1 . If you walk into Larkin Street Laundry around closing time, you might get an extra-special greeting. Every night, an 8-year-old golden retriever (猎犬) named Cody helps Stephanie’s dad close up the laundromat (自助洗衣店). Cody takes his job very seriously; While Stephanie’s dad cleans and puts everything away, Cody takes a nap on top of the washing machines.
Luckily, Stephanie’s dad doesn’t mind that Cody isn’t the best worker. “My dad owns the laundromat and has always taken our dogs there with him when he closes up at the end of the day,” Stephanie told The Dodo. “Our old dog loved to sit in the chairs to watch customers and people pass by, but Cody is more flexible than him.” “After we tried to get him to just sit on the chairs, be figured out a way to climb from the chair to the smaller washers and then to the bigger ones,” she added. “He’s a little lazier than our old dog, so he’d rather lay down and wait for pets and treats.”
Cody has become the main attraction at the laundromat, providing the perfect distraction for customers waiting for their clothes to finish drying. This arrangement works out for the independent Cody, who loves attention but prefers people come to him. And from his high—up advantage point, Cody can keep watch on everything going on at the laundromat. “I think helikes how he can see everyone at eye level when he’s on top of the washers,” Stephanie said. “I have a theory he likes to feel like a king up there.”
After years of laundromat service, Cody has become famous in local— and even the subject of a few big activities, But the good boy doesn’t let fame distract him. After all, he has a job to do, and those washers aren’t going to sit on themselves.
1. What will Cody do when Stephanie’s father put away things?| A．Help to do some cleaning. | B．Play games happily. |
| C．Help put away things. | D．Take a sleep. |
| A．Quiet. | B．Lazy. | C．Lovely. | D．Humorous. |
| A．Cody often offers service for Stephanie’s father. |
| B．Cody may enjoy seeing things happening at the laundromat. |
| C．Cody can lead customers to wait for their clothes. |
| D．Cody looks like a king that frightens customers. |
| A．He likes waiting for pets and treats. |
| B．He likes sitting on tops of the washers. |
| C．He is the subject of several big activities. |
| D．He does a good job at the laundromat. |
2 . While walking home from school, Jenny saw a small kitten on the street. It was only a few weeks old, and it was crying. Jenny bent (弯腰) down and looked at the kitten. It was weak, and it had trouble walking. Its mother wasn’t anywhere around. Seeing the poor kitten made Jenny sad.
“I can’t just leave it here,” she thought. “But I can’t take it home, either. Mother doesn’t like cats.” Then, Jenny got an idea. She could take the kitten to a vet (an animal doctor). Jenny placed the kitten inside a small box.
She brought it to an animal clinic (诊所) near her house.
“Can you take care of this kitten?” she asked the doctor.
“Sure, we can,” he said.
“But I don’t have any money.”
“That’s OK. We’ll help the kitten feel better. Then, we’ll give it to somebody.”
Jenny was happy when she left the clinic. She knew the kitten would be all right.
1. Jenny saw a small ________.| A．cat | B．dog | C．pig | D．chicken |
| A．strong | B．dying | C．hard to walk | D．interesting |
| A．her home | B．a hospital | C．a vet | D．school |
| A．Jenny | B．Jenny’s mother | C．a vet | D．a nurse |
3 . Every Sunday morning I take a walk around a park near my home. There's a lake in one corner of the park. Each time I walk by this lake, I see the same elderly woman sitting at the water's edge with a small metal cage beside her.
This Sunday, I stopped walking and went over to her. As I got closer, I realized that there were three turtles(乌龟), unhurt, slowly walking around the base of the metal cage. She had a fourth turtle on her knee that she was carefully wiping with a brush, which made me feel surprised.
"Hello," I said. "If you don't mind my nosiness, I'd love to know what you're doing with these turtles."
"I'm cleaning off their shells," she replied.
"Anything on a turtle's shell weakens the turtle's ability to take in heat and blocks its ability to swim. It can also impair and weaken the shell over time."
She went on, "I spend a couple of hours each Sunday morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these little guys out. It's my own strange way of making a difference."
"Well then, don't you think your time could be better spent? It's a waste of time. And 99% of these turtles don't have kind people like you to help them clean off their shells. So, how exactly are your efforts here truly making a difference?"
The woman smiled, then looked down at the turtle on her knee, wiped off the last piece of algae(海藻)from its shell, and said, "Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he'd tell you I just made all the difference in the world."
1. What was the writer surprised at according to Paragraph 2?| A．Four turtles in the cage. | B．The beautiful scenery in the park. |
| C．A small metal cage put beside the water. | D．A woman cleaning off the turtles' shells. |
| A．Make. | B．Clean. | C．Hurt. | D．Recognize. |
| A．He thought the woman's efforts were meaningless. |
| B．There are so few turtles in the world. |
| C．The woman didn't protect the environment. |
| D．The woman couldn't be understood by others. |
| A．Taking a walk. | B．The power of kindness. |
| C．An elderly woman's job. | D．Four turtles in the metal cage. |
4 . I had a picnic one day with my sister. We both like to ride her motorcycle and that day we rode it to the nearest park. We bought some coffee and cakes, and then we enjoyed our food. Within a few hours, the sky changed and looked ready for a heavy rain. We packed everything and were ready to go. My sister, who was sitting on a bench suddenly was very still and couldn't talk to me.She couldn't move. Her eyes were rolling and she was about to lose consciousness(知觉). I held her in my arms and asked if she wanted to rest. She didn’t answer and only said“Sorry.”
It started to rain and I didn't know what to do. She was fighting to stay aware but her skin was pale and her eyes were acting strangely. Suddenly, from nowhere, a woman on a bicycle appeared. wearing a raincoat." She isn't looking good. Do you want me to call an ambulance(救护车)?”“Yes, please,yes!”I begged.
She did. Struggling with the rain, she managed to call some policemen, who quickly helped me carry my sister to a safer place. The ambulance arrived and we went to a hospital where she was treated in time and she came to life the next morning after some rest and medical help.
An interesting fact was that I guessed the woman in the raincoat was a doctor or a nurse. I later learned from one of the police officers who told me: “No.She was an ordinary person who took some courses on emergency situations(紧急情况).”
I am so grateful that she appeared exactly at the moment I don’t know why or how .I didn’t even get the chance to say thanks to her.
1. What happened when the author and her sister were ready to go?| A．They had a fight. | B．The sister fell ill suddenly. |
| C．They were caught in the rain. | D．They had difficulty packing things. |
| A．By giving first aid to her sister. | B．By protecting her sister from the rain. |
| C．By carrying her sister to the hospital | D．By asking for emergency medical help |
| A．To keep order in the park. |
| B．To send the sick girl to hospital. |
| C．To carry the sick girl to a safer place quickly. |
| D．To carry the sick girl onto the ambulance. |
| A．Thankful | B．Friendly |
| C．Doubtful | D．Admirable |
5 . For the brave in the armed forces, being sent away from home for months at a time is just part of the duty. However, it's never an easy one to perform especially for those with children. So when I found out I was going to be stationed in South Korea for a year, I was nervous about how my five children, particularly my eldest daughter Abigail, would take the news since it meant I wouldn't be home to see her graduate from high school.
Incredibly, Abigail told me not to worry and even suggested we live stream the event among family members when I leaked the news. “We've been lucky you haven't had to be sent abroad yet. Anyway we can get connected through the Internet. See me on your phone on my spot,” Abigail said. She stepped into many of my roles when I was gone. I wanted to find a way to thank her and show her how proud I was of her. I started planning the special surprise when my request to return home a few weeks early to attend Abigail's graduation ceremony was approved.
When my time in South Korea finally came to an end, I flew home, rented a car, and stayed in a hotel. And on Abigail's graduation day, I hid in an office behind the stage waiting until I heard my daughter's name called. I just kept thinking “Don't cry. Don't trip in your heels. Don't fall over.” At last！Abigail was up on stage. I slipped up behind her, whispered in her ear, and around she turned! “I was just thinking, like, ‘You aren't supposed to be here. What? What? How？’ It was the biggest shock...I'm pretty sure my dad made people he didn't even know cry. Emotional for everyone,” Abigail cried.
You know what followed: Embraces, kisses, tears, laughs, flowers, wishes...Aren't they what a family has in store?
1. What worried the author most?| A．His duty in South Korea. | B．His five children's safety. |
| C．His eldest daughter's study. | D．His absence from a big event. |
| A．Plan. | B．Celebrate. | C．Prepare. | D．Broadcast. |
| A．Embarrassed. | B．Overjoyed. | C．Nervous. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．A soldier's personal sacrifice. | B．A father's love for his family. |
| C．The meaning of family bond. | D．The way to plan a big surprise. |
6 . I personally think trains are exciting and romantic. I must admit that trains are not important means of transportation in the US, but I do have some experiences with them.
When I was a child, growing up in a small town with very little entertainment, we used to go to the station to watch the passenger trains coming in. There was something exciting about the steaming, roaring string of trains coming into view around the mountains, slowly growing larger and louder and finally after their stop crowds of strangers spilling （漏出）onto the platform.
I took my first train trip when I was ten years old. I went with my elder sister to visit our cousins six hundred miles away. The train — so loud and violent on the outside — was gentle and rocking inside. We were very excited, and as that was also our first time away from our parents, we felt somewhat frightened too. However, because I had expected so much, I was a little disappointed when I was finally one of the passengers I had watched for so long.
As a college student, I used to ride an overnight train to my roommate's hometown. We could never afford a sleeper, so we played cards, sang, ate, read and talked until we finally fell uncomfortably asleep in the straight-backed seats.
My idea that trains are romantic may come from the fact that my husband and I took the train on our honeymoon, spending extra money to eat in the dining car, and looking out of the window as the desert scenery slid past.
Now, when I make a trip, I always fly or drive, and trains are not a very important part of my life. Still, every time I hear the train whistle far away on a quiet night, I can always feel the impulse in my heart to pack my bags and jump on board, entering a unique world of motions, sounds, sights and experiences which just aren't matched in the dull environment of an airplane.
1. Why did the author feel a little disappointed during the first train trip?| A．Because the train was loud and violent. | B．Because she finally became a passenger. |
| C．Because she had a high expectation. | D．Because she missed his parents. |
| A．the author's childhood memory of trains was frightening and disappointing |
| B．the author no longer makes a trip by train now as a result of its dull environment |
| C．the author didn't fall asleep until she found straight-backed seats with her roommate |
| D．the author thought trains romantic mainly because of the pleasant moment with her husband |
| A．Eager. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Romantic. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．My Love of Trains | B．Watching Trains Coming |
| C．My Memory of Trips | D．Trains: My Best Choice |
7 . Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite food. And reading is my favorite hobby. When you are deeply absorbed in a book, you stop paying attention to what’s going on around you. People describe it as being “lost in a book”. It’s a wonderful feeling, but it can be risky.
One day I was home alone doing two of my favorite things: Eating a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs and reading. At the time, my family had a pet bird, a big white cockatoo named Luke. He was free to leave his perch (栖木)and fly around inside the house. Luke enjoyed “talking” to people, but he wasn’t trained to use real words.
As I was reading and eating, Luke was talking to me, but I was lost in my book. So Luke decided to get closer. He flew from his perch, and before I knew it, he’d landed right on top of my spaghetti and meatballs!
I was so surprised that I didn’t even have time to think. My reaction was the same as yours would be: I shooed (发出嘘声赶走)him off my food! This wouldn’t have been so bad except for one thing: When Luke had landed on my plate, he had grabbed (抓住)my spaghetti with both feet. So when Luke took off again, the spaghetti-still in his feet-went flying everywhere, landing on my shirt and hitting me in the face. Red sauce splattered (泼溅)up the wall and onto the ceiling. As I pulled noodles out of my hair, Luke flew back to his perch, dropping spaghetti sauce all the way.
He wasn’t hurt, except for his dignity-the sauce in his beautiful white feathers turned him orange for several weeks. So next time if you find a spy novel at the library with red, spots on two pages near the middle, you’ll know that I’ve read that book ,too!
1. What do we know about Luke?| A．He is lost in reading a spy novel. |
| B．He is good at communicating with people. |
| C．He is fond of eating Spaghetti and meatballs. |
| D．He is permitted to fly freely inside the house. |
| A．I reacted properly to Luke’s behaviour. |
| B．Luck was attracted by my Spaghetti. |
| C．Luck made the room in a mess. |
| D．I was addicted to my reading. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Humorous. | C．Anxious. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．Love Me, Love My Dog | B．More Food Hurts the Body |
| C．Reading Can Be Dangerous | D．Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds |
8 . A newly-married Sweden couple on a four-month honeymoon were hit by a series of natural disasters, such as the Australian floods, Christchurch earthquake and Japanese tsunami.
Stefan and Erika Svanstrom left Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6 and were immediately trapped in Munich, Germany, due to one of Europe’s worst snowstorms. Traveling with their baby daughter, they flew on to Cairns in Australia which was then struck by one of the most fierce cyclones（龙卷风）in the nation's history. From there, the couple were forced to shelter for 24 hours on the cold floor of a shopping centre with 2500 others.
“Trees were being knocked over and big branches were scattered across the streets,” Mr Svanstrom told Sweden’s Expressen newspaper. “We escaped by the skin of our teeth. It was so close an encounter with death.
They then headed south to Brisbane but the city was experiencing massive flooding, so they crossed the country to Perth where they narrowly escaped raging bush fires. The couple then flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving just after a massive magnitude（震级）6.3 earthquake destroyed the city on February 22.
Mrs Svanstrom said, “When we got there the whole town was a war zone.”
“We could not visit the city since it was completely blocked off, so instead we traveled around before going to Japan.”
But days after the Svanstroms arrived. Tokyo was rocked by Japan’s largest earthquake since records began. “The trembling was horrible and we saw roofs fly off the buildings,” Mr Svanstrom said. “It was like the buildings were shaking back and forth.”
The family returned to Stockholm on March 29 after a much calmer visit to their last destination -China. But Mr Svanstrom - who also survived the destructive tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004 -said the marriage was still going strong. He added, “I know marriages have to endure some trials （考验）,but I think we have been through most of them. We’ve certainly experienced more than our fair share of disasters, but the most important thing is that we're together and happy.”
1. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?| A．The couple went to Perth because of the bush fire in Brisbane. |
| B．Christchurch, New Zealand was in ruins when the couple arrived. |
| C．The couple experienced the worst earthquake in Japan's hi story. |
| D．The couplet visit to China was comparatively uneventful. |
| A．We ran away in fear. |
| B．Our teeth were broken when we ran away. |
| C．We escaped with others' help. |
| D．We narrowly escaped death. |
| A．He dared not travel again in a period of time but would face any difficulty in his marriage. |
| B．He regarded the disasters as tests in their marriage and he felt they survived. |
| C．He thought they should share the suffering and would provide disaster relief to the affected areas. |
| D．He believed the horrible experience a sign that they should not be together. |
| A．A Series of Natural Disasters |
| B．An Indifferent Journey |
| C．A Close Look at Disasters |
| D．The Unforgettable Honeymoon From Hell |
9 . Something strange happened when I was 14 years old. Every previous year on Thanksgiving Day I’d woken up early, filled with excitement. But that Thanksgiving, for some reason I saw no reason to celebrate. None of my family were really thankful, I realized. The whole thing was a lie!
During the dinner time, I left, hiding in the guest room and cried. My mom came to see what was wrong. “No one is really thankful!” I sobbed, “They just pretend for one day because that’s what they’re supposed to do!”
After I finished talking, she nodded. “You’re right,” she told me. “It’s fake until you find the truth for yourself.” She said it was my choice whether to celebrate with them or not. She said Thanksgiving is a time to reflect because we don’t always get to see loved ones and eat a good meal. Then she left.
I didn’t listen to her, thinking that every holiday was a lie and I could never find joy celebrating again. But giving in to my starving stomach, I went back to the dining room in a few minutes. I couldn’t believe what I saw. My entire extended family was waiting for me with wide smiles and concerned looks, and the table was covered with untouched plates.
“Andy,” my aunt said, “We can’t eat without you. We’re waiting for your turn. Now you can start it.” I didn’t know what to say first. Finally, I said I was thankful for having a younger brother to teach, play with, and see grow.
The family shared, and everyone had something beautiful to say. Listening to what they said, I suddenly understood what my mom meant about finding out my own reason for celebrating. For me, this holiday was a chance to pause and reflect on everything I cared about.
And with that, I took a huge and satisfying bite of food.
1. Why did the author hide himself and cry on the Thanksgiving Day?| A．Because he got up too late |
| B．Because some of his family were absent. |
| C．Because he thought the dinner was tasteless. |
| D．Because he doubted the sincerity of others’ thankfulness. |
| A．She is very understanding. | B．She is strict with the author. |
| C．She disagreed with the author. | D．She showed great worry about the author. |
| A．Having dinner. | B．Expressing thankfulness. |
| C．Giving a performance. | D．Making a wish. |
| A．My loving mother | B．Love and lies |
| C．An inspiring Thanksgiving | D．An unforgettable dinner |
10 . One summer, when I was young, my dad built me a lemonade stand. On sunny days I would set up outside the local car wash with a cooler and my little black safe. I didn’t get many customers but I always had fun, whether I was reading a book or adding paint decorations to the safe and signs.
One customer I did have was an elderly gentleman who lived across the street from the car wash.
He would come every day where I set up and buy a glass of lemonade for his wife. Even though I only charged 25 cents, he always paid me with a $1 Sacagawea coin. I built up quite a collection by the end of the summer!
Now, as a college student, I make a point of stopping at as many lemonade stands as I can, always paying more than the kids charge me. This has been going on for almost three years now but this week, I didn’t have any money with me when I stopped at a little girl’s stand. I dug around in my car thoroughly and eventually opened up one of my moving boxes showing a black safe covered in soft cloth painted rainbows and hearts. I opened it up and sure enough, there were my Sacagawea coins. I almost shut the lid again because they mean so much to me, but then I realized that this is exactly why I had to pay with the coin. When I gave that little girl the shiny gold coin, I said, “You hang on to this one; they don’t make them any more!” And her face lit up. As I drove away, I saw her running to her sister to show her the gold coin and I knew that I had made her just as happy as I was when I was a little girl.
1. What did the gentleman pay the author for the lemonade?| A．25 cents every time. | B．A collection of gold coins. |
| C．A one-dollar gold coin each time. | D．A little black safe with many gold coins. |
| A．To pass the kindness. | B．To show her wealth. |
| C．To help the poor girl. | D．To make the girl happy. |
| A．Unwilling and hesitant. | B．Excited and willing. |
| C．Serious and pleased. | D．Peaceful and pleased. |
| A．A Kind Young Lady | B．A Shiny Gold Coin |
| C．A Wealthy Gentleman | D．A Happy Lemonade Stand |
