My sister Debbie had a baby the other day. Her labor (分娩) went pretty well — nothing out of the ordinary. I just can’t say the same for her ride to the hospital.
As a number of us from the family gathered in my sister’s hospital room to see the new baby, she gave an account of her trip to the emergency room. It began as most do — she woke up around 4 a. m. feeling the early pangs (阵痛) of labor. For the next two hours, she and her husband Bill timed the contractions (孪缩), and around 7 a. m. decided it was time to leave for the hospital.
On the way, however, Bill announced that he needed to stop at Starbucks for some coffee.
“Excuse me?” my sister asked. “I’m in labor — remember?”
“But I might get sick if I don’t have my morning coffee,” Bill explained.
Bill promised her that he’d order the coffee to go. The next thing Debbie knew was that her husband was rushing into their local coffee shop. Inside, the attendants behind the counter recognized Bill, and knew he was expecting a second son, and asked when the baby was due.
“Today,” Bill said ordering his Americano.”
“Today?” the cashier asked.
Bill nodded. “Yep, Debbie is already in labor.”
Everyone offered up congratulations.
“So, where’s your wife?” someone finally asked.
“Out there,” Bill said pointing toward the parking lot where my sister was sitting in the car puffing heavily through a contraction.
“Was she OK with stopping here?” the attendant asked, amazement in her voice.
“Not really,” Bill answered.
“Yeah, that’s probably why she isn’t waving back.”
As my sister concluded the story, Bill looked around at the disapproving faces in the hospital room.
“What’s wrong with that?” he asked.
“I had to have my coffee.”
I think his mother best summed it up when she announced, “I’m ashamed of my son.”
In his defense, Bill told us that he had been through the labor drill before with his first son, and therefore, he knew he had time for a quick cup of coffee. He also pointed out that he did ask my sister if she wanted something to drink, too.
Finally, Bill looked to me, the only other male in the room and asked if I agreed with him.
“I’m not saying a word,” I replied looking around the women in the room. “We’re outnumbered in here.”
I also explained that if I were ever having a heart attack, I wasn’t calling him for a ride to the hospital.
1. Debbie left home for the hospital _________ she felt the pangs of labor.| A．as soon as | B．soon after | C．a while after | D．a few minutes before |
| A．Debbie’s sister. | B．Bill’s father-in-law. |
| C．Debbie’s mother. | D．Bill’s brother-in-law. |
| A．not in love with his wife |
| B．a little inconsiderate |
| C．popular in the neighborhood |
| D．a very experienced father |
| A．A coffee addict’s adventure |
| B．A ride out of the ordinary |
| C．Women outnumber men |
| D．Family affairs are hard to deal with |
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【推荐1】Extreme sorrow claws my mind. I am a statistic. When I first got here. I felt very much lonely. I found no sympathy. I saw only thousands of others whose bodies were as badly mangled as mine. I was given a number and placed in a category, which was called “traffic death”.
The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had taken the bus! But I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled (哄骗) the car out of Mom. “Special favor,” I pleaded. “All the kids drive.” After school, I rushed to the parking lot, excited at the thought of driving a car and being my own boss.
It doesn’t matter how the accident happened, I was going too fast taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard a crash and felt a terrific shake. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.
Suddenly, I awakened. It was very quiet. I saw a police officer and a doctor. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn’t feel anything. Hey, don’t pull that sheet over my head. I can’t be dead. I’m only 17. I’m supposed to have a wonderful life ahead of me. I haven’t lived yet. I can’t be dead!
Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks came to identify me. Why did they see me like this? Why did I have to look at Moms eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked very old. He told the man in charge, “Yes — he is our son.”
Please — somebody — wake me up! Get me out of here. I can’t bear to see Mom and Dad in such pain. My grandparents are so weak from grief they can barely walk. My brother and sister move like robots.
Please don’t bury me! I’m not dead! I promise if you give me just one more chance, God. I’ll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance. Please, God, I’m only 17.
1. Why did the writer become a statistic?| A．Because he was majoring in statistics (统计学) in the school. |
| B．Because he felt very lonely at that moment. |
| C．Because he was dead due to a traffic accident. |
| D．Because he made a fatal mistake in statistics. |
| A．On the way to the school. | B．On the way home. |
| C．Near a police station. | D．Near an old lady’s house. |
| A．I was driving too fast. |
| B．I was too young to drive. |
| C．I wanted to avoid knocking down an old lady. |
| D．I was not familiar with the road condition. |
| A．How careless a young driver is! | B．Dead at 17. |
| C．An avoidable tragedy. | D．Safe drive on the road. |
【推荐2】Everyone “talks” with their hands at least sometimes. Some people’s hand-talking, or gesturing (手势) matches their messages well. Other people like to make gestures that can be confusing. And still others don’t use their hands much at all. No matter which group you are in, it’s important to pay attention to your hand gestures while you are communicating. And also remember hand gestures can have cultural meanings.
A few years ago, I was a speaker at a conference in Lisbon, Portugal. It was my first time in Portugal, and I became immediately fond of the special pastries (糕点) that Lisbon and Portugal are known for. One morning I went into a bakery and ordered two of the pastries. I did so by holding up two fingers, similar to the “victory” or “peace” gesture in the United States. The person behind the counter put three pastries in the box. I later learned that the gesture for two would raise thumb and index finger. Even though my thumb wasn’t showing, the person behind the counter thought I was signaling for three.
I was lucky that I didn’t get into more trouble than an extra pastry. Many hand gestures are not universal. Before speaking in a country that you are not familiar with, do some research to find out which gestures might be misunderstood, not understood at all or rude.
1. Why did the author go to Lisbon, Portugal?| A．To taste pastries. | B．To take a holiday. |
| C．To attend a meeting. | D．To learn Portuguese culture. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Normal. | B．Independent. | C．Common. | D．Complex. |
| A．One should be careful when ordering food in Portugal. |
| B．Hand gestures may have different meanings in different cultures. |
| C．The person behind the counter understood the author’s gesture. |
| D．The person behind the counter cheated the author. |
| A．tell us that hand gestures are not the same worldwide |
| B．explain the general use of gestures |
| C．ask us to use correct hand gestures in Portugal |
| D．share a funny story in Portugal |
【推荐3】Throughout all the events in my life, one in particular sticks out more than the others. As I reflect on this significant event, a smile spreads across my face. As I think of Shanda, I feel loved and grateful.
It was my twelfth year of dancing, I thought it would end up like any other year: stuck in emptiness, forgotten and without the belief of any teacher or friend that I really had the potential to achieve greatness.
However, I met Shanda, a young, talented choreographer (编舞者). She influenced me to work to the best of my ability, pushed me to keep going when I wanted to give up, encouraged me and showed me the real importance of dancing. Throughout our hard work, not only did my ability to dance grow, but my friendship with Shanda grew as well.
With the end of the year came our show time. As I walked to a backstage filled with other dancers, I hoped for a good performance that would prove my improvement. I waited anxiously for my turn. Finally, after what seemed like days, the loudspeaker announced my name. Butterflies filled my stomach as I took trembling steps onto the big lighted stage. But, with the determination to succeed and eagerness to live up to Shanda, expectations for me, I began to dance. All my troubles and nerves went away as I danced my whole heart out.
As I walked up to the judge to receive my first place shining, gold trophy (奖杯), I realized that dance is not about becoming the best. It was about loving dance for dance itself, a getaway from all my problems in the world. Shanda showed me that you could let everything go and just dance what you feel at that moment, After all the doubts that people had in me, I believed in myself and did not care what others thought. Thanks to Shanda, dance became more than a love of mine, but a passion.
1. What did the author think her dancing would be for the twelfth year?| A．A change for the better. | B．A disappointment as before. |
| C．A proof of her potential. | D．A pride of her teachers and friends. |
| A．By offering her financial help. | B．By entering her in a competition. |
| C．By coaching her for longer hours. | D．By awakening her passion for dancing. |
| A．Proud. | B．Nervous. | C．Scared. | D．Relieved. |
| A．Success lies in patience. | B．Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
| C．A good teacher matters. | D．A youth is to be treated with respect. |
【推荐1】During Rick’s birth in 1962, his brain was damaged for lack of oxygen. The doctors told Dick Hoyt that there was no hope of his son being anything more than a “vegetable”. Yet Dick and his wife were determined to raise him at home.
At age 13, Rick told his father he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for the disabled. Dick was not a runner, but he agreed to push Rick through the race course in his wheelchair. That was when a surprising thing happened. During the run, Rick felt as though he wasn’t disabled anymore—he was simply one of the runners. This experience deeply affected Dick, and he committed himself to running an increasing number of events with his son so that Rick could have this feeling as often as possible.
At first, other competitors often treated them as outsiders and even avoided them. But gradually, what began as a way for Rick Hoyt to experience inclusion and equality served its purpose. Running together became a way to send out a message that, as Rick said, everybody should be included in everyday life. The pair’s first Boston Marathon in 1981 finished in the top quarter of the field, and shortly thereafter, attitudes began to change. Many athletes would come up to them before the race to wish them luck.
The 2013 Boston Marathon was the 31st time the Hoyts had run the race, and it was also their last race. Dick has run thousands of miles to be with and support his son. Their athletic pursuits have enriched Rick’s life and had practical benefits for Dick’s life as well: After a heart attack, Dick’s doctor told him he might have died 15 years earlier if he weren’t in such good shape.
1. What inspired Dick to keep running with his son?| A．Rick felt as if he was a healthy person when running. |
| B．Rick could raise money by taking part in running. |
| C．Rick’s wish was to be an excellent runner one day. |
| D．Rick could rebuild his brain by running. |
| A．Everyone is a part of the world. | B．No pain, no gain. |
| C．Where there’s a will there’s a way. | D．Good things come to those who wait. |
| A．Their talent for running. | B．Their purpose of running. |
| C．Their donations to runners. | D．Their achievement in running. |
| A．For 31 years. | B．For 39 years. | C．For 32 years. | D．For 53 years. |
【推荐2】A very strict officer was talking to some new soldiers whom he had to train. He had never seen them before, so began, “My name is Stone, and I’m even harder than stone, so do what I tell you or there’ll be trouble. Don’t try any tricks (诡计) with me, and then we’ll get on well together.”
Then he went to each soldier one after the other and asked him his name, “Speak loudly so that everyone can hear you clearly,” he said, “and don’t forget to call me ‘sir’.”
Each soldier told him name, until he came to the last one. This man remained silent, and so Captain Stone shouted at him, “When I ask you a question, answer it! I’ll ask you again： What’s your name, soldier?”
The soldier was very unhappy, but at last he replied, “My name’s Stonebreaker, sir,” he said nervously (紧张地).
1. The officer was strict ________.| A．because the soldiers were new. | B．because he was named Stone. |
| C．with any of his soldiers, new or old. | D．only when he was before soldiers. |
| A．he didn’t like the way the officer spoke to them . |
| B．he was afraid the officer would be angry when he heard his name . |
| C．the question was difficult for him to answer. |
| D．he wanted to see what would happen if he disobeyed his order. |
| A．(sadly)Twenty, sir. | B．(clearly)Twenty. |
| C．(quickly)Ten years younger than you, sir | D．(loudly)Twenty, sir |
| A．A Sorry Answer. | B．A Terrible Answer. |
| C．A Clever Answer. | D．A Strange Answer. |
【推荐3】Bertie knew there was something in the wind. His mother had been sad in recent days, not sick, just strangely sad. The lion had just lain down beside him, his head warm on Bertie’s feet, when Father cleared his throat and began, “You’ll soon be eight, Bertie. A boy needs a proper education. We’ve found the right place for you, a school near Salisbury in England.”
His heart filled with a terrible fear, all Bertie could think of was his white lion. “But the lion.” he cried, “What about the lion?”
“I’m afraid there’s something else I have to tell you,” his father said. Looking across at Bertie’s mother, he took a deep breath. Then he told Bertie he had met a circus owner from France, who was over in Africa looking for lions to buy. He would come to their farm in a few days.
“No! You can’t send him to a circus!” said Bertie. “People will come to see him. He’ll be shut up behind bars. I promised him he never would be. And they will laugh at him. He’d rather die. Any animal would!” But as he looked across the table at them, he knew their minds were quite made up.
Bertie felt completely betrayed. He waited until he heard his father’s deep breathing next door. With his white lion at his heels, he crept (蹑手蹑脚地移动) downstairs, took down his father’s rifle (步枪) and stepped out into the night. He ran and ran till his legs could run no more. As the sun came up over the grassland, he climbed to the top of a hill and sat down, his arms round the lion’s neck. The time had come.
“Be wild now”, he whispered. “You’ve got to be wild. Don’t ever come home. All my life I’ll think of you. I promise I will.” He buried his head in the lion’s neck. Then, Bertie climbed down the hill and walked away.
When he looked back, the lion was still sitting there watching him; but then he stood up, yawned, stretched, and sprang down after him. Bertie shouted at him, but he kept coming. He threw sticks. He threw stones. Nothing worked.
There was only one thing left to do. With tears filling his eyes and his mouth, he lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired over the lion’s head.
1. Bertie’s mother was sad probably because she ________.| A．had been seriously ill recently |
| B．knew selling the lion would upset Bertie |
| C．knew Bertie would hate to go to England |
| D．had decided to send Bertie to school |
| A．other animals | B．circus owners |
| C．Bertie’s parents | D．some audience |
| A．protect himself from the lion | B．kill the lion out of fear |
| C．threaten the lion back to the wild | D．show his anger towards his father |
| A．people and animals can be faithful to each other |
| B．parents are sometimes cruel to their children |
| C．animal-hunting is popular in Africa |
| D．animals usually lead a miserable life in circuses |
