It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.

The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries (食品杂货), saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.

I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.

People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity (人性) as a whole. And it has influenced (影响) us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.

【小题1】Why was the bike so important to the couple?

A．The man’s job was bike racing.

B．It was their only possession.

C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed.

D．They used it for work and daily life.

【小题2】We can infer from the text that ____________.

A．the couple worked 60 hours a week.

B．people were busy before Christmas

C．the stranger brought over the bike

D．life was hard for the young family.

【小题3】How did people get to know the couple’s problem?

A．From radio broadcasts.

B．From a newspaper.

C．From TV news.

D．From a stranger.

   When she was just 17 years old，Liz crashed into the back of a truck that was waiting to turn in a left-turn lane（车道）. The crash is a life-changing one for her. Because of the crash，she's blind in one eye，loses her sense of smell，loses some of her hearing，loses the ability to create tears，and she cannot fall asleep naturally.

“Initially，I thought I would not be defeated but clearly I was completely wrong. Apart from the medical problems，the hardest part about my life after the car accident was the fact that I was alone，”Liz said.“Everyone was away at college，but I wasn't. I couldn't drive or go to college. My friends who used to hang around with me were there for me at first，but after a while they stopped coming by.”

“I viewed her Facebook page，and she said on there: Can anybody please hang out with me today？I don't have any friends，”recalled Liz's mother，Betty.

In time, Liz and her mother teamed up with the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make a video. They wanted to get the point across that texting and driving can have life-transforming consequences.

In the video Liz appealed to drivers not to text when driving. She admitted she was checking and sending messages via her phone when she crashed her car into the back of the truck.

“Don't text your loved ones when you know they' re driving,”said Liz's mother.“It can change their lives forever.”

“If you get a text, don't look at it,”Liz said.“It's not worth it.”

【小题1】What made Liz feel most painful after the car accident?
A．Guilt.    B. Blindness.
B．Loneliness.     D. Discouragement.【小题2】Why the car accident happened?
A．Betty was driving carelessly.
B．Liz was texting while driving.
C．The truck in front stopped suddenly.
D．The truck turned left without warning.【小题3】The video was made to__________.
A．call on people to be kind to accident victims
B．expose the truth of the car crash to the public
C．warn people against using phones while driving
D．ask people to be careful while crossing the road【小题4】Which is closest to the underlined words in Paragraph 4in the meaning？
A．Charged with.
B．Complained of.
C．Worked together with.
D．Got involved in.

短文改错

When I was in high school, most of my friends had bicycle. I hoped I could also have it. One day I saw a second-hand bicycle, that was only one hundred yuan. I asked my father the money, and he said he could only give me half of the money. I should earn the other half by myself. So I went to sell newspapers after the school. My father was pleasing when I showed him the money a month late. He gave me the other fifty. You can imagine how happily I felt when I ride to school on my own bicycle.

语法填空

A lot of people, who spend half their time dreaming up ways 【小题1】 (become) rich, are determined to become a millionaire. In fact, even if some of them get rich, they are not content with 【小题2】 (they) lives at all. 【小题3】, Charles Gray isn’t such 【小题4】 person. Today Charles Gray, who used to be a college professor with a huge six-bedroom house, lives in a small dormitory room 【小题5】 there is only second-hand furniture. But Charles appreciates this change. He feels happy to give 【小题6】 the lifestyle of a rich man, 【小题7】 (get) clothes or other things from charity shops.

A few years ago, Charles 【小题8】 (be) aware that there were a lot of people who were lacking in food, so he donated all his money to charity 【小题9】 (organization). In Charles’s opinion, most people never make much money and having only a little money 【小题10】 (make) one freer and happier.

   Yesterday I was a bit early for an appointment so I stopped in at McDonald's for a coffee. I think they make the best coffee. Two very pleasant young girls were working at the counter and the customer ahead was impossible to please!

The young girl was sweaty and nearly in tears. I only wanted coffee but I liked lots of milk in it. I really didn't want to be difficult so I said,“You go ahead and add lots of milk and if it's not enough, I'll ask for more. ” She smiled. She made a perfect coffee. I left her two pieces of candy as a tip.

I went to her supervisor and let the leader know how well she handled such a difficult customer ahead of me. More of that needs to be done for young people starting out - probably the first job. '

I remember how hard it was. I would have run away crying and quit, if it had been me yesterday serving those customers. I'd still be crying too.

Comments posted by molliecat on July 29

READERS' COMMENTS

FayBaby wrote: Customer service can be one of the most difficult and thankless jobs at times. Your expression of appreciation (感激)probably made her day.

Mish wrote: How dear you were to lend support there, dear molliecat. Love you ! kiwicat wrote: My sons both have dreadful(糟透了的)first job stories of how rude and demanding customers can be. I now always encourage a new cashier or someone to do job training. Thanks for the reminder(提醒物)that we can be more tolerant and thankful to those who offer front-line customer service. mindyjourney wrote: Thank you for helping calm the young worker with your appreciation and thoughtfulness,So many good lessons you have earned are shared. Blessings, dear molliecat.

【小题1】Why did the writer have a coffee at McDonald's?

A．Because she arrived for the appointment ahead of time.

B．Because her appointment was delayed.

C．Because she wanted some coffee to calm down.

D．Because the coffee at McDonald's was very cheap.

【小题2】What can we know about the customer before the writer?

A．The customer was a pleasant young woman.

B．The customer was difficult to deal with.

C．The customer was easy to please.

D．The customer was very sweaty.

【小题3】What does the underlined word“supervisor” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．A person in charge.

B．A person in need.

C．An elderly customer.

D．A reader of a website.

【小题4】The passage is most likely to be taken from

A．a website	B．a practical guide
C．a newspaper	D．a textbook