I was in my third year of teaching writing at Ralph High School in New York, when one of my students, 15-year-old Mikey, gave me a note from his mother. It explained his absence from class the day before:

    "Dear Mr. McCort, Mikey's grandmother, who is eighty years of age, fell down the stairs from too much coffee and I kept Mikey at home to take care of her and his baby sister so I could go to my job. Please excuse Mikey and he'll do his best in the future. P.S. His grandmother is OK."

    I had seen Mikey writing the note at his desk. l said nothing. Most parental-excuse notes I received were penned by my students. The writers of those notes didn't realize that honest excuse notes were usually boring: "Peter was late because the alarm clock didn't go off."

    The students always said it was hard putting 200 words together on any subject, but when they produced excuse notes, they were excellent. So I decided to give the first class to study the art of the excuse note.

    “Today I'd like you to write 'An Excuse Note from Adam to God' or 'An Excuse Note from Eve to God'. "Heads went down. Pens raced across paper. They had to be asked to go to lunch by their friends.[来源:学|科|网Z

    The next day everyone had excuse notes. Heated discussions followed. But suddenly I saw the headmaster at the door. He entered the classroom and walked up and down, looking at papers, and then said. "I'd like you to see me in my office." My heart sank,

    When I stepped into his office, he came to shake my hand and said, "I just want to tell you that lesson, that task, was great. Those kids were writing on the college level. Thank you."

1.What did the writer do when he found the students dishonest?

A. He reported them to the headmaster.

B. He lectured them hard on honesty.

C. He had them take notes-n class.

D. He helped improve their writing skills.

2.We can learn that when Mikey was absent from the class, he was____.

A. somewhere enjoying himself

B. taking care of his baby sister

C. looking after his grandmother

D. studying the art of the excuse note

3.How did the writer usually find out his students' parental excuse notes were dishonest?

A. They were written in boring words.

B. He called their parents and found out the truth.

C. They were more like stories than facts.

D. The handwriting clearly looked like children's.

4.Which of the following is true?

A. The writer has many years of teaching experience.

B. The students are good at writing excuse notes.

C. The headmaster was angry with the writer.

D. Most of the excuse notes were written by the parents.

5.Which of the following best describes the writer as a teacher?

A. Honest.               B. Strict.                   C. Hardworking.    D. Wise.

When I was leaving to meet Lynne, my friend Tony told me that I’d better take some money. But I didn't listen to him. I thought Lynne would pay because she had invited me. I arrived at the restaurant on time. I know Americans expect you to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table and a waiter brought us some delicious food.

The dinner was a great success. We talked a lot while eating. After two hours, the waiter finally came and asked if we wanted one check (账单）or two, Lyrme said two. We went to the cashier and Lynne paid her check. I was embarrassed when the cashier gave me my bill. I had no money to pay for my meal. Then I had an idea. I said，“Oh! I forgot my wallet! Can I call my friend, please?" The cashier showed me where the phone was and I quickly called Tony. In a few minutes, he arrived with some money, and paid my check. He laughed at me all the way home. Now, I think it's funny too, but at that time I was very embarrassed. I thought an invitation to  have dinner in America meant the same thing as that in China. Now 1 think you have to understand thai your customs are only your customs. When you visit a foreign country, you have to learn about their customs, too. They can be quite different.

Fill in the blanks according to the passage. Only one word for each blank.

One day I got an invitation to dinner from Lynne. Before I left, my friend Tony told me to take some money, bul 1 didn’t take his1.______. 1 reached the restaurant on time because I know being late is thought to be 2.______    . Lynne and I enjoyed the dinner very much. But two hours3._______, 1 got into trouble 4._______my check. I thought Lyrme would pay 5.________of the checks. In fact I was wrong. I had to call Tony for help. After the problem was solved, I realized the importance of learning about different customs.

When I was leaving to meet Lynne, my friend Tony told me that I’d better take some money. But I didn't listen to him. I thought Lynne would pay because she had invited me. I arrived at the restaurant on time. I know Americans expect you to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table and a waiter brought us some delicious food.

The dinner was a great success. We talked a lot while eating. After two hours, the waiter finally came and asked if we wanted one check (账单）or two, Lyrme said two. We went to the cashier and Lynne paid her check. I was embarrassed when the cashier gave me my bill. I had no money to pay for my meal. Then I had an idea. I said，“Oh! I forgot my wallet! Can I call my friend, please?" The cashier showed me where the phone was and I quickly called Tony. In a few minutes, he arrived with some money, and paid my check. He laughed at me all the way home. Now, I think it's funny too, but at that time I was very embarrassed. I thought an invitation to  have dinner in America meant the same thing as that in China. Now 1 think you have to understand thai your customs are only your customs. When you visit a foreign country, you have to learn about their customs, too. They can be quite different.

Fill in the blanks according to the passage. Only one word for each blank.

One day I got an invitation to dinner from Lynne. Before I left, my friend Tony told me to take some money, bul 1 didn’t take his1.______. 1 reached the restaurant on time because I know being late is thought to be 2.______    . Lynne and I enjoyed the dinner very much. But two hours3._______, 1 got into trouble 4._______my check. I thought Lyrme would pay 5.________of the checks. In fact I was wrong. I had to call Tony for help. After the problem was solved, I realized the importance of learning about different customs.