1 . 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 (缠绕) 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, dart up, 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. What does the underlined sentence imply?

A．When the girl asked if they could write to her father, her mother felt it hard to answer.

B．When the girl asked if they could write to her father, her mother thought her a creative girl.

C．When the girl asked if they could write to her father, her mother believed it easy to do so.

D．When the girl asked if they could write to her father, her mother found it easy to lie.

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

A．jumped with surprise

B．became excited

C．didn't know how to write

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 hard time her father had.

D．The failures her father experienced.

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

A．An Unforgettable Experience

B．The Strong Red Balloon

C．Fly to Paradise

D．A Great Father

2 . I was in the kitchen making lunch when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. I could only see his back. He ____ to be walking with a great effort, trying to be as ____ as possible.
A few minutes after he disappeared into the ____, he came running toward the house again. I went back to making sandwiches, ____ that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, ____, he was once again walking slowly toward the woods.
____curiosity, I walked out and followed him on his journey. He was ____ both hands in front of him as he walked, being ____ not to spill the water he held in them. I secretly walked ____ behind him as he went into the woods and I saw the most amazing ____ .
Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost ____ at him to get away. A huge male deer with elaborate（精美的）antlers was ____ close. But they didn’t even move as Billy ____ . And I saw a small deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from ____and extreme heat, lift its head ____ to drink the water cupped in my beautiful boy’s hands.
It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of ____ You know, we hadn’t had any rain for three months and our crops were ____ As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly ____ by other drops. I looked up at the sky. It was____ God was moved to weep. The rain came that day and saved our farm, just like the ____ of one little boy who saved another.1.

A．happened

B．seemed

C．managed

D．intended

2.

A．quickly

B．secret

C．smoothly

D．still

3.

A．distance

B．yard

C．woods

D．park

4.

A．wondering

B．thinking

C．studying

D．doubting

5.

A．eventually

B．actually

C．however

D．therefore

6.

A．Within

B．Out of

C．Beyond

D．In spite of

7.

A．holding

B．waving

C．surrounding

D．cupping

8.

A．careful

B．worried

C．eager

D．prepared

9.

A．away

B．close

C．out

D．off

10.

A．scene

B．story

C．view

D．game

11.

A．fought

B．signed

C．screamed

D．waited

12.

A．hardly

B．dangerously

C．easily

D．nearly

13.

A．ran away

B．turned out

C．knelt down

D．settled down

14.

A．hunger

B．disease

C．thirst

D．injury

15.

A．in turn

B．in silence

C．with appreciation

D．with difficulty

16.

A．suffering

B．supporting

C．sharing

D．depending

17.

A．dying

B．reducing

C．harvesting

D．growing

18.

A．hidden

B．covered

C．joined

D．caught

19.

A．when

B．as if

C．because

D．that

20.

A．wish

B．dream

C．action

D．expectation

3 . I was on a bus one March evening. The driver didn’t ____ to start the bus soon because it was not yet ____ A middle-aged woman got on. Tired and sad, she told her story ____, not to anyone in particular. On her way to the station, half of her ____ was stolen. The other half was hidden under her blouse, so she ____ still had some left. A few minutes later, she stopped crying, but still looked ____
When all the seats were taken, the driver started the engine. The conductor began to collect fares(车费). When she came to an old man in worn-out clothes, he ____that he had spent all his money when he had accidentally got on a wrong bus and now he was trying to go home. On hearing this, she ordered the old man to ____ the bus. The old man was almost in tears as he ____ her to let him take the bus home. The driver took the conductor’s side and repeated the conductor’s ____ .
The woman was watching the incident. ____ the driver and the conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered(干预).
“Stop ____ him! Can’t you see he’s only trying to get home?”
“He doesn’t have any money! ” the driver ____ .
“Well, that’s no ____ to throw him off the bus,” she insisted.
Then she reached inside her blouse, look out her ____ money, and handed it to the conductor. “Here’s his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a ____ time.”
All heads turned to the woman. “It’s only money,” she shrugged.
She rode the rest of the way home _____________________________ .
On the road of life, the help of strangers can ____ our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the ____ will be when we make it a little smoother for others!1.

A．try

B．care

C．decide

D．intend

2.

A．empty

B．full

C．crowded

D．ready

3.

A．tearfully

B．seriously

C．carefully

D．calmly

4.

A．fare

B．possession

C．money

D．wealth

5.

A．strangely

B．happily

C．secretly

D．fortunately

6.

A．unsatisfied

B．weak

C．unhappy

D．excited

7.

A．explained

B．declared

C．admitted

D．found

8.

A．get off

B．start

C．get on

D．stop

9.

A．begged

B．scolded

C．praised

D．thanked

10.

A．request

B．action

C．suggestion

D．command

11.

A．Unless

B．Although

C．Until

D．When

12.

A．attacking

B．bothering

C．blaming

D．wronging

13.

A．warned

B．whispered

C．shouted

D．repeated

14.

A．problem

B．need

C．matter

D．reason

15.

A．spending

B．collected

C．remaining

D．borrowed

16.

A．busy

B．cold

C．hard

D．fearful

17.

A．giving

B．wearing

C．taking

D．forcing

18.

A．forgotten

B．used

C．earned

D．returned

19.

A．move

B．increase

C．lighten

D．carry

20.

A．world

B．journey

C．smile

D．friendship

4 . It was a Sunday and the heavy storm had lasted all night．The morning after the storm, though, was beautiful: blue skies, warm air and a calm, inviting sea touching the shore gently．

My father realised it was a good day for fishing and invited my sister and me to go with him．I was only 14 and fishing had never been my thing, but I decided to go all the same．I' m so glad I did．

On the way to the harbour we could see the terrible destruction on the coast, but the harbour itself was in fairly good shape．After all, it was protected by the arms of a bay that had only one tiny channel to the sea．As we got on board, we noticed two big humps （脊背） in the distance．

On approaching them, we saw it was a mother whale with her baby．We couldn't believe it — there aren't any whales along the coast here．The storm must have driven them across the ocean into the bay, in which the still water was so badly polluted that nothing could survive．

The little baby whale —actually as big as our boat — was obviously stuck and could not move．The mother dived under the water and came up suddenly, making big whirlpools （漩涡） and waves．"She's trying to help her baby, but on the wrong side," my father said．At this point, my father moved our boat in a semicircle to the other side and, heading the boat towards the baby whale, pushed it gently．With our several gentle pushes the big hump turned over and disappeared under water．Then it swam up right beside its mum．They struggled in their desperate attempts to escape but missed the exit and started heading in the wrong direction．We hurried up to the whales and tried to lead them towards the bay channel．Slowly, they let us lead them, sometimes rising from the water right beside us to breathe -- and to give us a trusting look with those huge eyes．Once they hit their first part of clean water flowing straight from the sea, the mum gave us a wave with her tail and off they swam into the distance．

In the excitement it had felt like only a few minutes, but we had been with those wonderful animals for almost an hour and a half．That was the simple and lasting beauty of the day．Nearly four decades later, I still look back fondly to that golden day at sea．

1. The author says "I' m so glad I did．" （ in Para．2） because _________．

A．he witnessed the whole process of fishing

B．he enjoyed the beauty of the calm sea

C．he experienced the rescue of the whales

D．he spent the weekend with his family

2. The mother whale failed to help her baby because __________．

A．she had stayed in the polluted water for too long

B．the whirlpools she had made were not big enough

C．she had no other whales around to turn to for help

D．the waves pushed her baby in the wrong direction

3. What is the theme of the story?

A．Saving lives brings people a sense of happiness．

B．Fishing provides excitement for children．

C．It's necessary to live in harmony with animals．

D．It's vital to protect the whale in the ocean．

5 . One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He________the first interview; the director did the last interview.

The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” The young man answered, “________.”

“Who paid the school fees for you?”

“My father passed away________I was born, so my mother paid them all.”

“What did your mother do?”

“A laundry woman.”

The director________the youth to show his hands. They were smooth and perfect. The director asked, “Have you ever________your mother wash the clothes?” The youth answered, “________. My mother always wanted me to study and read more books.________, she can wash clothes faster than me.”

The director said, “Please go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow.”

The youth felt his________of getting the job high. When he went back, he happily asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt_______but happy with mixed feelings.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hands________. He cried as he did that. It was the first time he had________his mother’s wrinkled hands with so many bruises (伤痕) on them. Some bruises were so painful that his mother________when they were cleaned. Only by then did he realize it was this pair of hands that assisted him________his academic years.

After finishing cleaning his mother’s_________hands, the youth quietly washed all the_____clothes for his mother. That night, they talked for a very long time.

The next morning, the director noticed the youth’s swollen________and asked, “Can you tell me what you have done and________in your house?”

The youth answered, “I cleaned my mother’s hands and also finished washing all the remaining clothes. I know now what_________is. Without mother, there would not have been my success today.”

The director said, “This is what I am looking for______a manager. I want to hire a person who can value the help of others and who knows the________of others. You are hired.”

1.

A．qualified

B．failed

C．passed

D．won

2.

A．Nothing

B．Few

C．Some

D．None

3.

A．since

B．when

C．although

D．once

4.

A．requested

B．persuaded

C．demanded

D．begged

5.

A．assisted

B．had

C．watched

D．helped

6.

A．Seldom

B．Sometimes

C．Never

D．Rarely

7.

A．Meanwhile

B．Besides

C．However

D．Somehow

8.

A．chance

B．luck

C．desire

D．idea

9.

A．strange

B．different

C．excited

D．unfamiliar

10.

A．skillfully

B．shyly

C．politely

D．slowly

11.

A．glanced

B．noticed

C．accepted

D．considered

12.

A．shook

B．shouted

C．moved

D．fell

13.

A．during

B．along

C．through

D．with

14.

A．damaged

B．ruined

C．broken

D．wounded

15.

A．worn

B．used

C．dirty

D．dusty

16.

A．hands

B．eyes

C．ears

D．cheeks

17.

A．found

B．enjoyed

C．expected

D．learned

18.

A．appreciation

B．understanding

C．regret

D．sympathy

19.

A．about

B．of

C．in

D．on

20.

A．sufferings

B．happenings

C．doings

D．surroundings

6 . A woman renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a …”
“Of course I have a job,” said Emily. “I’m a mother.”
“We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation…‘housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder.
One day I found myself in the same situation. The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title. “What is your occupation?” she asked.
The words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”
The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.
I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “Just what you do in this field?”
Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t), in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up (鼓舞) by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal（嗓音的） pattern.
I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable (不可缺少的) to mankind than “just another mother.”
Motherhood…What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door.
1. What can we infer from the conversation between the woman and the recorder at the beginning of the passage?

A．Motherhood was not recognized and respected as a job by society.

B．The recorder was impatient and rude.

C．The author was upset about the situation that mothers faced.

D．The woman felt ashamed to admit what her job was.

2. How did the female clerk feel at first when the author told her occupation?

A．curious

B．indifferent

C．interested

D．puzzled

3. Why did the woman clerk show more respect for the author?

A．Because the author cared little about rewards.

B．Because she admired the author’s research work in the lab.

C．Because the writer did something she had little knowledge of.

D．Because she thought the author did admirable work.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To show how you describe your job affects your feelings toward it.

B．To show that the author had a grander job than Emily.

C．To argue that motherhood is a worthy career and deserves respect.

D．To show that being a mother is hard and boring work.

7 . One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by sending newspapers door to door, was so hungry that he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” With these words, Howard Kelly left that house.
Years later the woman became badly ill and was finally sent to the hospital in a big city. Dr. Howard Kelly, now famous, was called in. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Dressed in his doctor’s clothes, Dr. Kelly went into her room and recognized her at once. From that day on, he gave special attention to her, and decided to do his best to save her life.
At last the woman was saved. Dr. Kelly asked the business office to pass the final bill to him. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to the woman’s room. She was afraid to open it because she was sure that it would take the rest of her life to pay for it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words:
“Paid in full with a glass of milk, Dr. Howard Kelly.”
Tear of joy flooded her eyes.
1. The boy sent newspapers door to door in order to ________.

A．continue his schooling

B．become a famous doctor

C．thank the woman for her kindness

D．support his poor family

2. Which is true about the boy and the woman?

A．He was too shy to ask her for some water.

B．She thought he was not hungry but thirsty.

C．She wanted him to pay for the glass of milk.

D．She never thought he would save her life later.

3. After Dr. Kelly knew who the woman was, he ________.

A．began to take good care of her himself

B．told her she once gave him a glass of milk

C．decided to try his best to save her

D．asked for her bill and paid it off at once

4. The best title for this passage is ________.

A．A Warm-hearted Woman	B．A Glass of Milk
C．The Final Bill	D．A Famous Doctor

8 . The other day, I had to go to a meeting, which lasted past my daughter’s bedtime. I ___ home and was brushing teeth when I_____ , and there on the bedroom mirror was a note in the of a _____. It said, “Hi, Mom! I Love You. Laurel.” _____, I also cut a heart out of a piece of paper and taped (粘)a _____ next to hers, saying, “ I Love You, Too. Mom,” which she __ the next morning.

Our family has ___ that by integrating (交互式的)writing into our ____ activities, we become more thoughtful of each other. Meanwhile, our daughter is learning to _____ writing and becoming a skilled writer.

While teaching in a primary school, I _____how influential(有影响力的) parents can be as children learn to write. _____when our daughter first began to scribble (涂鸦), I became ___by her work. I offered praise(表扬) for her _____, for I found that scribbling is far more complex(复杂的) and important than I had _____. It was clear that her scribbles, _____ being lovely art objects(艺术品), showed a lot about her_____ of the world of writing.

Gradually, our family began writing a great deal. I sensed that writing helped Laurel learn ____ to read. In fact, by_____ my own child and her friends and by reading professional (专业的) books, I became more and more ____about how writing develops and how _____can help children become eager writers.

1.

A．left

B．returned

C．missed

D．forgot

2.

A．turned up

B．turned on

C．looked up

D．gave up

3.

A．hand

B．mouth

C．smile

D．heart

4.

A．Immediately

B．Suddenly

C．Finally

D．Politely

5.

A．picture

B．story

C．note

D．page

6.

A．felt

B．wrote

C．read

D．drew

7.

A．found

B．insisted

C．planned

D．guessed

8.

A．strange

B．useful

C．daily

D．funny

9.

A．take

B．consider

C．hate

D．enjoy

10.

A．learned

B．agreed

C．considered

D．discussed

11.

A．Unless

B．Though

C．But

D．So

12.

A．disappointed

B．attracted

C．surprised

D．worried

13.

A．wishes

B．efforts

C．suggestions

D．ways

14.

A．cared

B．wanted

C．realized

D．proved

15.

A．besides

B．for

C．of

D．among

16.

A．advice

B．effect

C．understanding

D．dislikes

17.

A．when

B．how

C．what

D．whether

18.

A．correcting

B．discovering

C．testing

D．watching

19.

A．special

B．clear

C．surprised

D．careful

20.

A．teachers

B．friends

C．books

D．parents

9 . There was a sweet, wonder-filled little girl who was hurt over and over again. She ____that she was so bad that others just couldn’t be ____ to her.
She asked many wise people to help her ____why she was so bad that even her mother hurt her, and why she was unable to be ____so that others wouldn’t hurt her. So she was on a ____ that she thought was to help her be “better”, but she carried a big ____ with her everywhere she went. ____ was all the hurt she had experienced. During the trip she willingly ____ what the wise people said about forgiving（宽恕）.
After 50 years, she decided to ____ the bag up and just see what happened. When she looked inside it was filled with bits of paper. Once they had ____on then, detailing the hurt. But as time went on, the words ____slowly. She had been carrying this bag that held nothing ____ the image（印象）of something that once was.
The little girl had now become an almost-old woman. She ____ the silliness of carrying that bag around. She started ____and dancing and she felt free!
She was able to see that her ____loved her child, but was ____ that her little girl felt unloved. By throwing away the bag of paper and forgiving those who ____ her, she looked in the mirror and said, “I am clever, interesting and kind.” But most ____, she was able to say “I am lovable.” ____it took many years, she was finally open to bringing ____into her life.
She finally saw the sweet, wonder-filled little girl that she had always been.1.

A．decided

B．considered

C．promised

D．hoped

2.

A．bad

B．sorry

C．thankful

D．nice

3.

A．guess

B．understand

C．expect

D．invent

4.

A．better

B．worse

C．angrier

D．harder

5.

A．holiday

B．date

C．trip

D．path

6.

A．bowl

B．basket

C．bag

D．purse

7.

A．Beneath

B．Above

C．Outside

D．Inside

8.

A．agreed with

B．fought against

C．gave up

D．suffered from

9.

A．pick

B．open

C．put

D．break

10.

A．pictures

B．memories

C．words

D．dreams

11.

A．disappeared

B．appeared

C．showed

D．changed

12.

A．and

B．with

C．among

D．but

13.

A．refused

B．forgot

C．realized

D．preferred

14.

A．crying

B．laughing

C．shouting

D．worrying

15.

A．daughter

B．mother

C．teacher

D．friend

16.

A．sad

B．happy

C．excited

D．hopeful

17.

A．liked

B．hurt

C．educated

D．ignored

18.

A．surprisingly

B．terribly

C．nervously

D．importantly

19.

A．Although

B．If

C．Because

D．So

20.

A．trouble

B．love

C．money

D．future

10 . Britain’s oldest man made his first visit to London yesterday at the age of 101. Mr John Evans had never found the time or money to make the trip from his home in Forest – fach, near Swansea. But, when British Rail offered him an all – expense – paid birthday treat to the capital he just could not refuse.
He arrived at Paddington Station and smartly turned out in his best suit, favorite Panama hat and a red rose in his buttonhole. “It’s very exciting. There’s no doubt about it,” he said.
Until yesterday he had never been far from home, except for one trip to Aberdeen. “But I’ve been on the seas to that faraway land called Ilfracombe 21 miles from home,” he joked.
Mr Evans, who spent 60 years working as a miner in South Wales, almost made the journey to London once before, at the turn of the century. “There was a trip to the White City but it was ten shillings return from Swansea – too much I thought. All my money went to the family then,” he said.
During the next two days Mr Evans will be taken on a short tour of London to see the sights. Top of his list is a visit to the House of Parliament organized by his MP, Mr Gareth Wardell.
The only arrangement he does not care for is the wheelchair provided for him if he gets tired. “I don’t like the chair – people will think I am getting old,” he said. His secret for a long and healthy life has been well publicized – no wine, no tobacco and no anger.
Before setting off from Swansea with his 76 – year – old son, Amwell, he said jokingly, “I’m glad to see they’ve given me a return ticket.”
1. The very reason that Mr. Evans didn’t go to see the world is that                .

A．he had already been on the seas to Ilfracombe

B．he was too busy to go too far away from home

C．he couldn’t afford both the time and the money

D．he believed “East or west, home is the best”

2. Mr Evans didn’t like the wheelchair simply because                 .

A．he was not used to traveling in it

B．the wheelchair was of poor quality and not easy to operate

C．he actually preferred walking to sitting in it at home

D．he thought he was still young enough to manage the trip

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Mr Evans had to work hard to raise his family when young.

B．The trip to London excited Mr Evans very much.

C．Mr Evans could not really enjoy the trip because of his age.

D．Humor was one of Mr Evans’ characters.

4. The probable explanation to Mr Evans’ long life lies in                  .

A．his good living habits	B．his hard working for the family
C．his sticking to his hometown	D．his living conditions near the Swansea