出自:大学英语（C）252
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June.
Mother’s Day was proclaimed (宣布) a day for national observance by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915. Anna Jarvis from Grafton, West Virginia, had started the idea to have a day to honor mothers. She was the one who chose the second Sunday in May and also began the custom of wearing a carnation.
In 1909, Mrs. Dodd from Spokane, Washington, thought of the idea of a day to honor fathers. She wanted to honor her own father, William Smart. After her mother died, he had the responsibility of raising a family of five sons and a daughter. In 1910, the first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane. Senator Margaret Chase Smith helped to establish Father’s Day as a national commemorative day.
These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery. On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
1、1. According to the passage, which of the following about the second Sunday in May is NOT true?
A、It is a day to show love to mothers.
B、It is a day to wear carnations.
C、It is a day for people to have outdoor barbecues.
D、It is a day for many people to attend religious services.
正确答案：C
2、2. Which is the correct time order in while the following events happened?
a. The first Father’s Day was observed.
b. Mother’s Day was proclaimed a day for national observance.
c. Father’s Day became a day for national observance.
d. The idea of honoring fathers was brought up.
A、a b c d
B、d a b c
C、b a c d
D、d a c b
正确答案：B
3、3. Who plays the most important role in Father’s Day becoming a national commemorative day?
A、Mrs. Dodd
B、Woodrow Wilson
C、Anna Jarvis
D、Margaret Chase Smith
正确答案：D
4、4. From the passage, we know in the U.S. _____.
A、one should wear a red carnation if one’s mother pass away
B、on Mother’s Day, families often go out to have barbecues
C、on Father’s Day, people often stay at home to celebrate the special day
D、the purpose to have these two special days is to show love to parents
正确答案：D
5、10. The author’s purpose of writing this passage is to _____.
A、call on people to love and respect their parents
B、tell the difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
C、tell the difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
D、show how important fathers and mothers are
正确答案：C
I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the more wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she’d said again, “it’s for Elizabeth. ”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional(易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface(表面)”.
As years passed I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive(原谅) me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer. None came.
My hope turned to disappointment(失望), then little interest and, finally, peace— it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside —a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded(折叠) and refolded many times.
Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
1、1. The writer began to love her mother’s desk _____.
A、after mother died
B、before she became a writer
C、when she was a child
D、when mother gave it to her
正确答案：C
2、2. The passage shows that _____.
A、mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter
B、mother was too serious about everything her daughter had done
C、mother cared much about her daughter in words
D、mother wrote to her daughter in careful words
正确答案：A
3、3. The word “gulf” in the passage means _____.
A、deep understanding between the old and the young
B、different ideas between the mother and the daughter
C、free talks between mother and daughter
D、part of the sea going far in land
正确答案：B
4、4. What did mother do with her daughter’s letter asking forgiveness?
A、She had never received the letter.
B、For years, she often talked about the letter.
C、She didn’t forgive her daughter at all in all her life.
D、She read the letter again and again till she died.
正确答案：D
5、5. What’s the best title of the passage?
A、My letter to Mother
B、Mother and Children
C、My mother’s Desk
D、Talks between Mother and Me
正确答案：C
For years, scientists believed that human brain development was completed by the time we were 10 or 11. Recent studies, however, show that during our teenage years, our brain is still maturing in important ways. When we’re teenagers, our decision-making ability is developing and we’re learning to make good choices. At the same time, we’re more likely than ever to take risks. Is this normal? Scientists who study the brain say “yes”. In fact, they believe that risk-taking and our “irrational” behaviors may actually help teens to become successful adults.
Take, for example, the teenager’s love of thrills. We all like new and exciting things, but never as much as we do during our teenage years. During this time of our lives, scientists say, our brains produce chemicals that can lead to dangerous behaviors, and it can also produce positive ones. Taking risks and trying new things may be challenging or even dangerous, but this behavior can also lead to useful experiences that will benefit us as adults.
Scientists also find there is an intense need for peer (同龄人) approval among teenagers. We enter a world made by our parents. But we will live most of our lives and succeed in a world run by our peers. Therefore, it is important that we are accepted and respected by our peers, even if it means taking some risks to fit it.
1、1. What did recent studies find about human brain development?
A、Human brain development was completed by the time we were 10.
B、Human brain keeps developing during our teenage years.
C、Human brain development is not completed until we are adults.
D、Our decision-making ability is fully developed during the teenage years.
学生答案：B
2、2. According to the passage, when we’re teenagers, we _____.
A、learn to take risks
B、are fully developed in our brain
C、hope to be successful adults
D、learn to make good choices
学生答案：D
3、8. What do scientists say about teenagers’ taking risks?
A、It’s dangerous for teenagers to take risks.
B、It will benefit them as adults.
C、Parents should prevent their children taking risks.
D、It is irrational behavior.
学生答案：B
4、4. The word “thrill” (Line 1, Para. 2) probably means _____.
A、Something that is exciting.
B、Something that is boring.
C、Something that is dangerous.
D、Something that is positive.
学生答案：A
5、5. What else do scientists find about teenagers?
A、Teenagers enjoy living in a world made by their parents.
B、Teenagers don’t like taking risks when they grow up.
C、Teenagers have a strong need for peer approval.
D、Teenagers need their parents’ help in dealing with peers.
学生答案：C
Gap year is an English expression referring to a period of time—not necessarily a year —in which students take time off and do something other than schooling, such as travel or work. The year out is most commonly taken after high school and before starting university. However, over recent years there has been an increase in 21-23-year-olds taking a year out after completing their degree.
The practice of taking a gap year developed in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. During this time, a student might travel, engage in volunteer work overseas or undertake a working holiday abroad. A year out has grown very popular among students in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. A trend for a year out is to participate in international education programs that combine language study, cultural immersion, community service, and independent study.
Taking a gap year can be an ideal option. The added benefits of wherever you go and whatever you do during your gap year are that you will most likely make new, interesting friends, and you could have experiences that will last a lifetime. Today, this term is popular no longer just among students but also among those who wish to take a year off between life stages, and to spend some time traveling around, exploring and learning from different people and cultures, as well as volunteering at the place where they are traveling.
1、1. When do students most commonly take a gap year?
A、Before or during high school.
B、After high school and before starting university.
C、During the first college year.
D、After graduating from college.
学生答案：B
2、2. What has been the change in recent years?
A、More students take gap year after they get their degree.
B、More parents encourage their children to take a gap year.
C、More schools encourage the students to take a gap year.
D、More and more students are taking a gap year.
学生答案：A
3、3. A trend for a year out is to _____.
A、offer help in a local community
B、take a journey abroad
C、attend international education programs
D、study a new language abroad
学生答案：C
4、4. One of the extra benefits of a gap year is that _____.
A、you will have more to write about in your resume
B、you will most likely make new, interesting friends
C、you will learn more about yourself
D、you will be more independent
学生答案：B
5、5. Nowadays the term “gap year” is _____.
A、getting outdated
B、causing some trouble
C、used only among students
D、also used in the adult world
学生答案：D