I'm from the South Bronx. At 7, my neighborhood was the beginning and end of my universe. It was a small town to me. Everyone knew each other, so if you got into trouble in school, chances are your mom knew about it before you got home. I felt watched over and safe.
But just before I turned 8, things began to change. I watched two buildings on my block burn down. I remember seeing my neighbor Pito go up and down the fire escape to get people out. Where were the firemen? Where was the truck? Somebody must have called them.
That same summer, after serving two tours in Vietnam, my brother was killed in the South Bronx. He was shot above the left eye and died instantly.  
People who could moved out of the neighborhood, and all I wanted to do was get out, too. I used education to get away from there and got good at avoiding the topic of where I was from. To be from the South Bronx meant that you were not a good person. It felt like a stain.
After college, I didn't want to come back to the South Bronx, but in order to afford graduate school, I had to. I was almost 30 and could only afford to live at my parents' home. It felt like a defeat, and I hated it.
At the same time, the city was planning a huge waste facility here, and no one seemed to care — including many of us who lived here. They were like, "Well, it's a poor community; what's the difference?"
I was very angry. It drove me to act. It moved my spirit in a way that I didn't know was possible. And it changed my beliefs — it changed the way I felt about myself and my community. I worked hard with others who felt the same way, and together, we defeated the plan.
After that, I realized it's just as important to fight for something as it is to fight against something. So we dreamed up a new park on the site of an illegal waste dump — and after many community clean-ups, along with $3 million from the city, we have one. And it's a glory. It was the seed from which many new plans for our community have grown.
Today, the South Bronx is no longer a stain; it's a badge(象征) of honor for me. I believe that where I'm from helps me to really see the world. Today, when I say I'm from the South Bronx, I stand up straight. This is home, and it always will be.
41. Paragraphs 2 and 3 make the readers believe ____________.
A. the author felt watched over and safe
B. he author’s brother was a bad man
C. the author’s neighbor Pito was braver than a fireman
D. the author felt his hometown was not a safe place to live in
42. The author went back to the South Bronx after college because ____________.
A. he couldn’t afford to live without his parents’ help
B. he loved his hometown very much
C. he was defeated in studies at college
D. he almost reached the age of 30
43. The underlined sentences(Paragraph 2) imply that ____________.
A. the author wondered where the firemen and the truck were
B. the author wanted someone to call the firemen
C. the firemen didn’t come to help although called
D. the firemen didn’t find a place to park the truck
44. What does the author want to convey in the passage?
A. Great changes have taken place in the South Bronx.
B. The South Bronx is a beautiful place.  
C. You can make a difference to your hometown if you act.
D. Everyone should love his hometown.
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

If women are exploited year after year,they have only themselves to blame.Because they tremble at the thought of being seen in public in clothes that are out of fashion(過時),they are always made use of by the designers and the big stores.Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion.When you come to think of it,only a woman is able to stand in front of a wardrobe(衣柜) packed full of clothes and announcing sadly that she has nothing to wear.
Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional(故意的) waste.Many women spend vast sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn.Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way waste hours of their time changing the dresses they have.Skirts are lengthened; neck?lines are lowered or raised, and so on.
No one can say that the fashion industry makes anything really important to society.Fashion designers are seldom concerned with ?important? things like warmth and that woman will put up with any amount of discomfort,as long as they look right.There can hardly be a man who hasn?t at some time in his life smiled at the sight of woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day,or picking her way through deep snow in high-heeled shoes.
小題1:What do you think of the writer’s idea about “fashion” ?
A.It is neither a waste of money nor a waste of time.
B.It makes something really important to the society.
C.It makes its followers suffer a lot.
D.It is practical opinion to women.
小題2: Who are to blame, according to the passage, for the quickly changing fashion industry in the following?
(a)Women themselves   (b)Men themselves  (c)Fashion designers  
(d)Attractive clothes   (e)Big stores (f)High-heeled shoes
A.(a); (c); (e)B.(a); (b); (d)
C.(c); (e); (f)D.(a); (e); (f)
小題3: We can learn from the passage that _______.
A.most men share different opinions with women on dressing,as well as fashion designers
B.a(chǎn) woman doesn’t feel cold while she’s in a thin dress on a winter day
C.whenever women find their clothes out of date, they’ll get rid of them
D.you didn’t feel strange when seeing a young girl walking in deep snow in high-heeled shoes
小題4:Fashion designers care little for _______.
A.outward appearanceB.woman’s interests
C.the comfort of the clothesD.the cost of the materials

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

You’re rushing to work and a man ahead of you collapses on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people avert their gaze and keep on  walking rather than stop and get involved.
“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed.” says a psychologist. “The first thoughts that pop into your mind often keep you from offering help. In order to take action, you have to work against them.” Here are some common thoughts that might prevent you from helping.
● Why should I be the one? I’m probably not the most competent person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.
● What if he doesn’t really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.
● No one else looks concerned- this must not be a problem. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.
“If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on,” says the psychologist. “Then retry to involve other people; you don’t have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, ‘It looks like we should do something.’ Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you.”
小題1:Which is NOT the common thought that stops you from helping others?
A.I’m not the very person capable of setting the problenu.
B.It looks like we should do something.
C.It must not be a problem as no one else is concerned.
D.He doesn’t really need my help.
小題2:According to a study of by-standers, what will some people do when a man ahead falls down on the sidewalk?
A.They will call for help and then walk away.
B.They will stop and offer help.
C.They will turn away their eyes and go on walking.
D.They will laugh at him.
小題3:We learn from the last paragraph that if we spot ttouble,           
A.we sbould call the ambulance as soon as we can.
B.we should take on the whole responsibility and do something alone.
C.we should stop and evaluate the situation and try to make other people follow.
D.we should turn to other people and ask them to take on the responsibility
小題4:In order to offer others your timely help, you need to        
A.a(chǎn)sk others for help and call the police
B.get along well with the passers-by who spot the trouble
C.go directly to the police station
D.work against the rirst thoughts that prevent you offering help
小題5:The main purpose of the text is to tell readers        
A.to give others a handB.to be more competent
C.not to risk looking foolishD.to stop and evaluate the situation

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

完形填空(共20小題,每小題1.5分,滿分30分)
閱讀下面短文,掌握其大意,然后從16-35各題所給的A.B.C.D四個選項中,選出最佳選項。
How did you do it, Dad? How have you managed not to take a drink for almost 20 years? It took me almost 20 years to have the 16 to even ask my father this very personal question. When Dad first 17 drinking, the whole family was on pins and needles every time he got into a 18 that, in the past, would have started him 19 again. For a few years we were 20 to bring it up for fear that the drinking would begin again.
"I had this little poem that I would recite to myself at least four to five times a day," was Dad's 21 to my 18-year-old unasked question. "The words were a constant (經(jīng)常的) 22 to me that things were 23 so hard that I could not deal with them," Dad said. Then he 24 the poem with me. The poem's 25, yet profound (深刻的) words immediately became 26 of my daily routine as well.
About a month after this 27 with my father, I received a gift in the mail from a friend of mine. It was a book of daily sayings of wisdom with one 28 for each day of the year.
It has been my 29 that when you get something with days of the year on it, you naturally turn to the page that lists your own 30.
I 31 opened the book to November 10 to see 32 words of wisdom this book had in store for me. I was 33 when I looked at the page, and then tears of disbelief and appreciation 34 down my face. There, on my birthday, was the exact same poem that had 35 my father for all these years! It is called the Serenity (平靜) Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.
16. A. chance      B. courage    ability        D. right
17. A. gave up     B. took up      C. went on      D. carried on
18. A. way        B. habit        C. situation      D. house
19. A. reciting     B. asking       C. smoking      D. drinking
20. A. sure        B. uncertain     C. afraid        D. eager
21. A. reply       B. words        C. excuse       D. explanation
22. A. fear        B. imagination   C. thought       D. reminder
23. A. never       B. seldom       C. always       D. ever
24. A. discussed    B. shared       C. offered       D. talked
25. A. wonderful   B. long         C. simple        D. boring
26. A. all       B. that          C. any          D. part
27. A. talk        B. quarrel        C. trip          D. lesson
28. A. listed       B. included      C. read         D. said
29. A. method     B. experience     C. wealth       D. message
30. A. character    B. birthday       C. qualities     D. favorites
31. A. doubtfully   B. carefully      happily      D. hurriedly
32. A. where      B. whether       C. what        D. how
33. A. excited      B. astonished     C. disappointed  D. frightened
34. A. hung        B. pulled        C. rolled        D. pushed
35. A. troubled     B. disturbed      C. pleased       D. helped

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空


第三節(jié) 完形填空(共20小題;每小題1.5分,滿分30分)
閱讀下面短文,從短文后各題所給的四個選項(A、B、C和D)中,選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。
Laughter and tears are part of living. But do you find enough time for laughter? I am not asking if you  21  lost of good times.   22  we should laugh during the happy times. But do you also laugh during the  23  times?
Eram Bombeck is known for her humorous books, but she wrote one that  24  a more serious topic:  25 in children. Erma talks with many children with cancer and learns  26  life lessons from them. She learns, for instance, that cancer survivors know how to  27  .
She   28  the experience of 15-year-old Jessica from Burlinton. Jessica’s leg was cut off at the knee because of cancer. She was learning to  29  a prosthesis(假肢). Jessica tells about playing  30  . She kicked the ball  31 and it flew off in one  32  while her artificial leg flew into another. She fell on the  33  and laughed.
Jessica may not have laughed about her cancer, but she laughed about handling the  34  of it. And her laughter helped her a deal.
There is the story of 17-year-old Betsy. She   35  her way to the radiation room for her regular radiation therapy(化療). As   36  , she dropped her hospital gown and, wearing only her birthday suit,  37 onto the table and waited. The extra people in the room were not the medical students she had thought, but   38 painters giving an estimate on painting! Betsy laughed heartily about the incident. And like Jessica, her  39  to laugh helped her to deal with one of the most difficult thing a young person can endure-cancer.
Do you find plenty of  40  for laughter? You can…if you also find reasons to laugh during the especially difficult times.
Survivors know how to laugh. If you can laugh even when the going is rough, you’ll make it. And you’ll smile at the end.
21.A.lose      B.miss         C.experience       D.laugh
22.A.Of course B.In addition       C.At first     D.First of all
23.A.ordinary   B.difficult       C.pleasant    D.usual
24.A.connected B.reported       C.referred    D.covered
25.A.cancer      B.disability     C.illness       D.laughter
26.A.serious     B.important     C.careful      D.thoughtful
27.A.cry       B.shout         C.laugh     D.face
28.A.describes  B.learns          C.keeps     D.imagines
29.A.put       B.have         C.wear     D.make
30.A.basketball B.badminton          C.volleyball D.soccer
31.A.gently      B.hard         C.slightly     D.Straightly
32.A.way     B.method        C.direction   D.point
33.A.floor     B.table         C.chair     D.bed
34.A.causes      B.results         C.process     D.ends
35.A.fought      B.took         C.made     D.pushed
36.A.common   B.often         C.before      D.usual
37.A.climbed    B.lay           C.jumped     D.sat
38.A.a(chǎn)lso      B.rather              C.a(chǎn)lready     D.a(chǎn)lmost
39.A.strengh     B.willingness       C.a(chǎn)bility      D.confidence
40.A.times     B.places          C.days     D.Moments

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

A car drew up outside the Swan Hotel and a young man got out.Pausing only for an instant to see that he had come to the right place,he went into the hotel and rang the bell on the counter of the bar.
Mrs.Crump,the landlady,who was busy in the kitchen at the time,hurried out,wiping her
hands.The young man raised his hat.“Excuse me,”he said.“I’m looking for my uncle,Mr.White.I believe he is staying here.” “He was staying here.”Mrs.Crump corrected him.“But I’m afraid that he went back to London yesterday.” “Oh,dear,”said the young man,looking disappointed.“I understood that he was going to stay here until the end of the month.At least that is what his servant told me when I rang up his house.” “Quite right,”said Mrs,Cramp.“He intended to stay here the whole of July,as he always does. But yesterday he got a telegram to say that his relative was ill.So he caught the train back to London immediately.”  “I wish he had let me know,”The young man said.“I wrote him a letter saying that I was coming.I’ve had all this trouble for nothing.Well,since he isn’t here,there’s no point in waiting.”
He thanked Mrs.Grump and went out.Mrs.Grump went to the window and watched him
drive off.When his car was out of sight,she called out:“You can come out now,Mr.White.He’s gone.”
Mr.White came out of the kitchen,where he had been waiting.
“Many thanks,Mrs.Grump,”he said,laughing,“you did that very well.These nephews of mine never gave me any peace.That young man is the worst of them all.As you see,when he needs money,he even follows me into the country.Well,perhaps next time he won’t warn me by writing a letter!”
49.The young man said “Oh,dear” to express his           .
    A.disappointment       B.sadness       C.surprise      D.a(chǎn)nger
50.This story is about a man         .
A.who was very much loved by his nephews 
B.whose nephew went to visit him at the hotel
C.whose nephew is always asking him for help
D.who was not willing to meet his nephew
51.When his nephew came to the hotel,Mr.White            .
A.took the train back to London            B.left to visit a sick relative
C.went to pick up a telegram               D.hid himself in the kitchen
52.Mr.White didn’t like his nephews because         .
A.they always follow him around            B.they frequently disturb their relatives
C.they won’t write to him often             D.they usually visit him in hotels

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Recently I paid a visit to Harvard University, where there are top class scientists and professors and the best academic system in the world.
I was pretty shocked when I first stepped onto the campus. Well, it's not even really a campus. It's more like a district in a small town.
Harvard's main buildings are from the 18th century. They look very old and simple. You might even say they're a little shabby. They don't fit the modern idea of university at all. The buildings are surrounded by grass and trees, so I felt as if I had walked into a medieval castle. But when I looked across the street, busy shops and in-fashion students made me feel like I was in the 21st century again. It creates a strong contrast and brings a special atmosphere to the school.
Our tour guide Gary took us around and told us: "You see this grass field in the center of the school? Here is where they host their graduation ceremony. They just set up tents and benches and have a very simple ceremony. Unbelievable! Who would think the most talented students just graduate on the lawn?
I saw some students put a blanket on the grass and lie down to read a book. When I listened to the soft sound of pages turning, along with chirping of the birds, I felt very calm. There was no competitive feeling at all.
Harvard has the world's first computer in its science center and there are hundreds of high-end computers too. Its religion and the literature departments are also among the best. It is the perfect mix of tradition and new technology. It makes Harvard a very attractive place to study in.
I hope one day I'll attend my dream school—Harvard.
45.The article is mainly about        
A.the author's campus life in Harvard     B.the author's impression of Harvard
C.Harvard's old buildings                              D.the academic system at Harvard
46.The author was most impressed by        , according to the article. 
A.Harvard's mix of tradition and new technology
B.the classes held on beautiful lawns at Harvard
C.Harvard students not taking their graduation ceremony seriously
D.the feeling of not living in modern society on the campus
47.What can we conclude from the article? 
A.Harvard campus is actually a district of a big city.
B.There are no competitions at Harvard University.
C.Graduation ceremonies are not complex at Harvard.
D.All Harvard buildings date back to the 18th century.
48.According to the article, in which fields is Harvard top in the world? 
A.Literature, arts, and law.              B.Religion, law and arts.
C.Literature, arts and computer science.   D.Religion, computer science and literature.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

   Could you stand the noise of a street-sweeper truck going up and down the street outside of your house three times a week at 4 a.m.? The noise —described by Blomberg as “l(fā)oud as a NASCAR(全國賽車聯(lián)合會) race car but at a speed of 5 miles per hour” — annoyed him so much that he tried to persuade the city to reschedule street sweeping to begin at 6 a.m. He also founded the nonprofit Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, an organization that provides research and information to others whose request for quiet might otherwise fall on deaf ears.
Hearing loss, in fact, is the most obvious medical consequence of noise pollution, but it is hardly the only one, explains environmental psychologist Arline Bronaft. In her research, Bronzaft found that constant noise exposure could reduce children’s learning ability and cognitive(認(rèn)知的) development. Beyond all that, regularly, “you’ve got to take a break
from sound,” says Bronzaft.
The bad news, says Blomberg, is that “the last century was the noisiest in history.” The good news, he continues, is that the greener we get, the quieter we’ll also get. Electric cars and lawn equipment, for instance, make less noise, just as more fuel-efficient vehicles do. Improved technology can also provide measures to make the problem less serious. Fire engines and police cars could replace those loud sirens(警報器) with other models; and you can turn down the volume inside your home by replacing noisy household appliances with quieter, energy-saving models.
“ I don’t think you can name a noise source that I can’t find a way to make quieter,” says Blomberg. But the real challenge is to change people’s attitudes. “ In the 1960s, we made it unacceptable to throw litter out of the window of your car,” he says. Today it’s time to recognize that “noise is to the soundscape as litter is to the landscape.” The goal is to “create a culture where you do not throw your aural (聽覺的) litter out of the window.
64. What do we know about the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse?
A. It was founded by the city leaders.
B. It was supported by NASCSR.
C. It can rearrange the time of street sweeping.
D. It aims to help those who want more peace and quiet.
65. Which of the following makes the most noise?
A. Electric cars.         B. Loud sirens.                  C. Lawn equipment.     D. Police cars.
66. As Blomberg says, _____________.
A. it’s impossible to make a noise-maker quieter
B. it’s difficult to quiet people down
C. in the 1960s, throwing “sound” out of the window was forbidden
D. street sweeping should be stopped forever
67. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Reducing Noise Pollution                      B. Children’s Mental Development
C. Vehicles that Make Less Noise                        D. Forbidding Throwing Litter

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


四、閱讀理解(本題有兩節(jié),共16小題,每小題2分,共32分)
第一節(jié):閱讀下列材料并做后面的題目。從所給的A, B, C, D四個選項中,選出最佳答案。
A
Have you seen big dogs in stores or restaurants and wondered why they were there? Those dogs might have been guide dogs.
People who are blind sometimes use guide dogs called seeing-eyes dogs. These special dogs help people get around. They help them do everyday things. Some people who have hearing problems have hearing-ear dogs. These dogs tell their owners when an alarm clock goes off or when the doorbell rings.
Guide dogs learn to wear something on their backs called a harness. Their owner holds onto it. The dogs learn what words such as “l(fā)eft” and “right” mean. They learn to never take their owner into traffic.
Each guide dog trains for months. Then, it spends one month working with its future owner. At that time ,the owner and dog get to know one another and train together!
Because guide dogs are trained, they are welcome almost anywhere. So, the next time you are out, don’t be surprised if you see a dog. It might just be a guide dog!
46. ______ use guide dogs.
A. People who want dogs to play with     B. Babies
C. Anyone wants to                                D. People who cannot hear or cannot see
47. How long do guide dogs train?______
A. days           B. weeks                    C. months                     D. They don’t train
48. Guide dogs train with their owner for ______.
A. two days        B. one week               C. one month                D. one year
49. Guide dogs can go _______.
A. almost anywhere  B. only stores     C. anywhere but restaurants   D. only outside places

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案