Unit 9
Directions & Signs

Reading Comprehension
A travel Experience
When Jim Bruce was invited to attend an international conference on computer network (网络), he was delighted. The conference was to take place in Geneva(日内瓦) and Jim thought it would be a good opportunity to take Mary on a short holiday. They decided that they go to Paris for a week before Jim travelled on to Geneva for the conference. Mary would then return home.
Jim and Mary spent an enjoyable week touring Paris. They did a lot of walking and at the end of the week, they were very tired. Jim went with Mary to the airport and saw her onto a plane for London. While he was waiting in the lounge for his plane to Geneva, a mist (薄雾) Began to form. Eventually (最后), his plane took off two hours late. As soon as he sank into (沉入) his seat, Jim fell fast asleep.
Unfortunately, as the plane flew towards Geneva, the mist changed to thick fog（雾）. The pilot radioed and was told that it was impossible to land there because of the fog. When this news was given to the passengers, Jim was still fast asleep. He did not wake up until the plane landed back in Paris. Still very sleepy (困倦的), he hurried through the airport lounge (侯机室) and found a taxi. He asked the driver to take him to the Geneva International Hotel. The surprised driver looked at Jim as if he were mad. He asked him if he was sure that he wanted a taxi. Jim said he did, since he felt too tired to walk. At this driver laughed and said that he did not image that Jim wanted to walk the two hundred and fifty miles to Geneva. On hearing this, Jim became full awake and asked the driver where he was. He was told that he was in Paris, and that if he wanted to go to Geneva he had better take a plane. The driver said that the fog had to clear (变晴朗). By this time the fog in Jim’s mind had started to clear too.
1. Jim was going to attend a conference to be held in__________       
A. Geneva     B. Paris    C. London       D. New York

2. Which flight was delayed for two hours because of the fog_____?

A.Jim’s flight.  B.Mary’s flight.  C.he flight for London.   D. The flight for Paris.

3. Mary returned home by air after__________.

A.she had attended the Geneva conference.        

B.she had seen Jim onto a plane for Geneva 

C.two hours waiting at the airport             

D. her two – week tour of Paris

4. Jim took a taxi after the flight because _______.

A.he didn’t want to be late for the conference              B. there wasn't a bus going there
C. he felt very tired                                   　　　　　D. he would like a tour of Geneva

5 The driver was surprised_____________ .

A.to see Jim so sleepy     　

B. to be told to drive to the Geneva International Hotel
C. to hear about the delay of Jim’s flight  
D. to know Jim’s travel experience

6 Jim  didn’t know what had happened  until_____________ .
A. he landed back in Paris           B. he got into a taxi
C. he was told where he was               D. he reached the Geneva International Hotel

On the fourth Thursday in November, Americans celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving. This feast is a time when the family comes together for a meal and gives thanks to God for the blessings they have received. The first thanksgiving feast was celebrated by the early American settlers who started the feast to give thanks to God for their good harvest.
In America thanksgiving is the family holiday. It is on that holiday that all the family members make a special effort to gather together. The feast is always held on Thursday and most people have a four-day holiday from school and work. Thus they are able to travel a great distance to be with their family.
The thanksgiving meal is traditionally turkey which was a large bird valued as food for the first time. The table is filled with fruits, walnuts and many types of vegetables. For the sweet dish the main choice is usually pumpkin pie. The meal is a time for the members of the family to talk to each other. There will be talking before the meal, during the meal and long after the meal.
On thanksgiving morning there are in many cities sporting events and parades to mark the day. The family dinner is usually held in the afternoon around 4p.m. The mother will prepare the meal and the father will carve the turkey. He will be seated at the head of the table. The meal will begin with a short prayer of thanksgiving to God for the blessings the family received. The father will also thank the family for coming together on this day. During the meal there is plenty of food for everyone present. The meal is a very joyful time. When the meal is finished some will help with the dishes and others will return to the living room to talk or watch television.
In many ways the feast of thanksgiving is similar to the Chinese feast of Mid-Autumn Festival. It is the time for the family to gather together to give thanks and to share in meal.

7. Thanksgiving is said to be the family holiday in America because ______.
A. each family has its own way of celebrating traditional holidays
B. people will try to get back to be with their family wherever they are
C. people celebrate this holiday only at home and abroad
D. it is a holiday for those who have a family

8. What is one similarity between thanksgiving and Mid-Autumn Festival in China?
A. They are celebrated at about the same time for the year.
B. Family members make a special effort to gather together.
C. People have the same traditional foods on both occasions.
D. The celebration activities are more or less the same.

9. What is best title for this passage?

A.Traditional holidays              

B. Thanksgiving and Mid-Autumn Festival
C. Thanksgiving splendid meal 
D. History of thanksgiving

10. There are plenty of foods mentioned in the passage for Thanksgiving splendid meal except _______.
A. turkeys            B. vegetables        C. cakes        D. fruits

11. What’s the symbol of the festival?

A.Sporting events     

B.parades    

C.an evening party    

D. both A and B

Key:
1---6 AADCBC
7---11 B B C C D