Has helping people become a thing of the past? Walking through the crowds of today’s busy cities, you might think so. It seems people are too busy or too afraid to lend a hand to someone they don’t know.  But at Radio Beijing today, two friends would like to share their experiences with the listeners.

Hazel Johansen

One Sunday morning, I was running late for work.  As I drove off, I noticed an elderly lady from the neighborhood.  She was pulling a large piece of wood out of the rain. I wanted to help, but I was in a hurry.

I hesitated （猶豫） for a moment. Then I stopped my car, got out and helped her move the wood. Months went by. Then one day, I was walking in the street and saw some workmen cleaning out an old store. There in the dark and dirty corner was a large Coca-Cola cooler. How fun! The workmen said I could have it, so I picked it up and started home. I didn’t get very far. It was much heavier than I thought.  How could I get this to my home? Then out of the blue, the elderly lady appeared — with a handcart! I had helped her, and just when I needed it, she was there and returned the favor （幫忙）.

Rachel Swats — The Irish Helper

Going to the hospital is no fun —— especially when you live in a foreign culture. I recently went to see a doctor in the US. When I got there, I discovered I had forgotten to bring enough money to pay for my treatment. I had my credit card in my pocket, and I thought I could use that. However, I was wrong! For some reason, my card didn’t work. And even the hospital’s ATM wouldn’t let me take money. Since I couldn’t pay, I couldn’t get the treatment I needed.

I was so sad that I began to cry.  Unluckily, when I started crying, I had trouble stopping. I was making quite a big noise!

Everybody else in line was getting impatient （不耐煩的）. Just at that very moment, a lovely Irish woman appeared and asked me what I needed. I told her my problem. She immediately handed me $1,000, along with her business card, so I could repay her later.

I was able to pay and get the treatment.  When I got back home, I emailed the Irish woman. We’ve been in touch ever since!

1. Which of the following could be the best title for Hazel’s story?

    A. A Favor Returned                       B. A Kind Elderly Lady

    C.  She Was There                        D. An Act of Kindness

2. What does "out of the blue" mean in the 4th paragraph?

    A. all of a sudden                          B. as a result

C. to some extent                          D. in a minute

3. What trouble did Rachel meet in the hospital?

    A. She could not stop crying loudly.

    B. She forgot to take any money with her.

    C. Her money was not enough for the treatment.

    D. People waiting in line were impatient with her.

4. Both of the story tellers are trying to tell that ________.

    A. learning to help others is very important

    B. giving help to a stranger is not an easy thing

    C. help might be closer than you think when you get into trouble

    D. someone will be there to help you out if you help other people

Many people love going on a trip by plane , but an airport is usually far from the city . You have to arrive there and wait for hours for the plane to take off and it is often late . You can't open the window .You can't choose the food .Planes are fast ,but it takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city .

I like travelling by train .I think trains are safe . Train stations are usually in cities . when you are late for a train , you can catch another one . You can walk around in the train and open the windows . You can see many interesing things on your way . I know it takes a little more time .

I also like cars . You can start your trip when you want to . and you don't need to get to a station . You can carry many things with you too . But sometimes there are many cars on the road .

1.Many people like travelling by plane because ___.

A．it is slow                              B．you can open the window

C．it is fast                               D．the airport is fay from the city

2.What does "take off " mean ?

A．達(dá)到             B．起飛             C．降落             D．脫掉

3.If you want to take many things with you , you would like to take ___

A．a(chǎn) bus             B．a(chǎn) train            C．a(chǎn) plane           D．a(chǎn) car

4.What is the disadvantge of the car ?

A．You needn't go to the station .              B．You can start your trip when you want to .

C．There are too many cars on the road .        D．You can see many interesting things .

5.which sentence about the writer is TRUE?

A．He likes taking a plane because it takes a lot of time to go to the city .

B．He likes taking a train because train stations are usually in cities .

C．He likes taking a bus because he can drive it .

D．He likes taking a plane because it is fast .

I have always been interested in making things. When I was a child, I enjoyed painting, but I also liked malting things out of day. I won a prize for one of my paintings when I was fourteen.

That may be why I went to art school four years later. But I studied painting at first, not pottery. I like being a potter because I like to work with my hands and feel the clay.  I'm happy working by myself and being near my home.  I don't like mass-produced things, for they are made by machines and are all the same. I think crafts(手工藝) are very important and crafts persons(手藝人)make things cleverly with hands. They make our lives colorful. When I left school, I got some money.  I hope to become a full-time craftswoman. This workplace is small, but I wish tot: move to a larger one next year.

1. The writer went to the art school at the age of___________

2. The writer is talking about her workplace_____________

 A. unhappily           B. hopefully

 C. seriously           D. angrily

3. From the passage we know that the writer prefers

A. a long way to work

B. group work

 C. a small workplace

 D. something different

4. What does "mass-produced" mean in Chinese?

5. From the passage we are sure that the writer is a  ________      (man/woman).

     It is September first today. A new school year begins. Hu Ming gets up early. He puts on the nicest clothes. After a quick breakfast he says goodbye to his parents and leaves with a new school bag. His mother wants to take him to his school. but he doesn't let her do so.

      "The school is less than a hundred meters from here. I can walk there in two minutes. "There are a lot of people in the school this morning. Hu Ming finds Miss Wang in the teachers' office. She brings out a book and asks. "What's your name?"

      "Hu Ming. madam. "answers the boy.   

      "When were you born (出生) .

      "In 2001."

      "Where's your native place?

       "What does "native place "mean, please?

       "It means the place where you were born."

       "Oh. I see. It's the Beijing Maternity (婦產(chǎn)) Hospital.

  1. What is the date?

  2. How old is Hu Ming now?

  3. Is the school far from his home?

  4. What is Miss Wang?

  5. Does Hu Ming understand (理解) Miss Wang?

Many people love going on a trip by plane , but an airport is usually far from the city . You have to arrive there and wait for hours for the plane to take off and it is often late . You can't open the window .You can't choose the food .Planes are fast ,but it takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city .
　 I like travelling by train .I think trains are safe . Train stations are usually in cities . when you are late for a train , you can catch another one . You can walk around in the train and open the windows . You can see many interesing things on your way . I know it takes a little more time .
　 I also like cars . You can start your trip when you want to . and you don't need to get to a station . You can carry many things with you too . But sometimes there are many cars on the road .
(　 )51. Many people like travelling by plane because ___.
　　 A.it is slow　 　　 B.you can open the window　

　　 C.it is fast　 　　　 D.the airport is fay from the city 
(　  )52.What does "take off " mean ?
　　 A.達(dá)到　 B.起飛　 C.降落　 D.脫掉
(　  )53.If you want to take many things with you , you would like to take ___
　　  A.a bus　  B.a train　  C.a plane　　 D.a car
(　  )54.What is the disadvantge of the car ?
　　 A.You needn't go to the station .  B.You can start your trip when you want to .
　　 C.There are too many cars on the road . D.You can see many interesting things .
(　  )55.which sentence about the writer is TRUE?
　　 A.He likes taking a plane because it takes a lot of time to go to the city .
　　 B.He likes taking a train because train stations are usually in cities .
　  C.He likes taking a bus because he can drive it .
　  D.He likes taking a plane because it is fast .