Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. It was the sun shining on him and the fresh air surrounding him that made him gorgeous. In summer, children often came and sat down near him and said, “What a nice little fir!” In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare hopped over the little tree. But he never felt any pleasure. What the little Fir wanted so much was to grow into a big tree as his neighbors.
“Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are,” thought he. “Then I should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into the wide world!”
When Christmas came, quite young trees with the finest looking were cut down. And so was the Fir Tree. He found himself, in the middle of the living-room, stuck upright in a bucket that was filled with sand and decorated with the most splendid things-apples, colorful lights and at the very top a large golden star, which made him incomparably beautiful.
“What a splendor!” thought the Fir Tree, believing he would take root here and forever stand covered with decorations!
However, the splendor never came back again. After the Christmas, the servant dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter.
“If it only were not so dark here, and so terribly lonely. Not even a hare!” he sighed. “They surely stored me here for the next Christmas.”
One day, the tree was pulled out and a man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone. Feeling the fresh air and the first sunbeam, now he was out in the courtyard. Seeing all the beauty of the flowers and the freshness in the garden, he firmly believed he would be replanted there.
“Now a merry life will begin again,” thought the tree, spreading out his branches only to find they were all withered and yellow！When seeing the gardener getting close with an axe (斧头), he recalled his first youth in the wood and sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot.
1. What can we know about the Fir Tree?| A．He was willing to be a small tree. |
| B．He was satisfied to be a Christmas tree. |
| C．He was mad at the hare jumping over him. |
| D．He was eager to be the tallest tree in the woods. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Lonely. | C．Free. | D．Anxious. |
| A．He would be treated as firewood. |
| B．He would be replanted in the garden. |
| C．He would be taken back to the forest. |
| D．He would be stored for the next Christmas. |
| A．If you’re failing to plan, then you’re planning to fail. |
| B．Live for today because tomorrow is not promised. |
| C．Life is not about falling down but getting back up. |
| D．If you dream and believe it, then you can achieve it. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would guess at what I thought was the correct answer.
When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, “My ears, Mommy.” She said, “No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated (仔细考虑) the correct answer. So this time I told her, “Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes.” She looked at me and told me, “You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind.”
Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, “No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child.”
Then last year, my Grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?”
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, “This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived your life.” I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, “My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder.”
I asked, “Is it because it holds up your head?”
She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.”
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.
1. Why did the writer first think “ears” were the most important part of body?| A．Because he thought that the sound was sweet to hear. |
| B．Because he thought that the sound was essential to humans. |
| C．Because he thought that the sound can be heard by people. |
| D．Because he thought that the sound can pass through quickly. |
| A．His house was burnt. |
| B．His mother left home. |
| C．His grandpa passed away. |
| D．His father was hurt in an accident. |
| A．At home. | B．At the school. |
| C．At the station. | D．At the funeral. |
| A．We should learn to understand others’ pain. |
| B．We should listen to our mothers’ words. |
| C．We should hold up our head high. |
| D．We should often cry in life. |
【推荐2】This was an ordinary day, nothing special. Mike was walking on the street when he returned to the shop on the corner. He stopped to look at the front row of shoes, and he felt happy to see that the pair of shoes he wanted very much was still there. He looked down at his old shoes, and he felt sorry for himself, because he wanted very much to own them for his coming birthday.
Sadly, the boy walked away, deep in thought — how to tell his mother about it. He knew very well his mother had very little money. He decided not to go home at once, because he looked sad and his mother would notice it. So he went to the park and sat on the grass. There he saw a boy moving a wheelchair with his hands. Mike looked at him and was surprised to see that the boy had no feet. He looked at his own feet. “It’s much better to be without shoes than without feet.” he thought. There was no reason for him to feel so sorry and sad. So he went away with smile, thinking that he was much luckier and happier.
1. How did Mike pass the shop on the street corner?| A．In a wheelchair. | B．By bike. |
| C．On foot. | D．By bus. |
| A．To buy the shoes. |
| B．To get something for his birthday. |
| C．To buy a present for his friend. |
| D．To look at the shoes he liked. |
| A．Because many nice shoes were sold there. |
| B．Because he didn’t want to make his mother worried. |
| C．Because he wanted to see his disabled friend. |
| D．Because he wanted to play there for a while. |
| A．Mike liked new shoes very much. |
| B．Mike had no feet. |
| C．Mike didn’t want to stay at home. |
| D．Mike loved his mother very much. |
【推荐3】Occasionally, life can be impossibly difficult, and it can be hard to keep going. But you always have a choice.
In 2012, I got a call from my family saying that my father’s cancer had fiercely progressed. He died only six months later. My father was a complete inspiration to me. He was always so strong that I honestly thought he would come back to life. I couldn’t believe I would never again hug him.
Shortly after that, my oldest sister complained of a backache. The doctors discovered that she had highly advanced cancer in her bones and that there was nothing they could do. She died a month later. She was my favorite person in the whole world. I never thought I would have to live without her. I was overcome by the shock and extreme heartbreak. Then, something was wrong with my knees and I ended up in the hospital myself.
I remember lying in the hospital bed, looking up at the ceiling and seeing my sister’s beautiful face. I realized that night that I had a choice. I could end my life or I could live it. I looked in my sister’s eyes and decided not to go with her just yet. I decided to stay and complete my journey here. I also decided that I would live the life that I absolutely longed for.
I now live in an adorable cottage with an amazing boyfriend. I spend quality time with the rest of my precious family and cherish every moment I have with them. I connect with my heart often to ensure that I am following my joy. I love myself more deeply every day. Not a day goes by when I don’t miss my father’s huge character or my beloved sister’s gentle eyes, but I know that I will be with them one day. What I have now is so precious that I must grasp the joy in every moment I can.
You choose life every day. But do you choose the life that you love every day?
1. What did the author once suffer from?| A．A heart attack. | B．A backache. |
| C．A knee problem. | D．A bone cancer. |
| A．By your career. | B．By your attitude. |
| C．By your health. | D．By your family. |
| A．Lonely but ambitious. | B．Miserable but easy-going. |
| C．Hopeless but humorous. | D．Unlucky but positive. |
| A．Escape the Fate | B．Love Your Life |
| C．Make a Living | D．Remember Every Moment |
【推荐1】When Jessa was five years old her parents were killed in a car accident. Her life had changed forever. Jessa was told that they were unable to find any relatives to take her. The next thing she remembered was packing her clothes and being hurried to the local orphanage.2 Friends were hard to make and keep at the orphanage because once you would make a friend, they would be placed in a foster (领养) home. Jessa would watch her friends get into the car and drive away. Some of them would return but always seemed so different to her. Some had been beaten while others had been starved and some came back because the family had had a baby. Jessa never gave much thought to being adopted until one day the social worker came and took her to the main office to meet a family. Jessa was told they wanted to foster her.
Reluctantly Jessa left her comfort zone and headed out to her new home with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. She loved her new home and they were the nicest people she had ever met. They would play for hours and at night they both would read her a bedtime story. Every morning she would wake to the smell of pancakes, eggs and bacon. Then Mr. Johnson would come in and say, “Wakey wakey eggs and bacy. ”It always made Jessa laugh to hear him say that. They always had meals together like a real family.
One night after dinner they told Jessa they wanted to adopt her and that they would get all the paperwork done the following week. Jessa was ecstatic (狂喜). She was finally going to have a real family. That weekend Mrs. Johnson went to see her sister and tell her the good news and Mr. Johnson and Jessa stayed behind to go to the zoo. Upon their return, Mr. Johnson received a phone call, saying his wife had been in an accident and didn't make it. He decided it would be better if he sent Jessa back to the orphanage.
Jessa's heart was broken when Mr. Johnson told her she would be going back. Eyes filled with tears, Jessa climbed the stairs to her room to pack. Her little heart had been shattered for the second time in her short life. Jessa dressed for bed wondering if Mr. Johnson was going to read her tonight. After waiting for almost an hour, she gave up on that thought and climbed into bed. Jessa lay awake and turned for hours before she finally fell asleep.
The next morning, she woke up, got dressed and headed down stairs, hoping Mr. Johnson had changed his mind and wanted to keep her. When she stepped into the kitchen, she knew he hadn't, for the bags she had packed the night before were sitting by the door. Mr. Johnson opened the door and there stood a social worker to take her back. Her little head hung low as she picked up her bags and walked out the door never to see sweet Mr. Johnson again. She climbed into the social workers' car. Jessa just hung her little head and let tears roll down her cheeks, but she quickly wiped away.
By the time they made it to the orphanage, Jessa had promised herself that she would never let her heart be broken like that again, she would never become attached to anyone ever again. The days at the orphanage were long and dreary especially for Jessa. She had no friends and made no attempt to make any. She had been called in twice to speak to the counselor about why she chose to stay to herself and she always told them the same thing- it was easier for her that way. If you didn't get attached to anyone it wouldn't hurt when they left,
1. The primary factor contributing to Jessa's being reduced to orphanage life was that .| A．she herself was a Jonah | B．no relatives would take her home |
| C．the babysitter was absent | D．she lost parents to a terrible accident |
| A．Kids resisted making friends in orphanage. |
| B．All adopted kids were not treated well in foster families. |
| C．Only those rich families were qualified to adopt a child. |
| D．Orphanages were usually full of violence and bullies. |
| A．He cheated Jessa. | B．He was a man with no honesty. |
| C．He was kind but felt helpless. | D．He was rich but cold- blooded. |
| A．insulted | B．hurt |
| C．touched | D．embarrassed |
| A．she lost a chance of having a real home | B．she hated Mr. Johnson for his cruelty |
| C．she was afraid of orphanage life | D．Mrs. Johnson died for the same reason as her parents did |
| A．Misfortune never comes alone, |
| B．It's no use crying over the split milk. |
| C．It's intolerable to repeat bitter experience. |
| D．Nothing can compensate for the loss of love. |
【推荐2】In a city where tall buildings can make one feel closed in, Bryant Park offers open space for citizens and tourists to relax, enjoy food and drinks, or simply to charge a cellphone. Visited by six million people every year, the park has a well-designed backyard feel, equipped with comfortable chairs, a fountain and some attractive pieces of grassland.
In a tiny section of the park in Manhattan of New York City, a group of ping-pong enthusiasts come together at The Tables, free outdoor ping-pong tables that attract people from across the city. These people of various ages, backgrounds and skill levels were strangers who became friends first, then family.
The Tables are available to the public beginning at 11 a.m., and regulars start to show up around 4 p.m. This close group, referred to as the “After 7 Guys”, remain at the tables long after they officially close. Matches are competitive, and winners are able to stay on a table until they are defeated. Those waiting their turns can be seen eagerly watching the game or joyfully greeting returning friends.
They come to have fun, connect, relieve stress and “feel alive”. Gregory Williams was previously homeless, but has found jobs through the connections he made here. He has built many relationships with players including a special relationship with a younger player, Gideon. “He always makes me feel better,” Williams says. “Especially when I was going through some tough times he would go out of his way to check on me.”
Most don’t know that professional ping-pong player Wally Green is responsible for the addition of the ping-pong tables to Bryant Park. What began as a marketing tool for SPiN, a local ping-pong center, unexpectedly grew into the community it is today. “It makes me feel amazed,” Green says. “I mean, the fact that people are here playing every day and there are tournaments. ”
“I think all humans share. We all want to belong to something, or have a place to feel like you fit in and belong there,” says Jon Bunning, who created a movie for The tables.
1. Which of the following can be used to describe the park?| A．Increasingly crowded. | B．A bit disappointing. |
| C．Very comfortable. | D．Rather quiet. |
| A．They are closely connected. | B．They all work in Manhattan. |
| C．They were once made homeless. | D．They are excellent ping-pong players. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Grateful. | D．Embarrassed. |
| A．To train professional ping-pong players. |
| B．To advertise a local ping-pong center. |
| C．To create a movie about sports. |
| D．To support community sports. |
【推荐3】Li Bai is regarded as the greatest romantic poet of the Tang Dynasty and a representative of the High Tang culture, combination of realistic Northern culture represented by Confucian philosophy and romantic Southern culture represented by Taoist philosophy. But he could neither realize his Confucian ideal to serve the country nor find spiritual freedom in Taoism, so he could only chant poetry and drink wine to drown his sorrow as described by Du Fu in Eight Immortal Drinkers.
Here we see the tragedy of a genuine staying lonely on earth like an angel fallen from Heaven. His try is marked by male greatness in the Waterfall in Mount Lu Viewed from Afar, in which we see the mountain cloud from down below and the Silver River, Chinese name for the Milky Way, fall from on high, and heaven and earth seem to merge into one, that is the Chinese way of communion with nature. In his poetry, we can find his love of nature, of freedom, of the people, of his friends, in short, of truth, goo and beauty.
Li Bai is best known for the extraordinary imagination and striking Taoist imagery in his poetry, as well as for his great love for liquor. Like Du Fu, he spent much of his life travelling, although in his case it was because his wealth allowed him to, rather than because his poverty forced him. He is said to have drowned in the Yangtze River, having fallen from his boat while drunkenly trying to embrace the reflection of the moon.
1. According to the passage the statements are about Li Bai EXCEPT ______.| A．he is a representative of the combination of realistic and romantic culture |
| B．he could not put his ability to good use in serving his country at that time |
| C．he had a depressed mental state and only drunk wine and chanted poetry |
| D．he made the poems in which complaints and dissatisfaction could be shown |
| A．relationship between different classes | B．criticism of social realism |
| C．beautiful nature and feelings | D．cruelty of the officialdom |
| A．Li Bai enjoyed drinking more tea than anything else. |
| B．Li Bai spent much time on travelling as well as Du Fu. |
| C．Li Bai had a more extraordinary imagination than Tao. |
| D．Li Bai had to do that because he was very poor. |
| A．Literature. | B．Health. | C．Sports. | D．Fashion. |
【推荐1】Two traveling angels(天使) stop to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor but very hospitable(好客的) farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, “How could this happen? Why didn’t you watch out for the cow? The first man had everything, yet you watched over his house,” she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you didn’t help.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal(封口) the wall so he couldn’t find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”
1. Why did the old angel repair the hole for the rich family?| A．Because the basement was too cold to stay in. |
| B．Because she wanted to save the gold for the poor. |
| C．Because she wanted to punish the greedy owner. |
| D．Because she believed that one should always be ready to offer help. |
| A．the poor couple | B．the rich couple |
| C．the guests | D．the angels |
| A．sometimes things are not what they seem |
| B．angels are always ready to help the poor |
| C．angels are always ready to help the rich |
| D．the young should always learn from the old |
【推荐2】An old man and his son were driving their donkey to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing "Look there,” cried one of them, “did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?” The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the donkey and continued to walk along merrily by his side.
Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There," said one of them "it proves what I was saying. What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his exhausted body. “Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself.
In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children: “Why, you lazy old fellow," cried several tongues at once, “how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little young man there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?” The Miller immediately took up his son behind him.
They had now almost reached the town. “pray, honest friend,” said a citizen, “is that donkey your own?" “Yes,” replied the old man. “O, one would not have thought so,” said the other, “by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you.” So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the donkey together and with the help of a pole struggled to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town.
This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till the donkey, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was subject to, broke the ropes that bound him and falling off the pole, fell into the river.
1. Who actually caused the old man's loss?| A．Himself. | B．His son. | C．The donkey. | D．People who laughed at him. |
| A．From negative to positive. | B．From reasonable to abnormal. |
| C．From imaginary to factual. | D．From realistic to ideal. |
| A．Excited | B．Relaxed | C．Confused | D．Worried |
| A．Too many cooks spoil the meat soup. |
| B．Don' keep all your eggs in one basketball. |
| C．By trying to please everybody you can please nobody. |
| D．Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. |
【推荐3】Long, long ago, rain stopped falling in China. The people prayed(祈祷)for rain to the Jade Emperor, who controlled everything in heaven(天庭), on the land and in the sea, but no matter how much they prayed, rain did not fall.
Four dragons in the East China Sea saw what was happening, and saw people eating grass from the ground, for the people had nothing else left to eat.
They thought of a way to help. They started swimming this way and that, scooping up water with their bodies. Then all four flew into the sky. Black Dragon flew to the north, Long Dragon to the west, Pearl Dragon to the south of China, and Yellow Dragon to the center of the country. All at once, they let the water fall from their mouths, arms, legs, and even their tails.The people could not see the dragons, _ .“Rain!” they cried happily, and all the people and animals ran out into the rain and started to dance.
When the Jade Emperor saw the rain, he was very angry. Then he saw the four dragons flying around in the sky. He ordered Mountain God to kill the dragons.
When the four mountains landed on top of them and tried to crush(压扁) the four dragons, a strange thing happened. Suddenly four rivers formed, spreading across the whole country.
This is how the four great rivers (the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Pearl and the Heilongjiang) of China were created.
1. Why did the people pray Jade Emperor for rain?| A．Because he controlled the rain. | B．Because he had lots of rain. |
| C．Because he didn’t allow rain to fall. | D．Because there was much rain on earth. |
| A．The people. | B．The rivers. |
| C．The mountains. | D．The dragons. |
| A．but they could see the clouds from the sky |
| B．but they could see the rain falling from the sky |
| C．but they know the Jade Emperor helped them |
| D．but they think the Jade Emperor helped them |
| A．Birth of four Chinese rivers | B．Punishment from Jade Emperor |
| C．Four Dragons and the Rain | D．Jade Emperor and Four Dragons |
