【推荐2】We are told that “a family that eats together stays together”. We even follow it by making the whole family sit in front of the television while eating, right? Wrong. Television does nothing to help make the family relationships better.     1     It’s thus better to give the TV a break and to sit at the dinner table. Family dinners need another important part－conversations that bring in a pleasant atmosphere.

It often serves well to start the conversation right before dinner so that setting the table and doing other things may become less boring.     2     As a result, there are no embarrassing moments when people are actually eating. Also, you can change the topic if you feel that it might start arguments.

Children aren’t usually very good at sharing information and don’t know how to reply when you ask them questions like “How was your school today?”     3     For this, you can ask them about the after-class activities that they might be taking part in.

    4     Therefore, all controversial (有争议的) topics should not be talked about. Actually, if you have had a funny incident in your day at the work, share it with others. What’s more, it serves well if you share your childhood memories with your family.     5     In a word, it is always important to choose the right topics for the family dinner conversations

A．Try to know more about them than just their school life.

B．It’s often difficult to start a conversation at a family dinner.

C．But try to keep in mind some family dinner conversation ideas.

D．Doing things together can make family members feel interested.

E．In fact, it only increases the distance between members of the family.

F．They, especially your kids, will feel excited to hear about what you did as a child.

G．Conversations during dinnertime should encourage family members to eat well.

【推荐3】阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。

Six days a week, up and down the red hills of northeast Georgia, my grandfather brought the mail to the folks there. At age 68, he retired from the post office, but he never stopped serving the community.

On his 80^th birthday, I sent him a letter, noting the things we all should be thankful for-good health, good friends and good outcomes. By most measurements he was a happy man. Then I suggested it was time for him to slow down. At long last, in a comfortable home, with a generous pension, he should learn to take things easy.

“Thank you for your nice words,” he wrote in his letter back, “and I know what you meant, but slowing down scares me. Life isn’t having it made; It's getting it made.”

“The finest and happiest years of our lives were not when all the debts were paid, and all difficult experiences had passed, and we had settled into a comfortable home. No. I go back years ago, when we lived in a three-room house, when we got up before daylight and worked till after dark to make ends meet. I rarely had more than four hours of sleep. But what I still can’t figure out is why I never got tired, never felt better in my life. I guess the answer is, we were fighting for survival, protecting and providing for those we loved. What matters are not the great moments, but the partial victories, the waiting, and even the defeats. It's the journey, not the arrival, that counts.”

The letter ended with a personal request: “Boy, on my next birthday, just tell me to wake up and get going, because I will have one less year to do things-and there are ten million things waiting to be done.”

Christina Rossetti, an English poet, once said: “Does the road wind uphill all the way? Yes, to the very end.” Today, at 96, my grandfather is still on that long road, climbing.

1. What was the author's grandfather before he retired?
2. What did the author advise his grandfather to his letter?
3. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?
4. Do you agree with the grandfather's view on life? Give reasons in your own words. (no more than 20 words)

【推荐1】Winslow Homer was a famous American painter. Since Art History class in college, I had always admired his works and I was lucky to see a large exhibition of his works when I was in my early 30’s. It was at this event that I bought a print of his painting, “Snap the Whip”. I had it framed and until I retired from teaching it always hung in my classroom.

I thought it truly captured(捕捉)the freedom and fun of childhood. In the painting, a group of young boys are playing a game arm in arm on grass ground in front of a farm house. They are jumping and laughing wildly with great joy. One of the boys is falling down to the ground. They are not even wearing shoes!

During my last year of teaching, there was a young woman in her first year of teaching right next door to me and we got to be good friends. She had been an art student before switching to education. Her eyes were drawn immediately to this print when she entered my room. So on my last day of teaching, after the students had left, I took the painting off the wall and walked next door and gave it to her.

She was really surprised, but very pleased to have it. I was pleased that she liked it and all the students she would have would treasure(珍爱)it as much as I had. We found the perfect place for it on one of her walls and hung it together. Thank you for bringing back this wonderful memory for me.

1. How did the author treat his painting bought at the exhibition?

A．He put it up in his classroom first

B．He put it on his table

C．He sold it immediately

D．He regarded it as a useless thing

2. What is the topic of the painting?

A．Homeless children	B．The nature of children
C．Hard-working farmers	D．The pleasure of working

3. Why did the author give away his favorite picture to the woman?

A．She was his student	B．She was very fond of it
C．She needed it in her teaching	D．She would pass it to his students

4. How did the author feel after his painting hung in the woman’s room?

A．Doubtful	B．Painful
C．Grateful	D．Tired

【推荐2】About a year ago, an old man got on the bus and said loudly to the driver, “ Good morning!” Most people looked up, angry, and the bus driver didn`t say anything. The next day the old man got on at the same stop and again he said loudly “Good morning” to the driver. The driver just grunted (哼了一声).

By the fifth day, the driver changed his attitude and greeted the man with a “Good morning”. The man said “My name is Benny”, and asked the driver, “What`s yours?” The driver said his name was Ralph. It was the first time that all of us had heard the driver`s name and soon people began to talk to each other and say hello to Ralph and Benny. Soon Benny spread his cheerful “Good morning” to the whole bus.

Within a few days, Benny`s “Good morning” was returned by lots of “Good mornings” and the whole bus seemed to be friendly. If a leader is someone who makes something happen, Benny was our leader.

A month ago, Benny didn’t get on the bus and we have not seen him ever since. Everyone began to ask about what happened to Benny and even lots of people guessed that Benny might have died.

No one knew what to do and the bus became quiet again. So last week, I started to say “Good Morning” to everyone on the bus and they cheered up again. I guess I`m the leader now. I hope Benny comes back to see what he started passed on.

1. What happened on the bus on the fifth day?

A．The driver chatted with passengers.

B．The old man changed his greeting.

C．Passengers asked the old man`s name.

D．Passengers began to greet each other.

2. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A．Benny was chosen as the leader.

B．Passengers began to respect Benny.

C．Benny created a friendly atmosphere.

D．“Good morning” is a good start to make friends.

3. What did the author do last week?

A．He began to act as Benny did.

B．He tried his best to please others.

C．He sat on his seat silently as usual.

D．He asked people to look for Benny.

4. What`s the best title of the text?

A．A small act of kindness.

B．A special leader on the bus.

C．The importance of a greeting.

D．The friendship between Ralph and Benny.

【推荐3】One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的)to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide rang of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,
“My I get you something ?”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee, We talked more , and he accepted another cup of coffee, Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,
“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.
1. What does the underlined word “disheveled” mean?

A．Unfriendly.

B．Untidy.

C．Gentle.

D．Kind.

2. The author bought coffee for the old man because     

A．he thought the old man was poor	B．he wanted to start a conversation
C．he intended to show his politeness	D．he would like to thank the old man

3. How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?

A．Proud.

B．Pitiful.

C．Surprised.

D．Regretful

4. What is the message mainly expressed in the story?

A．We should learn to be generous.	B．It is honorable to help those in need.
C．People in high positions are not like what we expect.	D．We should avoid judging people by their appearances.