A

The choice to adopt and hold gratefulness is the one that is different from those who suffer misfortune and those who enjoy a full life.

My mother died when I was 24. It was a very difficult time in my life — everything seemed to fall apart. I lost my job, and then my utilities were turned off. I had to take cold showers for six months. A neighbor who knew about my situation came to my house and made me an offer. I took care of her children as a job, and I no longer went hungry. I was surprised that someone would trust me — a young woman with her children. And it was with the very confidence that before long I began taking care of other people’s children, too. I have since moved 300 miles from Boise, Idaho. For more than 23 years I have made every effort to reach out to all the kind-hearted people who helped me when I was down and out. Without their trust, I don’t know what I would have done. I am very involved in my community and volunteer at the local food bank, and I help out whenever I can. I’d like to owe what I am to whoever has offered me generosity.

If you are grateful for what you already have, the world will work together to give you more to be grateful for. Otherwise, the world will give you more to complain about.

Moreover, the true master learns to be grateful, in advance, for the things that are desired, because, being grateful in advance for some attainment or accomplishment does two very important things: one…it tricks your subconscious into believing that the goal is certain and two…it convinces other people, with whom you must interact to achieve your desires, that you know what you are about, that you are a winner, not a whiner (哀訴者).

The underlined word “utilities” refers to __________ in the passage.

    A. water and gas supplies                  B. gas and electricity supplies

    C. shower equipment and water supply       D. heating and TV signals

The writer was grateful mainly for ___________.

        A. his neighbor’s donation        B. his community   

    C. having got the job       D. others’ trust

The writer’s personal story in the second paragraph tells us that __________.

        A. to be grateful will get you nowhere but away from home

        B. a grateful person is most likely to be successful

        C. we need to be grateful to be helpful and useful

        D. the fragrance (芳香) stays in the hand that gives the rose

The best title for the passage would be ____________.

        A. A Thank-You Note to Trusting Neighbor       

        B. You Are a Winner, Not a Whiner

        C. Be Grateful to Life in Advance     

        D. Gratefulness Brings a Great Fullness to Life

It is said that the old coins        under the earth for about 100 years by the time they were discovered.

  A. had buried     B. had been buried      C. buried       D. were buried

—Would you like to help us?

—               , no.            

  A. In a word      B. In words   C. In word     D. In other words

As long as you’ve paid ____ advance we won’t charge you ____ delivery.

A. by: for     B. in; with       C. in; for     D. by; with   

The managing director was to _______ the accident, although it was not his fault.

  A. be blaming for B. be blamed on C. blame for    D. blame on

The student couldn’t ______ what the teacher was trying to explain.

      A. recognize           B. grasp            C. study         D. achieve

--When will you come home for dinner? I’ll prepare it for you.

    --Don’t ________ it. I’ll eat out with my friends.

    A. care about      B. worry about      C. bother about       D. talk about

It was time for Mr. Rocco to shut up shop when I hurried into the florist’s. “Now, what is it you want?” Mr. Rocco turned to me. “I want the most beautiful flower you have.” I replied. “And just how much do you have to pay for this most beautiful flower?” I held out a wet hand showing a quarter and dime. He nodded, and then showed me a plant on the counter. “I can give you this one for 35 cents.” he said. “Aw, gee,” I protested, “it looks like a weed!” About 18 inches high, the plant was in a small pot covered with faded red paper. “Now trust me, boy—I promise that tomorrow morning when you get up, you will find your most beautiful flower.” said Mr. Rocco. I knew him to be a good honest man, so I agreed to take it.

It was almost midnight when I arrived home. Mom was seriously sick and using the front bedroom. I looked in to see if she was asleep, and then quietly tiptoed in and set the plant on the table beside her bed. I wanted her to be surprised when she woke on Mother’s Day.

The next morning, I dressed and hurried downstairs. The sun was shining through kitchen window as I looked into Mom’s room. She motioned for me to come in, then glanced over at the table where the plant was. Holy mackerel! There were three big yellow trumpet-shaped（喇叭狀的）blooms. It was just like Mr. Rocco said—the most beautiful flower I ever saw! When I looked at Mom, she was smiling as tears streamed down her cheeks. She held out her hand for me to come near, then pulled me close and hugged till it hurt. Then, remembering her contagious condition and that she wasn’t supposed to touch me, she quickly let me go.

My dear mom died the next night. The moment she hugged me turned out to be the most wonderful moment of my life. Not only had that beautiful plant helped show just how much I loved her, but I’d always know how much she loved me.

   The author didn’t like the plant recommended by Mr. Rocco at first because ______.

A. the packing of the plant was shabby

B. the plant was more a weed than a flower         

C. the plant appeared too ordinary to be the most beautiful

D. he thought Mr. Rocco was reluctant to do the deal with him

   Mother’s condition was contagious (Line 6, Para.3) for ______.

A. she was at the death’s door         B. she suffered from the illness

C. others were sick of her appearance   D. virus might spread from her to others  

When mother hugged the author tightly, she was showing that ______.

A. she liked being given gifts             

B. she valued what the author had done for her

C. she was aware of the approaching of death   

D. she was touched by the beauty of the flower

The story is mainly developed by______________.

A. time        B. logic            C. comparison       D. cause and result

Which may be the best title of the passage?

A. Flowers of Love                          B. A Son’s Love for Mother

C. Low Price, High Value               D. A Special Mother’s Day 

We should go to school by bus or underground rather than by car       global warming.

A．reducing B．to reduce    C．reduced  D．having reduced

— Do you play football after work?   — Yes, _____. Playing football is not my favorite sport.

A. more or less    

B. once in a while     

C. sooner or later    

D. time and time again