Chris Jones recently completed a very unusual journey. Our reporter Mary Owen met him at his home in the south of London and be told her all about the trip.
Reporter: What gave you the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant, Chris?
Chris: Well, it all started the idea two years ago when I was planning a trip to India. I visited a photo exhibition of elephants and I realized that the only enjoyable way to make a trip around India was on an elephant.
Reporter: What did you do next?
Chris: I flew to New Delhi and started looking for an elephant, I needed an elephant trained to carry people. I didn’t know anything about elephants, so I asked an expert(專家) for help. He taught me how to ride an elephant. He also helped me find an elephant.
Reporter: How long did it take you to find a suitable elephant?
Chris: Not too long. I bought a famale elephant called Tara for about 6.000 dollars.
Reporter: Can you tell me about the journey?
Chris: Tara and I set off from New Delhi a week later. We were going to Sonepur in northern India. There is a big elephant market there and I could sell Tara easily. And what a ride! Elephants can travel at about 6 miles an hour and Sonepur is more than 1,200 km away. It took us 64 days to complete the journey.
Reporter: Did you have any problems on your journey?
Chris: Yes, a few. But nothing serious. On the third day. Tara hurt her foot. But that got better quickly. Also, there was a lot of heavy rain during the first week and we got very wet!
Reporter: What happened when you reached Sonepur?
Chris: My plan was to sell Tara. But I was very fond of her. I couldn’t take her back to Britain and I didn’t want to sell her at the market. I happened to meet some people who wanted an elephant for their national park in southern India. I knew that Tara would be safe with them, so I gave her to them. I was very sad to say goodbye.
【小題1】Chris got the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant from ______

A．a(chǎn) visit to a zoo

B．a(chǎn)n elephant expert from India

C．the photos of elephant

D．a(chǎn)n old friend who lived in India

【小題2】The elephant expert told Chris ______

A．when to buy an elephant

B．how to feed an elephant

C．where to sell his elephant

D．how to ride an elephant

【小題3】Chris decided to go to Sonepur because ________

A．it is a very interesting place

B．he would be able to sell Tara there easily

C．elephants cannot be sold anywhere else

D．it would take only a short time to get there

【小題4】When Chris arrived at the market in Sonepur,__________

A．he realized that he did not really want to sell Tara

B．he visited some shopkeepers

C．he sold Tara to a national park

D．he decided to take Tara home with him.

Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are a lot of expressions about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries (金絲雀). If someone looks very proud and satisfied with himself, we say “he looks like the cat that ate the canary.”
Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches. So if you “play cat and mouse” with someone, it means that you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example, a girl might offer something sweet to her little brother and then take it away when he reaches for it.
Americans might say that something is “the cat’s miaow” or “the cat’s pajamas(睡衣)” to describe something that is the best or finest. “A copycat” is someone who acts just like someone else or copies another person’s work. “A fat cat” is a person with a lot of money.
If you tell about something that is supposed to be a secret, we say you “l(fā)et the cat out of the bag”. If you are not able to speak or answer a question, someone might ask you if “the cat has got your tongue(舌頭)”
Have you ever watched children in a classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? “When the cat’s away, the mice will play” means people sometimes act badly when there is no supervision (監(jiān)管).
You may have heard the expression “curiosity killed the cat”. This means caring too much about things that are not your business might cause problems.
If you have ever had cats as pets, you know it is difficult to train them or to get them to do something. Cats are not like Sheep or cows that can be moved in a group. So we say a difficult or impossible job is like “herding (放牧) cats “
【小題1】 What can we learn from the passage?

A．The expression “a fat cat” is used to describe someone who is very fat.

B．The expression “play cat and mouse” usually means “play tricks on others”.

C．It is more difficult to keep sheep or cows than cats.

D．There are more expressions about cats than those about dogs.

【小題2】In which of the following situations do we most probably use the expression “curiosity killed the cat”?

A．Someone always asked a lady her age or weight and it made her angry.

B．Someone promised to keep a secret but he failed to do so.

C．Someone won the first prize in an English singing competition and he felt very excited.

D．Someone tried to swim across the Yangtze River with his newly broken legs.

【小題3】Where can you most probably find the passage?

A．In a scientific research paper about cats.

B．On a website telling people how to keep cats.

C．In a magazine telling various jokes and funny stories.

D．In a language book that teaches students how to use American slang.

For many years I had a good life. My illness was reasonably (適度的) under control, I had a nice relationship with my husband, I did work, I didn't hate. It was, as I said, a good life.
But there's a saying that the good is the enemy of the best. I finally realized this one day, and began making my best life. I changed doctors and tried a new way that could relieve(減輕) my symptoms (癥狀) , rather than just making them easier to deal with. I started talking more with my husband and listening to what he had to say. And I quit(辭掉) my job and started working for myself.
I have the best life I've ever had. I'd call it great. It is possible there's a better life for me, which would then be my "best life" , but for now I don't think so. I've started a business I love. My husband and kids are wonderful. I have a good friend and I'm close to my older sister who lives in town. Could it get better? I suppose so. But for me I think this is the best life I can have right now.
Think more about your life. Where are you living? Are you in a job you just don't mind? What makes your life "good" ? Why isn't it great? What's the enemy of the best and what can you do about it?
Enjoy your best life. We're only here for a short while, and we all need to have the best possible time we can. It's like going to Disney World. If you spend too much time standing in line waiting for the ride, pretty soon your time's up. Get out of the "good" line and have your best life.
【小題1】Which of the following is NOT included in the writer's "good life" ?

A．Having a job.	B．Having no hate.
C．Getting on well with her husband.	D．Living close to her good friend.

【小題2】The writer quit her job because she________.

A．was ill	B．didn't like working
C．wanted to go for her best life	D．wanted to enjoy her good life

【小題3】What did the writer do to make her best life?
①She visited other doctors.
②She started a business she loved.
③She played more with her kids.
④She talked more with her husband.
⑤She spent much time in Disney World.

A．①②④

B．②③④

C．①③⑤

D．①②⑤

【小題4】 What's the enemy of the best?

A．Illness.

B．A good job.

C．Being proud.

D．Being satisfied.

【小題5】What is the best title for the article?

A．Attitude to Life	B．Making Your Best Life
C．What Makes Your Life "Good"	D．A New Way to Treat the Illness

Chris Jones recently completed a very unusual journey. Our reporter Mary Owen met him at
his home in the south of London and be told her all about the trip.
Reporter: What gave you the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant, Chris?
Chris: Well, it all started the idea two years ago when I was planning a trip to India. I visited a
photo exhibition of elephants and I realized that the only enjoyable way to make a trip around
India was on an elephant.
Reporter: What did you do next?
Chris: I flew to New Delhi and started looking for an elephant, I needed an elephant trained to
carry people. I didn’t know anything about elephants, so I asked an expert(專家) for help. He
taught me how to ride an elephant. He also helped me find an elephant.
Reporter: How long did it take to find a suitable elephant?
Chris: Not too long. I bought a female elephant called Tara for about 6, 000 dollars.
Reporter: Can you tell me about the journey?
Chris: Tara and I set off from New Delhi a week later. We were going to Sonepur in northern
India. There is a big elephant market there and I could sell Tara easily. And what a ride! Elephants
can travel at about 6 miles an hour and Sonepur is more than 1, 200 km away. It took us 64 days to
complete the journey.
Reporter: Did you have any problems on your journey?
Chris: Yes, a few. But nothing serious. On the third day, Tara hurt her foot. Btu that got better
quickly. Also, there was a lot of heavy rain during the first week and we got very wet!
Reporter: What happened when you reached Sonepur?
Chris: My plan was to sell Tara. But I was very fond of her. I couldn’t take her back to Britain
and I didn’t want to sell her at the market. I happened to meet some people who wanted an
elephant for their national park in southern India. I knew that Tara would be safe with them, so I
gave her to them. I was very sad to say goodbye.
【小題1】Chris got the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant from __________.

A．a(chǎn) visit to a zoo	B．a(chǎn)n elephant expert from India
C．the photos of elephant	D．a(chǎn)n old friend who lived in India

【小題2】 The elephant expert told Chris __________.

A．when to buy an elephant	B．how to feed an elephant
C．where to sell his elephant	D．how to ride an elephant

【小題3】Chris decided to go to Sonepur because __________.

A．it is a very interesting place

B．he would be able to sell Tara there easily

C．elephants cannot be sold anywhere else

D．it would take only a short time to get there

【小題4】 When Chris arrived at the market in Sonepur, __________.

A．he realized that he did not really want to sell Tara

B．he visited some shopkeepers

C．he sold Tara to a national park

D．he decided to take Tara home with him