It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their ears, 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 (食品雜貨) 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 (影響) us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.

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

2.We can infer from the text that ________

3.How did people get to know the couple’s problem?

4.What does the couple learn from their experience?

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(食品雜貨)， saving us from having to walk along 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 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.

1.Why was the bike so important to the couple？

A．They used it for work and daily life.

B．It was their only possession(財產(chǎn)).

C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed.

D．The man‘s job was bike racing.

2.We can infer from the passage 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

3.How did people get to know the couple’s problem？

A．From a stranger.

B．From a newspaper.

C．From TV news

D．From radio broadcasts.

4.What do the couple learn from their experience？

A．Strangers are usually of little help.

B．One should take care of their bike.

C．News reports make people famous.

D．An act of kindness can mean a lot.

5.From this story, we can see humanity is __________.

A．selfish

B．commercial

C．kind

D．cold-hearted

It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their ears, 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 (食品雜貨) 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 (影響) us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.

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

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

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.

4.What does the couple learn from their experience?

A. Strangers are usually of little help. B. One should take care of their bike.

C. News reports make people famous.      D. An act of kindness can mean a lot.

 
D
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(食品雜貨)，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 us to be more mindful. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.
53. 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.
54. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. The author used to get to work by bike.
B. Several strangers offered bikes to them, but they only accepted one of them.
C. The author’s husband often parked the bike outside the back door.
D. Somebody had stolen their bike before, but soon returned it to the author.
55. What do we learn from the couple’s experience?  
A. An act of kindness can mean a lot.       B. One should take care of their bike.
C. News reports make people famous.      D. Strangers are usually of little help.
56. 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.

                          
C
In the early days of human history, people lived by hunting wild animals, or gathering wild grains and plants for food. Then, some people learned to grow crops and raise animals for food. They were the first farmers.
Since the sixteenth century, the word farm has meant agricultural land. But a much older meaning of the word farm is linked to economics. The word farm comes from the Latin word, firma, which means an unchanging payment.
Experts say the earliest meaning of the English word farm was a yearly payment made as a tax or rent.
Farmers in early England did not own their land. They paid every year to use agricultural lands.
Beans are a popular farm crop. But beans are used to describe something of very little value in the expression, not worth a hill of beans. The expression is often used today. You could say, for example, that a bad idea is not worth a hill of beans.
Language expert Charles Earle Funk said the expression was first used almost seven hundred years ago. He said Robert of Gloucester described a message from the King of Germany to King John of England as altogether not worth a bean.
49. In the early days of human history, how did people live?
A. By raising animals.                                      B. By hunting wild animals.
C. By growing crops.                                   D. By selling plants.
50. What is the much older meaning of “farm” linked to?
A. Agriculture.              B. Industry.           C. Economics.   D. Changing payment.
51. What does the expression “not worth a hill of beans” mean?
A. Very important.        B. Very valuable.           C. Not valuable.     D. Not expensive.
52. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Since the sixteenth century, the word farm has meant agricultural land.
B. The word farm comes from the Latin word.
C. Farmers in early England owned their land.
D. The expression “not worth a hill of beans” was first used almost seven hundred years ago.