I was packed and ready to leave for my two days’ trip. My mind had been filled with work and with so many small things to deal with. As I got into the car to leave, my thoughts turned to my children. I’d been preparing for the trip for the last few days, and now I’d be away for a few days.

How to keep in touch with your kids during busy time is often a father’s problem. Men tend to focus on one thing extremely well for long periods, but this can lead to trouble. Shifting(移開) from work to your family life isn't always the easiest thing to do. And if you don’t show your kids that you’re thinking about them, they may think that you are not.

As I started down the road, I suddenly stopped the car and turned around. I drove back to my house, found a couple of cards, and wrote a short message to each of my children. I put each in a “secret” place where I knew they’d find it.

When I called the next night, it was clear that they’d received the cards. “Daddy, I got your card,” they both said excitedly. “When did you do that?”

My heart was warmed when I heard this. It was such a small thing. But it had a big impact(影響) on my kids. It was their “proof” that I was thinking about them. And it was encouragement for me to continue to do the small things that have a big impact.

1. From the passage we can infer that the author thinks a father should ______.

A. care for his kids, no matter how busy he is

B. have a big impact on his kids

C. spend some time playing with his kids

D. stay at home as long as possible

2.Before leaving for the trip the author considered ________.

A. preparing some food for the trip

B. buying some nice gifts for his children

C. doing something to show his concern for his kids

D. telling his children to be careful at home

3.The author’s kids were excited when they answered the phone because _______.

A. their father had thought highly of them

B. they had found the cards from their father

C. they had done something good at home

D. their father told them he would be back soon

4.What does the underlined word “that” in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A. Packing luggage.

B. Reaching the hotel.

C. Writing short messages.

D. Going back home.

5.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. All for the children

B. Play with your children

C. A father and his kids

D. Show love to your kids

 

Two years after the First World War (1914-1918), a small group of soldiers left the army and returned to their hometown in France. Most of them lived well, but one of them was poor. His name was Clinton. Once a year they had supper in Barton’s house. Barton was very rich.

One evening Barton showed his friends a large gold coin at the supper table. The coin was passed around and praised by everyone. At the same time they were talking and talking. They soon forgot about the coin. After supper, Barton asked for his coin, but nobody could tell where it was. It was lost. One man said that everyone must be searched. One by one they turned their pockets inside out. Only Clinton refused, however. “I didn’t steal the coin, and I will not be searched,” he said. After that, people turned their heads away from Clinton when they met him. He grew poorer. Soon his wife died.

A few years later, Barton had his house repaired. The lost coin was found under the floor. Barton felt sorry and went to Clinton to apologize. “But,” he asked, “you knew the coin was not in your pocket. Why did you refuse to be searched?” “Because I was a thief,” Clinton answered. “My pockets were full of food at that time. I had taken some food from the table to carry to my hungry wife and children.”

1.The story took place ________.

A. in 1920　　　    B. after 1945　　　 C. in 1950　　  D. 1916

2.The coin was passed and praised because ________.

A. Clinton was rich　　　　　                       B. the supper was good

C. it was a large gold coin　                           D. they were happy

3.Everyone was to be searched because _________.

A. they were thieves　　　                          B. the gold coin was lost

C. Clinton stole the gold coin                      D. they stole the gold coin

4.Clinton refused to be searched because _________.

A. he was afraid to be found that there was some food in his pockets

B. he didn’t steal the coin　

C. he was poor enough

D. the gold coin was in his pocket

5.“After that, people turned their heads away from Clinton when they met him.” From the sentence we know that _____.

A.  people thought of him as a beggar　

B.  people took no notice of him

C.  people look down upon him　　　

D. Clinton refused to see his friends

 

New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from. The law is known as COOL -- Country of Origin Labeling(標簽).

American congress first passed the law in 2002. Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005. But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week.

Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts. But the rules are complex, and many foods are not included. For example, organ meats are free to be labeled. So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked foods.

The same food may sometimes have to be labeled and other times not. Fresh or frozen peas, for example, have to be labeled but not canned peas. Foods that are mixed with other foods are also excluded. Mixed nuts, for example, do not need to be labeled. The same is true of a salad mix that contains different things like lettuce and carrots. Or a fruit cup that combines different fruits. Also, the law doesn’t include restaurants and other food service organizations. Department of Agriculture officials say the law is really meant for larger grocery stores.

The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices. Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores.

Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from. For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella(沙門菌病), officials blamed peppers from Mexico. Yet the last big food scare involved spinach grown in California. But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want. Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country.

The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations(違反) that are found. Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1,000 dollars per violation. Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign.

Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law. They call it a good step that will give people more useful information.

1.Why has more and more food been imported to the United States in recent years?

A. It is economical and provides people with more choices.

B. Foreign food is of higher quality than native food.

C. Americans need more and more food recently.

D. The United States is short of food supply.

2.Consumers are more concerned about where foods come from because________.

A. they are curious about the origin of the food.

B. most of them are particular about the tastes

C. they are concerned about food safety

D. most of them are food safety activists

3.The new rules of the country-of-origin labeling law will come into effect________.

A. right now          B. in a month       C. in three months       D. in half a year

4.Which of the following can be inferred from the text?

A. Store owners are most likely to be the supporters of the law.

B. The government of America will possibly forbid importing peppers from Mexico.

C. Federal inspectors couldn’t take measures to enforce the law.

D. Most Americans prefer imported vegetables to the vegetables grown in local places.

 

Ever since news of widespread food recalls caused by a carcinogenic dye broke, there has been confusion（混淆） over possible links to the country of the same name, but Sudan officials say there is no connection whatever．

   Sudan 1 is a red industrial dye（顏料） that has been found in some chilli powder, but was banned in food products across the European Union (EU) in July 2003．

   Since the ban was put in place, EU officials have been trying to remove some food products from the shelves．So far 580 products have been recalled．

Last week Sudan’s Embassy in the United Kingdom asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for clarification(澄清) of the origin of the dye’s name．

   Omaima Mahmoud Al Sharief, a press official at Sudan’s Embassy in China, explained the purpose of the inquiry was to clear up any misunderstanding over links between the country and the poisonous dye．

　　"We want to keep an eye on every detail and avoid any misunderstanding there," she said．"Our embassy to Britain asked them how the dye got that name and whether the dye had something to do with our country．But they told us there was no relationship．"

   The FSA, an independent food security watchdog in Britain, received a letter from the Sudanese embassy last week．

　"They asked us why the dye is named Sudan, however, we also do not know how it got the name," she said．"People found the dye in 1883 and gave it the name．Nobody knows the reason, and we cannot give any explanation before we find out．"

   Sudan dyes, which include Sudan 1 to 4, are red dyesused for colouring oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polishes．They are classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer．

1.What does the underlined word “carcinogenic” mean in paragraph one?

    A．Causing cancer．                     B．Having side effect．   

    C．Containing poison．                  D．Poisonous．

2.How did the Sudan 1 get its name?

    A．The dye is often produced in Sudan．

    B．The dye has something to do with the country named Sudan．

    C．Nobody is sure of the origin of the name．

    D．Many foods produced in Sudan contain the dye．

3.We can infer from the passage that．

    A．the Sudan government is paying much attention to the food safety

    B．Sudan 1 is often used to be added to the food

    C．people didn’t realize the danger of Sudan1 until 2003

    D．many food shops will be closed down

4.Which of the following is the best title?

    A．Keep away from Sudan1

    B．No Sudan 1 dye links to the country

    C．How Sudan1 dye got its name?

    D．Pay attention to the food safety

 

 

Ever since news of widespread food recalls caused by a carcinogenic dye broke, there has been confusion（混淆） over possible links to the country of the same name, but Sudan officials say there is no connection whatever．

Sudan 1 is a red industrial dye（顏料） that has been found in some chilli powder, but was banned in food products across the European Union (EU) in July 2003．

Since the ban was put in place, EU officials have been trying to remove some food products from the shelves．So far 580 products have been recalled．

Last week Sudan’s Embassy in the United Kingdom asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for clarification(澄清) of the origin of the dye’s name．

Omaima Mahmoud Al Sharief, a press official at Sudan’s Embassy in China, explained the purpose of the inquiry was to clear up any misunderstanding over links between the country and the poisonous dye．

　　"We want to keep an eye on every detail and avoid any misunderstanding there," she said．"Our embassy to Britain asked them how the dye got that name and whether the dye had something to do with our country．But they told us there was no relationship．"

The FSA, an independent food security watchdog in Britain, received a letter from the Sudanese embassy last week．

　"They asked us why the dye is named Sudan, however, we also do not know how it got the name," she said．"People found the dye in 1883 and gave it the name．Nobody knows the reason, and we cannot give any explanation before we find out．"

Sudan dyes, which include Sudan 1 to 4, are red dyesused for colouring oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polishes．They are classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer．

1.What does the underlined word “carcinogenic” mean in paragraph one?

A．Causing cancer．                       B．Having side effect．

C．Containing poison．                     D．Poisonous．

2.How did the Sudan 1 get its name?

A．The dye is often produced in Sudan．

B．The dye has something to do with the country named Sudan．

C．Nobody is sure of the origin of the name．

D．Many foods produced in Sudan contain the dye．

3.We can infer from the passage that．

A．the Sudan government is paying much attention to the food safety

B．Sudan 1 is often used to be added to the food

C．people didn’t realize the danger of Sudan1 until 2003

D．many food shops will be closed down

4.Which of the following is the best title?

A．Keep away from Sudan1

B．No Sudan 1 dye links to the country

C．How Sudan1 dye got its name?

D．Pay attention to the food safety