2 . 【课本改编题】
Read the title, background and three diaries quickly. Then find out the main ideas referring to the following table.

Basic information about the expedition
Time	1914.10.31→1915.11.21→1916.5.20
Destination	To Antarctica
Leader	Sir Ernest Shackleton
The author’s name	Perce Blackborow
The ship	Endurance

A SUCCESSFUL FAILURE

Perce Blackborow joined an expedition with Sir Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica on the ship Endurance in 1914. Shackleton was one of the most famous explorers of his day and it was considered a great honour to be part of his expeditions. Below are some of Blackborow’s diary entries.

31 Oct 1914

… Well, it so happened that one morning I bought a newspaper and read the advertisement about the Antarctic expedition.

An expedition to the South Pole with the great Sir Ernest Shackleton — this is the adventure that I have been dreaming of. And I was ready for it. At the age of 19, I am fit and full of vigour. However, when I applied to join the expedition, Shackleton turned me down because he thought I was too young and wasn’t qualified. But I was so enthusiastic about the idea of going along with them that I secretly went aboard his ship, the Endurance, and hid in a small cupboard. Unfortunately, three days after we set off I was discovered. Shackleton did not want to turn back so he offered me a job, but only after he promised me, “If anyone has to be eaten, then you will be the first!” He assigned me to be a steward, and I now serve meals for twenty-eight men, three times a day.

How everyone will envy me when I come back and tell them about the amazing places I have been to!

21 Nov 1915

The journey has not been easy. Endurance became stuck in the ice as we approached Antarctica. The ice froze around us and we were well and truly stuck! We saw the ship get crushed by the ice. And when the ship sank, our hearts sank with it.

Before we abandoned the ship, Shackleton calmly called us together and told us to rescue our most essential supplies — the small boats, our food, the cook stove, candles, clothes, and blankets. This was no time to panic. We were not allowed to take most of our personal belongings, and Shackleton himself threw away all his gold. But to our surprise, he allowed Hussey to keep his banjo. Hussey often plays it to keep our spirits up.

We are now camped on the ice and we have been managing to survive, but spring is coming, and the ice will soon begin to melt.

20 May 1916

We have been struggling for days, but things on Elephant Island are going from bad to worse. We are now crowded together under one of our boats on the rocky shore of this miserable place. Soon after we arrived, Shackleton left us to find help on South Georgia Island, 1,320 kilometres away — the voyage was too dangerous and difficult for all of us to make it in our small boats. If Shackleton fails, will we have any hope of rescue? No. No navy in the world ever stops at Elephant Island, and no one else knows that we are here.

I feel low. It’s cold and windy. The island has no plants. Sometimes we are able to catch a seal or a penguin to eat. Otherwise, there is no food. I try to think of happier things: decent food, warm and dry clothes, a cosy bedroom, sunny days, and my mother’s face… However, these happy memories are soon interrupted by a sudden cold rush of air.

I shouted, “Shut the door!”

“Hold on now, Perce. Don’t you go turning into another Tom,” came the reply. “We’ve caught another penguin, so it’s penguin soup tonight!”

Bless Frank Wild, the kindest man there is after our leader, Ernest Shackleton. How could I become as selfish and bad-tempered as Thomas Orde-Lees!

Without Frank and Ernest, we’d all be dead by now. Their genuine concern for others, their perseverance, and their resolve fill me with hope.

Perhaps there is a chance we will return home, after all.

Diary	Date	Main idea
1	1914.10.31	The first diary is about how     1    .
2	1915.11.21	The second diary is about how     2    .
3	1916.5.20	The third diary mainly describes     3    .

3 . We watched as Shackleton and the boat sailed away from Elephant Island. It was easy to imagine the danger ahead of them. Would they ever return to find us? What might happen to them? What if they were delayed? We felt so alone and desperate. But it was not for long. There was nothing like a good dinner and some music to cheer us up.

Life fell into a regular pattern. Staying alive took all our time and energy. For example, we needed water, and Elephant Island had none. We found that we could melt ice from the ocean and drink the water from it. But how could we make fire? There were no trees growing on Antarctica and no oil, so the only fuel we could use was animal fat. This gave off oily, black smoke, but it stayed burning even in strong winds.

Food was also a problem, as we did not find any vegetables or fruit on the island. One of our group members, Lionel Greenstreet, noted in his diary about how bored he was with the meals: “The food now is pretty well all meat of sea creatures.” If it weren’t for sea animals, we would all starve. As a chef, it was my duty to cook, so I tried to vary the meals in whatever way I could. But it was difficult.

We had to be careful not to go outside too often, as the changing temperatures could make us ill. It was almost as dangerous to become too hot from wearing too many clothes as to become too cold from wearing too few. The sweat could freeze very quickly. Many of us also became ill from the black smoke of the animal fat we burnt for our fires. It damaged our eyes and burnt our lungs.

The twenty-two of us lived like this in the cold for four months. Our discipline and team spirit kept us optimistic and helped us deal with our fears in a positive and successful way. We also celebrated our birthdays, festivals, and even the times when we caught a sea animal. This was an episode in my life that I would never forget.

When we were finally rescued, we felt such relief and joy that many of us could not hide our tears. We were at last free to go home to warm beds, good food, and the care of our family and friends. Our optimism and faith in Shackleton had helped us persevere in staying alive. And he paid us back by his commitment to save us from a slow but painful death.

1. What did the men eat and drink on the island?
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What were the dangers of living on the island?
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How did the men stay in good spirits while waiting to be rescued?
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What do you think were the key reasons for their survival?
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. If you were one of the men on Elephant Island, would you have trusted Shackleton? Why or why not?
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Summarizing the key elements of the story.

Who	________
What	________
Where	________
When	________
Why	________
How	________

4 . A five-­year-­old dog named Kelsey has been praised as a hero for helping to save the life of her owner who slipped in the snow and broke his neck.

The man, Bob, was alone when he left his farmhouse on New Year’s Eve to collect firewood.Expecting a journey of only several meters, Bob was wearing just long johns (衬裤), a shirt and slippers when he went outside, although the temperature was around －4℃.

After the accident, he was unable to move in the snow. Fortunately, Kelsey came to his assistance.

“I was shouting for help, but my nearest neighbor is about 400 meters away, and it was 10:30 p. m.,” Bob explained. “By the next morning, my voice was gone and I couldn’t yell for help, but Kelsey didn’t stop barking.”

Kelsey’s companion kept him warm by lying on top of him. She licked his face and hands to keep him awake. “Kelsey kept barking but never left my side,” Bob recalled. “I knew I couldn’t give up and that it was my choice to stay alive.”

Bob spent 20 hours in the freezing cold. When he finally lost consciousness, his dog kept barking. Finally, hearing the barking, Bob’s neighbor discovered him at 6:30 p. m. on New Year’s Day and called the emergency services at once. When Bob arrived in hospital, his body temperature was below 21℃. However, doctors were surprised to find that he didn’t have any frostbite (冻疮). They believed it was because of Kelsey’s determination to keep him warm. Dr. Chaim Colen, the doctor who treated Bob, said, “His dog really saved him.He was very fortunate.”

Bob said he was very grateful to both Dr. Colen and his Kelsey. “They saved my life. They are truly heroes!”

1. What happened to Bob on New Year’s Eve?

A．He left his dog alone in his farmhouse.

B．He was praised for saving a dog owner.

C．He broke his neck and couldn’t move.

D．He heard his neighbor’s shouting for help.

2. Why did Kelsey keep barking?

A．To keep warm.

B．To stay alive.

C．To keep Bob awake.

D．To seek help from others.

3. How does Dr. Colen feel about Kelsey?

A．Helpful.	B．Fortunate.
C．Grateful.	D．Friendly.

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

A．A Neck­breaking Accident

B．The Magic Night

C．Warmth on a Winter’s Night

D．Determination to Keep Alive

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

A funny thing happened to Arthur when he was on the way to work one day. As he walked along Park Avenue near the First National Bank, he heard the sound of someone trying to start a car. He tried again and again but couldn’t get the car moving. Arthur turned and looked inside at the face of a young man who looked worried.

Arthur stopped and said, “It looks like you’ve got a problem.”

“I’m afraid so. I’m in a big hurry but I can’t start my car.”

“Is there something I can do to help?” Arthur asked. The young man looked at the two suitcases in the back seat and then said, “Thanks. If you’re sure it wouldn’t be too much trouble, you could help me get these suitcases into a taxi.”

“No trouble at all. I’d be glad to help.”

The young man got out and took one of the suitcases from the back seat. After placing it on the ground, he turned to get the other one. Just as Arthur picked up the first suitcase and started walking, he heard the long loud noise of an alarm.

It was from the bank. There had been a robbery (抢劫)!

Park Avenue had been quiet a moment before. Now the air was filled with the sound of the alarm and the shouts of people running from all directions. Cars stopped and the passengers joined the crowd in front of the bank. People asked each other, “What happened?” But everyone had a different answer.

Arthur still carrying the suitcase, turned to look at the bank and walked right into a young woman in front of him.

She looked at the suitcase and then at him. Arthur was surprised. “Why is she looking at me like that?” he thought. “The suitcase! She thinks I’m the bank thief!”

Arthur looked around at the crowd of people. He became frightened, and without another thought, he started to run.

注意：续写的词数应为150左右。
Paragraph 1:

As he was running, Arthur heard the young man shouting behind, “Stop! Stop!” _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

The taxi stopped in front of the police station. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

One day in elementary school, I called out of the class. My father told with me, “Your mother has given birth to your sister.” I was so glad because I always feel lonely at home. My mom placed me next to my sister on the bed before I got home. My little sister was sleeping peaceful, with soft, rosy cheeks and closed eye. Later, our relatives came and sent our best wishes. “May she grow up to being as beautiful as her mother,” they said. “May she become a excellent hostess.” My uncle wished she would be a famous author, what he always did for every newborn baby!

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Once there lived a rich man     1     wanted to do something for the people of his town. At first, he wanted to find out     2     they deserved his help.

In the center of the main road into the town, he placed a very large stone. Then he hid behind a tree and waited. Soon an old man came along with his cow. “Who put this stone in the center of the road?” said the old man,     3     he did not try to move the stone. Instead, with some     4     (difficult) he passed around the stone and continued on his way. Another man came along and did the same thing, then another came, and another. All of them     5    (complain) about the stone but not tried to move it. Late in the afternoon a young man came along. He saw the stone, saying to     6     (he): “The night     7     (be) very dark. Some neighbors will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone.”

Then he decided     8     (move) the stone. He pushed and pulled,     9     (struggle) to move it with all his strength.     10     (fortunate), under the stone, he found a bag of money and a note, reading “Thanks for your kindness!”

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

    1     (hero) come in different shapes and sites. Some are born to give others a hand. Then there are the people who just happen to be in the right place at the right time. That was the case for John Underwood.

A storm broke near his home     2     a cold evening. Underwood was heading over to help his sister when the roads were flooded. He saw some other drivers get     3    (stick), so he got out of his truck to help. “My belief is that if I have the ability to do good, then I should do it. There should be no excuse.” he said. Underwood wasn't out of his vehicle long before he heard a cry, “Someone was screaming, “My parents, my parents!” Moments later, a 12-year-old boy ran up to Underwood,     4    (say) his parents were trapped and asked for help. The Hammonds went to get things from the basement when the walls failed     5    (bear) the weight of rain and fell down, and they couldn’t escape. Worse still, the water was rising fast. Time was of extreme significance, so Underwood took action at once. Any inappropriate action could add more dangers. Luckily, Underwood had experience     6     a contractor (承包商). “Digging a hole in the living room floor, I knew it's a safe way." He said.

With physical strength,     7    (patient), and a lot of bravery，Underwood saved their    8    (life). He said he did what anyone would do, but that’s not necessarily true. It's hard to put yourself in a dangerous way to rescue another. That's    9     the American Red Cross honored him. Ann Otto, who was in charge of the 23rd Annual Acts of Courage Awards, said the Awards should go to heroes like Underwood who have acted    10     (courage) and selflessly in a time of emergency.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Around twenty years ago, I was going through hard times. I couldn’t find a    1    (satisfy) job. To my shame, I had to drive a school bus    2    (make) ends meet. One afternoon, while    3    (drive) through a suburban neighborhood, I was so sad that I kept asking    4    (I), “Why has my life become so hard?

What’s wrong with the world?” Then I pulled over the bus to drop off a little girl. As she passed, she    5    (hand) me a pretty earring, saying she found it on the floor and I should keep it in case the owner came to look for it. In the evening, the owner did come to look for her earring.

When I gave it to her, she got excited and said    6    (excited), “Thanks, you are a real gentleman.” I told her that she should thank the little girl    7    had found it. She said, “Yes, and you are a good driver, too. What a lovely world    8    is!” Then she left with satisfaction. I    9    (touch) by her words. I had thought something was wrong with the world just because of my poor condition. In fact, nothing was wrong with the world. I should change my attitude    10    life.

10 . 语法填空
　　A 90-year-old has been awarded “Woman Of The Year” for    1    (be) Britain’s oldest full-time employee—still    2     (work) 40 hours a week. Now Irene Astbury works at the pet shop    3    (run) from 9 am to 5 pm daily. Her years of hard work have    4    (final) been acknowledged after a customer nominated(提名) her to be Cheshire’s Woman Of The Year.   

    5     (pick) up her “Lifetime Achievement” award, proud Irene    6    (declare) she had no plans    7     (retire) from her 36-year-old business. Irene said, “I don’t see any reason to give up work. I love coming here and    8    (see) my family and all the friends I    9    (make) over the years. ”  

Granddaughter Gayle Parks said, “We don’t have any idea who put grandma forward. When we got a call    10    (say) she was short-listed, we thought it was a joke. But then we got an official letter and we were blown away. We are so proud of her.”