Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. Take my family’s last vacation. It was my six-year-old son’s winter break form school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a weeklong trip. The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meeting in New York，So I had to get back . But that didn"t mean my husband and my son couldn"t stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.
The next day my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged一okay, ordered-them to wait it out at the airport, to "earn" more Delta Dollars. Our total take: $1,600. Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I"m a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big-time bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar. And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up.
I"ve made living looking for the best deals and exposing (揭露) the worst tricks . I have been the consumer reporter of NBC"s Today show for over a decade. I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I believe in. I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money’s worth. I’m also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn"t hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its longer, and it"s the first thing people notice. And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. Quality lasts.
小题1:Why did Delta give the author"s family credits?| A．They took a later flight. | | B．They had early bookings. | | C．Their flight had been delayed. | | D．Their flight had been cancelled. |
小题2:What can we learn about the author?| A．She rarely misses a good deal. | | B．She seldom makes a compromise. | | C．She is very strict with her children | | D．She is interested in cheap products. |
小题3:What does the author do?| A．She"s a teacher. | | B．She"s a housewife. | | C．She"s a media person. | | D．She"s a businesswoman. |
小题4:What does the author want to tell us?| A．How to expose bad tricks. | | B．How to reserve airline seats. | | C．How to spend money wisely, | | D．How to make a business deal. |
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小题1:A
小题2:A
小题3:C
小题4:C |
【文章大意】本文是一篇记叙文。作者通过一家人乘飞机返家过程中由于机票超额预定，从而可以推迟回家而得到航空公司的赔偿一事，引出在日常生活中如何利用一些机会合理的花钱，体现了一个女人在持家方面的睿智。
小题1:根据文章第一段中的Dalta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day.可知，他们是因为放弃了本航班的机票从而得到航空公司的赔偿，他们第二天离开。故选A。
小题2:根据文章第三段中的as a big-time bargain hunter…a good deal is something that few of us can offord to pass up可以推出作者很少错过便宜货。故选A。
小题3:根据文章第四段中的I have been the consumer reporter of NBC’s today show for over a decade.可知，作者是个媒体记者。故选C。
小题4:纵观全文，尤其是第一段和最后一段。第一段段首句给出：作者是省钱一族。最后一段对不同的产品的不同决策，指出对于质量高的产品也会毫不犹豫买。说明了作者花钱的明智。故选C。 |
核心考点
试题【Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. Tak】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was ,in his words, “a brilliantly（精彩地）written book”. However, he then went on to talk about Mr Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day’s “Report on Guilty Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I’m not one to lie too often (I’d hate to be caught out ),I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire top ten . But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky(I haven’t read him, but haven’t lied about it either )and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress” someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in –depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. k. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story(I’ll come clean: I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so).
小题1:How did the author find his friend a book liar?| A．By judging his manner of speaking. | | B．By looking into his background. | | C．By mentioning a famous name. | | D．By discussing the book itself. |
小题2:Which of the following is a “guilty secret” according to the World Book Day report?| A．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list. | | B．42% of people pretended to have read 1984. | | C．The author admitted having read 9 books. | | D．Dreams From My Father is hardly read. |
小题3:By lying about reading, a person hopes to.| A．control the conversation | | B．appear knowledgeable | | C．learn about the book | | D．make more friends |
小题4:What is the author’s attitude to 58%of readers?| A．Favorable. | | B．Uncaring | | C．Doubtful | | D．Friendly |
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My name is Nick Vujicic, an Australian who was born without any limbs（四肢）. In recent years one of my most __1 __videos on YouTube shows my skateboarding, surfing, playing music, and best of all, __2 ___hugs from all fields of great people.
All in all, those are pretty ordinary __3 __that just about anyone can do, right? So _4 _do you think that video has been viewed millions of times? My theory is that people are __5 _to watch it because in spite of my physical limitations, I’m living __6 __I had no limits.
People often think someone __7 __a severe disability to be inactive, upset, maybe even crazy. But I’d like to __8 __them by showing that I lead a very adventurous and fruitful life
Among the hundreds of __9 _on that video, here’s one typical remark:“Seeing a guy like this being happy makes me wonder why I feel __10 _for myself sometimes －or feel not funny enough, or whatever. How can I __11 __think thoughts like that when this guy is living without limbs and still being happy!?”
I found happiness when I realized that imperfect __12 _I may be, I am the perfect Nick Vujicic. I’m designed __13 _God’s plan. That’s not to say that there isn’t __14 for improvement. I’m always trying to be better so I can better __15 _the world!
I do believe my life has no __16 _. I want you all to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challenges may be. As we __17 _our journey together, please take a moment to __18 _about any limitations you’ve placed on your life. Now think about what __19 _would be like to be __20 _of those limitations. What would your life be if anything were possible?
| 小题1: | | A．disappointing | B．unforgettable | C．popular | D．useful |
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| 小题2: | | A．receiving | B．collecting | C．returning | D．gathering |
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| 小题3: | | A．sports | B．activities | C．affairs | D．wonders |
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| 小题5: | | A．drawn | B．expected | C．required | D．ordered |
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| 小题6: | | A．even though | B．in case | C．as though | D．if only |
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| 小题8: | | A．advise | B．greet | C．surprise | D．please |
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| 小题9: | | A．comments | B．pictures | C．replies | D．statements |
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| 小题10: | | A．nervous | B．sorry | C．eager | D．desperate |
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| 小题11: | | A．still | B．ever | C．also | D．even |
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| 小题12: | | A．if | B．as | C．while | D．although |
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| 小题13: | | A．according to | B．thanks to | C．owing to | D．up to |
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| 小题14: | | A．stage | B．area | C．place | D．room |
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| 小题15: | | A．protect | B．rescue | C．serve | D．reserve |
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| 小题16: | | A．challenges | B．limits | C．doubts | D．endings |
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| 小题17: | | A．finish | B．continue | C．start | D．stop |
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| 小题18: | | A．worry | B．think | C．care | D．talk |
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| 小题20: | | A．free | B．short | C．aware | D．fond |
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I suppose that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it’s given from the heart. When people are talking, there’s no need to do anything but receive them. Listen to what they’re saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don’t value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simple saying “I’m so sorry,” when someone is in pain.
One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happening to them. Her pain became a story about them. Eventually, she stopped talking to most people. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen, they know we care.
I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the handkerchiefs, until I realized that passing a person a handkerchief may be just another way to shut him down, to take them out of their experience of sadness. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them.
This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too shy to speak or did not know the answer. But now I know that a loving silence often has far more power to heal than the kindest words.
小题1:What does the author value most in the communication with each other?| A．Deep understanding | B．Saying “I’m Sorry”. | | C．Attention from heart. | D．Doing nothing. |
小题2:The woman patient stopped telling her story to most people because ______.| A．She didn’t get enough respect from others | | B．she was discouraged by being often interrupted | | C．people often told her their own opinions | | D．people couldn’t understand her sad situation |
小题3: If you hand a handkerchief to someone crying, you may ______.| A．hurt his feelings | B．make him embarrassed | | C．encourage him to continue to cry | D．stop him from letting out his sorrow |
小题4: It can be inferred from the passage that while communicating, ______.| A．listening is a perfect way to respond to others | | B．people keep silent because they don’t know the answer | | C．keeping silent means being too shy to speak | | D．it is easy to form the habit of listening silently |
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Do you want to have a close friend? Do you know how to make a good friend? Now, let me tell you. Before you make friends, you have to decide who you want to be your friends. Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kind of things they do.
The quickest way to make a friend is to smile. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy at first to smile, but remember most people will stay away from a scared or angry looking face.
One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn’t it make you want to keep talking to that person?
Ask your new friends questions about themselves. Who’s their favorite singer, where do they live, what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. Make sure you have something to add to the conversation, too. When someone asks you a question, do have an answer for them. There’s nothing that will stop a conversation quicker than a shrug (耸肩) for an answer.
Kids who show an interest in other kids and who are kind and friendly make good friends. Remember, everyone wants to be around people who like to do similar things and people who are nice to them.
小题1:What does the underlined word scared( in para.2) mean?| A．holy | B．frightening | C．happy | D．sad |
小题2:The main idea is _________.| A．how to start a conversation | B．how to praise a person | | C．how to make friends | D．the importance of making friends |
小题3:What kind of people are easy to become friends?| A．who are happy every day. | B．who often speak ill of others. | | C．who are good at communicating . | D．who share the same interest. |
小题4:If a person shrug , what does he/she mean?| A．being very proud | B．making no answer | | C．being very happy | D．be humorous |
小题5:Most people enjoy talking to one _______.| A．who speaks highly of them | B．who are very out-going. | | C．who is always smiling | D．who points out their shortcomings |
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As a child, I was afraid of everything. At the age of 8, I even became 1 of getting Halloween candy. 2 , on October 31, my twin brother and I went out and 3 to every house in the neighborhood. Most of the houses only had a few steps to the door. It was easy. However, when we 4 one of the bigger houses with 10 tall steps 5 to the front door, which were known to have the best candy, my fear 6 me. My brother was already up the stairs, while I stood 7 at the bottom.
It was 8 that I’d be able to climb all that way, for I was afraid that I might fall over in the dark and 9 my bag of candy. I might 10 my clothes on something. I wanted the candy, but there was no 11 I would go up those stairs to get it. I failed. I lost more than just candy. I lost my 12 .
Fear of the unknown 13 me for a long time. After six years in nursing, I was 14 with the career I had chosen. I faced a 15 : step out into the unknown or 16 the rest of my life at the bottom of those steps, never 17 the best candy.
Finally, with only $100 in my savings account, I started my own business. Whenever I would lose a client (客户), the old fears 18 . However, I’d tasted the candy, and now I don’t 19 when I face difficulties. I believe that, though 20 things can happen when we step out, worse things happen when we don’t.
| 小题1: | | A．afraid | B．happy | C．fond | D．tired |
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| 小题2: | | A．Hardly | B．Normally | C．Certainly | D．Approximately |
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| 小题3: | | A．pointed | B．rushed | C．moved | D．traveled |
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| 小题4: | | A．knocked | B．escaped | C．reached | D．entered |
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| 小题5: | | A．pointing | B．belonging | C．opening | D．leading |
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| 小题6: | | A．encouraged | B．spread | C．prevented | D．attracted |
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| 小题7: | | A．slightly | B．frozen | C．calmly | D．happily |
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| 小题8: | | A．unlikely | B．unlucky | C．possible | D．pitiful |
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| 小题9: | | A．fall | B．drop | C．forget | D．lose |
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| 小题10: | | A．bury | B．break | C．tear | D．catch |
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| 小题11: | | A．way | B．need | C．doubt | D．wonder |
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| 小题12: | | A．bag | B．life | C．way | D．confidence |
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| 小题13: | | A．amused | B．controlled | C．helped | D．ruined |
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| 小题14: | | A．excited | B．concerned | C．impressive | D．unsatisfied |
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| 小题15: | | A．difficulty | B．cause | C．fear | D．choice |
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| 小题16: | | A．save | B．spend | C．change | D．escape |
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| 小题17: | | A．presenting | B．buying | C．making | D．tasting |
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| 小题18: | | A．disappeared | B．warned | C．returned | D．reminded |
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| 小题19: | | A．fear | B．cry | C．fail | D．complain |
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| 小题20: | | A．big | B．fortunate | C．bad | D．small |
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