1 . I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox. I_______. I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt a sense of_______and insecurity (不安)．

The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in_______on Facebook. For months, I read about what she set down on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer (志愿者) work wasn't huge._______，she was doing small, local good deeds. Gradually, she changed my views on the world and for some reason, I felt I should let her know how her example_______influenced me.

I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thankyou. That's why I ended up_______the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was_______of being too nice. I guess I felt strange because it wasn't like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my_______was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox_______.

Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was going through a hard time and my note________a lot to her. She said she had no idea she was playing such a big________in others' life.

Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and________my level of happiness as well. I was so excited that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n)________letter to someone each month. Now it's easier for me to________the goodness in others and be more________for this beautiful life I'm living.

1.

A．continued

B．stopped

C．swapped

D．paced

2.

A．concern

B．disappointment

C．responsibility

D．power

3.

A．mind

B．sight

C．order

D．touch

4.

A．So

B．However

C．Instead

D．Meanwhile

5.

A．greatly

B．rapidly

C．loosely

D．widely

6.

A．checking

B．receiving

C．handwriting

D．reading

7.

A．confident

B．afraid

C．fond

D．sure

8.

A．message

B．agreement

C．present

D．explanation

9.

A．sadly

B．officially

C．finally

D．entirely

10.

A．meant

B．persuaded

C．offered

D．determined

11.

A．decision

B．part

C．usage

D．command

12.

A．increased

B．forecast

C．expressed

D．recognized

13.

A．congratulation

B．request

C．comfort

D．thank you

14.

A．hand out

B．find out

C．set out

D．put out

15.

A．grateful

B．sorry

C．satisfied

D．careful

2 . There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other things, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.

People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, hurt many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation (模仿）. It grows into a habit, unknown to its owners. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when they realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.

Although in fact it is mainly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they want to get some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they do something wrong, no one will excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.

1. People who are unhappy _______.

A．always consider things differently from others

B．usually misunderstand what others think or say

C．always discover the unpleasant side of certain things

D．usually are affected by the results of certain things

2. The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means “_______”.

A．make others unhappy	B．tend to scold others openly
C．have a good taste with social life	D．enjoy the pleasure of life

3. We can conclude from the passage that _______.

A．we should pity all such unhappy people

B．people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness

C．such unhappy people are dangerous to social life

D．unhappy people can’t understand happy persons

4. If people keep the unhappy habit, the author suggests we should ____.

A．prevent any communication with them

B．show no respect and politeness to them

C．persuade them to recognize the bad effects

D．quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes

3 . Each time I see a balloon, my mind flies back to a memory of when I was a six-year-old girl. It was a rainy Sunday and my father had recently died. I asked my mom if Dad had gone to heaven. "Yes, honey. Of course." she said.

"Can we write him a letter?"

She paused, the longest pause of my short life, and answered, "Yes."

My heart jumped. "How? Does the mailman go there?" I asked.

"No, but I have an idea." Mom drove to a party store and returned with a red balloon. I asked her what it was for.

"Just wait, honey. You'll see." Mom told me to write my letter. Eagerly, I got my favorite pen, and poured out my six-year-old heart in the form of blue ink. I wrote about my day, what I learned at school, how Mom was doing, and even about what happened in a story I had read. For a few minutes it was as if Dad were still alive. I gave the letter to Mom. She read it over, and a smile crossed her face.

She made a hole in the corner of the letter where she looped the balloon string. We went outside and she gave me the balloon. It was still raining.

"Okay, on the count of three, let go. One, two, three."

The balloon, carrying my letter, darted upward against the rain. We watched until it was swallowed by the mass of clouds.

Later I realized, like the balloon, that Dad had never let his sickness get him down. He was strong. No matter what he suffered, he'd persevere, hang on, and finally transcend this cold world and his sick body. He rose into sky and became something beautiful. I watched until the balloon disappeared into the gray and white and I prayed that his strength was hereditary. I prayed to be a balloon.

1. When the girl asked her mother if they could write to her father, her mother ______.

A．found it easy to lie

B．thought her a creative girl

C．believed it easy to do so

D．felt it hard to answer

2. When the girl was told that she could send a letter to her father, she ______.

A．became excited

B．jumped with joy

C．started writing immediately

D．was worried that it couldn't be delivered

3. In the eyes of the author, what was the rain like?

A．An incurable disease.

B．An unforgettable memory.

C．The failures her father experienced.

D．The hard time her father had.

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．An unforgettable experience	B．Fly to paradise
C．The strong red balloon	D．A great father

4 . Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don’t give friendship back. That is why some friendships don’t last very long. To have a friend, you must learn to be one. You must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend to treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules: be honest; be generous; be understanding.

Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you don’t tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest you may lose your friend’s trust. Good friends always count on gne another to speak and act honestly.

Generosity means sharing and makes a friendship grow. You do not have to give your lunch money or your clothes. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to friends. They tell your friends what is important to you. By sharing then you help your friend know you better.

Sooner or later everyone needs understanding and help with problems. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.

No two friendships are ever exactly alike. But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friends, you must practice honesty, generosity and understanding.

1. Some friendships don’t last long because________.

A．there are too many people who want to make friends

B．those (who never give others friendships) receive no friendship from others

C．those who give others friendship receive friendship from others

D．they don’t know friendship is something serious.

2. According to the passage honesty is_________.

A．something countable	B．the base of friendship
C．as important as money	D．more important than anything else

3. Which of the following isn’t mentioned in the passage?

A．Always tell your friend the truth.

B．Sharing your mind with your friend is of great value.

C．Discussing your problems with your friend often helps to solve the problem.

D．A friend who gives you his lunch money is a true friend.

4. The best title of this passage is ___________.

A．Honesty Is the Best Policy	B．A Friend In Need Is a Friend Indeed
C．How To Be a Friend	D．There Important points In Life

5 . I must have looked deep in thought, or as deep in thought as an 11-year-old man could, when my grandmother glanced up from her weeding to ask, "You have something on your mind, don’t you?”

“Yes, I was thinking that someday I want to be an Olympic speed skating champion like my hero, Eric Heiden, I want to be a doctor like my parents and I want to help children in Africa.”

I immediately knew I had confided (吐露) in the right person when a knowing smile broke across her face. “Johann, of course! You can do anything you want to do!” she said simply. And with my grandmother’s support, I set out to pursue my passions.

14 years later, I was well ready to take hold of my first dream: becoming an Olympic champion. The Olympics in 1994 was in my home country, Norway. As I entered the Olympic stadium, I wasn’t the best athlete, and many had doubts about my ability to perform well. But I had something special working for me. I had a woman in the first row who believed in me following my passions just as much as I did. For the first time ever, my grandmother was going to see me skate.

It happened. Breaking a world record, I won the gold.

As I stood on the podium (领奖台) that I had dreamed about my entire life, a curious question popped into my head. Why me? Why did I win, given all the other incredible competitors out there? The reason had to be more than a grandmother who shared a belief in her grandson’s dream. The question led me to only one answer: because I wanted to make a difference in the world, and with all the media attention on my success, I could. I immediately knew what that difference had to be: hope in the lives of the children in Africa.

Six months earlier, I’d been invited to Eritrea as an ambassador(使者) for Olympic Aid.

1. When the author spoke out what was on his mind,his grandmother_________.

A．laughed at him	B．had little confidence in him
C．felt quite surprised	D．supported him

2. The author probably realized his first dream at the age of         .

A．20

B．22

C．25

D．28

3. What will the author tell us in the part following the passage?

A．His successes at other Olympic games.	B．His efforts in helping the African children.
C．His grandmother’s attitude towards him.	D．His hard training in preparing for the next Olympics.

4. What is the whole passage mainly about?

A．Many dreams of a young boy.	B．A sportsman who pursued his passions.
C．The encouragement from a grandmother.	D．An Olympic hero who made a difference in the world.

6 . I often wonder how people can get so angry,so deep in their own belief that they become deaf to anything that may differ from their beliefs.I’ve often been told that I’m too open-minded,listening to others'viewpoints so openly that they become my own.Maybe that comes from my practice of actively listening to others.It means that I do really hear them instead of responding only out of politeness.Maybe it's because I was brought up by parents who didn’t necessarily speak to me about respecting others but modeled it for me through their own actions.They treated everyone equally,from what I remember,never looking down upon others because they were different from us.

As I raise my daughters,I try my best to show them love and understanding in all situations. When they misbehave, talk back, or break the rules,I'll lovingly analyze the reasons behind their behaviour.I'll be tolerant(宽容的)towards their differing opinions and become open and curious about their ideas.And I'll be mindful of how I treat and speak to others,showing equal respect to everyone.

My expectation is that if I show my daughters unconditional love and acceptance,they’ll learn to show the same love to others.I hope that they will not see difference as a threat,but as a way to add richness to their very existence.It's beautiful to live in a world filled with so many differences.

So,as I write this,welcoming my second daughter to my family,I'm fully aware that change begins with how I act and what decisions I make.Every generation carries its own set of problems.All we have control over is how we respond to those problems.This is what I will teach my girls:how to control their own emotional world;how to hold onto love as well as their beliefs and values;how to remember that hate and anger are never the answer and that tolerance and love will always take them further in life.

1. The author seems different from other people in terms of_______________.

A．her deep understanding of belief	B．her reaction to different opinions
C．her negative views on social politeness	D．her confusing attitude towards her parents

2. What does the author intend to do as for raising her kids?

A．Encourage them to have different opinions.

B．Teach them some useful conversation skills.

C．Punish them heavily for their bad behaviors.

D．Set them an example of love and acceptance.

3. What do Paragraph 3 imply?

A．Love me,love my dog.	B．Nothing seek,nothing find.
C．Don't put the cart before the horse.	D．Music with different tones sounds beautiful.

4. What can be the best title for this text?

A．The art of social communication	B．The importance of love and tolerance
C．The ways to effectively listen to others	D．The positive attitude towards hate and anger

7 . I was on my way from school to the train station,with a shopping bag in one hand,my laptop in the other,and a heavy bag on one shoulder.

Suddenly,I was tripped(绊倒)by something and fell down to the ground.__,I got bad cuts on my knee and elbow,and they started bleeding.My laptop__on the road,and a bottle in the shopping bag was__,leaving the bag all wet.My first act was to pick up my laptop,__I couldn't raise myself.After a while,I realized that I would probably__the train.That means I had no way to get home that night.

I thought nobody else was__,so I was allowing myself to cry a little,when a young lady__.She checked me to make sure I had no serious injuries,and__my face was fine.After she told me about that,I breathed a sigh of__.She asked where I was heading.I told her that I wanted to catch the__train to go home."Your train has already left,"she said.Then a taxi happened to have__,and the lady asked the driver to__me to my home."I can't__it since it’ll be a long drive,"I__strongly.Thinking for a second,she__me￡30,which was more than I would__on food every week.Suddenly,__came to my eyes!

I wish I could have a__to thank her personally one day.However,I even didn't have a clear__of her looks.Finally,I decided to always get ready to lend a helping hand to strangers to repay the__I received from her.

1.

A．Usually

B．Gradually

C．Frequently

D．Unfortunately

2.

A．remained

B．landed

C．worked

D．rang

3.

A．full

B．thrown

C．broken

D．lost

4.

A．as

B．or

C．and

D．but

5.

A．miss

B．cancel

C．find

D．change

6.

A．in

B．around

C．available

D．busy

7.

A．appeared

B．left

C．returned

D．escaped

8.

A．recorded

B．reported

C．predicted

D．found

9.

A．regret

B．sadness

C．relief

D．upset

10.

A．special

B．last

C．first

D．fast

11.

A．pulled up

B．went away

C．broken down

D．set out

12.

A．invite

B．deliver

C．push

D．take

13.

A．buy

B．provide

C．afford

D．apply

14.

A．begged

B．refused

C．explained

D．suggested

15.

A．owed

B．gave

C．lent

D．paid

16.

A．spend

B．waste

C．rely

D．try

17.

A．snow

B．sand

C．blood

D．tears

18.

A．ticket

B．dream

C．chance

D．plan

19.

A．photo

B．standard

C．impression

D．description

20.

A．kindness

B．happiness

C．worry

D．anxiety

8 . Dad is a liar(说谎者), definitely. He never tells the truth about anything_______, or anything that he thinks is bad to me, even though I_______that I don’t mind hearing these things.

He is the kindest man I have ever met, who never_______others, as well as the_______man, for he’s always hard on himself. Every time I_______home from college and asked Dad how his_______was getting on, he would always reply, “Oh, couldn’t be_______!” When I asked my mum the same question on the phone,_______, she honestly told me every_______with Dad’s business. I didn’t blame Dad for his________. I felt a deep sympathy for him.

Dad is a miser (吝啬鬼), undoubtedly. I hardly see Dad wear________clothes. In fact, his closet is half empty. Even in this half, two-thirds is occupied by Mum’s clothes and the other________belongs to him. I urged him to buy some new clothes,________he simply shook his head, “The old clothes are still good enough.” Were they? I saw________in them.

It________my heart up when I saw Dad________terribly with his hand covering his mouth. When the pains became unbearable, he________took some pills.

So it surprised________when the day came that Dad got sick. He was lying in bed. And all the family gathered around him. I knelt(跪) by his bedside, tears filling my eyes.

Dear Dad, you’ve been________yourself too hard, which you should not have. I know I might as well________a river to flow backward as hope to talk you out of working so hard. But I still want to say, “Dad, take better care of yourself!”

1.

A．interesting

B．good

C．bad

D．valuable

2.

A．emphasize

B．realize

C．decide

D．admit

3.

A．envies

B．blames

C．helps

D．hurts

4.

A．noblest

B．cruelest

C．most selfless

D．most diligent

5.

A．phoned

B．drove

C．went

D．stayed

6.

A．health

B．business

C．experiment

D．treatment

7.

A．better

B．harder

C．easier

D．healthier

8.

A．meanwhile

B．anyway

C．however

D．therefore

9.

A．change

B．incident

C．achievement

D．problem

10.

A．belief

B．carelessness

C．lies

D．excuses

11.

A．old

B．new

C．beautiful

D．cheap

12.

A．one-third

B．half

C．thing

D．closet

13.

A．so

B．but

C．since

D．although

14.

A．holes

B．stains

C．hope

D．importance

15.

A．woke

B．warmed

C．cheered

D．tore

16.

A．act

B．shake

C．cry

D．cough

17.

A．still

B．even

C．merely

D．seldom

18.

A．somebody

B．anybody

C．everybody

D．nobody

19.

A．controlling

B．pushing

C．criticizing

D．fighting

20.

A．beg

B．allow

C．expect

D．cause

9 . My youngest son has a severe form of Autism (自闭症). Even though he is in his twenties now he still has the mind of a small child. Things I find silly delight him and little changes that wouldn't bother me at all bother him greatly. Most of the time he is happy but there are also times when he can be terribly upset. He will tear up things and cry for no reason. It always hurts me to see him suffer this way especially when there is little I can do to help.

This morning was particularly trying for him. He broke a new shirt and cried on and off for an hour. Finally he calmed down. I was still feeling stressed, however, and tiredly sat down at my computer to see if I could get a little work done. As I was turning it on, I heard my son laugh for the first time all day. I turned my head and saw him standing directly under the glass angel hanging from our ceiling fan. The light from our house lamps seemed to shine brightly all around him like a halo (光环). His eyes lit up as the little angel swung gently above his head.

At that moment my heart opened. I could see that the miracle was reminding me that my son was more than his Autism. I instead saw the shining soul within. I saw the love and light of his spirit and knew he was here for a purpose. My eyes watered and I appreciated this minor miracle and gentle reminder of his love for all of us.

Miracles are all around us, but we can't always see them with our eyes. We often have to see them with our hearts. Keep your heart open to them then. And let yourself be the miracle you were meant to be!

1. What can we learn about her son from the first paragraph?

A．Nothing can bring joy to him.	B．He is always lost in his own world.
C．Any help from his mother is in vain.	D．His upset arises from obvious reasons.

2. What does the underlined word “trying” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Terrifying.

B．Embarrassing.

C．Exhausting.

D．Annoying.

3. What makes his mother grateful to him?

A．His burst of laughter.	B．His changeable emotions.
C．His soul full of love.	D．His eyes full of curiosity.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Miracles come in moments.	B．A mother's love never changes.
C．Autism calls for public concern.	D．Communication comes from hearts.

10 . It was about seven years ago. I just picked up my three­year­old daughter from the nursery. I was weighed down with shopping bags, and with my daughter’s things. We arrived at a pedestrian crossing and she pressed the button. In the distance, I heard alarms, told my daughter to wait and watched a police car approaching.

Little did I know, as the_green_man flashed, that my daughter had begun to run into the road. I watched the police car speed toward us—that’s when you sounded your horn and waved wildly to me. My daughter was about a meter from the path of the police car, hidden from their view by your car.

I screamed her name and ran toward her. She stopped and was shocked by the rush of the police car as it sped past. She wondered why you had blown your horn, asking, “Mom, why was that woman so rude？” not realizing you had saved her life.

She wondered why I picked her up and burst into tears. My legs gave way as I reached the other side of the road. I should have followed my “wait” with a hand on her shoulder, or an explanation of why we were ignoring the green man this time, especially as I had in effect conditioned her to cross the road at the sight of the green flash.

I beat myself up for months, and still do, with flashbacks and horrible assumptions about what might have been. But for your sounding your horn, seeing what I hadn’t seen, I would have been left a mother on the other side of the road, totally broken. I apologize for putting you in that position—I can imagine that it upset you, too. You saved her life and I am so grateful.

1. What does the underlined part “the green man” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．A pedestrian.	B．A policeman.
C．A traffic sign.	D．A button.

2. Why did the woman sound her horn?

A．To stop the police car.

B．To show her impatience.

C．To greet passing pedestrians.

D．To draw the mother’s attention.

3. What can we infer from the incident?

A．The mother didn’t regret what had happened.

B．The daughter didn’t follow the traffic rules.

C．The woman responded quickly and properly.

D．The police drove beyond the speed limit.

4. How did the mother feel when taking hold of her daughter?

A．Angry and shocked.	B．Scared but relieved.
C．Guilty and confused.	D．Grateful but sad.