In the fall of 1985,I was a brighteyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twentyone years later I am later I am still a brighteyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopt and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To lay eyes on him was fantastic...and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy. Then followed son No. 3. In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8!Our home was a complete zoo...a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college fulltime. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant talking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit.But I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree!
I am not special, just singleminded. It always struck me that when you're looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you're in the midst of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won't arrive in your life on one day. It's a process. Remember;little steps add up to big dreams.
【小题1】When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be ________.
A.a writer | B.a teacher | C.a judge | D.a doctor |
A.She wanted to study by herself. |
B.She fell in love and got married. |
C.She suffered from a serious illness. |
D.She decided to look after her grandma. |
A.She was busy yet happy with her family life. |
B.She ignored her guilty feeling for her sons. |
C.She wanted to remain a fulltime housewife. |
D.She was too confused to make a correct choice. |
A.Failure is the mother of success. |
B.Little by little,one goes far. |
C.Every coin has two sides. |
D.Well begun, half done. |
【小题1】C
【小题2】D
【小题3】A
【小题4】B
解析【小题1】答案 C [细节理解题。由第一段中的...aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere.可推断出作者当时志在从事与法律相关的职业,并希望在最高法院有一席之地。judge指“法官”。]
【小题2】答案 D [细节理解题。根据第二段中But one year...I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her.可知作者放弃学业是为了照顾她的奶奶。]
【小题3】答案 A [推理判断题。从第四段作者的描述You can imagine how fully occupied I became...Our home was a complete zoo—a joyous zoo.以及第五段的描述可感受到作者虽然繁忙但快乐的情感。]
【小题4】答案 B [细节理解题。本段最后一句话Remember:little steps add up to big dreams.体现了作者对于实现梦想的看法。这句话与选项B含义一致,都是告诉我们:不积跬步,无以至千里。]
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Mom’s birthday present? It may be a difficult thing for some people, but for me, it is an easy thing. Mom loved flowers, so every year I sent her flowers. Actually she had a bed of irises (鸢尾花) in the backyard of her small, Indiana farm. They were beautiful. “Take some,” she said, “Dig some up and plant them on the side of your own house.”
But in my yard they became lacking in energy. A year passed, then two, but not one flower appeared. I cut back all their green leaves. I was tired of seeing them so lonely. Finally, I dug the irises up and threw them away.
About that time Mom died unexpectedly. My sister and I sold the farm. I never went back to see the irises. I just couldn’t stand seeing another family living in our home—Mom’s home. Autumn came, then winter. The following spring, as Mom’s birthday approached, I struggled with the question of how to remember her. I stared out of the window and saw a few stubborn irises in my side yard sprouting (发芽), —tall, thin but flowerless. Because of seeing them, I decided to order flowers as I always did on Mom’s birthday, and send them to my sister. I wished so badly I could still send flowers to Mom. But that was impossible.
On the morning of Mom’s birthday, I was in my car ready to work. Something in the yard caught my eye. The irises! One had bloomed with flowers, big, showy and purple, as lovely as they ever had been on Mom’s farm. I smiled and turned my eyes upward. I could no longer send flowers to Mom. But somehow, she’d been able to send them to me.
【小题1】According to the first paragraph, Mom ________.
A.didn’t like the presents from the author |
B.wanted to give the author some flowers |
C.lived with the author on an Indiana farm |
D.got different birthday presents from the author every year |
A.all died quickly |
B.grew as well as on Mom’s farm |
C.didn’t bloom at all |
D.grew better than those on Mom’s farm |
A.She didn’t know how to grow irises. |
B.She regretted they had sold Mom’s farm. |
C.She couldn’t bear others living in Mom’s home. |
D.She didn’t know what to do in memory of Mom. |
A.All the irises in the author’s yard bloomed. |
B.The author went to see the irises in Mom’s yard. |
C.It was Mom who took care of these irises in the author’s yard. |
D.The author thought the blooming irises were gifts from Mom. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
It's baseball season again,and Hank Snydder is back on the field.He has been back from the accident that kept him out of the game for the season last year,and that cost the Muggers last year's championship.Baseball fans in the city of Midvale are happy and George Brenner,the Muggers' owner,is happy too, because when Hank plays the team wins and the games sell out.“Last year's attendance was all time low when Hank was out,”said Brenner.“We're glad to have him back in uniform.”
Needless to say,the Muggers pay Hank well.But other teams have offered him a million dollars.Still,Hank has been faithful to the Muggers up to now.But there is a rumor(谣传)that Hank might play for the Suffers of Sun City next year.A newspaper reporter asked Hank if there was any truth in it.He said.“Nothing has been decided,but I have to admit that I could be leaving Midvale after this season.”What about another rumor that Hank might be getting married? “That's true.” Hank replied,“and I'm very happy about it.”
There is no need to ask how Midvale or George Brenner would feel about losing Hank.But is Hank completely happy about the changes that may be taking place in his life? “Only one thing troubles me,”he said.“I've always loved the Muggers' blue uniforms.It will take me some time to get used to the Suffers' green and gold uniforms.”
【小题1】Hank Snydder didn't play for the Muggers last year because ________.
A.there were no baseball matches |
B.the club didn't pay him enough money |
C.other players had accidents |
D.something had happened to him |
A.because the players of the Muggers didn't take part in the games |
B.because of Hank Snydder's absence |
C.because all the players didn't try their best |
D.because the Muggers hadn't hoped to win it |
A.Hank Snydder still plays for the Muggers. |
B.Hank Snydder has been loyal to the Muggers. |
C.Hank Snydder might be getting married. |
D.Hank Snydder has some trouble with his partners. |
A.the owner of the Muggers will feel happy |
B.the owner of the Muggers will require him to return all the money |
C.it may be a great loss to the Muggers |
D.he will play for the baseball team for nothing |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband ,Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.
During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport.
He reported the case to the police and then sat there,lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.
Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband’s name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can(垃圾桶)that had been left out on the footpath.
My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.
That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restoredour faith and trust in people.We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.
【小题1】What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney?
A.Go shopping |
B.Find a house |
C.Join his family |
D.Take his family |
A.a friend of his family |
B.a Sydney policeman |
C.a letter in his papes |
D.a stranger in Sydney |
A.Showed |
B.Sent out |
C.Delivered |
D.Gave back |
A.From India to Australia. |
B.Living in a a New Country. |
C.Turning Trash to Treasure. |
D.In Search of New Friends. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
JANE AUSTEN(1775—1817)is often regarded as the greatest of English women novelists on the strength of her six completed novels.Known particularly for their social comedy and accurate description of human relationships,they are still as widely read today as they have ever been.
The seventh child of a country priest(牧师),Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 at Steventon in Hampshire.Her father ,the Reverend George Austen,was an intelligent and sensitive man who encouraged Jane in her love of reading.From an early age she was familiar with the works of Henry Fielding,Sir Walter Scott,Richardson,Frances Burney and the poet George Crabbe.Her early attempts at writing include burlesques(滑稽作品)of popular romances.When her father retired in 1801 the family moved to Bath,which was later to feature in her novel Northanger Abbey(published in 1818).After his death in 1805 the family moved first to Southampton and then in 1809 to Chawton in Hampshire.where Jane Austen is known to have written her last three novels:Mansfield Park(1814),Emma(1816)and Persuasion(also published in 1818).Although her other novels were written much earlier ,it was not until 1811 that Sense and Sensibility was first published.Pride and Prejudice,which followed in1813,features Jane Austen’own favourite hero,Elizabeth Bennet.
Surrounded by her lively and warm family and wholly buried herself in her writing and housework,Jane Austen led a life often known for its lack of events.She did,however ,attract several admirers and even accepted a proposal of marriage from one admirer-only to change her mind the following morning.Jane Austen’s independent life often seems reflected in her novels,which seem to display the world in miniature(缩影).Sir Walter Scott praised Jane Austen for‘that unique touch which makes ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting’,while Somerset Maugham claimed that she had at her command ‘the most precious gift a novelist can possess’s that of keeping the reader’s interest.Jane Austen died in 1817.
【小题1】The underlined word“touch” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to
A.style | B.contact | C.taste | D.attitude |
A.Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. |
B.Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. |
C.Pride and Prejudice and Emma. |
D.Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. |
A.attracting admirers |
B.reflecting her own life in all her novels |
C.making dull things and characters interesting |
D.holding the readers’ interest |
A.collection of women novelists and their works |
B.comment on Jane Austen and her works |
C.brief introduction of Jane Austen |
D.description of Jane Austen’s road to success |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
My dad was never the kind to offer many words of love or encouragement. But we knew he loved us. He just had his own way of showing it.
When I was a teen, we were seasonal campers(野营者)at a family campground almost an hour outside the city where we lived. Each family had their own campsite with water and electric, and you basically parked your camper there from May to October. Most “seasonals” visited them every weekend during those months, with the occasional week-long stay. There were plenty of other kids who camped seasonally each weekend, and they came to be some of my closest friends. Of course, many of them were boys.
We kids paired up(结对)with our little boyfriends or girlfriends, and we’d hold hands as we walked around the campground. We’d play ping-pong, have some snacks, and sing songs. Most weekends were pretty similar, but the couples would change. You’d see so-and-so with a different so-and-so than they were with the weekend before. You know how it is when you’re a teen—a three-week relationship is a really long time.
So, needless to say, my teen years were spent with quite a few different boys. But every single one of them had something in common. They’d all received the Evil Eye.
The Evil Eye was a magical sort of thing. One simple look from my dad, and the boy immediately knew not to mess with me. It was as if he could send his warnings through invisible laser(激光)beams that shot directly from his eyes to the boys’ brains.
“You will not put your hands on my daughter. You will not kiss my daughter. You will not even whisper sweet things into my daughter’s ear. ”
I remember one night in particular walking with a boy around the campground after dark. We came from one direction, and my dad from the other. The boy and my dad locked eyes for a brief second, then the boy dropped my hand like a hot potato and turned away, giving me a quick “See you later. ”
Yes, that’s the Evil Eye: best way ever to keep wandering teen boys’ hands away from your daughter.
【小题1】The Evil Eye in the passage implies that .
A.Dad gets angry easily |
B.Dad’s eyes are evil |
C.Dad’s eyes are ugly-looking |
D.Dad’s eyes are protective to his daughter |
A.cause trouble for | B.make untidy |
C.get married to | D.talk to |
A.As teenagers, we went camping every weekend. |
B.We made lots of friends during the seasonal camping. |
C.We had regular boyfriends or girlfriends and enjoyed ourselves. |
D.The boy dropped my hand and turned away because he loved the Evil Eye. |
A.is a teenage girl who loves her father |
B.is a teenage boy who hates his father |
C.is now an adult who has come to understand her father’s love |
D.used to be a naughty boy who changed girlfriends now and then |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Jenny found her old bicycle at the back of the garage.It was a lot smaller than she remembered.When she sat on it and put her feet on the pedals,her knees nearly touched her chin. She then asked her dad for a new bicycle.
“Well,I’m sorry,but I can’t afford a bicycle now,“said Dad.“Why don’t you work and earn some money? You can save up for a bicycle yourself.”
Jenny began to work.That day she earned five dollars for cutting the grass and ten dollars for mowing the lawn for her dad.
That night Jenny went on the computer.She wrote“Gardening and Housework—Ten dollars an hour.Call Jenny at 23 Roseville Lane.“She decorated the page with pictures of cleaning and gardening equipment.She printed it fifty times.Then she posted the pages through all the doors on her street.
That week,Jenny was very busy! Lots of people had jobs to do,but they didn’t have time to do them.So they called Jenny.Every day,Jenny rushed home from schoo1.She did her homework quickly,and then she went out to work.
At the end of the week.she had$65! She told her father.
“That’s enough for a second hand bicycle.”he said.
“Yes,but if I work for one more week,I might have enough money for a new bike,“said Jenny.“In two more weeks,I could buy a really good bicycle! I think that's what I'll do. I want to have the best bicycle in the class,because I earn it myself!”
Jenny’s dad hugged her.“I think you learned something important.We appreciate things a lot more when we earn them.When we get something without earning it,we do not realize its true value.”
【小题1】What was the problem with Jenny’s old bicycle?
A.It was broken. | B.It was too dirty. |
C.Jenny didn't like it. | D.It was too small. |
A.He wanted to teach her a lesson. |
B.He was too busy. |
C.He had just bought Jenny a birthday present. |
D.He didn’t think it was a good idea. |
A.$10. | B.$5. | C.$65. | D.$15. |
A.She mailed letters to them. |
B.She delivered messages by hand. |
C.she sent them an email. |
D.She talked to all her neighbors. |
A.pleased because she had learnt a useful lesson |
B.grateful to her father for his advice |
C.optimistic about making more money |
D.disappointed because she couldn’t afford a new bicycle |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’ t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile —warm and reassuring — and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.
“Yes, she’ s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’ s only our second date,but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’ ,”Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’ t figure out why she’ d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week — even when times were tough and we didn’ t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and — of course — I miss him since he’ s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased.“You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later,when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me,she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her — that was the night that I won her heart.
【小题1】Why was the writer in a hurry that day?
A.He was to meet his girlfriend. |
B.He had to go back to school soon. |
C.He was delayed by an elderly lady. |
D.He had to pick up some groceries. |
A.Her words. | B.Her smile. | C.Her flowers. | D.Her politeness. |
A.She told him a nice story. | B.She allowed him to pay first. |
C.She gave him encouragement. | D.She liked flowers very much. |
A.envelop | B.block | C.an animal | D.decide |
A.Flowers are important for a date. |
B.Small talk is helpful. |
C.Love and kindness are rewarding. |
D.Elderly people deserve respecting. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Gift Idea
The other day I was shopping for Grandma when I realized I had no gift ideas at all.It was not a birthday gift or anything like that.It was simply sort of a hello gift.That is how we do things in my family.We don't really give gifts for special occasions.Instead, we occasionally just give presents to each other to tell other people that we are thinking about them.
That was why I wanted a gift for Grandma.But it was like my imagination had dried up. I have gone through all of the gift ideas in previous years, fruits, wines, cheeses, little handmade crafts, and anything else that you can give to a grandmother.I had even given her gift watches, and CDs.What else was there?
I have always found gift ideas for men a little bit easier than for women, because for men, you can always get the usual things, such as video games, power tools and things like that.With a woman's gift idea, however, you have to know more about her.You cannot just get someone a book or a CD.You have to know all about her taste in movies, music, and literature.
My grandmother likes to read a lot, but what she likes is always pretty popular.I didn't want to get her a book that she might not like, but I was running out of time.I needed a gift idea for this weekend and went to visit her.After all, I hadn't seen her for a long time.I wanted to give her a gift so she would not feel ignored.
Finally, I came up with the perfect gift idea.I made a collection of all the stories I had written in the past year.It wasn't a typical gift idea like a bunch of flowers, but it really worked in the situation.You see, I am a writer and my grandma has always been my fan.
Anyway, I had been learning about bookbinding recently, and had pretty much mastered the art.I figured that I would add a little bit of handmade artwork to the stories, bind it altogether, and give it to her.It took hours to complete, but it was well worth the effort.She absolutely loved it.
【小题1】The writer chose a gift for Grandma to _____.
A.celebrate a special family occasion |
B.please her during a weekend visit |
C.congratulate her on her birthday |
D.beg her pardon for ignoring her |
A.Gift watches. |
B.A bunch of flowers. |
C.Artwork made by hand. |
D.Stories written by himself. |
A.Interesting. | B.Challenging. |
C.Time-wasting. | D.Popular. |
A.the writer is a successful novelist |
B.most people are particular about gifts |
C.the writer's grandma has a good taste in art |
D.the writer's family will give gifts on regular days |
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