5. The present that Edith bought for her father _________.

　　 A. proved to be valuable　　　　 　　　　　　　 B. would be of no use

　　 C. pleased her parents　　　　　 　　　　　　　 D. made her parents sad　 (BAABB)

d

As prices and building costs keep rising, the "do-it-yourself" (DIY)trend (趋势) in the U.S. continues to grow.

　　 "We need furniture(家具) for our living room," says John Ross," and we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs." John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Roses took a 2_week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around house.

　　 Jim Hatfield has free boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420."I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself."

　　 John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the countries are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourselfer", you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.

4. Edith's father smoked a pipe ________.

　　　 A. when he was allowed to　　　 　　　　　　 B. from time to time

　　　 C. when he was pleased　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. from then on

3. Edith stayed at the next counter ________ .

　　　 A. for not a long time　　　　　 　　　　　　　 B. for quite some time

　　　 C. without buying anything　　　 　　　　　　　 D. and talked to the assistant

2. The assistant spoke to Edith because she ________ .

　　　 A. seemed interested in ties　　 　　　　　　　　 B. was a beautiful girl

　　　 C. showed no interest in ties　 　　　　　　　　　 D. was in need of talk

1. Edith's father ________ .

　 　 A. did not like presents　　 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. was difficult to choose a present for

　 　 C. never got presents　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. liked any kind of presents

4. The main idea of the passage is _____.

　　　 A.how and where we can write good articles

　　　 B. everyone can do something for the future

　　　 C. wise man are sometimes stupid　　　　　　　

　　　 D. young people are wiser than old people　　　　　　　　 (DDAB)

c

As she walked round the huge department store, Edith thought how difficult it was to choose a proper Christmas present for her father. She wished that he was as easy to please as her mother, who was always satisfied with a bottle of perfume(香水). Besides, shopping at this time of the year was most unpleasant experience: people stepped on your feet, and almost knocked you over in their hurry to get ahead of you.

　　 Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where she saw some beautiful ties. "They are real silk, the assistant said to her, trying to persuade her to buy one. "Worth double the price." But Edith knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.

　　 She moved on and then stopped where a small crowd of men had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes on sale---and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate(犹豫)for long: although her father only smoked s pipe occasionally. She knew that this was a present which was certain to please him.

　 When she got home, with her small well-chosen present hidden in her handbag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was especially happy. "Your father has at last decided to stop smoking," she informed her daughter.

3. From the last two paragraphs, we can learn that ______.

　　　 A. something new and important can be realized from what the young man did

　　　 B. it was very foolish of the young man to throw starfish in the ocean

　　　 C. the young man had the ability to make a difference

　　　 D. to save the starfish is actually to save ourselves

2. “Something very special refers to _____.

　　　 A. the gifts from friends　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. the strength of making decisions

　　　 C. our own starfish　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. the ability of shaping one’s own future

1. one day the wise man saw the young man _____.

　　　 A. dancing along the beach　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. walking with a dancer

　　　 C. picking up starfish for sale　　　　　　　　　　 D. trying to save as many starfish as possible

3. The passengers were ______ to the blind man and his dog.

　　　 A. angry　　　　　　　　　 B. pleased　　　　　　　　 C. kind　　　　　　　 D. unfriendly(ADA)

b

Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had the habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

Ah he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it to the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”

The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”

“I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”

“The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don’t throw them in they will die!”

“But, young man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said. “ it made a difference for that one.”

There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, we will gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.

We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well,, the world will be better.