When she moved the covering cloth to look upon his tiny face, she was shocked. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.

Time proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be full of heart-breaks for his imperfect appearance.

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune and popular with his fellow students. He might have been class monitor, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music.

Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, “You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret.” The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person turned up. His talents blossomed into genius, and his school and college became a series of success. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.

One day, he urged his father, “Who gave so much for me? I must know! I could never do enough for him.”“I do not believe you could, ” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet.”

The years kept their secret, but the day did come—one of the darkest days that a son must endure. He stood with his father over his mother’s casket (棺材). Slowly, tenderly, the father reached out a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to show that the mother had no outer ears.

“Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” he whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?”

Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what can be seen, but in what cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what is done and not known.

1. The mother was shocked at the first sight of her baby because __________ .

A．her baby was born without hair	B．her baby had a tiny face
C．her baby was born imperfect	D．the doctor turned to look out of the window

2. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The son attempted to repay the donator’s kindness.

B．The son didn’t know the truth until his mother died.

C．With donated ears, the son’s life developed smoothly.

D．The boy couldn’t hear clearly without ears at first.

3. Why did the boy’s mother never have her hair cut?

A．Because her hair added to her beauty.	B．Because her hair helped to keep a secret.
C．Because her long hair was her pride.	D．Because she liked her thick and brown hair.

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．A Misfortunate Boy	B．Mother’s Hair
C．Mother’s Secret Love	D．A Successful Ear Operation

The Cuban iguana is a species of lizard（蜥蜴） of the iguana family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas, one of the most endangered groups of lizards. This species with red eyes and a thick tail is one of the largest lizards in the Caribbean.
The Cuban iguana is primarily herbivorous; 95% of its diet consists of the leaves, flowers and fruits from as many as 30 plant species, including the seaside rock bush and various grasses. However, Cuban iguanas occasionally consume animal matter, and individuals have been observed eating the dead flesh of birds, fish and crabs. The researchers wrote that quite a few people on Isla Magueyes could have caused this incident.
The Cuban iguana is distributed throughout the rocky southern coastal areas of mainland Cuba and its surrounding islands with a wild population booming on Isla Magueyes, Puerto Rico. It is also found on the Cayman Islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, where a separate subspecies occurs. Females guard their nest sites and often nest in sites half destroyed by Cuban crocodiles. To avoid the attack from them, the Cuban iguana often makes its home within or near prickly-pear cacti（仙人掌）.
In general the species is in decline, more quickly on the mainland than on the outlying islands. One of the reasons for their decline is habitat destruction caused by the over consuming of farm animals, housing development, and the building of tourist resorts on the beaches where the animals prefer to build their nests. Although the wild population is in decline, the numbers of iguanas have been sharply increased as a result of captive-breeding（圈养）and other conservation programs.
5. The underlined word "herbivorous" （Paragraph 2） probably means          .

A．dangerous	B．gentle
C．plant-eating	D．flesh-eating

6. Why does the Cuban iguana build its nest near prickly-pear cacti?

A．To keep itself cool.

B．To get the food easily.

C．To stay away from people.

D．To avoid crocodiles' attack.

7. How many reasons are mentioned for the habitat destruction?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Five.

8. What's the author's purpose of writing the text?

A．To give us a brief introduction to the Cuban iguana.

B．To show he is concerned about the Cuban iguana.

C．To explain reasons for the Cuban iguana's decline.

D．To draw people's attention to the endangered Cuban iguana.

Next time you hear a funny joke you’d better not laugh too hard. According to a paper published by the British Medical Journal, laughter isn’t always the best medicine. Sometimes it can even be harmful. Professor Robin Ferner from the University of Birmingham, one of the authors of the study, found that bad things could happen to people who laughed too much. He says: “We found people with heartbeat problems which had stopped their heart, we found people who had fainted (昏倒), and we found people who’d dislocated their jaws or burst their lungs.”

It seems that laughing can be no laughing matter. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Professor Ferner says there are benefits to laughing when you want to lose weight, for example. Yes, that’s right: laugh and be slimmer! Professor Ferner explains that: “You use energy when you laugh, you move your diaphragm (横膈膜), you expand your lungs, and both those things can be helpful.”

According to the research, laughing for a quarter of an hour can burn up to 40 calories, and if you laughed all day you’d use up about 2,000 calories, which is what most people consume in a day. But don’t do that or you might end up with a painful jaw. Ouch! Or you might find people looking at you in a funny way.

But I don’t want to finish this article leaving you feeling desperate. Laughter comes naturally for most of us. Babies begin to laugh at around 3-6 months. So give in to your sense of humor and keep smiling. Life is short anyway.

9. Laughing too much may cause the following harmful results EXCEPT_________.

A．diaphragm movement

B．heart stop

C．lung burst

D．jaw dislocation

10. The underlined phrase “doom and gloom” in Paragraph 2 probably means_______.

A．nervous	B．funny
C．painful	D．hopeless

11. How many calories can you use if you laugh for half a day?

A．About 40.	B．About 2,000.
C．About 1,000.	D．About 2,040.

12. What is the author’s attitude towards laughing in the last paragraph?

A．Uninterested.	B．Favorable.
C．Worried.	D．Disapproving.

Restaurants in the USA

Steve’s Pizza

So many pizza chains compete for the attention of tourists in South Beach, but ask a Miami Beach local where to get the best pizza and they’ll tell you about Steve’s. This is New York-style pizza, handmade with care and good ingredients (成分). New branches of Steve’s are opening elsewhere in Miami, all in non-tourist areas.

Opening hours: 11am-3am

Cattleman’s Steakhouse

This place is 20 miles east of the city, but local folks would probably drive 200 miles to eat here. The food is good, and the scenery is even better. Come early and wander around the grounds of Indian Cliffs Ranch, where you’ll see everything from rabbits to buffalo (水牛), then catch the sunset either before or after your meal.

Opening hours: 5pm-10pm

Absolute Baking & Cafe

The screen door is always swinging open at this town hot spot with giant breakfasts. Try the green chili on eggs — it’s made from scratch, as are the organic (有机的) breads. Lunch includes salads, big sandwiches and local grass-fed beef burgers. Don’t miss a square of soft, fresh carrot cake.

Opening hours: 7am-2pm

Walt’s Wharf

Everybody’s favorite for fresh fish (some drive in from LA), Walt’s packs them in on weekends. You can’t make reservations for dinner (though they’re accepted for lunch), but it’s worth the wait for the tree fire-grilled seafood and steaks in the many-windowed ground floor or upstairs in captain’s chairs.

Opening hours: 11am-3:30pm

13. The new branches of Steve’s Pizza are mainly intended for                 .

A．New Yorkers	B．the locals
C．tourists	D．foreigners

14. Cattleman’s Steakhouse offers the wonderful           as well as good food.

A．view	B．wine
C．discount	D．service

15. Which restaurant serves both breakfast and lunch?

A．Steve’s Pizza.

B．Walt’s Wharf.

C．Cattleman’s Steakhouse.

D．Absolute Baking & Café.