Like many lovers of books, Mary and her husband, Richard Goldman, seldom walked past a bookstore without stopping to look inside. They often talked of opening their own store one day.

When Mary was hospitalized with heart trouble in 1989, they decided it was time to get serious. Richard, who worked for a business company, was eager  to work for himself, and Mary needed to slow down from her demanding (很費(fèi)力的) job.

They started by talking to bookstore owners and researching the industry. “We knew it had to be a specialty store because we couldn’t match the big chains dollar for dollar,” says Mary. One figure caught her attention: She’d read somewhere that about 20 percent of books sold were mysteries (推理小說(shuō)), and many buyers spent more than $300 a year on books. She and Richard were themselves mystery readers.

On Halloween 1992, they opened the Mystery Lovers Bookshop and Café near their home. With three children in college, the couple could not spend all the family’s money to start a shop. To cover the $100,000 cost, they drew some of their savings, borrowed from relatives (親戚) and from a bank.

The store merely broke even in its first year, with only $120,000 in sales. But Mary was always coming up with new ways to attract customers. The shop had a coffee bar and it offered gifts to mystery lovers and served dinners for book clubs that met in the store. She also invited dozens of writers to discuss their stories.

    Today Mystery Lovers makes sales of about $420,000 a year. After paying taxes, business costs and the six part-time sales clerks, Richard and Mary together earn about $34,000.

“The job you love may not go hand in hand with a million-dollar income,” says Richard. “This has always been about an enjoyable life for ourselves, not about making a lot of money.”

51. When Mary was in hospital, the couple realized that         .

A. they had to put their plan into practice    B. health was more important than wealth

C. heart trouble was a serious illness         D. they both needed to stop working

52. After Mary got well from her illness , they began         .

A. to study industrial management           B. to buy and read more mystery books

C. to do market research on book business

D. to work harder to save money for the bookstore

53. How did their bookstore do in the first year?

A. They had to borrow money to keep it going.

B. They made just enough to cover all the costs.

C. They succeeded in earning a lot of money.

D. They failed though they worked hard.

54. According to Richard, the main purpose of running the bookstore is         .

A. to pay for their children’s education         B. to get to know more writers

C. to set up more bookstores                       D. to do what they like to do

                                   

練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2013屆四川省樹德中學(xué)高三下學(xué)期三月月考英語(yǔ)試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解

Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we all begin to question our heroes and our need for them. This leads us to ask: What is a hero?
Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people.
A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and community who will listen. But a hero goes beyond mere fame.
Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people.
The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for? If the answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that their fans find life more abundant?
Heroes are catalysts (催化劑) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated (隔離的) buses, restaurants, and parks. It may be possible for large-scale change to occur without leaders with magnetic personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the committee meetings endless.
【小題1】Although heroes may come from different cultures, they __________.

A．generally possess certain inspiring characteristics
B．probably share some weaknesses of ordinary people
C．a(chǎn)re often influenced by previous generations
D．a(chǎn)ll unknowingly attract a large number of fans
【小題2】 According to the passage, heroes are compared to high-voltage transformers in that _______.
A．they have a vision from the mountaintop
B．they have warm feelings and emotions
C．they can serve as concrete examples of noble principles
D．they can make people feel stronger and more confident
【小題3】Madonna and Michael Jackson are not considered heroes because __________.
A．they are popular only among certain groups of people
B．their performances do not improve their fans morally
C．their primary concern is their own financial interests
D．they are not clear about the principles they should follow
【小題4】The author concludes that historical changes would __________.
A．be delayed without leaders with inspiring personal qualities
B．not happen without heroes making the necessary sacrifices
C．take place if there were heroes to lead the people
D．produce leaders with attractive personalities

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2012-2013學(xué)年四川射洪射洪中學(xué)高二下學(xué)期期中考試英語(yǔ)試卷（帶解析） 題型：填空題

請(qǐng)你修改以下作文，文中共有10處語(yǔ)言錯(cuò)誤，要求你在錯(cuò)誤的地方增加、刪除、或修改某個(gè)單詞。
增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)（^），并在其下面寫上該加的詞。
刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（＼）劃掉。
修改：在錯(cuò)詞的下面劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫上修改后的詞。
注意：
1．每次錯(cuò)誤以及修改均限一詞；
2．只允許修改10處，多者從第十一處起不計(jì)分。
Li Ming and Li Juan study very hardly. They do extremely well all the subjects. Li Juan decides to attend in Sichuan University while Li Ming preferred Beijing University. It makes them differ from the most students is that they don’t go to school. In fact, they have never been to school. Since kindergarten, we have studied at home. Neither of them feels they have missed anything by taught at home all the time. Like many people received home schooling in Chengdu, and they feel they are lucky.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2012-2013學(xué)年浙江省嘉興市高三上學(xué)期基礎(chǔ)測(cè)試英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

One morning in Philadelphia, the sun shone bright through all the thick jungles and the tall churches. John, 6, wearing the worn-out clothes, walked from afar, his dark small hands holding a piece of stolen bread.

John stopped for a moment at the entrance to the sacred church and then left tightlyholding the bread,      

He was an orphan(弧兒), whose parents were killed in World War Illeaving him alonein the orphanage for five years, Like many children in the orphanage, he had a lot of free time. Mostly no one took care of them, so they had to learn how to steal those they wanted.             

John believed the existence of God, so every Sunday morning in any case be would go to the cburch to have a look and listen to those people singing inside or reciting the Bible.He felt only at this moment he was the child of God and so close to God. But he couldn'tenter because his clothes were so dirty. John himself knew it.

John was quietly counting. This was his 45th Sunday at the entrance to the church. He stood on tiptoe for a while and walked away.

As time passed, the pastor(牧師) noticed John and learned from others that he was thesmall boy who liked stealing things in the orphanages.

On the 46th Sunday, the sun was shining and John came still holding a piece of bread with his dark small hands. When he just stood there, the pastor came out. He felt like running away, but he was carried by the pastor's friendly smile.

The pastor walked up to his side, clearly seeing John's small hands tremble.

"Are you John?"

John didn't answer, but looked at the pastor and nodded.

"Do you believe in God?" the pastor petted John on his head stained with dust.

"Yes,l do!" This time John told him loudly.

"So you believe in yourself?"

John looked at the pastor, without a word.

The pastor went on saying, "At the first sight of you, I find you're different from other  kids because you have a good heart."

His face tunung red, John said timidly, "In fact, I'm a thief." With that, he loweredhis head.

The pastor didn't speak, but held John's dark small hands, slowly opened them andput them against his wrinkled face.

"Ah:" Just at the same time, John shouted and was about to take out his dark smallhands. Yet the pastor tightly held his small hands and spread them out in the sun.

"Do you see, John?"

"What?"

"You're cupping the sunshine in your hands."

John blankly looked at his hands: when did they become so beautiful?

"In God's eyes, all cluldren are the same. When they are willing to spread out their hands to greet the sun, the sun will naturally shine on them. And you have two things more than they do. First is courage and the second is kindness." With that, the pastor led him into the church.      It was the first time that John went into this sacred place, and at this moment he  didn't feel inferior, but the unspeakable warmth.

On that morning embracing the sunshine, John found himself again, along with the  confidence, satisfaction, happiness, dreams he had never had.

Twenty years have passed. Now the boy who ever tightly held the bread with his dirt hands has been the most famous chefin Philadelphia and made many popular dishes.

Every Sunday morning, he would personally send the bread he baked to the orphanage. Those children who greeted him with cheers were used to consciously spreading their palms before they got the bread.

Because they all knew when we are willing to spread out our hands to greet thesunshine, the sun will naturally shine on us.

1.The method the writer uses to develop Paragraph lis      

A．presenting contrasts                     B．showing causes

C．offering analyses                        D．providing explanations

2.Why didn't John go inside whenever he went to the church?

A．He was frightened to be recognized by the pastor

B．He was not welcomed by those singing in the church.

C．He was ashamed of his dirty clothes and identity as a thief.

D．He was left alone in the orphanage and nobody cared for him.

3.John felt     when the pastor walked up to him.

A．excited           B．nervous           C．satisfied           D．a(chǎn)ngry

4.Which of the following questions did John respond to firmly?

A．6'Are you John?"                       B．"Do you see, John?"

C．"So you believe in yourself?"               D．"Do you believe in God?"

5.Which of the following can best reflect the pastor's great influence on John?

A．John became a famous chef.

B．John admitted his bad behavior.

C．John believed the existence of God.

D．John spread warmth to other orphans.

6.According to the passage, the sunshine cupped in hands can bring

A. cheers and confidence    B, dreams and imagination

C. courage and lindness     D. orgiveness and satisfaction

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2014屆福建省高二第一次月考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Bicycles are a great way to get around. They’re fun to ride, especially down hills. And, as you speed along the road, you might also think of ways in which you could improve your bike— make it safer, more efficient, or more comfortable. In fact, the two-wheeled machines make for some cool science projects.

This year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held last May in Cleveland, featured（had）three bicycle projects from three countries. Like many of the other experiments presented at ISEF, the bike projects showed that some of the most interesting scientific research often begins by taking a closer look at things you care about.

Renato Angulo Chu had even grander ambitions. The 12th-grader from Lima, Peru, wanted to address some of his country's economic troubles.

"I see a problem in my country," Renato said. "If you go to the forests in Peru, in some places you cannot find electricity. If you go with my bicycle, you can turn on the lights."

Renato, 16, spent 3 years designing his special Multibike. The device looks like a fixed exercise bike. It has wires fixed along the frame and a blender strapped (fastened) to the back. Turning the pedals operates the blender. The same principle can be used to sharpen knives or sweep city streets.

The Multibike can work either as a fixed bike or as a bicycle able to travel city streets and country roads. It's made from inexpensive materials, and the user gets exercise while pedaling to operate a machine.

"You pedal the bike, and you can mix any drink you want," Renato said. More importantly, he added, the same concept could be used to bring light to houses in remote regions of the rainforest.

1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．Bikes should be made more comfortable to ride.

B．You can improve your bicycle for science research.

C．Many inventions are connected with the bicycle.

D．Bicycles are the best way to go about

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

A．ISEF is an exhibiton displaying bicycle experiments designed by students.

B．Looking closely at things you are concerned about can lead to scientific research.

C．Renato’s improvement of the bicycle has solved the country’s great problem.

D．Renato’s special bicycle will soon be put into use in remote areas.’

3.The underlined word “address” in the third paragraph probably has the same meaning as _______.

A．make address written

B．give up

C．work at

D．speak at

4.Renato’s special Multibike has all the following  EXCEPT  ________.

A．making knives sharp

B．mixing any kind of drinks

C．producing electricity

D．operating a machine with its own electricity

5.It can be inferred that Renato’s special bicycle is mainly designed for ________.

A．distant areas in the rainforest without electricity.

B．the use of his own family to make life easier.

C．the competition of ISEF to win money to support remote rainforests

D．enough exercise by pedaling it

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2011-2012學(xué)年廣西桂林市、防城港市高三第一次調(diào)研考試英語(yǔ)題 題型：閱讀理解

Steve Jobs-A surprising success.

Nothing in the early years of Steve Job’s life suggested that he would be so successful. Born in San Francisco, the child of two students, he was adopted and grew up close to Silicon Valley. While at company-and he and his best friend Steve Wozniak got summer jobs there.

After finishing high school in 1972, Jobs studied at an expensive liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon but he dropped pout after one after one term. He grew his hair and a beard, slept on friends’ floors, and sometimes went to a Hare Krishna temple for free meals. Like many drop-outs at that Beatles-inspired time, his ambition was to visit a guru（古魯[印度教的宗師或領(lǐng)袖]）in India, which he eventually did with a friend. When they got there, the guru had died.

At this point, Jobs has a limited education, and no obvious talents, apart from a notorious（臭名遠(yuǎn)揚(yáng)）ability to talk. However, he did have a devoted friend who was an electronics genius. They were a great team. Without Jobs’ s ambition, high design standards, the ability to make deals and  great maketing skills-Wozniak might well have spent a quiet life designing hardware at HP.

1.The article tells us that              .

    A．Steve Jobs’s parents lived in San Francisco

    B．Steve Jobs’s parents were rich

C．Steve Jobs’s parents worked at Hewlett-Packard

D．Steve Jobs didn’t know his real parents

2.STEVE Jobs went to a temple because                .

A．He was a Buddhist

B．His family were Indian

C．He had very little money

D．He was inspired by the Beatles

3.Which of the following is NOT true?

    A．Steve Jobs was uneducated.

B．Steve Jobs went to India.

C．Steve Jobs was A GREAT SALESMAN.

D．Steve Wozniak was loyal.

4.Form the article, Apple was successful because             .

    A．Steve Jobs was a computer Genius

B．Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were lucky

C．Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak worked well together

D．Steve Wozniak liked a quiet life

 

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案