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Conjoined Twins Lead Separate But Active Lives

　　Lori and Reba Schappell have never been alone and they want to keep it that way.

　　The 40-year-old conjoined twins in Pensylvania, US have read about others locked together by an accident of birth who have been medically separated. But they insist only death can part them.“We've never imagined a life divided. ” Lori said.

　　Lori and Reba are joined together at the side of their heads, facing in opposite directions. Their blood supply is partly linked, but each has a separated brain.

　　Reba suffers from a disease which has left her completely dependent on her sister.

　　Lori wheels her everywhere they go in a specially designed chair. They both attended college, then went in different professional directions. Lori worked in a laundry room at a hospital for six years before giving that up to allow Reba to try to become a country singer.

　　Her first song is called “The Fear of Being Alone” , which was inspired(启示) by Reba and Lon's desire for togetherness.

　　Reba's career has taken her across the United States, Europe and parts of Asia. While the twins receive some money from the government, the earnings from Reba's concerts go to AIDS and cancer charities(慈善机构) .

　　The sisters have set goals for themselves. Reba looks forward to a successful career as a country singer, while Lori said she hopes to get married and have children of her own.

　　“ I'm not the only woman at age 40 not to have children . ” Lori said. “So when it comes, it comes. Meanwhile, I live wonderfully from day to day . ”

1．When Lori said “We've never imagined a life divided” , she meant that ________.

[　　]

A．they don't wish to be made separate

B．they think their case is beyond medical help

C．independent life would be too good to think of

D．they would die once separated

2．By “lead separate lives ”the title means that ________.

[　　]

A．either of the two can look after herself

B．the twins do different things

C．they face in opposite directions

D．they are no longer conjoined now

3．When Reba gives performances as a country singer, Lori ________.

[　　]

A．works in a laundry

B．continues her college education

C．brings up her children

D．looks after her sister

4．The twins lead active lives because they ________.

[　　]

A．are fed up with staying at home, doing nothing

B．need more money

C．want to prove themselves as useful citizens

D．have to earn their own bread

5．From the last paragraph we can understand that Lori ________.

[　　]

A．thinks it's too late for her to have children

B．is sure she'll get married and have children

C．prefers to have things go naturally

D．would rather rat change her way of life

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳答案.

　　Tim Becker and his neighbors are doing something to make their neighborhood a trouble-free area.

　　When Tim Becker gets in his car to go shopping, he doesn't 1 drive to a store and back home. He always looks 2 up and down the streets of his

　　neighborhood. He looks for anything 3 such as strange cars, loud noises, 4 windows, or people gathering on street comers.

　　Tim 5 to a neighborhood watch group in Stoneville, Indiana, USA. The neighborhood watch group 6 on the third Wednesday of every month, That's 7 Tim gets together with about ten of his neighbors to discuss community 8 . Members of the neighborhood watch group want to help the police 9 their homes, streets, and families safe.

　　Tina Stedman, president of 10 neighborhood watch group, agrees with Tim. “People seem to think that crime（犯罪）happens to other people but not 11 them. Well, it's never happened to me,” she said, “but I don't think anyone has the 12 to steal from other people or to make them feel 13 sitting in their own homes.”

　　Alex, a member of the group, says that all the neighbors 14 out for one another. “We 15 each other's homes. We keep watch on the neighborhood at night and on weekends. Usually a 16 of four or five of us goes out together. If something doesn't look right, then we call the 17 .For example, if we notice a group of teenagers who seem to be looking for 18 , or someone destroying property（财产）, we report to the police.”

　　Alex feels the neighborhood watch groups 19 a lot in keeping crime down. Her husband Jim agrees, “Police are good people, but they can't do 20 .”

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When Johnson called again, the manager received him very politely. “That is a most remarkable oil you brought us, Mr Johnson,” he said. Johnson nodded his smooth, dark head. That was something he knew very well. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” the manager admitted. Johnson nodded again. “No?” he said politely. Then he added, “But I think you will, sir. A very great deal of it.” He appeared to think for a moment. “I think you will find it will be on sale seven, perhaps, eight years from now.” He smiled.

The manager thought that was uncertain. He said, “It is better than our fish oils. I admit that.” “So I am told, sir,” agreed Johnson.

“Have you any plans to produce it yourself, Mr Johnson?”

Johnson smiled again. “Would I be showing it to you if I had?”

“We might add some chemicals to one of our own fish oils,” said the manager.

“It would be expensive to do that, even if you could.” Johnson said gently. “Besides,” he added, “I am told that this oil will be much cheaper than your best fish oils. Cheaper than any vegetable oil, in fact.”

“Perhaps,” said the manager. “Well, I suppose you want to make an arrangement, Mr Johnson, Shall we discuss it?”

“Of course,” said Johnson. “There are two ways of dealing with a situation of this sort. The usual one is to prevent it altogether or at least to delay it as long as possible. That is, of course, the best way,” The manager nodded. He knew plenty about all that.

“But I am so sorry for you, because, you see, that is not possible this time.” The manager had his doubts, but all he said was an inquiring(asking), “Oh?”

“The other way,” continued Johnson, “is to produce yourself before the trouble starts.”

The manager thought of adding chemicals to the fish oil to make it ________.

A. cheaper than the new oil          B. more quickly

C. more expensive                       D. as good as the new oil

Johnson’s new oil would be ________.

A. more expensive than fish oil, but better

B. less expensive, and better

C. less expensive, but not good

D. more expensive, and not so good

Johnson expressed his regret that the manager ________.

A. could not stop the new oil being made

B. would never know how to make it

C. had spent a lot of money on it

D. didn’t know enough about it

Johnson showed his new oil to the manager because he wanted ________.

A. to produce it himselfB. to prevent it being produced

C. to be paid not to produce it 　D. the manager to produce it

Bum rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate would be $ 50,000 a month when my new media company started. So, I began looking around for individuals who would be my first investors. “Angel money” it was called. But when I reviewed my list of acquaintances to find those who might be able to help, I found the number got small.

　　With no other choices, I began meeting with the venture-capital companies. But I was warned they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in. And if you struggled, they could drop you cold.

　　As I was searching for “angel money”, I started to build a team who trusted me even though I didn't have money for paychecks yet.

　　Bill Becker was an expert in computer programming and image processing at a very famous Media Lab at M. I.T. With his arrival, my company suddenly had a major technology “guy” in-house.

　　Katherine Henderson, a filmmaker and a former real-estate dealer, joined us as our director of market research. Steve White came on as operating officer. He had worked for the developer of a home-finance software, Quicken. We grabbed him.

　　We had some really good people, but we still didn't have enough money. One night, my neighbor, Louise Johnson, came for a visit. She and I were only nodding acquaintances, but her boys and ours were constant companions. She ran a very good business at the time.

　　Louise was brilliant and missed nothing. She had been watching my progress closely. She knew I was dying for money and I had prospects but could offer no guarantees of success.

　　She told me that her attorney had talked to mine and the terms had been agreed upon. She handed me an envelope. Inside was a check for $ 500,000.

　　I almost fell down. I heard her voice as if from heaven.

　　“I have confidence in your plan,” she said. “You' 11 do well. You're going to work hard for it, but it' s satisfying when you build your own company.”

　　Who would have thought I'd find an angel so close to home? There were no words sufficient for the moment. We just said good night. She left and I just stood there, completely humbled and completely committed.

1.For a newly-established business, bum rate refers to___________.

A. the salary it pays to its staff　         B. the interest it pays to the bank

C. the way in which it raises capital　  　 D. the speed at which it spends money

2.By "Angel money", the author refers to__________.

A. the money borrowed from banks　  　 B. the money spent to promote sales

C. the money raised from close friends　　 D. the money needed to start a business

3.To get help from a venture-capital company, you may have to__________.

put up with unfair terms　         　B. change your business line

C. enlarge your business scope      　　 D. let them operate your business

4.The author easily built a team for his company because__________.

A. they were underpaid at their previous jobs

B. they were turned down by other companies

C. they were confident of the author and his business

D. they were satisfied with the salaries in his company

5. Louise decided to lend money to the author because__________.

A. she wanted to join his company

B. she knew he would build a team

C. she knew his plan would succeed

D. she wanted to help promote his sales

 

 ________ the Internet is of great help, I don’t think it’s a good idea to spend too much time on it.

A. While        　 B. As   　          C. Because　            D. If