1 . One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装).

On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it stories. I told it over and over how much I loved it!

One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded ominous.

Christmas was coming. “Don’t expect any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d never seen him cry before.

The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He hung up and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”

“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.

From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!

1. What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?

A．He got a baby brother.

B．He got a Christmas gift.

C．He became four years old.

D．He received a doll.

2. What does the underlined word “ominous” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Impossible.	B．Boring.
C．Difficult.	D．Fearful.

3. Which word can best describe the feeling of the father when Christmas was coming?

A．Excitement.	B．Happiness.
C．Sadness.	D．Disappointment.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A sad Christmas day.

B．Life with a lovely baby.

C．A special Christmas gift.

D．Memories of a happy family.

4 . Music is something I could never live without. Without music, I was ______ and would only talk when I was asked to. Music allowed me to ______ myself and be as loud as I wanted to. Singing my ______ out during choir (合唱) class, auditioning for choir concert solos, and ______ the school play, I felt the most like myself. There was nothing that could keep me away from my ______, until high school.

Everyone who wanted to be in show choir auditioned for the ______, including me. In the audition room, there was a piano, notes and different lyrics ______ on the chalkboard. I hit every note, and the ______ was amazing. When my audition was over, I took a breath of ______. Weeks passed and the list of who had made it into show choir was ______. I found my ______. “Angelica H. –– alternate (候补者)”. After I saw this, my ______ disappeared. My outside showed I wasn’t sad, but on the inside, my whole world had ______.

A year passed, I was at a ______ that also held karaoke to the customers. My parents let me go up and ______. Finally, I got enough courage to ______ a song by Sam Smith and started off. While I hit the high notes, people eating   ______ for me. I realized, I did not get into one program but that did not mean that I had to give up all ______. I still had that passion. The lesson learned was that if you are ______ or do not get what you want, and it is something you’re in ______ with, don’t give up.

1.

A．calm

B．mad

C．anxious

D．quiet

2.

A．teach

B．express

C．praise

D．help

3.

A．heart

B．brain

C．mind

D．head

4.

A．looking forward to

B．getting along with

C．trying out for

D．picking up

5.

A．pride

B．adventure

C．passion

D．courage

6.

A．activity

B．programme

C．service

D．job

7.

A．suggested

B．recorded

C．permitted

D．written

8.

A．sound

B．scene

C．play

D．answer

9.

A．relief

B．concern

C．anger

D．sympathy

10.

A．removed

B．signed

C．expected

D．posted

11.

A．signature

B．mark

C．name

D．position

12.

A．kindness

B．confidence

C．pressure

D．luck

13.

A．crashed

B．started

C．continued

D．existed

14.

A．theatre

B．restaurant

C．garden

D．park

15.

A．eat

B．dance

C．sing

D．drink

16.

A．create

B．write

C．play

D．choose

17.

A．struggled

B．stopped

C．cheered

D．voted

18.

A．efforts

B．ideas

C．knowledge

D．hope

19.

A．picked out

B．turned down

C．brought up

D．left behind

20.

A．love

B．connection

C．touch

D．common

5 . When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor, Dr. Gibbs. He didn’t look like any doctor I’d ever known. He never invited us to play in his yard, but he was a very kind person. When Dr. Gibbs wasn’t saving lives, he was planting trees. He owned a large field and wanted to make it a forest.

The good doctor had some interesting ideas about planting trees. He never watered his new trees. Once I asked why, he said that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you watered them, each baby tree would grow weaker and weaker, so you had to make things difficult for them and pick out the weaker trees early on. He talked about how watering trees made for shallow (浅的）roots, and how trees that weren’t watered had to grow deep roots in search of water under the earth by themselves. Deep roots were very important. So he never watered his trees. He’d planted an oak and, instead of watering it every morning, he’d beat it with a rolled-up newspaper. I asked him why he did that, and he said it was to get the tree’s attention.

Dr. Gibbs died several years after I left home. Every now and then, I walked by his house and looked at the trees that I watched him plant about twenty-five years ago. They’re very big and strong now. I planted some trees a few years back and carried water to them for a whole summer. After two years of caring too much, whenever a cold wind blows in, they shake a lot.

Every night before I go to bed, I check on my two sons. Mostly I pray (祈祷) that their lives will be easy. But lately I’ve been thinking that it’s time to change my prayer. I know my children are going to face difficulties. There’s always a cold wind blowing somewhere, so what we need to do is to pray for roots that reach deep into the brave heart, so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we could face it strongly and won’t be beaten down.

1. We know from the reading, the doctor ______.

A．didn’t know how to plant trees at all

B．had his own ways of planting trees

C．wasn’t good at his own medical job

D．had nothing to do but plant trees

2. When Dr. Gibbs said “... pick out the weaker trees early on.”, he meant that ______.

A．some weak trees would be easily found out at the beginning

B．he would choose the weak trees to water earlier

C．the weak trees would be sent to his patients later

D．he would not plant weak trees so early anymore

3. The passage tells us that the writer ______.

A．beat all his trees with a rolled-up newspaper

B．often water his trees

C．took too much care of his trees

D．didn’t have a large field

4. The writer wants to change his prayer, hoping that ______.

A．his trees will be stronger than Dr. Gibbs'

B．his trees will not be beaten down

C．his sons will be better at planting trees

D．his sons will be able to face difficulties

5. Which can be the best title of the reading?

A．Watering Trees

B．Growing Roots

C．Doctor and his Neighbor

D．Father and his Children

6 . 阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bobby to the position of manager but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore. So without hesitation, he presented a tender resignation to the boss quickly, complaining the boss did not know how to identify a good clerk and did not value hard-working staff, but only promoted those who flattered (讨好) him.

The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said, “Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps in time you will change your decision and take back your resignation.” John agreed.

The boss asked him to go and find out anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found out a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per kg? John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $1.2 per kg.

The boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went, returned and said, “Boss, only one person selling watermelon. $1.2 per kg, $10 for 10 kg, and he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 2 kg, bought from the South two days ago. They are fresh and red, of good quality.”

John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.

My dear friends, a more successful person is more observant, thinks more and explores in depth. Chances exist in the daily details. For the same matter, a more successful person sees more and farther so that he can find out an opportunity and catch it to realize his aim. If a person sees one year ahead, while another sees only tomorrow, the difference between a year and a day is 365 times. How could you win?

1. After Bobby’s promotion, what did John do? (no more than 12 words)
2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “take” in Paragraph 1? (no more than 3 words)
3. What was “one more thing” the boss asked John to do before he left the company? (no more than 15 words)
4. What kind of person is Bobby? (no more than 12 words)
5. To be a more successful person, what would you like to do? Please tell your reason(s). (no more than 25 words)

8 . There was once a boy called Joseph Webb who always loved to show off how many friends he had at school. One day his ________ said to him, “Joseph, I bet (打赌) you a big bag of popcorn that you don’t have as many friends as you think. I’m sure many of them are nothing more than companions.”

Joseph ________ the bet at once. However, he wasn’t sure how to test whether his schoolmates were real friends or not, so he asked his grandfather. The old man answered, “Wait a minute.” Then he left and ________ soon as if carrying something in his hands, but Joseph could see nothing there.

“Take it. It’s a very ________ chair because it’s invisible (看不见). It’s rather ________ to sit on, but if you take it to school and ________ to sit on it, you’ll activate (激活) its ________ and it’ll be able to tell who your real friends are.”

Joseph, brave and determined, set off for ________ with the strange and invisible chair.   At break time he asked everyone to form a ________, and he put himself in the middle, with his chair. Having difficulty seeing it, Joseph tried to sit on it but he ________ the seat and fell straight onto his backside. Everyone around him had a pretty good laugh.

“Wait! Let me try again, ”Joseph said. But again, he missed the seat,________ more surprised looks and a few catcalls. Joseph didn’t ________ and kept trying to sit on the magic chair. But he kept falling to the ground...until, suddenly he tried again but didn’t ________. Looking around, Joseph saw three of his best friends holding him up.________, many others he had thought of as friends had done nothing but make fun of him. And there, the show came to an end. Joseph understood that true friends were those who care for him, and not just the ________ that happened to be passing by. And someone who took joy in his misfortunes was even less of a friend.

1.

A．schoolmate

B．grandfather

C．classmate

D．stranger

2.

A．accepted

B．noticed

C．concluded

D．ignored

3.

A．passed

B．recovered

C．returned

D．disappeared

4.

A．smooth

B．secure

C．unique

D．comfortable

5.

A．awkward

B．flexible

C．positive

D．tough

6.

A．intend

B．struggle

C．gather

D．manage

7.

A．magic

B．promise

C．memory

D．response

8.

A．flat

B．party

C．school

D．spot

9.

A．popcorn

B．circle

C．chair

D．misfortune

10.

A．missed

B．acquired

C．removed

D．escaped

11.

A．providing

B．moving

C．causing

D．losing

12.

A．pass out

B．back down

C．give up

D．turn down

13.

A．skip

B．focus

C．suffer

D．fall

14.

A．However

B．Moreover

C．Besides

D．Therefore

15.

A．relative

B．neighbor

C．companion

D．teammate

9 . What does it mean to be a hero? I think a hero is someone who goes out of his way to make others happy. My hero is Mr. Wright, my chorus (合唱队) teacher.

When I was 12 years old, my grandparents passed away. I was really close to them, and losing them was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to ________ through. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or think; I felt like I couldn't even breathe. It was as if my whole world had fallen down from under me, and I ________ into this huge hole of depression (抑郁).

________ I was battling depression, I was determined to make my high school years the best of my life. It was difficult to be ________ , but I had to try. I joined Women’s Choir. Mr. Wright was the choral director and he was so funny that the first day, I just knew I had made the best ________ of my life.

As the year progressed, I loved chorus more and more. I began to smile again and really enjoy life.

Then one day that all changed. My friends—or those that I thought were my friends—started talking about me behind my back. I was hurt , and I sat by myself. Mr. Wright came over and asked what was wrong. The look in his eyes told me that I could ________ him. Trying hard to ________ back tears, I told him the whole story.

When I finished, he nodded and told me, “If you never learn anything from me, learn this: No one is worth ________ your joy. ” What Mr. Wright said really ________ a chord (心弦）in my heart. He ________ cared about me and what was going on. I’ll never be able to thank him enough, because he not only saved me but has ________ every day of my life since. Any time I feel like giving up, I remember Mr. Wright's words and push forward.

I’m proud to say that I ________ my depression, and I'm now a senior. I’m still a part of chorus, and now I'm also in the best choir at my school.

Mr. Wright is a hero to everyone he meets. He cares about every single person who walks through his door, and he loves what he does more than any other teacher I've known. That’s ________ he deserves to be Educator of the Year. He deserves the ________ not just this year but every year.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet you, Mr. Wright. You are an ________ teacher, and I hope you realize that. You’re my hero.

1.

A．put

B．walk

C．run

D．go

2.

A．looked

B．broke

C．fell

D．turned

3.

A．If

B．Although

C．Because

D．Once

4.

A．happy

B．calm

C．smart

D．confident

5.

A．suggestion

B．effort

C．decision

D．offer

6.

A．trust

B．impress

C．respect

D．satisfy

7.

A．set

B．fight

C．take

D．call

8.

A．hiding

B．sharing

C．stealing

D．feeling

9.

A．braked

B．struck

C．played

D．shook

10.

A．cheerfully

B．normally

C．exactly

D．truly

11.

A．made

B．started

C．understood

D．influenced

12.

A．beat

B．suffered

C．developed

D．saved

13.

A．when

B．what

C．where

D．why

14.

A．job

B．title

C．help

D．director

15.

A．amusing

B．aggressive

C．amazing

D．available

10 . There is a wonderful story about a young girl who had no family and no one to love her.

One day, feeling very sad and lonely, she was walking through a grassland when she noticed a small butterfly caught in a thorn (荆棘) bush. The young girl carefully released the butterfly. Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

“For your wonderful kindness, ” the good fairy said to the girl，“I will give you any wish you would like.” The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, “I want to be happy.”       The fairy leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. Then the fairy disappeared.

As the little girl grew up，there was no one in the land as happy as she. Everyone asked her secret of happiness . She would only smile and answer，“The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl.”

When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbors all gathered around her, and       feared that her unbelievable secret of happiness would die with her. “ tell us，please, ” they begged，“ tell us what the good fairy said. ” The lovely old woman simply smiled and said，“ She told me that everyone，no matter how safe they seemed，no matter how old or young，how rich or poor, had need of me.”

1. ________the girl felt sad and lonely.

A．There were many friends but	B．There was nobody to love her so
C．There was nothing to do	D．Seeing the butterfly was caught

2. Noticing the butterfly was caught by the thorn, the orphan girl ________.

A．helped the butterfly escaped from the thorn

B．felt sorrow，but she didn’t go up to help it

C．fell down on it too

D．failed to help it release from the thorn

3. The butterfly ________after was saved by the little girl.

A．flied away	B．still died
C．changed into a fairy	D．was more beautiful than before

4. The only thing that the little girl wanted was ________.

A．to be rich	B．to have her own parents
C．to have a lot of friends	D．happiness