1 . The day I received my letter of acceptance to New York University, I was extremely excited. It was my dream university, and my _______ were pleased for me. But they also hadn’t _______ me to get into such a competitive school. In fact, the best thing they ever did for me was to _______ me     from doing things _______ — indeed, when I was in elementary school, they offered to buy me a     present _______ I got a C.

It _______ when I was in the third grade. An only child in an Asian family, I had just _______ with my family to Los Angeles. Months into the third grade, I developed a strong feeling of _______ about getting bad grades. Seeing my anxiety, Dad said, “Kate, tell you what. If you get a C or _______ , I’ll buy you a present. If you score higher than that, I won’t buy you anything, because you won’t __________ it.”

Clearly dad wasn’t the __________ Asian tiger parent, pressuring me to work tirelessly for the best __________ and neither was my mom. They didn’t want to push me. They wanted me to be __________ and healthy. Dad’s __________ of a “failing grade” gift amazingly __________ my worries and pressure. What’s more, I __________ getting A’s   and B’s   throughout high   school,   but without the added stress and fear of failing. I think it was my parents’ lack of stress on grades that gave me __________ to encourage my own desire for achievements.

I now realize I was __________ when I thought I didn’t receive a present from my dad that day.   He gave me two invaluable __________ : the space to develop my own desire for excellence, and the healthy mind to __________ it.

1.

A．friends

B．classmates

C．parents

D．relatives

2.

A．allowed

B．pushed

C．helped

D．recommended

3.

A．discourage

B．encourage

C．inspire

D．protect

4.

A．perfectly

B．positively

C．passively

D．proudly

5.

A．though

B．if

C．unless

D．before

6.

A．came

B．appeared

C．remained

D．happened

7.

A．travelled

B．moved

C．returned

D．left

8.

A．worry

B．embarrassment

C．guilt

D．anger

9.

A．higher

B．less

C．more

D．lower

10.

A．accept

B．receive

C．need

D．make

11.

A．normal

B．typical

C．general

D．ordinary

12.

A．title

B．subjects

C．majors

D．grades

13.

A．energetic

B．smart

C．outstanding

D．happy

14.

A．offer

B．supply

C．story

D．theory

15.

A．piled on

B．removed

C．gave off

D．solved

16.

A．held on

B．made out

C．ended up

D．set about

17.

A．hope

B．time

C．room

D．choice

18.

A．shocked

B．unfortunate

C．puzzled

D．mistaken

19.

A．gifts

B．suggestions

C．tools

D．experiences

20.

A．track

B．catch

C．achieve

D．act

2 . What do we learn about Mary?

A．She likes postcards.

B．She has traveled all over the world.

C．She is going to visit Hawaii.

3 . Dear Laura,

How are you? It has been several weeks since I heard from you. I have been missing you a lot these days, so I think I should find out how you are doing. Hope this letter finds you in the best of health. Things here are fine, though they seem to be a little boring now without you.

Since school started, I have made some new friends who are great company（陪伴）. But I keep remembering what a great time we had during our summer vacations. Those long rides in the woods, often shopping at the mall and our video game matches were all so much fun. Things here are a little different, and it is going to take me some time to get used to them.

I have some great professors who make classes very interesting. I actually look forward to doing my homework for these classes. However, there are some really boring science classes that I just don’t seem to enjoy. They all sound so difficult, but I have to learn them. A few years later, I am going to drop these subjects forever! The good thing is that all the friends I’ve made feel just the same way about these science classes.

How have things been with you? How about your school and all those great friends you keep talking about? Did you join that guitar class you wanted to so badly? Look forward to hearing from you.

By the way, Dad has bought me the latest video game controller. It is really amazing! Waiting for you to come back here so that we can have some more video game matches!

Yours truly,

Aaron

1. What does Aaron probably think of his life in the school?

A．Rather terrible.	B．A little bit dull.
C．Quite hard.	D．Fairly exciting.

2. What can we learn about Aaron from the letter?

A．He didn’t get along with his new friends.

B．He enjoyed a great summer vacation with Laura.

C．He has already got used to his new school life.

D．He enjoyed all of his new classes.

3. Aaron dislikes his science classes because he ________.

A．does not like the science professors

B．has too much homework for these classes

C．finds these classes very hard to understand

D．finds they are of no use in the future

4. What will Laura most probably talk about in her reply to Aaron?

A．Her school life and friendship.	B．Her science classes and the professors.
C．Her summer vacation.	D．Her video game matches.

5. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Aaron and Laura?

A．They are in the same school now.	B．They write to each other every week.
C．They both like playing video games.	D．They will take the guitar class together.

6 . When I was ten, my mother worked all day, so I had to take care of my younger brother. At that time, my little brother was about four years old and he _______ mum all the time.

One day, after I had given him his dinner, he started crying for mum. He was so young and really needed mum. So I dressed him, put on his _______, carried him on my back and walked out. Soon he fell asleep. About half an hour later, I found that one of his shoes was _______ while he was sleeping. I took him off my back and put him down. I knew we needed to find that shoe, for our mother couldn't _______ new shoes. I had to_______to find it, so I told my brother to wait right there. A man passing by heard what I said. He stopped me _______ I walked off. He asked me, “You are leaving your brother here to find the shoe, aren't you? What will you do if he is not here when you return?” I didn't know _______to answer that question. He continued, “It's OK if you can't find the shoe, but it is not OK to lose your _______” Then he sent us to mum’s workplace by taxi.

During my whole life, I have received the _______ from many strangers. I feel sorry that 1 can't find them and say “Thank you”. I do not even remember what their faces looked like, but they taught me a ________ - people are more important than things.

1.

A．loved

B．missed

C．called

D．praised

2.

A．clothes

B．coat

C．shoes

D．trousers

3.

A．lost

B．destroyed

C．found

D．bought

4.

A．sell

B．make

C．afford

D．change

5.

A．get up

B．move out

C．sit down

D．go back

6.

A．after

B．before

C．until

D．while

7.

A．how

B．what

C．when

D．why

8.

A．way

B．mum

C．brother

D．shoe

9.

A．letters

B．kindness

C．sadness

D．presents

10.

A．poem

B．song

C．skill

D．lesson

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A．An accident.

B．The woman’s worries.

C．The woman’s illness.

2. What does the man suggest the woman do?

A．Quit smoking.

B．Stay out all day.

C．Talk seriously with her daughter.

8 . When my father was getting ready for work,our house was ruled by knocks and words.He used to come downstairs to breakfast.

The morning paper lay beside his plate.He always read the “Deaths” first,and then he knocked once on the table.One of my sisters brought his bread,already buttered for him.Usually he said nothing,but once I heard him say,“I love you very much,Edith.I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides.”He read the paper all through breakfast.

Two knocks on the table meant “I am ready for my tea.”If a single knock followed that meant,“More bread,please.”

After breakfast he said,“Boots.”The paper was spread(展开) for him over the back of an armchair.Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet,and his boots were brought to him,freshly cleaned.He read standing at the same time putting on his boots.With one boot finished he said,“Bus.”At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there.Her job was to stop a bus when it came.It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father. “Overcoat,hat.”One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat.Now she held it open for him.Another girl came with his hat,nicely brushed.“Handkerchief,pipe(烟斗).”They were brought and put,with his tobacco(烟草),into his pocket.He looked out of the window and said either “Walking stick” or “Umbrella”.It was handed to him.Ready now,he was still reading the paper.He didn’t put it down until he heard the shout “Bus coming!” Then he kissed my mother and went out.The girls breathed freely.

How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home!

1. When the father made the first knock,he meant　　　.

A．he had begun to read the morning newspaper	B．he was made to feel sad by the “Deaths” news
C．he would start to read the other parts of thepaper	D．his breakfast should begin

2. What does “Edith” refer to?

A．A kind of bread.	B．One of the writer’s sisters.
C．The writer.	D．The writer’s mother.

3. All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because 　　　.

A．their father never helped them

B．their father always gave different instructions at the same time

C．each of them had to start and finish her job just on time

D．they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs

4. What was the father’s favorite?

A．Reading newspapers.	B．Having bread buttered on both sides.
C．Giving instructions.	D．Being clean and tidy.

5. From the story we may see that 　　　.

A．the father was so lazy that he hardly did anything

B．the father was the “centre” of the family

C．every girl in the family was afraid to do wrong because they didn’t know clearly enough what to do

D．the father was hated by all his daughters

9 . Many years ago in one of the New England States lived a fine family which _______ six children. The children all behaved well, except one. Kate never would do as she was _______．She was in every sense, a disobedient (反抗的) child. She gave her parents much _______．She was what is called a vain (虚荣的) girl, who _______ more to her dress and toilet than to her books.   

Kate's father was going to New York some time before Christmas. He told the girls if they behaved well while he was _______, he would bring them each a pretty album. They all promised to do just as their mother should wish. The father went to New York and _______ after a week. The children reminded him of his promise. He went to his desk and said, “Here they are, but you want me to paint some _______ in them, well, Ellen, what do you wish？” Ellen said, “a lily, Pa, _______ you please. ” Julia chose a tulip, and Lizzie a rose. Kate was _______, and her father asked her “Well, Kate, what ________ I paint for you？”She hesitated, but finally said, “I would prefer a portrait of ________.” “Very well, Kate,” said her father, but meanwhile a sneer (冷笑) might have been seen on his ________ lip. A few evenings later, when there was a large party in the parlor (客厅)—the father gave each of the girls their albums. Everyone was pleased except Kate, who ________ tears, and threw the book on the floor, left the room. The album was ________ and there was a portrait of Kate just as she had desired, but ________ it was written, “The flower most desired by Kate.”

It was a severe lesson—but let all vain girls profit.

1.

A．included

B．composed of

C．contained

D．made up

2.

A．advised

B．allowed

C．demanded

D．bid

3.

A．disgrace

B．mistrust

C．trouble

D．anger

4.

A．devoted

B．attended

C．preferred

D．connected

5.

A．missing

B．gone

C．tired

D．upset

6.

A．called

B．worked

C．returned

D．responded

7.

A．portraits

B．pictures

C．photos

D．flowers

8.

A．if

B．unless

C．when

D．until

9.

A．unhappy

B．anxious

C．awkward

D．silent

10.

A．must

B．will

C．should

D．shall

11.

A．Julia

B．you

C．myself

D．Ellen

12.

A．trembling

B．curled

C．blue

D．annoyed

13.

A．turned to

B．broke out

C．burst into

D．set about

14.

A．brought up

B．opened

C．picked up

D．lifted

15.

A．under

B．in

C．above

D．beneath

10 . 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。

When an important holiday comes, I usually think of what gifts to buy or prepare for my family members. It is the act    1    (it)rather than the things you buy that matters. Either a small present, a text message or a phone call can mean a lot to the receivers.    2    , I had never got anything from my son, who is    3    university student. Parents never forget to celebrate their children's birthday, but their children seem to be very forgetful. They seldom do something in return.

Life is unpredictable, and you never know what will happen tomorrow. When my son came back during the summer vacation, my wife and I, as usual,    4    (meet)him at the station. On arriving home, much    5    my surprise, my son took out a fashionable wrist watch and gave it to me,    6    (say)it was a birthday gift for me. You can imagine how    7    (surprise)and excited I was at that moment!

Some people say children get too much care and love from their parents,    8    they never express thanks for. It is natural for people to have such concerns and    9    (worry), but things may not turn out as badly as    10    (expect).