Be Brave With New Things

   The old advertising slogan, “so simple a child can do it ,” has taken on new meaning to me. A few weeks ago I got a computer, but I an mechanically illiterate. I knew that children had no fear of the future, so that seemed a good place to seek help. I asked my nephew, twelve years old, at an elementary school, to help me.

   My nephew took the machine for granted and has simply accepted the fact that computers are now a way of life. He plays with them and does his homework on them and even creates programs for them. I , on the other hand, are terrified by what this equipment can do. It can interchange paragraphs, switch words around and even correct my spelling. It informs me of Its limitations, takes commands and asks questions. It even seems to have a sense of communication. Rather than accusing me of making an error, it prints “One of us has made a mistake!” It never gets tired and is always patient and ready to go when I am.

   I think it was somewhat normal for me to be suspicious of computers. They represent a break with some very familiar habits and traditions. It is only human to instinctively avoid anything that shifts thoroughly from the acceptable, comfortable past. But the world is governed by ceaseless change and we must therefore establish links with the present and future as well as the past. Computer technology is an excellent case in point, as the newest systems grow out of date in only a few years, or even months.

   This ability to see, experience and accept the new is one of our saving characteristics. To be fearful of tomorrow, to close ourselves to possibilities, to resist the inevitable, to advocate standing still when all else is moving forward, is to lose touch. If we accept the new with joy and wonder, we can move gracefully into each tomorrow. More often than not, the children shall lead us.

6．What is the new meaning of  “So simple a child can do it” for the author?

A．computers are so easy to operate that even a child can play them well

B．A child can always do more complex things than an adult.

C．It is easier for a child to accept new things than for an adult.

D．A child has greater ability than an adult in operating computers.

7．According to the second paragraph, which of the following statements is true?

A．The nephew thought it is natural to accept the fact that computers are now a way of life.

B．The nephew believed that machines were made for people to do whatever they wanted.

C．computers are not only used to communicate, but also to remove their limitations.

D．It is a fact that both adults and children have accepted computers as a way of life.

8．Which of the following doesn’t the author’s computer do ?

A．It asks the author if she has made a mistake.

B．It accuses the author of making mistakes.

C．It corrects the author’s spelling mistakes.

D．It informs the author of her mistakes.

9．According to the third paragraph, it is human nature that we resist those things which   

A．only represent the comfortable and acceptable past

B．change thoroughly into the comfortable and acceptable past

C．make people stand still when all else is moving forward

D．change completely from the acceptable and comfortable past

10．How do you understand the underlined sentence in the  text?

　　A. It is always ready to inform me when I am ready to go.

　　B. It is always ready to start working when I am ready for work.

　　C. When I am ready to go, it is patient to wait.

　　D. When I am ready to go, it has already gone.

Be Brave With New Things

   The old advertising slogan, “so simple a child can do it ,” has taken on new meaning to me. A few weeks ago I got a computer, but I an mechanically illiterate. I knew that children had no fear of the future, so that seemed a good place to seek help. I asked my nephew, twelve years old, at an elementary school, to help me.

   My nephew took the machine for granted and has simply accepted the fact that computers are now a way of life. He plays with them and does his homework on them and even creates programs for them. I , on the other hand, are terrified by what this equipment can do. It can interchange paragraphs, switch words around and even correct my spelling. It informs me of Its limitations, takes commands and asks questions. It even seems to have a sense of communication. Rather than accusing me of making an error, it prints “One of us has made a mistake!” It never gets tired and is always patient and ready to go when I am.

   I think it was somewhat normal for me to be suspicious of computers. They represent a break with some very familiar habits and traditions. It is only human to instinctively avoid anything that shifts thoroughly from the acceptable, comfortable past. But the world is governed by ceaseless change and we must therefore establish links with the present and future as well as the past. Computer technology is an excellent case in point, as the newest systems grow out of date in only a few years, or even months.

   This ability to see, experience and accept the new is one of our saving characteristics. To be fearful of tomorrow, to close ourselves to possibilities, to resist the inevitable, to advocate standing still when all else is moving forward, is to lose touch. If we accept the new with joy and wonder, we can move gracefully into each tomorrow. More often than not, the children shall lead us.

19．What is the new meaning of  “So simple a child can do it” for the author?

A．computers are so easy to operate that even a child can play them well

B．A child can always do more complex things than an adult.

C．It is easier for a child to accept new things than for an adult.

D．A child has greater ability than an adult in operating computers.

20．According to the second paragraph, which of the following statements is true?

A．The nephew thought it is natural to accept the fact that computers are now a way of life.

B．The nephew believed that machines were made for people to do whatever they wanted.

C．computers are not only used to communicate, but also to remove their limitations.

D．It is a fact that both adults and children have accepted computers as a way of life.

21．Which of the following doesn’t the author’s computer do ?

A．It asks the author if she has made a mistake.

B．It accuses the author of making mistakes.

C．It corrects the author’s spelling mistakes.

D．It informs the author of her mistakes.

22．According to the third paragraph, it is human nature that we resist those things which   

A．only represent the comfortable and acceptable past

B．change thoroughly into the comfortable and acceptable past

C．make people stand still when all else is moving forward

D．change completely from the acceptable and comfortable past

With a heavy heart Sally arrived early on the morning of the auction （拍卖）. It was almost a year since her dear grandmother passed away in this house.   1  the family business had failed and left them with heavy debts. So the bank had 2  the family to have an auction sale to repay their debts．  3  the past several weeks, she had managed to save $450 in order to bid（出价）on the  4   that her grandmother liked very much. Surely this would be enough, she had thought．

Now the  5  moment arrived．Looking around, Sally was surprised to see so many people had   6  ．As the auction began, Sally waited．Finally, the time came to bid on the quilt．She held her   7  tightly and listened．The first bid was $45. She was  8  . It was so high．Quickly other people bid and soon the bidding   9 $85. Sally cried out “$450!” For a moment there was silence．Hope   10  her. She glanced again at the quilt, thinking how   11  her grandmother would have been with her at this moment．Just then, from the back, another person shouted “$475!” She lost her   12  ．Suddenly she couldn’t help wondering   13  so many  people would be interested in that old, dirty quilt．Finally the quilt was sold for $500 to a complete   14  .

　　 After the sale, she went to the counter to pay for the few items that were now hers．The woman at the cash desk handed her the quilt．“There must be some  15  ．Someone else has got it.” she said．A hand-written   16  was pinned to the quilt, which   17  :

Dear Madam,

　　 I noticed you admiring the quilt．Clearly, it was 18  to you．Please accept this quilt as my  19  . I don’ t expect any repayment from you, but do a   20   favor in the future for a stranger who happens to cross your path．

Yours,

                                                                      A stranger

1．A．Naturally　　       B．Unfortunately　   C．Luckily　            D．Probably

2．A．hoped                B．waited                C．expected             D．forced

3．A．With                  B．At                     C．By                     D．Over

4．A．house                B．present               C．furniture            D．quilt

5．A．interesting         B．necessary           C．big               D．sad

6．A．turned over        B．turned up         C．turned back       D．turned on

7．A．purse                 B．picture                C．book              D．quilt

8．A．glad                   B．frightened           C．moved               D．shocked

9．A．rose                   B．climbed              C．reached            D．raised

10．A．told                  B．helped                C．filled                  D．gave

11．A．pleased             B．anxious               C．angry                D．familiar

12．A．thought            B．chance               C．way                  D．money

13．A．whether           B．what                  C．how                  D．why

14．A．relative             B．customer            C．friend                D．stranger

15．A．reason              B．secret                 C．mistake          D．fun

16．A．check              B．wallet                 C．address            D．note

17．A．read                 B．wrote                 C．spoke                D．showed

18．A．wonderful        B．basic                  C．pretty              D．important

19．A．honor               B．respect               C．gift               D．thank

20．A．particular       B．common             C．major              D．similar

With a heavy heart Sally arrived early on the morning of the auction(拍卖). It was almost a year since her dear grandmother passed away in this house. （ 36 ） the family business had failed and left them with heavy debts（债务）. So the bank had （ 37 ） the family to have an auction sale to repay their debts.
 　 （　38 ） the past several weeks, she had managed to save $450 in order to bid(出价)on the（  39 ）. Surely this would be enough, she had thought. Now the （ 40 ） moment arrived. Looking around, Sally was surprised to see so many people had （ 41 ）.
　　 As the auction began, Sally waited. Finally, the time came to bid on the quilt(被子). She held her （ 42 ） tightly and listened. The first bid was $45. She was（  43 ）. It was so high. Quickly other people bid and soon the bidding （ 44） $85. Sally cried out “$450!” For a moment there was silence. Hope （ 45 ） her. She glanced again at the quilt, thinking how （ 46 ） her grandmother would have been with her at this moment.
　　 Just then, from the back, another person shouted “$475!” She lost her （ 47 ）. Suddenly she couldn’t help wondering why so many people（  48 ） be interested in that old, dirty quilt. The quilt was sold for $500 to a complete（  49 ）.
　　 After the sale, she went to the counter to pay for the few items that were now hers. The woman at the cash desk handed her the quilt. “There must be some　（ 50 ）. Someone else got it.” she said. A hand-written （ 51 ） was pinned（别住） to the quilt, which （ 52 ）:
　　 Dear Madam,
　　 I noticed you admiring the quilt. Clearly, it was（  53 ） to you. Please accept this quilt as my（  54 ）. I don’ t expect repayment from you, but do a （ 55 ） favor（帮忙）in the future for a stranger who happens to cross your path.
                                                        Yours,
                                                                                               A stranger
36. A. Naturally　　    B. Unfortunately　　    C. Luckily　　　      D. Probably

37. A. hoped    B. waited C. expected D. forced

38. A. With    B. At  C. By  D. Over

39. A. house    B. present C. furniture  D. quilt

40. A. amazing          B. necessary C. big         D. sad

41. A. turned out    B. turned up     C. turned back   D. turned on

42. A. purse    B. picture C. book       D. quilt

43. A. excited    B. frightened C. worried            D. shocked

44. A. rose    B. climbed C. reached    D. raised

45. A. told    B. helped C. filled  D. gave

46. A. pleased    B. anxious C. angry  D. familiar

47. A. thought    B. chance C. way  D. faith

48. A. could    B. might C. must  D. would

49. A. relative    B. customer C. friend  D. stranger

50. A. reason    B. secret C. mistake            D. fun

51. A. check    B. wallet C. address    D. note

52. A. read    B. wrote C. spoke  D. showed

53. A. wonderful        B. basic C. pretty     D. important

54. A. honor    B. respect C. gift        D. thank

55. A. particular       B. common C. major     D. similar