One day the employees of a large company in St Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and
were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: ''Yesterday the person who has been hindering
(阻礙) your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral (葬禮) in the room
that has been prepared in the gym."
     At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started
getting curious about who this person might be.
     The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone
wondered:"Who is this person that was hindering my progress? Well, at least he's no longer here." 
     One by one the employees got closer to the coffin (棺材) and when they looked inside it they became
speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest
part of their soul.
     There was a mirror inside the coffin: Everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also
a sign next to the mirror that said:"There is only one person who can set limits to your growth: It is YOU."
     You are the only person who can revolutionize (徹底改變) your life. You are the only person who can
innuence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.
     Your life does not change when your family changes, when your friends change, when your boss
changes, and when your company charges.
     Your life changes when YOU challge, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that
you are the only one responsible for your life.

1. The wnter's purpose in writing the article is to teU us that _____. 

A. the harder we work, the more successfu1 we will become
B. our work and life are closely connected with others
C. changing our lives is down to us
D. we will have a better future if people do not hinder our development

2. People were speechless when they looked inside the coffin because _____. 

A. there was nothing but a mirror inside
B. they could see their own souls inside
C. their closest colleague lay inside
D. what was inside told a great truth

3. Who probably wrote the sign on the front door?

A. The company boss.
B. A worker who liked to make fun of others.
C. The director in charge of production.
D. A worker who wanted to teach others a lesson.

4. What can we conclude from the article?

A. The employees went to the gym to join the funeral.
B. The lesson the employees learned would influence them greatly.
C. The employees' lives depended on the attitude of their boss.
D. The employees got angry after the funeral.

     It was graduation day at the university where I work and a beautiful day quite unlike the first graduation.
I attended as a young professor. On that cold day years ago, as we watched the students walking into the
hall, one of my colleagues turned to me and said, "Graduation will be one of the happiest and one of the
saddest time of your life." At my inquiry, he answered, "Because the students you have gotten to know have
to leave."
     As years went by, my previous confusion about my colleague's words no longer existed. When I came
across naughty students, I have had to rethink why I chose to be a teacher. It obviously isn't the money.
Once a former computer science student of mine called me, asking me if I wanted to have a change. He was
working at Nintendo Corporation. His salary was higher than my current one, though I have more education
and have worked for over a decade. With my programming skills, he said he could get me hired I thanked
him, but declined his kind offer.
     A few days before this current graduation, while working on final grades, I found a note a student had
slipped in with her homework. She thanked me for being her teacher and said the things she had learned in
my class-not about math, but about life-would be things she would remember long after the math skills had
faded away. As I finished reading, I remembered why I had become a teacher.
     Now, on this sunny graduation day, as I again observed the sea of blue hats and gowns, I did so with
renewed dedication (奉獻(xiàn)) and a deeper sense of satisfaction-I will always be grateful that I am a teacher.

1. Hearing his colleague's description of graduation for the first time, the author _____. 

A. quite agreed with his colleague
B. was very puzzled
C. thought it very funny
D. was very sad

2. The computer science student called up the author because he _____.

A. wanted to inform the author of his present job
B. tried to persuade the author to work with him
C. wanted the author to share his joy and satisfaction
D. thought the author wasn't fit to be a teacher

3. The underlined part blue hats and gowns refers to _____.

A. university colleagues
B. graduates' clothes
C. life memories
D. decorations in the hall

4. The author wrote this passage to _____.

A. express his devotion to being a teacher
B. compare two different graduation ceremonies
C. talk about the meaning of graduation
D. give advice on how to be a good teacher

5. The reason why he earns less than the computer science student is that _____.

A. he was only a young professor
B. he didn't do well in his work
C. he taught his students more about life than math
D. salaries for different careers are different

     Many people hate the idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Dios thinks
they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a new kind of hostel to prove it.
     Dios says it is the world's first jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet-plane Sweden's main airport outside
Stockholm which has been converted (改裝) into a 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.
     "I learned about this plane that was standing abandoned at Arlanda airport and I've been trying the concept
of hostels in many different houses and buildings," he told reporters. "I thought, 'Why not a plane?'" 
     Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in
a room that can best be described as cozy.
     "The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull (外殼)-it's just
really, really tight."
     The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002. One thing
the hostel has going for it is price-a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $ 41), which is a lot less than
hotel rooms outside of major airports.
     Another feature: customers can get married on the wing of the plane and live in the plane's more luxurious
honeymoon room situated in the cockpit (駕駛艙).
     Instead of walking down the aisle (走廊), lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the "wing walk,"
where they can be joined in great joy at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.
     But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane-most customers have to share the jet's nine bathrooms
and staff only wear air steward and stewardess clothes. The only room that has its own bathroom is the
honeymoon suite.

1. Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Dios creates a new kind of jet hostel in order to _____.

A. make people more comfortable
B. earn more money from people
C. change people's idea of not sleeping on the plane
D. explore the sources of the universe

2. According to the passage the jet hostel is _____.

A flying in the sky
B. hung in the sky
C. lying on the airport
D. buried underground

3. The advantages of the jet hostel are the following EXCEPT _____.

A. more comfortable
B. suitable for new couples
C. convenient bathroom
D. cheaper

4. This abandoned plane originally belongs to _____.

A. Stockholm Airlines 
B. Singapore Airlines
C. Sweden Airlines
D. Oscar Dios Airlines

5. Which statement of the following do you think can best describe this passage?

A. A new fashion of wedding in the plane.
B. For travelers, a new way to get a restful night.
C. A new way to enjoy yourselves.
D. How to change a plane into a hostel.

     The old man walked slowly into the restaurant. With head tilted, and shoulders bent forward, he leaned on
his trusty stick with each unhurried step. His torn cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and warm
personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. He stopped, turned with his
whole body, and winked at a little girl seated by the door. She flashed a big smile right back at him.
     A yourig waitress named Mary watched him walk toward a table by the window. She ran over to him, and
said, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." She pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying
him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comforlably seated. Then she moved the
table up close to him, and leaned his stick against the table where he could reach it.
     In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss. And bless you for your kind gestures."
     "You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "And my name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need
anything at all in the mean time, just wave at me!"
     After he had finished a hearty meal, Mary brought him the change from his ticket. He left it on the table.
She helped him and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for hirn, she said, "Come back
and see us, Sir!" He turned and nodded a thank-you. "You are very kind." he said softly, smiling.
     When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted. Under his plate she found a business card, and a
note scribbled on a napkin. Under the napkin was a one-hundred-dollar bill.
     The note on the napkin read, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself too. It shows
by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through
those who meet you." 
     The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that
she, or any of his employees had ever seen him in person.

1. The old man left $100 under the napkin because he _____.

A. was grateful for Mary's kindness
B. wanted to encourage Mary to do more good deeds
C. appreciated Mary's kindness and work attitude
D. thought highly of the tasty meal in the restaurant

2. What do we know about Mary and the old man?

A. Mary knew who the old man was from the note.
B. Mary recognized the old man when she served him.
C. The old man intended to have Mary as his secretary.
D. It was the first time that Mary had seen her boss in the flesh.

3. It can be inferred that the old man went to the restaurant to _____.

A. have a good meal
B. enjoy good service
C. have an on-site visit
D. show his generosity

4. The passage is developed mainly by _____.

A. following the order of space
B. following the order of events
C. making comparisons
D. providing examples

5. The best title of the passage would be _____.

A. Employer and Employee 
B. The Secret of Happiness
C. A Gift from the Manager
D. Good Service in the Restaurant