I began working in journalism(新闻工作) when I was eight. It was my mother's idea. She wanted me to "make something" of myself, and decided I had better start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.

    With my load of magazines I headed toward Belleville Avenue. The crowds were there. There were two gas stations on the corner of Belleville and Union. For several hours I made myself highly visible, making sure everyone could see me and the heavy black letters on the bag that said THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. When it was suppertime, I walked back home.

    "How many did you sell, my boy?" my mother asked.

    "None."

    "Where did you go?"

    "The corner of Belleville and Union Avenues."

    "What did you do?"

    "Stood on the corner waiting for somebody to buy a Saturday Evening Post."

    "You just stood there?"

    "Didn't sell a single one?"

    "My God, Russell!"

    Uncle Allen put in, "Well, I've decided to take the Post." I handed him a copy and he paid me a nickle(五分镍币). It was the first nickle I earned.

    Afterwards my mother taught me how to be a salesman. I would have to ring doorbells, address adults with self-confidence, and persuade them by saying that no one, no matter how poor, could afford to be without the Saturday Evening Post in the home.

One day, I told my mother I'd changed my mind. I didn't want to make a success in the magazine business.

    "If you think you can change your mind like this," she replied, "you'll become a good-for-nothing." She insisted that, as soon as school was over, I should start ringing doorbells, selling magazines. Whenever I said no, she would scold me.

    My mother and I had fought this battle almost as long as I could remember. My mother, dissatisfied with my father's plain workman's life, determined that I would not grow up like him and his people. But never did she expect that, forty years later, such a successful journalist as me would go back to her husband's people for true life and love.

阅读下面的短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

    If you've ever been to a foreign country，you will know that fitting in isn't easy. Chances are they will have a 1language and way of life. Here's how to get a basic understanding on things2going to a different country.

   3 about the country. Get a base of knowledge. Where is the country located？What are their 4foods？If you know someone who has been to the country，5 them to tell you a bit about the country.

    Try basic phrases. If you do not know how to6their language，it will be hard to master the 7 language in a short time. Remember you will not have time to learn the whole language，so8things like：asking for directions and ordering in restaurants. Learn these 9 along with the basic please，thank you，hello，and goodbye.

    Try to meet someone who knows about or has been to the country. 10 it is a less known country，you may be out of 11 .In this case，search the Internet and the library.

    Have a basic understanding of customs（习俗）.If you do end up in a trouble 12 your lack of customs，calmly explain you are 13 .Basic English customs are not the same around the world，14 as you get into Asia and Africa，but will 15 a base for most European countries.

    Handle your money well. Money can be 16 ， but cover all your bases. Understand the name of the monetary(货币的) 17(i.e.dollars) and know the names of the coins or bills18the unit. Do this in your own country before 19.Exchange your bills a couple of weeks before you go and practice 20them. Know the basic conversion(兑换)(i.e.one pound is about two dollars)．Recognize fair prices and know how to make basic money transactions(交易)．

    When I was 14, I decided to make some pocket money by (help) Mr Miller cut the grass in his garden. I worked hard because that was my first part-time job. After working for one week, Mr Miller said that he had no money for me. That surprised me (great). I argued with him, and then I went back home in anger.  

    My parents told me not to be angry  Mr Miller because  was in difficulties. Then my mother called up Mr Miller and they (talk) about something on the phone. A few days later, my mother asked me to return to Mr Miller's garden because he was too weak (look) after it.  

    When I came back, Mr Miller said, "Sorry, I've no money, but I can do something for you. " He played a CD for me. (hear) the beautiful music, I was so (interest) in it that I forgot the money and did the work with pleasure. At last, Mr Miller gave me a ticket to a concert.  

    After that, I became very fond of music. Now I'm one of the most popular (sing)in my country. I can never  Mr Miller too much.  

    Every day, the news of the world reaches people by over 300 million copies of daily papers, over 400 million radio sets, and over 150 million television sets. Additional news is 1  by motion pictures, in theatres and cinemas all over the world.

    As more people learn what the important events of the day are, 2  still only care about the events of their own household. Nearly four hundred years ago the English writer John Donne said, "No man is an island. "This 3  is more proper today than it was when Donne lived. 4 , wherever he lives, a man 5  to some society and we are becoming more and more aware that 6  happens in one particular society affects, somehow, the life of mankind.

    Newspapers have been published in the 7   world for about four hundred years. Most of the newspapers 8  today are read in Europe and North America. However, 9  they may be read in all parts of the world 10  the new inventions that are changing the techniques of newspaper 11 .

    Electronics and automation have made it 12  to produce pictures and texts far more quickly than before. Photographic copying doesn't need to use type and printing machines. And fewer experts, 13  typesetters(排字工人), are needed to produce a paper or magazine with the 14  method. Therefore, the publishing of newspapers and magazines can 15  more money. Besides, photocopies can be sent over great       16  now by means of television channels and satellites. Thus, 17     can be brought to the public more quickly than before.

    Machines that prepare printed texts for photocopies are being used a great deal today. 18  film is light and small, it can be sent rapidly 19  other places and used to print copies of the text where they are needed. Film pictures can also be 20   projected on a movie or television screen.

家乡（社区）不仅是生活的地方，也是文化熏陶的场所。你的家乡（社区）文化生活状况如何？那里的文化设施是否齐全？那里的文化传统习俗是否还在流行？……寒假将至，假设学校要布置家乡（社区）文化生活现状调查活动，请你完成下列任务：