1 . When you choose a friend, you 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 fair­weather 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 in his character, such as understanding, honesty and reliability (可靠).

Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He won't be quick to judge.Instead, he will put himself in the other person's shoes, 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. When he finds he makes mistakes, he will admit them and fix them. You can always have open conversations to express yourselves. In short, good friends will be honest to each other and accept each other.

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.

In addition to above all, there is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. He likes to do the same things as me. We share experience and learn from each other. Then we can enjoy our lives and our friendship.

When I meet someone who has these qualities, I know I've found a good friend!

1. What may happen to us if we have fair­weather friends?

A．We will become rich.

B．We can be sure that we get real friends.

C．We will be refused when we get into trouble.

D．They will give us all they have when we need help.

2. 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.

3. What should good friends do?

A．Lend a helping hand when needed.	B．Be helpful to each other's career.
C．Always point out each other's mistakes.	D．Have money or luck.

4. What does this passage mainly discuss?

A．The importance of having a friend.	B．Where to choose friends.
C．How to get along with friends.	D．The qualities of a good friend.

2 . The evidence for harmony (和睦) may not be obvious in some families. But it seems that four out of five young people now get on with their parents.

An important new study into teenage attitudes shows that their family life is more harmonious than it has ever been in the past. “We were surprised by just how positive today’s young people seem to be about their families,” says one member of the research team. “They’re expected to be rebellious (叛逆的) but actually they have other things in their minds; they want a car and other material goods, and they worry whether school is serving them well. There’re more negotiations (协商) between parents and children, and children expect to take part in the family decision­making process.”

So it seems that this generation of parents is much more likely than parents of 30 years ago to treat their children as friends. “My parents are happy to discuss things with me and willing to listen to me,” says 17­ year old Daniel Lazall. “I always tell them when I’m going out. As long as they know what I’m doing, they’re fine with it.” Susan Crome, who is now 21, agrees. “Looking back on the last 10 years, there was a lot of what you could call negotiations. For example, as long as I’d done all my homework, I could go out on a Saturday night. But I think my grandparents were a lot stricter with my parents than that.”

One of the researchers comments, “Our astonishment that teenagers say they get along well with their parents comes because of a brief period in our social history when teenagers were regarded as different beings. But that idea of rebelling and breaking away from their parents really only happened during that one time in the 1960s when everyone rebelled. Now, the situation has changed.”

1. What does the new study show?

A．Teenagers are more rebellious.

B．Teenagers worry more about studies.

C．Teenagers dislike making family decisions.

D．Teenagers have more negotiations with families.

2. What can we know about today’s parents?

A．They are stricter than before.

B．They are more independent.

C．They give their children more freedom.

D．They care less about their children’s life.

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

A．Surprise.	B．Aim.
C．Memory.	D．Option.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Discussion in family.

B．Harmony in family.

C．Teenage trouble in family.

D．Teenage education in family.

3 . When I lost my daughter on Christmas, I never thought I’d be able to enjoy that day again. However, supporting other families through Cancer Charity Clic Sargent has brought back the true meaning of the festive season.

In January 2002, little Molly came along as a gift for me. But in October 2004, doctors diagnosed(诊断) her with cancer that had spread to her bones. At first, my husband and I couldn’t take the news in.     1     Recovering from shock , we spent the next 14 months by my daughter’s side. But one day, the doctors told us there was no option but to take her home to die.     2    

Although Molly’s condition was getting worse in early December, she could reach Christmas day. As it was her last Christmas, we decided to re-name it Molly Day from then on.     3     Her little friends brought their own decorations to put on it. It was a hard time, but we had support from nurses working with Cancer Charity Clic Sargent.

    4     In March 2007, we began to volunteer with Cancer Charity Clic Sargent. It was hard to be around the children who were going through the hardest times , but we really wanted to give back to the charity.     5     Now, we enjoy being able to bring a little light to a dark time for these anxious families, especially at Christmas. If Molly overlooked us, she’d certainly be proud of the work we’re doing.

A．Our heartache was endless.

B．We thought they had made a mistake.

C．Molly’s friends come round to see me.

D．It’s really nice that they still remember her.

E．My husband and I felt so grateful for their kind support.

F．So we made every effort to help families with sick kids at hospital.

G．We also planted a tree in the back garden with a star on the top in her honor.

5 . Nothing stays the same for long: things and people change.

I grew up on a small farm, where a flock of sheep wandered around the surrounding mountains. My father was not highly educated, but he was smart. He was a man made of leather and chewing tobacco who rarely tried to talk with my brother or me. He was quiet and distant, I might say.     1    

One day I came home and his car was already there.     2     In fact, when he came home, he went to the barn (谷仓) to labour even more. I still remember hiding around the corner and stealing a look at my father lying bitterly on the bed that day. Multiple myeloma, I learned, is a type of blood cancer.     3     For the last year of my father’s life, his entire day consisted of rising from his bed and walking to his chair to sit and think alone.

He was predictably in that chair on his own when I came in.     4     He told me about his life, his heartbreaks and his loves. It was as if a pipe had burst, his inner self rushing out to me in a great flood. He had been speaking for maybe an hour or more when I realized that he was doing more than telling. He was asking to be understood in a way that he had never done before.

    5     I realize, though, that if he hadn’t, I might never have come to know him and love him.

A．My father never missed work.

B．I did not like him very much.

C．He was skillful at any farm work.

D．He became better after some special treatment.

E．I’m certainly not glad that my father got sick.

F．As the disease develops, the person who has it shrinks.

G．What followed still moves me these decades later

6 . Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited(小气的) at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling part of life. You love them for the fact that they create you, raise you, and are in part, a source of who you are.     1    

Tell them you love them every morning. A gentle “good morning” and “I love you” will warm the coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world.

Respect them more. It is inevitable that we may disagree with our parents or be dissatisfied with them sometimes. It’s OK to get angry but angry actions don’t help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, write down your feelings, or talk to a friend.     2    

        Obey their requests. It will make you have a better attitude and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don’t get what you want or you are not recognized. However, you had better remember they shelter you from rain and snow. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.     3     Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

    4     Do things with your parents like watching TV or going somewhere with them. Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can. Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in one way or another.

Some people simply may not be able to love their parents.     5     Seek help if you are being abused(虐待) in any way. Parents do not have a right to harm you.

A．Forgiveness is the key.

B．Keep them company.

C．Here are some ways to love your parents.

D．Parents will in turn express their love for you.

E．After these, share your feelings with your parents.

F．Please remember parents are as important as friends.

G．There can be realistic reasons for that, for example family violence.

7 . It’s hard to talk to Dad sometimes. His silence about his feelings and thoughts made him mysterious and hard to see through. You could never break his hard shell and get to know him. And he seemed to want to stay that way too.

But a year ago when my relationship with my wife and career took a hit, I needed my dad to pull back the curtain so that I could see him as real and accessible. I was facing serious problems and I wanted to know whether he had faced them before and how he had found his way, because I felt like I had lost mine. In desperation, it occurred to me that sending an email might be the key, so I wrote him one , telling him about my regrets and fears, and I asked him to answer, if he felt like it.

Two weeks later, it showed up in my inbox: a much-thought, three page litter. Dad, a 68 -year old retired technologist and grandfather of four, had carefully considered my message, and crafted a response. He mentioned his lost love, the foolish mistake he made in career and the stupid pride he had between him and his parents. He comforted me that “life will still find its right track despite many of its twists and turns”.

I closed the email and started to cry, because I wished I had opened up earlier but was grateful it wasn’t too late. I cried because at 33, in the midst of my own struggles, his letter instantly put me at ease. And I cried because in the end, it was so simple: I just had to hit “Send”.

We’ve since had many email exchanges. This increasing communication opened a door into his world. My problems haven’t been magically solved, but getting to know my dad better has made the tough thing more manageable and life sweeter. It’s hard to tall to Dad sometimes, but I’m glad I found a way to talk to mine.

1. Which of the following best describes the author’s father?

A．Quiet and caring.	B．Optimistic but careless.
C．Selfish and lonely.	D．Simple but proud.

2. Why did the author write to his father?

A．To make an apology.	B．To express thanks.
C．To turn to him.	D．To blame him.

3. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs in the text?

A．The author regretted not writing to Dad earlier.	B．Dad’s letter of reply is simple.
C．Dad helped settle the author’s problems.	D．The author can talk to Dad easily.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．My Mysterious Dad.	B．Emails from My Dad.
C．A Retired Technologist.	D．Means of Communication.

9 . When I was 7 and Stevie was 6, our parents taught us how to play chess and other games. Playing games was our life back then. Stevie and I were very competitive in everything.

We got older and better so our games were more intense, but also more exciting. The strange thing is that I enjoyed the games vastly and was happy for my brother when he won. But afterwards, I felt my well-being threatened, and then my confidence suffered.

When I was 10 years old I wanted to be successful at my talents. One day, a light came on in my head. I had to find something Stevie couldn’t do. It would have to be unique in every way. Before long, I got Jimmy Nelson’s record on “How to Become a Ventriloquist (腹语师)” and I practiced faithfully every day. After summer vacation, I did my first show for my class. The response was favorable. I performed for family get-togethers and did shows on a number of occasions to practice my new skill.

It isn’t easy learning ventriloquism. The difficult part was developing the voice, because at first, it was soft and hard to hear. I memorized the routines and performed more. With time, I got better responses. The loud laughter was nonstop, in addition to the applause.

Four years later, my mother purchased professional ventriloquial figure, which I named Freddie O’Sullivan. He was lifelike, with moving eyes, moving eyebrows, and could stick out his tongue. Treating Freddie like a real person enhanced my performance.

In college, Freddie was well known. He would tell people that he was the only guy that could sleep in the girl’s dormitory. Over the years, I won many talent awards.

One time, an elderly man looked at Freddie attentively and asked him where he got his trousers. The audience nearby had tears in their eyes. I didn’t know what was going on until I was told later the gentleman hadn’t spoken for 20 years.

Thanks to my brother, I created a lifetime with Freddie.

1. How did the author feel at first when Stevie won a game?

A．Delighted.	B．Confused.
C．Depressed.	D．Surprised,

2. Why did the author decide to learn ventriloquism?

A．To gain her parents’ favor in family get-togethers.

B．To record her intense and competitive childhood.

C．To have a special talent better than her brother.

D．To bring joyous laughter to people around her.

3. What do we know about Freddie O’Sullivan?

A．Freddie trained the author professionally.

B．Freddie inspired an old man to restart to talk.

C．Freddie took the place of the author’s brother.

D．Freddie disturbed others in the girl’s dormitory.

4. According to the passage, which words can best describe the author?

A．Generous and grateful.	B．Modest and responsible.
C．Patient and honest.	D．Sensitive and determined.