Have you ever thought of taking a train and having an adventure (奇遇)？Riding the train can be a real adventure.That is how I feel every time I take Amtrak.I often take a four?hour trip to visit my children.Every time I take this trip I never know what will happen.

Last week when I was on the train and over an hour into the train ride，there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation— in another language.It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train.I think it was annoying.

Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two?day trip by train.She said her two daughters were distraught at the thought of her driving for three days to reach her home，although she had no trouble driving.The train ride was the only choice for her.She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train.

She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents.That is a very good question.Both of us are old and have children.She asked that same question from time to time.

There are always many people on the train from all walks of life，different countries，and many languages.Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and take in all kinds of cultures.If you get hungry，you can buy food in the food car at any time.If you need to use the restroom there is always one available.

It sure beats driving the car，which has to stop for food and restrooms.And it is better than taking the bus.

1．According to the passage，the purpose of the author’s train ride was________.

A．to do business　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．to see her children

C．to visit places of interest 　　　　　　　　　 D．to see her old friends

2．Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “distraught” in Paragraph 3?

A．Disappointed. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．Satisfied.

C．Worried. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．Pleased.

3．Which of the following is TRUE about the old lady sitting next to the author?

A．She is too old to drive now.

B．She does not like to take trains.

C．Although she is old，she has a good memory.

D．Her daughters live far away from her home.

4．In the author’s opinion，on the train Amtrak________.

A．the services are quite good

B．the food is terribly expensive

C．all the passengers are polite

D．all the passengers are American

5．What is the best title for this passage?

A．Train ride—a cultural experience

B．A painful experience on the train

C．The history of Amtrak

D．A wonderful lady

Once　upon　a　time,　a　young　man　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　town　announcing　that　he　had　the　most　beautiful　heart　in　the　world.　A　large　crowd　gathered,　and　they　al　praised　his　heart　for　it　was　perfect.
Suddenly,　an　old　man　appeared　and　said,　“Why　,your　heart　is　not　as　beautiful　as　mine.”
The　old　man’s　heart　was　ful　of　scars（伤疤）.　Some　pieces　of　his　heart　were　removed　and　some　pieces　from　other　people　were　put　in,　but　they　didn’t　fit　quite　right.　So　there　were　several　jagged（锯齿状的）edges.　In　fact,　there　were　stil　some　holes　in　his　heart　where　the　pieces　were　missing.
The　 young　 man　 laughed,“Comparing　yours　with　mine,　mine　is　perfect　and　yours　is　a　mess.”
“Yes,”said　the　old　man.　“But,　every　scar　shows　that　I　took　out　a　piece　of　my　heart　and　gave　it　to　a　person,　and　often　he　gave　me　a　piece　of　his　heart　in　return.”
“Why　do　you　have　some　jagged　edges　in　your　heart?”asked　the　young　man.“Because　the　shapes　of　the　pieces　weren’t　the　same.”“Then　the　holes?”“Sometimes　I　gave　pieces　of　my　heart　away,　and　the　other　person　hasn’t　given　back　a　piece　of　his,　so　… but　I　don’t　care.”“How　come?”“They　remind　me　of　the　love　we　shared.”
The　young　man　was　deeply　moved.　He　walked　up　to　the　old　man,　took　a　piece　of　his　heart　out　and　gave　it　to　the　old　man.
The　old　man　placed　it　in　his　heart,　then　took　a　piece　from　his　old　scarred　heart　and　placed　it　in　the　wound（伤口）in　the　young　man’s　heart.　It　fitted,　but　not　perfectly,　as　there　were　some　jagged　edges.
The　young　man　looked　at　his　heart,　not　perfect　any　more　but　more　beautiful　than　ever.
How　sad　it　must　be　to　go　through　 life　 with　 a　 whole　untouched　heart!
【小题1】　The　young　man　stood　in　the　town　to　_____.

A．meet　the　old　man	B．compare　his　heart　with　others’
C．show　his　beautiful　heart	D．give　pieces　of　his　heart　to　others

【小题2】　It’s　clear　that　the　old　man　was　_____.

A．a　sily　man	B．a　humorous　man
C．a　wel-known　man	D．a　kind-hearted　man

【小题3】　We　learn　from　the　story　that　in　the　end　the　young　man　was　_____.

A．lost

B．moved

C．hurt

D．untouched

【小题4】　The　old　man　said“… but　I　don’t　care”means　_____.

A．he　didn’t　expect　others’return

B．he　didn’t　feel　pain

C．he　didn’t　think　it　serious

D．he　cared　nothing

【小题5】We　can　get　more　beautiful　hearts　by　sharing　_____

A．ideas

B．scars

C．love

D．beauty

Once　upon　a　time,　a　young　man　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　town　announcing　that　he　had　the　most　beautiful　heart　in　the　world.　A　large　crowd　gathered,　and　they　al　praised　his　heart　for　it　was　perfect.

    Suddenly,　an　old　man　appeared　and　said,　“Why　,your　heart　is　not　as　beautiful　as　mine.”

    The　old　man’s　heart　was　ful　of　scars（伤疤）.　Some　pieces　of　his　heart　were　removed　and　some　pieces　from　other　people　were　put　in,　but　they　didn’t　fit　quite　right.　So　there　were　several　jagged（锯齿状的）edges.　In　fact,　there　were　stil　some　holes　in　his　heart　where　the　pieces　were　missing.

    The　 young　 man　 laughed,“Comparing　yours　with　mine,　mine　is　perfect　and　yours　is　a　mess.”

    “Yes,”said　the　old　man.　“But,　every　scar　shows　that　I　took　out　a　piece　of　my　heart　and　gave　it　to　a　person,　and　often　he　gave　me　a　piece　of　his　heart　in　return.”

    “Why　do　you　have　some　jagged　edges　in　your　heart?”asked　the　young　man.“Because　the　shapes　of　the　pieces　weren’t　the　same.”“Then　the　holes?”“Sometimes　I　gave　pieces　of　my　heart　away,　and　the　other　person　hasn’t　given　back　a　piece　of　his,　so　… but　I　don’t　care.”“How　come?”“They　remind　me　of　the　love　we　shared.”

    The　young　man　was　deeply　moved.　He　walked　up　to　the　old　man,　took　a　piece　of　his　heart　out　and　gave　it　to　the　old　man.

    The　old　man　placed　it　in　his　heart,　then　took　a　piece　from　his　old　scarred　heart　and　placed　it　in　the　wound（伤口）in　the　young　man’s　heart.　It　fitted,　but　not　perfectly,　as　there　were　some　jagged　edges.

    The　young　man　looked　at　his　heart,　not　perfect　any　more　but　more　beautiful　than　ever.

    How　sad　it　must　be　to　go　through　 life　 with　 a　 whole　untouched　heart!

    1.　The　young　man　stood　in　the　town　to　_____.

    A.　meet　the　old　man　　　　B.　compare　his　heart　with　others’

    C.　show　his　beautiful　heart　D.　give　pieces　of　his　heart　to　others

   2.　It’s　clear　that　the　old　man　was　_____.

    A.　a　sily　man　　　　B.　a　humorous　man

    C.　a　wel-known　man　　　　D.　a　kind-hearted　man

  3.　We　learn　from　the　story　that　in　the　end　the　young　man　was　_____.

    A.　lost　　　　B.　moved　　　　C.　hurt　　　　D.　untouched

  4.　The　old　man　said“… but　I　don’t　care”means　_____.

    A.　he　didn’t　expect　others’return

    B.　he　didn’t　feel　pain

    C.　he　didn’t　think　it　serious

    D.　he　cared　nothing

  5.We　can　get　more　beautiful　hearts　by　sharing　_____

    A.　ideas　　　　B.　scars　　　　C.　love　　　　D.　beauty

 

Food or friends? Lip salve (润唇膏) or iPod? What is the most important thing in the US teenagers’ lives today? Let’s take a look.
Some find that they can’t do without people.
“My biggest need is my friends. Without them, I wouldn’t do much,” said Adrian Fernandez, a 14-year-old boy.
With others, food always comes first.
“I do not think that I could live without chili con carne (辣子肉丁). I eat it every day. And if I didn’t have it, it’s all I would think about,” said Max Wu, an 8th-grade boy.
Sometimes, the things teenagers can’t do without are strange.
Take 14-year-old girl Hannah Sacchini for example. “I cannot live without lip salve, especially in winter,” said Hannah Sacchini. “I go mad if my lips get dry.”
Of course, today everybody uses mobile phones and computers. Some teens can’t live without these high-tech (高科技的) things.
Justin Beck, a 15-year-old boy, feels like this: “I would not be able to live without my iPod. I use it for so many different things. I always have it with me,” he said.
So, now we know the things US kids really must have. What about you and your classmates? What can’t you live without?
根据短文内容，选择最佳选项。 （10分）
【小题1】To Adrian Fernandez, 　　　 is the most important.

A．a friend

B．lip salve

C．a computer

D．chili con carne

【小题2】How often does Max Wu eat chili con carne?

A．Once a week.	B．Every day.
C．Twice a day.	D．Three times a week.

【小题3】Hannah Sacchini will become 　　　 if her lips get dry.

A．fat

B．excited

C．shy

D．annoyed

【小题4】We can learn that Justin Beck 　　　 takes his iPod to school.

A．never

B．sometimes

C．always

D．hardly ever

【小题5】The passage mainly tells us 　　　.

A．what things the US kids really must have

B．what the US teenagers do every day at school

C．what the most important food in the US teenagers’ lives is

D．how the US teenagers’ lives are every day at school

Once　upon　a　time,　a　young　man　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　town　announcing　that　he　had　the　most　beautiful　heart　in　the　world.　A　large　crowd　gathered,　and　they　al　praised　his　heart　for　it　was　perfect.
Suddenly,　an　old　man　appeared　and　said,　“Why　,your　heart　is　not　as　beautiful　as　mine.”
The　old　man’s　heart　was　ful　of　scars（伤疤）.　Some　pieces　of　his　heart　were　removed　and　some　pieces　from　other　people　were　put　in,　but　they　didn’t　fit　quite　right.　So　there　were　several　jagged（锯齿状的）edges.　In　fact,　there　were　stil　some　holes　in　his　heart　where　the　pieces　were　missing.
The　 young　 man　 laughed,“Comparing　yours　with　mine,　mine　is　perfect　and　yours　is　a　mess.”
“Yes,”said　the　old　man.　“But,　every　scar　shows　that　I　took　out　a　piece　of　my　heart　and　gave　it　to　a　person,　and　often　he　gave　me　a　piece　of　his　heart　in　return.”
“Why　do　you　have　some　jagged　edges　in　your　heart?”asked　the　young　man.“Because　the　shapes　of　the　pieces　weren’t　the　same.”“Then　the　holes?”“Sometimes　I　gave　pieces　of　my　heart　away,　and　the　other　person　hasn’t　given　back　a　piece　of　his,　so　… but　I　don’t　care.”“How　come?”“They　remind　me　of　the　love　we　shared.”
The　young　man　was　deeply　moved.　He　walked　up　to　the　old　man,　took　a　piece　of　his　heart　out　and　gave　it　to　the　old　man.
The　old　man　placed　it　in　his　heart,　then　took　a　piece　from　his　old　scarred　heart　and　placed　it　in　the　wound（伤口）in　the　young　man’s　heart.　It　fitted,　but　not　perfectly,　as　there　were　some　jagged　edges.
The　young　man　looked　at　his　heart,　not　perfect　any　more　but　more　beautiful　than　ever.
How　sad　it　must　be　to　go　through　 life　 with　 a　 whole　untouched　heart!
【小题1】　The　young　man　stood　in　the　town　to　_____.

A．meet　the　old　man	B．compare　his　heart　with　others’
C．show　his　beautiful　heart	D．give　pieces　of　his　heart　to　others

【小题2】　It’s　clear　that　the　old　man　was　_____.

A．a　sily　man	B．a　humorous　man
C．a　wel-known　man	D．a　kind-hearted　man

【小题3】　We　learn　from　the　story　that　in　the　end　the　young　man　was　_____.

A．lost

B．moved

C．hurt

D．untouched

【小题4】　The　old　man　said“… but　I　don’t　care”means　_____.

A．he　didn’t　expect　others’return

B．he　didn’t　feel　pain

C．he　didn’t　think　it　serious

D．he　cared　nothing

【小题5】We　can　get　more　beautiful　hearts　by　sharing　_____

A．ideas

B．scars

C．love

D．beauty