Has helping people become a thing of the past? Walking through the crowds of today’s busy cities, you might think so. It seems people are too busy or too afraid to lend a hand to someone they don’t know.  But at Radio Beijing today, two friends would like to share their experiences with the listeners.

Hazel Johansen

One Sunday morning, I was running late for work.  As I drove off, I noticed an elderly lady from the neighborhood.  She was pulling a large piece of wood out of the rain. I wanted to help, but I was in a hurry.

I hesitated （犹豫） for a moment. Then I stopped my car, got out and helped her move the wood. Months went by. Then one day, I was walking in the street and saw some workmen cleaning out an old store. There in the dark and dirty corner was a large Coca-Cola cooler. How fun! The workmen said I could have it, so I picked it up and started home. I didn’t get very far. It was much heavier than I thought.  How could I get this to my home? Then out of the blue, the elderly lady appeared — with a handcart! I had helped her, and just when I needed it, she was there and returned the favor （帮忙）.

Rachel Swats — The Irish Helper

Going to the hospital is no fun —— especially when you live in a foreign culture. I recently went to see a doctor in the US. When I got there, I discovered I had forgotten to bring enough money to pay for my treatment. I had my credit card in my pocket, and I thought I could use that. However, I was wrong! For some reason, my card didn’t work. And even the hospital’s ATM wouldn’t let me take money. Since I couldn’t pay, I couldn’t get the treatment I needed.

I was so sad that I began to cry.  Unluckily, when I started crying, I had trouble stopping. I was making quite a big noise!

Everybody else in line was getting impatient （不耐烦的）. Just at that very moment, a lovely Irish woman appeared and asked me what I needed. I told her my problem. She immediately handed me $1,000, along with her business card, so I could repay her later.

I was able to pay and get the treatment.  When I got back home, I emailed the Irish woman. We’ve been in touch ever since!

1. Which of the following could be the best title for Hazel’s story?

    A. A Favor Returned                       B. A Kind Elderly Lady

    C.  She Was There                        D. An Act of Kindness

2. What does "out of the blue" mean in the 4th paragraph?

    A. all of a sudden                          B. as a result

C. to some extent                          D. in a minute

3. What trouble did Rachel meet in the hospital?

    A. She could not stop crying loudly.

    B. She forgot to take any money with her.

    C. Her money was not enough for the treatment.

    D. People waiting in line were impatient with her.

4. Both of the story tellers are trying to tell that ________.

    A. learning to help others is very important

    B. giving help to a stranger is not an easy thing

    C. help might be closer than you think when you get into trouble

    D. someone will be there to help you out if you help other people

完型填空。

　　John is an English boy. He is eight years old. His parents 　1　 five years ago and he is now living with his grandmother in London.

　　One evening, Alan, one of his classmates, came to his home 　2　 an exercise book in his hand Alan live in a house not far from John's. They often go to school 　3　.

　　“Would you help me with this maths problem?” Alan said as soon as he came into the room. “It's too 　4　 for me and I can't work it out.”

　　“Let me try,” John said. “I 　5　 it isn't too hard for me.”

　　John tried his best but he couldn't work it out, either.

　　“If we had a computer, all the problems would be 　6　 for us to do.” Alan said.

　　“A computer…” John thought for a minute, then he said, “I've got an idea, We can buy one in a shop!”

　　“A computer is very expensive, and we don't have enough money.”

　　“That's OK.” said John. “We can ask the new president 　7　 some money. He said he would help anyone in 　8　. I'm sure he will help us. He is very rich, you know.”

　　So they decided to write a letter to the new president. Soon the letter was finished and they hurried to the post office.

　　In front of the post office stood a small box. They dropped the letter into the box carefully and went home 　9　.

　　The next morning, when they passed the post office on their 　10　 to school. They found, to their surprise, the box was not a post-box but trash-box.

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How hard we have all prayed(祈祷) to grow up quickly, and looked forward to the pappy days of being a grown-up and enjoying the many interests that a youth should have.

At last, you have grown up. At least you are no longer a child. They call you ‘young lady’. You then enjoy the pleasure of being a young lady. You are proud of being a grown-up teenager. People welcome you—this young lady heartily. You are glad that your prayer has been answered.

But this is always something that troubles you a lot. You say, “Papa and Mama, give me some money please. My pocket money is all gone already.’

‘No,” they say, “Your age is a dangerous age. If you have too much money to spend, it won’t do you any good.’ Then you have to stay at home because you dare not go out with an empty pocket.

Another time you tell your grandma, ‘Grandma. See, I am a grown-up now.’

‘Good, now, you can sit here and knit(编织) this for me while I go and have a rest.’ To show that you are no more a child, you have to sit there the whole afternoon doing the work, which only a grown-up can do. After an hour, you find it hard to do, and give the knitting basket back to your grandma. Your grandma criticizes your work. You hear what she says, “Such a bad girl can’t do such easy work.’ You wish then you were a child again.

(　　 )51. The passage is told about ________ problem.

　　　 A. a grown-up boy’s　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. a teenage girl’s

C. an old woman’s　　　　　　　　　　　 D. an old man’s

(　　 )52. It is clear that the writer, as a teenager, ________.

　　　 A. is pleased with the present life　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. is unhappy about growing up

　　　 C. doesn’t think her present life happy enough　　 D. is sad about being a kid

(　　 )53. How does she know her prayer had been answered?

　　　 A. People treat her as a young lady.

B. She doesn’t need to play with kids now.

C. People begin to call her teenager.

D. She can join women in all kinds of activities.

(　　 )54. From what her parents say, we know ________.

　　　 A. the girl always has much money in her pocket

　　　 B. it’s dangerous for a girl to spend money

　　　 C. they love her more than before

　　　 D. they still regard her as a child

(　　 )55. Why does he promise to help her grandma do some knitting?

　　　 A. Because she likes doing knitting

　　　 B. Because she wants to show that she has grown up.

　　　 C. Because she has much more free time.

　　　 D. Because her grandma is very tired.

完形填空。

Martin is an American boy. He's eight    1    old. One evening, Jimmy, one of his classmates, came to his home with an expensive book in his hand.      "Could you help me    2    this maths problem?" Jimmy said as soon as he came into the room. "It's too hard for    3   ."      "Let me    4   ," Martin said. "I hope it isn't hard for me."       Martin tried his best but he couldn't work it out, either. "   5    we had a small computer, all the problems would be easy enough for us to do," Jimmy said.      "A small computer…" Martin thought for a minute, and then he said, "I've got a(n)    6   . We can buy one in a shop!"      "A computer is very    7   , and we don't have enough money."      "That's OK," said Martin. "We can ask the new president (总统) for some money. He said he would help anyone in trouble. I    8    he will help us. He is very    9   , you know."       So they   10   to write a letter to the new president. Soon they finished the letter and hurried to the   11    office.       In front of the office stood a small box. They   12   the letter into the box   13   and went home happily.       The next morning, they passed the post office on their way to school. They found, to their   14  , the box was not a post-box,   15   a trash can (垃圾箱).

(     )1. A. years  (     )2. A. out     (     )3. A. you    (     )4. A. have     (     )5. A. If     (     )6. A. money    (     )7. A. expensive (     )8. A. know     (     )9. A. short    (     )10. A. had    (     )11. A. post    (     )12. A. brought          (     )13. A. well    (     )14. A. happy   (     )15. A. and

B. days     B. to       B. her      B. try      B. When     B. one     B. cheap     B. understand B. fat      B. took     B. police    B. dropped              B. beautifully B. surprise   B. or

C. months    C. with     C. me      C. do      C. Why     C. shop     C. big      C. think     C. poor     C. learned  C. bank    C. took     C. carefully         C. sorry     C. for

D. weeks             D. by             D. them            D. make             D. Since            D. idea             D. useful          D. want            D. kind                             D. decided         D. teacher's    D. moved           D. slowly      D. joy           D. but