阅读一
Like many lovers of books, Mary and her husband, Richard Goldman, seldom walked past a bookstore without stopping to look inside. They often talked of opening their own store one day.
When Mary was hospitalized with heart trouble in 1989, they decided it was time to get serious. Richard, who worked for a business company, was eager to work for himself, and Mary needed to slow down from her demanding job.
They started by talking to bookstore owners and researching the industry. “We knew it had to be a specialty store because we couldn’t match the big chains dollar for dollar, ”says Mary. One figure caught her attention：She’d read somewhere that roughly 20 percent of books sold were mysteries(推理小说), and many buyers spent more than $300 a year on books. She and Richard were themselves mystery readers.
On Halloween 1992, they opened the Mystery Lovers Bookshop and Café near their home. With three children in college, the couple could not spend all the family’s money to start a shop. To cover the $100, 000 cost, they drew some of their savings, borrowed from relatives and from a bank.
The store merely broke even in its first year, with only $120, 000 in sales. But Mary was always coming up with new ways to attract customers. The shop had a coffee bar and it offered gifts to mystery lovers and served dinners for book clubs that met in the store. She also invited dozens of writers to discuss their stories.
Today Mystery Lovers makes sales of about $420, 000 a year. After paying taxes, business costs and the six part-time sales clerks. Richard and Mary together earn about $34, 000.
“The job you love may not go hand in hand with a million-dollar income, ”says Richard. “This has always been about an enjoyable life for ourselves, not about making a lot of money. ”
1. When Mary was in hospital, the couple realized that______.
A. they had to put their plan into practice B. health was more important than wealth
C. heart trouble was a serious illness D. they both needed to stop working
2. After Mary got well from her illness they began______.
A. to study industrial management B. to buy and read more mystery books
C. to do market research on book business D. to work harder to save money for the bookstore
3. How did their bookstore do in the first year?
A. They had to borrow money to keep it going. B. They made just enough to cover all the costs.
C. They succeeded in earning a lot of money. D. They failed though they worked hard.
4. According to Richard, the main purpose of running the bookstore is______.
A. to pay for their children’s education B. to get to know more writers
C. to set up more bookstores D. to do what they like to do
答案 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. D
阅读二
When someone has deeply hurt you,it can be extremely difficult to let go of your anger.But forgiveness is possible-and it can be surprisingly helpful to your physical and mental health.Indeed,research has shown that people who forgive report more energy,better appetite(胃口)and better sleep patterns.“People who forgive show less anger and more hopefulness,”says Dr. Frederic Luskin,who wrote the book Forgive for Good.“So it can help save on the wear and tear on our system and allow people to feel more energetic.”
So when someone has hurt you,calm yourself first.Take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure：a beautiful scene in nature,someone you love.Don’t wait for an apology.“Many times the person who hurt you may never think of apologizing,”says Dr. Luskin.“They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things the same way.So if you wait for people to apologize,you could be waiting a very long time.”Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean accepting the action of the person who upset you.Mentally going over your hurt gives power to the person who brought you pain.Instead,learn to look for the love,beauty and kindness around you.Finally,try to see things from the other person’s perspective(视角).You may realize that he or she was acting out of ignorance(无知),fear-even love.To gain perspective,you may want to write a letter to yourself from that person’s point of view.
1.The text is mainly written to explain______.
A.how to keep yourself from being hurt B.how to stay mentally healthy
C.how and when to remain calm D.why and how to pardon others
2.According to the writer,what is the right way to calm down after being hurt?
A.Try to figure out why you get hurt. B.Write a letter to the person who hurt you.
C.Persuade yourself to accept what others have done to you.
D.Think about pleasant things and forget about the hurt.
3.Dr. Luskin advises us not to wait for an apology after being hurt because______.
A.we are not patient enough B.we’d feel worse accepting others’ apology
C.people seldom want to apologize D.people don’t mean it when they apologize
答案 1.D 2.D 3.C
阅读三
◆Cannes will rock to the sound of a cancan dance this year when Moulin Rouge by the Australian director Baz Luhrmann opens the French film festival(电影节)in May. The musical stars Nicole Kidman as a singer, and John Leguizarmo as the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It will be competing for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize. The festival runs to May 21.
◆The American actor Tommy Lee Jones, 54, has married his longtime girlfriend, Dawn Maria Laurel, 36, in a private wedding in San Antonio. “It wasn’t a big to-do, ”said Fred Biery, a U. S. District Judge who performed the service. He refused to discuss things further. “These are very private people. ”he said.
◆Loretta Lynn is being treated for a very bad cold in Tennessee and will miss several appearances. The country singer, 65, was admitted to a hospital near her home in Hurricane Mills. “She is in good condition, but the doctors are watching her closely. ” a spokeswoman said.
◆The French-Algerian singer Enrico Macias was named a United Nations peace messenger. Enrico joins eight other people who act as goodwill envoys(使者)for the United Nations, among them are the writer Elie Wiesel and the basketball player Magic Johnson.
1. We can learn from the text that Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is______.
A. a figure in a film B. a dancer in a show
C. a country singer D.a prize winner
2. We know from the text that______.
A. Moulin Rouge won the top prize in a film festival
B. Loretta Lynn is under the doctors’ care
C. eight people serve as the UN goodwill envoys
D. Fred Biery was Tommy Lee Jones’ assistant
3. This text most probably appears in______.
A. a book on film stars B. a film review in a magazine
C. a newspaper D. a notice
答案 1. A 2. B 3. C
阅读四
Sitting is an art that isn’t getting passed along.People these days feel as though they have to be doing something.If they are not working,they are jogging,or playing tennis or golf,or taking courses to improve their minds or bodies-or they are parked in front of the TV.Sitting in front of the TV isn’t sitting-it’s watching.
People used to sit a whole lot.You would walk down the street or drive down the road,and there they would be,out on the doorsteps,sitting.You could go down to the store and sit on the bench out front in the summer or around the fire in the winter.There were sitting benches out in the town square.At the garage,there were staight-backed chairs.There among the oilcans and tires and spare parts,you could kick back and sit.
Houses used to have sitting rooms,where the grown-ups would go after Sunday dinner.Mom and Dad,Grandpa and Aunt Ruby would sit and digest(消化)the fried chicken and talk about Aunt Ethel’s illness,and how well the minister did today.Outside,the children would play,and the afternoon would pass by in a comfortable haze(悠闲的氛围).
That sort of thing looks like doing nothing.A recharging battery(正充电的电池)doesn’t look as if it’s doing anything either.Sitting restores your soul.If you want to enjoy a truly full life,don’t just do something – sit there.
1.What message does the author try to get through to us?
A.People should make better use of their sitting room.
B.People should spend less time watching TV.
C.People should pass down their good habits.
D.People should take things easy for their own good.
2.We can learn from the second paragraph that_______.
A.people lived a more restful life in the past B.towns were built to make living convenient
C.small town garages had a lot to offer D.people enjoyed going out for a drive
3.The sitting room mentioned in the text used to be a place for________.
A.eating food B.watching TV C.gathering together D.playing with children
4.From the text we know the writer believes________.
A.sitting has a good spiritual effect B.sitting helps people remember the past
C.a sitting room may have different purposes D.a sitting room is important for the old
答案 1.D 2.A 3.C 4.A