1 . A month after Hurricane Katrina, I returned home in New Orleans. There lay my house, reduced to waist-high ruins, smelly and dirty.
Before the trip, I’d had my car fixed. When the office employee of the garage was writing up the bill, she noticed my Louisiana license plate. “You from New Orleans?” she asked. I said I was. “No charge,” she said, and firmly shook her head when I reached for my wallet. The next day I went for a haircut, and the same thing happened.
As my wife was studying in Florida, we decided to move there and tried to find a rental house that we could afford while also paying off a mortgage(抵押贷款) on our ruined house. We looked at many places, but none was satisfactory. We’d begun to accept that we’d have to live in extremely reduced circumstances for a while, when I got a very curious e-mail from a James Kennedy in California. He’d read some pieces I’d written about our sufferings for Slate, the online magazine, and wanted to give us (“no conditions attached”) a new house across the lake from New Orleans.
It sounded too good to be true, but I replied, thanking him for his exceptional generosity, that we had no plans to go back. Then a poet at the University of Florida offered to let his house to me while he went to England on his one-year paid leave. The rent was rather reasonable. I mentioned the poet’s offer to James Kennedy, and the next day he sent a check covering our entire rent for eight months.
Throughout this painful experience, the kindness of strangers has done much to bring back my faith in humanity. It’s almost worth losing your worldly possessions to be reminded that people are really nice when given half a chance.
1. The garage employee’s attitude toward the author was that of ____.

A．unconcern

B．sympathy

C．doubt

D．tolerance

2. What do we know about James Kennedy?

A．He was a writer of an online magazine.

B．He was a poet at the University of Florida.

C．He offered the author a new house free of charge.

D．He learned about the author’s sufferings via e-mail.

3. It can be inferred from the text that____.

A．the author’s family was in financial difficulty.

B．rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster.

C．houses were difficult to find in the hurricane-stricken area.

D．the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank.

4. The author learned from his experience that ____.

A．worldly possessions can be given up when necessary.

B．generosity should be encouraged in some cases.

C．people benefit from their sad stories.

D．human beings are kind after all.

2 . What makes a gift special? Is it the price you see on the gift receipt? Or is it the look on the recipient's face when they receive it that determines the true value? What gift is worth the most?
This Christmas I was debating what to give my father. My dad is a hard person to buy for because he never wants anything. I pulled out my phone to read a text message from my mom saying that we were leaving for Christmas shopping for him when I came across a message on my phone that I had locked. The message was from my father. My eyes fell on a photo of a flower taken in Wyoming. and underneath a poem by William Blake. The flower, a lone dandelion standing against the bright blue sky, inspired me. My dad had been reciting those words to me since I was a kid. That may even be the reason why I love writing. I decided that those words would be my gift to my father.
I called back. I told my mom to go without me and that I already created my gift. I sent the photo of the cream-colored flower to my computer and typed the poem on top of it. As I was arranging the details another poem came to mind. The poem was written by Edgar Allan Poe; my dad recited it as much as he did the other. I typed that out as well and searched online for a background to the words of it. The poem was focused around dreaming, and after searching I found the perfect picture. The image was painted with blues and greens and purples, twisting together to create the theme and wonder of a dream. As I watched both poems passing through the printer, the white paper coloring with words that shaped my childhood. I felt that this was a gift that my father would truly appreciate.
Christmas soon arrived. The minute I saw the look on my dad's face as he unwrapped those swirling black letters carefully placed in a cheap frame, I knew I had given the perfect gift.
1. The idea for a special gift began to form when the author was______.

A．doing shopping	B．having a debate
C．reading a message	D．leaving for Wyoming

2. The author's inspiration for the gift came from_____.

A．a photo of a flower	B．a story about a kid
C．a call from the mother	D．a text about Christmas

3. The underlined word "it" in Paragraph 3 refers to a poem by_____.

A．the father	B．the author
C．William Blake	D．Edgar Allan Poe

4. The author made the gift by_____.

A．searching for the poems online

B．drawing the background by hand

C．painting the letters in three colors

D．matching the words with pictures

5. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To show how to design images for gifts.

B．To suggest making gifts from one's heart.

C．To explain how computers help create gifts.

D．To describe the gifts the author has received

3 . Our “Mommy and Me” time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down. “I wish I could take one of my children out alone,” said Christie.
Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I’ll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I’ll take someone out.
The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of “Mommy and Me” time. Christie’s daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. “She’s like a different child when there’s no one else around,” Christie shared with me quickly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn’t have to make an effort to gain attention.
Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering（口吃的）son, Tom, doesn’t stutter once during our activities since he doesn’t have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam, who’s always a follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together.
The “Mommy and Me” time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child ---talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves（应得到）to be an only child at least once in a while.
1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The experience of the only child being with mother.

B．The advantage of spending time with one child at a time.

C．The happy life of two families.

D．The basic needs of children.

2. Right after McKenzie came back, the other children were _____________.

A．happy

B．curious

C．regretful

D．friendly

3. What is one of the changes the author finds in her children?

A．The daughter acts like a leader.	B．Sam holds her hand more often.
C．The boys become better followers.	D．Tom has less difficulty in speaking.

4. The author seems to believe that ___________.

A．having brothers and sisters is fun

B．it’s tiring to look after three children

C．every child needs parents’ full attention

D．parents should watch others’ children

4 . My First Marathon（马拉松）

A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.

I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do either well. He later informed me that I was ＂not athletic＂.

The idea that I was ＂not athletic＂ stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!

The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.

Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!

At mile 3, I passed a sign: ＂GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!＂

By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.

By mile 21, I was starving!

As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.

I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.

Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a ＂marathon winner＂.

1. A month before the marathon, the author ____________.

A．was well trained	B．felt scared
C．made up his mind to run	D．lost hope

2. Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?

A．To acknowledge the support of his teacher.

B．To amuse the readers with a funny story.

C．To show he was not talented in sports.

D．To share a precious memory.

3. How was the author’s first marathon?

A．He made it.	B．He quit halfway.
C．He got the first prize.	D．He walked to the end.

4. What does the story mainly tell us?

A．A man owes his success to his family support.

B．A winner is one with a great effort of will.

C．Failure is the mother of success.

D．One is never too old to learn.

5 . When most of us get a text message on our cell phone from an unknown person, we usually say ＂sorry, ________ number!＂ and move on. But when Dennis Williams __________ a text that clearly wasn’t intended for him, he did something __________.

On March 19, Dennis got a group text __________ him that a couple he didn’t know were at the hospital, waiting for the __________ of a baby.

＂Congratulations! But I think someone was mistaken,＂ Dennis __________. The baby was born and update texts were __________ quickly from the overjoyed grandmother, Teresa. In her __________, she didn’t seem to realize that she was __________ the baby’s photos with a complete stranger. ＂Well, I don’t __________ you all but I will get there to take pictures with the baby,＂ replied Dennis before asking which room the new __________ were in.

Much to the family’s surprise, Dennis stuck to his __________! He turned up at the hospital __________ gifts for the new mother Lindsey and her baby boy. Lindsey’s husband was totally __________ by the unexpected visit. ＂I don’t think we would have randomly invited him over but we __________ it and the gifts.＂

Teresa __________ a photo of the chance meeting on a social networking website __________ by the touching words: ＂What a __________ this young man was to our family! He was so __________ and kind to do this.＂ The post has since gained the __________ of social media users all over the world, receiving more than 184,000 shares and 61,500 likes in just three days.

1.

A．unlucky

B．secret

C．new

D．wrong

2.

A．received

B．translated

C．copied

D．printed

3.

A．reasonable

B．special

C．necessary

D．practical

4.

A．convincing

B．reminding

C．informing

D．warning

5.

A．wake-up

B．recovery

C．growth

D．arrival

6.

A．responded

B．interrupted

C．predicted

D．repeated

7.

A．coming in

B．setting out

C．passing down

D．moving around

8.

A．opinion

B．anxiety

C．excitement

D．effort

9.

A．comparing

B．exchanging

C．discussing

D．sharing

10.

A．accept

B．know

C．believe

D．bother

11.

A．parents

B．doctors

C．patients

D．visitors

12.

A．dream

B．promise

C．agenda

D．principle

13.

A．bearing

B．collecting

C．opening

D．making

14.

A．discouraged

B．relaxed

C．astonished

D．defeated

15.

A．admit

B．need

C．appreciate

D．expect

16.

A．found

B．selected

C．developed

D．posted

17.

A．confirmed

B．simplified

C．clarified

D．accompanied

18.

A．pity

B．blessing

C．relief

D．problem

19.

A．smart

B．calm

C．sweet

D．fair

20.

A．sympathy

B．attention

C．control

D．trust

6 . We have all heard how time is more valuable than money, but is it ________ to have too much?

I________back in high school I spent most of my day at school since I also ________a team sport. By the time I got home, I only had a few hours to do my homework, and I had to do it __________

When I got into college, things ________ I suddenly found myself out of class before noon time. Because of all this __________ there was no sense of __________ to do my school work immediately. I was performing this action of waiting until it later became ________. Once that happened, I just kept________my studying further and further back in my day. Then I got to the point where I was__________really late at night to get my work alone.

One day I __________a former classmate of mine who was __________ a lot of money running a sideline(副业).Since his regular job was __________, I asked him why he just didn't do his sideline full-time. He said without the job, he would __________ have too much time and would just do what I did back in__________.He said that if he __________the job, he would lose his __________ to work and succeed.

So, try __________ your time with other work. This is why there is a __________ that if you want something done, ask a __________person to do it.

1.

A．true

B．fair

C．strange

D．possible

2.

A．remember

B．admit

C．understand

D．expect

3.

A．watched

B．loved.

C．Coached

D．played

4.

A．at last

B．right away

C．of course

D．mattered

5.

A．happened

B．repeated

C．changed

D．mattered

6.

A．extra

B．difficult.

C．valuable

D．limited

7.

A．duty

B．achievement

C．urgency

D．direction

8.

A．burden

B．relief

C．risk

D．habit

9.

A．pushing

B．taking

C．setting

D．calling

10.

A．hanging out

B．staying up

C．jogging round

D．showing off

11.

A．met

B．helped

C．treated

D．hired

12.

A．raising

B．wasting

C．demanding

D．making

13.

A．safe

B．important

C．boring

D．rewarding

14.

A．luckily

B．hardly

C．hopefully

D．simply

15.

A．childhood

B．college

C．town

D．business

16.

A．quit

B．found

C．accepted

D．kept

17.

A．heart

B．chance

C．drive

D．way

18.

A．saving

B．filling up

C．giving up

D．trading

19.

A．message

B．story

C．saying

D．fact

20.

A．careful

B．busy

C．reliable

D．kind

7 . During my second year at the city college，I was told that the education department was offering a "free"course, called Thinking Chess, for three credits. I _________the idea of taking the class because, after all, who doesn't want to _________ a few dollars? More than that, I'd always wanted to learn chess. And, even if I weren’t _________enough about free credits, news about our _________was appealing enough to me. He was an international grandmaster, which _________ I would be learning from one of the game's _________. I could hardly wait to _________him.

Maurice Ashley was kind and smart, a former graduate returning to teach, and this _________was no game for him: he meant business. In his introduction, he made it _________that our credits would be hard-earned. In order to __________the class, among other criteria, we had to write a paper on how we plan to __________what we would learn in class to our future professions and, __________, to our lives. I managed to get an A in that __________and learned life lessons that have served me well beyond the __________.

Ten years after my chess class with Ashley, I'm still putting to use what he __________me: “The absolute most important __________that you learn when you play chess is how to make good __________. On every single move you have to __________a situation, process what your opponent(对手）is doing and __________the best move from among all your options.”These words still ring true today in my __________as a journalist.

1.

A．put forward

B．jumped at

C．tried out

D．turned down

2.

A．waste

B．earn

C．save

D．pay

3.

A．excited

B．worried

C．moved

D．tired

4.

A．title

B．competitor

C．textbook

D．instructor

5.

A．urged

B．demanded

C．held

D．meant

6.

A．fastest

B．easiest

C．best

D．rarest

7.

A．interview

B．meet

C．challenge

D．beat

8.

A．chance

B．qualification

C．honor

D．job

9.

A．real

B．perfect

C．clear

D．possible

10.

A．attend

B．pass

C．skip

D．observe

11.

A．add

B．expose

C．apply

D．compare

12.

A．eventually

B．naturally

C．directly

D．normally

13.

A．game

B．presentation

C．course

D．experiment

14.

A．criterion

B．classroom

C．department

D．situation

15.

A．taught

B．wrote

C．questioned

D．promised

16.

A．fact

B．step

C．manner

D．skill

17.

A．grades

B．decisions

C．impressions

D．comments

18.

A．analyze

B．describe

C．rebuild

D．control

19.

A．announce

B．signal

C．block

D．evaluate

20.

A．role

B．desire

C．concern

D．behavior

8 . Some people live to climb the highest mountains. Some people live only dreaming about it while others live to avoid ever climbing at all. But one thing is certain, all people encounter mountains in their life.

When I was a little girl, my family moved to a tiny town at the bottom of a big mountain. One day after school, while exploring the green woods of this magnificent mountain, I almost fell on a set of stairs. What could these steps lead to? Curiosity got the best of me as I knew it would be starting to get dark soon. I started climbing up those strangely mysterious steps.

I climbed and climbed. There was nothing but just green bushes and these steps. I had to reach the top! But it was now getting real dark. If I kept going I might not be able to see my way back. My mom would be worried sick if I didn’t come home soon. So I ran back home almost in the dark while trying not to get too scared.

Anxiously I went to bed dreaming about what I would find at the top of this magical mountain. Could there be a castle up there? Maybe I would find a monster(怪物). Maybe I was taking the risk of never coming back home. Or, maybe all I would find was absolutely nothing! But something inside me was going to climb that mountain at all cost. I could hardly wait to try this adventure again.

Now we live in a world surrounded by the "can’t do" attitudes. We all fall down. We all have doubts and regrets. Still we must climb and dream about what’s at the top of our mountain. Monsters may appear or the night will fall. But never ever give up on your dream! Never let anyone tell you, "You can’t." Dream big and climb high!

1. What made the author start to climb up the stairs to the mountain top? (no more than 5 words)
2. Why did the author hurry back home without reaching the top of the mountain? Give two reasons. (no more than 15 words)
3. How would you describe the author in terms of personalities according to Paragraph 4? (no more than 10 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph? (no more than 5 words)
5. What’s your attitude towards the "mountain" in your life? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)

9 . “Planning is good, but doing is better”是一句英国名言。请以此为题用英语写一篇100~120词的短文。
要求如下：
1.简述你对这句名言的理解；
2.用一个具体事例加以说明；
3.给出恰当的结尾。
注意：1.文章的标题已给出（不计词数）：
2.文中不得以任何形式透露地区、学校、老师或同学姓名等真实信息，否则按作弊行为认定。

Planning Is Good, But Doing Is Better

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Hundreds of people have formed impressions of you through that little device (装置) on your desk. And they’ve never actually ____ you. Everything they know about you ____ through this device, sometimes from hundreds of miles away. ____ they feel they can know you ____ from the sound of your voice. That’s how powerful the ____ is.

Powerful, yes, but not always ____. For years I dealt with my travel agent only by phone. Rani, my faceless agent whom I’d never met ____, got me rock-bottom prices on airfares, cars, and hotels. But her cold voice really ____ me. I sometimes wished to ____ another agent.

One morning, I had to ____ an immediate flight home for a family emergency. I ran into Rani’s office ____. The woman sitting at the desk, ____ my madness, sympathetically jumped up. She gave me a ____ smile, nodded while listening patiently, and then printed out the ____ immediately. ＂What a wonderful lady! ＂ I thought.

Rushing out ____ I called out over my shoulder, ＂By the way, what’s your name?＂ ＂I’m Rani,＂ she said.   I turned around and saw a ____ woman with a big smile on her face waving to wish me a safe trip. I was ____! Why had I thought she was cold? Rani was, well, so ____.

Sitting back in the car on the way to the airport, I figured it all out. Rani’s ____ — her warm smile, her nods, her ‘I’m here for you’ ____ — were all silent signals that didn’t travel through wires.

1.

A．accepted

B．noticed

C．heard

D．met

2.

A．came

B．moved

C．ran

D．developed

3.

A．Thus

B．Yet

C．Then

D．Indeed

4.

A．rather

B．also

C．just

D．already

5.

A．telephone

B．voice

C．connection

D．impression

6.

A．direct

B．useful

C．easy

D．accurate

7.

A．in person

B．by myself

C．in public

D．on purpose

8.

A．annoyed

B．interested

C．discouraged

D．confused

9.

A．promote

B．train

C．find

D．know

10.

A．arrange

B．postpone

C．confirm

D．book

11.

A．for the first time

B．at any time

C．from time to time

D．in good time

12.

A．expecting

B．seeing

C．testing

D．avoiding

13.

A．shy

B．comforting

C．familiar

D．forced

14.

A．bill

B．form

C．ticket

D．list

15.

A．hopefully

B．disappointedly

C．gratefully

D．regretfully

16.

A．careful

B．serious

C．nervous

D．pleasant

17.

A．amused

B．worried

C．helpless

D．speechless

18.

A．calm

B．nice

C．proud

D．clever

19.

A．forgiveness

B．eagerness

C．friendliness

D．skillfulness

20.

A．explanation

B．attitude

C．concept

D．behavior