A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack(裂缝) in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

This went on daily. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. Of course, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

　 “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you.”

　 “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

　 “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back. And youdo no get full value for y our efforts” the pot explained.

　 The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

　 As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it a little.

The bearer said, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?” That is because I have known about you, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

1．Why did the cracked pot feel ashamed?

　 A．Because it didn’t hold water.

　 B．Because the water bearer didn’t like it.

　 C．It couldn’t water the flowers well.

　 D．Because it could only accomplish half of its load.

2．How would the cracked pot feel at the end of the story?

　 A．Delighted with itself.　　　 B．Disappointed with itself.

　 C．Prouder than the other pot. D．Still ashamed of itself.

3．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

　 A．There were flowers on both sides of the path.

　 B．The cracked pot was more useful than the perfect one.

　 C．We sometimes don’t have to mind too much the way we are.

　 D．The water bearer preferred the perfect pot to the cracked one.

4．Which of the following proverbs can best go with this passage?

　 A．Every dog has his day.　　　 B．Every man has his price.

　 C．Every picture tells a story. D．Who laughs last is the best.

 

Condoleezza Rice is used to standing out. It is not only because she holds the position as U.S. Secretary of State. Her youth, gender and skin color have 　36　 a lot of attention throughout her political career.

Condoleezza Rice,　37　 as Condi to her close friends, was born in 1954 in Birmingham. During 1950s,blacks were not treated as 　38　 citizens in the south. Although slavery was　39　 in 1865,the southern states passed their own laws to continue the 　40　of blacks and whites. Despite the discrimination 　41　 black people, her parents told her she could become? 42　 she wanted. They taught her to believe that great things were 　43　 for her.

Rice was a gifted student with a 　44　 for the piano and she entered college at the age of 15 with the 　45　 of becoming a concert pianist. Along the way she was　46　 by political? scientist Josef Korbel, the father of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Rice 　47　 her plans and studied international politics, and in the 1980s she was teaching at Stanford University,　48　 her career developed quickly. She　49　 on George H. Bush's national security council(顾问) in 1989.Later she 　50　 to Stanford, and became its youngest, first female and first 　51　 provost after two years.

In 2001,Rice re-entered the political world,　52　 George W. Bush's national security advisor. She has drawn international 　53　 in this position, and has been the most powerful national security advisors in American 　54　.

She held this position until 2005,when 　55　 Secretary of State.

36.A. directed B. turned C. paid    D. attracted?

37.A. known   B. Considered C. Seen   D. accepted?

38.A. respectful     B. equal  C. different     D. noble?

39.A. finished B. Stopped     C. Prevented   D. ended?

40.A. difference     B. disagreement     C. separation   D. division?

41.A. against  B. to              C. with    D. towards?

42.A. whoever       B. whomever  C. whatever    D. whichever?

43.A. desiring B. waiting      C. preparing   D. longing?

44.A. talent    B. interest       C. hobby D. favourite?

45.A. purpose B. goal    C. intention    D. attention?

46.A. effected B. affected      C. impressed   D. influenced?

47.A. changed B. postponed   C. cancelled    D. exchanged?

48.A. which    B. where C. when  D. that?

49.A. acted     B. waited C. served D. called?

50.A. paid a visit    B. showed concern C. attended     D. returned?

51.A. black     B. white  C. capable      D. efficient?

52.A. turning  B. holding      C. becoming   D. taking?

53.A. praise    B. approval     C. criticism     D. attention?

54.A. politics  B. history       C. culture              D. government?

55.A. elected  B. invited       C. appointed   D. succeeded??

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft:  

The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:

The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30×21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias’ apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA:

The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

1. How long did it take to put back the stolen Mona Lisa in Louver ?___

A．Thirty six months                        B．Thirty months

C．Half a year                             D．Around two years

2.What does the underlined sentence, “he tried to make the best out of his stolen good” mean?

A．Chaudron wanted to sell the stolen painting.

B．Peruggia thought he didn’t need to work for Chaudon any more and wanted to market the painting.

C．Valfierno was tired of waiting.

D．Peruggia wanted to study the painting carefully.

3. Which case among those mentioned in the passage is still a mystery?

A．Mona Lisa case

B．Last Judgment case

C．Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum thirteen paintings case

D．none

4.People from the country of _____ is not involved in the passage.

A．China            B．France            C．Dutch            D．Vantican

5. Which statement is WRONG according to this article?

A．Picasso was ever considered a art theft suspect.

B．Art thieves normally not work alone.

C．The first documented case of art theft was conducted by pirates.

D．The mastermind of Mona Lisa was an art faker who wanted to sell copies.

6. The passage is not finished, which subtitle could be the next?

A．The Economic Value of Art Theft            B．The Loss to Art Lovers

C．The Most Sought After Painting             D．Boston Mob and French Art Dealers

 

Roger Conner is a modern­-day Horatio Alger hero. Roger started out as an unpaid worker in a small flower shop. He has become the owner of a florist company whose sales are well over $100 000 a year.

One day when Roger was only twelve, he stopped at a local flower shop. He asked the owner if he could work for him, without pay, in order to learn the business. Roger started working every day after school and on weekends. After two years on the job, he finally asked for a small salary. The owners told him he “wasn't good enough to be paid.” So he quit, and found a paying job at another local flower shop. He worked hard there, but after six months they laid him off because business was slow.

Not discouraged, Roger decided to do it alone and started his own flower store in a basement in his town. He started his business with only sixty­-five dollars. He bought old refrigerators at garage sales and knocked the shelves out. This turned them into coolers for his fresh­-cut flowers. His business grew rapidly as he built up a reputation for top quality and fine service.

In 1977, Roger bought out the flower store where he had worked without pay for over two years. The people who said he “wasn’t good enough to be paid” were astonished to find that they were being taken over by a teenager. He had plans to renovate (振兴) the whole store.

One of the reasons the owners sold out to Roger was that the store wasn't doing well. But after Roger took over ownership and redid the store, business started booming. In fact, business was so good that after one year, he celebrated by buying out the other store where he had worked. Roger then combined both stores and moved to a location in the center of his town.

The new store has 2 000 square feet and seven employees. And he did it all before he reached the age of twenty.

1.The author is wants to show us that people who want to succeed in business should ________.

A．work without pay

B．own a flower shop

C．work hard and never give up

D．work as teenagers

2.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．He worked for two years without pay.

B．He needed luck to be successful.

C．He opened his first flower business in a basement.

D．He became successful before the age of twenty.

3.The passage may be a ________.

A．newspaper report                       B．humorous story

C．television play                          D．scientific story

4.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 probably means ________.

A．employed him

B．didn’t let him work there

C．paid him money

D．were proud of him

5.From the passage, a “Horatio Alger hero” may be the kind of person who________.

A．works hard in the flower business

B．was born into a rich family

C．starts out poor and becomes rich

D．becomes famous as a result of good luck