1 . The meaning of the word “volunteer ” may be a little different in different countries, but it usually means “one who offers his or her services.” There are many different ways in which people can volunteer, such as taking care of sick people, working in homes for homeless children, and picking up garbage(垃圾) from beaches and parks. Volunteers may work within their own countries or in other countries. They are often people with a strong wish to help those who are less fortunate than themselves. Volunteers don’t expect any kind of pay.
At the root of volunteering is the idea that one person may have the ability to offer services that can help other people. Tracy, a good friend of mine, however, recently came back from India with a ____ of what being a volunteer means. She worked for two and a half weeks in one of Mother Teresa’s homes in Calcutta. The following is her story.
“I first heard about Mother Teresa in my high school, we watched a video(录像) about her work in India and all over the world. I was so moved by her spirit to help others and her endless love for every human being that after I graduated from high school, I too wanted to try her kind of work. So with two friends I flew to Calcutta for a few weeks.”
“I was asked to work in a home for sick people. I helped wash clothes and sheets, and pass out lunch. I also fed the people who were too weak to feed themselves and tried to cheer the up. I felt it was better to share with them than to think that I have helped them. To be honest, I don’t think I was helping very much. It was then that I realized that I had not really come to help, but to learn about and experience another culture(文化) that helped improve my own understanding of life and the world.”
1. According to the text, a volunteer refers to a person who ______.

A．is willing to help those in need without pay	B．can afford to travel to different places
C．has a strong wish to be successful	D．has made a big fortune in life

2. Tracy started her work as a volunteer _______.

A．after she met Mother Teresa

B．after she finished high school

C．when she was touring Calcutta

D．when she was working in a hospital

3. Why did Tracy choose to be a volunteer?

A．She liked to work with Mother Teresa.

B．She had already had some experience.

C．She was asked by Mother Teresa’s example.

D．She wanted to follow Mother Teresa’s example.

4. What is Tracy’s “new idea” (Paragraph 2) of being a volunteer?

A．Going abroad to help the sick.

B．Working in Mother Teresa’s home.

C．Doing simple things to help the poor.

D．Improving oneself through helping others.

2 . It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of the dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories fleshed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. it’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture … Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.

Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside, “Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bernett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes. Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved: “Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

“Oh. My God! This is the thing he valued most …”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

1. Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

A．College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Belser.

B．Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.

C．Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.

D．His present busy life washed away his children memories.

2. Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that _________.

A．Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing

B．Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday

C．Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address

D．Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

3. Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?

A．Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.

B．Because he had no children or relatives.

C．Because he thought he had to keep his word.

D．Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.

4. Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?

A．He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.

B．He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.

C．He had missed his son and his family for days.

D．He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.

5. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A．The Good Old Times	B．What He Valued Most
C．An Old Gold Watch	D．The Lost Childhood Days

3 . There was once a group of young people searching everywhere for happiness, but what they got was only annoyance, grief and misery.

So they ______ Socrates (苏格拉底) for advice on where happiness ______. But ____ giving any answers, Socrates asked them to help with building a _______ first. The group of guys had to ______ the task, laying aside their own business of seeking happiness. It took them a long time to cut down a tall tree, digging out the center. Through painstaking effort, they made a canoe out of the tree. They launched the canoe into a river, and then ______ together in it, singing with ______.

Socrates asked, “My children, do you have happiness now?” They answered in chorus: “We   ______ be happier!” Socrates ______ , “That’s it! _______   you are too busy pursuing something to notice anything bitter, happiness will occur.”
          From the story I got to know that happiness ______ hides behind every tiny thing that you are involved in, and that you may only get pleasure through ______ work and creativity.
        We may have to ______ pain in our daily life and in the process of ________ happiness. Sometimes we tend to look for happiness in ______ things, like a new car, clothes, etc. True long-term happiness, ________, comes from within our _______ and spirit. So why not turn suffering into ______ life, and turn tears into the light in your heart? Only in this way can we find true happiness.
        So my dear friends, just remember happiness is a state of mind and a matter of _______ , and I   ________you all a life of happiness.1.

A．pointed to

B．turned to

C．referred to

D．returned to

2.

A．stood

B．belonged

C．lay

D．laid

3.

A．instead of

B．apart from

C．other than

D．regardless of

4.

A．house

B．boat

C．bridge

D．school

5.

A．set out

B．set down

C．set about

D．set up

6.

A．sat

B．lay

C．rowed

D．got

7.

A．hope

B．sorrow

C．curiosity

D．joy

8.

A．mustn’t

B．couldn’t

C．shouldn’t

D．needn’t

9.

A．added

B．thought

C．declared

D．assumed

10.

A．Unless

B．However

C．Until

D．Whenever

11.

A．always

B．never

C．ever

D．seldom

12.

A．cautious

B．endless

C．hard

D．simple

13.

A．experience

B．avoid

C．enjoy

D．deny

14.

A．searching

B．looking

C．seeking

D．improving

15.

A．spiritual

B．material

C．new

D．nice

16.

A．therefore

B．however

C．furthermore

D．moreover

17.

A．body

B．part

C．soul

D．head

18.

A．praising

B．blaming

C．ending

D．cursing

19.

A．time

B．method

C．fact

D．choice

20.

A．promise

B．wish

C．request

D．require

4 . Living an Adventurous Life

     Nearly ten years ago, I was told that I had a brain tumor, and this experience changed my attitude about adventure forever. I thought that I was going to die and that all my adventures were over. I did not have a brain tumor, it turned out, but rather multiple sclerosis, which meant that, although they were not over, the nature of my adventures could have to change.
     Each morning that I wake up is a fresh event, something that I might not have had. Each gesture that I make carries the weight of uncertainty and demands significant attention: buttoning my shirt, changing a light bulb, walking down stairs. I might not be able to do it this time. If I could not delight in them, they would likely drown me in anger and in self-pity.

I admire the grand adventures of others. I read about them with interest. With Peter Matthiessen I have hiked across the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain. I have walked with Annie Dillard up, down, into, and across Tinker Creek in all Seasons. David Bain has gone with me along 110 miles of Philippine coast, and Ed Abbey has rowed me down the Colorado River. I enjoy the adventures of these courageous figures, who can strike out on difficult trips—2 miles, 250 miles, 3000 miles—ready to bear cold and tiredness—indeed not just to bear but to celebrate.

     But as for me, I can no longer walk very far from the armchair in which I read. Some days I don't even make it to the backyard. And yet I'm unwilling to give up the adventurous life, the difficulty of it, even the pain, the anxiety and fear, and the sudden brief lift of spirit that makes a hard journey more attractive.
     I refine adventure, make it smaller and smaller. And now, whether I am moving on my hands and knees across the dining room to help my cat, lying wide-eyed in the dark battling another period of sadness, gathering flowers from the garden, meeting a friend for lunch, I am always having the adventures that are mine to have.
1. What happens to the author after her illness?

A．She has a fear of medical treatments.	B．She travels to places she has dreamed.
C．She can't take care of herself any longer	D．She is not drowned in anger and self-pity.

2. Why does the author admire the people mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．Because they write popular novels.	B．Because they are great adventurers.
C．Because they are famous geographers.	D．Because they struggle with hardship in life

3. The author ends the article with a feeling of______.

A．sadness

B．sacrifice

C．security

D．satisfaction

4. What does "adventurous life" in the title mean to the author?

A．The struggles of great people against difficulties.

B．Her concern about giving up certain activities.

C．Her adapting to the situation with an illness.

D．The exciting traveling experience of others.

5. What conclusion can we draw from the passage?

A．Travel can enrich a person's life.

B．Reading is an activity that a patient enjoys most.

C．A positive attitude can improve a difficult situation.

D．A person's ability can be improved through reading.