【推荐2】My senior years, I can’t believe it is almost over. Now when I look back, it was stressful, but exciting, the ball, graduation, and then of course, college.

I started applying for my college months before Christmas. My parents told me it would be smart if I set up interviews and tours. But I wasn’t motivated. I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t want to deal with the stress.

As the days flew by, my applications lay on my desk just as I had left them three months before. “You are wasting valuable time,” my parents complained. Sweeping away the gathered dust on the applications, I worked on them every Sunday until I finished. Next came writing the essays. I had many ideas, but every school had different requirements. I changed them until I was pleased. Finally, everything was underway.

Now I just had to wait. In March, I started receiving letters of rejection. I began to think that I had set myself up for disappointment. I had a letter from Salem State College starting that they wanted to see my grades before they made their decision. Yes! At least someone wanted to consider me. At the beginning of April, I received a letter from Keens State. Those opening words: “We regret to inform you…” made me sit down and cry. I had lost all hope. Then I heard from Plymouth State. Not my first choice, but…I had been accepted. Maybe if I get my grades up, I can choose another school…

The college application hurt me deeply. All my friends had dozens of schools to choose from. I guess my parents were right. High school grades are undoubtedly important to your future plans. If I could do it all over again, I would take it more seriously.

1. What does the sentence “We regret to inform you…” mean?

A．The writer was accepted by the college.

B．The writer couldn’t go to college forever.

C．The writer couldn’t go to any college.

D．The writer was rejected by the college.

2. From the last paragraph, we know the writer felt ________.

A．honorable	B．regretful（遗憾的）
C．hopeless	D．happy

3. From the text, we know that ________.

A．the writer didn’t go to a college

B．the writer thought senior years was easy

C．the writer didn’t desire to go to college.

D．the writer didn’t prepare interviews actively

4. Why was the writer rejected by many colleges?

A．He didn’t choose a good college.

B．He got bad grades in senior years.

C．He wanted to deal with the stress.

D．Every school had different requirements.

【推荐3】My philosophy (哲学) professor was a typical eccentric philosopher, whose behavior was a bit strange. His disheveled (蓬乱的) appearance was highlighted by a well­worn tweed sport coat and poor-fitting thick glasses, which often rested on the tip of his nose. Every now and then, as most philosophy professors do, he would dig into one of those existential “what’s the meaning of life” discussions. Many of those discussions went nowhere, but there were a few that really hit home. This was one of them:

“Respond to the following questions by a show of hands,” my professor instructed.

“How many of you can tell me something about your parents?” Everyone’s hand went up.

“How many of you can tell me something about your grandparents?” About three-fourths of the class raised their hands.

“How many of you can tell me something about your great-grandparents?” Two out of sixty students raised their hands.

“Look around the room,” he said. “In just two short generations hardly any of us even know who our own great-grandparents were. Oh sure, maybe we have an old photograph stored away in a musty cigar box or know the classic family story about how one of them walked five miles to school barefoot. But how many of us really know who they were, what they thought, what they were proud of, what they were afraid of, or what they dreamed about? Think about that. Within three generations our ancestors (祖先) are all but forgotten. Will this happen to you?”

“Here’s a better question. Look ahead three generations. You are long gone. Instead of you sitting in this room, now it’s your great­grandchildren. What will they have to say about you? Will they know about you? Or will you be forgotten, too?”

“Is your life going to be a warning or an example? What legacy (遗产) will you leave? The choice is yours. Class is over.”

Nobody rose from their seats for a good five minutes.

1. Which of the following can best describe the professor?

A．Untidy but considerate.	B．Fashionable and helpful.
C．Neat and responsible.	D．Odd but thoughtful.

2. Why does the professor mention “photograph” and “family story” in Paragraph 6?

A．To share his own interesting stories.

B．To suggest new ways to know the ancestors.

C．To indicate people’s understanding of the ancestors are shallow.

D．To prove they are good ways to know the ancestors.

3. What can we know about this philosophy class?

A．It went nowhere like the previous ones.

B．It inspired our thinking about life.

C．The professor was discontent with our answers.

D．The professor offered us his answers to the questions.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Our strange philosophy professor.	B．Our memorable and respectable ancestors.
C．A gap among three generations.	D．A lesson about legacy.

【推荐2】I took a job at a vet (兽医) clinic almost five decades ago. As an enthusiastic animal lover, I accepted the position on the condition that I wouldn't have to assist with any wounded animals. I couldn't bear to see any creature in pain.

At the end of my first week, we were closing the office for the day when a young man ran up to us holding a severely injured Doberman pinscher puppy (杜宾幼犬) in his arms and begging us to save his life. The four-month-old pup had been hit by a car.

The doctor and I ran back into the operating room. The only place the skin was still attached to this poor little animal's body was around one shoulder. The vet worked tirelessly for what seemed like hours, sewing him back together again. That was the easy part. The puppy had broken multiple bones, including his spine (脊椎) . If he survived the next few days, we were quite sure he would never walk.

That day forever changed my life. I became the vet's assistant in all things medical. One of my first jobs was to give that Doberman puppy daily physical therapy, I remember moving his tiny legs to try to keep his muscles from weakening.

Weeks went by until one day, I felt this little fighter push back ever so slightly. And he continued to push back till he could finally use his legs.

Fast-forward about a year. I walked into the clinic's crowded waiting room and called the name of the next client. Suddenly, a huge Doberman who had been standing quietly with his owner on the opposite side of the room broke loose and dashed toward me. 1 found myself pinned against the wall with this magnificent dog standing on his hind legs, his front paws on my shoulders, washing my face with abundant and joyful kisses!

I still tear up in amazement at the display of love and gratitude the dog had for me that day all those years ago.

1. Which was the possible position the author took originally at the clinic?

A．A medical assistant.

B．A professional vet.

C．An enthusiastic volunteer.

D．A regular receptionist.

2. How did the author help the dog?

A．She sewed his wounds.

B．She fixed his spine.

C．She helped him to recover.

D．She taught him to walk.

3. What can we infer about the dog?

A．He struggled to be on his feet.

B．He liked to lick people’s faces.

C．He got well immediately.

D．He got fierce afterwards.

4. Why did the huge Doberman dash toward the author?

A．To push her away	B．To be a lucky dog
C．to show his gratitude to her	D．To ask for some food

5. What is the best title of this passage?

A．A loving vet	B．A lucky dog
C．A grateful patient	D．A life-changing story