The public library was less than five minutes’ walk from my home. It was open for three hours in the evening. Every evening, I would rush to the library after school.
Every day, fifteen minutes before the actual closing time, the librarian would start announcements and ask people to leave. As a child, I didn’t have a library card, so I couldn’t take my half-read books with me.
Five years passed by, and there, I had read most of the books in the kids’ and basic science sections. The librarian always smiled at me and introduced new books to me. Later, during my college days, I would go there to get a quiet place to study. The librarian would simply give me reading room keys and let me stay there.
After my graduation, I moved away and stopped visiting that library.
| A．Recently, I went to the library again. |
| B．This gave me another ten minutes to read. |
| C．I managed to stay in the library the whole day. |
| D．Usually, I would get there ten minutes ahead of the opening time. |
| E．I would have to put those books back and left with unwillingness. |
| F．The librarian was the kind of man who just did not look approachable. |
| G．Studying in the library benefited me a lot throughout my college time. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Four adventurous novels will quickly take you away on an epic journey without leaving your couch.
This Tender Land
by William Kent Krueger
It is about four Creat Depression orphans who flee their harsh school in a canoe down the Mississippi. This is a historical fiction novel that not only captures the time and place of the Great Depression but the characters that lived through it. It is packed with so much heart that you won’t be able to put it down.
Lonesome Dove
by Larry McMurtry
I’ve always been attracted by the idea of the Wild West, and really Lonesome Dove is considered one of the best western novels out there. The book follows Jake Spoon, a former Texas Ranger, who’s on the run from a sheriff (治安官) from Arkansas and would love to be anywhere but Lonesome Dove. Truly this story is about carving out a place for yourself in the world.
Out of Darkness, Shining Light
by Petina Gappah
Based on true events, this novel follows the incredible journey of the men and women who carried Dr. Livingston’s body and all of his work across Africa so that he could be returned to England and all of his research could be preserved. This is a powerful and adventurous story that leads the reader on a winding tale as his loyal followers attempt to get the Scottish doctor home.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters
by Balli Kaur Jaswal
This family drama truly feels like an adventure as you flip through its pages. At the last request of their dying mother, three estranged (疏远的) British born Punjabi sisters are forced to take a pilgrim’s tour (朝圣之旅) to Amritsar together. This is a powerful and evocative (唤起感情的) travel story from the perspective of three very different women. Together they learn about themselves, about their mother and their lives.
1. Who wrote a historical fiction novel?| A．William Kent Krueger. | B．Larry McMurtry. |
| C．Petina Gappah. | D．Balli Kaur Jaswal. |
| A．This Tender Land |
| B．Lonesome Dove |
| C．Out of Darkness, Shining Light |
| D．The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters |
| A．Because they learn about themselves. |
| B．Because their mother likes travelling. |
| C．Because they are very fond of travelling. |
| D．Because their dying mother asks them to do so. |
【推荐2】An old man lived with his little grandson. Every day the old man got up early to read books.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I want to read books as you do. But I always forget what I read. What are the advantages of reading?”
The grandfather didn’t answer him, but said, “Take this little basket to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as his grandpa said, but all the water leaked out before he got back home. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to walk faster next time.”
The next time the boy ran faster, but the basket was still empty before he returned home. The boy said, “See, Grandpa, it’s no use!”
“Is it no use?” the old man said. “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and found that the basket was different. It was cleaner, inside and out.
“That’s what happens when you read books. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read them, you will be changed, inside and out.”
1. What did the old man do every day?| A．He carried water. | B．He wrote something. |
| C．He read books. | D．He did some chores. |
| A．was too busy to do it | B．got up late |
| C．he slept late | D．always forgot what he read |
| A．Twice. | B．Once. | C．Three times. | D．Four times. |
Napoleon, as a character in Tolstoy’sWar and Peace, is more than once described as having “fat little hands.’’ Nor does he “sit well or firmly on the horse.’’ He is said to be “undersized.’’ with“short legs’’ and a “round stomach”. The issue here is not the accuracy of Tolstoy’s description--it seems not that far off from historical accounts but his choice of facts：other things that could be said of the man are not said. We are meant to understand the difference of a warring commander in the body of a fat little Frenchman. Tolstoy’s Napoleon could be any man wandering in the streets and putting a little of powdered tobacco up his nose—and that is the point.
It is a way the novelist uses to show the moral nature of a character. And it turns out that, as Tolstoy has it, Napoleon is a crazy man. In a scene in Book Three ofWar and Peace, the wars having reached the critical year of 1812,Napoleon receives a representative from the Tsar(沙皇), who has come with peace terms. Napoleon is very angry：doesn’t he have more army? He, not the Tsar, is the one to make the terms. He will destroy all of Europe if his army is stopped. “That is what you will have gained by engaging me in the war!” he shouts. And then, Tolstoy writes, Napoleon “walked silently several times up and down the room, his fat shoulders moving quickly.’’
Still later, after reviewing his army amid cheering crowds, Napoleon invites the shaken Russian to dinner. “He raised his hand to the Russian’s…face,” Tolstoy writes, and “taking him by the ear pulled it gently….” To have one’s ear pulled by the Emperor was considered the greatest honor and mark of favor at the French court. “Well, well, why don’t you say anything?’’ said he, as if it was ridiculous in his presence to respect any one but himself, Napoleon.
Tolstoy did his research, but the composition is his own.
1. Tolstoy’s description of Napoleon in War and Peaceis _________.
| A．far from the historical facts | B．based on the Russian history |
| C．based on his selection of facts | D．not related to historical details |
| A．he thought he should be the one to make the peace terms |
| B．the Tsar's peace terms were hard to accept |
| C．the Russians stopped his military movement |
| D．he didn’t have any more army to fight with |
| A．To walk out of the room in anger. | B．To show agreement with him. |
| C．To say something about the Tsar. | D．To express his admiration. |
| A．ill-mannered in dealing with foreign guests | B．fond of showing off his iron will |
| C．determined in destroying all of Europe | D．crazy for power and respect |
| A．A writer doesn’t have to be faithful to his findings. |
| B．A writer may write about a hero in his own way. |
| C．A writer may not be responsible for what he writes. |
| D．A writer has hardly any freedom to show his feelings. |
【推荐1】阅读短文，并根据短文内容回答问题。
The most wonderful thing that has come into my life is a Golden Retriever called Bonny. Bonny has been trained by an organization called Assistance Dogs for Independence, so she could help me become independent. I often rely on other people in my life, and it even keeps me from making my own decisions in most situations. Why? Because when you have to depend on others, the decision does not become totally yours.
I developed Cerebral Palsy(脑瘫) at the age of twelve months as a result of food poisoning(中毒). That made me physically disabled, making me totally rely on others. Because of that, I often felt sad. I considered myself to be useless and was often in a low mood.
My recent visit to the Spastic Centre with Bonny caused the therapists(治疗师) to notice the change in my attitude and mood. They always tried to help me become positive, but they said it was Bonny that had made such a difference. They were so impressed that they invited me to talk to Assistance Dogs for Independence about such dogs because they were sure that other people like me would also need the assistance of such a dog.
I totally agreed with them and decided to do that. The costs of carers who are paid to help people like me are very high. And family members have to spend a lot of time taking care of such people as me. With such a dog as Bonny, things could be much easier.
However, I will still need the carers’ help in areas where a dog can’t help. I just want to say such a dog is really helpful to such people as me.
1. Why can’t the author make his own decisions sometimes? (no more than 10 words)【推荐2】As an adult, I realized that I had no skills, so I went to trade school. I entered a cabinetmaking (家具制造) program. I didn’t think I would be good at building furniture. I’m not handy. Nobody in my family is.
I had great teachers, but making furniture is hard. There are so many steps and something can go wrong at each one. I couldn’t even get organized. My toolbox always looked like a hurricane had gone through it.
I didn’t fully know what I was devoting myself to at the beginning, but I kept going to class. I tried to wrap my brain around the math. The projects forced me to solve new kinds of problems. My brain started to build new connections. Working in this new physical manner and giving it 100 percent of my effort had huge benefits for my mental health. I got over fear of embarrassment and asked for help at every opportunity.
I spent that year truly learning. True learning is a humbling (令人谦卑的) experience, especially for those of us who are learning a new set of skills. I could understand exactly what was wrong with the furniture I made, but I couldn’t fix my mistakes. And yet, I kept trying. And failing. And failing again. Until I learned to fail better.
You’re going to be bad at anything when you start out, but I was pretty bad right to the end. Even so, I finished the program — with honors! My grades were helped by my good written work. Having to constantly push beyond my comfort zone has made me a better-rounded person. Maybe most importantly, trade school gave me a more realistic idea of my strengths and limitations. I’m stronger than I thought!
1. Why did the author sign up for the cabinetmaking program?| A．To make more friends. | B．To become a handy designer. |
| C．To get more organized. | D．To develop new skills. |
| A．He had a gift for making furniture. |
| B．He became stronger both mentally and physically after the program. |
| C．The biggest challenge for him is to know how to correct mistakes. |
| D．He finished the program with honor because of his excellent skills in the end. |
| A．Hard-working and confident. | B．Devoted and determined. |
| C．Intelligent and creative. | D．Modest and independent. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Never too late to learn. |
| C．Learning is more than a skill. | D．Skills will never be a burden. |
【推荐3】It was the week before Christmas, and the line at the post office snaked twice around the lobby(大厅). It seemed that no one was moving. The office looked like an exhibit in the Postal Wax Museum. I came to the self-service machine where the line was much shorter.
I don't like self-service. I tell people it's because I don't approve of taking jobs away from people, but the real problem is that I'm no good at it. The machine always asks me something I don't know the answer to. I hate this. I am a retired letter carrier, and we moved mail the old-fashioned way: hand to hand, human to human. We were fast, friendly, and frequently accurate.
The woman in the front of the line was clicking away at the screen. And the clicks were surprisingly loud. Any signs of hesitation on her part were telegraphed to the whole lobby. I felt sorry for her: The machine could smell fear. The next person took a long time, too. I breathed deeply. By the time it was my turn, I had the heart rate of a yogi(瑜伽修行者).
Under the weight of concern from the people in line behind me, I felt a growing obligation to minimize the seconds between clicks. Finally it was time to slide in a credit card. The machine didn't take it. “Try putting it in the other way,” the gentleman behind me suggested. No good.
“I've got a different card,” I said, and fished around for that one, beginning to sweat. The machine wanted a PIN, but not the one I suggested.
“Start over,”I clicked, intending to try the first card again.
Oh no. I had to start all over again.
“I'm sorry,“ I said, looking back, sheepish. “I guess I don't know what I'm doing. You all go ahead.”
“Don't give up,” said the nice man behind me.“ Try it again. We're all friends here, right?”
Smiles were blooming(绽放)all down the line. I tried again, clicked with deliberation and sincerity, and introduced my credit card as though I were presenting it to the queen. Finally, I made it!
I couldn't have been happier. Everyone burst into applause. Comfort and joy!
1. What do we know about the post office?| A．It was pretty large. | B．Something went wrong there. |
| C．It was very busy at Christmas. | D．Efficient services were provided. |
| A．They are friendly. | B．They are quite convenient. |
| C．They often make mistakes. | D．They are too complicated to use. |
| A．a little excited | B．totally relaxed |
| C．bored and impatient | D．nervous and anxious |
| A．Grateful. | B．Surprised. | C．Embarrassed. | D．Determined. |
| A．He rushed the author. | B．He laughed at the author. |
| C．He mailed for the author. | D．He encouraged the author. |
