terrible weather it is today! We can’t play football in the playground.

A. What B. What a C. What an D. How

—How can you say you are not guilty?

—It that you have something to do with the murder.

A. turned around B. turned out C. turned off D. turned on

Reading is useful. It can make our minds .

A. harder B. later C. wider D. slower

—Where is Tom?

—I’m not sure. Maybe he is in the music room. He was often heard songs in it.

A. sing B. to sing C. singing D. sang

—I do sports at least half an hour every day.

—Oh, great. .

A. Good luck B. Cheer up C. My pleasure D. Come on

—Lily, can you guess such cool trainers?

—I’ve heard that your parents gave them to you as a reward for your great performance in the English competition.

A. when I got B. how I got C. where I bought D. how much I paid for

When it comes to the word to describe the weather in the UK, “dramatic” is the first word coming to my mind.

If you’ve ______ about the basic introductory articles about the UK, you may know “whether” is always an easy-to-use topic to start a conversation ______ you come across a stranger. A typical (典型的) start of a conversation between two people ______ at the door of a store may be like, “It’s rainy again,” one says, and the other goes, “Yeah. You ______ to take an umbrella as well?” The former (前者) may respond, “Obviously. Haha.”

You may also have heard about a saying that “How’s the weather in the UK? Well, ______, it’s pretty good. It only rains twice a year. One is four months, and the other is eight months.” Even though it’s a ______, it tells almost the truth about how terrible the weather can be in the UK. The first ______ will be warm sunshine place when they plan for travelling. That’s why the coast in Spain and Italy has been the most ______ tourist destinations among the British.

The weather forecast of BBC is the most boring TV program, ______ you always need to prepare for the rain no matter what the weathermen say. Although weather in the UK is so dramatic that weather forecast is never reliable, it wouldn’t be a big ______ for British people, as they always prepare an umbrella for the rain.

1.A. talked B. read C. cared D. thought

2.A. after B. before C. when D. until

3.A. standing B. working C. shouting D. kicking

4.A. decided B. forgot C. hoped D. regretted

5.A. in all B. in fact C. in general D. in public

6.A. joke B. notice C. report D. survey

7.A. event B. design C. change D. choice

8.A. polluted B. comfortable C. impossible D. popular

9.A. while B. because C. though D. unless

10.A. result B. puzzle C. problem D. dream

You may never know how valuable something is when it can not be fixed. And it could be a lovely moment you lose forever.

I grew up with very practical parents. My mother washed aluminum foil (鋁箔紙) after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the recycle queen, before they had a name for it.

My father was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good. Their dreams focused. Their best friends lived so near. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, T-shirt and a hat and Mum in a house dress, lawn mower (割草機) in one hand, dishtowel in the other.

It was the time for fixing things — a curtain rod (桿), the kitchen radio, the oven door, the hem (褶邊) in a dress — things we kept.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste somewhat meant affluence (富裕). Throwing things away meant you knew there would always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer’s night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any more.

Sometimes what we care about most gets all used up and goes away… never to return. So, while we have it, it’s best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken, and heal it when it’s sick.

This is true for marriage, old cars and children with bad report cards, dogs with bad hips, aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

1.The writer really wanted to tell us .

A. her mum was the recycle queen.

B. her dad liked fixing old shoes.

C. throwing things meant there would be more

D. we should cherish (珍惜) what we care about while we have it

2.What does the underlined word “struck” mean?

A. knocked B. touched C. stuck D. caught

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned according to the passage?

A. Fixing things is a way of life.

B. Waste somewhat meant affluence.

C. The writer’s family was very poor.

D. The writer’s parents were practical.

From Baby’s Doodles (亂涂) to Mother’s Paintings

It all started by accident (偶然) when Eve discovered her mother’s ink pen and loved using it.

Eve’s mother, Ruth is so artistic that she is able to change Eve’s random (隨意的) lines into shapes which are easily recognized (辨認(rèn)). A random curve (曲線) becomes an elephant’s ear, and crooked (彎曲的) lines become the branches of a tree. Nothing seems to escape her eye — she can see and paint the outline of a woman’s face or the hooked nose of a bird where most people would just see meaningless scratches (亂涂亂畫).

Since then, the mother and daughter have worked together on several quite attractive pieces. The process begins with Eve using a black ink pen to make her “sketches” (草圖). Later, Ruth takes over with her water-colours, quickly turning the doodles into a “grown-up” painting.

“All of the pieces are completed within 30 to 60 minutes, the reason for this is that I don’t want to give myself any room to over analyze (過度分析) or second guess,” Ruth wrote on her blog.

According to Ruth, children can help bring out creativity in adults. “As we get older, we tend to (趨向于) create a box that everything is supposed to fit neatly into. As a child, there is no box. It is just endless freedom to explore any and every possibility of creativity and adventure,” she said. “I feel so blessed that my daughter can remind me once again what it is like to paint like a child.”

1.What does Eve NOT draw using her mother’s ink pen?

A. The Branches of a tree. B. Crooked lines.

C. Meaningless scratches. D. Random lines.

2.What’s the process of Eve’s sketches to her mother’s painting?

① Ruth spends within 30-60 minutes turning doodles into a painting.

② Eve uses a black ink pen to make her sketches.

③ Ruth takes over with her water-colours.

A. ③②① B. ①②③ C. ②③① D. ②①③

3.How does Ruth think of children and adults?

A. Children are more creative than adults.

B. Adults are more creative than children.

C. Children tend to over analyze something.

D. Adults explore any possibility of adventure.

Four years ago, I, a 17-year-old girl, arrived at Wellesley College. I cried when my parents dropped me off in my dormitory (宿舍). I thought to myself, “This is what loneliness feels like.” Just at that time, I had forgotten how excited I was for college.

Four years has nearly passed, I am now 21 years old, just two months from graduating from college. Once again, I have reached a critical juncture (緊要關(guān)頭) in my life where I am going to be alone in a new way.

In four years, I have experienced a lot, happy time, sad moment and ordinary days. How grateful I am for the ones who have shown me the way and taught me to be strong when I felt hopeless. How lucky I am to know that I have a home to return to, a home where chaos (混亂) and arguments may occur, but where I still feel safe. A place where I am loved unconditionally, regardless of my mistakes.

Tomorrow, my mother turns 50. It is because of my mother that I’ve learned to love myself, to respect myself, and above all, to be a good person. It is because of her that even throughout all of my hardships and struggles, I have known that giving up is not and will not ever be a choice. It is because of her that I have truly learned the lesson that age is only a number, and what matters is your spirit and character.

My mother and I have sometimes clashed (沖突) head. She is the strongest person I know, the person who I disagree most. She has told me that I am the only person that is responsible for my life. But today I have to tell her that she has been wrong.

She doesn’t realize that there is another person who will never leave me. There’s another person who will always there for me and who will love me forever. That person is her. She is the first person I will call when I am sad, in trouble, or feeling blue. She will never lie to me to spare my feelings (不使我傷心).

I have come so far these fast four years. I still have a long life to live. A life that I hope will be full of adventure, success, and happiness. Although my mum was right when telling me that I am the only one responsible for what happens in my life. Mom, you’ve helped me so far. You are my hero. One day I hope to be like you.

1.When arriving at the dormitory, the writer said she had forgotten .

A. the loneliness that she had

B. the suggestions that her mother once gave her

C. all of the argument between her and her family members

D. the excitement for entering college

2.What did the writer’s mother NOT teach her?

A. Loving herself.

B. Respecting herself.

C. Being a good person.

D. Giving up when meeting trouble.

3.What does the underlined expression “another person” refer to (指代)?

A. The writer herself.

B. The writer’s father.

C. The writer’s mother.

D. The writer’s brother.

4.When did the writer write this passage?

A. When the writer was 17 years old.

B. After the writer graduated from college.

C. The day before the writer’s mother turned 50.

D. Four years ago when the writer was a college student.