BALTIMORE. MARYLAND—An old postcard changed the lives of an eleven-year-old boy and a very sick woman. The postcard had a picture of the steamship Titanic. The Titanic was the largest ocean ship in the world. It hit an iceberg（冰山）and sank on April 14. 1912. More than 1,500 of the 2,200 people on the ship were killed.

　　The postcard was passed from one person to another for more than 80 years. Then it appeared at a card show for people who liked to collect postcards. An eleven-year-old boy, Joey Russell, came to the show with his grandfather. His grandfather knew everything about the Titanic and its trip from England to New York. “Let’s buy that postcard.” he told Joey. “It will be important someday.”

　　Two years later, Joey’s grandfather took him on a special trip. They went on a trip to the North Atlantic ocean to watch as workers pulled the Titanic up from the bottom of the ocean. Joey put his special postcard in his bag for the trip. On the ship, Joey met Edith Haisman. This woman was on the Titanic when it sank. She was one of the people who were rescued. Joey pulled the postcard out of his pocket. “Please sign this, Mrs. Haisman.” he said. She was happy to write her name on the back of the postcard.

When Joey got home, he put the postcard away and forgot about it, Then Kate Shelley, one of Joey’s friends, told him that her mother was very sick. She needed an operation, but there was a problem. The operation was very expensive, and the family needed $80, 000 to pay for it. Friends and relatives tried to help. But where could they get so much money?

　　Then when Joey went to see the new movie “Titanic”, he had an idea. “Millions of people are seeing this movie and reading about the Titanic.” Joey thought. He remembered the old postcard with Edith Haisman’s signature on it. “Maybe I can sell it for some money. Then I can help Kate’s mom.”

　　Joey told his mother and father about his idea to help Mrs. Shelley. His parents helped him try to sell the postcard to the person who would pay the most money for it. Joey’s story was on television and in newspapers. Joey and Kate even went to New York to be on a national TV show. After the show, many people called in to offer money for the Titanic card. Someone bought it for $60. 000.

Joey’s kind heart and the old Titanic postcard worked together to save a woman’s life.

1.Which of the following is NOT true about the old postcard?

A. The Titanic was the largest steamship in the world in 1912.

B. The steamship Titanic hit an iceberg and sank about a hundred years ago

C. Over two thousand passengers were killed in the ocean accident.

D. More than eighty years had passed before the postcard belonged to Joey.

2.Joey Russell _________.

A. decided to buy the postcard at a shop

B. showed great interest in collecting postcards

C. took the postcard with him to see Mrs. Shelley

D. asked Mrs. Haisman to sign her name on his postcard

3.What does the underlined word “rescued” mean in the sentence?

A. Be made safe from danger.

B. Be on an ocean trip.

C. Be working on board.

D. Be asked to sell the postcard.

4.When did Joey Russell have the idea of selling his old postcard for money?

A. When Kate Shelley told him of her mother’s sickness.

    B. When he went to see the new movie “Titanic”.

    C. When he was reading the new book of Titanic.

    D. When he remembered Mrs. Haisman’s signature on his card.

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

A. The Titanic arrived in New York at the end of April, 1912.

B. At the age of 13, Joey Russell got Mrs. Haisman’s signature.

C. Joey Russell sold out his postcards on a national TV show.

D. The Titanic card was sold to many people for $60, 000.

 

Long long ago, a young man found a spring of delicious clean water while he was going through the desert. He brought some back to the oldest man in his village, who had been his teacher before. After a four-day journey he sent the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village happily. The next day, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It went bad because it had stayed in the old leather container(皮革容器) for so many days in such hot weather. The student asked his teacher why he pretended(假装) to like the awful water. The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for love and kindness. And nothing could be sweeter than these."
　　I think we understand this lesson best when we receive small gifts of love from very young kids. Whether it's a slice of bread or a piece of colored paper, the natural and right response(反应) is to show our thanks and happiness because we get love from the gift.
　 To show our thanks doesn't always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults only see the thing itself. They never feel the meaning of the thing. We should tell ourselves and teach our children about showing thanks and happiness to the persons who give the gifts from their hearts because gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.
【小题1】Where did the young man find the water?

A．In a spring.

B．In a river.

C．In a lake.

D．In a village.

【小题2】How long did the water stay in the old leather container?

A．Six days.

B．Five days.

C．Four days.

D．Three days.

【小题3】What does the word “replied” mean?

A．smiled

B．cried

C．answered

D．got angry

【小题4】According to the passage, what is the right response when we get gifts from others?

A．We eat it up at once.

B．We only see the thing itself.

C．We think about the meaning of the bread.

D．We usually show our thanks and happiness naturally.

【小题5】What does the writer want to tell us?

A．We should never receive anything from others.

B．We should show thanks and happiness when we get the gifts from the heart.

C．We should pretend to love the things given by others all the time.

D．We should give gifts from our hearts.

International students in Christine Rhodes’ English class in Australia share their impressions (印象) of places they have visited in Australia.
Canberra, the nicest city in Australia
I went for a short holiday to Canberra. My uncle lives there. It’s the nicest city in Australia, a little bit similar to Cairns. There’re lots of big rivers and trees around the city.
Siggi Siebold from Germany
The small city of Mount Isa
I went to Mount Isa six months ago. It’s a long way from Brisbane — about 2,000 km. It’s a small city, with a population of 21,000, but it has all the basic facilities such as a base hospital, six schools and supermarkets. Here the weather is hot and gets very little rain. There’re two big lakes to keep rainwater for people in the city to drink.
Indra Ekanayake
Lake Moondarra and a mine (矿)
In Mount Isa, there’s a dam (水坝) called Lake Moondarra. At weekends you can go there with your friends, and it is beautiful. On the lake, there is water skiing. Also, people can go fishing there.
There’s a big mine in Mount Isa. Many people go to work in the mine and earn a lot of money. Mount Isa isn’t a beautiful green place, but many people love it.
Ida Robb from Indonesia
【小题1】Siggi Siebold is from 　　　.

A．Australia

B．Germany

C．England

D．Indonesia

【小题2】What does the underlined word “facilities” probably mean in Chinese?

A．设施

B．土地

C．交通

D．名胜

【小题3】Lake Moondarra is a 　　　.

A．city

B．mountain

C．mine

D．dam

【小题4】Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Ida Robb?

A．People can go fishing on Lake Moondarra.

B．There are 21,000 people in Mount Isa.

C．There’s a big mine in Mount Isa.

D．Many people like Mount Isa though it isn’t a beautiful green place.

【小题5】Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Siggi Siebold stayed in Canberra for six months.

B．Mount Isa is a famous village in Australia.

C．People in Mount Isa drink rainwater.

D．People can’t go water skiing on the lake.

International students in Christine Rhodes’ English class in Australia share their impressions (印象) of places they have visited in Australia.

Canberra, the nicest city in Australia

I went for a short holiday to Canberra. My uncle lives there. It’s the nicest city in Australia, a little bit similar to Cairns. There’re lots of big rivers and trees around the city.

Siggi Siebold from Germany

The small city of Mount Isa

I went to Mount Isa six months ago. It’s a long way from Brisbane — about 2,000 km. It’s a small city, with a population of 21,000, but it has all the basic facilities such as a base hospital, six schools and supermarkets. Here the weather is hot and gets very little rain. There’re two big lakes to keep rainwater for people in the city to drink.

Indra Ekanayake

Lake Moondarra and a mine (矿)

In Mount Isa, there’s a dam (水坝) called Lake Moondarra. At weekends you can go there with your friends, and it is beautiful. On the lake, there is water skiing. Also, people can go fishing there.

There’s a big mine in Mount Isa. Many people go to work in the mine and earn a lot of money. Mount Isa isn’t a beautiful green place, but many people love it.

Ida Robb from Indonesia

1.Siggi Siebold is from 　　　.

A．Australia

B．Germany

C．England

D．Indonesia

2.What does the underlined word “facilities” probably mean in Chinese?

A．设施

B．土地

C．交通

D．名胜

3.Lake Moondarra is a 　　　.

A．city

B．mountain

C．mine

D．dam

4.Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Ida Robb?

A．People can go fishing on Lake Moondarra.

B．There are 21,000 people in Mount Isa.

C．There’s a big mine in Mount Isa.

D．Many people like Mount Isa though it isn’t a beautiful green place.

5.Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Siggi Siebold stayed in Canberra for six months.

B．Mount Isa is a famous village in Australia.

C．People in Mount Isa drink rainwater.

D．People can’t go water skiing on the lake.

 

Long long ago, a young man found a spring of delicious clean water while he was going through the desert. He brought some back to the oldest man in his village, who had been his teacher before. After a four-day journey he sent the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village happily. The next day, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It went bad because it had stayed in the old leather container(皮革容器) for so many days in such hot weather. The student asked his teacher why he pretended(假装) to like the awful water. The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for love and kindness. And nothing could be sweeter than these."

　　I think we understand this lesson best when we receive small gifts of love from very young kids. Whether it's a slice of bread or a piece of colored paper, the natural and right response(反应) is to show our thanks and happiness because we get love from the gift.

　 To show our thanks doesn't always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults only see the thing itself. They never feel the meaning of the thing. We should tell ourselves and teach our children about showing thanks and happiness to the persons who give the gifts from their hearts because gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

1.Where did the young man find the water?

A．In a spring.        B．In a river.          C．In a lake.          D．In a village.

2.How long did the water stay in the old leather container?

A．Six days.          B．Five days.          C．Four days.         D．Three days.

3.What does the word “replied” mean?

A．smiled            B．cried             C．answered         D．got angry

4.According to the passage, what is the right response when we get gifts from others?

A．We eat it up at once.

B．We only see the thing itself.

C．We think about the meaning of the bread.

D．We usually show our thanks and happiness naturally.

5.What does the writer want to tell us?

A．We should never receive anything from others.

B．We should show thanks and happiness when we get the gifts from the heart.

C．We should pretend to love the things given by others all the time.

D．We should give gifts from our hearts.