of course Daddy loves you! Don’t you see? And Daddy values you. Very much so. How could he not value you, when you, as a test-tube baby, cost so much to come into this world?
Now you’re old enough to hear the truth about parenting. And it’s this: all kids annoy their parents. Like you, I started off adorable. Then I went through my weird-body-shape-and-acne years, lost all my cuteness, developed an attitude and never once did I apologize to my parents for stealing the best years of their lives.
When you become a parent yourself, here are some parenting skills you might want to try that have been passed down from countless generations of angry Asians before me. Passive aggression is always welcome. Regular scream“I WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN” will help keep your own kid’s self-respect in check. But whatever happens, ensure you earn enough money in your adult life. Then give it to me, so I can go on expensive international tours. If you do this I promise I’ll stop complaining and leave you alone, because we both know that’s what we really want. Love you lots, Cutie-Pie.
Daddy
1. The letter discusses all the topics EXCEPT ________.| A．babyhood | B．teenage problems |
| C．parenting | D．death |
| A．used to take drugs |
| B．regrets getting married |
| C．broke his parents’ heart |
| D．was born as a test-tube baby |
| A．To ask his child to earn more money. |
| B．To encourage his child to be independent. |
| C．To communicate to his child love and hope. |
| D．To stop his child from being a troublemaker. |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Kiss crisis, hug horrors and the UK’s handshake headaches
Greeting someone, saying goodbye — these situations fill me with unease. You have a second to make a dangerous decision. One peck(轻吻)? Two pecks? Three? No kisses at all? Why, I think, as I crash into the other person’s face, why can’t it be as simple as a handshake?
A survey by the soap company Radox in May showed one in five Brits now feels a handshake is “too formal”, according to the Daily Mail. Some 42 percent said they never shook hands when greeting friends. For one third of people the alternative was a hug, for 16 percent a kiss on the cheek.
British people are known to be reserved(保守的) — unfriendly, some would say. Handshakes used to work for us because we didn’t have to get too close. But the super-British handshake is no longer fashionable. We want to be more like our easygoing Mediterranean neighbors who greet each other with kisses and hugs.
The trouble is, we still find it a bit awkward. What does a married man do when greeting a married female friend, for example? How should someone younger greet someone older?
Guys don’t tend to kiss one another; my male friends in Britain go for the “manly hug”, taking each other stiffly(不自然地) in one arm and giving a few thumps on the back with words like “Take it easy, yeah?”.
The biggest questions, if you do decide to kiss, are how many times and which cheek first. Unlike the French, who comfortably deliver three, our cheek-pecks usually end in embarrassed giggling(咯咯笑): “Oh, gosh, sorry, I didn’t mean to kiss you on the lips, I never know where to aim for first!”
But then it’s never been easy for us poor, uncomfortable Brits. Even the handshake had its problems: don’t shake too hard, but don’t hold the other person’s hand too limply(无力地) either, and definitely don’t go in with sweaty hands.
Maybe it’s better to leave it at a smile and a nod.
1. What is the article mainly about?| A．Origin of the traditional British way of greeting someone. |
| B．New trends and problems that Brits have with the way they greet people. |
| C．Why the author feels uneasy when greeting someone or saying goodbye. |
| D．Differences in greetings between Britain and other Western countries. |
| A．It is now considered unfriendly to greet friends with a handshake in Britain. |
| B．A kiss on the cheek is becoming the most popular form of greeting in Britain. |
| C．Most Brits no longer offer to shake hands with those they meet. |
| D．More and more Brits prefer to be greeted with a hug or kiss. |
| A．not helpful |
| B．too informal |
| C．quite embarrassed |
| D．very interesting |
| A．A hug. |
| B．A smile and a nod. |
| C．A handshake. |
| D．A kiss on the cheek. |
【推荐2】“I’m so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!” cried Effie as she watched her mother arranging presents. Although her mother was shocked to hear this, Effie continued to complain about the holiday, with all its useless gins and lack of surprise. She wished that she were a beggar girl, free to go out at will.
In her sleep that night, Effie dreamed she was a beggar girl. but it wasn’t what she thought it would be -- for she was cold, hungry, and miserable. Just then, a Christmas spirit appeared before Effie. He took her hands in his, turned the snow into a warm coat, and gave her a bowl of hot soup.
Suddenly, an amazing world began appearing around Effie. She heard merry Christmas bells and saw the most marvelous Christmas trees with candles that never stopped burning. There was joy in the air, and Effie watched as other spirits got ready for Christmas. There were four Santa Clauses getting ready for their long rides, and dolls in their houses living like humans, except the dolls were being kinder and nicer to each other.
Effie was then taken to another place, where she saw kindhearted people bringing joy in the form of gifts, food, and love to the poor. “I wish I could make merry Christmases as these good people do,” she said. She wanted to stay longer but was awoken by her mother.
Hearing the details of Effie’s dream, her mother had an idea. She got to work on setting up a surprise for Effie. When it was finally time. Effie was dressed up like the spirit in her dream and was led to a large room.
What awaited Effie was something truly magical. There were rows of Christmas tree decorated with popcorn, fruit. candy, and toys. Twenty-four orphan girls walked onto the magical scene, and they couldn’t contain their excitement. They each were given their own tree and the toys and candy that came with it. Some of the girls even cried, overcome with joy. Effie’s Christmas dream had come true. Later, as she lay in bed, her heart was filled with a new love for Christmas, and she couldn’t wait to do it all again next year.
1. How would you describe Effie at the start of the story?| A．Excited. | B．Spoiled. | C．Shocked | D．Sleepy. |
| A．A Christmas spirit gave Effie some hot soup. |
| B．Kind dolls brought her to the magical world. |
| C．Ellie saw kind people giving gifts to the poor. |
| D．Four Santas were getting ready for their journey. |
| A．Effie’s mother threatened her. | B．She didn’t. It was all a dream. |
| C．The orphan girls were nice to her. | D．Ellie discovered the joy of giving. |
①A Christmas spirit appeared.
②Effie complained about Christmas.
③Effie was transported to a magical world.
④Effie discovered the true meaning of Christmas.
⑤Her mother set up a surprise for Effie.
| A．②①③⑤④ | B．②①③④⑤ | C．②③①⑤④ | D．③①②④⑤ |
1. Guatmala: Burning devils
In order to make houses free from bad spirits for the New Year, Guatemalans do a full house clean in December. The dirt and dust is gathered from every home and each neighborhood creates a large amount of garbage. A devil statue is built and placed on top of the dirt, and burned. The bad luck is said to burn up with the devil.
2. South Africa: Don’t eat Santa’s cookies
To keep kids from stealing on Santa’s cookies, parents tell children a story about a boy named Danny who ate all of Santa’s cookies and really angered his grandmother. She killed him and now his ghosts visits houses during Christmas time.
3. Iceland: Fear the Yule Cat
Children who don’t receive new clothes by Christmas Eve will be eaten by the Yule Cat, a large and angry cat, which is said to hide in the snow. The strange tradition comes from farmers who used the myth to encourage their workers to finish making the autumn wool before Christmas.
4. Ukraine: A spooky tree
If you find yourself in Ukraine around the holidays, you may be wondering: Is it Christmas or Halloween? Trees here are decorated with artificial(人工的) spider weds and decorative spiders. The unusual tradition comes from a story where a spider wove a web around the tree of a poor family. When morning came, the white strands(线) turned to precious metals and the family became rich. The webs today show good fortune for the next year.
1. To celebrate the New Year, what will people do in Guatemala?
| A．Clean their houses. |
| B．Show their respects to the devil statue. |
| C．Buy a devil statue. |
| D．Move to new houses. |
| A．Guatemala. | B．South Africa. |
| C．Iceland. | D．Ukraine. |
| A．The Yule Cat usually hides in the grass before Christmas. |
| B．All the children will receive new clothes on Christmas. |
| C．New clothes are popular Christmas presents for children in Iceland. |
| D．The Yule Cat would eat the farmers who don’t finish their work on time. |
| A．Spiders are pretty insects. |
| B．Spiders are believed to bring good fortune. |
| C．Spiders always help poor families out of pity. |
| D．Webs of spiders are suitable for decoration. |
【推荐1】My parents had been married less than two years when my dad was diagnosed with ALS. Making a decision regarding whether or not to start a family was difficult at the time, but due to their faith and positive outlook, they chose to do so. Had they not shared the same optimism, my older brother John would not be here, and I would not be writing this today. To say that I am thankful for their decision is an understatement. My dad has had a long battle with ALS and is still fighting after 26 years.
As a child, my parents did everything in their power to keep things as normal as possible for my brother and me. Unfortunately, I have very few memories of my dad when he was still able to walk because of how young I was when he lost that ability. However, I can confidently say that as a girl, my childhood felt completely normal. Our friends came over a lot. John and I were very involved in sports, and my parents were at every game.
ALS isn’t just a deadly disease — it is incurable. Most patients do not live even close to 26 years like my father has been able to. ALS is also a lonely disease, for both the patients and caregivers, as they go through hardships those around them will rarely understand. My mom is his primary caregiver, and my brother and I help out as much as we can. She is a remarkable mother and wife, the backbone of our family, and none of us would be here without her.
Dad is the strongest person I know. He has overcome his physical limitations due to how strong he is mentally. Every day is a battle, and every day he fights hard. He truly believes every day is a gift. Some days are worse than others, but he would rarely ley you know. It takes a certain kind of faith, will, ambition, and strength to handle such a desperate diagnosis, and he has never faltered (退缩).
1. How does the author feel about her parents’ choice of starting a family?| A．Grateful. | B．Indifferent. | C．Angry. | D．Regretful. |
| A．Their optimistic attitude. | B．Their family values. |
| C．Their love for children. | D．Their difficult situations. |
| A．Determined and caring. | B．Humorous and knowledgeable. |
| C．Talented and demanding. | D．Generous and strict. |
| A．Hardships and difficulties are unavoidable in life. |
| B．One has to learn to shoulder responsibility courageously. |
| C．The presence of parents is important to children’s development. |
| D．Inner strength and family support can help overcome physical limitations. |
【推荐2】In my bag I always carry the same essential items: my keys, my purse, some loose change, my mobile phone, and my little blue vocabulary notebook. This year I am living abroad in Germany and I am trying to learn as much German as possible. I always knew that living abroad would be a great way to learn a foreign language, but one thing I didn’t realize was how many new words and phrases I would come across every day. I see and hear new words everywhere: the announcements in the train station, menus in cafes, on social media, in the local newspaper, and of course from my German -speaking friends; New words are all around you when you are in a foreign country.
At first, I was slightly overwhelmed by the large amounts of German I didn’t understand- speaking German in Germany is definitely very different from in the classroom. I kept on looking up new words, and by the end of the day, I had forgotten most of them already. It was very frustrating. After a month of worrying that I would never improve my language skills, I went to the stationery shop and bought a small notebook which easily fits into my handbag or even into my back pocket. I set myself the goal of writing five new words or phrases a day into my little blue book and soon enough, it became one of my most valuable language-learning tools.
I don’t have any rules about which words I write down. Most days I write down words I learn from my colleagues at work, words that I have read but I don’t understand, or words that I have learned from seeing them in context. For example, I have learned the names of many fruits and vegetables from looking at their labels in the supermarket (a very unexpected source of vocabulary) and I have learned many words that I have learned on TV or on the radio. It doesn’t even matter if I know how to spell a new word straight away. If I hear a word but I don’t know how to spell it, I write down how I think it sounds and look it up later.
My little blue vocabulary book is now like my sidekick(助手). We are like Batman and Robin; we go everywhere together. Setting this small daily goal has made me feel much more in control of my language learning and I am already seeing my improvement. I will continue to use it for the rest of my stay in Germany and also when I return to university at home in September.
1. According to Paragraph 1, which statement is false?| A．The author tried hard to improve his German. |
| B．The author always carries some small money in the bag. |
| C．The author always came across new words when living in Germany. |
| D．The author always knew he would make many friends in Germany. |
| A．annoyed | B．disturbed | C．defeated | D．worried |
| A．Menus in cafes. | B．The supermarket. | C．Stationary shops. | D．TV and radio. |
| A．My Best Helper in Vocabulary Learning | B．Difficulties of Living in Germany |
| C．Ways to Improve the Communication Skills | D．Improve life Using Pen and Paper |
【推荐3】Morgan Hartman was born with both physical and cognitive (认知的) disabilities. For years though, she lacked a diagnosis (诊断). One thing she did have: a happy spirit. Her dad, Cordon Hartman, never wanted to see that spirit dulled. But unfortunately, at times it was.
“In 2006, we were on a family vacation where I watched Morgan not be able to participate in a pool activity with three other children, and it was simply because of her lack of expression,” Gordon said. “It almost puts a lump (肿块) in your throat because it gives you a sad feeling that all Morgan wanted was to participate. She just wanted to play.”
After seeing this, Gordon started on a quest to create a space where no one felt left out. His idea: an inclusive theme park. He had experience as a builder and enlisted help from other experts to turn his dream into what is now Morgan’s Wonderland. The park, opened in 2010, is believed to be the only one like it in the world and it has expanded to a sports center and camp with an outdoor adventure park. Across all the recreation areas, all are fully accessible to everyone with physical and mental disabilities.
Gordon has seen firsthand how an accessible theme park can change lives through joy. “I met a couple from Mexico City. And they had never had a chance to, because of their special needs, ever a chance to play in water together. They heard about it and came here. They cried with me and talked to me about how this was the most wonderful opportunity they ever had,” he said.
Morgan’s Wonderland has welcomed visitors from dozens of countries and all 50 states of the USA — and those with disabilities enter for free. “It’s the small things that make the big difference: Having fun,” Gordon said. “Here at Morgan’s Wonderland and all the different Morgan’s venues, you don’t watch. You participate.”
1. Why couldn’t Morgan participate in the pool activity?| A．She was not diagnosed. |
| B．She couldn’t express herself. |
| C．Her father hated seeing her dulled. |
| D．Other children wouldn’t play with her. |
| A．It provides outdoor activities. |
| B．It’s for people with special needs. |
| C．It’s a sports center with only one like it. |
| D．It’s the largest adventure park in the world. |
| A．Gordon’s generosity |
| B．the popularity of the park |
| C．the influence of the park |
| D．Gordon’s success in business |
| A．It has expanded to 50 states. |
| B．It is free of charge for all visitors. |
| C．Full accessibility makes it appealing. |
| D．People aren’t allowed to watch activities in it. |
