Though I know that I can do little to help the animals, I often check dog rehoming websites. Looking through page upon page of pitiful faces looking up, you might be forgiven for thinking that the only dogs to be abandoned in this country are fierce-looking or large and unruly dogs.
Recently, it seems there are some new additions in dog homes. Dogs Trust — the country’s largest dog welfare charity-says that in the past year over 400 “toy dogs” were handed in, a 44% increase on the year before.
“Toy dog” is the traditional term for all little dogs, but in recent years they’ve increasingly been referred to as “handbag dogs” after the ridiculous manner in which famous people like Paris Hilton carry them around in their $ 1,000 handbags, making these dogs the most wanted for impressionable teens. As the popularity of Hilton has waned, however, these dogs are being rudely tipped out of the handbags and given up to charity.
In spite of the sad ending that this trend brings for some of these dogs, it can only be a good thing if people become aware that the toy types are still dogs, not dolls to be carried around. If you really are prepared to stick with them, a small dog is just as capable of bringing joy without the need to dress him or her up. A large dog won’t sit on your lap while you read the papers or travel happily on the train with you. And a park full of pugs (哈巴狗) would be a happier and safer place than one full of teenage boys and badly trained large dogs. As Edith Wharton said, “My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.”
1. What is the author’s new finding in the dog rehoming websites?| A．More “handbag dogs” are given up. |
| B．Some dogs in Dogs Trust are large dogs. |
| C．Teens are likely to play with their “toy dogs”. |
| D．The number of abandoned dogs is increasing. |
| A．Grown. | B．Weakened. | C．Begun. | D．Worked. |
| A．Large dogs and children make a good park. |
| B．Keeping small dogs can bring joys in a way. |
| C．“Handbag dogs” should be forbidden in public places. |
| D．Ifs good to dress dogs up before carrying them around. |
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【推荐1】In the past, before alarm clocks were invented, what did people depend on to wake them up in the morning? Roosters.
“ A rooster’s crow symbolizes the break of dawn in many countries,” Takashi Yoshimura, professor at Nagoya University in Japan, told National Geographic. They are known to regularly crow two to three times at dawn.
However, scientists have long been unsure about why the animals do this. “It wasn’t clear whether crowing is under the control of a biological clock or is simply response to external stimuli.”
Roosters do react to the environment-such as car headlights-at any time of day. So it was previously thought that the increasing light in the morning might be the trigger for roosters’ crowing.
But Yoshimura and his colleagues now claim to have finally figured out the reason-roosters don’t need morning light to know when to start crowing; they will crow at the same time every day regardless of whether they can see dawn breaking.
In the study, which was published in the journal Current Biology, researchers placed 40 roosters in a soundproof, windowless room under dim lighting for 24 hours. But this didn’t deter the roosters. No matter what, they kept crowing in the morning just before dawn.
“It is proof that the behavior is caused by circadian rhythm”, said Yoshimura. In short, the roosters are genetically programmed to crow at a certain time every 24 hours.
Most animals, as well as plants, have such an internal time-keeping system. That’s why we tend to eat, sleep and exercise at around the same time every day. By consciously being aware of the schedule, our body has a chance to adapt to it, so keeping a regular biological clock is often tied to good health.
This experiment is the first of its kind to investigate the timing of roosters’ crowing. Kristen Navara, a scientist at the University of Georgia in the US who was not involved in the study, said that she wasn’t sure why no one had taken a closer look at this well-known phenomenon before.
“I think this is a very interesting study and something that should have been done a long time ago.” said Navara.
1. What has been recently discovered to make roosters crow in the morning？| A．External stimuli like noises. | B．Their biological clocks. |
| C．Exposure to morning light. | D．Increased temperature. |
| A．Prevent. | B．Attract. | C．Encourage. | D．Upset. |
| A．Roosters have the same circadian rhythms as humans. |
| B．Following our biological clocks is good for our health. |
| C．Dark conditions can have some effect on roosters’ crowing. |
| D．Roosters’ biological clocks will change to help them adapt to the environment. |
| A．Worthless. | B．Meaningful | C．Boring. | D．Unscientific. |
【推荐2】Keeping fish as pets is a popular hobby. Fish take up little room, are inexpensive to feed, and provide an interesting and colorful display in any room.
A tank, or an aquarium, must be chosen carefully. Many new aquarium owners buy too many fish for their tanks. Fish cannot be crowded. Two fish can live comfortably in each gallon of water, only ten fish can live in a five-gallon tank. Can you see why a goldfish would not live long in a tiny round bowl?
If too many fish are kept together, they will not have enough oxygen or room to swim about freely. They will have more diseases. Also, some kinds of fish cannot be kept together. They will fight and may even kill one another. As your interest in fish grows, the number of fish you have may grow, too. Then you may want to invest in another tank.
If you start with a ten-gallon aquarium, what kind of fish would be best? The two major groups of tropical fish are those that lay eggs and those that give birth to live young. If you want to raise young fish, guppies would be the best choice because they can produce many babies in a short time.
You can buy fish and aquariums in most pet stores. Ask the owner to help you choose the right fish. You can also find many books about tropical fish in the library.
1. Keeping fish is a good hobby for the following reasons EXCEPT _____.| A．fish are not costly to feed | B．fish are nice to look at |
| C．fish reproduce babies quickly | D．fish need little space |
| A．buy | B．borrow | C．make | D．sell |
| A．breathe easily | B．swim about freely |
| C．get ill | D．not get enough to eat |
| A．Very few people are interested in keeping fish. |
| B．The size of your tank decides how many fish you can buy. |
| C．Guppies are a kind of fish that are good at laying eggs. |
| D．You can raise different kinds of fish together. |
【推荐3】In a new study published on the Journal of Auian Biology, researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico tracked the behavior of house finches(雀) on the main campus of the university, in Mexico City.
The team created an artificial nest lining(内衬), which includes feathers, cotton, hair and cigarette ends. Then, after the birds 'eggs had hatched, they replaced the original lining with the new one, to make sure the nests were pest free. The researchers then added live ticks to the mix, while dead ticks were added to other linings.
It seems that urban house finches use more cigarette ends to line their nests when they've been invaded by ticks. And, those whose nests were given live ticks increased their cigarette end weight by about 40 percent more than those where dead ticks had been used, according to New Scientist. The technique is likely a form of self-medication, the experts explain, as it's thought that the chemicals in cigarette ends can help to keep off the pests.
While this behavior may have its benefits, the researchers say it's also possible that the use of cigarette ends in the nests could have negative effects. "It is a matter of concern that cigarette ends, being poisonous, are part of house finch nests in Mexico City," the authors explain in the paper," but we have not come across evidence of long-term costs of using this material."
According to the researchers, a thorough evaluation will be necessary to determine the real effects of using cigarette ends, whether they are positive or not. But they explain, the findings do suggest that the cigarette ends are linked to the presence of ticks and likely play a role in keeping them away.
1. What does the underlined phrase" the mix" in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．The former nests. | B．The artificial lining. |
| C．The cigarette ends. | D．The original lining. |
| A．The findings of the experiment. | B．The application of the research findings. |
| C．The theory related to the recent research. | D．The reasons for house finches using cigarette ends. |
| A．Eat them out. | B．Dust them off. |
| C．Build firmer nests. | D．Use more cigarette ends. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Conservative. | C．Objective. | D．Tolerant. |
【推荐1】Let’s face it: Teenagers spend hours texting, socializing on Facebook and playing video games. And it’s driving their parents nuts.
Sure, there are real dangers connected with all this screen time—everything from cyberbullying (网络欺凌) to couch-potato obesity. Not to mention driving while texting, and shortened attention spans(持续时间).
Douglas Gentile, who studies the effects of media on children, says texting, Facebook and video games are not naturally bad. Nor are they naturally better or worse than watching TV, although they do lead to different risks, such as cyberbullying.
But research has shown that the more time kids spend in front of screens—whether it’s TV or instant-messaging—the worse their school performances are.“That doesn’t mean it’s true for every kid, but it makes sense, that for every hour a kid is playing video games, it’s an hour that they’re not doing homework or reading or exploring or creating,” he said. If screen time is taking the place of doing their homework, that’s bad. But if their homework is done, well, so what?
The study also found that the more time kids spend with media, the lower their grades and levels of personal satisfaction are. Gentile said the influence of screen time on school work can be reduced by what he calls “protective factors”. Those might include good teachers and a high-performing school, love of reading, coming from a family where education is valued.“If you had all these protective factors, then that one little risk factor, who cares?”
One thing parents should worry about is the way electronic devices encourage multitasking (多任务处理).
“As adults, your response speeds up, you’re quicker to look over your shoulder and notice little noises or lights. However this is not what the kids need when they get to the classroom. Scanning to see when the next message comes may not be good for kids. The more distractions (分心的事物) you have, the worse your performance is.” Getting kids to turn off their phones, iPods in order to let them concentrate (集中) on homework is a fight worth having.
1. What statement may Gentile agree to?| A．Kids get bad marks when using Facebook. |
| B．TV or texting affects kids equally. |
| C．Kids prefer video games to books. |
| D．Watching TV is better than playing video games. |
| A．love for reading | B．valuing education |
| C．screen time | D．good teachers |
| A．kids can give quick answer to questions if texting |
| B．Multitasks aren’t really good for every kid |
| C．electric devices increase the attention of kids |
| D．kids perform well if doing many tasks together |
| A．Are kids suffering cyber bullying on Facebook? |
| B．Are texting and Facebook worse for teens than TV? |
| C．Are kids willing to turn off their electric devices? |
| D．Are texting causing kids to lose interest in reading? |
【推荐2】Britain's streets are becoming increasingly crowded with throwaway facemasks and protective gloves, a survey has found, as councils warn that they are battling with a mountain of personal protective equipment (PPE) litter.
Four in ten councils have identified throwaway masks, gloves and other forms of PPE as a problem in their area, and warned that it could pose an infection risk.
The District Councils' Network (DCN) represents 187 regional authorities, covering waste collection for 22 million people. “As well as being potentially dangerous for pets and wildlife, there is a risk that they could spread infection,” it said. “The World Health Organization has warned that appropriate handling is essential to avoid any increase in the spread of disease.”
Councils are already struggling with waste collection during the pandemic as residents are creating more rubbish while spending longer periods at home. The DCN said some weeks this summer had been like “Christmas collections", referring to the larger amounts of rubbish over the festive period.
Dan Humphreys, the DCN's chief for enhancing quality of life, said: “Facemasks, gloves and other forms of PPE are designed to protect people but poor handling risks doing the opposite. We would remind residents to think about how they deal with their waste.”
Scientists, however, have warned that even if masks are dealt with properly, 124,000 tons of single-use facemasks could end up in landfill if people do not switch to reusable coverings.
1. What is DCN's attitude towards PPE litter?| A．Worried. | B．Tolerant. | C．Skeptical. | D．Approving. |
| A．To recall the festival. | B．To admire the atmosphere. |
| C．To advocate the collection. | D．To criticize the phenomenon. |
| A．It is better to produce multiple-use equipment. | B．It is better to use reusable equipment. |
| C．More rubbish will be produced. | D．More landfills will be built. |
| A．The benefits of wearing facemasks. | B．The ways of dealing with rubbish. |
| C．The problem of handling PPE litter. | D．The importance of protecting individuals. |
【推荐3】Asian elephants are an endangered species. Their numbers are somewhere between 39,000 - 44,000 and they spread across the vast continent — though almost half are located in India.
The main threat faced by Indian elephants, like all Asian elephants, is loss of habitat，which then results in human-elephant conflict. In South Asia, an ever-increasing human population has led to much illegal occupation of elephant habitat. Many construction projects of roads and railway tracks also break habitat into separate areas. Unable to mix with other groups, they run the risk of reproducing. Habitat loss also forces elephants into farmers’ fields for fowl. Once a farmer’s crops are destroyed, a conflict between humankind and the elephant is unavoidable.
Even though suitable habitat exists, illegal hunting remains a threat to elephants in many areas. In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the international trade in ivory (象牙). However, there are still some ivory markets in a number of countries which make an illegal international trade. Although most of this ivory comes from poaching African elephants, Asian elephants are also poached for their ivory, as well as for their skin.
Catching wild elephants has become another threat to some wild populations, seriously reducing some numbers. Men would catch elephants to live with them and carry their heavy loads. India, Vietnam and Myanmar have banned catching elephants in order to protect their wild groups, but in some countries elephants are still caught each year for tourist industries. Tourists pay to ride the animals to the scenic spots to have their pictures taken.
Why are their numbers becoming so desperate? It is time that we humans should pause and reflect (仔细思考).
1. Which is the direct cause of human-elephant conflict?| A．The loss of the elephants’ habitat. |
| B．The construction of new roads. |
| C．The failure of the elephants’ reproduction. |
| D．The increase of human population. |
| A．Raising. | B．Stealing. |
| C．Illegally hunting. | D．Fiercely fighting. |
| A．To increase the elephants’ numbers. |
| B．For industrial research. |
| C．To watch over people’s homes. |
| D．For family use and income. |
| A．The existence of elephant habitat. |
| B．Most elephants living in Africa. |
| C．The international trade in ivory and elephant skin. |
| D．The decrease of farmers’ crops. |
| A．Reflection on Ivory Trade |
| B．Asian Elephants Are in Danger |
| C．Effects of Protecting Elephants |
| D．Indians Face Elephant Problems |
【推荐1】Robots have certain advantages compared to humans. They are efficient, tireless, can be repaired when damaged and they never get sick. The last quality has made them the star during our fight against the COVID-19(新冠肺炎). While thousands of medical workers have fallen ill dealing with this highly infectious virus and a lot more have to stay at home for fear of getting the disease, this isn’t a problem for robots. This is why the COVID-19 outbreak is seen as the “tipping point” for robots to start to replace humans in certain jobs.
In hospitals, robots are used to perform high-risk tasks. In China, for example, a hotel in Hangzhou employed a robot to deliver food to people under quarantine(隔离). In Spain, robots are about to be used to test people for the coronavirus(冠状病毒).
In non-medical companies, robots are also replacing human employees since they don’t have the problem of the social distancing and will never take sick leave. Fast-food chains like McDonald’s are not only delivering food with robots in some areas, but also looking to use them as cooks and servers. Walmart and Amazon, for example, where robots are already used in packing and shipping, are planning to increase the number of robots in these areas.
But this sudden boom in robot demand doesn’t mean that they can replace humans successfully in every aspect. According to Bill Smart, a roboticist at Oregon State University, the human contact between doctors and patients is still important. Doctors comfort the patients and guide them through hard decisions while robots are only doing daily tasks, like cleaning and giving tests.
It might be true that robots have certain advantages over humans, but they are still secondary to human’s communication and emotion.
1. Which of the following is not the advantage of robots over human beings?| A．They never fall ill. |
| B．They can offer emotion support. |
| C．They are efficient in work. |
| D．They can be repaired when damaged. |
| A．To explain robots are more intelligent than humans. |
| B．To prove robots have social ability wherever they are. |
| C．To explain how robots replace humans in non-medical companies. |
| D．To prove McDonald’s and Walmart are famous companies in the world. |
| A．Sharp increase. | B．Low supply. |
| C．Short explosion. | D．Excellent performance. |
| A．The Efficient Tireless Robots | B．Robots Will Replace Humans |
| C．Robots Aid in Coronavirus Fight | D．The demand For Robots Increase |
【推荐2】What’s delicious, healthy to eat and comes in various colors? Eggplant! And no, it has nothing to do with chickens! This strangely named vegetable is, however, as versatile as an egg. It can be steamed fried or baked. It can be eaten by itself or combined with meats and other vegetables.
Eggplant was first grown in India during the 5th century B.C. Its popularity soon spread to China and then throughout Asia. Finally, during the Middle Ages the vegetable made its way to Europe. At that time, eggplant was not the shiny purple vegetable most people know today. Instead, it was like a white egg. Due to this egg---like appearance, eggplant got its name. In its early days, the vegetable was so bitter that people often called it a “mad apple”. This nickname started because people believed its bitterness was bad for one’s health. People actually thought eggplant could cause insanity(精神错乱)and cancer.
Fortunately, today people know that eggplant doesn’t cause insanity or cancer. In fact, eggplant is so healthy that it may prevent cancer. In addition, the brain and the heart benefit from this supper vegetable. Since it is high in fiber, eggplant can also improve digestion.
Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant in the world today. Depending on its location, eggplant may be purple, green, orange or yellow---white. And it can be as small as a tomato or as large as a cucumber. Dish diversities range from simple to complex, with all of them being delicious.
Today, thousands of people are gathering in Loomis, Calif, for the 23rd annual Loomis Eggplant Festival. The main activity at the festival is eating delicious eggplant dishes. There is plenty more to do and see, though. Recipe contests, arts and crafts, performers, races and children’s activities all “egg---cite” festival---goers. Most people at the festival would agree---eggplant is an “egg---cellent” vegetable!
1. What does the underlined word “versatile”in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．simple in shape | B．flexible in price | C．diverse in size | D．various in cooking |
| A．Eggplant was once misunderstood by the people for its bitterness. |
| B．Eggplant was introduced into Europe during the 5th century. |
| C．Eggplant got its name for its nutrition which is as rich as an egg. |
| D．Eggplant looks like what it used to be in color and shape. |
| A．cure the cancer with certainty | B．do good to digestion |
| C．replace other vegetables | D．help reduce insanity |
| A．colors | B．sizes | C．dishes | D．nutrition |
| A．the 23rd annual Loomis Eggplant Festival | B．the general introduction of eggplant |
| C．the origin of eggplant | D．the benefit of eggplant |
【推荐3】There are many commonly held beliefs about eyeglasses and eyesight that are not proved facts. For example, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weaken the eyes. But there is nothing to show that the structure (结构) of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at a young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that only children can develop loss of sight if they have the wrong glasses. We have all heard some of the common myths(荒诞的说法) about how eyesight get bad. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained (过劳). Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. But, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not harm eyesight all the time. Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced from one person to another. It is quite difficult to connect an eyeball to a new brain. And it is impossible to replace a whole eyeball to a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced now. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, some day it may be possible to replace a full eyeball.
1. One cause of eyestrain mentioned in the passage is ____.| A．wearing eyeglasses too long | B．going to the cinemas |
| C．reading a lot | D．not visiting your eye doctor |
| A．doctors are still learning things about eyesight |
| B．headaches are usually caused by eyestrain |
| C．people should wear glasses as soon as possible |
| D．people only believe things that are proved facts |
| A．ideas that only low class people believe | B．ideas that most people believe |
| C．beliefs that have something in common | D．foolish beliefs |
| A．people have many wrong beliefs about eyes and sight. |
| B．there are many things about the body that are not completely understood |
| C．there are several causes of eyestrain |
| D．eyes are very important to people |
What to Expect
The host will provide accommodation and meals. Rooms will be cleaned and bedcovers changed at least once a week. You will be given the house key and the host is there to offer help and advice as well as to take an interest in your physical and mental health.
Accommodation Zones
Homestays are located in London mainly in Zones 2, 3 and 4 of the transport system. Most hosts do not live in the town centre as much of central London is commercial and not residential (居住的). Zones 3 and 4 often offer larger accommodation in a less crowded area. It is very convenient to travel in London by underground.
Meal Plans Available
♢ Continental Breakfast
♢ Breakfast and Dinner
♢ Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
It’s important to note that few English families still provide a traditional cooked breakfast. Your accommodation includes Continental Breakfast which normally consists of fruit juice, cereal (谷物类食品), bread and tea or coffee. Cheese, fruit and cold meat are not normally part of a Continental Breakfast in England. Dinners usually consist of meat or fish with vegetables followed by desert, fruit and coffee.
Friends
If you wish to invite a friend over to visit, you must first ask your host’s permission. You have no right to entertain friends in a family home as some families feel it is an invasion of their privacy.
Self-Catering Accommodation in Private Homes
Accommodation on a room-only basis includes shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and often a main living room. This kind of accommodation offers an independent lifestyle and is more suitable for the long-stay student. However, it does not provide the same family atmosphere as an ordinary homestay and may not benefit those who need to practice English at home quite as much.
1. The passage is probably written for ______.
| A．hosts willing to receive foreign students |
| B．foreigners hoping to know British culture |
| C．travelers planning to visit families in London |
| D．English learners applying to live in English homes |
| A．Room cleaning. | B．Medical care. |
| C．Free transport. | D．Physical training. |
| A．Dessert and coffee. | B．Fruit and vegetables. |
| C．Bread and fruit juice. | D．Cereal and cold meat. |
| A．To experience a warmer family atmosphere. |
| B．To enrich their knowledge of English. |
| C．To entertain friends as they like. |
| D．To enjoy much more freedom. |
【推荐2】A holiday is any day when people lay aside their ordinary duties and cares. The word came from Old English. At first, holidays honored some holy events or persons. People in Great Britain and other countries speak of holidays as Americans speak of vacations.
Every nation has its special holidays. China observes New Year’s Day(January 1), May Day and National Day as it was on Oct.1, 1949 that the People’s Republic of China was founded as legal（法定的） holidays. The Chinese have long celebrated the Chinese lunar year. In the United States, Congress has declared several days as legal holidays such as New Year’s Day(January 1), Martin Luther King, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and so on. Some holidays celebrate special events in the development of a country, such as Greece’s Independence Day and Italy’s Liberation Day.
In the United States, banks and school usually close on a legal holiday. When such a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is usually observed. Schools and organizations often observe days known as traditional holidays, although schools and business do not close then. Those holidays include Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
1. From the passage we know that China’s National Day is on ________ .| A．January 1 | B．October 1 | C．May 1 | D．June 1 |
| A．celebrates | B．spends | C．cares | D．praises. |
| A．China’s National Day. | B．Italy’s Liberation Day. |
| C．Valentine’s Day. | D．Independence Day. |
| A．Sunday | B．the following Sunday |
| C．the following Monday | D．the following Tuesday |
【推荐3】The phone ID flashed, “Emergency Vet”. “Oh no” I whispered. I could not lose Merlin now.
Ron and I had tried to have children for a long time with depressing results. I threw myself into my work. Any maternal feelings I had were spent on Merlin.
I couldn’t wait to get home from work each night. I wanted to pick up that warm bundle of loving fur and nestle him. I wanted to sing “Rock-a-bye Merlin”, as I did every night as he would put his paws around my neck.
Merlin was my comfort especially at times when I wondered if God was listening. But last night something had changed. Not only did I sing “Rock-a-Bye Merlin”, but I asked, “What will I do after you’re gone?”
Although Merlin was 19 years old, a senior in the age of a cat, he didn’t look or act that way. I didn’t want to accept the fact that he was nearing the end of his lifetime. My job at the law firm was so demanding and stressful that I couldn’t imagine getting through the day without Merlin waiting to greet me at home.
I dialed the vet’s number. I asked for my husband but he already left. Then I took a breath and asked the question that no one wants to ask, “Is my Merlin still alive?” The nurse said “yes.”
Ron came home and said that Merlin had almost no red blood cells left. White blood cells were replacing them. Merlin would need expensive transfusions most likely on a monthly basis. We both knew Merlin was running out of time. I asked Ron to drive me to the vet so I could say goodbye to my little boy cat but he was beat tired and it was late. Ron said if Merlin was still alive the next morning then he would take me to the vet.
The next morning I called the vet. Merlin had survived the night.After driving to the vet, I went into the examining room. The nurse brought Merlin and placed him on an examining table on his side. His eyes were tightly shut. I thought he died already. I carefully edged my hand to reach his body. His body felt warm, but when I spoke his name there was no response. No response to his name or that I was there and that I loved him. I was extremely sad.In that examining room I felt helpless. I wondered how many people in an examining room felt as helpless as I did. Feeling driven to prayer I yelled, “God this isn’t good enough. I need to see my Merlin the way I remember him, I need a miracle and I need it now!”
At that moment, God granted a miracle. Merlin’s favorite compliment entered my mind. I said, “Merlin, You are Beautiful and You are Gorgeous, do you hear me?”
One eye opened.
I said “Gotcha”. I kept repeating those words.
Merlin opened the other eye and, one limb at a time, got up. He was waiting for that phrase. He wanted to hear that he was beautiful and gorgeous again.
Then I experienced another miracle.
There was no sound in that examining room until Merlin started walking to me. From out of nowhere, or maybe from heaven, I clearly heard a song we sung in church often: “It Is Well With My Soul.” I remembered thinking, “Yes, it is well with my Soul. I got to see my little boy cat one more time.”
Merlin walked to me. He put his face in mine, which he had never done before. He rubbed a circle around my face twice. Merlin said goodbye with his face and marked me for life.
Ron appeared shocked that Merlin was up and had walked to me. I said to Merlin, “Tell God you are a good boy and how much we love you” and then handed him back to the nurse.
Tears of gratitude poured forth in memory of a miracle. You see for nineteen years God spoke to me through a special cat named “Merlin.” On Merlin’s last day, God proved he heard me when he granted a miracle. That miracle gave me time to say goodbye.
1. Ron’s wife couldn’t lose Merlin because ________.| A．Merlin was her adopted child for nineteen years |
| B．Merlin could supply her with comfort and warmth |
| C．she failed to give birth to her own biological child |
| D．she would sing her usual song to no one later in life |
①comfortable ②demanding ③long life ④full of devotion ⑤lovely ⑥religious
| A．①②⑥ | B．①②③ | C．④⑤⑥ | D．③④⑤ |
| A．The writer turned to the vet because Merlin was in desperate condition. |
| B．The writer was so hopeless as to ask a favor of the vet. |
| C．Ron would accompany her wife to the vet lo live up to his promise. |
| D．Ron did not care about Merlin so that the writer called the vet. |
| A．he shut his eyes lightly and was obviously dead |
| B．his body felt warm because the writer rubbed him hard |
| C．the writer chanted prayers to him trying to waking him up |
| D．the writer felt helpless to have no timely surgical operation |
| A．we have to have faith in the church to get miracles in future life |
| B．God will not disappoint us if we are devoted to our loved ones |
| C．couples should have a child or something to fill in their free time |
| D．doctors may not always be reliable when our loved ones need their help |
| A．The Miracle Granted | B．A Dying Cat |
| C．God Accompanying Us | D．Gratitude Out Of Miracle |
