Passage 18
Several years ago, a television reporter was talking to three of the most important people in America. One was a very rich banker, another owned one of the largest companies in the world, and the third owned many buildings in the center of New York.
The reporter was talking to them about being important.
“How do we know if someone is really important?” the reporter asked the banker.
The banker thought for a few moments and then said, “I think anybody who is invited to the Whiter House to meet the President of the United States is really important.”
The reporter then turned to the owner of the very large company. “Do you agree with that?” she asked.
The man shook his head, “No. I think the President invites a lot of people to the White House. You’d only be important if while you were visiting the President, there was a telephone call from the president of another country, and the President of the US said he was too busy to answer it.”
The reporter turned to the third man. “Do you think so?”
“No, I don’t.” he said. “I don’t think that makes the visitor important. That makes the President important.”
“Then what would make the visitor important?” the reporter and the other two men asked.
“Oh, I think if the visitor to the White House was talking to the President and the phone rang, and the President picked up the receiver, listened and then said, ‘it’s for you.’”
1.This story happened in _______.
A. England B. America C. Japan D. Australia
2.There are _______ in this passage.
A. two men and two women B. three men and one woman
C. three women and one man D. four women
3.The banker thought _______.
A.he was really important because he was a rich banker
B.the visitor to the White House was really important
C.the visitor who met the President of the United States
D. the reporter was really important
4.The owner of the very large company thought _______.
A.she was really important because she owned one of the largest companies
B.the banker was really important
C.the owner of many buildings in the center of New York was really important
D. the visitor would be really important if while he was visiting the President, the President would not answer any telephone call
5.The owner of many buildings thought _______.
A.he was really important because he owned many buildings in the center of New York
B.the owner of the very large company was really important
C.the visitor was really important if he talking to the President and the President received a telephone call for the visitor
D.the person who worked in the White House was really important
Passage 19
Three men traveling on a train began a conversation about the world's greatest wonders.
“In my opinion,” the first man said, “the Egyptian pyramids are the world's greatest wonder. Although they were built thousands of years ago, they are still standing. And remember: the people who built them had only simple tools. They did not have the kind of machinery that builders and engineers have today.”
“I agree that the pyramids in Egypt are wonderful,” the second man said, “but I do not think they are the greatest wonder. I believe computers are more wonderful than the pyramids. They have taken people to the moon and brought them back safely. In seconds，they carry out mathematical calculations that would take a person a hundred years to do.”
He turned to the third man and asked, “What do you think is the greatest wonder in the world？”
The third man thought for a long time，and then he said, “Well，I agree that the pyramids are wonderful, and I agree that computers are wonderful, too. However，in my opinion, the most wonderful thing in the world is this thermos.”
And he took a thermos out of his bag and held it up.
The other two men were very surprised. “A thermos？”they exclaimed. “But that's a simple thing.”
“Oh, no，it's not, ”the third man said. “In the winter you put in a hot drink and it stays hot. In the summer you put in a cold drink and it stays cold. How does the thermos know whether it's winter or summer？”
1.The underlined word “thermos” means in Chinese “ _____ ”.
A.电冰箱 B.洗衣机 C.电风扇 D.保温瓶
2.The three men could not agree on what the world's greatest wonder was because _____.
A. they could not think of anything very wonderful　B. they all had different ideas
C. they could not prove that their opinions were right　D. the journey ended too soon
3.The first man thought the pyramids were the most wonderful things in the world because _____.
A. they were very beautiful　B. they were Egyptian
C. they had been built with very simple tools　D. they could do mathematical calculations
4.The third man thought a thermos was the most wonderful thing in the world because _____.
A. it lasted longer than the pyramids B. it cost less than a computer
C. he thought it knew whether it was winter or summer
D. the other two men were surprised when he told them about it
5.The third man was not very clever because _____.
A. he could not think of anything to say　B. he did not understand how a thermos works
C. he did not think the pyramids were wonderful D. he did not know anything about computers
Passage 20
An old man was going home late one night with his horse and cart after a day's hard work. When he was not far from his house, the light on the cart went out. He tried but could not mend it.
He was near his home, and so he went along the road without a light. When a policeman saw this, he stopped the old carter.
"Where's your light?" asked the policeman. "No one may take a cart along a road at night without a light. You know that. You've broken the law.
"I had a light," said the old man, "but it has just gone out."
"I don't believe that story," said the policeman. He took out a book and got ready to write. "What's your name and where do you live?" he asked.
"Please don't take my name," said the old man. "My house is just there. You can see it from here. I had a light nearly the whole way. I haven't come far without a light."
"You came all the way without a light. What's your name?"
The carter quickly took the policeman's hand and put it down on the top of the light. The light was still hot, and burnt the policeman's hand. He jumped and he was very angry.
"Now, what do you think?" said the carter. "Did I come all the way without a light?"
1.In the passage "Cart" is ___________.
A. something like a car B. something like a light
C. something pulled by a horse D. something with a light
2.The old man drove home ___________.
A. on the back of his horse B. late one night
C. very late every night D. with a policeman
3.Where did the policeman stop the old man?
A. Near his home. B. At the traffic lights.
C. Under a road light. D. Far from his house.
4.The cart was stopped by the policeman because ________.
A. the old man didn't have a light
B. the policeman didn't believe the old man's words
C. the old man did not want to tell his name
D. the old man's light wasn't on
5..How did the old man make the policeman believe (相信) his words?
A. He made the policeman touch the light.
B. He jumped and shouted angrily.
C. He made the policeman angry.
D. He burnt the policeman's hands.
Passage 21
Ellen Parker was worried about her health. She could not walk very quickly and it was difficult for her to climb stars. She was soon out of breath (气喘吁吁).
“I suppose I had better go to the doctor,” she thought.
She went to the doctor and told him her problem.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “It’s obvious what your problem is.”
He looked her over then gave her some advice.
“If you don’t do what I say, Mrs. Parker,” he said, “you will have a heart attack. It could kill you.”
Ellen Parker was very worried as she left the doctor’s. She knew that she had to take his advice but that it would not be easy and it would take time.
The next day she went shopping. The first shop she went into was a butcher’s shop (肉铺).
“I’d like ten pounds of steak (牛排), please,” she said.
“Certainly, madam,” the butcher replied and went into the cold room and found a large piece of steak. He brought the huge piece of meat back into the shop and put it on the scale (天平).
“That’s just under ten pounds,” he said.
“That big enough,” Mrs. Parker said.
The butcher worked out the price.
“At $4.99 a pound that will be $49.50, please. Would you like me to cut it up into smaller pieces for you?”
“Oh, I don’t want to buy the meat,” Mrs. Parker said.
“If you don’t want to buy it,” the butcher replied angrily, “why did you ask me to get it for you?”
“My doctor told me that I am over-weight and I have to lose ten pounds. I wanted to see what ten pounds of meat looked like.”
1. Why did Ellen Parker visit the doctor?
A. She had had a heart attack.　B. She had a problem with her health.
C. She was unhappy about her weight.　D. She could not sleep well.
2. What did the doctor advise her to do?
A. To lose weight. B. To eat more meat.
C. To come and see him again. D. To look after her heart.
3. Why did Ellen Parker ask for ten pounds of steak?
A. She wanted to buy some for dinner.　B. She wanted to lose weight.
C. Her doctor had told her to eat steak.
D. She wanted to see what ten pounds of meat looked like.
4. What was Ellen Parker's real problem?
A. She ate too much steak.　B. She weighed too much.
C. The doctor did not know.　D. She could not walk very quickly.
5. What did the doctor think might happen to Ellen?
A. She might put on more weight.　B. She might stop eating too much.
C. She might have a heart attack.　D. She might go to another doctor.
Passage 22
(In court (法庭), the judge asks the boy named Henry some questions.)
Judge: Can you tell us how the accident happened?
Henry: Yes, sir. The farmer drove very fast when I met with him. His car knocked me down and hurt my arm.
Judge: (To the farmer) Was that right?
Farmer: No, sir. But it rained heavily and I couldn’t drive fast.
Judge: So you don’t think you knocked him down?
Farmer: Yes, I did. But I didn’t see him mending his bike in the middle of the road.
Judge: Well. Did you send him to a hospital?
Farmer: Yes. But the doctor said there was nothing serious to him.
Judge: (To Henry) Do you agree with him?
Henry: Yes, sir. But my left arm often hurts and I can't lift it at all.
Judge: Could you show us how you can lift it now?
Henry: Sure. (Slowly the boy lifts his arm below his nose.)
Judge: Poor boy! And how high could you lift it before the accident?
Henry: Oh, I could lift it very high like this. (Holding his left arm up over his head)
Judge: But I don't think there's something wrong with your arm.
Henry: I...I...So it is. But my lawyer (律师) tells me to do so.
根据上面的对话，在短文的空白处填写一个适当的词，使短文内容与对话意思相符。
It happened on a (1)_________ day. A boy named Henry was (2)_________ his bike on the road while a farmer's (3)______ knocked him down. The farmer sent him to a hospital and the doctor said nothing (4)________ happened to the boy. But his parents hoped the boy could be paid more (5)_________ for it. They asked for a lawyer's (6)_______ .The lawyer taught the boy (7)______ to say in court. Henry told the judge his arm hurt and that he couldn't (8)________ it up. The judge asked him to show it to him. He could lift it below his nose. The judge asked him how (9)_______ he could lift it before the accident. The boy (10)___________ what the lawyer said and lifted it over his head!

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