A small ,white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree and it has been there for the past ten years or so.
It all began because my husband Justin hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas.Overspending was one thing, but compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts—running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and a pair of gloves for Grandma…,spending money is nothing. I felt too tired to think of any special gifts.
Knowing Justin felt the same way, I decided one year not to buy the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something special just for Justin. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling (摔跤)at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored (贊助) by an inner-city church.These youngsters, dressed in such worn-out shoes that shoe strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, while our boys were in their blue and gold uniforms and new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was shocked to see that the other team were wrestling without wearing helmets (頭盔) to protect their ears. Well, our boys ended up defeating them. We took every weight class.
Justin, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot potential (潛力) , but losing like this could take the heart out of them.” Justin loved kids—all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football and baseball. That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought different kinds of wrestling helmets and shoes. I sent them to inner-city church without leaving my name.
On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Justin what I had done and that was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and since then the envelope has become the highlight of our Christmas.
小題1: Justin hated Christmas because _____.
A.he didn’t enjoy receiving gifts
B.he had a hard time choosing gifts
C.he spent too much money buying gifts
D.he disliked putting gifts under the Christmas tree
小題2:We know from the passage that the team sponsored by inner-city church_____.
A.were well dressed
B.paid no attention to safety
C.feared Kevin’s team
D.couldn’t afford a helmet
小題3: How did Justin feel about the team’s failure ?
A.UpsetB.Angry C.Hopeless D.Shameful
小題4: Why did the writer send gifts to the inner-city church without leaving her name ?
A.To avoid being thanked
B.To play a joke on Justin
C.To give Justin a surprise
D.To protect her private information
小題5:Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A.The Church GiftB.A Special NoteC.The White EnvelopeD.A Christmas Card

小題1: B
小題2:D
小題3: A
小題4:C
小題5:C

小題1:根據(jù)第二段的---compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts—running around at the last minute to get a tie---可知他討厭圣誕節(jié)是因選禮物所累。
小題2:根據(jù)第五段的wrestling without wearing helmets (頭盔)可知。
小題3:根據(jù)第六段Justin說的話I wish just one of them could have won可知。
小題4:.根據(jù)最后一段的---the note inside telling Justin what I had done and that was his gift from me.可知她是想給丈夫一個(gè)驚喜。
小題5:通過對全文的理解可知“她給丈夫一個(gè)驚喜的內(nèi)容都寫在信封里”,故選C做標(biāo)題。
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

“I hate school, and I’m not going back!”Have you ever had that thought?
Lots of kids have had. Usually this feeling doesn’t last long. But what if you feel this way too much? If you are stressed out, you might have a hard time making decisions. In the morning, you can’t decide what to eat, what to wear, or what to take for lunch.    Sometimes it’s a problem with your classes and schoolwork. Maybe the work is too easy and you get bored. Or maybe the work is too hard, or you don’t feel as clever as the other kids. Reading may be difficult for you, but you are asked to do a lot of it. You may be getting farther and farther behind, and it may seem that you will never catch up with others. When you know why you don’t like school, you can start taking steps to make things better 
It’s a good idea to talk to someone about your problems at school. Your mom, dad, friends, teachers, or even classmates will be able to help you.
Another good idea is to write down your feeling about school. For instance, keep a diary or just write in a notebook. It’s a great way to let out emotion that may be stuck inside you. And you don’t have to share(分享)what you have written with others.
The next time you find yourself disliking school, this will also help you:
Make a list of everything you dislike or enjoy—even there is only one thing. See what you can change on “don’t like” list. Could you find a way to show off your special interests and talents on what you like? Which activities could you try that would help you solve these “don’t like” problems? Focus on what you can change and you might be able to put the good feeling back in school!
小題1:This article mainly gives you some advice on       .
A.how to beat stress
B.what if you don’t like school
C.how to deal with the problems in studies
D.communications with your parents
小題2:How many steps are mentioned in the article to make things better if you don’t like school?
A.Two.B.Four.C.Three.D.Five.
小題3:What may cause you to have strong feelings against school?
A. Being too stressed out.
B. Not doing well in studies.
C. Too much homework.
D. A, B and C.
小題4: We can know from the passage that       .
A.most students hate school in a way
B.a(chǎn)ll the students have the same problems
C.making a list can solve all your problems
D.a(chǎn) diary is something personal
小題5: The sentence “Focus on what you can change” in the reading means       .
A.do something to change the condition
B.wait and see
C.have a positive attitude towards schoolwork
D.be friendly to others

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Mr. Jackson lives in a small town. He is a kind and funny man. And he is friendly to everyone. He likes talking with others very much. But he is always absent-minded (健忘的).
One day, Mr Jackson went to visit a friend. His friend works on a farm and lives not far from the market and often goes to the market to sell things.
They had dinner together and then talked and talked. Mr Jackson was very excited to meet his friend. He told his friend a lot of things. Midnight came, and then one o'clock, two o'clock and still Mr Jackson kept on talking. But by this time his friend was feeling very tired and kept on looking at the clock on the wall. He didn't want to be impolite, but at last he said, "My dear friend, I don't want to put you out, but you see, it's too late now. I have to go to the market at six o'clock, and I must go to bed now."
"Oh, my God!" said Mr Jackson in surprise, "I thought you were at my house."
小題1:Mr Jackson likes ____ a lot.
A.selling things
B.talking with others
C.playing soccer
D.watching TV
小題2:Mr Jackson had dinner with his ____ that day.
A.brotherB.motherC.friendD.sister
小題3:Mr Jackson's friend went to bed ____ that day.
A.a(chǎn)t midnightB.a(chǎn)t one o'clock
C.a(chǎn)t two o'clockD.a(chǎn)fter two o'clock

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

It is 1965,a 1ittle boy is on the beach (海灘) with his parents. He is four years old. The boy plays near the water. He walks into the water. His parents aren’t watching him.
The water is over the boy’s head! A woman sees the boy. She picks up the boy and carries him to his parents. The woman’s name is Mrs Blaise.
It is 1975,ten years 1ater.The boy is on the same beach. He is 14 years old now. He is big and strong. He is a good swimmer. A man is in the water. The man can’t swim. ‘Help! Help!’ the man cries.
The boy runs into the water. He swims to the man and pulls the man to the beach. ‘Thank you. Thank you.’ says the man. Who is the man? His name is Mr Blaise. He is Mrs Blaise’s husband.
小題1:The boy was born in             . 
A.1965B.1961 C.1969D.1975
小題2:Where is the boy when Mrs Blaise sees him?
A.He is in a park.B.He is near his home.
C.He is with his parents.D.He is in the water.
小題3:The underlined phrase‘picks up’means‘             ’.
A.拾起B.揀起C.救起D.接送
小題4:What can the boy do when he is 14 years old?
A.He can swim.B.He can run.
C.He can pull.D.He can play near the water.
小題5:Which is NOT right?  
A.The boy is very strong.
B.The boy saves Mr Blaise.
C.The man is Mrs Blaise’s husband.
D.The boy’s parents don’t want to save Mr Blaise.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

We were standing at the top of a church not far from my home. I didn’t know why.
“Look down,” Father said. I tried and saw the square in the center of the village. And I saw the streets to the square. “See, Elsa,” Father said. “There is more than one way to the square. If you can’t get where you want to go by one road, try another.”
Earlier that day, I asked Mother to do something about what we had for lunch at school. But she didn’t think the food was as bad as I said. When I turned to Father for help, he brought me to the church.
At school the next day, I filled a bottle with the soup for our lunch and took it home. I told the cook to pour the soup in a plate and bring it to Mother. She drank it and cried out, “What’s the matter with the soup today?” I at once told her what I had done , and Mother said that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day .
Now I really understood why Father had taken me to the church. I began to work as a fashion designer two years ago. I wouldn’t stop working until I tried every way to my goal.
小題1:The writer’s father took her to the church to.
A.play some games B.see the squareC.show her the wayD.give her a lesson
小題2:Elsa really wanted her mother to.
A.cook something better for her lunch
B.have lunch with her at school
C.take up the matter over with the teachers
D.tell the cook to work harder
小題3:Why did Elsa’s mother agree to do something about the matter?
A.Because the writer tried a better way to her goal.
B.Because the girl brought something home.
C.Because she thought what the cook said was true.
D.Because Elsa’s father gave her some help.
小題4:What Elsa’s father said means?
A.one can reach the square in many ways
B.never stop trying to get to your goal
C.it’s difficult to talk to Elsa’s mother
D.you can’t get what you want easily
小題5:When the writer really understood what his father had said.
A.she saw the streets to the square
B.she had the idea of bringing the soup home
C.she tried every way to her goal
D.she began her own life as a fashion designer

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Bruno was a boy of eight His father worked in a cinema and his mother worked in a shop.He lived not far from his school.He always walked there and walked home.On his way to school, he had to pass a playground.It was very wet after it rained.One day, when he got home, his clothes were all wet.His mother became angry and said,” Don’t play in the water on your way home from school!"
On the next day Bruno came home with wet and dirty(臟的)clothes.His mother became even angrier."I'll tell your father if you come back wet again," said his mother."He'll punish(懲罰)You, you know."
The third day the little boy was dry when he came home.
"You're a good boy today", his mother said happily."You didn't play in the water.”
"No," the boy said unhappily."There were too many older boys in the water when I got there this afternoon.There wasn't any room(空地方)for me at all!"
小題1:Bruno went to school ________ every day.
A.by bikeB.by busC.by carD.on foot
小題2:The playground was between(在……之間)_______
A.two classroomsB.the cinema and shop
C.Bruno's house and schoolD.the shop and Bruno's school
小題3:The little boy liked to play on the playground __________.
A.when it snowed
B.when there was some water there
C.when the children played football there
D.when his father was busy with his work
小題4:Bruno was afraid of (害怕) _________the most.
A.his fatherB.his motherC.his teacherD.the older boys
小題5:That afternoon, the boy's clothes were dry because _______.
A.There wasn't any room (空地方) for him to play.
B.He didn't go to school that day
C.he played in the water carefully
D.There were too many older girls in the water

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


One day a poor man was cutting a big piece of wood (木頭) near a river. Suddenly his old axe (斧子) fell into the water. He felt very sad because he lost his only axe. Then all at once a beautiful fairy (仙女) came out and asked the man what was the matter.
“I have lost my axe.” he said, “It fell into the water when I was cutting the wood.”
The fairy showed him a gold axe and asked, “Is that yours?”
“No.” said the man.
The fairy then showed him a silver (銀) axe and asked again, “Is this yours?”
“No.” again answered the man.
Then she showed him the old axe.?
“Yes, that is mine.” called out the happy man.
“I know it well enough.” said the fairy, “I only wanted to see if you would tell me the truth, and now I’ll give you the gold axe and the silver axe besides (包括) your own one.”
根據(jù)短文,判斷正(T)誤(F)。
小題1: The man was so poor that he only had one axe.
小題2: The old axe fell into the river when the man was cutting the wood.
小題3:. The fairy asked the man if he lost a gold axe, then the man said “No”.
小題4:. When he saw his own axe, the man was very happy.
小題5:. At last, the man had two axes.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way.
I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception(接收).
My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land and loved to work in the garden among her flowers and vegetables. The place was simple, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.
In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk. She loved to tell how my playpen(嬰兒圈欄)sat in the kitchen next to the radio and there was one song I particularly loved called "Ivory Tower".
As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit the farm every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle(喧鬧)of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she reminisced.
Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me.
My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note.
Then the radio announcer of this oldie station came on. "Here's one we haven't heard in a while," and an unfamiliar song began. I began to cry harder as I heard the words sung over the airwaves. “Come down, come down from your Ivory Tower...”.
小題1:The writer didn’t like staying in the farm for the following reasons EXCEPT that
________.
A.it was too cold and quiet
B.she could only sing one song on the small farm
C.there was nothing more that could make her excited
D.The place was simple, with no indoor plumbing or heat
小題2:From the first paragraph, we know that the writer’s mother ________.
A.passed away four years ago
B.left the small farm with Lord
C.left for Lord to live her own way
D.preferred to be with Lord
小題3:The underlined word reminisced in the fifth paragraph probably means ________.
A.recalledB.comfortedC.shoutedD.sighed
小題4:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage _______.
A.The writer was able to sing before she could speak.
B.The writer preferred to live a busy life in the city.
C.The writer was still quite familiar with the song "Ivory Tower".
D.The writer treasured all her childhood memories in the small farmhouse.
小題5:Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? _______
A.Cherish lifeB.My happy childhood
C.Our small farmhouseD.Mom’s music

查看答案和解析>>

科目:初中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

There once lived in China a very foolish king and queen. One day the queen had a baby daughter. When they saw their baby, they both cried out, “My goodness! How small it is! It’s hairless and toothless! It’s a monster!” They sent for all the doctors in the country and ordered them to prepare some medicine for her.
“When she drinks your medicine, she must grow to the right size and have hair and teeth,” the king said, “If you don’t do this, you’ll have a beating.”
The doctors thought it impossible, but they dared not say anything against the king’s order. Just then and old doctor stepped forward. “Oh, we shall certainly obey your order,” he said, “but it takes time. We have to dig a mineral from the KunLun Mountains when the snow melts for the second time. The snow melts on those mountains only once in six years. So we need twelve years.”
At last the king agreed and the doctors took away the little princess. On her twelfth birthday, they brought her back to her parents with long black hair and beautiful teeth. The king and queen were very happy and gave the doctors expensive presents.
小題1:Which of the following words makes the sentence untrue? The baby was ______.
A.ToothlessB.hairlessC.unusualD.small
小題2:The doctors would be beaten if ______.
A.the baby daughter didn’t drink their medicine
B.they refused to obey the king’s order
C.the baby daughter grew to the right size
D.the baby daughter became a monster
小題3:The old doctor wanted to keep the king’s daughter for twelve years because ______.
A.they needed a lot of different plants
B.they need a lot of different minerals
C.this would give the baby time to grow up
D.they had to dig a mineral the snow melted for the second time
小題4:The doctors thought it impossible ______.
A.for them to change the king’s order
B.for them the prepare the medicine in twelve years
C.for the small baby to drink the medicine
D.for them to make the baby have teeth and hair or grow teeth at once
小題5:______ the king wouldn’t have given them expensive presents.
A.Had the doctors not brought back a beautiful girl
B.If the doctors hadn’t found the minerals
C.Had the doctors not been able to prepare the magic medicine
D.If the daughter were still a monster twelve years later

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案