Unit 2 Growing pains李仕才一、阅读理解In ancient Egypt，the pharaoh(法老)treated the message runner like a prince when he arrived at the palace，if he brought good news.However，if the exhausted runner had the misfortune to bring the pharaoh unhappy news，his head was cut off.Shades of that spirit spread over todays conversations.Once a friend and I packed up some peanut butter and sandwiches for an outing.As we walked lightheartedly out of the door，picnic basket in hand，a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and said，“Oh boy，a bad day for a picnic.The weatherman says its going to rain.” I wanted to strike him on the face with the peanut butter and sandwiches.Not for his stupid weather report，but for his smile.Several months ago I was racing to catch a bus.As I breathlessly put my handful of cash across the Greyhound counter，the sales agent said with a broad smile，“Oh，that bus left five minutes ago.” Dreams of headcutting!Its not the news that makes someone angry.Its the unsympathetic attitude with which its delivered(传递)Everyone must give bad news from time to time，and big winners do it with the proper attitude.A doctor advising his patient that she needs an operation does it in a caring way.A boss informing an employee he fails to get the job takes on a sympathetic tone.Big winners know，when delivering any bad news，they should share the feeling of the receiver.Unfortunately，many people are not aware of this.When youre tired from a long flight，has a hotel clerk cheerfully said that your room isnt ready yet? When you had your heart set on the toasted beef，has your waiter merrily told you that he just served the last piece? It makes you as a traveler or diner want to land your fist right on their unsympathetic faces.Had my neighbor told me of the upcoming rainstorm with sympathy.I would have appreciated his warning.Had the Greyhound salesclerk sympathetically informed me that my bus had already left，I probably would have said，“Oh，thats all right.Ill catch the next one.” Big winners，when they bear bad news，deliver bombs with the emotion the bombarded(被轰炸的)person is sure to have.1From “Dreams of headcutting！”(Paragraph 3)，we learn that the writer _.Awas reminded of the cruel pharaohBwas mad at the sales agentCwished that the sales agent would have bad dreamsDdreamed of cutting the sales agents head that night2Which of the following is true?AThe author really appreciated the neighbors warning.BFrom the passage we know that it is the bad news that makes someone angry.CIf the runner brought to the pharaoh unhappy news，he would be treated like a prince.DWhen we want to deliver any bad news，we should share the feeling of the receiver.3What is the main idea of the text?AReceiving bad news requires great courage.BHelping others sincerely is the key to business success.CDelivering bad news with sympathy is important in communication.DLearning ancient traditions can be useful.4In the writers opinion，his neighbor was _.Anot helpful Bnot considerateCfriendly Dwarmhearted【解题导语】本文主要讲述当我们要告诉别人不好的消息的时候，要注意说话的方式和语气，还要带有同情心。1B考查推理判断。根据第三段的描述可知，“我”对售票员的态度很恼火。2D考查推理判断。根据第四段中的“Big winners know，when delivering any bad news，they should share the feeling of the receiver”可知，当告诉别人不好的消息的时候，应该带有同情心，应该分担消息接收者不好的感觉。3C考查主旨大意。本文主要告诉我们当我们告诉别人不好的消息的时候，要注意讲话的方式和态度，应该带有同情心，分担别人的忧愁。4B考查推理判断。根据第二段中的“As we walked lightheartedly out of the door, picnic basket in hand，a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and said.I wanted to strike him on the face with the peanut butter and sandwiches”以及最后一段中的“Had my neighbor told me of the upcoming rainstorm with sympathy, I would have appreciated his warning”可知，“我”认为邻居没有同情心，不能为别人考虑。故选B项。二、单项填空1.Everything from greeting to eating can be an opportunity to do the wrong thing, and not only embarrass yourself, but _ your host.A. frighten B. upset C. tease D. blame【答案】B【解析】frighten使惊吓；upset使不安；tease嘲笑，取笑；blame责备，谴责。句意：从问候到吃饭你随时都有可能会出错，这不仅会让自己很尴尬，而且还让主人很不安。2.He deserves _ such a great honor for his excellent work.A. to give B. give C. to be given D. being given 【答案】C【解析】deserve to be given应该得到，to be given在此为不定式的被动式。句意：他工作出色，应该得到如此高的荣誉。3.Though staying up late may not _ you, you will not be full of energy the next day.A. hurt B. harmC. destroy D. damage【答案】B【解析】hurt指肉体或精神上的伤害；harm 指抽象、无形的伤害；destroy毁掉；damage指物体受到损伤，从句意可知，题干指的是无形的伤害，所以用harm。句意：尽管熬夜也许对你没有什么伤害，但是第二天你精力就不够充沛了。4.She has waited for the guest for two hours and reached the _ of her patience.A. limit B. topC. point D. need【答案】A【解析】句意：她等那位客人两个小时了，达到了忍耐的极限。limit极限，符合句意。top顶部；point点；need必要。5.Jack, look at what you have done. You are supposed _ your job by now. Sorry, Miss Lee. Ill hurry up. A. to finishB. finishingC. to have finishedD. having finished【答案】C6.When I arrived, I called her, but only her friend _