Quietly sitting there reading, I found myself suddenly listening to the train guard’s announcements. Train travelers will surely agree that when the guard makes an announcement, whether it’s the recorded message or the guard’s message, few people listen to it, because it’s often quite dull or hard to understand. This one was different.I noticed that other passengers appeared to be listening, too. Not only that, everyone was smiling!
Why was so much attention being paid to this message? As best I can recall, the guard said something along these lines, Good Morning Ladies,Gentlemen and Children, this is the7:35 am from Penrith to Central and you’ll be pleased to know that we are right on time. And what a lovely morning it is in Sydney today. The sun is shining,birds are singing, and all’s right with the world.I trust you have a great day wherever you’re going. Thanks for catching my train this morning.
Quite a few people (obviously previous strangers) started talking to one another about the guard’s excellent message and how good it had made everyone feel. I started thinking about this, and then I found the young guard and said “Were you the guard on the 7:35 am from Penrith?” The guard seemed a bit stunned at first, replying, “Yes, yyyyes.” “Well, I really appreciate your announcement. Thank you for your extremely good message, which gave me and the other passengers such a good start to the day. Please keep doing it.” I said.
There are two messages for me in what happened that day. Firstly, when people are happy in their work it shows in what they do and say. Secondly, the story attaches much importance to the benefits that accumulate from thanking people for something they’ve done, particularly when it’s not expected.
1. Why do few train travelers usually listen to the announcements?| A．They usually feel sleepy. | B．They are absorbed in books. |
| C．The guard's voice is not clear. | D．The messages are unattractive. |
| A．They listened to it and smiled. | B．They seemed to get bored by it. |
| C．They listened to it with eyes closed. | D．They continued what they were doing. |
| A．Patient. | B．Surprised. | C．Worried. | D．Excited. |
| A．A boring train story | B．An intelligent guard |
| C．A lovely morning in Sydney | D．A different train announcement |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Electric Cars
Where do cars get their energy from? For most cars, the answer is petrol. But some cars use electricity. These cars have special motors that get their power from large batteries.
Most people tend to think of electric cars as a new invention, but they have been around for a long time. They were popular when the technology for petrol engines was not very advanced. Recently, electric cars have again become popular because people want cars that pollute less.
Electric cars are better than petrol cars in several ways. The biggest benefit is reduced pollution. In areas where there is a high percentage of electric cars, there is less pollution. But it is important to understand that electric cars still cause pollution. Remember that the electricity to power electric cars has to come from somewhere, which is most likely a power station. Unless these power stations run on solar or wind energy, they are most likely burning coal and oil to make electricity. The second benefit of electric cars is a reduction in the dependence on foreign oil.
There are several countries, including the United States, which don't want to rely on oil coming from other countries to power their transportation systems. They want the power to come from within their country, and since electric cars can run on electricity from coal or nuclear power stations, there is less of a need to import oil.
Despite the benefits of electric cars, there are some problems with them as well. One disadvantage is that electric cars are more expensive than petrol cars. This is mostly due to the high cost of the batteries these cars need. Electric cars run on batteries, just like a mobile phone does. But unlike a mobile phone, you cannot charge your electric car's battery by plugging it into a wall. They need to be charged in special places. Now, there is a lack of places where people can charge the batteries. Another problem is that electric cars cannot travel as far as petrol cars. Some people are afraid that the battery will run out of electricity (and the car will stop) before they reach their destination.
Despite these problems, many people, including automobile industry experts, believe that the percentage of electric cars will increase in the future.
1. What's the main idea of Paragraph 3?| A．Electric cars make some countries independent. |
| B．Electric cars cause no pollution to the environment. |
| C．Electric cars have some advantages over petrol cars. |
| D．Electric cars need electricity from solar or wind energy. |
| A．Electric cars need special motors to get power. |
| B．Petrol cars are cheaper than electric cars. |
| C．Petrol cars can travel farther than electric cars. |
| D．Electric cars need special places to get charged. |
| A．electric cars will take the place of petrol cars |
| B．no one holds hope for electric cars at present |
| C．electric cars waste more energy than before |
| D．more and more people will use electric cars |
| A．argue and prove | B．inform and explain |
| C．attract and discuss | D．advertise and conclude |
【推荐2】Tesla’s self-driving cars have recently come under investigation as a report on crashes raises questions about their safety. Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s claim that their Autopilot capability makes their cars “ extremely safer,” data suggests otherwise.
According to The Washington Post, the number of deaths and serious injuries associated with Tesla’s driver-assistance technology is higher than previously reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 736 crashes since 2019, with at least 17 of them being fatal. These figures include crashes involving both Autopilot, which allows cars to drive on highways without human intervention(干预), and the newer Full Self-Driving feature, which extends automation to city streets. However, these statistics can’t record incidents that were avoided due to the cars’ safety features. Additionally, when compared to the total number of car crashes that occurred last year, the number of crashes involving driver-assistance vehicles appears relatively small, but actually it’s not.
Tesla’s safety claims lack context as Autopilot is primarily designed for highways, while most accidents occur in more complex environments with cross-traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists. Moreover, Tesla’s customer base consists mainly of wealthier individuals who live in communities with lower accident rates.
Concerns are raised by Tesla’s request to the NHTSA not to reveal whether Autopilot or Full Self-Driving was in use during fatal crashes. This lack of transparency (透明) prevents a comprehensive analysis of the incidents and raises questions about responsibility.
Safety exaggerations combined with Tesla’s aggressive marketing have led to accidents caused by drivers relying too heavily on the system. Full Self-Driving does not allow the car to fully drive itself, and drivers are expected to remain attentive and ready to intervene at all times. However, Tesla’s messaging may mislead some users into believing otherwise.
While a driverless future has the potential to be safer, it is crucial not to convince the public that underdeveloped capabilities are ready for widespread use. Tesla should address past problems, ensure their automation set can detect(检测) emergency vehicles, and be transparent with the public about the limitations of their technology.
1. What can we learn about Tesla’s driver-assistance-related crashes?| A．736 fatal cases of self-driving are recorded. |
| B．NHTSA focused on the crashes on highways. |
| C．The total number of car crashes is extremely small. |
| D．The incidents avoided are not counted in the crash statistics. |
| A．They are supported by comprehensive data. |
| B．They are based on limited driving environment. |
| C．They are restricted to the experiences of satisfied customers. |
| D．They have been proven to be accurate and reliable by NHTSA． |
| A．It is ill-received. | B．It is well-developed. |
| C．It needs the driver to stay focused. | D．It reduces the accidents greatly. |
| A．Concerns and Questions Surrounding Tesla’s “Self-Driving” Cars |
| B．Tesla’s Self-Driving Cars: The Safest Option of Driving on the Road |
| C．The Future of Self-Driving Cars: A Closer Look at Tesla’s Technology |
| D．Reconstruction and Revolution of Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving |
| Generally, if you have been delayed on a train journey, you may be able to claim compensation, but train companies all have different rules, so it can be confusing to work out what you’ re entitled to. The type of delay you can claim for depends on whether the train company runs a Delay Repay scheme or a less generous, older-style scheme. | |
| Delay Repay is a train operator scheme to compensate passengers when trains are late, and the train company will pay out even if it was not responsible for the delay. The scheme varies between companies, but up to 2016 most paid 50 percent of the single ticket cost for 30 minutes’ delay and 100 percent for an hour. On the London Underground, you get a full refund for 15-minute delays. |  |
| Companies that do not use Delay Repay and still use the older scheme will not usually pay compensation if the problem is considered to be out of their control. But it is still worth asking them for compensation, as some may pay out. You are unlikely to get compensation for a delay if any of the following occur: ·Accidents involving people getting onto the line illegally ·Gas leaks or fires in buildings next to the line which were not caused by a train company ·Line closures at the request of the emergency services ·Exceptionally severe weather conditions ·Strike action | |
| National Rail Conditions of Travel states that you are entitled to compensation in the same form that you paid for the ticket. Some train companies are still paying using rail vouchers, which they are allowed to do if you do not ask for a cash refund. Since 2016, rail passengers have acquired further rights for compensation through the Consumer Rights Act. This means that passengers could now be eligible for compensation due to: a severely overcrowded train with too few carriages available; a consistently late running service; and a service that is delayed for less than the time limit that applied under existing compensation schemes. However, in order to exercise their rights beyond the existing compensation schemes, for instance Delay Repay, and where the train operating company refuses to compensate despite letters threatening court action, passengers may need to bring their claims to a court of law. | |
| A．international tourists in the UK | B．local residents in the UK |
| C．passengers claim for delayed train | D．potential travellers of the trains |
| A．A train company will only provide compensation if it caused the delay. |
| B．The systems for claiming compensation vary from one company to another. |
| C．Underground and other train companies give the same amounts of money in compensation. |
| D．An increasing number of train companies are willing to pay compensation for problems they are not responsible for. |
| A．you write letters of complaint |
| B．you forget to request cash refund |
| C．a delay is caused by a strike under the older scheme |
| D．a train company has received lots of complaints |
【推荐1】I cannot stop thinking about the video of a 10-year-old girl facing her fears at the top of a ski jump. Her fear, her courage, her joy, her pride — the whole thing has really touched me. Of course, the video makes me reflect on the times when I experienced the similar feeling. I remember how in those moments every cell in my body vibrated (颤动) with life. But it also reminded me of the times I didn’t choose the more risky options.
I’ve always been a little bit of a chicken when it comes to my physical safety but I definitely pushed myself more when I was younger. Now that I’m a mom, I feel like I have to stay safe. I worry about what my kids would do without me and that leads me to make safe choices.
But as I watch this fourth grade overcome her fears, I think about how much this experience will mean to her in the future; she’ll always have this as a reference point when she comes up against something scary or difficult. She’ll be able to look back on this and say, “Well, I did that and the worst part was the bad feeling at the beginning.”
I know I want that view for my 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. I know I want them to take risks. Maybe not every day, maybe not ski-jumping, definitely not extreme sports, but I deeply hope that they will push themselves to their limits, facing down fear with whatever tools they can use and enjoying the great rush that comes from attempting scary things and getting to the other side of them.
So if I want that for my kids, I have to honestly look at my own relationship with risk and say that yes... I play it safe. And I have to ask myself another question: Am I doing enough? Or do I need to make some changes in my life so that my daughter and son can be inspired to make their own brave decisions?
1. How did the author react when watching that video?| A．She felt ashamed of herself. |
| B．She realized that sport was dangerous. |
| C．She thought of her own past experiences. |
| D．She regretted taking part in some risky activities. |
| A．be careful of her safety |
| B．push herself to her limits |
| C．be overprotective of her kids |
| D．pick up the risky activities again |
| A．having safe choices is important |
| B．taking a risk isn’t as scary as it seems |
| C．overcoming fears requires a long time |
| D．making preparations for future is necessary |
| A．let her kids play with the girl in the video |
| B．certainly allow her kids to try ski-jumping |
| C．use some tools to practice her kids’ courage |
| D．participate in more risk activities to set an example |
| A．Pushing Ourselves to Our Limits |
| B．Paying Attention to Kids’ Activities |
| C．Learning a Kind of Risky Activities |
| D．Encouraging Kids to Choose What They Like |
【推荐2】In the winter of 1910, Dr. Wu Lien-Teh stepped off a train in the northern Chinese city of Harbin. He was there to solve a medical mystery, at great personal risk. Over the past few months, an unknown disease had swept along the railways of northeast China, killing 99.9% of its victims. The Qing Imperial court had sent the Cambridge-educated Dr. Wu north to stop the epidemic.
When Dr Wu arrived in Harbin on Christmas Eve, 1910, he carried little in the way of medical instruments and had only one assistant. One of Wu' s first acts upon arrival was to set up special quarantine(隔离) units and to order lockdowns to stop infected persons from traveling and spreading the disease. He had teams check households for possible cases, and even managed to convince authorities to completely close the railways in the early weeks of 1911. Of particular concern was the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, which had become a great annual migration of people traveling across the country to see their families.
Thanks to Dr. Wu's efforts, the number of plague victims began to die down, and by March 1, 1911, the epidemic was fully contained. The pneumonic (肺炎的) plague outbreak of 1910-1911 lasted nearly four months, affected five provinces and six major cities, and accounted for over 60,000 deaths. It is clear that without the brave and decisive actions taken by Dr. Wu, it could have been much worse. Had the epidemic gone unchecked, allowing holiday rail passengers to spread the disease to the rest of China could have meant a catastrophic loss of life and possibly a global health crisis.
In April 1911, Dr. Wu chaired an International Plague Conference in Shenyang, attended by scientists from 11 counties including the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Japan and France. They praised Dr. Wu for his handling of the 1910-1911 outbreak. For a time, Dr. Wu was the world's most famous plague fighter, a title be defended in a malaria epidemic in China in 1919, and a return of plague in 1921.
1. What was Dr Wu's mission in 1910?| A．To take personal risk. |
| B．To end an epidemic. |
| C．To provide medical education. |
| D．To investigate the number of victims. |
| A．Setting up special quarantine units around the country. |
| B．Treating infected persons with his medical instruments. |
| C．Checking households himself for possible cases. |
| D．Convincing authorities to close the railways. |
| A．The disease worsened after March 1, 1911. |
| B．60,000 would have died without Dr Wu's efforts. |
| C．A global health crisis followed the 1910-1911 outbreak. |
| D．The plague broke out again about 10 years later. |
| A．A Plague Fighter |
| B．A Global Health Crisis |
| C．The Beginning of the Chinese Public Health System |
| D．A Plague Outbreak |
【推荐3】When I think of the word perfect, I think of something few can achieve, like high beauty standards, Helen, the super-smart girl in my class, or anything I can compare myself to. For weeks, I have been noticing this girl who is in a few of my middle school classes. She has fabulous long dark hair, big eyes, and the most beautiful face. She always wears the prettiest outfits and seems to be the most popular girl in school, at least in my eyes. It seems like she has a perfect life.
One day, I was in language arts talking to my teacher about one of the upcoming tests, when I saw the girl staring at me. I immediately felt nervous, thinking, “Why is she looking at me? Did I do something wrong? Is my hair messed up?” When the class was dismissed and everyone rushed to their next class, Helen caught up to me and said, “I just thought you should know, I think you are really pretty.” I replied doubtfully, “Oh my god, thank you!” I then watched her as she walked away and thought, “She thinks I am pretty?”
The whole day, I thought about one thing: Why does she think that? After thinking about that topic in my head through each second of the day, I came to learn one big lesson. I learned that everyone has their own insecurities even though it may not seem like it on the outside. In this case, I was thinking that she was everything I wanted to be and she thought the same of me. Neither of us are perfect. We are just us and that’s OK. We are all that perfect person we have been comparing ourselves to in our own special way. It is our choice to either accept that and love ourselves or keep torturing (折磨) ourselves with cruel comparisons. When I really look at myself, not from my point of view but a fresh one, I do see everything I want to be. I see a beautiful, smart, kind girl who is unique. I think that being able to fully love yourself is the true meaning of the word perfect.
1. What does the underlined word “fabulous” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Messy. | B．Ugly. |
| C．Wonderful. | D．Ordinary. |
| A．She wanted to challenge her. | B．She found her hair messed up. |
| C．She thought the author was beautiful. | D．She wanted to make friends with her. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Sorrowful. |
| C．Satisfied. | D．Excited. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Everyone is perfect in any aspects. |
| C．Beauty means perfect sometimes. | D．Full love for yourself just means perfect. |
A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality, because she wanted a pair of earrings made, “Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl? ” said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, “I would say it’s exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl.”
The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $ 25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right.
Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse. “I don’t like to part with it,” she said sadly, “I got it from my mother, and my mother from hers. But I really need the money. ”
The jeweler was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the rich man’s hotel to tell him the good news. The man, however, was nowhere to be found.
1. He paid $ 5,000 for the black pearl without bargaining because ______.
| A．he loved his wife deeply |
| B．his business had been successful |
| C．he was anxious to get it |
| D．he wanted to make the jeweler believe him |
| A．exactly the same size as the black one |
| B．exactly as big and nice as the black one |
| C．exactly as expensive as the black one |
| D．exactly the same quality as the black one |
| A．to see the perfect pearl |
| B．to sell their own pearl at a high price |
| C．to get in touch with the rich man |
| D．to help the rich man’s wife |
| A．the man’s partner |
| B．short of money |
| C．unwilling to sell the pearl |
| D．the man’s wife |
| A．his wife had found another perfect pearl already |
| B．he happened to be out at that time |
| C．he got $ 20,000 by cheating and had run away with the money |
| D．he was angry with the jeweler for waiting too long |
【推荐2】My grandmother could communicate to us only in Mandarin. A few phrase in Mandarin are particularly vivid to me. Mamahuhu is the most striking of all, which means “so-so” .
Mamahuhu became a family joke for me and my siblings. At first we found the concept funny and the sound of it, too. Sometimes my brother and I sang the string of vowels, hosting the “hu” like owls before bursting into laughter. But as we grew older, we realized mamahuhu also described our family.
My parents and my grandmother could be precise when it mattered. For example, my mother is a re i red plant physiologist. Her research led to multiple patents related to improving plant growth and food safety. But when she helped me on an elementary-school project, she used steamed rice instead of a glue stick. My paper crown fell apart in class. The mamahuhu attitude sometimes embarrassed me, But it also taught me not to get hung up on mainstream ideals of perfection.
Out of a sense of pride, my siblings and I transformed mamahuhu from an ordinary adjective into an ethos(精神特质). It’s the philosophy behind my brother’s repairs around the house or on vehicle: “So-so, good enough,” he told me. “Because most of the time, that’s all that’s needed.” Growing up, I talked about mamahuhu only at home. But lately, as elements of Chinese culture have spread throughout the world, I realize my family isn’t alone in our affection for the term. Various accounts on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram use the word in their names; it’s also an entry in the Urban Dictionary.
It’s our family practice to make do, and as the pandemic set in, the philosophy helped us survive. With this clear-eyed worldview, my 10-year-olds don’t rely on tradition or precedence (优先权)as their only guide. Last summer our family considered visiting Hawaii, and again for spring break earlier this year, but we’ve repeatedly postponed the vacation because of the pandemic. In the end, we settled for a road trip to Southern California to see their grandparents and baby cousin. I asked the boys if they were excited. “This trip is mamahuhu,” one joked. Everyone laughed.
1. How did the author find Mamahuhu at the beginning?| A．Embarrassing. | B．Funny. | C．Understandable. | D．unusual. |
| A．To show that his family can be precise. | B．To tell funny stories of both his parents, |
| C．To note how mamahuhu described his family. | D．To clarify the differences between family members. |
| A．To accept imperfection. | B．To rely on tradition. |
| C．To take pride in their Asian origin. | D．To avoid being affected by other cultures. |
| A．The author’s family were always easily satisfied. |
| B．The author’s children didn’t depend on precedence. |
| C．The term of mamahuhu has been spread worldwide. |
| D．The mamahuhu philosophy helped the author survive. |
【推荐3】The Come-back Coffeehouse
The sign in the window read “Carl’s Coffee Shoppe,” spelled the old-fashioned way. Hallie shook her head and wondered how many times she had suggested an alternative. She entered the shop and saw only one person.
“I could help with the books, Dad”, Hallie offered, “There’s not much you could do.” Her father sighed, “How about if you clean the counters instead?” His statement made her feel like a little girl instead of a senior in high school. Hallie sprayed some cleanser and ran a cloth over the worn countertops. After she had washed a few of the old eggshell-colored cups, she began her homework. At closing time, Hallie’s parents sat beside her. “You know the shop has not been profitable lately,” Mr. Rhodes began. “We need to decide if it is even worth keeping it open.” “We’re going to visit Uncle Harold over spring vacation.” Mrs, Rhodes continued. “He can look over the books and tell us what our options are. You and Aunt Tess will run the shop for the week.”
By spring vacation Hallie was ready for an adventure. Hllie’s parents gave some instructions, and said good-bye. Hallie stared absently out the window at the passersby: young people on their way to work, and kids on their school vacation. They were not the same people that her grandpa Carl had served. Suddenly Hallie had an idea. She confided in Aunt Tess, who approved. The two eagerly set to work.
At the end of the week, Hallie was coming out from the kitchen when she saw her parents standing in the shop, confused. She smiled as her parents stared at the teens around the counter and the young families seated at the tables.
“Welcome back!” Hallie swept her arms to present the restaurant’s cheerful new decoration. Bright, attractive coverings spread over the tables, and modern posters hung on the walls, while, colorful mismatched dishes contributed to the pleasant atmosphere.
“I brought board games from home,” Hallie added excitedly, “and the bookstore down the street donated the posters. When we talked to our friends about what we were doing, they were happy to give us some dishes.” Hallie held her breath as she waited for her parents’ reaction.
“Everyone certainly seems to like the changes,” noted Mrs. Rhodes.
“Speaking of changes,” Mr. Rhodes said, “I see our name has changed, too.”
“Do you mind? I changed our name to ‘Come-Back Coffeehouse’ to make the shop sound welcoming, as in ‘Please come back again’...”
A smile spread across her father’s face. “The new name is fitting. Thanks to you, this place certainly has made a comeback!”
1. What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?| A．Hallie trusted Aunt Tess very much. |
| B．Hallie took charge of the books for her parents. |
| C．Hallie's parents didn't take her opinions seriously. |
| D．Hallie's parents didn't count on the shop for a living. |
| A．It is behind the times. | B．It has regular customers. |
| C．It is located on a quiet street. | D．It follows family traditions well. |
| A．She advertised for the shop. | B．She made the shop more attractive. |
| C．She invited her friends to the shop. | D．She turned the shop into an activity center. |
| A．Smart and helpful. | B．Modest and out-going. |
| C．Optimistic and generous. | D．Faithful and hardworking. |
