My father woke me up early one summer morning when I was fourteen and announced: "Get up. You're going with me to cut grass."

The idea that my father actually thought I was big enough to help him in his business made me feel proud and excited. From sunup to sundown my father, my younger brother and I worked in the large yards in a rich part of Atlanta, Georgia. By the end of the day I was tired 5

out, but I felt good. I had put in a hard day's labor and had earned $6.

One day my father found some leaves I'd missed and pulled me aside. "Clear away these leaves," he said firmly, "and don't make me have to do it again," The message was clear. Today I value the importance of doing a job right the first time. It will never fail to impress the person you are working for. After two years my father told me and my brother that he felt we were old enough to do lawns (草坪) on our own. Every Saturday during our last two years of high school, we set out early in the morning with the same desire and drive we had gained while working under our father.

Taking care of lawns was not exciting or high-paying, but that didn't matter. It taught me that any job is a good job and that whatever I was paid was more than I had before.

A newspaper reporter once asked me how someone could possibly live on a forty-hour-a-week minimum pay. "My father never worked just forty hours a week, and neither have I," I replied. "If you're only working forty hours, you probably don't want to do any better than you're doing."

In every job I've held from doing lawns to washing dishes, I have learned something that helped me in my next job. If you look hard enough, you can learn from any job you do.

40. Why did the writer feel proud and excited when asked to cut grass?

A. He was old enough to help his family.

B. He became important to his father's business.

C. He was able to take care of large yards.

D. He could earn $6that day.

41. What does message in the third paragraph mean?

A. Leaving leaves behind is not right.

B. Giving no excuse for your mistakes.

C. Doing a good job at the very beginning.

D. Missing things can be found out.

42. When the writer finished high school, he might be_______ year old.

A. 14 B. 16 C. 18 D. 20

43. When of the following is the most important thing that the writer has learned from his father?

A. Watch clearly while doing a job.

B. Set out early for physical work.

C. Keep learning from any job you hold.

D. Work over 40hours every week.

E

Daphne asked Jim, a friend of Walter's, for some extra help on her political science homework. On Friday, they agreed to meet at his dormitory study room at 8 Sunday night. It was 8:05 when Jim arrived. He wasn't on time as he usually is, because he had been out enjoying the spring weather after eating at MacDonald's. But he wasn't worried, because he knew from Walter that Daphne was usually late. When Daphne hadn't arrived by 8:25, Jim was a little surprised. He decided to go to the dorm lounge （休息室）and watch his favorite Sunday night TV show. It started at 8:30, so he had to hurry.

When he got to the lounge, Walter was just leaving. "Hey, Jim, your favorite TV show just finished. Where were you? It was wonderful!" "What do you mean, Walter? It's 8:30, so I'm just in time to watch it!" Jim replied, looking a little confused.

"Did you adjust （校正）your watch last night?" Walter asked. Then he explained, "Last night you were supposed to move your watch ahead one hour. We do this every year on the last Sunday in April. Then, on the last Sunday in October, everyone moves clock back an hour. 6

We say spring ahead, fall back to help us remember which way to adjust our clocks." Walter stopped to see if Jim had understood his explanation. "You don't do that in Indiana, I guess." "No, we don't." Jim said, shaking his head. "In that case, I was over an hour late for my appointment with Daphne, not only five minutes. Wow! She'll never let me forget this!"

36. What is an important idea of this story? A. Daphne is usually late.

B. There are no time changes in Indiana.

C. Jim likes his favorite Sunday night TV show.

D. Jim was late because he didn't know about the time changes.

37. Why did Jim look confused when he learned the TV show had just finished?

A. Because he missed the wonderful TV show.

B. Because he thought he was just in time to watch his favorite TV show.

C. Because he was late for the show.

D. Because he forgot the time of the show.

38. Are all the citizens in the United States supposed to move their watches ahead in spring and back in fall?

A. Certainly they are.

B. No, they are not.

C. No, those who live in Indiana do not do that.

D. Certainly they are besides those living in Indiana.

39. Imagine you are going to a party at 2 p.m. on the last Sunday in April. If you forget about time change, what time will you arrive?

A. 3 p.m. B. 4 p.m. C. 1 p.m. D. 2 p.m.

F

On Christmas Eve a few years ago an English couple received a very special telephone call. It was only a 20-second call but it was very important. The Haydens' 15-year-old daughter had disappeared six months before. On Christmas Eve she rang them. "I'm phoning to wish a happy Christmas," she said, " I love you."

Ronals and Edwine Hayden were so happy that they started a special telephone service called "Alive and well". The service helps parents to get in touch with children who have run away from home.

Young people can phone "Alive and Well" and leave a message for their parents. The telephones are answered by answering machines. So no one can speak to the child of make him return home.

Parents of runaway children who are under eighteen can ask the police to bring their children home. So children do not want to tell their parents where they are. Through "Alive and Well" they can telephone their parents without worrying about this or giving out their addresses.

The Haydens and their helpers write down the tape-recorded telephone messages and connect the addresses given. Many of the 30,000 British teenagers who have left home are probably in London. For only two pence they can go into a telephone coin box and call their parents. They can dial 5675339 and stop a parent's worry: Is he dead or alive?

40. The Haydens' daughter rang her parents____ .

A. because she knew she had done something wrong.

B. in order to give them her address.

C. to say she was coming home soon.

D. in order to comfort her worried parents.

41. If you ring "Alive and Well",___ .

A. you will get the information you want.

B. your message will be passed over to your parents. 7

C. your information will be kept a secret.

D. your parents will know where you are.

42. Which of the following is true?

A. The Haydens received an "Alive and Well" call from their daughter before Christmas.

B. An "Alive and Well" call usually costs only two pence because it is quite near and short.

C. In this passage at least 30,000 British teenagers don't want to live with their parents.

D. The "Alive and Well" call is far less important than the message it sends.

43. Through "Alive and Well", parents of runaway children____.

A. often fail to persuade their children to return home.

B. know nothing from their children except their addresses.

C. can say nothing to their children.

D. can ask the police to help them to find lost children.