Helen was loved as a friendly 1ady by a11 who knew her. She had belonged to the same church for almost all her adult lire and was highly 36.______. Poor Helen was well into her 90’s. Since her husband passed away，she moved in with Jennifer, her young granddaughter. However, life is 37._______. One night driving home from the store, Jennifer was hit dead by a drunk driver. Once again, Helen was alone.
The 38._______ of losing those closest to her and the loneliness of being all alone were 39.______ she could bear. She changed--she fell into 40._______ and hopelessness. Naturally, people around her saw the change. But nobody seemed to know how to 41._______ her. Months passed. It was now December, and the holiday season was 42._______ to be harder than Helen imagined it would be. She felt like she was 43._______, slowly inside. She wondered if she would see Christmas this year.
44._______, the second Sunday of December, the Sunday School teacher came to her with a special request. Would she be 45.______ enough to help decorate the tree that was in the middle of the children’s classroom? Each child had handmade a special decoration to 46.______ on the tree, and they needed assistance. Helen attempted to 47._______ refuse, but the teacher said that the children had requested she be the 48._______ that year. It was important to them for some reason, the teacher whispered.
The night of the special event, Helen was present and wore the best smile. The 49.______ of the young children was bittersweet, which held memories of her dear Jennifer. For the first time in months, though, you could see her eyes 50._______ through tears. She was happy that the children had 51.______ her. Most decorations had been placed on the tree 52._______ a group of nine children came and sat in front of her. Each of them either had no grandmother any longer, 53.______  had never even known theirs. This was a very special celebration and union. In the middle lay a gift-wrapped box 54._______ for her with a card reading “Our Grandma, with love. ”
Christmas this year wasn’t unkind to Helen. No, it was a new 55._______, a brand-new start and nine new reasons to her…

小題1:	A．valued B．rewarded C．a(chǎn)pproved D．respected

小題2:	A．funny B．challenging C．boring D．diverse

小題3:	A．weakness B．coldness C．sadness D．tiredness

小題4:	A．other than B．more than C．rather than D．1essthan

小題5:	A．nervousness B．a(chǎn)nxiety C．depression D．separation

小題6:	A．a(chǎn)cknowledge B．distinguish C．a(chǎn)ppreciate D．comfort

小題7:	A．desired B．pictured C．a(chǎn)iming D．proving

小題8:	A．crying B．dying C．moving D．struggling

小題9:	A．Gradually B．Recently C．Then D．Meanwhile

小題10:

A．kind B．optimistic C．patient D．enthusiastic

小題11:

A．base B．place C．hide D．set

小題12:

A．politely B．personally C．seriously D．unwillingly

小題13:

A．volunteer B．visitor C．teacher D．a(chǎn)ssistant

小題14:

A．view B．thought C．sight D．scenery

小題15:

A．staring B．shining C．looking D．1ighting

小題16:

A．helped B．treated C．invited D．a(chǎn)mused

小題17:

A．while B．when C．a(chǎn)s D．a(chǎn)fter

小題18:

A．or B．nor C．a(chǎn)nd D．but

小題19:

A．intended B．written C．sent D．1eft

小題20:

A．ending B．process C．goal D．beginning

FFather was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes，hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better. paid job. Except. for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best that money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing，fine food and vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he took another course in an open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough. It would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium.  Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients.
 Over again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
As expected, Father's hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take any more courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to
his family, and it was a promise.
Father did not wake up the next day.
小題1:Father worked and studied very hard because ________.

A．he had to support his family

B．he was enthusiastic in attending classes

C．he wanted to bring his family a better lire

D．he had to so as to reduce his family’s complaint

小題2:What CAN’T Father get through his hard work?

A．Family time.

B．Higher education.

C．Better housing.

D．Vacation abroad.

小題3:How would the family feel when “Father did not wake up the next day”?

A．To their joy, Father can have a good rest in the end.

B．They should have stopped Father from working so hard.

C．Thank God, Father can stay home with them.

D．There is no point working hard for a better life.

小題4:What is the function of the italicized(斜體)paragraphs in this passage?

A．To make readers show sympathy for Father.

B．To show how stubborn Father was.

C．To make readers fee l how hard Father worked.

D．To imply a sad ending to the story.

Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(寶石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “l(fā)ook for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(標(biāo)準(zhǔn)純銀)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
小題1:According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.

A．being charged

B．being cheated

C．being affected

D．being attracted

小題2:Which of the following is relatively good for only wearing a short time?

A．A 14K necklace.	B．A gold-plated ring.
C．A vermeil ear ring.	D．A gemstone necklace.

小題3:We call infer from the last paragraph that silver jewelry should be kept ________

A．in a dry place

B．in a cold place

C．in a wet place

D．in a hot place

小題4:The author writes the passage mainly to ________.

A．encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry

B．tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver

C．introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver

D．inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry

We were on the way from Hutchinson to Chicago for a short spring break. For many years I had wanted to take my family on the train. We all had been to Chicago four years ago, and the kids loved it. Chicago is one of my favorite cities, too, so the thought struck me again last fall to ride the train to Chicago. Of course, flying would have been faster. But I don’t think flying is easier, especially these days, with all the security and waiting in lines at airports.
Though we were tired in the middle of the night, the kids got on the train with the exhilaration of this adventure. “We’re moving,” my son William shouted happily with big eyes as the train began to pull away from the Hutchinson station.
I removed my shoes and lay down to try to finish my night’s sleep. The sleeper car would have better enabled that, but the ordinary train seats were not too bad. An airline flight is a more miserable experience for me: not enough room, two hours of pain with my knees almost touching my chin, the hard seatback in front cracking my kneecaps (膝蓋) with every move of the body planted in front of me. On the train I could almost outstretch all of my 6-foot-2-plus body in the generous legroom.
The journey didn’t feel at all as long as it was. We all found the train ride a joy. The car ride would have felt every minute of 13 hours. But on the train you are free to walk around, sit in the observation carriage for a while and enjoy the scenery out the windows, have a nice meal in the dining car, read a book, or play a board game.
In short, the train is all about enjoying the trip, which isn’t something I do so much when traveling by airline or by car, when the trip seems more of a mission (任務(wù)) to get there than an experience to enjoy along the way.
Chicago offers much to do for a family. This time, getting there was half the fun.
小題1:We can learn from the first paragraph that _____.

A．the kids love the train journey

B．Chicago is one of the kid’s favorite cities

C．the author didn’t enjoy the long train journey

D．it was the first time that the kids were taken on the train

小題2:What does the underlined word “exhilaration” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Excitement.

B．Relaxation.

C．Tiredness.

D．Worry.

小題3:In the third paragraph, an airline flight experience is mentioned to show _____.

A．a(chǎn)n airline flight is easier	B．a(chǎn) train ride is too long
C．a(chǎn)n airline flight is miserable	D．a(chǎn) train ride is more comfortable

小題4:Which of the following words best describes the whole family’s feeling about the train journey?

A．Moved.

B．Delighted.

C．Disappointed.

D．Nervous.

Q: My daughter is a junior in high school and has been on an individualized education program since fourth grade. She plans to go to college and intends to finish with a master’s degree. Her performance in general is fairly good, but test scores are very low. She has held many leadership and volunteer positions. We have been advised to have her write an essay about how her learning disability is a barrier that she has to get over. Will that help or hurt her chances for admission?
---- Deborah
A: First let me answer the question on low standardized test scores (ACT/SAT). There are hundreds of colleges that are “test optional” which means students can choose not to release their test scores in the application process. Admission decisions at these colleges for students who do not submit their test scores are made based on other factors. A list of test optional colleges can be found at fairtest.org. It is important, however, to make sure that the college is the right fit academically regardless of the test optional policy.
You also asked if your daughter should write about her disability and if this would hurt her chances of being admitted. Please know that colleges do not deny admission based on disability. “Disclosing” a learning disability in a personal statement within the college application can certainly help. By writing a personal statement, students can potentially demonstrate, for example, their understanding of the challenge they face. They might also prove an improved grade trend in that subject area, and show interest in more complex courses in spite of this disability. More importantly, a student disclosure can show self-confidence, motivation and an understanding of the disability.
---- Ms. Kravis
小題1:What do we know about Deborah’s daughter?

A．She is applying for a master’s degree.

B．She is very active in her high school.

C．Her disability prevents her studying well.

D．She has difficulty getting over her learning disability.

小題2:The underlined word “demonstrate” in the last paragraph probably means “_____”.

A．show

B．develop

C．gain

D．change

小題3:What is Ms. Kravis’ attitude towards one’s declaring his/her learning disability?

A．Supportive.

B．Critical.

C．Doubtful.

D．Unconcerned.

小題4:According to the passage, Mr. Kravis is probably _____.

A．a(chǎn)n editor	B．a(chǎn) school leader
C．a(chǎn) psychological doctor	D．a(chǎn)n educational expert

A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones，but words will never hurt me. ”However，that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves--the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.
We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact，we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.
This “self—talk” helps us motivate ourselves，remember things, solve problems，and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77％of self—talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back . The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”
Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.
Words possess power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said．And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it true? Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.
Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self—esteem and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.
小題1:The main idea of the first paragraph is that         ．

A．not sticks and stones but words will hurt us

B．inspiring words give us confidence

C．negative words may let us down

D．words have a lasting effect on us

小題2:There is no sense for us to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because       ．

A．a(chǎn)lmost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves

B．we can benefit from talking to ourselves

C．talking to ourselves always gives us courage

D．it does no harm to have“self—talk”when we are alone

小題3:The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also timely     ．

A．praise ourselves	B．remind ourselves
C．make ourselves relaxed	D．give ourselves amusement

小題4:The author would probably hold the view that        ．

A．encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers

B．negative words may stimulate us to make more progress

C．people tend to remember friendly words

D．it is better to think twice before talking to others

Since the pre-historic times, man has had an urge to satisfy his needs. Be it hunger, shelter or search for a mate, he has always controlled the situations to his advantage. Probably this might be the reason why we humans are the most developed of all living species on the earth. As we climbed the steps of development, we somehow left behind common sense and logical thinking -- we forgot that we have stopped thinking ahead of time.
If you are hungry, what do you do? Get a piece of your favorite meal and stay quiet. Just like your stomach, even your mind is hungry. But it never lets you know, because you keep it busy thinking about your dream lover, favorite star and many such things. So it silently began to care about your needs and never let itself grow. When mind looses its freedom to grow, creativity gets a full stop. This might be the reason why we all sometimes think "What happens next?", "Why can't I think?" "Why am I always given the difficult problems?" Well, this is the result of using our brain for thinking of not-so-worthy things.
Hunger of the mind can be actually satisfied through reading. Now why reading and not watching TV? Because reading has been the most educative tool used by us right from the childhood. Just like that to develop other aspects of our life, we have to turn to reading. You have innumerable number of books in this world which will answer all your "How to?" questions. The interesting part of the book is stored in your mind as a seed. Now this seed is unknowingly used by you in your future to develop new ideas. The same seed, if used many times, can help you link and relate a lot of things, of which you would have never thought in your wildest dreams! This is nothing but creativity. More the number of books you read, your mind will open up like never before.
小題1:What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To show humans are the most developed.

B．To introduce the topic of the passage.

C．To indicate people have different needs to satisfy.

D．To explain why people need to read.

小題2:What does the author mean by saying "When mind looses its freedom to grow, creativity gets a full stop."

A．When mind keeps growing, creativity fully stops.

B．When freedom is lost, creativity gets a full stop.

C．When mind stops growing, creativity fully stops.

D．When growing is lost, creativity gets a flail stop.

小題3:The paragraph following the passage is probably about ______.

A．how the pre-historic man feeds his mind

B．what other advantages reading brings

C．how to develop creativity

D．how to satisfy your mind by watching TV

小題4: The author tends to tell us ______.

A．reading can satisfy your all needs	B．reading can result from creativity
C．reading can feed your mind	D．reading can realize your dreams

I got interested in the idea of standing desks about a year ago. The health advantages of standing instead of sitting for eight hours a day are clear, so when the company Ergotron invited me to review their WorkFit C-Mod Dual Desk, I jumped out of my chair---really.
After several hours putting the desk together, I finally got to try it out. The standing desk had a desktop that I could use for writing.
At first I absolutely loved it. Standing during the day instead of sitting was fantastic. Although I felt more tired after all that standing during the day, I knew the health benefits were worth the slight discomfort. However, after the initial novelty (新奇)of the desk wore off, I realized that I could not use it in the long term.
It was just not practical. While using the desk for a month , I could definitely foresee problems arising from using it full time.
I enjoy having a lot of things on my desk. The standing desk just did not have enough room for all of my things.
I can easily foresee awkward situations when I put that desk in an office space. When someone comes into your office, does your guest have to stand as well? If you office is big enough, maybe you have room for two chairs for you and a visitor, which is great. Yet for the ordinary worker in a small office, the standing desk creates a very awkward situation.
Additionally, the amount of money I would have to spend to replace my current workspace with a standing desk was another issue. The desks I have looked at were highly expensive.
Yes, spending the day standing can offset(抵消) many of the negative effects of too much sitting, but we humans are designed for movement. Through activity changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, you can easily increase the time you spend on your feet. Best of all, those options are completely free.
小題1:When the author was asked to try the standing desk out, he was ____.

A．excited

B．surprised

C．unhappy

D．uninterested

小題2:When first using the standing desk, the author ___.

A．thought it was boring	B．thought it was wonderful
C．felt less tired than usual	D．felt quite uncomfortable

小題3:According to the author, a standing desk ____.

A．takes up too much space	B．is suitable for long-term use
C．is cheaper than traditional desks	D．is impractical though good for health

小題4:What does the author mainly tell us in the text?

A．How to use the standing desk.	B．What he does during the workday.
C．His opinion on the standing desk.	D．The advantage of the standing desk.

Beat the Burglar
Don’t invite crime---take basic, sensible precautions. Your house and possession are valuable and must be properly protected. When you buy a lock, you buy time. The best prevention is delay and noise which could mean discovery. 

When you leave it---lock it! First of all, fit security locks to all doors and windows and a safety chain on the front door. Secondly, use them! If you have any ladders or tools, don’t leave them lying about in the garden, lock them away. “Safe” or “secret” places for keys and valuables are not reliable --- nine times out of ten, they are the first place a thief will look.

When you move house… When you move into a new home even if it is fitted with security locks, change them. You don’t know who else may have keys. Never let strangers into your house. An official-looking cap is not enough, ask for proof of identity and look at it carefully --- if you are still not satisfied, don’t let the person in.

Valuables need special protection Valuables should really be given special protection --- preferably by leaving them with your bank. A small security safe works too, but not to the most determined burglar. It is also important to keep an up-to-date list of valuables and their descriptions. In the case of fine art, paintings, or jewelry, color photographs can sometimes be of assistance to the police if you are unfortunate enough to have them stolen. Enter the details on the back of the pictures. But don’t keep such documents in your house, keep them at the bank or with your insurance company.

Going on holiday? Don’t talk about your holidays and future plans loudly in public. Do remember to cancel the milk and newspapers and also to draw curtains back. Operate a “Good Neighbor” program to ensure that mail is taken in, the house is checked regularly and that lights are put on. Call at your local police station and tell them you are going away. Make sure that they know how to contact you in case of trouble. Don’t leave cash or valuables in the house --- take them with you or put them in the bank.

小題1:When moving into a new house, you are supposed to __________.

A．buy a safe	B．change the locks
C．visit your neighbors	D．stay away from strangers

小題2:Which is the safest way to protect your valuables?

A．Taking pictures of your valuables.

B．Putting your valuables in your safe.

C．Keeping your valuables at the bank.

D．Giving a list of your valuables to the police.

小題3:When you are away for holidays, you __________.

A．should cancel your mail

B．shouldn’t leave your keys to your neighbors

C．shouldn’t make it known that your home is empty

D．should ask the police to check your house regularly

小題4:What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To inform people of safety standards.

B．To introduce the advantages of banks.

C．To prove the importance of security locks.

D．To educate people on prevention of burglars.

I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal (谷類(lèi)食物), eggs or toast. While others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different from other kids' too. But at least I wasn't alone in my sufferings. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, then we be gone one hour or less—not one hour and one minute. And she always insisted upon us telling the truth. Now you can see how mean she was.
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning. We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook. We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath, while the other kids always wore their clothes for days. I believe she laid awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.
Through the years, things didn't improve a bit. We could not lie in bed, “sick” like our friends did, and miss school. Our marks in school had to be up to par(達(dá)到正常水平). Our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, being as different as she was, would settle for nothing less than ugly black marks.
As the years rolled by, we were one by one put to shame. We were graduated from high school. With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure of being a dropout.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four children, a couple of us attained some higher education. And whom do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You're right, our mean mother. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults.
Now I am trying to raise my three children. I am filled with pride when my children think I am mean because, you see, I had the meanest mother in the world.
小題1:What does the sentence “But at least I wasn't alone in my sufferings.” mean?

A．The author's mother was only mean to her.

B．The author's mother suffered her.

C．The author's mother was mean to her sister, brothers and her.

D．The author wasn't alone because of suffering.

小題2:Why was the author's mother mean to her children?

A．Because she wanted her children to be top students in school.

B．Because she wanted her children to bring home colored report cards like her friends did.

C．Because she wanted her children to drop out.

D．Because she wanted her children to do their best at school and be educated and respected citizens.

小題3:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Some of the children weren't able to go to college because of their mean mother.

B．Mother didn't let the author tell lies.

C．Mother asked the author to wear clean clothes.

D．The author could not miss school even if she was ill.

小題4:The passage was written in a way of _______ tone?

A．humorous

B．hateful

C．ridiculous

D．critical