2021年公共英语考试二级阅读理解专项练习.docVIP

2021年公共英语考试二级阅读理解专项练习 【导语】锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂。备考需要这样持之以恒的精神。小编为您提供了“202*年公共英语考试二级阅读理解专项练习”，欢迎阅读参考！更多相关讯息请关注小编！ 　　Several weeks ago, a mysterious Christmas card dropped through our mailbox. The envelope was addressed to a man named Raoul, who, I was relatively certain, did not live with us. The envelope wasnt sealed, so I opened it. The inside of the card was blank. Ed, my husband, explained that the card was both from and to the newspaper deliveryman. His name was apparently Raoul, and Raoul wanted a holiday tip. We were meant to put a check inside the card and then drop the envelope in the mail. When your services are finished at 4 a.m., you cant simply hang around, like a hotel bellboy expecting a tip. You have to be direct. 　　So I wrote a nice holiday greeting to this man who, in my imagination, fires The New York Times from his bike aimed at our front door, causing more noise with mere newsprint than most people manage with sophisticated(复杂的) black market fireworks. With a start, I realized that perhaps the reason for the 4 a.m. wake-up noise was not ordinary rudeness but carefully executed spite(怨恨): I had not tipped Raoul in Christmas past. I honestly hadnt realized I was supposed to. This was the first time hed used the card tactic(策略). So I got out my checkbook. Somewhere along the line, holiday tipping went from an optional thank-you for a year of services to a Mafia-style protection racket (收保护费组织). 　　Several days later, I was bringing our garbage bins back when I noticed an envelope taped to one of the lids. The outside of the envelope said MICKEY. It had to be another tip request, this time from our garbage collector. Unlike Raoul, Mickey hadnt enclosed his own Christmas card from me. In a way, I appreciated the directness. I know you dont care how merry my Christmas is, and thats fine, the gesture said. I want $30, or Ill forget to empty your garbage bin some hot summer day. I put a check in the envelope and taped it back to the bin. The next morning, E