I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn't be late for ! I found
myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a
huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
     We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman
stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile-warm and
reassuring-and I returned her  gift by smiling back.
     "Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers," she said.
     "Yes, she's special," I said, and then to my embarrassment ,the words kept coming out. "It's only our
second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she's' the one.'" jokingly, I added, "The only
problem is that I can't figure out why she'd want to date a guy like me."
     "Well, I think she's very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is
obviously in love with her." the woman said. "My husband used to bring me flowers every week-even
when times were tough and we didn't have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very
romantic and-of course-I miss him since he's passed away."
     I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I
walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, "You were right, you know. These flowers are
indeed for a very special lady." I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
     It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased ."You have a
wonderful evening." I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the
beautiful flowers.
     I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple
of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story
had helped to seal it for her-that was the night that I won her heart.

1.Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

A. He was to meet his girlfriend.
B. He had to go back to school soon.
C. He was delayed by an elderly lady.
D. He had to pick up some groceries.

2. What does the underlined phrase "her gift"(Paragraph 2 ) refer to?

A. Her words.  
B. Her smile.
C. Her flowers.  
D. Her politeness.

3.Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?

A. She told him a nice story.
B. She allowed him to pay first.
C. She gave him encouragement.
D. She liked flowers very much.

4. What is the message conveyed in the story?

A. Flowers are important for a date.
B .Small talk is helpful.
C. Love and kindness are rewarding.
D. Elderly people deserve respecting.

     I work in a major U.S. factory. We make refrigerators. Four thousand five hundred new refrigerators
every day. It is a union workshop and it's gradually shrinking as many blue collar factories seem to be but
that is not what this story is about. This story is about one man who works in this huge factory.
     I've seen him around for years but never paid much attention. He always seemed just a little strange.
A little short. A little... scruffy (骯臟的). Always the same old red ball cap. And always a garbage bag
in one hand. He walks around this big old factory on his breaks and his lunch time collecting aluminum
(鋁) cans. Day after day, month after month on hot days and cold days. Over the years I've followed
him as he walked to his old pickup truck on the coldest day with snow blowing and everyone with their
collars turned up and their hands in their pockets. He would be there with a 40 gallon garbage bag full of
aluminum cans. He'd toss it into the back of his truck and jump in and I'd reach my car and jump in and
we'd all race to the exit of this big half empty parking lot.
     Today I was working on a broken machine in this factory and the can man came by with his bag
picking up cans. Our manager was standing there because the machine I was working on had been
"down" for a couple of hours and he was getting worried that we might run out of the parts for one of
the assembly lines(裝配線). I was finishing and I stood up just as the manager asked the can man what
he did with all those cans. I'd never thought to ask him that question because I always just assumed he
cashed them at the recycle center. The can man said: "I give them to my neighbor. He's disabled and
can't hold a job." I blurted out: "You mean you've been collecting all those cans for all these years to
give to your neighbor?" "It isn't much," he said, "but I give them to him. He can't hold a job." Right then
and there in that factory I found myself staring at him. He was wearing a T-shirt and an old red ball cap
and he had a garbage bag full of aluminum cans in his hand! I don't even know his name, but I thank him
for the lesson he's taught me.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

A. the author didn't like the can man before knowing about his story
B. making friends at work was not encouraged
C. the author drove a very old pickup truck
D. aluminum cans couldn't be recycled

2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The manager was angry seeing the man picking up cans in the factory.
B. The author thought the can man sold the cans for extra money.
C. The manager was worried because he might be short of cans.
D. People in the factory all looked down upon the can man.

3. What's the possible meaning of the underlined phrase "blurted out" in the last paragraph?

A. said suddenly without thinking much
B. screamed at somebody in anger
C. spoke in a low voice thoughtfully
D. shouted to somebody cheerfully

4. What lesson does the author learn from the story?

A. Never judge a person by his appearance.
B. Don't work in a factory as a blue collar worker.
C. Always treat neighbors as family members.
D. Kindness is from the bottom of one's heart.

     When we ask students what they want to be, they often talk about unusual jobs, things like teachers
and doctors. But if you think about it, many people don't plan to do their jobs. They just start doing
them by accident. We have talked to two people with unusual jobs.
     Emily is a dentist (牙醫(yī)) but she doesn't work with people. She works with horses. After university
she took care of animal's health for several years, but she noticed that there were few people who could
help horses' teeth. She decided to go to college and study again. Then she had to buy special tools, but
she is never out of work. She's always very busy taking care of horses' teeth. "I couldn't be a dentist for
people now," Emily said, "because I really enjoy working with horses."
     As soon as David could read, he read books about robots, but the robots he built today don't look
like the strange robot people in his books. He builds robots for industry. Early one morning he made up
his mind to study maths, science and computers so that he could break into the world of robot engineering. "Some of the maths is very difficult," says David, "but you must study maths to be an engineer." Fortunately he got top marks in all his math exams.

1. Emily doesn't want to be a dentist because __________.

A. the pay is low
B. she has to buy special tools
C. she will be out of work    
D. she likes working with horses

2. To become a robot engineer, David __________.

A. need to worry
B. bought a lot of robots  
C. had to study hard  
D. didn't have to go to college

3. David got top marks in all his maths exams, although __________.

A. maths was not easy to study
B. he had to study maths to be an engineer
C. he could break into the world of robot engineering
D. he made up his mind to study maths, science and computers

     I wear what I feel is comfortable and convenient. Decades ago, my 10-year-old Italian nephew
asked me for jeans from Canada when I visited.
     Upon seeing them, he claimed they were not Levis. "What does Levis mean?" I asked naively.
     Later, I was preparing to come to China when my Sichuan friend ordered jeans for her daughter.
"You mean Levis, I guess?" "No, Benetton," she said.
     Living in China I realize the effect brands have on people here. Once I bought a pair of sandals
because I needed sandals. Many people told me, "Wow! You wear them? You have money!" I didn't
know why they thought 150-yuan ($22) sandals were for wealthy people. I had never heard that brand
name (which I can't remember) before.
     While visiting my family in Canada, we were talking about fake products(假冒商品) in China. As a
writer, I don't accept that readers pirate(盜版) my books and I would consider myself a thief if I ever
buy them. A young relative asked, "What about your purse?"
     "What's the problem with my purse?" I countered.
     "It's a Yves Saint-Laurent; do you mean you paid the full price?"
     "How can you think I bought a YSL? I bought it because of size, color and price."
     She picked up the purse and pointed to the steel YSL on it. Believe it or not, I had not noticed it till
then.
     When Pearl Market used to sell watches, I happened to need one and went there for the large
choice they offered. What I wanted was a watch to see the time, I insisted.
     They had no Chinese brands, only Cartier, Citizen, Seiko, Rolex. Having refused several ming pai
copies, I was leaving without buying when I saw a black one.
     "Diesel, what a strange name for a watch," I thought. Wasn't diesel something that went into a gas
tank? The business deal went quickly; I offered 35 yuan and left with the watch.        

1. What's the author's attitude towards fake products?

A. He thinks they are of good quality.
B. He supports fake products.
C. He believes they are symbols of status.
D. He is strongly against fake products.

2. Why did the author go to Pearl Market to buy a watch?

A. Because the watches here were cheaper.
B. Because there were many famous brands.
C. Because he might make a better choice here.
D. Because he wanted to buy a fake watch.

3. What point does the author want to make in the passage?

A. Brands don't always tell the truth.
B. Fake products should be banned.
C. Following fashion makes much sense.
D. True beauty comes from one's actions.