I have a painfully vivid memory of my first homecoming from college, in December 1983. After three whole months away, I was back home with my brand new opinions, attitudes and tastes. How could they watch such terrible television programs? I, the English Literature major with Shakespeare and Milton and James Joyce, could hardly bear to sleep under the roof of a house whose few bookshelves held thrillers and bound editions of the Reader’s Digest. I’m sure my family was glad to see the back of me when, at the end of the holiday, I packed up my books and headed back up to university in the north of England.
But the next year must have been even more painful to my parents: I didn’t show up at all. Now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with young people spending a little time away from their families and with their friends.  It’s part of growing up, something you need to do if you are to become properly independent. However, if you’re not going to be home for the festival, you should at least have the decency to telephone and say you’re not coming.
In English we have an expression, “wet behind the ears.” A person who is wet behind the ears is so immature, that they don’t know how to dry the back of their head after a bath. Just before the following year’s holiday I fell ill, quite seriously so. I’m sure my own behavior contributed to my getting sick: staying out too late, not eating properly—perhaps you know someone like the person I was then. I lay in bed with a fever, feeling very sorry for myself.
I’m sure you can guess who came to my rescue. My long-suffering parents got in their car and sped up the motorway to rescue their son from the consequences of his own irresponsibility.
I hope I’m a better son now; if not, it’s getting a little late in the day if I want to change. I’ve worked in China for nearly 10 years and so I don’t get to see them as often as I like, but my parents are online all the time so we talk many times each week. And this Spring Festival I will be flying back to England for a visit. 
I’m really looking forward to it.
【小题1】What can we learn from the first paragraph?

I have a painfully vivid memory of my first homecoming from college, in December 1983. After three whole months away, I was back home with my brand new opinions, attitudes and tastes. How could they watch such terrible television programs? I, the English Literature major with Shakespeare and Milton and James Joyce, could hardly bear to sleep under the roof of a house whose few bookshelves held thrillers and bound editions of the Reader’s Digest. I’m sure my family was glad to see the back of me when, at the end of the holiday, I packed up my books and headed back up to university in the north of England.

   But the next year must have been even more painful to my parents: I didn’t show up at all. Now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with young people spending a little time away from their families and with their friends.  It’s part of growing up, something you need to do if you are to become properly independent. However, if you’re not going to be home for the festival, you should at least have the decency to telephone and say you’re not coming.

   In English we have an expression, “wet behind the ears.” A person who is wet behind the ears is so immature, that they don’t know how to dry the back of their head after a bath. Just before the following year’s holiday I fell ill, quite seriously so. I’m sure my own behavior contributed to my getting sick: staying out too late, not eating properly—perhaps you know someone like the person I was then. I lay in bed with a fever, feeling very sorry for myself.

   I’m sure you can guess who came to my rescue. My long-suffering parents got in their car and sped up the motorway to rescue their son from the consequences of his own irresponsibility.

   I hope I’m a better son now; if not, it’s getting a little late in the day if I want to change. I’ve worked in China for nearly 10 years and so I don’t get to see them as often as I like, but my parents are online all the time so we talk many times each week. And this Spring Festival I will be flying back to England for a visit. 

   I’m really looking forward to it.

1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. The author liked reading thrillers and the Reading Digest.

B. The author couldn’t fall asleep in a house with few books.

C. The author thought his parents were happy to see him back.

D. The author didn’t seem to share the same tastes with his parents.

2.What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A. The next year the author’s parents were very happy to see him.

B. The author went to see his parents during the second year in college.

C. If you aren’t going to spent an important day with your family, inform them in advance.

D. To leave away from family is not a proper way if you want to gain some independency.

3. If you are a person who is wet behind the ears, you are       .

A. old and experienced                  B. young and inexperienced 

C. young and experienced                    D. mature and experienced

4.We can infer from the last two paragraphs that       .

A. the author thinks he has become a good son

B. the author will be with his family the next Spring Festival

C. the author will not change himself to a better one because it is too late

D. the author keeps in touch with his parents through the Internet regularly

5.What would be the best title for the text?

A. Pleasant memories about Christmas

B. Horrible things happened in the past

C. Interesting memories about Christmas

D. Share with you some of my Ghosts of Christmas Past

I have a painfully vivid memory of my first homecoming from college, in December 1983. After three whole months away, I was back home with my brand new opinions, attitudes and tastes. How could they watch such terrible television programs? I, the English Literature major with Shakespeare and Milton and James Joyce, could hardly bear to sleep under the roof of a house whose few bookshelves held thrillers and bound editions of the Reader’s Digest. I’m sure my family was glad to see the back of me when, at the end of the holiday, I packed up my books and headed back up to university in the north of England.
But the next year must have been even more painful to my parents: I didn’t show up at all. Now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with young people spending a little time away from their families and with their friends.  It’s part of growing up, something you need to do if you are to become properly independent. However, if you’re not going to be home for the festival, you should at least have the decency to telephone and say you’re not coming.
In English we have an expression, “wet behind the ears.” A person who is wet behind the ears is so immature, that they don’t know how to dry the back of their head after a bath. Just before the following year’s holiday I fell ill, quite seriously so. I’m sure my own behavior contributed to my getting sick: staying out too late, not eating properly—perhaps you know someone like the person I was then. I lay in bed with a fever, feeling very sorry for myself.
I’m sure you can guess who came to my rescue. My long-suffering parents got in their car and sped up the motorway to rescue their son from the consequences of his own irresponsibility.
I hope I’m a better son now; if not, it’s getting a little late in the day if I want to change. I’ve worked in China for nearly 10 years and so I don’t get to see them as often as I like, but my parents are online all the time so we talk many times each week. And this Spring Festival I will be flying back to England for a visit. 
I’m really looking forward to it.

1. 1.

   What can we learn from the first paragraph?

   1. A.
      The author liked reading thrillers and the Reading Digest.
   2. B.
      The author couldn’t fall asleep in a house with few books.
   3. C.
      The author thought his parents were happy to see him back.
   4. D.
      The author didn’t seem to share the same tastes with his parents.
2. 2.

   What can we learn from the second paragraph?

   1. A.
      The next year the author’s parents were very happy to see him.
   2. B.
      The author went to see his parents during the second year in college.
   3. C.
      If you aren’t going to spent an important day with your family, inform them in advance.
   4. D.
      To leave away from family is not a proper way if you want to gain some independency.
3. 3.

   If you are a person who is wet behind the ears, you are       .

   1. A.
      old and experienced
   2. B.
      young and inexperienced
   3. C.
      young and experienced
   4. D.
      mature and experienced
4. 4.

   We can infer from the last two paragraphs that       .

   1. A.
      the author thinks he has become a good son
   2. B.
      the author will be with his family the next Spring Festival
   3. C.
      the author will not change himself to a better one because it is too late
   4. D.
      the author keeps in touch with his parents through the Internet regularly
5. 5.

   What would be the best title for the text?

   1. A.
      Pleasant memories about Christmas
   2. B.
      Horrible things happened in the past
   3. C.
      Interesting memories about Christmas
   4. D.
      Share with you some of my Ghosts of Christmas Past

According to a recent survey on money and relationships, 36% of people are keeping a bank account from their partner. While this financial unfaithfulness may appear as distrust in a relationship, in truth it may just be a form of financial protection. With almost half of all marriages ending in divorce, men and women are realizing they need to be financially savvy, regardless of whether they are in a relationship.

The financial hardship on individuals after a divorce can be extremely difficult, even more so when children are involved. The lack of permanency in relationships, job and family life may be the cause of a growing trend to keep a secret bank account hidden from a partner, in other words, an "escape fund".

Margaret's story is far from unique. She is a representative of a growing number of women in long-term relationships who are becoming protective of their own earnings. Every month on pay day, she banks hundreds of dollars into a savings account she keeps from her husband. She has been doing this throughout their six-year marriage and has built a nest egg worth an incredible $100,000. Margaret says if her husband found about her secret savings he'd be hurt and would take this as a sign that she wasn't sure of the marriage. "He'd think it was my escape fund so that financially I could afford to get out of the relationship if it went wrong. I know you should approach marriage as being forever and I hope ours is, but you can never be sure."

Like many of her fellow secret savers, Margaret was hurt in a former relationship and has since been very guarded about her own money.

Coming clean to your partner about being a secret saver may not be all that bad. Taken Colleen for example, who had been saving secretly for a few years before she confessed to her partner. "I decided to open a savings account and start building a nest egg of my own. I wanted to prove to myself that I could put money in the bank and leave it there for a rainy day."

1．The trend to keep a secret bank account is growing because _______.

    A．"escape fund" helps one through rainy days

       B．days are getting harder and harder

    C．women are money sensitive

       D．financial conflicts often occur

2．The word "savvy" （Line4, Para1） probably means ________.

    A．suspicious             B．secure             C．wise          D．simple

3．Which inference can we make about Margaret？

    A．She is a unique woman.                       B．She was once divorced.

    C．She is going to retire.                          D．She has many children.

4．The author mentions Colleen's example to show __________.

    A．any couple can avoid marriage conflicts 

       B．privacy within marriage should be respected

    C．everyone can save a fortune with a happy marriage

    D．financial disclosure is not necessarily bad

5．Which of the following is the best summary of this passage?

    A．Secret Savers                                     B．Love Is What It's Worth  

       C．Banking Honesty                                 D．Once Bitten, Twice Shy 65．