1 . Some parents said that they had difficulty in getting along with their children. I heard many parents complaining that their teenage children are rebelling. I wish it were so. At your age you ought to be growing away from your parents. You should be learning to stand on your own two feet. But take a good look at the present rebellion. It seems that teenagers are taking the same way of showing that they disagree with their parents. Instead of striking out boldly on their own, most of them are holding firmly at one another’s hands for reassurance.
They claim they want to dress as they please. But they all wear the same clothes. They set off in new directions in music. But somehow they all end up crowded round listening to the same record. Their reason for thinking or actin g in thus-and-such a way is that the crowd is doing it. They have come out of their cocoon (蚕茧) into a larger cocoon.
It has become harder and harder for a teenager to stand up against the popularity wave and to go his or her own way. Industry has firmly carved out a teenage market. These days every teenager can learn from the advertisements what a teenager should have and be. And many of today’s parents have come to award high marks for the popularity of their children. All this adds up to a great barrier for the teenager who wants to find his or her own path.
But the barrier is worth climbing over. The path is worth following. You may want to listen to classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is collecting records. You may have some thoughts that you don’t care to share at once with your classmates. Well, go to it. Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come — with the people who respect you for who you are. That is the only kind of popularity that really counts.
1. In this passage, the author wants to tell______.| A．teenagers to try to decide things for themselves |
| B．readers to try to be popular with people around |
| C．parents to try to control and guide their children |
| D．people to try to understand and respect each other |
| A．There is no popularity that really counts. |
| B．It is not good for a teenager to disagree with his or her classmates. |
| C．What many parents are doing is helping their children to go on their own ways. |
| D．Most teenagers claim to do whatever they want, but they are actually doing the same. |
A woman id her sixties lived alone in her little cottage with a pear tree at her door. She spent all her time taking care of the tree. But the children nearby drover her 21 by making fun of her. They would climb her tree and then run away with pears, 22 “Aunty Misery” at her.
One evening, a passer by asked to 23 for the night. Seeing that he had an 24 Face, she let him in and gave him a nice 25 . The next morning the stranger, actually a sorcerer (巫师), thanked her by granting (允准) her 26 that anyone who climbed up her tree 27 not be able to come back down until she 28 it.
When the children came back to steal her 29 , she had them stuck on the tree. They had to beg her
long 30 she gave the tree permission to let 31 go. Aunty Misery was free from the 32 at last.
One day another man 33 her door. This one did not look trustworthy to her, 34 she asked who he was . “I am Death, I’ve come to take you 35 me.” said he.
Thinking fast Aunty Misery said, “Fine, but I’d like to 36 some pears from my dear tree to remember the 37
it brought to me in this life. But I am too 38 to climb high to get the best fruit. Will you be so 39 as to do it for me?” With a deep sigh, Mr. Death climbed up the tree 40 and was immediately stuck to it. No matter how much he warned or begged, Aunty Misery would not allow the tree to let Death go.
21. A. hopeless B. painful C. dull D. crazy
22. A. calling B. shouting C. announcing D. whispering
23. A. stay B. live C. hide D. lie
24. A. interesting B. honest C. anxious D. angry
25. A. gift B. kiss C. treat D. smile
26. A. suggestion B. demand C. permission D. wish
27. A. could B. should C. might D. must
28. A. permitted B. promised C. answered D. declared
29. A. branch B. food C. tree D. fruit
30. A. after B. while C. since D. before
31. A. it B. them C. him D. her
32. A. trick B. question C. trouble D. difficulty
33. A. stepped into B. left for C. stopped at D. walked around
34. A. so B. but C. although D. because
35. A. with B. off C. upon D. for
36. A. choose B. pick C. shake D. hit
37. A. honor B. pleasure C. hope D. excitement
38. A. light B. short C. old D. thin
39. A. proud B. kind C. fine D. smart
40. A. disappointedly B. cheerfully C. unwillingly D. eagerly
