A group of graduates got together to visit their old university professor.
The conversation soon turned into complaints about  36  in work and life. Offering his  37  coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and  38  with a large pot of coffee and a  39  of cups---porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, some beautiful—telling them to  40  themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “if you have  41 , all the nice-looking expensive cups have been  42 , leaving behind the plain and  43  ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the  44  of your problems and stress.”
“Be assured that the cup  45  adds no quality to the coffee.  46  it is just more expensive and in some cases  47  hides what we drink.”
“48  all of you really want is coffee, not the cup,  49  you consciously went for the best cups…. And then you began  50  each other’s cups.”
Now consider this:  51  is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. 52  are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the  53  of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we  54  to enjoy the coffee. Value the coffee, not the cups! Don’t let the cups  55 you … enjoy the coffee instead.

小題1:	A．stress B．dream C．sorrow D．truth

小題2:	A．friends B．customers C．fellows D．guests

小題3:	A．carried B．returned C．a(chǎn)rrived D．reached

小題4:	A．kind B．variety C．sort D．number

小題5:	A．devote B．expose C．help D．a(chǎn)ddicted

小題6:	A．searched B．witnessed C．noticed D．discovered

小題7:	A．taken up B．brought in C．sold out D．cut down

小題8:	A．expensive B．cheap C．beautiful D．usual

小題9:	A．point B．a(chǎn)nswer C．source D．result

小題10:

A．by itself B．on its own C．for itself D．itself

小題11:

A．At no time B．At times C．In no case D．In most cases

小題12:

A．ever B．even C．never D．hardly

小題13:

A．What B．That C．Which D．Whether

小題14:

A．but B．so C．a(chǎn)nd D．for

小題15:

A．suspecting B．liking C．envying D．eyeing

小題16:

A．Love B．Life C．Future D．Failure

小題17:

A．They B．We C．You D．What

小題18:

A．quantity B．style C．quality D．standard

小題19:

A．have B．hesitate C．forget D．fail

小題20:

A．force B．drive C．puzzle D．a(chǎn)maze

Without any hesitation, he said, “I’d be better off dead.” Hearing those words come out of my best friend’s mouth tore my heart apart. He has repeated that phrase more than once, and my mind continually plays it over like a voice recording.
I met him about three years ago. After knowing me for six months, he told me about his struggles with depression. Sadness was not the only emotion that came over me; I was shocked. He seemed so outgoing and happy all the time. I soon learned that he was physically and emotionally abused as a young child, causing him to have suicidal thoughts.
He refuses to talk to others about his depression because he now distrusts adults, especially those in his family. Nevertheless, he feels as if I understand him and that I know the right words to speak. Therefore, when it comes to helping him, convenience is not in my vocabulary. It does not matter where I am or what I am doing, for he always comes first.
Many students at his school laugh at him when they notice scars on his arms from cutting. As he sees it, other kids have every right to make fun of him. But no one holds such a right, so I encourage him to ignore the heartless kids who treat him badly. When he feels the weight of judging eyes or hateful voices, I always remind him that I care about him unconditionally. Just hearing me say I will always be his best friend seems to give him the security he needs to keep on going.
My best friend once told me that if he had not had me, he would not be alive. He said that my encouraging words convinced him not to take his life. Our friendship has taught me that a single kind word can influence someone’s life. With the fragility of life as it is, I believe in the necessity of encouragement.
小題1:According to the first paragraph, what the author’s friend said made the author feel ______.

A．puzzled

B．heartbroken.

C．frightened

D．hopeless

小題2:By saying “convenience is not in my vocabulary”, the author means ______.

A．he is always ready to help his friend.

B．he hardly spares time to help his friend.

C．he has no good excuse for refusing his friend.

D．he is not good at communicating with his friend.

小題3:From the passage we learn that the author’s friend ________.

A．had a happy childhood but everything changed later

B．wanted to share his story but no one listened.

C．took it for granted that he was made fun of

D．was always of sad appearance

小題4:What does the author learn from his experiences?

A．How to make a big difference to others.

B．The importance of encouragement.

C．How to get rid of depression

D．The necessity of security

Disease, poverty, hate, love—Charles Dickens’ stories opened his readers eyes to the most important themes of his age. Two hundred years on, his stories still speak volumes across the world, proving that Dickens’ legacy(遺產(chǎn)) was far greater than just “great literature”
February 7 marks the 200^th anniversary of the writer’s birthday. To mark this date, BBC writer Alex Hudson listed six things Dickens gave the modern world. Let’s take a look at two of them.
A white Christmas
Dickens is described as “the man who invented Christmas”—not the religious festival, but the cultural aspects that we associate with the festive season today. In the early 19^th century, Christmas was barely worth mentioning, according to critic and writer Leigh Hunt. The committee which ran the Conservative Party even held ordinary business meetings on Christmas Day – unthinkable in the West nowadays, when everyone but the most necessary workers takes at least three days off.
Many people believe that Dickens’ popular descriptions of the festive period became a blueprint for generations to come. In his classic novel, A Christmas Carol, he not only put forward the idea of snow at Christmas, but also painted a picture of glowing warmth –“ home enjoyments, affections and hopes”.
In his biography of Dickens, Peter Ackroyd wrote: “ Dickens can be said to have almost single-handedly created the modern idea of Christmas.”
“Dickensian” poverty
Dickens was one of the first to take an honest look at the underclass and the poor of Victorian (the period during British Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901) London.
He helped popularize the term “red tape” to describe situations where people in power use needless amounts of bureaucracy（官僚作風(fēng)） in a way that particularly hurts the weaker and poorer members of society.
“Dickensian” has now become a powerful word for describing an unacceptable level of poverty. In 2009, when the president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in the UK wanted to talk about deprivation in some areas of Britain, she did not use words like “terrible” or “horrific”, but rather described it as “l(fā)ife mirroring the times of Dickens”. 
小題1:What is the main idea of the article?

A．An introduction to Charles Dickens’ classic novels.

B．Charles dickens’ impact on the world.

C．Charles Dickens’ amazing characters.

D．Why Charles Dickens is popular across the world.

小題2:Why is Dickens called “the man who invented Christmas”?

A．Because he created the religious festival.

B．Because many of his novels have something to do with Christmas.

C．Because one of his novels helped to shape Christmas celebrations.

D．Because he was the first man to have proposed celebrating Christmas.

小題3:According to the article, the phrase “red tape” refers to _______.

A．rules or procedures that are required to accomplish a task

B．a(chǎn) situation in which poor members of society are hurt.

C．conflict between people in power and weaker people

D．pointlessly time-consuming official procedures

A group of graduates got together to visit their old university professor. They talked about the 36   topic-happiness. But soon their conversation turned into complaints about  37 in work and life.
To offer his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and  38 with a large pot of coffee and a variety of  39 -plastic glass, metal, porcelain (陶瓷), some  plain-looking  some  very  40 .The professor told his students to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in  41 . the professor said:" lf you have noticed, all the nice-looking  42 . cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is   43 for you to want only the best for Your belives, that is the  44 of your problems and stress. The professor continued," Believe that the cup itself adds no  45 to the coffee. ln most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases it even  46 what we drink. What all of you  47 wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went  48 the best cups. Now  49 this: life is coffee, the jobs, money, and  50 in society are the cups， which are just tools to hold and  51 life, and the different types of cups we have don't decide, nor   52 the quality of life. lf we concentrate only on the cups, we will  53 to enjoy the coffee in it. So don't let the cups  54 you...enjoy the coffee instead."
At these words, the graduates looked at each other in  55 embarrassment.

小題1:	A．hot B．sensitive C．famous D．easy

小題2:	A．pay B．joy C．experience D．stress

小題3:	A．cooked B．took C．returned D．met

小題4:	A．cups B．gifts C．plates D．drinks

小題5:	A．common B．special C．rare D．delicate

小題6:	A．order B．time C．hand D．place

小題7:	A．pretty B．different C．colorful D．expensive

小題8:	A．necessary B．normal C．good D．possible

小題9:	A．situation B．a(chǎn)nswer C．result D．source

小題10:

A．quality B．energy C．weight D．color

小題11:

A．makes B．gives C．hides D．includes

小題12:

A．finally B．really C．especially D．nearly

小題13:

A．for B．with C．off D．to

小題14:

A．forget B．discuss C．consider D．try

小題15:

A．position B．relation C．workmates D．friends

小題16:

A．create B．support C．contain D．own

小題17:

A．damage B．determine C．change D．increase

小題18:

A．come B．stop C．have D．fail

小題19:

A．drive B．hold C．take D．control

小題20:

A．quiet B．speechless C．a(chǎn)mazing D．reasonable

One Tuesday evening in the beginning of the fall 1996 semester at Shippensburg University, sirens(警笛) sounded. These sirens were not in celebration; they were a cry to the university that something was wrong. A house, only one block away, was on fire. Nine of the university's students lived there.
From the minute the word got out that help was needed, it seemed like everyone showed up. The victims of the fire were offered endless invitations for housing for the night. The very next day, everyone got into gear to do their part in helping them. Flyers (小傳單) were posted with items that were immediately needed, just to get these students through this next couple of days. Boxes for donations and money jars were placed in every residence hall（學(xué)生宿舍）．
As a residence director，I went before the students in my hall to ask them to do what they could. I knew that college students don't have much, but I asked them to do their best: “Every little bit will help." I really didn't think they could do much. I was proved wrong.
At the hall council meeting the night after the fire, my residents decided to have a wing competition, where each wing of the building would team up to see who could bring In the most donations. I announced that the wing who won would receive a free pizza party.
Thursday evening we announced over the PA system that we were beginning the wing competition. Within minutes, the place exploded. The single large box that I had placed in the lobby (太廳) was over-flowing. We quickly grabbed more boxes, and we watched in amazement as they, too, filled to the brim. Members of the resident assistant staff and I began to count the items. I was astonished by what I saw, and I was inspired by these kids.
When we came to the final tally（得分）, the winners turned to me and announced that they would like to donate their winnings as well. They wanted the victims of the fire to have their pizza party.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I had watched these students jump to action, work tirelessly and donate all that they could. And then, as if that were not enough, they handed over their reward’s was touched and so very proud of them.
小題1:The writer mainly wanted to      by the story.

A．tell us the suffering of nine of the college students from a fire

B．praise the college students helping the victims selflessly

C．tell us how successful the wing competition was

D．show he was deeply moved by the college students' action

小題2:The phrase "get into gear" in the second paragraph means      .

A．be eager

B．take action

C．be prepared

D．start working

小題3:At first, the residence director thought      .

A．it was impossible to expect the college students to donate anything

B．it was easy to collect a lot of donations from the college students

C．the college students would donate not much

D．the college students would donate all the items they had

小題4:The wing competition was held      .

A．on Tuesday evening	B．on Thursday
C．on Wednesday evening	D．the very next day

小題5:How did the residence director feel when he saw the brimful boxes?

A．Terrible．

B．Funny．

C．Surprised．

D．Serious

One sunny afternoon, a seven-year-old girl went for a walk. She crossed a large area of grassland into the woods __26__ she realized that she was lost.
Sitting on a rock and __27__ what to do, she began crying.  After a while. She__28__ to walk along a wide path lined with tall trees and thick bushes. __29__ it was getting dark, she saw a small, dark wooden house. She opened the door and __30__ stepped in. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise, and she ran out the door and back to the __31__. Cold and tired, she fell asleep near a __32__.
The girl’s parents were out and her dog, Laddy, was at home. Laddy __33__ that his mistrees（女主人）was in danger. He jumped __34__ a window, breaking the glass. He looked in the fields. But he couldn’t find his mistress anywhere. However, from the ground came a __35__ scent (氣味) as he lowered his head. He __36__ the scent and walked across the grassland. Barking __37__ into the air, the dog __38__ through the woods until he found the __39__ . But the girl was not there, so he headed back to the woods. Much to his __40__ , he saw his mistress’ blue shirt in the distance. He __41__ over some bushes and saw the little stream, where the girl was __42__.
When she opened her eyes and    43    her dog standing beside her, the girl said, “you   44   me, Laddy,” and she kissed him several times. Seeing their daughter and dog coming back, the parents burst into tears of     45    . That night Laddy had a heror’s supper: a huge meal of steak

小題1:	A．before B．since C．while D．a(chǎn)s

小題2:	A．wondering B．forgetting C．remembering D．regretting

小題3:	A．preferred B．expected C．failed D．decided

小題4:	A．When B．Until C．If D．Because

小題5:	A．carelessly B．cautiously C．hopelessly D．unwillingly

小題6:	A．trees B．bushes C．woods D．grasses

小題7:	A．stream B．rock C．tree D．house

小題8:	A．found B．sensed C．heard D．smelt

小題9:	A．a(chǎn)t B．through C．in D．onto

小題10:

A．terrible B．strange C．pleasant D．familiar

小題11:

A．missed B．discovered C．followed D．ignored

小題12:

A．calmly B．loudly C．merrily D．gently

小題13:

A．searched B．wandered C．looked D．travelled

小題14:

A．window B．girl C．house D．hero

小題15:

A．satisfaction B．disappointment C．embarrassment D．delight

小題16:

A．jumped B．climbed C．walked D．flew

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)wake B．a(chǎn)bandoned C．a(chǎn)vailable D．a(chǎn)sleep

小題18:

A．spotted B．watched C．observed D．saw

小題19:

A．disturbed B．comforted C．rescued D．scared

小題20:

A．pain B．shock C．sorrow D．relief

Three Boys and a Dad
Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother. Expecting a whole day to relax, he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months. “This will be like a walk in the park,” he’d told his wife. “I’ll look after the kids, and you can go visit your mom.”
Things started well, but just after eight o’clock, his three little “good kids”—Mike, Randy, and Alex—came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted “breakfast, daddy.” When food had not appeared within thirty seconds, Randy began using his spoon on Alex’s head as if it were a drum. Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat（節(jié)拍）. Mike chanted “Where’s my toast, where’s my toast” in the background. Brad realized his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds.
Life became worse after breakfast. Mike wore Randy’s underwear on his head. Randy locked himself in the bathroom, while Alex shouted again because he was going to wet his pants. Nobody could find clean socks, although they were before their very eyes. Someone named “Not Me” had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes. Brad knew the talk show had already started.
By ten o’clock, things were out of control. Alex was wondering why the fish in the jar refused his bread and butter. Mike was trying to show off his talent by decorating the kitchen wall with his colour pencils. Randy, thankfully, appeared to be reading quietly in the family room，but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands. Brad realised that the talk show was over and reading would be impossible.
At exactly 11:17, Brad called the daycare centre (日托所）.“I suddenly have to go into work and my wife’s away. Can I bring the boys over in a few minutes?” The answer was obviously “yes” because Brad was smiling.
小題1:When his wife left home. Brad expected to          .

A．go out for a walk in the park

B．watch TV talk show with his children

C．enjoy his first day off work

D．read the newspaper to his children

小題2:Which of the following did Randy do?

A．Drawing on the wall	B．Eating apple jam
C．Feeding the fish.	D．Reading in a room

小題3:Why did Brad ask the daycare centre for help?

A．Because he wanted to clean up his house.

B．Because he suddenly had to go to his office

C．Because he found it hard to manage his boys home.

D．Because he had to take his wife back

小題4:This text is developed          .

A．by space

B．by comparison

C．by process

D．by time

I became a gardener when I was twelve. My early__36___of gardening may not have originated from my love for nature. It was to ___37____my parents.
At that time, we had a big yard in which a beautiful maple tree stood. But my mother often looked with __38___at this work of natural art. Those golden leaves seemed like tons of rubbish to her, “something else to ___39___!” Seeing the neighbors busy with gardening, my father ever thought it a waste of time.
At that age, I always did something___40___to whatever my parents did! If gardening were something they found____41___, I would plant a garden!
I planted some lily（百合花）seeds in the yard. But they failed to ___42___.I continued to plant sunflower seeds and roses. Wild ___43___ joy, I found the first rose bloom（開花）.One by one, the flowers bloomed their heads off. __44___, I was touched by this land of wonder.
___45___, my parents showed no interest in my garden. My father even___46___at me because he found it was ___47___to move around my garden to the driveway. To my mother’s ___48__ , I put in her vase my real roses which, in her eyes, were simply weeds____49___flowers.
Regardless of their ___50___,I kept on planting my garden and ___51___to enjoy the pleasure of gardening. Plants make such good companions: they breathe, they bloom, they___52____to care and love.
It has been many years since I made my first garden out of my desire to ___53___my parents. Today I become known as Mrs. Greenthumbs, teaching gardening and hosting a gardening show which makes my parents feel very___54_ . And now I could say it is my affection for___55___that makes me a real gardener.

小題1:	A．memory B．dream C．intention D．design

小題2:	A．please B．change C．help D．a(chǎn)nnoy

小題3:	A．doubt B．a(chǎn)ppreciation C．surprise D．excitement

小題4:	A．collect up B．care about C．clean up D．come in

小題5:	A．equal B．similar C．superior D．opposite

小題6:	A．painful B．valuable C．upsetting D．interesting

小題7:	A．come up B．break out C．hold on D．get through

小題8:	A．to B．with C．in D．by

小題9:	A．Luckily B．Cheerfully C．Regularly D．Eventually

小題10:

A．Instead B．However C．Therefore D．Besides

小題11:

A．shouted B．laughed C．glanced D．jumped

小題12:

A．convenient B．troublesome C．enjoyable D．dangerous

小題13:

A．sadness B．displeasure C．delight D．relief

小題14:

A．other than B．more than C．rather than D．less than

小題15:

A．dislike B．encouragement C．threat D．suggestion

小題16:

A．decided B．stopped C．continued D．struggled

小題17:

A．devote B．turn C．respond D．lead

小題18:

A．defeat B．satisfy C．respect D．challenge

小題19:

A．proud B．comfortable C．strange D．disappointed

小題20:

A．freedom B．life C．growth D．nature

I tend to accept any idea put forward by experts on TV. One day, a sociologist proposed that the   31  society has been consuming modern humans little by little. For fear that I would become a victim of the consumer society, I   32  hurried to a bicycle shop in my neighborhood.   33  the shopkeeper Mr. Johnson was selling me the bicycle, he said, “This is the best thing you   34  have done. Life has become hopelessly   35  . A bicycle is simple, and it brings to you   36  things: fresh air, sunshine and exercise.” I agreed. Happy as a child, I got on the bicycle and headed out onto the streets. After some time, I   37   at the other end of the town. I was   38   that this simple vehicle could let me   39   long distances in a fairly short time. But how   40  did I really go?
Since I hated to be   41  , I went back to Mr. Johnson and asked him to   42  an odometer (里程表) on my bicycle. He agreed, but   43  , “An odometer without a speedometer (速度計(jì)) is like a   44  without a knife.” I admitted he was right and in a few minutes, the two devices (裝置) were   45  to the handlebars of my bicycle. “What about a horn?” he then asked. “Look, this horn is no larger than a matchbox and has many   46  .” Attracted by these functions, I bought the horn.
“You can’t leave the back part   47  ,” noted Mr. Johnson. He fixed a metal box with buttons   48  the seat, and said, “Is there anything better than this oven when you feel   49   on your way? I can give you a special discount.” I was not strong enough to   50   the offer.
“I congratulate you once more; this is the best thing you could have done,” said Mr. Johnson in the end.

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)dult B．human C．consumer D．bachelor

小題2:	A．eventually B．immediately C．reluctantly D．gratefully

小題3:	A．Although B．Because C．As D．Unless

小題4:	A．would B．should C．must D．could

小題5:	A．boring B．complicated C．stressful D．tough

小題6:	A．natural B．mysterious C．complex D．unique

小題7:	A．gave up B．broke down C．calmed down D．ended up

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)mazed B．a(chǎn)mused C．confused D．concerned

小題9:	A．march B．drive C．cover D．measure

小題10:

A．far B．long C．fast D．deep

小題11:

A．unreliable B．impractical C．unprepared D．inaccurate

小題12:

A．fix B．check C．repair D．lay

小題13:

A．swore B．a(chǎn)dded C．replied D．concluded

小題14:

A．pencil B．fork C．box D．cake

小題15:

A．distributed B．converted C．a(chǎn)pplied D．a(chǎn)ttached

小題16:

A．shapes B．sizes C．functions D．models

小題17:

A．loose B．blank C．bare D．incomplete

小題18:

A．beside B．before C．below D．behind

小題19:

A．sick B．hungry C．hot D．thirsty

小題20:

A．consider B．withdraw C．make D．resist

Some people believe that a Robin Hood is at work, others that a wealthy person simply wants to distribute his or her fortune before dying. But the donator who started sending envelopes with cash to deserving causes，accompanied by an article from the local paper, has made a northern German city believe in fairytales (童話）
The first envelope was sent to a victim support group. It contained ?10,000 with a cutting from the Braunschtveiger Zeitung about how the group supported a woman who was robbed of her handbag； similar plain white anonymous (匿名）envelopes, each containing ?10,000, then arrived at a kindergarten and a church.
The envelopes keep coming, and so far at least ?190,000 has been distributed. Last month, one of them was sent to the newspaper’s own office. It came after a story it published about Tom, a 14-year-old boy who was severely disabled in a swimming accident. The receptionist at the Braunschweiger Zeitung opened an anonymous white envelope to find 20 notes of ?500 inside , with a copy of the article. The name of the family was underlined.
"I was driving when I heard the news,” Claudia Neumann, the boy’s mother, told DerSpiegel magazine. “I had to park on the side of the road； I was speechless. ”
The money will be used to make the entrance to their house wheelchair-accessible .and for a course of treatment that their insurance company refused to pay for.
“For someone to act so selflessly, for this to happen in such a society in which everyone thinks of himself, was astonishing," Mrs. Neumann said. Her family wonder whether the donator is a Robin Hood character, taking from banks to give to the needy.
Henning Noske, the editor of the Braunschweiger Zeitung, said： “Maybe it is an old person who is about to die. We just do not know. ” However, he has told his reporters not to look for the city’s hero, for fear that discovery may stop the donations.
小題1:The Braunschweiger Zeitung is the name of             .

A．a(chǎn) church

B．a(chǎn) bank

C．a(chǎn) newspaper

D．a(chǎn) magazine

小題2:Which of the following is TRUE about the donation to Tom?

A． The donation amounted to ?190,000.

B．The donation was sent directly to his house.

C．The money will be used for his education.

D． His mother felt astonished at the donation.

小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that           .

A． the donator is a rich old man

B．the donation will continue to come

C． the donation comes from the newspaper

D． the donator will soon be found out

小題4:What would be the best title for the passage?

A． Money Is Raised by the Newspaper

B． Newspaper Distributes Money to

C． Unknown Hero Spreads Love in Envelopes

D． Robin Hood Returns to the City