A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with comparison. It compares similar qualities of two dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language. The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be our understanding of love. Therefore, the poet’s job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way as the poet does.

Let’s analyze this remarkably simple metaphor concerning love and the rose to see what it offers. Because the poet uses a comparison with a rose, first we must examine the characteristics of that flower. A rose is impressive in its beauty, its petals（花瓣）are nicely soft, and its smell is pleasing. It’s possible to say that a rose is actually a feast to the senses of sight, touch, and smell. The rose’s appearance seems to border on perfection, each petal seemingly equal in form. Isn’t this the way one’s love should be？A loved one should be a delight to one’s senses and seem perfect.

However, there is another dimension added to the comparison by using a rose. Roses have thorns. The poet wants to convey the idea that roses can be tricky. So can love, the metaphor tells us. When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn can cause great harm! “Be careful,” the metaphor warns, “Love is a feast to the senses, but it can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us and cause acute suffering.” This is the poet’s understanding of love—an admonition (劝诫). What is the point？Just this: It took almost 14 sentences to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates in only four words! That is the artistry and the joy of the simple metaphor.

1.According to the passage, a metaphor is a ________.

A. description of two similar objects in a poetic way

B. literary device specially employed in poetry writing

　 C. contrast between two different things to create a vivid image

D. comparison between two different objects with similar features

2.As is meant by the author, thorns of a rose ________.

　 A. add a new element to the image of love

B. protect the rose from harm

　 C. symbolize reduced love

D. cause acute suffering

3.It can be inferred from the passage that a metaphor is _______.

　 A. difficult to understand                B. rich in meaning

　 C. simple to use                       D. perfect in form

4.The main idea of this passage is that ________.

　 A. love is a rose in metaphor

B. a rose is a good image in poetry

　 C. a metaphor is a great poetic device

D. a poet should be careful to use a metaphor

 

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　　The first day at school has left a deep ___(1)___ on me. I'll never forget it.

　　As soon as I rushed into the classroom, the bell rang. A young beautiful woman came in, but she was ____(2)___, no smile on her face.“You are not permitted to ____(3)___ me in the course of class unless...”She was speaking when I heard a ___(4)___“Lily, Lily”from outside the door. My grandmother was standing there with a pair of socks in her hand. I didn't realize I was bare feet ____(5)___ then. I wanted to ____(6)___ them, but I dared not do that. I shook my hand, ___(7)____“Don't wait here any longer. Leave quickly.”As I did so, I still ____(8)___ my eyes on my teacher. I really didn't want her to take ____(9)___ of me, but she did. She went out to get the socks. When she gave them to me, she looked at me for a while. My face suddenly turned ____(10)___ and my heart ___(11)____ faster. I began to put the socks on. Unfortunately I was so nervous that my ___(12)___ hands couldn't get them onto my feet easily. Just then I heard my name called. I ____(13)____ from my seat quickly.“Can you ____(14)___ the numbers from one to one hundred?”the teacher asked. I nodded. ____(15)___ her surprise, I did very well. Finally she said,“Be ___(16)____, please. Study hard.”I looked ____(17)____ her to find a smile on her face. I felt ____(18)____ at last.

　　The first day at school has stayed in my ____(19)___ as something embarrassing（尴尬）but ___(20)____.

Goats are amazing animals. They can survive just about anywhere. Altogether there are nine species of goats in the world.
Goats have more uses than you could ever imagine. Goat’s meat can be eaten and goat’s milk is becoming popular as a healthy choice to drink milk. Goat’s milk is easier to take in than cow’s milk and it is called universal milk as it can be used to bottle-feed most animals. In nutrition, it is also good. Goat’s skins are still used today to make gloves and other items of clothing. The initial reasons for domesticating (驯化) goats were to get goat’s hair, meat and milk. Goat’s skins were used up until the Middle Ages for making bottles to hold water and wine for people who were traveling or camping.
Just like sheep, goats are considered to be the first domesticated animal. The domestication process began over 10,000 years ago in a North Iranian town. A lot of people keep goats as pets nowadays.
Goats are easily trained and you can teach them to pull carts and walk on ropes. Goats are also known for escaping their pens(圈). If you have unsecured fencing, your goats will be interested in it and test it out and soon you will know where the openings are. Goats are also widely known for their ability to climb trees, although the tree generally has to be at a slight angle(角度).
If goats are raised correctly and trained from an early age, they never develop any bad habits. Goats will attack each other. However, if they’re corrected from an early age they never attack humans or other animals.
【小题1】The passage is written mainly 　   　.

A．to tell people how to raise goats	B．to let people know more about goats
C．to explain how goats are domesticated	D．to describe goats of different uses

【小题2】Why is goat’s milk called universal milk?

A．It is rich in nutrition and easy to take in.	B．It is good for our health.
C．It is suitable to feed most animals.	D．It is easy to get.

【小题3】If you want to keep a goat as a pet, it is important 　   　.

A．to get along well with it	B．to find a professional trainer
C．to develop its ability	D．to train it when young

【小题4】Which of the following words can best describe goats?

A．Curious and clever.	B．Unfriendly and naughty.
C．Careful and lazy.	D．Stubborn and quiet.

I used to be ashamed of my grandma. I know that's a 1　thing to say, but it was true until today, so I have to　2　it.

The  3 started when my friend Katy found Grandma's false teeth floating in a glass on the bathroom sink. I was so used to seeing them that I 4　 took notice of them. But Katy shouted, laughing and　 5　 to talk to them. I had to get down on my knees and　 6　　her to shut up so my grandma wouldn't　 7　  and get hurt.

After that happened, I　 8　 there were a million things about Grandma that were embarrassing（令人窘迫）.

Once she took Jill and me out to Burger King.　 9　  ordering our hamburgers well-done, she told the person behind the counter, "They'll have two Whoppers (巨无霸) well-to-do. " Jill burst out laughing, but I almost　10　 　.

After a while, I started wishing I could　 11　 Grandma in a closet. I even complained to my parents. Both my parents said I had to be careful not to make Grandma feel　  12　 in our home.

Then last Wednesday, something happened that　 13　 everything completely. My teacher told us to help find interesting old people and　 14　  them about their　 15　 for a big Oral History project. I was trying to think of someone when Angie pushed me gently.

"Volunteer your grandmother," she whispered. "She's　 16　 and rich in experience."

That was the last thing I ever thought Angie would say about my grandma.

This is how I ended up on　  17　 today interviewing my own grandmother before the whole school assembly (集合). All my friends and teachers were listening to her　  18　 she was a great heroine. I was　  19　　of my grandma and hoped she would　 20  know that I had been ashamed of her.

A. funny　　　　 B. common　　　　C. terrible　　 　D. clear

A. admit　　　　 B. receive　　　  C. refuse　　　　 D. show

A. quarrel　　　  B. accident　　　 C. trouble　　 　  D. adventure

A. already　　　  B. always　　　　C. simply　　　 　D. hardly

A. enjoying　　　 B. pretending　 　C. imagining　 　 D. continuing

A. warn　　　　　B. demand　　　　C. advise　　　  D. beg

A. mind　　　　　B. hear　　　　　C. see　　　　　 D. fall

A. expected　　 　B. declared　　　 C. realized　　 　D. doubted

A. Because of　　 B. Except for 　  C. Such as 　　 　D. Instead of

A. died 　　　　  B. cheered 　　　C. disappeared　　D. suffered

A. meet 　　　　 B. avoid　　　　 C. arrange 　　 　D. hide

A. independent　  B. inconvenient　 C. unwelcome　　 D. unfamiliar

A. changed 　　　B. finished　　　 C. stopped　　　　D. Prepared

A. interview 　　 B. report 　　　  C. tell 　　　　　 D. write

A. news 　　　　 B. lives　　　　 C. advantages　　  D. achievements

A. free　　　　 　B. popular　　　 C. interesting　　  D. embarrassing

A. show 　　　　 B. stage　　　　 C. duty　　　　　 D. time

A. and then 　　  B. even if　　　  C. so that　　　　 D. as if

A. sure　　　　 　B. proud　　　　 C. ashamed　　　 D. afraid

A. never　　　　  B. even　　　　　C. still　　　　　 D. once

　A few days ago I asked my sons’ governess（女家庭教师）Julia to come into my study. “Be seated, Julia, ”I said, “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month...”

　　“Forty.”

　　“No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you’ve been here two months, so...”

　　“Two months and five days.”

　　“Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... you know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays... ”Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but - not a word.

　　“Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven - nineteen. Take nineteen off ... that leaves. hmm.... forty one dollars. Correct？”

　　Julia’s left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but - still not a word.

　　“Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but- forget it. When didn’t I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect （疏忽）, Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars.”

　　“You didn’t. ”sobbed Julia.

　　“But I made a note of it.”

　　“Well... if you say so.”

　　“Take twenty seven from forty one -that leaves fourteen.”

　　Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!

　　“Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.”

　　“Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen.. leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is !”

　　I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.

　　“Merci （法语: 谢谢）,”she whispered.

　　I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. “For what, this - ‘merci’?” I asked.

　　“For the money. ”

　　“But you know I’ve cheated you - robbed you ! I have actually stolen from you ! Why this‘merci’？”

　　“In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all.”

　　“They didn’t give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you... I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless （懦弱）?Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws（爪）—to be such a fool?”

　　Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression,“It is possible.”

　　I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little“merci”several times and went out. I looked after her and thought,“How easy it is to crush the weak in this world !”

While talking to Julia, the wrier expected from her ________.

　　A. a protest　　　　　　　　　　　B. gratitude

　　C. obedience　　　　　　　　　　 D. an explanation

What shocked the writer was Julia’s ________.

　　A. nervousness in front of her boss

　　B. acceptance of injustice

　　C. shyness when talking about money

　　D. reluctance to express herself

The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess ________.

　　A. to be more aggressive

　　B. to be more careful in her work

　　C. to protect her right

　　D. to live independently

At the end of the story, the writer said,“ How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”to show ________.

　　A. his understanding of Julia’s anxiety

　　B. his worry about Julia’s future

　　C. his concern on the living condition of working - class people

　　D. his sympathy for the mental state of those exploited