发布时间 : 星期一 文章大学英语精读第一册更新完毕开始阅读
Ⅲ.Fill in the missing words:
The voyage began because I was terrified of Cape Horn.If anything terrifies
me,I must _____ it.
I had read terrible things _____about Cape Horn by people who had
succeeced _____ making the passage.All the water ______ South America and the Antarctic is squeezed through this narrow,shallow gap.You get waves 50 feet ______ .
I read a lot of books about the old clipper______ that used to sail ______ the
Horn,and my plan took shape .I would ______ the route of these great sailing vessels ______ England to Auatralia ______ the Cape of Good Hope and then round Cape Horn back _____ English.Not only that,but I would try to equal their average ______ time for these voyages.
As it turned out ,I did not _______ .I made mistakes .I did not go as fast as
they did.But I _____ sail round the world _______ .No one ever done that ______ .It is always satisfying to do _______ that no one else has done. Reading Comprehension
To Swim the English Channel at 58
A little over a year ago I began training to swim the English Channel this this
September.I will be 58 years old then.
My friends thought I had lost my mind;my wife didn‘t think I was crazy but
she was somewhat worried.The question I was asked over and over was this: Why?
When a student reporter at Indiana recently asked me this question,I said,
―First ,let me ask you a question.What are your plans for this summer?‖He replied that he was going to work in a supermarket.I didn‘t have to say more;he understood my point.
A challenge and something of an adventure are welcome whether you are 20
or 58,and preparing to swim the Channel is far better than working in a supermarket,especially when you have a choice.
But why did I decide to swim the Channel at 58?Perhaps I myself can hardly
give a satisfactory answer.
The Channel has always been the greatest challenge to swimmers;a test of
ability,endurance,luck,and even bravery.It is this challenge that attracts about 100 swimmers a year,who are willing to spend time,effort,and money trying it. One fact that adds to my interest is that,if I succeed,I will be the oldest
person ever to swim the Channel.
I don‘t think I‘m a superman.I do think I have at least three things in my
favor:
First ,I am training hard—now swimming 7 and a half miles a day.Prior to
that time I also kept physically fit by training moderately hard.
Second,I am a resolute man.Once I set up a goal,I won‘t give it up easily.And
this swim has long been a goal.I have a feeling I will be mentally ready and
won‘t do as one Channel swimmer did a few years ago.He trained hard for a couple of years ,made the arrangements and even went to England weeks early to train in the Channel before his attempt.The great day came,and he started swimming toward France.After swimming only one hour,he got out of the water and climbed aboard the boat,saying that he suddenly had lost the desire to swim the channel and it no longer meant anything to him.
On the other hand there was the young girl who was attempting to finish her
swim when the ocean got rough.She was having a tough time with the rough and cold water,when her trainer shouted to her from the boat that he thought she should give up and get out of the water.She shouted back, ―I‘m doing the swimming,and I‘ll decide when to get out .‖She made it.
Ⅰ.Choose the best answer for each of the following questions.Turn back to the
text if you want to.
1. The statement ―he understood my point‖could be most suitably replaced by
a. he understood it was difficult for me to give a proper answer.
b. he understood I did not like his question and did not want to answer it. c. he understood what my question implied:setting up a challenging goal
makes life more interesting.
d. he understood I thought little of his plans for that summer. 2. The expression ―prior to that time‖means
a. up to the day when I will really attempt the Channel. b. before I began to swim 7 and a half miles a day. c. before I began to swim d. up to now.
3. ―She made it‖means
a. she succeeded
b. she made a good show of her courage and bravery. c. she proved she was right
d. she set a good example for others to follow.
4. Most likely, the author decided to swim the Channel because he
a. does not fully realize the difficulties involved b. has made a bet that he could do so.
c. wants very much to show off his superhuman ability. d. enjoys challenge.
5. The author would most readily agree with which of the following
statements?
a. Old people lose their sense of adventure
b. Only an unrealistic person would attempt the channel c. Life‘s challenges can be overcome at any age.
d. People should recognize the dangers of physical stress. 6. From this passage we know the author is
a. b. c. d. determined cautious friendly romantic
Unit Three
THE PRESENT
It was the old lady‘s birthday.
She got up early to be ready for the post.from the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street,and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.
Today she was there would be something.Myra wouldn‘t forget her mother‘s birthday,even if she seldom wrote at other times.Of course Myra was busy.Her husband had been made Mayor,and Myra herself had got a medal for her work for the aged.
The old lady was proud of Myra,but Enid was the daughter she loved.Enid had never married,but had seemed content to live with her mother,and teach in a primary school round the corner.
One evening,however,Enid said, ―I‘ve arranged for Mrs.Morrison to look after you for a few days,Mother.Tomorrow I‘ve to go into hospital—just a minor operation.I‘ll soon be home.‖
In the morning she went,but never came back—she died on the operating table.Myra came to the funeral,and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs.Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.
Two years ago that was,and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times,but her husband never.
The old lady was eighty today.She had put on her best dress.Perhaps—perhaps Myra might come.After all,eighty was a special birthday,another decade lived or endured just as you chose to look at it.
Even if Myra did not come,she would send a present.The old lady was sure of that.Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks.She was excited—like a child.She would enjoy her day.
Yesterday Mrs.Morrison had given the flat an extra clean,and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast.Mrs.Grant downstairs had made a cake,and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea.The little boy,Johnnie,had been up with a packet of mints,and said he wouldn‘t go out to play until the post had come.
―I guess you‘ll get lots of presents,‖he said, ―I did last week when I was six.‖
What would she like?A pair of slippers perhaps.Or a new cardigan.A cardigan would be lovely.Blue‘s such a pretty colour.Jim had always liked her in blue.Or a table lamp.Or a book,a travel book,with pictures,or a little clock,with clear black numbers.So many lovely things.
She stood by the window,watching.The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle.Her heart beat fast.Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate. Then clatter,clatter up the stairs.Johnnie knocked at her door. ―Granny,granny,‖he shouted, ―I‘ve got your post.‖