1 . I experienced years of loneliness as a child.     1     His friends teased him about babysitting his sister and his interests were far different from mine. With no other kids of my age in the neighborhood, I had to spend hours by myself.

A bright spot for me turned out to be reading. My love of the written word began early as my mother read to me every evening.     2     I started reading books on my own before age 5 and my mother took me to the public library once a week to borrow several books. I quickly graduated from typical children’s books to ones with fewer pictures and longer chapters. Reading opened new worlds to me.     3    

My mother also encouraged me to make what I wanted. I tried making toy cars with cardboard boxes and constructing buildings from leftover cardboard and bits of wood my father gave me. When my mother saw my creations, she told me how creative my designs were.     4     I learned a lot about how to extend the life of objects and transform them into something new and useful. It was a trait(特点) others found helpful, and I soon had friends who wanted to make things with me.

    5    My parents made it a point for their two kids to spend time outside, no matter the weather or season. My brother, of course, raced off to be with his friends, while I had plenty to do myself. There was making leaf houses in autumn, ice skating in winter, and so much more. They’re all memories I treasure today.

A．I wasn't alone any longer.

B．I enjoyed reading stories aloud.

C．I was invited to play with another kid.

D．I loved the colorful photographs in the books.

E．Another habit I formed early was being outdoors.

F．Thus, I began my lifelong interest in making things.

G．My older brother couldn’t be bothered to play with me.

2 . The traffic signals along Factoria Boulevard in Bellevue, Washington, generally don't flash the same length of green twice in a row, especially at rush hour. At 9:30am, the full red/yellow/green signal cycle might be 140 seconds. By 9:33am, a burst of additional traffic might push it to 145 seconds. Less traffic at 9:37am could push it down to 135. Just like the traffic itself, the timing of the signals changes.

That is by design. Bellevue, a fast-growing city just east of Seattle, uses a system that is gaining popularity around the US: intersection(十字路口) signals that can adjust in real time to traffic conditions. These lights, known as adaptive signals, have led to significant declines in both the trouble and cost of travels between work and home.

“Adaptive signals can make sure that the traffic demand that is there is being addressed, ” says Alex Stevanovic, a researcher at Florida Atlantic University.

For all of Bellevue’s success, adaptive signals are not a cure-all for jammed roadways. Kevin Balke, a research engineer at the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute, says that while smart lights can be particularly beneficial for some cities, others are so jammed that only a sharp reduction in the number of cars on the road will make a meaningful difference. “It’s not going to fix everything, but adaptive signals have some benefits for smaller cities,” he says.

In Bellevue, the switch to adaptive signals has been a lesson in the value of welcoming new approaches. In the past, there was often an automatic reaction to increased traffic: just widen the roads, says Mark Poch, the Bellevue Transportation Department’s traffic engineering manager. Now he hopes that other cities will consider making their streets run smarter instead of just making them bigger.

1. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Increased length of green lights.	B．Shortened traffic signal cycle.
C．Flexible timing of traffic signals.	D．Smooth traffic flow on the road.

2. What does Kevin Balke say about adaptive signals?

A．They work better on broad roads.

B．They should be used in other cities.

C．They have greatly reduced traffic on the road.

D．They are less helpful in cities seriously jammed.

3. What can we learn from Bellevue’s success?

A．It is rewarding to try new things.	B．The old methods still work today.
C．It pays to put theory into practice.	D．The simplest way is the best way.

3 . I’ve been farming sheep on a hillside for 54 years. I use a small tractor to get about. My dog Don always sits beside me in the passenger seat.

One morning I _______ a lost lamb when I was in the top field，near where a motorway cuts through my land. The lamb had become separated from its _______ , so I jumped out of the tractor to _______ it while Don stayed in his seat.

Lamb and mother _______ , I turned back to the tractor only to see it move suddenly away from me. This was so _______ because I had put the handbrake on when I jumped out. _______ Don had somehow made the _______move.

My heart froze in my chest as I _______ the tractor heading towards the _______ .I ran desperately but failed to __________. It crashed through a wooden fence and disappeared. The __________ thing I saw was Don’s face, looking calmly back at me.

Heart in mouth, I __________ the fence and looked over. The tractor was __________against the crash barrier in the central reservation, having miraculously(奇迹般地) crossed the __________ road with fast-flowing traffic. I couldn’t see Don, but as I __________ the tractor he jumped out onto the road, apparently __________ , and dashed back to me.

The police __________ and the motorway ran normally again. I couldn't quite believe my __________. It turned out no one got badly hurt, but the outcome could have been __________ . Don was given a special __________ that night—I didn’t want him thinking I was angry with him.

1.

A．dropped

B．spotted

C．carried

D．returned

2.

A．kids

B．friends

C．owner

D．mother

3.

A．ask about

B．play with

C．tend to

D．run into

4.

A．freed

B．switched

C．reunited

D．examined

5.

A．unexpected

B．dangerous

C．embarrassing

D．difficult

6.

A．Fortunately

B．Generally

C．Immediately

D．Obviously

7.

A．lamb

B．vehicle

C．seat

D．fence

8.

A．saw

B．stopped

C．remembered

D．drove

9.

A．crowd

B．motorway

C．field

D．hill

10.

A．take off

B．catch up

C．hold back

D．get out

11.

A．real

B．best

C．basic

D．last

12.

A．fixed

B．noticed

C．reached

D．closed

13.

A．resting

B．running

C．parking

D．turning

14.

A．sleep

B．long

C．rough

D．busy

15.

A．abandoned

B．approached

C．recognized

D．repaired

16.

A．unclean

B．uncertain

C．unhurt

D．unhappy

17.

A．arrived

B．replied

C．survived

D．waited

18.

A．ability

B．dream

C．luck

D．idea

19.

A．common

B．confusing

C．desirable

D．awful

20.

A．meal

B．test

C．job

D．lesson

4 . I am an active playgoer and play-reader, and perhaps my best reason for editing this book is a hope of sharing my enthusiasm for the theater with others. To do this I have searched through dozens of plays to find the ones that I think best show the power and purpose of the short play.

Each play has a theme or central idea which the playwright(剧作家) hopes to get across through dialogue and action. A few characters are used to create a single impression growing out of the theme. It is not my intention to point out the central theme of each of the plays in this collection, for that would, indeed, ruin the pleasure of reading, discussing, and thinking about the plays and the effectiveness of the playwright. However, a variety of types is represented here. These include comedy, satire, poignant drama, historical and regional drama. To show the versatility(多面性) of the short play, I have included a guidance play, a radio play and a television play.

Among the writers of the plays in this collection, Paul Green, Susan Glaspell, Maxwell Anderson, Thornton Wilder, William Saroyan, and Tennessee Williams have all received Pulitzer Prizes for their contributions to the theater. More information about the playwrights will be found at the end of this book.

To get the most out of reading these plays, try to picture the play on stage, with you, the reader, in the audience. The houselights dim(变暗). The curtains are about to open, and in a few minutes the action and dialogue will tell you the story.

1. What do we know about the author from the first paragraph?

A．He has written dozens of plays.	B．He has a deep love for the theater.
C．He is a professional stage actor.	D．He likes reading short plays to others.

2. What does the author avoid doing in his work?

A．Stating the plays’ central ideas.	B．Selecting works by famous playwrights.
C．Including various types of plays.	D．Offering information on the playwrights.

3. What does the author suggest readers do while reading the plays?

A．Control their feelings.	B．Apply their acting skills.
C．Use their imagination.	D．Keep their audience in mind.

4. What is this text?

A．A short story.	B．An introduction to a book.
C．A play review.	D．An advertisement for a theater.

5 . Your next car might drive itself. After years of trials on city streets, driverless vehicles are now nearing the live phase. Last month, a driverless bus began carrying passengers through Lyon, France, Most in the automobile industry think self-driving vehicles will be on the road by 2020 or before.

Driverless cars will at first be huddled with human-driven cars. But the first places where they will become dominant(统治的) are dense urban areas - precisely the spots most damaged by the automobile age. Many advanced cities are already reducing the role of human-driven cargo. Driverless cars will quicken that process and will bring us enormous benefits.

Driverless cars will reduce accidents by around 90 percent. That’s big-the annual death toll on the world’s roads is about 1.2 million a year. Pollution and carbon emissions will drop, because urban driverless cars will be electric. The old, otherwise they would stay at home most of the time and the disabled and teenagers will suddenly gain mobility.

On the other hand, driverless cars will bring catastrophe. The best thing about the automobile age was that it employed tens of millions of people to make, market, insure and drive vehicles. Over the next 20 years, the mostly low-skilled men who now drive trucks, taxis and buses will see their jobs reduced. Carmakers are especially scared. The few cars of the future might be made by tech companies such as Apple, Baidu and Google.   Imaging the impact on Germany, where the automotive sector is the largest industry.

Dramatic change is coming, and driverless cars could arrive by 2020. But governments have barely begun thinking about it. Only 6 percent of the biggest US cities have factored them into their long-term planning.

A decade ago anyone hardly saw the Smartphone coming. It has bought an epidemic of mass addiction. Let’s hope we do a better job of handling the driverless car.

1. The underlined words “be huddled with” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “               “.

A．show up	B．exist together
C．get rid of	D．take the place of

2. Why can driverless cars reduce pollution and carbon emissions?

A．Driverless cars reduce the number of cars.

B．Driverless cars will be powered by electricity.

C．Driverless cars save fuel by driving themselves.

D．Driverless cars will reduce too many accidents.

3. What’s the author’s attitude toward driverless cars?

A．Doubtful.	B．Negative.
C．Objective.	D．Worried.

6 . We all start out with plans about what our life will eventually look like. And those plans, obviously, don’t include disappointment in the road that each of us will surely face.

When we picture the future, we see only love, success and great friendships.

But sooner or later, we realize that life doesn’t go according to plan. Instead, after we’ve carefully made our plans, we meet the unexpected.

However, unexpected things are to be expected. And once we accept this fact of life, believe it or not, it is liberating(带来自由的).

Once we understand that no one’s life goes according to plan, then the difference between successful and unsuccessful people becomes clear. Successful people are good at handling disappointment, as they know that it’s part of life. And unsuccessful people let pain and disappointment take over.

I know people who talk about a divorce or the death of a loved one as if the event happened yesterday, even if it happened a decade or more ago.

It’s reasonable to experience pain at the time of a loss. However, it isn’t reasonable to keep feeling the pain of an experience that happened a really long time ago.

Most of us have suffered in the past, but past pain should have nothing to do with how we feel in the present-it is over and done with.

As for me, my focus is always on today and the future- that is how I live every day. I don’t need to remember the past, because I have accepted that my life doesn’t always go according to plan.

No one’s life goes according to plan. We all have periods of pain and suffering, which are natural parts of being alive. So don’t allow your past to define who you are. When you wake up each morning, just remember to make the most of the day ahead.

1. In what way are successful people different from others, according to the author?

A．They are more hopeful about the future.	B．They are working harder than others.
C．They can handle the unexpected better.	D．They are good at planning.

2. How does the author think we should treat past pain?

A．We should remember it as a lesson.	B．We should forget about it and look ahead.
C．We should keep it to ourselves.	D．We should share it with friends to get comfort from them.

3. What is the main purpose of this article?

A．To tell readers how to plan for their future.

B．To explain why past pain affects people greatly.

C．To show what we should expect from life.

D．To suggest how to handle the unexpected in life.

7 . Mr. Roberts had divided the class into groups to do presentations. Each person in the group would _______ for five minutes in front of the class. Today was Sarah ’s _______. Her legs trembled(颤抖) all the way to the front of the classroom. Her hands shook so _______ that she could not read her notes.

“Sarah, I know you’re _______, but you worked hard on this project. I’d hate to see you give up on yourself,” Mr. Roberts said to her after class. “If I give you a chance until tomorrow, do you think you can find your _______?”

Sarah nodded, _______ for the chance. She went as quickly as she could to her next class.

When she reached home that afternoon, Momma was baking(烘烤).When Momma baked, Sarah always watched and chatted with her. Momma always said it was Sarah’s _______ that made her baked goods taste so sweet.

Momma _______ Sarah’s face as she came into the kitchen. “What’s _______, Sarah?”

With tears in her eyes, Sarah told Momma the whole ________. Putting the cake pans into the oven, Momma set the timer and then said, “Let me show you ________.”

Sarah followed Momma to her bedroom, where Momma ________ a blue ribbon that said “First Place” in her old things.

“I ________ it for public speaking. I started the school year as the shyest girl on the speech team, ________ I ended the year as the blue ribbon winner. It wasn’t ________ because I was a very timid(胆小的) girl. I worked hard, and mostly I ________ my fears. You just need to find your courage.”

The next day Sarah again walked to the front of the classroom to give her            ________.Earlier that morning before school, Sarah had borrowed Momma’s blue ribbon for ________. As Sarah faced the class, preparing to speak, she ________ the ribbon in her pocket, and Momma’s     ________ words. Sarah took a deep breath and began to speak with confidence.

1.

A．stand

B．work

C．listen

D．speak

2.

A．turn

B．move

C．class

D．choice

3.

A．gently

B．badly

C．warmly

D．deeply

4.

A．proud

B．shy

C．friendly

D．confident

5.

A．kindness

B．patience

C．courage

D．requirement

6.

A．sorry

B．known

C．ready

D．grateful

7.

A．tears

B．trust

C．devotion

D．company

8.

A．ignored

B．studied

C．showed

D．pressed

9.

A．perfect

B．wrong

C．special

D．acceptable

10.

A．story

B．plan

C．question

D．chance

11.

A．everything

B．nothing

C．anything

D．something

12.

A．hung

B．found

C．tied

D．wore

13.

A．won

B．sold

C．bought

D．searched

14.

A．so

B．but

C．unless

D．since

15.

A．easy

B．polite

C．clear

D．popular

16.

A．imagined

B．thanked

C．worried

D．faced

17.

A．suggestion

B．presentation

C．information

D．permission

18.

A．congratulation

B．explanation

C．conclusion

D．encouragement

19.

A．remembered

B．described

C．regretted

D．received

20.

A．famous

B．angry

C．supportive

D．thoughtless

8 . When you have looked through our brochure(手册) and have chosen two or three cottages(小木屋) you would like to stay in, please phone our Holiday Booking Office. The number is: 01225 892299.

31st March to 20th October

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday closed

Sunday closed

21st October to 30th March

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday closed

When a reservation(预订) has been made, it will be held for 7 days. We will give you a holiday reference number and ask you to complete the holiday booking form and return it, with a deposit(订金) of ONE THIRD of the cottage rental.

IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR COMPUTED AND SIGNED BOOKING FORM WITH A DEPOSIT WITHIN 7 DAYS, WE REGRET THAT YOUR RESERVATION WILL BE CANCELLED.

When we receive your booking form and deposit, your reservation will be confirmed-we will send you a Booking Confirmation, together with advice on how to reach your holiday cottage and the telephone number of a local contact so that you can get further details on the cottage before leaving home.

ARRIVAL

Please do not arrive at your holiday cottage before 3:30 p.m. or later than 7:00 p.m.

DEPARTURE

On the morning of departure, please leave your holiday property(住所) by 10 a.m. to allow caretakers enough time to prepare the property for the next visitors. We ask that you please leave the property as you found it. Please do not move the furniture as this can cause damage to the furniture.

LAST-MINUTE BOOKINGS

If you wish to make a last-minute booking, please telephone the Holiday Booking Office to check availability. If your reservation is made within 10 weeks of the holiday start date, full payment is due when booking.

ELECTRICITY

In most Wessex Cottages electricity must be paid for in addition to the holiday price. In some cottages, electricity is included in the rental and in very few there is no electricity at all.

1. What should you know about your booking?

A．The reservation can be made on weekends.

B．You need to fill a form before booking.

C．A deposit of one third of the cottage rental is needed.

D．The reservation of a cottage will be kept for 7 hours.

2. When does the Holiday Booking Office open on Saturdays in December?

A．At 9:30 a.m.	B．At 9:00 a.m.
C．At 4:30 p.m.	D．At 5:00 p.m.

3. Which is TRUE about electricity according to the passage?

A．There is no electricity in many cottages.

B．Electricity price is more expensive than the holiday price.

C．Electricity is included in the rental in most cottages.

D．You don’t need to pay for it additionally in some cottages.

4. What do we know about last-minute booking?

A．Full payment is unnecessary when booking.	B．Cottages may be unavailable.
C．The cost is lower than before.	D．Additional charges may be made.

9 . Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to______how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I_______that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and____friends. While traveling was inspring and meeting people was_____, nothing about my term in France was what I______.

The moment I arrived in Paris, I was_______by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting__________I received some shocking news from my program coordinator(协调人): there had been a death in my host parents’ extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to_________out of one family’s house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I’d have a_________this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation (诱惑) to_________my native language, I asked not to be_______with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I_______myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian(巴西人) the same age as I, who I was surprised to find playing one of my favourite CD! In just a few hours, we knew we’d be good friends for the rest of the_______.

I left France with many________, so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always_______to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends_________France we enjoyed together. I love how people______seem so different, but end up being so__________. The most valuabe lesson I gain from studying in France wasn’t just to respect the French people_______to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign culture and gain meaningful_______.

1.

A．discuss

B．express

C．announce

D．argue

2.

A．approved

B．knew

C．warned

D．denied

3.

A．stubborn

B．anxious

C．universal

D．interesting

4.

A．exciting

B．upsetting

C．boring

D．promising

5.

A．doubted

B．liked

C．expected

D．feared

6.

A．greeted

B．witnessed

C．sponsored

D．supported

7.

A．since

B．when

C．until

D．while

8.

A．walk

B．travel

C．move

D．rush

9.

A．roommate

B．leader

C．housekeeper

D．colleague

10.

A．learn

B．speak

C．master

D．appreciate

11.

A．combined

B．placed

C．involved

D．fitted

12.

A．added

B．adapted

C．devoted

D．introduced

13.

A．month

B．week

C．term

D．vacation

14.

A．stories

B．suitcases

C．presents

D．dream

15.

A．embarrassed

B．disturbed

C．surprised

D．concerned

16.

A．analyzing

B．investigating

C．describing

D．exploring

17.

A．need

B．can

C．must

D．shall

18.

A．similar

B．independent

C．generous

D．distant

19.

A．and

B．so

C．or

D．but

20.

A．instruction

B．date

C．facts

D．friendships

10 . I was born legally blind. Of all the stories of my early childhood, the one about a______is my mother's favorite.

I was only two when the______occurred. We had just arrived home from a trip. Mom lifted me out of the car and _____to speak to the driver. I took advantage of my brief______to dash across the lawn (草坪) — and hit a large maple tree! I was running so fast that I bounced off the trunk and______on my backside. Mom______me to start crying, but I just sat there for a minute. Then I______myself up and kept right on going. Mom always______here that, as many times as I______across the lawn after that, I never again______into that tree.

Mom loves to use this story as an______. It reminds her that children don't enter life______to take risks or unwilling to______again when they fall down. She never wanted me to lose that______as I grew older. When I______my major life decisions，I was still that little girl tearing full-speed across the lawn. I studied abroad and later moved away from my parents' home to look for a______, Through years of______, I have become a respected teacher in a school serving high-need students.

We are almost certain to get______at some point during the process of achieving our goal. When that happens, don't sit in the grass and______. Just get up and keep on going. It will all be worth it______.

1.

A．trip

B．race

C．tree

D．driver

2.

A．incident

B．change

C．illness

D．problem

3.

A．feared

B．refused

C．forgot

D．turned

4.

A．delay

B．absence

C．freedom

D．rest

5.

A．landed

B．slept

C．laughed

D．wept

6.

A．promised

B．encouraged

C．allowed

D．expected

7.

A．woke

B．picked

C．warmed

D．gave

8.

A．adds

B．replies

C．admits

D．supposes

9.

A．drove

B．lived

C．stood

D．zoomed

10.

A．crashed

B．broke

C．climbed

D．looked

11.

A．answer

B．example

C．excuse

D．order

12.

A．able

B．ashamed

C．afraid

D．anxious

13.

A．ask

B．share

C．learn

D．try

14.

A．honesty

B．toughness

C．kindness

D．curiosity

15.

A．regretted

B．reviewed

C．made

D．explained

16.

A．job

B．friend

C．fortune

D．house

17.

A．memories

B．efforts

C．research

D．experience

18.

A．mixed up

B．fed up

C．knocked down

D．settled down

19.

A．play

B．relax

C．dream

D．cry

20.

A．all at once

B．in the end

C．in either case

D．as a result