Years ago, I lived in a building in a large city. The next building was only a few feet away from mine. There was a woman who lived there, whom I had never met, yet I could see her seated by her window each afternoon, sewing or reading.
After several months had gone by, I began to notice that her window was dirty. Everything was unclear through the dirty window. I would say to myself, “I wonder why that woman doesn't wash her window. It really looks terrible.”
One bright morning I decided to clean my flat, including washing the window on the inside.
Late in the afternoon when I finished the cleaning, I sat down by the window with a cup of coffee for a rest. What a surprise! Across the way, the woman sitting by her window was clearly visible(可见的). Her window was clean!
Then it dawned on me. I had been criticizing (批评) her dirty window, but all the time I was watching hers through my own dirty window.
That was quite an important lesson for me. How often had I looked at and criticized others through the dirty window of my heart, through my own shortcomings?
Since then, whenever I wanted to judge someone, I asked myself first, “Am I looking at him through my own dirty window?” I try to clean the window of my own world so that I may see the world about me more clearly.
1. “It dawned on me” in paragraph 5 probably means “________”.| A．I began to understand it | B．it cheered me up |
| C．I knew it grew light | D．it began to get dark |
| A．the writer had never met the woman before | B．the writer often washed the window |
| C．they both worked as cleaners | D．they lived in a small town |
| A．one shouldn’t criticize others very often |
| B．one should often make his windows clean |
| C．one must judge himself before he judges others |
| D．one must look at others through his dirty windows |
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For a man, slight problems may begin when the shop does not have what he wants, or does not have exactly what he wants. In that case the salesman, as the name implies, tries to sell the customer something else, he offers the nearest to the article required. No good salesman brings out such a substitute impolitely; he does so with skill: “I know this jacket is not the style you want, sir, but would you like to try it for size? It happens to be the color you mentioned.” Few men have patience with this treatment, and the usual response is: “This is the right color and may be the right size, but I should be wasting my time and yours by trying it on.”
Now how does a woman go about buying clothes? In almost every respect she does so in the opposite way. Her shopping is not often based on need. She has never fully made up her mind what she wants, and she is only “having a look round”. She is always open to persuasion; indeed she sets great store by what the saleswoman tells her, even by what companions tell her. She will try on any number of things. Uppermost in her mind is the thought of finding something that everyone thinks suits her. Contrary to a lot of jokes, most women have an excellent sense of value when they buy clothes. They are always on the lookout for the unexpected bargain. Faced with a roomful of dresses, a woman may easily spend an hour going from one rail to another, to and fro, often retracing her steps, before selecting the dresses she wants to try on. It is a laborious process, but apparently an enjoyable one. Most dress shops provide chairs for the waiting husbands.
1. The underlined sentence “the price is a secondary consideration” in the first paragraph means when a man is shopping ________.
| A．he buys good quality things, so long as they are not too dear |
| B．he buys whatever he likes without considering its value |
| C．he does not mind how much he has to pay for the right things |
| D．he often buys things without giving the matter proper thought. |
| A．He buys a similar thing because of the color he wants. |
| B．He usually does not buy anything. |
| C．At least two of his requirements must be met before he buys. |
| D．So long as the style is right, he buys the thing. |
| A．Men do not try clothes on in a shop while women do. |
| B．Women bargain for their clothes, but men do not. |
| C．The time they take over buying clothes. |
| D．Men go shopping based on need, but women never. |
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries（食品杂货），saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity（人性）as a whole. And it has influenced（影响）us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.
1. Why was the bike so important to the couple?
| A．The man’s job was bike racing. |
| B．It was their only possession. |
| C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed. |
| D．They used it for work and daily life. |
| A．the couple worked 60 hours a week. |
| B．people were busy before Christmas |
| C．the stranger brought over the bike |
| D．life was hard for the young family. |
| A．Strangers are usually of little help. |
| B．One should take care of their bike. |
| C．News reports make people famous. |
| D．An act of kindness can mean a lot. |
| A．The couple will never steal bikes in revenge. |
| B．The couple will try their best to help others in trouble. |
| C．Trevor bought a new Kona immediately after someone stole his old one. |
| D．The couple got some help from several people in their area. |
【推荐3】Our grandparents tell us stories of their years over and over again．Until finally we have heard them tell the stories so many times that we wonder why they keep on repeating these old times．Unconsciously(无意识地)，this is the way our minds work to pass history on．There was a time when writing, reading, books, radio, TV and electronics of today were not present at all．Few things could be used to record and pass information on to the next generation．People would only sit around the campfire or the kitchen table, sharing stories of the past．This is called the “oral(口述的) tradition”．
Children listened endlessly to families sharing stories of their youth．Memories are put in the minds of young people forever so they could later recall and tell them to their children and grandchildren．Can you recall any of this? I can．How could life of the past be able to survive for centuries without this telling of stories and information to the listening ears of the youth?
Just the other day, our Uncle Martin came to visit with his two kids．As we sat around the kitchen table sharing stories and family remembrances, Uncle Martin’s laughter filled the room．He recalled several times that he was lucky to have not been hit by the falling trees．Each person in the room listened and enjoyed his details and humor．
We all can continue to share stories with our children, telling of those good old days．Children do listen and want to hear true, sincere, funny and scary tales dug up from the past and then they tell their friends．So oral tradition goes on and on．
1. According to the text, how did people pass on messages in the past?| A．By using electronics． |
| B．By telling stories orally． |
| C．By recording them in books． |
| D．By reading books to the next generation． |
| A．They can make the children feel bored． |
| B．They can make the children’s minds clear． |
| C．They can improve the children’s creativity． |
| D．They can give the children a deep impression(印象)． |
| A．Dig up more stories in the past． |
| B．Share them with their friends． |
| C．Write them down carefully． |
| D．Tell them to their parents． |
| A．He/She values it． |
| B．He/She is against it． |
| C．He/She thinks it’s outdated． |
| D．He/She thinks it’s unreliable． |
【推荐1】A broken heart. A sad ending to a love affair. That’s something most of us have experienced, or probably will. The experience can be destructive. You might find yourself listening more to sad music, hoping it can resonate with your feelings of disappointment, and you’ll never heal (治愈) from your broken heart.
You might go through a strong feeling of sorrow, as in Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, or the pain of a lyric from Bob Dylan’s “Love Sick”: “I’m sick of love. I wish. I’d never met you.”
But research shows listening to sad music can help you begin to feel joy and hopefulness about your life again. Sad music can help heal and uplift you from your broken heart. Or, from any negative, disappointing life situation. It can activate empathy (共情) and the desire to reach out for others — both pathways out of the prison of heartache and hopelessness.
A recent study from Germany found the emotional impact of listening to sad music can lift the feelings of empathy, compassion, and a desire for positive connection with others. That, itself, is psychologically healing. It draws you away from anxiety with yourself, and possibly towards helping others in need of comfort.
Another experiment, from the University of Kent, found that when people were experiencing sadness, listening to music that was “beautiful but sad” excited their mood. In fact, it did so when the person first consciously understood the situation causing their sadness before beginning to listen to the sad music. That is, when they intended that the sad music might help, they found that it did. But that wasn’t true if they just listened to sad music without first thinking about the sad situation.
Then, you may be answering the question raised in the old Bee Gees’ song, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?”
1. What does the underlined word “resonate” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Communicate. | B．Cooperate. | C．Contrast. | D．Correspond. |
| A．To present the sad feelings from their songs. |
| B．To celebrate their achievements in the music field. |
| C．To compare the difference between their music. |
| D．To convince others of the healing effects of music. |
| A．Shared feelings might enable people to help others. |
| B．Sad music can strengthen relationship between people |
| C．Showing empathy does good both mentally and physically |
| D．Sad songs can benefit people with the intention of lifting spirits. |
| A．What does music bring to us? | B．How can sad music heal a broken heart? |
| C．Why is sad music so popular? | D．When can we turn to others for help? |
【推荐2】Have you ever dreamed about sending a letter to yourself or your friends in the future? While express mail representing efficiency and speed is prevalent（盛行的）in China , there is another type of mail appearing as a new business : “Future Mail”. “Future Mail” service can make people slow down and let them understand the meaning of “time” in another way. And “Future Mail” letters are “reminders of affection, friendship and love”.
Lin Xiao fan , a senior high school student in Hefei , wrote a letter to her mother in advance to express her love to her mother for next Mother’s Day . Feng Xiao, a youth who feels pressure despite of some achievements in her career decided to write a letter to herself on her 25th birthday and have it delivered five years later on her 30th birthday through a “Future Mail”. She expressed her thoughts about her present life and her expectations for the future to encourage herself to face up to the challenges of her life with courage.
While “Future Mail” is gaining popularity, some people are concerned about what happens if the postal address of the receiver changes or if the company goes broke before letters are delivered. Actually, customers required to complete an acceptance form and make an assessment so they can be compensated if their letters or goods are lost or damaged.
Most of the business’s customers are college students and young white-collar workers . Psychologists said young Chinese might be given a vent（发泄）to their negative feelings through the service . Most people put their hopes and wishes in the letters so they can experience the connection between “past” and “present” while they receive the letters. It can help people reunderstand the meaning of “time” .
1. The underlined word in Para. 3 probably means .| A．paid | B．changed | C．bought | D．repaired |
| A．People can express their thoughts and feelings to themselves or others through a “Future Mail” . |
| B．The “Future Mail” business is not perfect. |
| C．Only young people accept the new “Future Mail” service . |
| D．“Future Mail” service can let people reunderstand the meaning of “time”. |
| A．sports | B．science | C．leisure | D．policy |
| A．To encourage herself to face up to the challenges . |
| B．To express her thoughts about her present life . |
| C．To express her expectations for the future . |
| D．To remind herself of something she must do . |
| A．The Different Kinds of Letter |
| B．“Future Mail” Business Taking off in China |
| C．The Advantage of “Future Mail” |
| D．The Letter in Future |
Today, I spent a lot of time choosing carefully and reading the Father’s Day cards at the shopping mall. They all had a special message that in some way or another showed how I feel about you. Yet it hit me that not a single card said what I really wanted to say to you.
You'll soon be 84 years old. Dad, and you and I will have had 55 Father's Days together. I haven’t always been with you on Father’s Day, but I’ve always been with you in my heart. You know, Dad, there was a time when we were separated by the generation gap. You stood on one side of the Great Divide and I on the other.
The Father-Daughter Conflict changed into high gear when you taught me to drive the old Dodge while I decided I would drive the Chevy whether you liked it or not. To my surprise, when the police officer sent me home after you reported the Chevy stolen, you were so tolerant about it because I had thought that would probably be the worst night of my life.
Our relationship greatly improved when I married a man you liked,and things really turned around when we began making babies right and left. Somewhere along the line, the generation gap disappeared. I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together, rather like a fine wine.
But the strangest thing happened last week. I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car. I didn’t immediately realize that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and weak behind the wheel of that huge car. Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day.
I guess what I’m trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today. Honoring a father on Father’s Day is about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. It’s about loving someone more than words can say, and it's my wish that it never had to end. I love you, Dad.
Love,
Mary
1. We can learn from the text that Mary and her father ________.| A．have been getting along very well | B．kept in touch by writing to each other |
| C．are separated because of the generation gap | D．had a hard time understanding each other |
| A．She didn’t expect to meet with him there. | B．She seldom saw him driving that huge car. |
| C．She had never realized his being old and weak. | D．She had never seen him driving so slowly before. |
| A．express her gratitude to him | B．tell him about their conflicts |
| C．say sorry for her being disappointing | D．remind him of the early memories |
