In the kitchen of my mother’s houses there has always been a wooden stand (木架) with a small notepad (记事本)and a hole for a pencil.
I’m looking for paper on which to note down the name of a book I am recommending to my mother. Over forty years since my earliest memories of the kitchen pad and pencil, five houses later, the current paper and pencil look the same as they always did. Surely it can’t be the same pencil? The pad is more modern, but the wooden stand is definitely the original one.
“I’m just amazed you still have the same stand for holding the pad and pencil after all these years.” I say to her, walking back into the living-room with a sheet of paper and the pencil. “You still use a pencil. Can’t you afford a pen?”
My mother replies a little sharply. “It works perfectly well. I’ve always kept the stand in the kitchen. I never knew when I might want to note down an idea, and I was always in the kitchen in those days.”
Immediately I can picture her, hair wild, blue housecoat covered in flour, a wooden spoon in one hand, the pencil in the other, her mouth moving silently. My mother smiles and says, “One day I was cooking and watching baby Pauline, and I had a brilliant thought, but the stand was empty. One of the children must have taken the paper. So I just picked up the breadboard and wrote it all down on the back. It turned out to be a real breakthrough for solving the mathematical problem I was working on.”
This story—which happened before I was born—reminds me how extraordinary my mother was, and is, as a gifted mathematician. I feel embarrassed that I complain about not having enough child-free time to work. Later, when my mother is in the bathroom, I go into her kitchen and turn over the breadboards. Sure enough, on the back of the smallest one, are some penciled marks I recognize as mathematics. Those symbols have travelled unaffected through fifty years, rooted in the soil of a cheap wooden breadboard, invisible (看不到的) exhibits at every meal.
61. Why has the author’s mother always kept the notepad and pencil in the kitchen?
A. To leave messages.
B. To list her everyday tasks.
C. To note down maths problems.
D. To write down a flash of inspiration.
62. What is the author’s original opinion about the wooden stand?
A. It has great value for the family.
B. It needs to be replaced by a better one.
C. It brings her back to her lonely childhood.
D. It should be passed on to the next generation.
63. The author feels embarrassed for .
A. blaming her mother wrongly
B. giving her mother a lot of trouble
C. not making good use of time as her mother did
D. not making any breakthrough in her field
64. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. The mother is successful in her career.
B. The family members like travelling.
C. The author had little time to play when young.
D. The marks on the breadboard have disappeared.
65. In the author’s mind, her mother is .
A. strange in behaviour
B. keen on her research
C. fond of collecting old things
D. careless about her appearance
科目:高中英语 来源:2013届河北省衡水中学高三第一次调研考试英语试卷(带解析) 题型:阅读理解
To Whom It May Concern:
On March 5, 2012 , I bought a Perfect Muffin Kit(松饼粉 ) from your store at Midfield Shopping Center. The cashier who assisted me was George. George was very friendly and told me that the Perfect Muffin Kit would live up to the guarantee on the box: “Perfect Muffins Every Time!”.
Unfortunately, this product did not live up to what it promised . The muffins I made were far from perfect . I followed the directions in the package very carefully . First , I removed the bag of mix from the box. Then , I poured it into a bowl. Next, I added the correct amount of water to the mix and stirred it. According to the directions, after stirring the mixture , I added half a cup of dried prapes, nuts , berries, or another favorite ingredient(配料 ) . My favorite ingredient happens to be hot sauce (沙司 ). I find that a bit of hot sauce makes pizza and soup taste very delicious. So, continuing to follow the directions, I added half a cup of hot sauce to the mix and stirred it. Finally, I poured the mix into muffin tins and baked it in the baker at 350 degrees for exactly 20 minutes.
When the muffins finished baking, I was very excited to eat the “Perfect Muffins” as promised on the box. You can imagine my disappointment when, upon tasting the muffins, I discovered that they were not perfect. These muffins were , in fact , absolutely terrible. Not even my dog was interested in eating these supposedly “perfect” muffins.
I would appreciate a full refund(退款 ) of $3.99 for this product as soon as possible. Enclosed are the receipt, the empty box, and one of the un-perfect muffins so that you can experience it for yourself . Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely ,
Michelle Bauer
【小题1】This letter is most likely addressed to _______.
A.a local storeowner |
B.the owner of the muffin mix company |
C.the clerk at a local muffin bakery |
D.George, the cashier who sold the muffin mix |
A.embarrassed | B.hopeless |
C.disappointed | D.disgusted |
A.the directions of the product contained a mistake |
B.it was not up to the promise made on the box |
C.it was too difficult to follow the directions |
D.it was worth less money than she paid for it |
A.prevent others from making the same mistake |
B.persuade the company to change the wording on their box |
C.get back all the money paid from the shop |
D.complain about how bad the muffins tasted |
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科目:高中英语 来源:2011-2012学年河北省衡水中学高一下学期期末考试英语试卷(带解析) 题型:阅读理解
The Museum: The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world’s most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator(时事评论员).The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world. On four floors, visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts(手稿), original furniture and many items relating to the life of one of the most popular and beloved personalities of the Victorian age.
Opening Hours
The Museum is open from Mondays to Saturdays 10:00—17:00; Sundays 11:00—17:00.
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.
Special opening times can be arranged for groups, who may wish to book a private view.
Admission Charges: Adults: £5.00; Students: £4.00; Seniors: £4.00; Children: £3.00; Families: £14.00
(2 adults & up to five children)
Group Rates: For a group of 10 or more, a special group rate of £4.00 each applies. Children will still be admitted for £3.00 each.
Access: We are constantly working to improve access to the Museum and its collection. Our current projects involve the fitting of a wheelchair ramp(波道)for better access, a customer care kit and an audio tour for visitors with impaired (受损的)vision. Our Handling Sessions are also suitable for the visually(视觉上地)impaired. The Museum has developed an online virtual(虚拟的)tour through the Museum. Click here to visit all the rooms in the Museum online.
Hire the Museum: The Museum can be hired for private functions, performances soirees (社交晚会) and many other social occasions.
Find Us: The Museum may be reached by using the following buses: 7,17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, 243. And by these underground services: Piccadilly Line; Central Line. For a map, please click here. The British Museum and the Foundling Museum are within walking distance.
【小题1】The passage is probably from a(n)________.
A.book | B.website | C.newspaper | D.announcement |
A.£25.00 | B.£ 14.00 | C.£ 9.00 | D.£11.00 |
A.In any case people cannot visit the Museum after 17:00. |
B.Visitors with poor vision cannot enjoy the Museum. |
C.The Museum is not very far from the British Museum. |
D.Anyone cannot hire the Museum for other uses. |
A.persuade readers to visit the Charles Dickens Museum. |
B.inform readers about the history of the Charles Dickens Museum. |
C.offer readers some information about the Charles Dickens Museum. |
D.tell readers how to make use of the Charles Dickens Museum. |
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科目:高中英语 来源:2013-2014学年吉林省九校联合体高三第二次摸底考试英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
According to the US Geological Survey, about seven million earthquakes strike worldwide every year—but fortunately, only about 1500 of these are of a magnitude(震级) of 5 or greater on the Richter scale. Certain areas, such as California and Japan, are more prone to earthquakes than others. Although the chance of being caught in “The Big one” is remote, it’s wise to be prepared if you live in a region where earthquakes are common.
Educate your family about earthquakes before a big one strikes. For example, they need to know to take shelter in a doorway or under a strong object if indoors, and never to run outdoors if they are inside. If outside, they need to know to stay away from power lines and buildings where objects could fall.
Teach family members how to turn off gas or water lines or electrical power that may need to be shut off after a quake if severe damage occurs.
Develop a plan. Where will your family meet in the event of a disaster? What if some people are at work or school? How will you know if they are safe? Where will you all meet up?
Pack a preparedness kit(衣物装备) and keep it in a safe location. In a major earthquake, it’s possible that you won’t be able to get into your house. Keep supplies in your car trunk or an outside storage shed if possible. Pack whatever your family is likely to need, enough for three days to a week, including food, water, medication, first aid and personal hygiene supplies, flashlights, a portable radio, blankets, clothes and shoes, cash, or camp stove, candles, matches or lighters, and a whistle.
Consider earthquake insurance for your home if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Regular homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover earthquake damage.
1.The underlined words “prone to ” in paragraph 1 can be replaced by___________.
A. likely to suffer B. frequent to explore
C. regular to measure D. impossible to experience
2.According to the passage, if you are outside in an earthquake, you should_________.
A. stay where you are B. hide under a big tree
C. avoid power lines D. sit on the ground
3. We can learn from the passage that_________.
A. about 1,500 earthquakes happen every year
B. people should store some clothes in their houses in advance
C. family members should meet in their home after an earthquake
D. people suffering earthquakes often should buy earthquake insurance
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How to Keep Safe in an Earthquake
B. How to Prepare for an Earthquake
C. Who Can Help Us After an Earthquake?
D. Where Is an Earthquake-prone Area?
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科目:高中英语 来源:2015届湖北省高二上学期期中考试英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
I spend a lot of time backpacking and hiking the outdoors and there are two pieces of equipment that are with me on each trip: an Adventure Medical Kits Weekender and an Adventure Medical Kits Suture Syringe Kit. Both proved very helpful on my most recent adventures to the Wrangell in Alaska.
On that day, we were “blessed” with rain, making our water crossing on the Dixie Pass very difficult. Our party of 12 had almost reached our destination when I slipped, severely gashing(划伤) my knee open in the process. While I could not see the wound at first because of the rain pants I was wearing, I knew it was severe.
Blood was running freely and I made those standing nearby aware of the damage. They quickly came over to assist, pulled my pack off and removed the Weekender First Aid Kit and Suture Kit from it. Fortunately, one of my partners is a doctor called William, who has often performed this type of work in the operating room, not out in the wild.
I seriously think he was more nervous about all this than me! I, of course, was more than happy that I did not have to stitch(缝合) myself up. As a marine, I’ve had to do it before. Fortunately, the sky had cleared up about two hours before, so we had great sunlight to work with. The doctor worked quickly with the assistance of another fellow camper acting as a nurse and placed seven stitches into my knee once the wound had been cleaned up.
Later that evening we used a syringe(注射器) we set aside loaded with Iodine(抗炎药) to clean the wound and then bandaged it again. The doctor was very impressed with the kits contents!
I’ve already ordered another Suture Syringe Kit. I have to say the kits are worth their weight in gold! Thanks for the contents in the kits!
1.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 probably refer to?
A. the wound B. the rain C. the kit D. the knee
2.Why did the author think that William was more nervous while performing the first aid than himself?
A. Because William didn’t know how to use the kits.
B. Because the author didn’t trust William.
C. Because the author hurt himself severely.
D. Because William had no experience of doing it in the wild.
3.From the passage, we can infer that the kits are__________.
A. useless B. extremely useful C. troublesome D. not essential
4.What is mainly discussed in the passage?
A. How first aid kits saved a backpacker in Alaska.
B. How a doctor did the operation in the wild.
C. How the author with 12 fellow campers hike the outdoors.
D. How the author hurt himself.
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科目:高中英语 来源:2011-2012学年广东省惠州市高三第二次调研考试英语题 题型:阅读理解
The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.
“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.
Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.
“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.
“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.
Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”
“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.
Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.
“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.
Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”
The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.
Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”
In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.
His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.
This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.
B.It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.
C.Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.
D.Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.
2.What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?
A.annoyed B.convinced
C.got over D.made less angry
3.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ______.
A.how angry she was B.how effectively she handled Mr.Carr
C.that she didn't cry D.that she was able to save him
4.What was the mother's attitude toward Alfred?
A.She was very strict with him. B.She was supportive of him.
C.She felt disappointed with him. D.She was afraid of him.
5.From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ______.
A.was no longer a youth B.felt proud of his mother
C.felt guilty and regretful for his deed D.wanted his mother to be happy
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