1 . Desperate to help his 96-year-old mother to speak her mother tongue again, Keith McDermott made an appeal on social media and was met with a flood of kind responses. The old lady, Ray, was moved to tears after talking on the phone with one of the enthusiastic respondents in Welsh.

Ray moved to America after meeting her husband when she was only 18, hence waving goodbye to her life in Wales. She continued to speak Welsh with her mum — keeping a little bit of home. But she lost her beloved mum four decades ago and hadn’t spoken Welsh since.

Despite suffering from short-term memory loss and sometimes not remembering what she has done recently, Ray’s childhood memories in Wales remain crystal clear. “She wants to return but I know, given her age, such long-distance travel is out of the question.” said Keith, “Once she mentioned ‘I wish I could speak Welsh again but I suppose I never will. ’ It was then that I thought I should make her wish happen.”

So Keith, 70, posted on social media in the New York Welsh area asking for any Welsh speakers that could speak Welsh with his mum. And he was touched, as well as a little shocked, to receive over 30 responses within half an hour. Keith thanked everyone and eventually asked Melisa to give his mum a phone call. “Speaking with Melisa, her (Ray’s) Welsh was a little rusty. A few more Welsh conversations and I think she’d be fluent again, ” added Keith.

“When you have a parent in their nineties, you will find you two have something in common: you’re both old, so I am very sympathetic to my mother’s feelings of loneliness and isolation. I’m feeling it myself.” Keith hopes to set up more Welsh phone conversations for his mum and Melisa has promised to send Ray some short stories in Welsh to remind her of her life in Wales.

1. Why did Keith post a message on social media?

A．To gather American Welsh speakers.	B．To help his mum speak Welsh again.
C．To slow down his mum’s memory loss.	D．To track down his family’s Welsh origin.

2. How did Keith feel after seeing the responses?

A．Surprised and moved.	B．Concerned and thankful.
C．Sympathetic and excited.	D．Astonished and isolated.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A community noticeboard.	B．A health magazine.
C．A language-learning website.	D．A local newspaper.

2 . It was pouring outside when we all waited inside the door of the Wal-Mart. Some were patient while others _______ , because nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens _________ the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child in the rain awoke in me as a short relief of the _________ of my day.

Then, a sweet voice broke the atmosphere, “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”

“What?” Mom asked.

“Let’s run through the rain!” She _________ .

“No, honey. We’ll wait until it _________ a bit.” Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated it again.

“We’ll get wet if we do.” Mom said.

“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said firmly.

“This morning? What did I say?”

“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said if God could get us through this, he could get us through anything!”

The entire crowd stopped, _________ silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. Mom _________ and thought for a moment about what to say.

Now some would laugh it off and scolded her for being silly. Some might even _________ what was said. _______ this was a moment of confirmation in a young child’s life and a moment when ________ can be developed into faith. “Honey, you are absolutely __________ . If we get wet, we’ll maybe just need washing.” Mom said. Then they ran off, holding their shopping bags over their __________ just in case.

They got wet. But they were followed by a few who __________ and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, including __________ and health. But no one can ever take away your precious ________ . So don’t forget to take the opportunities to make memories every day!

1.

A．calm

B．upset

C．excited

D．embarrassed

2.

A．blowing away

B．sweeping away

C．taking away

D．washing away

3.

A．stress

B．loss

C．threat

D．trap

4.

A．commanded

B．explained

C．repeated

D．described

5.

A．goes down

B．slows down

C．breaks down

D．falls down

6.

A．still

B．rather

C．dead

D．even

7.

A．burst

B．paused

C．shouted

D．laughed

8.

A．ignore

B．understand

C．prove

D．quote

9.

A．So

B．But

C．And

D．Then

10.

A．image

B．awareness

C．custom

D．trust

11.

A．right

B．smart

C．lovely

D．capable

12.

A．bodies

B．shoulders

C．heads

D．arms

13.

A．rolled

B．stood

C．gathered

D．screamed

14.

A．thought

B．quality

C．faith

D．money

15.

A．friends

B．family

C．memories

D．work

5 . When Lisa Welch, from Jimboomba, Queensland，was struggling with what to gift her son for his upcoming 10th birthday, she was depressed. Her little boy Jorge has a ______, who, born with Corticol Dysplasia, is unable to speak and his brain ______ as an 18 months old.

Lisa had noticed that during the drive to school each weekday morning, Jorge almost jumped out of his seat ______ every time they passed a big truck. This was what gave her the idea to put a post on the local Facebook Sell It page, ______ a person with a truck to visit their home for an hour and ______ take Jorge for a ride. Within minutes, Melissa Whelan, whose husband Tom drives a big truck,______ to be online and contacted (联系) Lisa, Jorge’s birthday ______ had been organized.

But the story doesn’t ______ there. The offers of trucks and time kept pouring in. It was at this point that Gavin, another trucker, stepped in and ______. Afterwards, he set up a ______ page “Jimboomba Jorge” ______ everyone could keep pace with what was happening. The ______ of the birthday surprise spread, and enthusiasm and local community spirit ______.Within 5 days, Gavin had organized a convoy (车队) of 214 trucks, with ______ coming from across the country. He spoke with radio stations 4BC about Jorge and the convoy. Channel 9 Australia was contacted and they made arrangements to be ______ on the day, too.

Saturday the 15th December was bright and sunny, which _______ the best ever birthday for Jorge. The community also ______ a total of $1700 toward Jorge's ongoing ______ costs and ______ the birthday presents was the donation of a tablet PC from the local Telstra shop. Lisa is excited that this can be used to aid Jorge with his ______.

1.

A．toy

B．disability

C．situation

D．habit

2.

A．treats

B．considers

C．functions

D．describes

3.

A．casually

B．calmly

C．excitedly

D．violently

4.

A．asking for

B．depending on

C．sending for

D．bringing up

5.

A．frequently

B．gradually

C．fluently

D．possibly

6.

A．hesitated

B．happened

C．intended

D．pretended

7.

A．surprise

B．invitations

C．evening

D．dance

8.

A．end

B．begin

C．turn

D．mean

9.

A．pulled over

B．handed over

C．took over

D．thought over

10.

A．normal

B．frequent

C．usual

D．special

11.

A．in case

B．even if

C．as long as

D．so that

12.

A．time

B．place

C．rule

D．message

13.

A．grew

B．sank

C．lost

D．fell

14.

A．doctors

B．drivers

C．clerks

D．patients

15.

A．off

B．out

C．away

D．there

16.

A．went out

B．made out

C．turned out

D．stood out

17.

A．raised

B．earned

C．wasted

D．spent

18.

A．general

B．medical

C．living

D．travelling

19.

A．between

B．at

C．among

D．against

20.

A．decision

B．communication

C．drive

D．relationship

6 . I became a gardener when I was twelve. My early ________ of gardening may not have originated from my love for nature. It was to ________ my parents.

At that time, we had a big yard in which a beautiful maple tree stood. But my mother often looked with ________ at this work of natural art. Those golden leaves seemed like tons of rubbish to her, “Someone else to ________!” Seeing the neighbors busy with gardening, my father even thought it a waste of time.

At that age, I always did something ________ to whatever my parents did! If gardening were something they found ________, I would plant a garden!

I planted some lily seeds in the yard. But they failed to ________. I continued to plant sunflower seeds and roses. Wild ________ joy, I found the first rose bloom. One by one, the flowers bloomed their heads off. ________, I was touched by this land of wonder.

________, my parents showed no interest in my garden. My father even ________ at me because he found it was ________ to move around my garden to the driveway. To my mother’s ________, I put in her vase my real roses which, in her eyes, were only weeds ________ flowers.

Regardless of their ________, I kept on planting my garden and ________ to enjoy the pleasure of gardening. Plants make such good companions: they breathe, they bloom, they _________ to care and love.

It has been many years since I made my first garden out of my desire to ________ my parent. Today I become known as Mrs. Greenthumbs, teaching gardening and hosting a gardening show, which makes my parents feel very ________. And now I could say it is my affection for ________ that makes me a real gardener.

1.

A．curiosity

B．dream

C．intention

D．design

2.

A．please

B．change

C．help

D．annoy

3.

A．doubt

B．appreciation

C．surprise

D．excitement

4.

A．clean up

B．care about

C．break down

D．come in

5.

A．equal

B．similar

C．superior

D．opposite

6.

A．painful

B．valuable

C．upsetting

D．interesting

7.

A．break out

B．come up

C．reach out

D．get out

8.

A．with

B．to

C．in

D．by

9.

A．Luckily

B．Cheerfully

C．Regularly

D．Eventually

10.

A．Instead

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Besides

11.

A．glanced

B．laughed

C．shouted

D．jumped

12.

A．convenient

B．troublesome

C．enjoyable

D．dangerous

13.

A．sadness

B．delight

C．displeasure

D．relief

14.

A．other than

B．rather than

C．more than

D．less than

15.

A．dislike

B．encouragement

C．threat

D．suggestion

16.

A．decided

B．stopped

C．continued

D．struggled

17.

A．devote

B．respond

C．turn

D．lead

18.

A．challenge

B．satisfy

C．respect

D．defeat

19.

A．comfortable

B．strange

C．disappointed

D．proud

20.

A．freedom

B．life

C．growth

D．nature

8 . Grandpa moved in with us after Grandma passed away. He came to Canada from China, where he was a well-respected school headmaster.

I, a nine-year-old boy, never spoke much Chinese. Grandpa didn’t speak much English, but we still connected in our own way.

One way we developed our relationship was over a game of Monopoly. He didn’t really understand the rules or much of what my little brother and I said; I don’t think it mattered. He laughed when he landed on our hotels. Or when he pulled a card that read: “GO TO JAIL.” He got a kick out of our amusement.

I think of Grandpa when I play the trading card game Yu-Gi-Oh! with my sons. I can’t keep track of all the spells and effects involved in this game.

Truthfully, I don’t care if I win or lose these games. What matters is spending time with my children and making an effort to understand their interests.

I often think about my kids. At how excitedly they explain rules and how they go easy on their old man. I imagine it’s like how Grandpa felt playing Monopoly with us.

Grandpa went for regular walks. He also spent his days sitting on the couch, staring out the window and singing quietly. I often thought he was bored. But as I age, I find peace in taking moments to stare out a window. Maybe I got that from him.

What I learned from my grandfather was to enjoy simple pleasures in life. To see the beauty in the colors of the rainbow. To see a single leaf fall from a tree. To play Yu-Gi-Oh! with my sons.

1. What happened to the writer and his grandfather during the game?

A．They grew closer by playing the game.	B．He grew impatient with his grandfather.
C．They learned to speak each other’s language.	D．His grandfather seldom had fun while playing.

2. Which of the following was right about the author’s grandfather?

A．He didn’t speak much Chinese.	B．He was a headmaster in Canada.
C．He had fun playing Monopoly.	D．He misunderstood his grandson.

3. How did the author’s grandfather probably feel when he stared out the window?

A．Bored.

B．Annoyed.

C．Concerned.

D．Peaceful.

4. What is the writer’s purpose of writing this story?

A．To recall his grandfather’s life story.	B．To advise older people to learn about kids’ games.
C．To share his grandfather’s influence on him.	D．To remind readers to spend more time with family.

9 . In October, 2003 I started my work at my local animal shelter’s Adoption Department. Over the years, more than 50,000 animals have _______ the doors of the shelter. Most of them, I do not remember. But occasionally there are _______ animals, who touch me so deeply that I could never possibly forget them. Tabby was one such animal.

Tabby was an ancient Cocker Spaniel, probably 14 years old. What’s more, she was blind and deaf. Tabby’s chances at adoption seemed _______ at best. After all, we didn’t have many adopters coming in _________, “Can you show me all of your really old dogs who are also _______ ?” We had all thought that Tabby would live out the rest of her life at the shelter.

One day a woman named Loretta came to the shelter. Her son, Gary, had   _______ Tabby’s picture and stories on the shelter’s website at home. They were interested in meeting her! It was the only _______ we ever received about Tabby. What could a young child possibly see in a 14-year-old dog who was both blind and deaf? Most boys would want a dog who could grow with them and run through grassy fields on summer days. Tabby would _______ be able to do that. But after meeting her, Loretta and Gary decided that she was the right dog for their family. They adopted Tabby!

If Tabby’s story had simply ended with her _______ adoption, it would still have been something very special indeed. ________, it was what happened after her adoption that people might regard as “magic”. Gary suffered from seizures (癫痫). Since Gary and Tabby met they became ________. They did everything together. They became so “in tune” with one another that Tabby began to telegraph Gary’s seizures ________   they occurred, giving his family ________ that one was about to strike. What’s more, Gary seemed to be having fewer and fewer seizures since Tabby’s ________.

How could it be? Nobody could explain how Tabby did it. But those of us who were fortunate enough to know her and her family had ________ the magic, the kind that has its roots in love.

1.

A．broken

B．passed

C．enrolled

D．conveyed

2.

A．strange

B．active

C．striking

D．special

3.

A．small

B．great

C．desperate

D．potential

4.

A．wondering

B．stating

C．seeking

D．asking

5.

A．dynamic

B．active

C．disabled

D．patient

6.

A．posted

B．taken

C．seen

D．drawn

7.

A．surgery

B．donation

C．call

D．question

8.

A．literally

B．possibly

C．never

D．generally

9.

A．successful

B．normal

C．temporary

D．astonishing

10.

A．However

B．Moreover

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

11.

A．humble

B．uncomfortable

C．unfortunate

D．inseparable

12.

A．since

B．unless

C．before

D．if

13.

A．explanation

B．notice

C．suggestion

D．warning

14.

A．arrival

B．birth               .

C．entry

D．emerging

15.

A．witnessed

B．created

C．achieved

D．performed

10 . It was a sunny day. I had gone up and down the tower when, outside the door at the foot, a blind man came toward me. In a moment, he disappeared up the stairs. I looked at the sign that said “To the Tower”, and decided to _______ him.

I caught up with him in the ticket office. There I was _______ to see the attendant(工作人员) selling him a ticket as if he were any other visitor. Then, with the ticket in one hand and _______ the wall with the fingers of the other, the blind man reached the stairs _______ the hallway.

“That man is blind. What would a blind man climb up the tower for?” I said to the attendant, expecting him to show some _______, but he didn’t answer.

“Not the _______ certainly,” I said. “Perhaps he wants to_______.”

I bought a ticket and _______ up the stairs. The man hadn’t gone as far as I _______. A third of the way up the tower, I heard his ________. I slowed down and followed him at a little ________. He stopped from time to time. When he got to the balcony, I was a dozen steps ________. As I reached it, I saw him at the corner of the tower.

At last, after ten minutes, I ________ him. “Excuse me,” I said as politely as I could, “but I am curious to know ________ you came up.”

He smiled. “Coming up the stairs, you will notice how not just light but sun ________ into the tower through the narrow windows here and there, so that you can feel the ________ —the cool stairs suddenly become quite warm—and how up here behind the wall there is ________, but as soon as going opposite a window you can find the sun. There is no ________ so good as this for feeling the difference between light and shade. It is not the first time I’ve come up.”

The blind man seemed quite ________ just like a child who was enjoying his favorite games. He told me the truth that blind men can also find the beauty in life although they cannot enjoy the ________ of the world.

1.

A．inspire

B．follow

C．greet

D．roar

2.

A．eager

B．stuck

C．surprised

D．horrible

3.

A．touching

B．climbing

C．marching

D．clicking

4.

A．pointing to

B．belonging to

C．contributing to

D．leading to

5.

A．respect

B．charity

C．concern

D．sympathy

6.

A．view

B．test

C．prize

D．trick

7.

A．roll

B．jump

C．relax

D．perform

8.

A．struggled

B．explored

C．wandered

D．hurried

9.

A．enabled

B．ensured

C．imagined

D．chatted

10.

A．steps

B．words

C．secrets

D．cheers

11.

A．position

B．distance

C．location

D．intention

12.

A．ahead

B．around

C．outside

D．behind

13.

A．recognized

B．surrounded

C．approached

D．witnessed

14.

A．why

B．how

C．when

D．whether

15.

A．knocks

B．pours

C．slides

D．bursts

16.

A．trend

B．reaction

C．change

D．honor

17.

A．light

B．space

C．mess

D．shade

18.

A．place

B．signal

C．figure

D．period

19.

A．grateful

B．satisfied

C．tough

D．frank

20.

A．future

B．joys

C．kindness

D．sights