Real gift at Christmas IT was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was 15 years old and feeling like the world was over for me. I didn't have enough money to buy myself the gift that I had wanted that year. Dad came back in and there was ice in his beard. "You've been by widow Smith's house recently?" he asked. Widow Smith lived two miles down the road. Her husband died a year ago and left her with three children. "I rode by just today," Dad continued. "Little Jack was out looking for wood . They must be out of wood, Tom." We filled our sled high with wood. Then we went to the store and Dad bought some food, and a smaller pair of shoes. I tried to think through what Dad was doing. I knew we didn't have much money, so why was Dad buying _ so many things? We got to the Smith's house and went in. "We brought you a few things, madam," Dad said, and put down the bag of food on the table. Then Dad handed widow Smith the pair of shoes. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling , and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. My throat seemed to be filled with something, and there were tears in my eyes, too. Just then my dream gift seemed very unimportant. Dad had given me the look on widow Smith's face and the smiles of her three children. He had given me the best Christmas of my life. What did the writer learn from that Christmas? A) Helping those in need makes us feel good. B) Christmas gifts are unimportant for poor people. C) We should get along with people around us. D) Being helpful sometimes brings people good luck.
A

Do you know anything about the way of shopping in western countries? People there usually make shopping lists first and then go shopping. Most people like to go to supermarkets because they can get many things in one supermarket such as clothes, food, drinks. The things in supermarkets are cheaper. When they get into a supermarket, they get a basket. Then they buy things and put them in the basket. After they get everything they want, they pay the money. Most people go to the supermarket once a week. Things in the supermarket are a little _ . A) cheaper B) better C) more expensive D) more
A

What would you do if you found a snake in your house? Many people might be afraid or try to kill it. However, if you live in North Carolina in the USA, one thing you can do is to call the Snake Catchers. The Snake Catchers are four men who love snakes, even poisonous ones. Their newspaper advertisement says, "Snake Catchers: free snake removal Please do not kill them -- Call us. " The Snake Catchers, who started their service in 1998, don't charge anything for helping people. "We do this as a hobby," explained Fred Johnson, one of the Snake Catchers. Because of their love of snakes, the Snake Catchers try to keep them alive. "One man asked us to kill a python , so he could make a pair of boots from the skin. We refused, because we like snakes, and we don't want to see them killed, " said Fred. Some of the snakes that they catch are kept as pets; some are given to the North Carolina State University. Most, including the poisonous snakes, are set free in the wild, usually in a national park. Fred suggests that people should treat snakes with care. "Actually snakes are very shy and gentle creatures. They only attack if they are frightened. However, you have to know how to treat a snake properly!" According to one happy family, the Snake Catchers are good. One day, the Greenwood family found a snake skin in the kitchen. They looked very carefully and saw a snake sleeping behind a cupboard. They thought about what to do. Then Steve Greenwood remembered the advertisement for the Snake Catchers. He called them. "The Snake Catchers arrived within an hour and they finished the job quickly too," said Steve Greenwood. "One of them went into the kitchen, found the snake and took it out alive. The Snake Catchers did a very good job." Last year, the Snake Catchers removed more than seventy snakes from houses in North Carolina. The Snake Catchers catch snakes because _ . A) they want to kill the snakes B) they like trying to catch snakes C) they don't want people to hurt snakes D) they like eating snakes
C

Monday, April 17 Dear Gramps, I was so upset last week when somebody stole my Super Racer from the park by your house. I called up the toy company but they said they have only red, blue and green racers. Dad called Cobb's Toy Store today and found out they might have purple ones. Can we go there when I come to visit you next week?You and I were only gone for a few minutes to the shop down the street to get ice-cream and cookies. Maybe the thief was watching us. Mum was surprised when I told her the racer was stolen. She said she used to leave things at the park all the time when she was young. Once she even left her bicycle for two days near the swimming pool. Tell Grandma that I like the food she made last time. Ask Grandma if we can have pancakes with sugar for breakfast when I come this time. I have packed in my towel, comb and soap. Tell her this time I won't forget to pack in my toothbrush. Love Toby How long did the writer leave his Super Racer at the park? A) Two days. B) Over a week C) A few minutes D) All the time
C