【推荐1】I had just delivered a memorable speech, and I was about to learn how the judges decided my performance. The audience leaned forward and a period of silence fell across the room. I felt the drum rolled in my heart.

The third-place winner was announced. The name was not mine. Then the second-place winner, still not me. At last, the moment of truth came. I was about to either enjoy the warmth of victory or regret the months’ preparation. My heart felt closer to the latter.

Losing is a part of life, and I have dealt with it on more than one occasion. However, it was an indescribable feeling to drive a 200-mile round trip, get up very early on a freezing Saturday morning, and yet still finish fourth out of four competitors in my group. After Lincoln lost the 1858 Illinois Senate race, he said, “I felt like the 12-year-old boy who kicked his toe. I was too big to cry and it hurt too bad to laugh.” Oh yeah, I could relate.

I had spent many hours in front of a computer and in libraries doing research for the Lincoln Bicentennial Speech Contest. After not placing in the first year of the contest, I really wanted to compete again. Lincoln had many failures, but he never allowed them to defeat his spirit or ambition, so I was not going to give up on a second contest! I reworked my speech for the following year, but again I did not place.

I couldn’t accept the fact that I failed twice in something that I had worked so hard on, until I thought about my hero. Never mind the lost prize money and praise—through learning stories about Lincoln, I discovered that I can fail successfully.

1. How did the author feel after finishing his speech?

A．Delighted.

B．Annoyed.

C．Thrilled.

D．Nervous.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A．He was regretful about his not being fully prepared.

B．He felt upset for getting up early on a chilly morning.

C．He once kicked and hurt his toe when he was 12 years old.

D．He turned out to be the last one of his group in the contest.

3. Why did the author decide to enter the second contest?

A．He was eager to prove himself to be the best contestant.

B．He was inspired by the never-give-up spirit of Lincoln.

C．He was willing to enjoy the warmth and joy of victory.

D．He was determined to win the prize money and praise.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．A memorable hero in my life	B．Never mind others’ judgments
C．Losing is an indescribable feeling	D．Stand up from where we tripped over

【推荐2】I'm not much of a gardener. I love having beautiful flowers-but I don't have a good track record when it comes to making them grow.

A few months after our son left for the Middle East, my friend gifted me a box of tulip bulbs (郁金香球茎). She explained that these bulbs were put into the ground in the fall and lay sleeping all winter. They had all the nutrients they needed inside the bulb and would come out in the spring. ''When you see the leaves of the tiny flowers pushing toward the sun, you'll know that it's almost time for your son to come home. They'll give you what you need most.'' She walked me through the process of planting them. I thanked her — trying to show my gratitude for her gift.

It was a long winter — cold and dark. I endured both the weather and the loneliness and fear I felt with my son away. Dead leaves, frost and finally a heavy snow covered the area where I'd planted those flowers, and I soon forgot they were there.

Finally the weather began to warm. One day, as I walked down my front steps, I noticed an area of green. I bent down to inspect the situation more clearly and saw that those tulips had begun to grow, their tiny leaves forcing their way to the sun.

Day after day I noted the flowers' progress. And day after day, the time approached when my son would finally be home. Now with spring just around the corner, nothing could keep either of us from marching toward the light. Almost all of those bulbs bloomed. And with each brightly colored flower, I marked off one day closer to getting to hold my son in my arms again.

1. What can we know about the author?

A．She is a professional gardener.

B．She is not good at growing flowers.

C．She never plants flowers at home.

D．She often sends friends flowers as gifts.

2. Why did the writer forget the tulip bulbs soon?

A．The bitter winter reminded her of her son far away.

B．She was discouraged from making another attempt.

C．They failed to live through the cold and long winter.

D．She had no hope for beautiful flowers indeed.

3. What were those flowers mentioned in the last paragraph referred to?

A．A physical representation of the hope.

B．Things deep inside her heart and soul.

C．A lesson she will never forget completely.

D．The trouble she had in making them come out.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A dark winter with hope.	B．Planting hope in winter.
C．An area of green in spring.	D．Living a changeable life.

【推荐3】It was early in 1981 when I first met George. I was in my early 30s, seeking a creative outlet unrelated to the boredom of housework and raising little kids. At 65, George had recently retired and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. For both of us, painting was “it” and we met at a local TAFE painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years- -until the day he died.

George was a man who lived life to the full. He worked hard, played hard and had an opinion about everything. As a slim and energetic man, he took pride in his fitness and walked more than three kilometers every day. “I'd no more go without my walk than without changing my underwear. “He’d say.

As the only male in a painting class full of women, George ruled the roost and we were his hens. He adored his singular role and looked after his brood with the same attention he gave to everything.

He took to painting with passion and commitment, even changing the spare bedroom of his home into a studio. His painting equipment was comprehensive- an easel, quality paints, linseed oil, turpentine, brushes, palette, canvases, charcoal pencils, fixative, palette knives- even a rolling pin for removing air bubbles when gluing.

For about six years George and I studied together through various units until the completion of the course and other commitments drew us apart, though we always maintained personal contact as we lived within a couple of kilometers of each other. I'd sometimes see him on his daily walk or at the local shops and occasionally we' d touch base with a“proper”afternoon tea.

Fast-forward some years and George was now about 80 years old. He rang one day and asked me to come to his house, saying he needed to ask me something. George explained that he was giving up painting and giving away all his “stuff". Everything- -paints, boards, canvases, completed works and rolling pin! “I can't paint, Bev.” He declared in the manner of a child who had to say farewell to his favorite toy.“ You have the best talent and are most likely to use it," he said.

After considerable persuasion, I accepted this precious gift on condition that he could reclaim it at any time. He never did, of course, and I still use much of his equipment today, more than 20 years later. As I paint, I often remember George and his big personality.

1. The friendship between George and the writer started because_________

A．they thought painting was characterized by creativity

B．they appreciated each other for their painting ability

C．they thought painting was a great way of killing time

D．they shared happiness in their local painting class

2. The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 indicates that_________

A．George walked too hard to change his underwear

B．George viewed his walk as a great way to keep fit

C．George had his opinion of changing his underwear

D．George had to walk hard daily to live life to the full

3. The rolling pin is mentioned in Paragraph 4 to show that_________

A．George was passionate about painting

B．George was cautious about his painting

C．George was skilled with his painting

D．George was fond of its use in painting

4. Which of the following can NOT reflect George’s “big personality “in the last paragraph?

A．“He worked hard, played hard and had an opinion about everything" (Paragraph 2)

B．“As the only male ... George ruled the roost and we were his hens." (Paragraph 3)

C．“I’d sometimes see him on his daily walk .... afternoon tea." (Paragraph 5)

D．“He declared in the manner of a child who ... his favorite toy." (Paragraph 6)

【推荐1】Papa, as a son of a poor farmer, left school early and went to work in a factory, for education was for the rich then. So, the world became his school. With great interest, he read everything he could lay his hands on, listened to the town elders and learned about the world beyond his tiny hometown. “ There’s so much to learn. Though we’re born stupid, only the stupid remain that way,” he said. He was determined that none of his children would be denied education.

Thus, Papa insisted that we learn at least one new thing every day. Though, as children, we thought this was crazy, it would never have occurred to us to deny Papa’s requests. We would talk about the news of the day at dinner time: no matter how unimportant, it was never taken lightly. Papa would listen carefully and was ready with some comments, always to the point.

Then came the moment the time to share the day’s new learning. “Felice, tell me what you have learned today,” he said. “I have learned that the population of Nepal (尼泊尔) is... ” Silence. Papa was thinking about what was said and then he said, “Get the map; let’s see where Nepal is. Then the whole family went on a search for Nepal.

By looking at us, listening to us, respecting our input, affirming (肯定) our value and giving us a sense of dignity, Papa was unquestioningly our most influential teacher. Later during my training as a future teacher, I studied with some of the most famous educators. They were imparting (传授) what Papa had known all along keeping learning all the time. His educational way has served me well all my life.

1. What do we know from the first paragraph?

A．The poor could hardly afford school education.

B．The town elders wanted to learn about the world.

C．The author’s father was born into a worker’s family.

D．Those who were born stupid could not change their life.

2. What does the underlined word ”it“ in the second paragraph refer to?

A．One little thing.	B．A comment.
C．The news.	D．A request.

3. Which of the following can best describe the author’s father?

A．A participant willing to share his knowledge.

B．An educator expert at training future teachers.

C．A parent insistent on (坚持) his children’ education.

D．A teacher strict about everything his students did.

【推荐2】Maybelle said she wouldn't be coming with me to the library. I asked why, and she said she could get all the short stories she wanted off the Internet. Saved walking all the way to the library, and putting up with my long chat on the way there, and on the way back. Maybelle is very direct like that, always has been.
"But, Maybelle, we've been walking to the library every Monday for the last fifty years!"
She said," Why don't you get Internet'? We can send each other emails."
So I had to get Internet. I called the local high school. They said they'd send me a good student to tell me all about computers and such.
Evil thing, this Internet. Makes you lose old friends, forces you to learn new complex ideas, even if you're too old. But Maybelle said you have to be modern; otherwise, you're dead.
The kid came the next day. Tall skinny black kid, by the name of Arsenius, said his work would cost more.
I said, "All right. As long as I get Internet."
"You need a computer, then you need to get hooked up," he said.
"Let's buy a computer and get hooked up, then."
"How much you want to spend?"
"Whatever it takes."
"How many rams you want?"
I wasn't going to show him my ignorance, so I said, "Whatever it takes."
"Let's go to the mall. You got a car?"
"In the garage."
When I opened the garage door, he gasped. Daddy's car is still there, a'57 Chevy. I never drive it. Walk everywhere.
I said," Let's walk. It's only a mile or so."
He said," Let's drive, or you will faint on me in this heat."
"Young man, I don't faint, never have. We're walking."
"I get paid by the hour," he said. "Walking will cost you a lot more. Also, you feel like carrying a computer a mile or so?"
1. What kind of person is Maybelle?

A．She always says what she means in an honest way.

B．She no longer likes reading in her old age.

C．She doesn't want to be friends with the writer any more.

D．She doesn't want to keep up with the time.

2. Why does the writer want to have Internet at his place?

A．Because the writer believes that one is never too old to learn.

B．Because the writer thinks that it is better late than never.

C．Because of the pressure from people of his age.

D．Because of the convenience the Internet will bring.

3. Arsenius gives _________ reasons for driving to the mall.

A．two

B．three

C．four

D．five

【推荐3】I felt anxious when going into my room from school. Every day, my room was something different. The hours away at school were long enough to cause a terrible change to my peaceful harbor. Today was no exception.

As I entered the house, Mom greeted me with a smile. It seemed like nothing was wrong. But I was still doubtful about it. Yesterday, around the mouth of my favorite figurine (小雕像) was a chocolate cookie. Obviously, Callie had enjoyed the cookie so much that she wanted to share it with my angel.

I looked around for Callie, who had just turned three. I didn’t see her, but I heard the TV blaring (发出声音) in the other room. As I examined the family room, I noticed it was pretty messy. There were toys all over the floor, but none of them seemed to be mine. Maybe she hadn't entered today. I was so hopeful that I breathed a sigh of relief.

I pushed my room door open and saw damage! There were a few headless dolls, some broken blocks, and a few juice-stained stuffed animals. “She did it again!” I screamed in anger. My mother ran up to me, embarrassed. She promised to put a Callie-proof lock on my door tonight. I felt better, because I knew that soon my room would truly belong to me. However, I was still angry with my little sister so I went into the family room to tell her how she had made life unpleasant for me. “Callie... ” I started. “Hooray!” she shouted.

She leaped off the sofa and hugged my knees with such happiness that I could only look down at her and smile. After all, she was only three and learning about the world in her own way. And she always chose to explore and destroy my room because she loved me, her big sister.

1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to introduce ______.

A．the unique family tradition	B．the background of the story
C．the challenges of school life	D．the troubles in high school

2. Which of the following best describes the author’s sister?

A．Naughty and lovely.	B．Smart and potential.
C．Horrible and awkward.	D．Shallow and energetic.

3. How did the author react first when she found her room was messed up?

A．She was friendly to her sister.	B．She was angry with her sister.
C．She refused to accept her sister’s apology.	D．She thought her sister had done nothing wrong.

4. What finally helped the writer feel good again?

A．Her sister’s honesty.	B．The promise to her sister.
C．The love between sisters.	D．Her sister’s younger age.