I have tried to write a ghost story that won’t make you unhappy with yourselves, with each other, with the seasons, or with me. I hope it haunts your houses pleasantly.
——Charles Dickens
One Christmas Eve, old Scrooge and Bob were working busily in his office. It was a cold, foggy day. The fog was so thick that the houses opposite were like ghosts. It was only three o’clock in the afternoon, but it was already quite dark.
“Merry Christmas, Uncle! God bless you!” cried a happy voice. It was Scrooge’s nephew.
“Bah!” said Scrooge “Humbug(骗人的话)!”
“Christmas is a humbug! Surely you don’t mean that, Uncle.” Said his nephew.
“I do,” said Scrooge. “Merry Christmas! What reason have you got to be merry? You’re poor.”
“OK, then,” replied the nephew cheerfully. “What reason have you got to be sad? You are rich. Don’t be angry, Uncle!”said his nephew.
“What else can I be?” answered the uncle, “I live in a world of fools! Merry Christmas! What’s Christmas time to you? It’s a time for paying bills without money. It’s a time for finding yourself a year older, but not richer. Everyone who goes around saying ‘Merry Christmas’ should have his tongue cut out. Yes, he should!”
“Uncle! Please don’t say that!” said the nephew. “I’ve always thought of Christmas time as a good time, a kind, and a charitable, happy time. And so, Uncle, Christmas has never put any gold or silver in my pocket, but I think it has done me good. And it will do me good. And I say, ‘God bless it!’”
Bob, standing in the corner of the room, applauded (鼓掌). He realized his mistake very soon, and went quickly back to his work, but Scrooge had heard him.
“One more sound from you, Bob Cratchit,” said Scrooge, “and you’ll celebrate Christmas by losing your job!”
“Don’t be angry with him, Uncle. Come and have dinner with us tomorrow.”
“No.” said Scrooge.
“I’m sorry you don’t want to celebrate Christmas. But I do. So a Merry Christmas, Uncle!”
“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge.
“And a Happy New Year!” said his nephew.
“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge again.
His nephew left the room. He stopped to wish Bob a Merry Christmas. And Bob replied, “A Merry Christmas to you, too.”
1. What did Scrooge think of Christmas wish?| A．It was simple. | B．It was important. | C．It was stupid. | D．It was necessary. |
| A．Christmas was a time to be generous and kind. |
| B．Christmas was a time to do some challenging work. |
| C．His uncle should give some money to his family. |
| D．His uncle should give away his money to the poor. |
| A．Scrooge was Bob’s uncle. | B．Bob worked for Scrooge. |
| C．Scrooge celebrated Christmas with Bob. | D．Bob was Scrooge’s visitor. |
| A．Scrooge was working busily in his office before Christmas. |
| B．No rich people wanted to waste their time to celebrate Christmas. |
| C．Bob believed in Christmas wish as well as Scrooge’s nephew. |
| D．Scrooge refused his nephew’s invitation to dinner on Christmas day. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】An exhausted (筋疲力尽的) looking woman came into the doctor's office. She said, "doctor. There are dogs all over my neighborhood. They bark (犬吠) all day and all night, and I can't get a good sleep." "I have good news for you," the doctor said taking out a small bottle. "Here are some new sleeping pills (药片) that work like a dream. A few of these and your trouble will be over." "Great, thank you." the woman was very glad to go back home with the pills. A few weeks later, the woman came again, looked worse than ever. She said, "Doctor, your pills are not good at all. I'm more tired than before." "I don't understand how that could be," said the doctor, shaking his head, "Those are the strongest pills on the market." "That may be true," answered the woman, "but I'm still up all night running after those dogs and when I finally catch one, it's hard to get him to eat the pills."
1. The woman came to see the doctor because _____.| A．her dog was ill | B．she was bitten (被咬) by dogs |
| C．she couldn't sleep well | D．her son was ill |
| A．the dogs | B．herself | C．her son | D．her neighbors |
| A．better | B．healthy | C．worse | D．well |
| A．The doctor gave the woman wrong pills. |
| B．The woman liked to run with the dogs. |
| C．The woman took the pills but the pills didn't work at all. |
| D．The woman might feel better if she took the pills. |
| A．He gave the woman the right pills |
| B．the woman was a very clever person |
| C．the woman was not clever |
| D．he should give the woman the pills again |
【推荐2】Everyone had heard of the fox's cunning（狡猾）, and everyone but the goat believed it.
One very hot summer, when all the rivers and lakes were dry, a fox looked around all day for water to drink. He even went into a house silently, but the dog saw him, and he had to leave in a great hurry.
At last, he thought of an old well（井）in the middle of a field near the farm, and he rushed to it as fast as he could. When he came to it, he found that the water was out of his reach. He tried again and again to reach it, and at last fell in. And as the water was not very deep, he was glad enough to drink. When his thirst was gone, he wished to get out, but the sides of the well were steep, and even when standing with two legs, he could not reach half way to the top. There he was like, a poor prisoner（囚犯）!
The next morning, a goat came down to the well. Seeing the fox there, she said, "Is the water good?" "Oh" said the fox. "Come down, my friend. It is so good that I cannot stop drinking it!" The goat jumped down at once, but no sooner was she down than the fox jumped on her back, and in a moment, the fox was on the green grass! He looked into the well and said, "Thank you, madam!" The silly goat soon saw how foolish she had been, to listen to the cunning fox.
Never trust those who are known to be cunning and selfish（自私的）.
1. How did the fox feel at the beginning of the story?| A．Hopeless | B．Angry | C．Bored | D．Pleased |
| A．very wide | B．very high | C．very long | D．very far |
| A．The goat helped him kindly. |
| B．He got help from a dog. |
| C．He jumped on the goat's back. |
| D．He climbed out by himself. |
| A．show how foolish the goat is |
| B．explain why the fox has no friends |
| C．give us some advice on how to get out of danger |
| D．tell us not to trust these who are cunning and selfish |
【推荐3】My name is David. I'm from Orange County, California. I have worked as a Newport Beach ocean lifeguard for five years.
One day, I was working at Tower 15. Two blocks to my right was another lifeguard named Mike. He was working at Tower 17. I'd known Mike for a couple of years.
Mike called me over the phone and said, “Hey, David. Do you see the two kids over there? They may swim in dangerous areas. I will give them a warning. You'd better keep an eye on them.” I said “Sure” and hung up.
After a while, I suddenly found the two kids in a dangerous area. They were drowning（溺水） and cried for help. I ran to them, jumped into the water and swam to them quickly.
While I was swimming to them, Mike had already got there. Mike got to the boy first, and then he turned to the girl. He hugged the two kids tightly and took them out of the dangerous area.
After a while, the mother of the two kids realized what had happened. She ran to her kids quickly. I said to her, “Don't worry. Your kids are safe.” Then I pointed at Mike and told her that it was he who saved her kids.
Then a crazy thing happened. The mother looked at Mike in silence. Mike didn't shave（刮脸） himself. There was a scar（伤疤） on his forehead. I saw a strange expression on her face. She didn't say thanks to Mike. She only took her kids and walked away.
Mike smiled at me and said he didn't care about what people thought of him. What he cared about was the kids' safety.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
1. Why did Mike call David over the phone?
| A．Because he wanted David to pay attention to the two kids' safety. |
| B．Because he had nothing to do and wanted to chat with David. |
| C．Because he wanted to teach David how to save the kids in danger. |
| D．Because he wanted to show David how to be a good lifeguard. |
| A．She thanked Mike for saving her kids. |
| B．She wasn't thankful to Mike and walked away. |
| C．She had a thankful expression on her face. |
| D．She looked at Mike and said he was not a good man. |
| A．David saved the two kids at the same time. |
| B．David was the first one to find the two kids in danger. |
| C．Mike cared about the two kids' safety and saved them. |
| D．Mike cared about what people thought of him. |
| A．Warm-hearted. | B．Outgoing. | C．Handsome. | D．Successful. |
| A．Never judge a person by his appearance. |
| B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．One good turn deserves another. |
| D．A bad beginning makes a bad ending. |
| Two little boys had two little toys Each had a wooden horse. Joyfully they played each summer's day Soldiers(士兵) both, of course. Then Jack broke off his horse's head, Sad for his toy, then cried with joy As his young friend Joe said: Did you think I would leave you crying When there's room on my horse for two? Climb up here, Jack, and don't be crying I can go just as fast with two. When we grow up we'll both be soldiers And our horses will not be toys And I wonder if we'll remember When we were two little boys. | Long years past, war(战争) came so ______. Bravely they marched away. Guns(枪) roared loud and in the mad crowd(人群) Wounded and dying lie Up goes a shout, a horse rushes out Out from the crowd, to where Joe lay Then came a voice he knew: Did you think I would leave you dying When there's room on my horse for two? Climb up here, Joe, we'll soon be flying I can go just as fast with two. Now we are both real soldiers And our horses are not toys And I remember When we were two little boys.  |
1. What do you think of Joe?
| A．Sad and careless. | B．Afraid and helpless. | C．Brave and helpful. | D．Happy and hopeful. |
| A．fast | B．hard | C．slow | D．quick |
| A．Dangerous war. | B．Interesting games. | C．Happy summer. | D．True friendship. |
【推荐2】编者按：2021年4月8日是武汉解封整整一周年，在中国，新冠疫情渐行渐远，但为抗击疫情所做出牺牲和贡献的人们我们永远不会忘记，谨以此首诗献给这些英雄们。
By the Youth
When we were scared, sad and helpless, you gave us courage, warmth and hopes. When we had to stay at home to keep away from the illness, you, workers, helped us buy living things; Leaving your children behind, you worked in the neighbourhood every day, you never complained but smiled the whole day. When we needed all kinds of materials, you, drivers, drove them there without thinking twice; Running on the streets, between the cities, you made sure things went well as usual. | When we had coughs or fevers, you, doctors and nurses , tried your best to save our lives; Looking after the patients in the hospital day and night, you never gave up until the sick got well. There are many people doing jobs in silence; There are many people giving hands without telling their names. Thanks for your hard work and selflessness. You’re the heroes of the times. You’re the most beautiful in our hearts. We love you!  |
1. We had to stay at home because ________.
| A．we didn’t want to go out | B．we had enough food |
| C．we didn’t want to work | D．we wanted to avoid the illness |
| A．To show his praises. | B．To show his regrets. |
| C．To show his worries. | D．To show his wishes. |
| A．To the politest people. | B．To the most beautiful people. |
| C．To the cleverest people. | D．To the most hard-working people. |
On a beautiful spring afternoon,
I relax and lie down.
On the soft green grass,
Breathing in the fresh smell that I can feel all around.
My attention is taken up to the clouds.
For up there in the bright blue sky.
Is a fluffy white world of cotton candy animals?
And castles built with marshmallow bricks.
But I must be creative and take the time
To bring this world into focus,
So I take a breath,
And close my eyes just a little bit.
As a tiny, cotton ball mouse
Jumps out from a lion's house.
What a treat to spend my afternoon
With these newly found friends moving by!
1. The poet is watching clouds ________.
| A．in the morning | B．at noon | C．in the afternoon | D．at night |
| A．Busy | B．Tired | C．Peaceful | D．Bored |
| A．show us where to watch clouds |
| B．teach us about cloud shapes |
| C．explain to us how clouds can change |
| D．tell us about his cloud watching |
