In 1974, after filling out fifty applications, going through four interviews, and winning one offer, I took what I could get ----- a teaching job at what I considered a distant wild area: western New Jersey. My characteristic optimism was alive only when I reminded myself that I would be doing what I had wanted to do since I was fourteen ------- teaching English.
School started, but I felt more and more as if I were in a foreign country. Was this rural area really New Jersey? My students took a week off when hunting season began. I was told they were also frequently absent in late October to help their fathers make hay on the farms. I was a young woman from New York City, who thought that “Make hay while the sun shines” just meant to have a good time.
But, still, I was teaching English. I worked hard, taking time off only to eat and sleep. And then there was my sixth-grade class ---- seventeen boys and five girls who were only six years younger than me. I had a problem long before I knew it. I was struggling in my work as a young idealistic teacher. I wanted to make literature come alive and to promote a love of the written word. The students wanted to throw spitballs and whisper dirty words in the back of the room.
In college I had been taught that a successful educator should ignore bad behavior. So I did, confident that, as the textbook had said, the bad behavior would disappear as I gave my students positive attention. It sounds reasonable, but the text evidently ignored the fact that humans, particularly teenagers, rarely seems reasonable. By the time my boss, who was also my taskmaster, known to be the strictest, most demanding, most quick to fire inexperienced teachers, came into the classroom to observe me, the students exhibited very little good behavior to praise.
My boss sat in the back of the room. The boys in the class were making animal noises, hitting each other while the girls filed their nails or read magazines. I just pretended it all wasn’t happening, and went on lecturing and tried to ask some inspiring questions. My boss, sitting in the back of the classroom, seemed to be growing bigger and bigger. After twenty minutes he left, silently. Visions of unemployment marched before my eyes.
I felt mildly victorious that I got through the rest of class without crying, but at my next free period I had to face him. I wondered if he would let me finish out the day. I walked to his office, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
He was sitting in his chair, and he looked at me long and hard. I said nothing. All I could think of was that I was not an English teacher; I had been lying to myself, pretending that everything was fine.
When he spoke, he said simply, without accusation, “You had nothing to say to them.”
“You had nothing to say to them”. he repeated.” No wonder they are bored. Why not get to the meat of literature and stop talking about symbolism. Talk with them, not at them. And more important, why do you ignore their bad behavior”? We talked. He named my problems and offered solutions. We role-played. He was the bad student, and I was the forceful, yet, warm, teacher
As the year progressed, we spent many hours discussing literature and ideas about human beings and their motivations. He helped me identify my weaknesses and strengths. In short, he made a teacher of me by teaching me the reality of Emerson’s words: “The secret to education lies in respecting the pupil.”
Fifteen years later I still drive that same winding road to the same school. Thanks to the help I received that difficult first year, the school is my home now.
【小题1】 It can be inferred from the story that in 1974 ________________.

A．the writer became an optimistic person

B．the writer was very happy about her new job

C．it was rather difficult to get a job in the USA

D．it was easy to get a teaching job in New Jersey

【小题2】According to the passage, which of the following is most probably the writer’s problem as a new teacher?

A．She had blind trust in what she learnt at college.

B．She didn’t ask experienced teachers for advice.

C．She took too much time off to eat and sleep.

D．She didn’t like teaching English literature.

【小题3】What is the writer’s biggest worry after her taskmaster’s observation of her class?

A．She might lose her teaching job.

B．She might lose her students’ respect.

C．She couldn’t teach the same class any more.

D．She couldn’t ignore her students’ bad behavior any more.

【小题4】Which of the following gives the writer a sense of mild victory?

A．Her talk about symbolism sounded convincing.

B．Her students behaved a little better than usual.

C．She managed to finish the class without crying.

D．She was invited for a talk by her boss after class.

【小题5】The students behaved badly in the writer’s classes because

A．They were eager to embarrass her.

B．She didn’t really understand them.

C．They didn’t regard her as a good teacher.

D．She didn’t have a good command of English.

【小题6】The taskmaster’s attitude towards the writer after his observation of her class can be described as________________.

A．cruel but encouraging	B．fierce but forgiving
C．sincere and supportive	D．angry and aggressive

One very cold day，a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood，I quickly set out with my best friend，Bruce，to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along with. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of danger.
When I chose a big tree about 23 meters tall and prepared to cut it down，my best friend suddenly warned me，“Don’t cut down that tree！It’s too close to the power line！﹙电线﹚”I wasn’t sure about it. So I decided to disregard his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell，there was no longer any doubt that my friend was right.
The tree caught the power line，bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all，electricity can’t travel through wood，so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree，pain ran up my arm and through my head. I was shocked!
After I returned home and told my mother what had happened，she quickly called the power company. The workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree，and when I told him I had，his face turned pale.
“You should have been killed，” he said.
So why am I still alive？It was my boots that saved my life.
Within two hours，the workers removed the tree. Soon the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother.
Even though she was glad I wasn’t hurt，my mother was still serious. After all，I shouldn’t have brushed off my friend’s warning.
Through this experience，I learn it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective. Taking time to listen might actually save a lot of time and trouble. It certainly would have kept me from getting the “shock” of my life.
【小题1】The underlined word “disregard” in the second paragraph means “________”．

A．pay no attention to

B．take notice of

C．consider

D．follow

【小题2】Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．But for his boots，the author would have died.

B．The author regretted having brushed off his friend’s warning.

C．The author knew nothing about electricity.

D．When the tree was cut down，the author realized his friend was right.

【小题3】The underlined part “the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother” means “________”．

A．my mother was still angry with me for not listening to my friend’s warning

B．my mother was still in fear of the terrible accident

C．my mother was still comforting me

D．my mother was still worried about my safety

【小题4】The author wrote the passage mainly to________.

A．give an account of one of his terrible experiences

B．make us know it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective through his experience

C．tell us not to cut trees down any more

D．remind us to be careful while we are working

I still clearly remember that day. I was on the side of the road for close to four hours with my big Jeep. I put signs in the windows that said, “NEED A JACK（千斤顶）”.
Right as I was about to give up, a truck stopped and a man got off. He sized up the situation and went back to take a jack. After about two hours, we finished the job with sweats. We were both dirty. His wife produced a large water jug for us to wash our hands in.
I tried to put $20 in the man’s hand, but he wouldn’t take it, so instead I went up and gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl, their daughter, where they lived, thinking maybe I’d send them a gift. She said they lived in Mexico. They were in Oregon now so Mommy and Daddy could pick cherries for the next few weeks. After that, they were going to pick peaches, and then go back home.
After I said my goodbyes and started walking back to the Jeep, the girl called out and asked if I’d had lunch. When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale（玉米粽子）. I thanked them again and walked back to my car. When I opened the tamale, what did I find inside? My $20 bill! I ran to the van and the guy rolled down his window. He saw the $20 in my hand, started shaking his head smiling, and with what looked like great concentration said in English: “Today you, tomorrow me.” Then he rolled up his window and drove away, with his daughter waving to me from the back.
This family, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took a couple of hours to help a stranger while others passed by quietly.
Since then I’ve helped many people like the Mexican family. I didn’t accept money. But every time I was able to help, I felt as if I was putting something in the bank.
【小题1】From the passage we know that __________.

A．the Mexican man couldn’t speak English

B．the author’s car broke down on the road

C．the Mexican family came to Oregon for a visit

D．$20 was a small amount for the Mexican family

【小题2】Why did the author give the money quietly to the man’s wife?

A．Because the man had refused to accept it.

B．Because the man’s wife needn’t wash her hands.

C．Because the author thought the Mexican family was poor.

D．Because the author thought the man’s wife would take it.

【小题3】The Mexican man helped the author because he tended to think that ___________.

A．it was completely wrong for others to pass by quietly

B．it was quite easy to help the author mend the jeep

C．it was possible that everyone might get into trouble

D．the author was a polite stranger and deserved the help

【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE about the author?

A．He hated those who didn’t offer help.

B．He would send a present to the family soon.

C．He wondered why they didn’t take the money.

D．He considered helping others as saving money in the bank.

【小题5】What can we infer from the passage?

A．The Mexican family lived a richer life than the author.

B．The Mexican family did seasonal work in Oregon each year.

C．The author was inspired to help others by the Mexican family.

D．What made the writer moved was the tamale given by the girl.

I still clearly remember that day. I was on the side of the road for close to four hours with my big Jeep. I put signs in the windows that said, “NEED A JACK（千斤顶）”.
Right as I was about to give up, a truck stopped and a man got off. He sized up the situation and went back to take a jack. After about two hours, we finished the job with sweats. We were both dirty. His wife produced a large water jug for us to wash our hands in.
I tried to put $20 in the man’s hand, but he wouldn’t take it, so instead I went up and gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl, their daughter, where they lived, thinking maybe I’d send them a gift. She said they lived in Mexico. They were in Oregon now so Mommy and Daddy could pick cherries for the next few weeks. After that, they were going to pick peaches, and then go back home.
After I said my goodbyes and started walking back to the Jeep, the girl called out and asked if I’d had lunch. When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale（玉米粽子）. I thanked them again and walked back to my car. When I opened the tamale, what did I find inside? My $20 bill! I ran to the van and the guy rolled down his window. He saw the $20 in my hand, started shaking his head smiling, and with what looked like great concentration said in English: “Today you, tomorrow me.” Then he rolled up his window and drove away, with his daughter waving to me from the back.
This family, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took a couple of hours to help a stranger while others passed by quietly.
Since then I’ve helped many people like the Mexican family. I didn’t accept money. But every time I was able to help, I felt as if I was putting something in the bank.
【小题1】From the passage we know that __________.

A．the Mexican man couldn’t speak English

B．the author’s car broke down on the road

C．the Mexican family came to Oregon for a visit

D．$20 was a small amount for the Mexican family

【小题2】Why did the author give the money quietly to the man’s wife?

A．Because the man had refused to accept it.

B．Because the man’s wife needn’t wash her hands.

C．Because the author thought the Mexican family was poor.

D．Because the author thought the man’s wife would take it.

【小题3】The Mexican man helped the author because he tended to think that ___________.

A．it was completely wrong for others to pass by quietly

B．it was quite easy to help the author mend the jeep

C．it was possible that everyone might get into trouble

D．the author was a polite stranger and deserved the help

【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE about the author?

A．He hated those who didn’t offer help.

B．He would send a present to the family soon.

C．He wondered why they didn’t take the money.

D．He considered helping others as saving money in the bank.

【小题5】What can we infer from the passage?

A．The Mexican family lived a richer life than the author.

B．The Mexican family did seasonal work in Oregon each year.

C．The author was inspired to help others by the Mexican family.

D．What made the writer moved was the tamale given by the girl.

I still clearly remember that day. I was on the side of the road for close to four hours with my big Jeep. I put signs in the windows that said, “NEED A JACK（千斤顶）”.

Right as I was about to give up, a truck stopped and a man got off. He sized up the situation and went back to take a jack. After about two hours, we finished the job with sweats. We were both dirty. His wife produced a large water jug for us to wash our hands in.

I tried to put $20 in the man’s hand, but he wouldn’t take it, so instead I went up and gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl, their daughter, where they lived, thinking maybe I’d send them a gift. She said they lived in Mexico. They were in Oregon now so Mommy and Daddy could pick cherries for the next few weeks. After that, they were going to pick peaches, and then go back home.

After I said my goodbyes and started walking back to the Jeep, the girl called out and asked if I’d had lunch. When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale（玉米粽子）. I thanked them again and walked back to my car. When I opened the tamale, what did I find inside? My $20 bill! I ran to the van and the guy rolled down his window. He saw the $20 in my hand, started shaking his head smiling, and with what looked like great concentration said in English: “Today you, tomorrow me.” Then he rolled up his window and drove away, with his daughter waving to me from the back.

This family, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took a couple of hours to help a stranger while others passed by quietly.

Since then I’ve helped many people like the Mexican family. I didn’t accept money. But every time I was able to help, I felt as if I was putting something in the bank.

1.From the passage we know that __________.

A．the Mexican man couldn’t speak English

B．the author’s car broke down on the road

C．the Mexican family came to Oregon for a visit

D．$20 was a small amount for the Mexican family

2.Why did the author give the money quietly to the man’s wife?

A．Because the man had refused to accept it.

B．Because the man’s wife needn’t wash her hands.

C．Because the author thought the Mexican family was poor.

D．Because the author thought the man’s wife would take it.

3.The Mexican man helped the author because he tended to think that ___________.

A．it was completely wrong for others to pass by quietly

B．it was quite easy to help the author mend the jeep

C．it was possible that everyone might get into trouble

D．the author was a polite stranger and deserved the help

4.Which of the following is TRUE about the author?

A．He hated those who didn’t offer help.

B．He would send a present to the family soon.

C．He wondered why they didn’t take the money.

D．He considered helping others as saving money in the bank.

5.What can we infer from the passage?

A．The Mexican family lived a richer life than the author.

B．The Mexican family did seasonal work in Oregon each year.

C．The author was inspired to help others by the Mexican family.

D．What made the writer moved was the tamale given by the girl.