One evening I went out and left my 17-year-old son in charge of his 8-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister．On this occasion, the work was made less troublesome by the presence of his girlfriend．I left with complete confidence that the older children would do a wonderful job of babysitting the younger children．Later, I discovered that complete confidence was the last thing I should have left home with．

I had decided to return home earlier than planned so that my son and his girlfriend could go out．I called home with this happy news．But instead of hearing his cheerful, grateful voice on the other end of the line, all I heard was the sound of a telephone ringing．

It was, I should point out, after 10 p．m．,when the two younger children should have been in bed, and when the two older children should have been answering the phone．“I’ll give him a lesson,” I said． I decided they must be outside．Why they might be outside at 10:30 on a winter night I had no idea, but it was the only explanation I could come up with．

Finally, in desperation, I called his girlfriend’s house． After what seemed like countless rings, his girlfriend answered．“Yes,” she said brightly, “He’s right here．”

He came on the phone．I was not my usual calm, rational（理智的）self． After all, one of the rules of survival for modern parents is that you can’t trust modern teenagers．“Where are the children?” I said．He said they were with him．They had done nothing wrong．My son had taken the younger children over to his girlfriend’s house just for ice cream and cake．This was too good to be believed． Well, it turns out that I shouldn’t have believed it．It was only part of the truth．

The following Saturday evening we were at my parents’ home, celebrating my birthday．My oldest son gave me the children’s gifts．Mounted and framed were a series of lovely color photographs of my children, dressed in their best clothes, and wearing their most wonderful expressions．They are pictures to treasure a lifetime, all taken by the father of my son’s girlfriend．

1.The author went out and left her eldest son in charge of the younger children because         ．   

A．she knew that her eldest son was a good baby-sitter

B．she thought it no hard work to take care of the younger ones

C．she believed he could do well with his girlfriend’s help

D．she could not find a baby-sitter on that winter night

2.When the author called home that evening, she found that           ．

A．two younger children had already been in bed

B．the children were preparing a birthday gift for her

C．her son was quarrelling with his girlfriend

D．there was no one answering the telephone

3.What might the children do that evening?

A．They had a birthday party．	B．They framed some photographs．
C．They had their pictures taken．	D．They made some beautiful clothes．

4.What does the author intend to tell us by the story?

A．Modern teenagers are not worth trusting．

B．It is no easy job to look after young children．

C．It’s no good to have a girlfriend at an early age．

D．Her children have a caring and tender heart．

 

It is important that you make a good impression at work. If you make a good impression on your boss, he or she is more likely to give you more responsibilities which can lead to promotions (晋级) and raises. Here are some ways to make a good impression at work.

Use Proper Office Etiquette (礼仪)

Using proper manners will help you make a good impression on your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to e-mails to knowing when, where, and how to use your cell phone at work.

Face up to Your Mistakes

When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably (不可避免地) does at some points, face up to it. Don’t ignore your error or place the blame on others. Take responsibility and come up with a solution to fix your mistake. Your boss may not be too happy about it, but she will at least be impressed with your response.

Know to Call in Sick

Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that a sick employee not only is unproductive but also he or she can spread an illness around the office. Call in sick(打电话请病假) when you are ill.

Come Through in a Crisis

When the unexpected happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss? Of course it’s the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively.

1.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. How to Use Good Etiquette

B. How to Deal with Mistakes at Work

C. How to Be a Good Worker in the Future

D. How to Make a Good Impression at Work

2.What should you do if you make a mistake at work?

A. Try to ignore the mistake.

B. Put the blame on others.

C. Think out a solution to your mistake.

D. Leave the company as soon as possible.

3.According to the writer, when you are ill you’d better _________.

A. go to work on time as usual

B. stay at home without telling others

C. go on working but stay away from others

D. stop working and ask for a leave

4.Who will make good impressions on the boss?

A. Employees who deal with the crisis quickly and effectively.

B. Employees who often make mistakes.

C. Employees who go to work though they are ill.

D. Employees who often use their cell phones at work.

 

Last weekend, my kids along with a few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of washing other people’s cars as well. It was pretty hot outside. She further wanted to give juice for a low cost but not free. I felt happy and decided to help her.

She asked me, “What if we make this ‘a smile car wash’, mommy? ”I couldn’t hold back my tears and encouraged her and other kids to go inside the house and come up with ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the kids walked up to me with a board of beautiful signs of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the theme of their exercise was “Smile”. It was pretty natural to see a team of kids 5 to 11 years with the task to do something for others.

All that seemed natural and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to matter to them: their playtime, and then heat outside—they just wanted to help and do something nice in the community!

I helped them make some fresh juice and brought out some waste materials to help clean cars. Passers-by were amazed and one even shouted at them saying “Good kids”. One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. A pretty heart-warming scene!

The following weekend, I saw the idea of the week, the theme of which was “Global Kindness”. I was moved by such wonderful and loving souls. They made me smile!

One of the slogans (标语) on their flag was: “Do not fear! Smile retrievers(挽回者) are here.”

1.Who raised the idea of washing other people’s cars for free?

A. The mother

B. One of the passers-by

C. The writer’s 10-year-old daughter

D. One of the writer’s neighbors’ kids.

2.Why couldn’t the author hold back her tears when she knew her daughter’s idea?

   A. She was moved by her daughter’s kindness.

   B. She felt sorry for those passers-by in hot weather.

   C. She was sorry for not helping the kids.

   D. She thought of too much hardship of the kids.

3.Why did the kids want to wash others’ cars for free?

  A. They wanted to earn money.

  B. They were asked to do that by their teacher.

  C. They just wanted to help and do something nice in the community.

  D. They wanted to exercise in smiling.

4.Which of the following did NOT the writer do to help the kids?

  A. She supported the kids’ ideas.

  B. She prepared some fresh juice for the passers-by.

  C. She brought out some waste materials to help the kids.

  D. She gave the kids some money.

 

—What do you think of your step-mother?

—There are some things that are not easy to______, but on the whole she is a good mother.

A．come up with

B．catch up with

C．break up with

D．put up with

 

I keep a two dollar bill in my wallet that was given to me by my mother when I was six years old.

The  31  goes with me wherever I go. My mother gave it to me so that  32  would follow me. She looked at me and said, “I want you to carry this two dollar bill for extra good luck.”

“Thanks, mom,” I replied, “I will keep it  33  to me always.”

My mother passed away when I was seven years old. I remember I took out my two dollar bill and held it in my hand for the longest time, knowing that she would  34  me the rest of my life.

Each time I felt I had a crisis, I would  35  for my two dollar bill and set it on the table. I would  36  at it for several hours and could always  37  a solution. When I applied for my first job, I was thirty years old and very shy. The thought of being interviewed for a job was  38  but I had to work. I saw one of the interviewers well dressed with  39  purse and shoes. I also knew the chance of being chosen was  40  when looking at the length of others’ resumes.

“What makes you feel you are  41  for this job?” The well－dressed woman asked. “I really need this job and there is nothing I can not do” I responded. She then asked me a series of questions and the interview was over. As I left, I  42  and said “Please give me a chance. I learn quickly and can be a very  43  member of your team.”

I went home,  44 . That evening I received a phone call. “Gina” she said, “we decided to give you a chance to  45  yourself.” “Thank you, you will not regret this decision.” I  46  the phone and yelled. At that instant, I remember my mom once said to us “You are  47  in my mind. Don’t  48  failure. It is a way to get us to try harder.”

How  49  this gift from Mom! It had built up  50  in me.

1.                A．money         B．check          C．bill  D．paper

 

2.                A．luck           B．happiness       C．wealth   D．wisdom

 

3.                A．close          B．near           C．hard D．firm

 

4.                A．look out for     B．watch over      C．see to    D．come across

 

5.                A．get            B．stretch         C．hold D．reach

 

6.                A．stare           B．glance          C．observe  D．glare

 

7.                A．come up with    B．put forward      C．set up    D．pull through

 

8.                A．exciting        B．amazing         C．nervous  D．scary

 

9.                A．suitable        B．matching        C．fancy D．exaggerating（夸张的）

 

10.               A．slim           B．terrible         C．few  D．abundant

 

11.               A．born           B．qualified        C．stable D．grateful

 

12.               A．turned around   B．turned back     C．put up D．raise up

 

13.               A．productive      B．additional       C．concise（简洁）    D．effective

 

14.               A．terrified        B．exhausted      C．sound D．cautious

 

15.               A．test           B．challenge       C．prove D．strengthen

 

16.               A．hung up        B．got through     C．set aside   D．got off

 

17.               A．brilliant        B．awesome       C．careful    D．unbelievable

 

18.               A．stand          B．bend          C．fear  D．ruin

 

19.               A．rare           B．special         C．relative   D．primary

 

20.               A．confidence      B．perseverance    C．model D．intelligence