1 . I was in Chicago for a job training when I knew a nearby theatre was releasing a film about saving dogs. I love animals and this fundraising event sounded right up my alley. However, none of my co-workers could squeeze time for me. I got cold feet for anxiety about navigating the streets by myself at night alone.
But in my hotel room I felt restless and bored. The theatre was only about five blocks away from the hotel. How could I stray? Hence, I decided to brave it. I gathered my room key and set off.
I managed to find the street of the theatre but when I turned the corner I stopped in shock. The street in front of the theatre was full of bikers-lots of very big, tough-looking bikers.
Now I was a woman all alone at night. There were many large men, all wearing insignia suggesting they were in some sort of club or gang. Warning bells began to sound and my heart jumped in my throat. Was I at the right theatre? Had I misread the date of the event?
I finally decided that I would be safer inside the theatre where there was, presumably, a crowd of people. I scurried into the theatre. As I sat there, heart racing, waiting for the film to start, I muttered a prayer to contain my anxieties. A local blues-rock band was the opening act and their performance drew my attention. Enthusiasm for the band’s performance soon took away all my worries from my mind and I began to relax.
After the band, the film began and I understood the presence of the bikers after a conversation with the staff. Being part of an animal rescue group, they had escorted dogs from New Jersey to Chicago. At that moment, I was struck by the bond that had drawn so many disparate folks to the theatre. Singers, sportsmen, ordinary workers had all been brought together by our shared love of animals. I made new friends. I discovered a new band and supported an important cause. I stayed till the very end and made it to my hotel without any incident, overjoyed that I broke out of the boundary I used to set for myself and ventured into the unknown. To my amazement, the reward was one of the best nights of my life.
1. The author didn’t go to the theatre at first because ________.| A．the theatre was far right up the alley |
| B．she couldn’t spare time from the training |
| C．she was afraid of getting lost on the way |
| D．she was concerned that she would catch cold at night |
| A．The group of bikers accompanied her into the theatre. |
| B．People inside the theatre rescued her from the harm of bikers. |
| C．She rang bells to warn people of possible dangers. |
| D．The opening act was successful in calming her down. |
| A．respectable | B．diverse | C．restless | D．common |
| A．she discovered a band she loved |
| B．she successfully went back to the hotel safe |
| C．she knew the reason for the presence of all the bikers |
| D．she stepped out of comfort zone and got good results |
2 . I still had a few minutes, so I swung into the cafeteria to grab a coffee. That’s when I spotted him: a threatening-looking punk rocker with biker leathers and black leather boots.
Honestly, his look scared me, so I quickly went out trying to avoid a potential encounter.
It was 1988, and I was a “mature” journalism student, heading to my favorite elective: Sociology-Study of Deviance. Our gray-haired professor was a straight shooter. He usually brought in guest speakers who represented “deviance”. Our guest speakers included an outlandish dancer, a tarot-card reader or even an alcohol addict. And when I was curious that day to see who this session’s speaker was, “Mr. punk rocker” walked in.
He started to talk in a soft voice and told us he was a university student, who lived with his grandma who needed help in every aspect. Therefore, he moved in with her and helped with the cooking and shopping, cleaning and laundry. He made sure she took her meds and tried to make her laugh at least once a day. He described it as a “win-win” for both of them, but I suspected that it was a lot tougher than he made it sound.
And then he said: “I just figure it’s normal for you to feel negative about me because of the way I look. But isn’t that the reason for the existence of such a course named Study of Deviance?”
Wow. Just wow.
“It’s hair and clothing,” he said. “I don’t plan to look this way forever, but for now I like it, and do you think it makes me deviant?”
Every so often, I think about that young man. He’d be about fifty now and couldn’t realize how he influenced me. Because of his visit that day, my kids were allowed to wear whatever they wanted, as long as it was relatively clean and not morally abusive. They are upright and kind kids although they sometimes surprise us with red hair or strange trousers. And I am also happy that I do my selective of Sociology-Study of Deviance well.
1. The underlined word deviance in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.| A．dressing. | B．style | C．abnormality | D．maturity |
| A．He was dressed in a frightening way on purpose in order to surprise the students. |
| B．He recognized the author and tried to tutor her during the session. |
| C．He wasn’t aware that many people misjudged him. |
| D．His behaviors didn’t match the appearance he presented. |
| A．Because she has learned to enjoy varied fashion styles. |
| B．Because she didn’t miss any of the course sessions. |
| C．Because she knows appearance doesn’t equal one’s quality. |
| D．Because she understands how to educate her kids. |
3 . Before the break of dawn, Simon was already standing on the shore watching the sea intensely for any signs of a coming storm. Despite learning from the weather forecast the likelihood of a violent storm, he didn’t change his mind about starting his weekly fishing trip. After checking for the third time that he had brought with him what he needed, Simon got onto his boat and sailed into the vast blue sea. Before long, he was anchoring(固定)his boat in the middle of the sea. Satisfied with the spot, he cast his net, hoping for a good catch.
Simon then relaxed on the deck and watched the sun rising slowly above the horizon. “One can never trust the weather station,” he said, but he had said it too soon. At that moment, there was a sudden strike of lightning, followed by a shout of thunder. The entire sky was suddenly filled with dark clouds. Wave after wave rolled up, hitting his boat and sending it rocking violently sideways. A sense of hopelessness drowned him but when images of his family flashed across his mind, he knew what he had to do. In double-quick time, he cut off the fishing lines and dumped his fishing equipment into the sea. Eventually, the storm eased and the waves died down.
To make matters worse, the boat engine died. As he was many kilometres offshore, the only likely rescue was to be spotted by a boat. But who would be out at sea in such horrible weather except him? That made Simon regret his earlier decision again.
Exhausted, Simon soon drifted off to sleep. When he awoke, the sun had already risen. Simon had lost track of time and location. Sighing, he stood on the deck, staring out hopefully. Then he spotted it. He dived into the water and swam towards the island a few metres ahead of him. When Simon reached land, he was too weak to stand on his legs. Fortunately, a kind-hearted man helped him up and contacted his family. Though Simon emerged from the nightmare unhurt, the fateful day remained forever in his mind. Neglecting the weather forecast, he paid a heavy price. He then learnt that everyone should respect science and be more mindful of his decision.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Not informed of the weather forecast, Simon went fishing as planned. |
| B．Simon lost his fishing equipment because it was blown off by the wind. |
| C．Love for his family made him take action trying to save himself. |
| D．Though he was finally saved, he was hurt badly. |
| A．Another boat ready to drag his boat. | B．A rescue team sent by his family. |
| C．A new boat engine to be equipped on his boat. | D．An island not far from his boat. |
| A．He was too confident of his ability to deal with the rescue team. |
| B．He ignored storm forecast and went fishing anyway. |
| C．His fishing equipment was too heavy for his boat. |
| D．He positioned his boat in a wrong location in the sea. |
| A．A smooth fishing trip a fisherman used to have. |
| B．A terrible accident a fisherman experienced and how he survived. |
| C．The hardships a man has to handle when going fishing. |
| D．Ways to seek help in dangerous situations in life. |
4 . Japanese bookseller Yoshiyuku Morioka has come up with a highly unusual concept for a bookstore — he sells one book at a time in a tiny shop located in Ginza, Tokyo’s luxury shopping district. Even since he launched the store in May, he has stocked multiple copies of only one title per week.
People might argue that it’s hardly a bookstore if you can’t go in and browse through hundreds of volumes, but Morioka never intended to create a classic bookstore. It’s like a weekly “suggested reading” service — you just go in and pick up the book chosen for the week, relieving yourself of the burden of choices instead of being overloaded with massive collections of topics, author names and book reviews while still at a loss what to pick.
“Before opening this bookstore in Ginza, I had been running another one in Kayabacho for 10 years, “Morioka told The Guardian.” There, I had around 200 books as stock, and used to organise several book launches per year. During such events, a lot of people visited the store for the sake of a single book. The idea emerged.”
The store itself is minimal, with concrete walls and ceiling barely covered in a thin coat of white paint.
Morioka’s concept has a distinct advantage making the store stand out as the bookstore can serve as an exhibition for the book and its world, making the story a flower that actually appears in the book could be exhibited,” he said. “This is an attempt to make the two-dimensional book into three-dimensional ambience and experience.”
It isn’t clear how Morioka goes about choosing which books to display and sell. “Best-sellers are not likely to appear here. If profit issues were top priorities, the bookstore wouldn’t have appeared in the first place. Books that might bring tranquility to readers would be our primary option. After all, in a place like Ginza, many people are bothered by quick life pace and anxiety. Surprisingly, financial gains and Morioka’s spiritual ideal coexist well. Over 2,000 books have been sold since May and the store has served thousands of guests from all over the globe.
1. Why does the store sell only one book at a time?| A．Because the store is too small in space in a luxury place of Ginza. |
| B．Because it’s easier and convenient to organize book launches. |
| C．Because it spares the readers troubles to pick up suitable books. |
| D．Because it can definitely push up the overall book sales. |
| A．it is established in one of the most expensive shopping districts |
| B．it appeared because of the owner’s past book-selling experiences |
| C．it uses raw material for store decoration |
| D．it provides readers with the close and live interaction with the book |
| A．choices | B．peace | C．uniqueness | D．ideas |
| A．The one-book store is intended to promote fashion books in Ginza. |
| B．Morioka has also tried one-book store in Kayabacho. |
| C．The store provides video book review making the book 3-dementional. |
| D．The bookstore has achieved financial success as well. |
5 . Mary kept tossing and turning in her sleeping bag. It was late in the night. She had been a school counsellor in the summer camp for a year now. She took care of young children who were as young as seven. That night, she was having a bad dream. In it, she was running desperately towards a river. She kept shouting, “Fire!”
Mary was awake. She realized that she had been shouting in her sleep. Suddenly, she smelled smoke. Then she saw shadows dancing against the walls of the tent. Mary jumped up and hurried to the opening in the tent. A tree was on fire! Fanned by the wind, the fire leaped up hungrily to devour everything in its path. It was going to spread to the tents very soon.
Time was of essence so Mary pulled the four children instantly out of their sleeping bags. “Fire! Fire!” She yelled, as loudly as she could.” Wake up! Get up!” After that, Mary ran back to her tent and grabbed all the sleeping bags she could carry. By then, everyone had emerged from their tents. Their faces were etched with confusion. Mary took the youngest child by the hand. Knowing that the sleeping bags would be useful, Mary pulled them along. Everyone quickly but calmly followed her. They held on to each other, in solemn silence.
After they ran to the river, Mary pulled the children into the water. Then she got into it herself. She dragged the sleeping bags in. She pushed them under the water until they were soaked. Mary was not surprised that all the trees were on fire. It had been an extremely hot season and everything in the forest was dry. Soon, they saw many animals racing to the river. Deer, rabbits and squirrels splashed into it. By then, the fire roared. Mary and other adults grabbed the wet sleeping bags and pulled them over the children’s heads.
Everything around them was bright orange and the sleeping bags had to stay wet. They made a final effort to splash water over all the sleeping bags and hid under the water.
The heat and smoke finally ended. Mary raised her head and looked around. To her relief, all the children had escaped unhurt. People all called out, “You saved our lives.” Mary suddenly thought of the dream she had.
1. The underlined word devour is closest in meaning to ________.| A．brighten | B．destroy | C．evaluate | D．refuse |
| A．Because some children were still in the bags |
| B．Because these sleeping bags were expensive. |
| C．Because the bags could protect them against fire in the water. |
| D．Because bags could be used to put out the fire. |
| A．Because someone set the fire. | B．Because there were no fire fighters. |
| C．Because it was rather try. | D．Because animals worsened the fire. |
6 . A line of men tugged on ropes and dropped from the ship into the sea, with a group of Saibs prepared to pull them later from the sea bottom. Nasser, one of the divers, climbed over the railing of the ship and his Saib emptied his basket full of shells onto the deck.
“Get me something to fill my stomach with, boy.” I knew he was teasing as he is my father’s good friend.
“But I’m no longer an errand boy. I’m a diver, like my father was.”
“Your father was bald and deaf, like the rest of us,” Nasser laughed.
The salty Arabian Gulf produced the finest pearls in the world while the salty water also made divers lose their hair. Let alone the high pressure which cost them their hearing. I had shaved my head, in which way I felt more like a real diver. Of course, there’s no need for me to worry about the hair problem.
“I’ve dived the shallow seas before, and I can hold my breath fora whole minute.”
“Just pull your rope before you feel breathless.” He then disappeared into the water again.
I tied a heavy stone to my foot with a rope. Taking one more deep breath. I plugged my nose and jumped. With the stone finally hitting the seabed with a thump. I freed my foot from the rope. I scratched at the rocky ridge (脊), when three oysters dropped into my hands. I even didn’t have enough time to feel surprised at how easy the job was before I felt breathless.
Out of honor, I dragged the rope. Knowing that, tar above, the Saib’s strong arms strained to pull me toward the surface. I reminded myself to endure for a little more time. Just when I thought my lungs would burst, my cars popped and there was light.
Nasser burst through the water. He removed his nose plug and grinned at me looking at the three pitiful shells on the deck. “Not bad for an errand boy.” Seeing me upset with my head down, he patted me “It’s your first for such a depth. You did better than all of us.” Cheering up, I wrapped the empty basket around my neck and raised my chin, “I’m a pearl diver.”
1. According to Nasser, what did an errand boy usually do?| A．Pull divers from the sea. | B．Empty baskets for divers. |
| C．Serve snacks for divers. | D．Dive for shells. |
| A．Because he tried to avoid losing hair. |
| B．Because all divers had shaved hair. |
| C．Because high pressure made him bald. |
| D．Because he wanted to look professional. |
| A．Because there were not many pearls in the area. |
| B．Because he still lacked experience in the job. |
| C．Because the Saib pulled him up too early without permission. |
| D．Because the rocky ridge was too rough. |
7 . When memory began for me, my grandfather (“Gramp”) was past sixty. The little marks of laughter at the corners of his eyes were the product of a kindly and humorous nature. The years of work which had bent his shoulders had never reduced his humor or his love of a joke. Everywhere he went, Gramp made friends easily. At the end of half an hour you felt you had known him all your life. I soon learned that he hated to give orders, but that when he had to, he tried to make his orders sound like suggestions.
One July morning, as he was leaving to go to the cornfield, he said: “Edwin, you can pick up the potatoes in the field today if you want to do that.” Then he drove away with his horses. The day passed, and I did not have any desire to pick up potatoes. Evening came and the potatoes were still in the field. Gramp, dusty and tired, led the horses to get their drink.
“How many potatoes did you pick up?” Gramp inquired. “I didn’t pick any.” “Not any! Why?” “You said I could pick them up if I wanted to. You didn’t say I had to.” In the next few minutes, I learned a lesson I will not forget: when Gramp said I could if I wanted to, he meant that I should want to.
My grandmother (“Gram”) worked hard all day, washing clothes, cleaning the house, making butter, and even working in the field when help was scarce. In the evening, though, she was not too tired to read books from the community library. For more than forty years, Gram read aloud to Gramp almost every evening. In this way, she and Gramp learned about all the great battles of history and became familiar with the works of great authors and the lives of famous men.
She also had a deep love of beauty. When she was almost seventy-five and had gone to live with one of her daughters, she spent a delightful morning washing dishes because, as she said, the beautiful pattern on the dishes gave her pleasure. The birds, the flowers, the clouds –– all that was beautiful around her –– pleased her. She was like the father of the French painter, Millet, who used to gather grass and show it to his son, saying, “See how beautiful this is!”
In a pioneer society it is the harder qualities of mind and character that are of value. The softer virtues are considered unnecessary. Men and women struggling daily to earn a living are unable, even for a moment, to forget the business of preserving their lives. Only unusual people, like my grandparents, managed to keep the softer qualities in a world of daily struggle.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Gramp according to the passage?| A．He wouldn’t listen to others. | B．He was difficult to get along with. |
| C．He gave his suggestions in the form of orders. | D．He was eager to learn. |
| A．to earn a living. | B．to find beauty in everyday life. |
| C．to stay curious about new things. | D．to stay positive in a world of daily struggle. |
| A．“softer qualities” were thought necessary but often ignored. |
| B．“harder qualities” were much harder to keep than “softer qualities”. |
| C．average people found it a piece of cake to earn a living. |
| D．not all people understood how to appreciate beauty in life. |
| A．Life of My Grandparents. | B．Harder Qualities VS Softer Qualities. |
| C．Stay Soft in a Hard World. | D．An Unforgettable Person. |
8 . Cynthia Kadohata wrote Kira-Kira and never thought it would be so popular among students. It is a book about a young Japanese-American girl, Katie Takeshima, and the difficulties that her family have to face when they are forced to move to Georgia. This book tells the story of one family’s journey to a new place, their experience of racism, and the ability of people to move forward through hard time.
In the book, Kate and Lynn Takeshima are sisters. The story begins in Lowa, where their parents’ small family-owned store runs out of business. Soon after, the Takeshimas begin to face financial difficulties and they have to go in search of a new living. The family moves to Georgia where they work at a hatchery（孵化厂）with their uncle. On the way to their new home in Georgia they experience racism. They have difficulty in “fitting in” when a hotel manager tells them to go to “the back” where the “Indians” have to stay.
Life gets even harder for the Takeshimas when they begin to work at the hatchery. Katie’s parents are over-worked there. They have to stay in a cramped apartment with little space. And as if that isn’t enough, Katie has too much schoolwork to do. During Katie’s struggle, Lynn becomes sick and Katie feels unsafe, because she has always looked up to Lynn. There are hard times that Katie and her family have to experience. This story is a beautiful-example of resilience (适应力) and friendship. It also opens the reader’s eyes to some of the struggles that Asian Americans are facing.
1. Why does the family have to move to Georgis?| A．They are not used to the life in Lowa. |
| B．They don’t have enough money to live in Lowa. |
| C．People look down on them in Lowa. |
| D．They want to open a hatchery in Georgia. |
| A．run the hotel | B．are not friendly |
| C．have a hard life | D．like staying in the back |
| A．comfortable | B．crowded |
| C．quiet | D．bright |
| A．Katie’s parents died in the hatchery. |
| B．Lynn really looked up to Katie. |
| C．Katie’s uncle owned the hatchery. |
| D．Katie went on schooling in Georgia. |
“Any apples today?” Effie asked cheerfully at my window. I followed her to her truck and bought a kilo. On credit, of course. Cash was the one thing in the world I lacked just then.
All pretense （借口） of payment was dropped when our funds, food and funds decreased to alarming lows. Effie came often, always bringing some gift: a jar of peaches or some firewood. There were other generosities.
Effie was not a rich woman. Her income, derived from investments she had made while running an interior decorating shop. had never exceeded $200 a month, which she supplemented by selling her apples. But she always managed to help someone poorer.
Years passed before I was able to return the money Effie had given me from time to time. She was ill now and had aged rapidly in the last year. “Here, darling,” I said, “is what l owe you.”
“Give it back as I gave it to you--a little at a time.” I think she believed there was magic in the slow discharge of a love debt.
The simple fact is that I never repaid the whole amount to Effie, for she died a few weeks later. By now, the few dollars Effie gave me have been multiplied many times. But a curious thing began to happen.
Whenever I saw a fellow human in financial trouble, I was moved to help him. I can't afford to do this always, but in the ten years since Effie's death, I have indirectly repaid my debt to her.
| A．Our baby was not doing well, so Effie financed my wife's trip to New York for consultation with a specialist. |
| B．Give your help to those in greater need. |
| C．The oddest part of the whole affair is that people whom I help often help others later on. |
| D．Effie work diligently all her life. |
| E．“Pay me whenever you like,” said Effie, climbing back into her truck. |
| F．“Don't give it to me all at once,” she said. |
10 . Paul received a car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.
“Is this your car, mister？” he said.
Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything? Oh, I wish…”He hesitated.
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said shocked Paul all the way down to his heels.
“I wish.” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”
Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, and then impulsively （冲动地） he added, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?”
“Oh. yes, I'd love that.”
After a short ride, the boy turned to Paul and said. “Mister, would you mind driving to my house？”
Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the boy wanted. He waned to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked
He ran up the steps. In a little while he came back. carrying his little disabled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step. and pointed to the car.
“Buddy just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about.”
Paul got out and lifted the boy into the front seat of his car. The older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. That Christmas Eve. Paul learned what Jesus meant when he said. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
1. The boy wishes that_________.| A．he could own a shiny new car one day |
| B．his brother would give him a car as a present |
| C．he could buy a car for his disabled brother |
| D．Paul would give him the car |
| A．To show his neighbors he could ride home in a big car. |
| B．To get home early and tell his brother his exciting experience. |
| C．To show his brother the possibility of getting a car from him as a present. |
| D．To fully enjoy the comfort and convenience of owning a car |
| A．Because he hopes to be a rich man and live a luxurious life. |
| B．Because he wants his brother to see the outside world with his own eyes. |
| C．Because he wishes to have a healthy brother like Paul. |
| D．Because he expects his brother to be envied by others. |
| A．felt happy to offer the ride |
| B．regretted accepting the car |
| C．would buy his brother some presents |
| D．would love Jesus more |
