Everybody knows the saying "Two steps forward and three steps back". That described my life pretty well as a single mom. I was raising two teenagers on a teacher's aide's salary. It wasn't nearly enough to cover the bills, so I moonlighted as a waitress. Every time I thought that I had found a solution to my money worries, something would fall through and I would end up feeling worse off than before. The next evening at the restaurant I tried on my apron, wishing I could be home with my kids. I walked up to my first table. Around it was a cheerful older couple. The woman gave me a smile that warmed me. I couldn't help but notice her unusual glass ring. "What a beautiful ring," I said. We chatted for a minute then I took their order and left. When I came back with their drinks, the woman held out her ring. "I would like to give this to you," she said. "Oh, no, I couldn't," I said, embarrassed. She gently placed the ring in my hand and closed my fingers around it. "It's yours," she said. "Please accept it and your things are going to be okay." Right there at their table in the middle of the restaurant I broke down in tears. "Thank you for giving me hope," I said. Long after that night, that sense of peace stayed with me. I knew the right job would come in time. Nine months later it did. I got a better position at another school and I started waitressing at a restaurant where I was allowed to spend more time with my kids. Now in these tough times, I have money worries again, but they don't get me down. I know things will turn out okay. And when I wear that unusual glass ring, I'm reminded I'm not alone. Hearing the woman's words, the writer felt . A) moved B) embarrassed C) puzzled D) successful
A
(Question)
Recently I met a former student Jeanie, for lunch. She had been one of my sixth grade students. Before she had moved away, I had been asked to speak as someone who had been a motivator. I spoke telling the crowd gathered that she was a blessing and encouragement to me. She was a child that had come from a family with some problems. When we finally met, she told me that the thing that made me her favorite teacher was the speech I gave every year. I tell my students that when they wake each morning and come to school, they spend more time with me than they spend with their parents. They may be in the same house, but that does not mean that they spend time with them. I told them that my job was to teach them, comfort them, encourage them, and discipline them as needed. However, my most important job was to love them so that they could put away all other thoughts and prepare to learn. I have no losers in my class. They should therefore consider me their mom away from home. Over lunch, Jeanie asked if she could have the honor of calling me "Mom", because over the years _ She said she has heard from many friends and this is what they all remember about me That I was not only their teacher, but their mom; someone to comfort them, guide them and teach them. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Jeanie ? A) She is a former student of the author. B) She is one of sixth grade students. C) She was from a family with problems. D) She was a blessing to the author.
(Answer)
B
Ques: Hiring a self-drive car really adds to the enjoyment of your holiday. There are so many interesting places to visit, and if you enjoy seeing more than just the city center, there's no better way to explore than by car. HIRE CHARGES: What's included (a)Unlimited mileage. (b)Expenses on oil, maintenance and repairs, which will be repaid on production of receipts. (c)Full insurance cover but exclusive of personal accident(see below)and contents. What's not included (a)Personal accident insurance. (b)Garaging, petrol, parking One bitterly cold day, a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood, quickly set out with my best friend, Bruce, to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of dangers. When I chose a big 23-meter-tall tree and prepared to cut it down, my best friend suddenly warned me,"Don't cut down that tree! It's too close to the power line!"I wasn't sure about it. So I becided to _ his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell, there was no longer any doubt whether my friend was right. The tree caught the power line, bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all, electricity can't travel through wood, so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree, pain ran up my arm and through my head. I had been shocked! After I returned home and told my mother what happened, she quickly called the power company. Workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree, and when I told him I had, his face turned pale. "You should have been killed,"he said. So why am I still alive? It was my boots that saved my life. Within two hours, the workers removed the tree. Soon _ --but not my mother. Even though she was... Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A) But for his boots, the writer would have died. B) The writer regretted having brushed off his friend's warning C) The writer knew nothing about electricity. D) When the tree was cut down, the writer realized his friend was right.
Ans: C
Ques: The old man walked with a cane slowly into the restaurant. His poor jacket, patched trousers, and worn-out shoes made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. He walked toward a table by the window. A young waitress watched him and ran over to him, saying, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." Without a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Supporting him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she pushed the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss." "You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "My name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment. If you need anything, just wave at me." After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change, helping him up from his chair and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!" He nodded a thank you and said softly with a smile, "You are very kind!" When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under his plate she found a business card and a note written on the napkin, under which was a $ 100 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 served was the owner of the restaurant. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees, had seen him in person. The man came to the restaurant _ . A) to have breakfast B) to see his employees C) to find out how his restaurant was working D) to see how Mary served customers
Ans:
C