The end of my sophomore (大学二年级) year was near. One day, Mom called me, hoping my summer break would be spent with grandparents. They were both in their     1     , and I knew they really needed help around the farm.

So I packed my car after the final exam and started my life on the farm. Weeks passed. I ________ daily work with Grandpa gradually. Grandma often told me stories about her childhood, family and the early years after she and Grandpa had married.

On the last Saturday in June, I went fishing with my grandfather. ________, we saw one of the swans was dead by the pond. Grandpa had given the pair of swans to Grandma on their fiftieth anniversary of marriage. “Why don’t we buy another one?” I suggested. But grandpa said, “no…it’s not that ________. Because swans mate for life. There’s ________ we can do for the one that’s left. He has to work it out for himself.” A few days later we drove by the pond and found the other swan lying near the same place where we had found the first one. It, too, was dead.

Then July 3 came. That was the day Grandma ________. She died of a stroke (中风) suddenly that morning. The funeral was held the next day. Grandpa had insisted on ________ it as soon as possible.

After the funeral, Grandpa asked all the people to get back to their own lives. Grandpa was not a man who could share his sadness with others, and we were all worried about him. During the rest of the summer, we stayed busy working. I thought there was something different about Grandpa but couldn’t tell exactly ________ it was.

September was near, and I had to leave. ________ I drove down the driveway, he waved to me and then walked to the gate to start the morning check.

One and a half months later, Mom called me at university on a windy ________ day to tell me Grandpa had died. He died of a stroke, the same as Grandma.

3 . The New Year is a time of new beginning and good hopes for the future. People ________ the New Year with many traditions and activities. ________, not all cultures celebrate New Year’s Day in the same way.

In Japan, people throw beans. They throw beans while ________, “Bad luck out, good luck in.” After throwing the beans, family members pick up and eat the same number of beans as their age. It will bring health and good luck for the new year.

In China, people buy presents, decorations, food and new clothes a few weeks before the new year. They clean their houses to ________ bad luck. On New Year’s Eve, people usually get together for a big meal. On New Year’s Day, children will ________ red packets from their parents, which means good luck and happiness. People ________ visit their relatives and friends at this time. The lion dance is a ________ activity that is held during the Chinese New Year. People believe that the ________ sound of drums can keep bad things away.

In India, men and women ________ traditional dances. Family members also enjoy delicious food. They say goodbye to the old year and ________ the new year.

Hello, my name is David. I ______ a student in Tian Lin Middle School. I often ______ soccer at school with my classmates. It’s very fun, so we ______ it very much. My friend John has two soccer ______, a basketball and two baseballs and bats. He likes sports, ______ he often watches sports on TV, too!

At school, we have a soccer ______ a week. So we often play soccer ______ school. I get home at 7 o’clock. I have chicken, fish and rice for ______. Then I do ______ homework. I go to bed at ten. I have a/an ______ day.

5 . One day, I heard an American boy say to a Chinese girl student, “You speak very good English.” But the girl said, “No, no. My English is very poor.” The American boy was quite ________ at the answer. Thinking he had not made ________ understood or the girl had not ________ him clearly, he said, “Yes, indeed, you speak very well.” ________ the girl still kept saying, “No, no.” This time the American boy could not understand and didn’t know ________ to say.

What’s wrong with the girl’s answer? She didn’t ________ a compliment (恭维) in the same way the American people do. She should say “Thank you”, instead of “No”. She ________ did understand what the American boy said, but she thought she should be modest. In the ________, people feel proud and ________ when they are praised. So if someone says the ________ you cooked are very delicious, you should say, “Thank you.”

In our country we think being modest is a virtue (美德) and being proud is a bad thing. But in my opinion, being confident does not ________ being proud, so sometimes you should be confident ________ being modest. ________ you are modest and say “No, I’m afraid I can’t do it” while working in a Western country, others may think that you really can’t do it. If you often say “No”, you will certainly be looked down on by ________. When asking for a job, if one says something like “Yes, I can certainly do it” instead of “Let me have a try”, he or she will ________. So in the West, you should be brave and show your self-confidence.

6 . There are four seasons (季节) in China. Spring comes first. In ________ parts of China, spring is usually very ________. It usually comes in February ________ March. Summer comes ________ spring. Usually it’s very ________ in summer. And the hottest month is July. Autumn ________ from August and lasts (持续) for three ________. The weather can be cool in autumn. Winter is the ________ season of the year. It lasts from ________ to January, and it’s very cold. You can go skating. It’s an interesting ________. So it’s best to come to China in spring or autumn.

7 . There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. In fact, she loved _______ except her boyfriend, for he was always ready to help her. She _______ tell her boyfriend, “If I could see the world, I would _______ you.”

One day, someone donated a pair of _______ to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, _______ her boyfriend for the first time. He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?” The girl looked at her boyfriend and was greatly _______ to see that he was blind. She had _______ expected that. She would not like be with a blind husband for the rest of her life, so she _______ to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and a few days later wrote a note to her, saying. “My dear, take good care of your eyes. Before they are yours, they were _______.”

This is ________ the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before. And we often ask for ________ we need. Life is a gift. Today, before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to ________. Before you complain about life, think of someone who went to heaven too ________. Before you complain about your old ________, think of the people who are living in the streets. And when you are tired and complain about your job, think of those who have no jobs. So enjoy what you have and don’t ________ your past.

8 . On July 8th, a film named Chang An was on. It got ________ soon. Many people bought tickets to watch it, especially those who were interested in Chinese poets and culture.

Li Bai and Gao Shi are the ________ characters of this story. This movie tells us how they improve ________ and make the society better in the Tang Dynasty. There are 48 ________ Tang poems in the almost three-hour-long film, even primary school students can recite (背诵) some.

“We hope young people will have a better ________ of these poets by watching this movie.” Xie Junwei, the film’s co-director says.

9 . My father was a strong fisherman. He loved the sea and would stay out _______ he caught enough to feed the family.

When we met _______weather, he would drive me to school. And after we arrived, he would give me a _______ on the face and then tell me to be a good boy. I always felt very shy in front of so many other _______. I was already a twelve-year-old young man, but my father still kissed me goodbye!

Then on a rainy day I _______ to tell him my feeling. When we stopped at the school gate, the _______ big smile appeared on my father’s face. I _______ what would happen next. I _______ put my hand up and for the first time said “No” to him. The smile on his face immediately changed into a _______ look. He looked at me for a long time, and tears began to appear in his eyes. I was shocked. I had never __________ him cry! Then he said, “You are right. You are a big boy... a man. I won’t kiss you any more.”

Not long after that, my dad went to the sea on a bad day. Most of the __________ stayed at home, but not Dad, because he had a big family to feed. But after that day, he __________ came back. Later his boat was found with its nets half in and half out. He must have __________ a strong wind and was trying to save the nets.

How I wished I hadn’t __________ my father’s kiss! And from this I have learnt that we should treat every chance with our family and friends as the last one in our lives. We can have __________ regrets(遗憾) by doing this.

根据短文内容选择最佳答案。

10 . If you want to have true friends, you should be a true friend yourself. Wonder ______ you can do? Here are some tips (建议).

★Laugh and cry together.

Laughing with a friend is the best, ______ sometimes crying brings you closer (更亲密的) together. Don’t be ______ to be yourself when you stay with your friends. Show your true feelings with your friends. Then friends will know each other ______ better.

★Be a nice gift giver.

Gift-giving isn’t just for birthdays or holidays — it can be a fun way of making your friends ______ special! But you don’t need to buy expensive gifts. Making things by yourself ______ you care, because you put time and ideas into your ______.

★Stand up for him or her.

If someone laughs at your friend, don’t just stand there quietly. Do ______ about it! You can try to ______ a smart way to solve (解决) the problem and make others look at your friend differently. Sometimes, it’s necessary ______ you to make him or her feel better. It may not be easy, but it’s what a good friend should do!