53.　　 What would be the best title for the text? A. Easy Ways to Make Friends　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Ups and Downs in Friendship C. How to Mend a Troubled Friendship　　　　　　　 D. How to Take the Lead in Making Friends

52.　　 After the computer was brought home, the author’s father _______. A. lost interest in cooking　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. took more phone calls C. played more games　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. began to use it

D

When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to themselves, many put friends ahead of homes, jobs, cloth and cars.

A true friendship carries-a-long history of experience that determines who we are and keeps us connected. It is a treasure we should protect. Unfortunately, the better friends you are, the more probably you’ll have disagreements. And the result can be what you don’t want an end to the relationship.

The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended First, don’t’ let your pride get in your way. Most of us can forgive each other when differences are brought out in the open. Second, apologize when you’re wrong – even if you’ve been wronged. Over the course of a friendship, even the best people make mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the wronged person takes the lead and apologizes. When you apologize, give your friend a chance to admit that he has been wrong. Third, see things from your friend’s point of view (观点). And finally, accept that friendships change as our needs and lifestyle (生活方式) change. Making friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the natural ups and downs that have an effect on all relationships. My suggestion: Consider friendship an honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure and nurture (培养).

51.　　 The author asked her mother to write her a letter _______. A. because he mother had stopped using the telephone B. because she wanted to keep in touch with her mother C. so that her mother could practice what she had learned D. so that her mother could be free from housework

50.　　 The author decided to give her mother a computer _______. A. to let her have more chances to write letters　　 B. to support her in doing her homework C. to help her through the bad times　　　　　　　　　 D. to make her life more enjoyable

49.　　 What does the author do? A. She is a cook.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. She is a teacher.　　　　 C. She is a housewife.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. She is a computer engineer.

48.　　 Which of the following places has to do with the first telegram in history? A. Washing to, D.C.　　　 B. New York City　　　　　 C. Kentucky　　　　　　　　 D. Pennsylvania

C

When I learned that my 71-year-old mother was playing Scrabble – a word game – against herself, I knew I had to do something. My husband suggested we give her a computer to play against. I wasn’t sure my mother was ready for it. After all, it had taken 15 years to persuade her to buy an electric cooker. Even so, we packed up our old computer and delivered it to my parents’ home. And so began my mother’s adventure in the world of computers.

It also marked the beginning of an unusual teaching task for me. I’ve taught people of all ages, but I never thought I would be teaching my mother how to do anything she has been the one teaching me all my life; to cook and sew; to enjoy the good times and put up with the bad. Now it was my turn to give something back.

It wasn’t easy at the beginning. There was so much to explain and to introduce. Slowly but surely, my mother caught on, making notes in a little notebook. After a few months of scrabble and other games, I decided it was time to introduce her to word processing (文字处理). This proved to be a bigger challenge (挑战) to her, so I gave her some homework. I asked her to write me a letter, using different letter types, colors and space.

“Are you this demanding with your kindergarten pupils?” she asked.

“No, of course not,” I said. “they already know how to use a computer.”

My mother isn’t the only one experiencing a fast personal growth period. Thanks to the computer, my father has finally got over his phone allergy (过敏反映). For as long as I can remember, any time I called, my mother would answer. Dad and I have had more phone conversations in the last month than we’ve had in the past 20 years.

47.　　 In which year did the former first lady Jacqueline die? A. 1934　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. 1960　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. 1964　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. 1994

46.　　 What is the title of the first American political cartoon? A. Join or Die　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Pennsylvania Gazette C. What Hath God Wrought　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Kentucky Derby

45.　　 We know from the text that Buchanan is _______. A. Isaac’s father　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. a winning horse C. a slave taking care of horses　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. the first racing horse in Kentucky

44.　　 Who was supposed to be the first owner of the book? A. An official of the UN　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. A coffee shop owner C. A friend of the author’s　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Alex’s friend from California

B

May: Happenings from the Past

May 5, 1884

Issac Murphy, son of a slave and perhaps the greatest horse rider in American history, rides Buchanan to win his first Kentucky Derby. He becomes the first rider ever to win the race three times.

May 9, 1754

Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania gazette produces perhaps the first American political cartoon (漫画), showing a snake cut in pieces with the words “Join or Die” printed under the picture.

May 11, 1934

The first great dust storm of the Great Plains Dust Bowl, the result of years of drought (干旱), blows topsoil all the way to New York City and Washington, D.C.

May 19, 1994

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, former first lady and one of the most famous people of the 1960s died of cancer in New York City at the age of 64.

May 24, 1844

Samuel F.B Morse taps out the first message, “What hath God wrought,” over the experimental long-distance telegraph line which runs from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Md.