新译林7BUNIT1英语课外趣味阅读及练习题课外趣味阅读同义词趣味巧辨析assert, affirm, allege, maintain, testify, claim这些动词均含有“断言，声称”之意。

assert ：主观意味强，指自认为某事就是如此，而不管事实如何。

affirm ：侧重在作出断言时表现出的坚定与不可动摇的态度。

allege ：多指无真凭实据，不提供证据的断言或宣称。

maintain与assert近义，但前者指坚决维护某种主张或观点。

testify ：多指在法庭作证，庄严地宣称自己所说属实。

claim ：可与assert换用，但语气弱一些，侧重指行为自己的权利提出要求他人承认。

幽默故事The City Mouse and the Country MouseOnce there were two mice. They were friends. One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went. The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city."The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse. It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat. But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. The City mouse cried, " Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid.After some time they came out. When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to bepoor and happy, than to be rich and afraid."【译文】城里老鼠和乡下老鼠从前，有两只老鼠，它们是好朋友。

一只老鼠居住在乡村，另一只住在城里。

很多年以后，乡下老鼠碰到城里老鼠，它说：“你一定要来我乡下的家看看。

”于是，城里老鼠就去了。

乡下老鼠领着它到了一块田地上它自己的家里。

它把所有最精美食物都找出来给城里老鼠。

城里老鼠说：“这东西不好吃，你的家也不好，你为什么住在田野的地洞里呢？你应该搬到城里去住，你能住上用石头造的漂亮房子，还会吃上美味佳肴，你应该到我城里的家看看。

”乡下老鼠就到城里老鼠的家去。

房子十分漂亮，好吃的东西也为他们摆好了。

可是正当他们要开始吃的时候，听见很大的一阵响声，城里的老鼠叫喊起来：“快跑！快跑！猫来了！”他们飞快地跑开躲藏起来。

过了一会儿，他们出来了。

当他们出来时，乡下老鼠说：“我不喜欢住在城里，我喜欢住在田野我的洞里。

因为这样虽然贫穷但是快乐自在，比起虽然富有却要过着提心吊胆的生活来说，要好些。

”练习题（一）Several years ago, I was waiting at a train station in Amsterdam. I saw a young homeless man 1 people for money so that he could buy breakfast. Most of the 2 simply took no notice of the young man or gave him a dirty look. There was an exception (例外): an older, well-dressed lady. When the young homeless man moved 3 this lady, she turned and looked straight into his eyes and 4 asked, “How much do you need?”I couldn’t hear what the young man said but watched 5 the old lady pulled several dollars from her purse and 6 them in the young man’s hands.I don’t know if the young man used this money for breakfast or for some other purpose. What I do know is that I saw two completely different reactions (反应) tothe same 7 . I saw people who were either afraid or angry or distrustful (猜疑的). And then I saw this old lady who 8 the homeless man as her brother. I decided then and there that, even though (虽然) we have to be 9 in this world, I would rather (宁愿) be like her.Every day may bring us many chances for 10 . The key is to do it or not.( ) 1. A. asking B. calling C. leaving D. helping( ) 2. A. guests B. friends C. neighbours D. travelers ( ) 3. A. from B. after C. before D. over( ) 4. A. softly B. sadly C. loudly D. hopefully ( ) 5. A. because B. if C. as D. since( ) 6. A. checked B. put C. covered D. threw( ) 7. A. information B. report C. situation D. programme( ) 8. A. ordered B. treated C. gave D. recommended( ) 9. A. famous B. active C. careful D. useful( ) 10. A. sadness B. happiness C. fitness D. kindness 答案1-5. ADBAC 6-10.BCBCD（二）Food, Drink & RefreshmentRelax in our new Loch Ness Eatery. Whether (不论) you are looking for a snack or a full meal, we can provide almost anything to suit everyone. We will be ready to help you at all times.●Fresh Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, etc●Different kinds of Home Baking and Cakes●Home Made Soup and Sandwiches●Sweets and Soft Drinks●Packed Lunches for Those Who Like a Picnic●Seating for over 150 VisitorsTel: +44(0)456 450321 Web : www.lochness com( ) 1. The above reading is most probably ______.A. an advertisementB. a food reportC. a shopping listD. a menu( ) 2. It’s clear that the Eatery _______.A. can hold 150 people at leastB. only provides Chinese foodC. has a history of less than 30 yearsD. doesn’t offer many kinds of food( ) 3. At the Loch Ness Eatery, visitors can _______.A. book comfortable roomsB. have a picnicC. cook for themselvesD. get a good relaxation( ) 4. The reading also tells us _______.A. the prices of food and drinksB. the address of the EateryC. the name of the managerD. the way of getting in touch with the Eatery( ) 5. The Eatery provides almost everything to _______. .A. treat people for a long timeB. meet (满足) the needs of different visitorsC. let people take awayD. help people learn about Loch Ness答案1-5 AADDB（三）Once upon a time, there lived a rich man. He had a servant (佣人). He and theservant l__________ wine and good food very much. Each time the rich man l__________ his house, the servant would drink the wine and eat up all the nice food in the house. The rich man knew w___________ his servant did, b___________ he had never caught his servant doing that. One morning when he left home, he said to the servant, “Here are two bottles of poison (毒药) and some nice food in the house. You must take care of them.”W________ these words, he went out.But the servant knew that what the rich man had said was u____________. After the rich man was away from his home, he e_____________ a nice meal. S____________ he drank too much, he was tipsy (醉) and fell to the ground. When the rich man came back, he couldn’t find his food and his wine. He became very angry. He woke the servant up. But the servant told his story very well. He said a cat had catch up everything. He was a____________ to be punished（惩罚）,so he drank the poison to kill h_____________.答案loved, left, what, but, with, untrue, enjoyed, since, afraid, himself新译林7BUNIT2英语课外趣味阅读及练习题课外趣味阅读同义词趣味巧辨析assign, distribute, divide, allocate这些动词均含“分配，分发”之意。