1 . My wife and I used to feel that it was impossible to be a true friend to someone whose name we didn’t know. How wrong we were! Years of Sunday morning bus trips through the city with the same group of “nameless” people have changed our thinking.

Before the bus takes off, we all join in a conversation: where’s the silent woman who sits up front and never replies to our greetings? Here she comes. Her worn clothing suggests she doesn’t have much money to spare, but she always takes an extra cup of coffee for the driver.

We get smiles from a Mexican couple as they get on the bus hand in hand. When they get off, they’re still holding hands. The woman was pregnant late last year, and one day her change of shape showed that she’d borne the child. We even felt a little pride at the thought of our extended family.

For many months, our only sadness lay in our inability to establish the same friendship with the silent woman at the front of the bus. Then, one evening, we went to a fish restaurant. We were shown to a table alongside someone sitting alone. It was the woman from the bus.

We greeted her in the friendly and familiar way we’d shown all year, but this time her face softened, then a shy smile. When she spoke, the words escaped awkwardly (笨拙地) from her lips. All at once we realized why she hadn’t spoken to us before. Talking was hard for her.

Over dinner, we learned the story of a single mother with a disabled son who was receiving special care away from home. She missed him badly, she explained.

“I love him…and he loves me, even though lie doesn’t express it very well,” she murmured. “Lots of us have that problem, don’t we? We don’t say what we want to say, what we should be saying. And that’s not good enough.”

The candles lit on out tables. Our fish had never tasted better. The atmosphere grew pleasant, and when we parted as friends—we share names.

1. The underlined word “establish” in the fourth paragraph probably means____________.

A．set up

B．keep

C．discover

D．take part

2. Why did the woman usually keep silence while taking the bus?

A．She was worried about her disabled son.

B．She was only interested in the bus driver.

C．She had some difficulty in expressing herself.

D．She was sad to see the happy Mexican couple as a single mother.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．The silent woman with her son both brought interest to the passengers.

B．The silent woman and her son both had some difficulty in expressing.

C．My wife and I didn’t become friends with the silent woman.

D．The Mexican couple were going to give birth to a baby.

4. Which of the following might be the best title for this text?

A．The Silent Woman on the Bus	B．Different Kinds of Friendship
C．Going to Work by Bus	D．Friends of the Road

2 . How to Make Friends

Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. It offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes good health. There are times in our lives such as when we have recently moved into a new town, or changed our jobs or schools. Such changes often leave us without a friend.     1     But for many of us the process is difficult and requires courage. Below are some helpful suggestions on how to make and keep friends.

1. Associate with others.

The first step to making friends is associating with other people. You can go to public places to meet new people. Besides, you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member of such places.

2. Start a conversation.

Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends.     2     You can always start the conversation. Being able to make small talk is a very useful skill in relating with other people.

3.     3    

Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friend together. Hanging out will always be a pleasant experience.

4. Let it grow.

It is a good thing to stay in touch. However, try not to press your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and finally you may lose your friend.     4     The best friendships are the ones that grow naturally.

5. Enjoy your friendship.

The best way to enjoy your friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves.     5     Try not to change them from who they are to what you want them to be. Become the kind of friend you will want your friend to be to you.

A．Be cheerful.

B．Do things together.

C．Do not wait to be spoken to.

D．Try not to find fault with your friends.

E．Making new friends comes easy for some people.

F．For a friendship to develop you need to stay in touch.

G．So you will need to give your friend time to react to you.

3 . Many of us experience loneliness. The truth is that all the people, no, matter what their age or character is-even the most outgoing, wealthy and popular-experience loneliness at least sometimes.    1    .After all we’ve all heard “No man is an island” That’s true. We all need others in our lives.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, explains: that if we want friends, we must be friendly and reach out to others. But it has risk. Because we are often afraid of no, many of us are unwilling to reach out to others. We take a safer way and wait for others to make friends with us.    2    

Be brave enough to step out. If you see someone whom you would like to know, don’t wait for her to make the first move.    3    Let her know in a non-aggressive（无攻击性的）way that you are interested in being friends with her.

    4    When you see someone, at school sitting alone, go over and talk to her. And don’t let popularity decide whom you reach, out to. You’ll often be surprised at the beautiful qualities behind a shy appearance.

Ask questions. Start your first conversation by, asking this, possible friend what she likes, to do or asking about her family. Be sure to ask questions that cannot be replied with “yes” or “no”. For example, don’t ask “Do you have a dog?”,     5    Avoiding asking“ yes” or “no” questions makes your possible friend not end your communication with a one-word answer.

A．Make friends with a popular one.

B．Reach out to those who are lonely.

C．Instead, say“So, tell me about your pets.”

D．But if we want friends, we’ve got to get beyond this.

E．It’s healthy and natural to want to be around people who care.

F．Gather all your courage and get close to her and begin a conversation.

G．As we all know, the famous, saying: “A friend in need is a friend in deed.”

4 . In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability.

Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.

At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me

Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.

There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.

When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I’ve found a friend!

1. Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend?

A．Honesty.

B．Understanding.

C．Reliability.

D．A sense of humor.

2. If you have fair-weather friends,            

A．they will give you all that they have when you need help.

B．you will be refused when you get into trouble.

C．you can be sure that you get real friends.

D．you will become rich.

3. What does the underlined word “reliability ”mean in paragraph 4?

A．very outgoing

B．quite knowledgeable.

C．can be trusted.

D．willing to listen.

4. This passage mainly discusses        

A．the qualities of a friend.	B．where to choose friends.
C．how to get along with friends.	D．the importance of having a friend.

5 . When was the last time you had great fun with your family?     1     So stand up and plan to have fun with your family.

Going to the zoo is definitely a number-one pick for family activities. Other than visiting animals, most zoos nowadays have rides that you can enjoy with your family. Meals are served in the zoo.     2     To add some fun, ask to be the photographer for the day and you might be surprised by how creative you can be.

Having a picnic at the park is also a good activity for your family. Even though you might not be really keen on outdoor activities, you can still enjoy your time by playing together after having your lunch.

Visiting the nation’s capital would be your choice if you want to go on a trip with your family. Learn more about the history by visiting historical sites.    3    

A treasure hunt is a popular activity, so going hunting with your family is a nice choice. You can train yourself by asking to be the person in charge who can hold the treasure map and make decisions.

Create a video clip (片段) with your family.     4     You may talk about your family life in the clip, about your interests or even create a drama.

    5     Plant flowers and mow(修剪)the lawn. After a day of hard work, you can all sit back and enjoy a barbecue at your beautifully cleaned backyard.

A．History creates topics for you and your family.

B．Family is always the most valuable thing in life.

C．At bedtime read to your young kids and read with your elder kids.

D．Bring your own snacks if you want to save some money.

E．Here are two examples.

F．Make your family the characters in the clip.

G．Doing some yard work together can also be a fun quality time for your family.

6 . My dad doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would bake great bread, but he is and he does. Every Saturday he produces homemade bread. When he’s done, the whole house smells delicious.

The rest of the week, Dad fixes cars at work. The shop where Dad works is running so well that he is always occupied. He is under a lot of stress. I think Dad began baking bread to help him relax.

I’ve been feeling kind of stressed out myself since I found out I didn’t make the school swim team. Now I’ll have to wait a whole year to try out again. Plus, I’m taking some difficult classes this year.

I think Dad knew I was feeling bad. Last Saturday he asked me how things were going. I said OK, even though I didn’t feel OK at all. He looked at me for a moment, and then he said it was time for me to help. Then he headed to the kitchen.

I followed right behind him. Once we were there, Dad got out his big mixing bowl, handed me a large wooden spoon, and told me to mix while he added the ingredients. Dad isn’t big on measuring. He knows how much of each ingredient to use, and the bread always turns out great.

When I finished stirring, Dad showed me how to knead the dough (揉面团). Next came the most difficult part — doing nothing. We put the dough back into the bowl and then we waited for more than an hour for the dough to slowly rise and double in size. Next, we divided it into two and waited for it to rise again. Afterward, we put the dough into pans and waited another hour for the dough to rise and double.

Dad said the waiting is always the hardest part. “It’s hard to resist putting the dough directly into the oven, but if you do, the bread will be hard. The most important lesson of all is learning to be.” Dad taught me more than how to bake bread.

1. What can we learn about the author’s father?

A．He is living a relaxing life.	B．He tries his best to make ends meet.
C．He has a special way to deal with stress.	D．He is more like a baker than a mechanic.

2. Why is the author feeling stressed?

A．School isn’t going well.	B．She dislikes making bread.
C．She feels sorry for her father.	D．Some classes aren’t worth it.

3. What does the underlined sentence “Dad isn’t big on measuring” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Dad is unskilled.	B．Dad dislikes measuring.
C．Dad has a craze for measuring.	D．Dad is careful about ingredients.

4. What lesson has the author learned from her dad?

A．Never give up.	B．Take life easily.
C．Believe in yourself.	D．Enjoy time with family.

7 . Nowadays parents and their children are spending less and less time communicating with each other.     1     It is reported that American parents today spend about 40 percent less time with their children than parents did a generation ago. To keep your family time creative and enjoyable, below is a list of helpful family time tips.

1. Eat together & listen to each other

Most children today don’t know the meaning of a family dinnertime. Yet the communication and unity built during this time is necessary to a healthy family life. Sharing a meal together allows parents and their children to have the opportunity to talk about each other’s lives.     2    

2. Read often

It’s important for parents to read to their children. The latest research shows that reading to your children develops an interest in knowledge and contributes to language development. It also increases their concentration on things and helps them become more curious.     3     After reading, ask questions about what the books are about.

3. Start a hobby or project

Choose a fun activity that your children are interested in. Activities like cooking, fishing or biking can be their great hobbies.     4     Once a child learns a new skill, let him or her take the lead under your direction.

4. Plan a family outing

    5     Jump into the family car and go for a drive. Prepare a picnic lunch and visit a local park. Take time to play or ride a bike. A slowly and relaxing walk in the woods will help parents communicate with their children better. Also, a visit to the zoo or museum will inspire enthusiasm in a child and lead to long discussions.

A．It is very important for children to exercise.

B．They can open the door to exciting family time.

C．Sometimes getting out of the house is important.

D．Look for books that your children would enjoy reading.

E．New technology has made video games more popular with children.

F．This is also a time for parents to listen and give advice to their children.

G．As a result, many children are getting less love than their parents once got.