1 . It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.

My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas’ sage, so I asked him, “What was the best time of your life?”

Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, “Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question.”

“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.”

“The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.”

“When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.”

“And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”

1. Why did the author feel anxious according to the article?

A．He would be 30 in two days.

B．He was worried about getting old.

C．He didn’t go to the gym to exercise.

D．Nicholas asked questions he didn’t want to answer.

2. What do we know about Nicholas’ life experiences?

A．He spent his childhood with his grandparents in Austria.

B．He dropped out of school, found a job and got paid.

C．He took part in the Second World War and met his wife.

D．He started a family and became a young father in Canada.

3. What do you think of Nicholas’s life?

A．Casual.

B．Anxious.

C．Positive.

D．Negative.

4. What can we learn from Nicholas?

A．Live a day at a time.	B．You get what you pay for.
C．Every man has his price.	D．Strike while the iron is hot.

2 . I was an avid (热衷的) list maker. I thought the lists would help me finish things more ________ so that I would have my own ________ each day. Instead, I felt tired all the time, and it was hard to fall asleep as I ________ my to-do list for the next day in my mind. I was ________ and painful.

My real turning ________ came about a few years ago. I was having the inside of our house painted. ________, I had to move all things out of the painters’ way. After the painting, I decided to think about what I would put back. I ________ many decorations because they made the rooms small and ________. And the house felt so much more open, peaceful and beautiful. When I started to hang our calendar back up, I noticed how ________ each day was. Every square was filled in. I decided to continue my ________ of the calendar.

It was near the end of July, so I ________ “clearing” August and September. I kept doctors’ appointments (预约) and family events. But I ________ extra tasks I had taken on that left me very little time to relax, read or spend time with my family. I felt a great sense of ________ after that.

I still make ________ to keep myself organized, but I am down to one page. I schedule time for myself each day — to do what I ________. The tidy beauty of our home and schedule gives me great peace and joy.

1.

A．naturally

B．secretly

C．effectively

D．creatively

2.

A．duty

B．time

C．method

D．reason

3.

A．adapted to

B．searched for

C．depended on

D．went over

4.

A．amazed

B．stressed

C．bored

D．pleased

5.

A．point

B．occasion

C．opportunity

D．stage

6.

A．Otherwise

B．However

C．Besides

D．Thus

7.

A．put up

B．took over

C．threw away

D．broke through

8.

A．dark

B．crowded

C．warm

D．unusual

9.

A．meaningful

B．different

C．full

D．long

10.

A．preparing

B．recovering

C．clearing

D．establishing

11.

A．imagined

B．missed

C．avoided

D．started

12.

A．removed

B．challenged

C．ensured

D．preserved

13.

A．eagerness

B．shame

C．relief

D．belonging

14.

A．profits

B．lists

C．wishes

D．goals

15.

A．want

B．prove

C．approach

D．inspire

3 . An old man lives with his little grandson. Every day the old man gets up early to read books.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I want to read books as you do. But I always forget what I read. What are the advantages of reading?”

The grandfather didn’t answer him, but said, “Take this little basket to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as his grandpa said, but all the water leaked out before he got back home. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to walk faster next time.”

The next time the boy ran faster, but the basket was still empty before he returned home. The boy said, “See, Grandpa, it’s no use!”

“Is it no use?” the old man said. “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and found that the basket was different. It was cleaner, inside and out.

“That’s what happens when you read books. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read them, you will be changed, inside and out.”

1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．After the grandson reads books, he can’t understand what he reads.

B．After the grandson reads books, he gets up late.

C．After the grandson reads books, he always forgets what he reads.

D．After the grandson reads books, he sleeps late.

2. How many times did the grandson go to the river to get some water?

A．Once.

B．Twice.

C．Three times.

D．Four times.

3. According to the grandpa’s words, what happens when we read books?

A．We won’t have any changes.

B．We can understand everything.

C．We will be changed, inside and out.

D．We can never forget what we read.

4 . I still remember that busy autumn evening as I hurried with my eldest daughter, Athena, to get to her classroom on time for the parent-teacher night. We walked in and all eyes were on me. A few adults quickly quieted their kids’ whispers. A classmate yelled to my daughter, “What’s wrong with your mom’s face?” Shocked, I started to explain my condition, but my six-year-old daughter looked at him and said, “It’s my mom’s birthmark! Don’t be rude!” I was extremely proud of how she handled that situation.

I was quite young when I realized I looked different because of my large facial birthmark. I always thought I would be alone because of it. Being compared to Batman’s evil Two-Face made me believe I could never find love. But I was lucky enough to meet my husband, who saw me for who I am inside. When I had my first daughter, I was overjoyed, but I began to worry if the world would judge my children. I always worried I might pass my condition onto my children; I didn’t want them to grow up feeling judged. Unfortunately, my facial difference has impacted my children. My daughters get disinvited from birthday parties or sleepovers, or I learn certain kids are no longer friends with mine after their parents saw me at school.

When my kids were young, I explained how my special purple skin was rare and we talked about acceptance and never judging others on how they look. When my girls kiss my purple-skinned cheek, I feel “normal” around them and their unconditional love. With time going by, both my daughters have become my strongest supporters. Thanks to them, I’ve begun to feel more self-confident as I try to be a good role model.

Their worldviews are similar to mine. We see the world a little differently and with a kinder, more accepting heart. As the saying goes, your daughters will grow up to be your best friends. I know that will be the case for me!

1. What happened when the author went to attend the parent-teacher night?

A．Athena was praised by others for her bravery and optimism.

B．Athena defended her mother against her classmate’s rudeness.

C．Some parents criticized their kids because of their misbehaviour.

D．The author felt shocked at her daughter’s response to her classmate.

2. According to paragraph 2, which of the following views might the author agree with?

A．Friendship needs to be watered by love.

B．We should treat our children as best friends.

C．We should accept other people’s differences.

D．Our ability to handle difficulties can be developed.

3. How are the daughters influenced by the author’s birthmark?

A．They have to drop out of school.

B．They have the same physical condition as me.

C．They have difficulty maintaining friendships.

D．They feel worried because they are often judged.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．A birthmark to live with.	B．My strongest supporters.
C．A kind and accepting heart.	D．The confidence to be different.

5 . There are many kinds of friends. Some are always ______ you, but don’t understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but understand you. Many people will step in your life, but only ______ friends leave footprints.

I shall always recall (回忆) the autumn and the girl with the ______. She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.

It was the golden season. I could see the ______ leaves floating (漂浮) with the cool wind. In such a season, I liked walking alone in the leaves, ______ to the sound of them.

Autumn is a harvest season and life is uninteresting. The boring days always get me ______. But one day, the sound of a violin flowed into my ears like a stream (小溪) flowing in the mountains. I was so surprised that I jumped to see what it was. A young girl, standing in the wind, was ______ in playing her violin.

I had ______ seen her before. The music was so nice that I listened quietly. Absorbed in the music, I didn’t know that I had been ______ there for so long but my existence (存在) did not seem to disturb her.

Leaves were still falling. Every day ______ she played the violin in the comer of the building, I went downstairs to watch her performance. I was the only listener. The autumn seemed no longer lonely and life became ______. Though we didn’t know each other, I thought we were already good friends.

Autumn was nearly over. One day, when I was listening carefully, the sound suddenly ______. To my surprise, the girl came over to me.

“You definitely like violin.” she said.

“Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?” I asked.

Suddenly, a ______ expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual. “I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It was your listening every day that encouraged me.” she said.

“______ it was your playing that gave me a meaningful autumn,” I answered, “Let’s be friends.”

The girl smiled, and so did I.

I never heard her play again in my life. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the fine ______ of the girl. She is like a dream—so short, so bright, like a shooting star giving off so much light that it makes the autumn beautiful.

1.

A．against

B．for

C．with

D．to

2.

A．true

B．humorous

C．funny

D．old

3.

A．leaves

B．violin

C．play

D．song

4.

A．yellow

B．purple

C．green

D．blue

5.

A．turning

B．referring

C．seeing

D．listening

6.

A．down

B．off

C．up

D．over

7.

A．busy

B．interested

C．lost

D．active

8.

A．often

B．once

C．never

D．usually

9.

A．standing

B．stopping

C．waiting

D．hearing

10.

A．because

B．so

C．but

D．when

11.

A．moving

B．interesting

C．encouraging

D．exciting

12.

A．stopped

B．began

C．rose

D．changed

13.

A．surprised

B．happy

C．strange

D．sad

14.

A．In conclusion

B．In fact

C．In short

D．In total

15.

A．figure

B．symbol

C．expression

D．sun

7 . Happiness is for everyone. You don’t need to care about those people who have beautiful houses with large gardens and swimming pools or those who have nice cars and a lot of money and so on. Why? Because those who have big houses may often feel lonely and those who have cars may want to walk on the country roads at their free time.

In fact, happiness is always around you if you put your heart into it. When you are in trouble at school, your friends will help you; when you study hard at your lessons, your parents are always taking good care of your life and your health; when you get success, your friends will say congratulations to you; when you do something wrong, people around you will help you to correct(改正) it. And when you do something good to others, you will feel happy, too. All these are your happiness. If you notice them, you can see that happiness is always around you.

Happiness is not the same as money. It is a feeling of your heart. When you are poor, you can also say you are very happy, because you have something else that can’t be bought with money. When you meet with difficulties, you can say loudly you are very happy, because you have more chances(机会) to challenge yourself. So you cannot always say you are poor and you have bad luck. As the saying goes, life is like a revolving(旋转)door. When it closes, it also opens. If you take every chance you get, you can be a happy and lucky person.

1. Happiness is for_________.

A．those who have large and beautiful houses	B．those who have cars
C．those who have a lot of money	D．all people

2. When you do something wrong, _________.

A．you may correct it	B．you will have no chance to challenge yourself
C．anybody will laugh at you	D．you will be happy

3. Which is the title of the passage?

A．Do Something Good to Others	B．Happy and Lucky
C．Happiness	D．Life and Success

9 . A man was fishing on the bank of a river. A boy came to see him fishing. The man was really good at fishing and he could catch a full basket of fish in a short time. The man saw that the boy was very cute, and he wanted to give him a whole basket of fish. But the boy shook his head. The man was surprised and asked, “Why don’t you want the fish? ”

The boy replied, “I want the fishing rod(竿)in your hands.”

The man asked, “Why do you want the rod? ”

“I will eat up all the fish in the basket soon, but if I have the fishing rod,I can use it to catch a lot of fish by myself.”

Many people will certainly say the boy is very smart...wrong! If he doesn’t know fishing skills. He can’t catch fish without a fishing rod. It’s useless to only have a fishing rod, fishing skills are more important than having a fishing rod.

Many people want to have a “fishing rod” in their life. They are just like the boy, they thought that if they had a fishing rod, they would have fish to eat. Life is full of exciting things, we should try to learn fishing skills instead of having a fishing rod.

1. The man was fishing on the bank of________.

A．a river

B．a lake

C．a pool

D．a sea

2. Many people thought the boy was________after he explained why he didn’t want the fish.

A．smart

B．silly

C．wrong

D．hardworking

3. Life is full exciting things,we should try to________.

A．fish

B．eat fish

C．learn fishing skills

D．have a fishing rod

10 . The fall leaves are really starting to change now. It looks like the trees and mountains have become a canvas painted by a loving artist. The bright, beautiful reds are_________in the sunlight and the yellows look like gold. Some trees have only a few leaves changed, some are half-way and others have already completely_________. Some of the leaves are falling to the ground to turn it into a colorful_________. I am enjoying this so much because I am completely aware when winter arrives all of the trees will be_________with the leaves down. It is always a little sad to see but I know it is the circle of life. Those dead leaves will become the soil that feeds the trees and_________new life next spring.

Today I noticed a lovely little girl from our community picking up the fallen leaves from the ground. The prettiest reds, yellows, and oranges were picked up and_________in her arms. Soon she had quite a pile and carefully carried them over to her Mom and then with a smile gave them to her as if they were delicate flowers. Her Mom accepted them with a smile and together they put them out on their porch and stared at them like the priceless_________.

I watched this_________from my living room window with a smile on my face as well. The world creates a circle of love as well as a circle of life. And I am positive that the former like the latter will never end. It will_________all through this life and into the next. Take your place in the circle. Give love. Receive love. Live every day of your life to the__________with love. And your soul will shine bright like the most beautiful tree in autumn.

1.

A．shining

B．burning

C．flashing

D．shaking

2.

A．gone

B．reserved

C．fixed

D．transformed

3.

A．pad

B．bed

C．curtain

D．carpet

4.

A．fruitful

B．bare

C．safe

D．natural

5.

A．tears up

B．brings about

C．holds back

D．differs from

6.

A．held

B．received

C．admired

D．searched

7.

A．potentials

B．chances

C．treasures

D．exchanges.

8.

A．scene

B．view

C．story

D．notice

9.

A．return

B．break

C．continue

D．panic

10.

A．fastest

B．easiest

C．coolest

D．fullest