If you want to become a fluent English speaker you should take some advice. There are four skills in learning English. They are reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The most important thing you must remember is that if you want to improve your speaking and writing skills you should first master the skills of reading and listening.

Read as much as you can. But your reading must be active. It means that you must think about the meaning of the sentence, the meaning of the unfamiliar words, etc. There is no need for you to pay much attention to grammars or try to understand all the unfamiliar words you come across, but the fact that you see them for the first time and recognize them whenever you see them, for example in other passages or books, is enough. It would be better to prepare yourself a notebook so you can write down the important words or sentences in it.

As for listening, there are two choices: besides reading, you can listen every day for about 30 minutes. You can only pay attention to your reading and become skilful at your reading, then you can catch up on your listening. Since you have lots of inputs (輸入) in your mind, you can easily guess what the speaker is going to say. This never means that you should not practise listening.

For listening you can listen to cartoons or some movies that are specially made for children. Their languages are easy. Or if you are good at listening you can listen to VOA or BBC programmes every day. Again the thing to remember is being active in listening and preferably taking some notes.

If you follow these pieces of advice, your speaking and writing will improve automatically, and you can be sure that with a little effort they will become perfect.

60. To improve your reading, when you read, you should ______.

A. look up all the new words in the dictionary

B. spend more time studying grammars

C. think about what you are reading actively

D. copy as many words and sentences as possible

61. The underlined phrase “come across” in the second paragraph can probably be replaced by “______”

A. discover     B. find on purpose        C. look for            D. meet by accident

62. The author seems to agree with the view that ______.

A. being good at reading is helpful in improving your listening

B. everyone should listen to VOA or BBC programmes every day

C. you needn't practise listening if you keep on reading every day

D. you should take notes of whatever you are hearing in class

63. The passage is mainly about how to ______.

A. choose suitable listening materials

B. become fluent in English speaking and writing

C. deal with new words in reading

D. improve your English as quickly as possible

I was going on vacation to meet up with family for a week of fun in Denver. I got to the airport, ready to leave my work behind for a few days.

     I was comfortably awaiting my flight with a good book to read, when an elderly lady was wheeled to our waiting area. I couldn't help but notice the trouble she was having trying to open a packet of nuts with her shaking hands. I sighed. No one else was willing to meet her gaze (目光) so I offered to help.  

     She was very grateful. It turned out that these nuts were her entire breakfast. We sat and chatted. When the time came to board the plane the attendants (服務員) were nowhere to be seen. The lady could walk but needed some help, so I volunteered to help her on the plane and carry her bag.

     As I helped her get settled I noticed her "seat mate," a businessman, looked a bit horrified at having to make the fight with her. He offered to change seats with me — and I agreed.

     We landed and I needed to change planes, but I helped her disembark (下飛機) first. The wheelchair she ordered was nowhere to be seen so we slowly walked to gate where her daughter was waiting.

     We only exchanged first names, and she was so grateful to have my help. I had to run to catch my connection but, as I thought about the experience, I saw her as my airport angel: a chance for me to hope that in the future when I'm in my 80's and traveling, someone will take the time to connect with me. Pay it forward.

56. What had the author planned to do during the flight?

  A. Reading.        B. Helping others.          C. Resting.            D. Sleeping.

57. What troubled the elderly lady in the wheel chair?

  A. She could hardly manage her breakfast by herself.

  B. She was unable to find her daughter in the airport.

  C. The airport attendant could hardly help her.

  D. She didn’t know where to board the plane.

58. How did the author show his kindness?

  A. He offered to change seats with the elderly lady.

  B. He went all the way to wait for her daughter.

  C. He invited all those nearby to offer hands.

  D. He managed to help the elderly lady all the way.

59. Why does the author feel grateful?

  A. He believes he may find help if he is in need later.

  B. He was appreciated deeply by everyone nearby.

  C. He was looking forward to live up to 80 as the old lady.

  D. He can get paid forward later in money.

When my son, Mark, was in the third grade, he saved all his pocket money for over three months to buy holiday presents for those he loved. He had 36 twenty dollars.

　　 The third Saturday in December, Mark said he had 37 his list and had his money in his 38 . I drove him to a 39 supermarket. Mark picked up a hand basket and went off on his own 40 I waited patiently reading a book at the front of the store. It 41 Mark over 45 minutes to choose his presents. When he came up to the checkout (收銀臺), the smile on his face was truly 42 . The clerk rang up his purchase as I 43 looked at the other way. Mark kept 44 his budget (預算) and 45 into his pocket for his money. 46 was not there! There was a hole in his pocket, but no money. Mark stood 47 the store holding his basket, with tears rolling down his cheeks. His whole body was 48 with his sobs (抽噎). Then a(n) 49 thing happened. A 50 shopping in the store came up to Mark. She knelt down and took him 51 her arms. “You would do me the favor if you let me 52 your money,” said the woman. “It would be the most wonderful present you could ever give me. I only ask you could 53 . One day, when you grow up, I would like you to find someone you can help. I know you feel as good about it 54 I do now when you do help other people.” Mark took the money, tried to dry his 55 and ran to the checkout as fast as he could.

36. A. collected　　　　　　　 B. found　　　　　　　　　　　 C. used　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. saved

37. A. forgotten　　　　　　　 B. made　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. had　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. shown

38. A. mind 　　　　　　　　　 B. eyes　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. pocket　　　　　　　　　　 D. backpack

39. A. nearby　　　　　　　　　 B. close　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. near　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. distant

40. A. while　　　　　　　　　　 B. before　　　　　　　　　　　 C. though　　　　　　　　　　 D. after

41. A. spent　　　　　　　　　　 B. took　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. paid　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. needed

42. A. disappointing B. upset C. joyful D. surprising

43. A. angrily　　　　　　　　　 B. loudly　　　　　　　　　　　 C. worriedly　　　　　　　　 D. politely

44. A. in　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. within　　　　　　　　　　　 C. out of　　　　　　　　　　　 D. over

45. A. put　　　　　　　　　　　 B. reached　　　　　　　　　　 C. turned into　　　　　　　　 D. waited

46. A. It 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. There　　　　　　　　　　　 C. They　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. That

47. A. at the front of　　　　 B. at the back of　　　　　　 C. in the middle of　　　　 D. outside

48. A. breathing　　　　　　　 B. worrying　　　　　　　　　 C. frightening　　　　　　　　 D. shaking

49. A. important　　　　　　　 B. happy　　　　　　　　　　　 C. terrible　　　　　　　　　　 D. amazing

50. A. lady　　　　　　　　　　　 B. man　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. stranger　　　　　　　　　 D. guard

51. A. by　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. with　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. in　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. on

52. A. reply　　　　　　　　　　 B. return　　　　　　　　　　　 C. give　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. pay

53. A. pass it on　　　　　　　 B. pass it down　　　　　　 C. continue it　　　　　　　　 D. keep it

54. A. that　　　　　　　　　　　 B. as　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. what　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. which

55. A. sweat　　　　　　　　　 B. pocket　　　　　　　　　　　 C. presents　　　　　　　　　 D. tears

―I need some fresh air and a good rest, so I will go climbing the mountain.

―______. But be careful not to be too tired.

A. Good night　　　　　　　　　 B. Good luck C. Nice day. 　　　　 D. Have fun

 After______class, our classroom would often turn into ______world of noise, with students talking and laughing.

  A. the; /                           B. /; a                    C. the; the                    D. /; /

 The first prize will be given to the first group ______ reach the finishing line first.

  A. which                          B. who                  C. what                        D. whom

—It was careless of you to have left your clothes outside all night.

—My god! ______. Thank you for reminding me that.

A. So did I 　　　　　　　　　 B. So I did　　　　　　 C. So were you D. So did you

― Do you think Jim lazy enough?

―I’m afraid he’s ______ than lazy. You see, he works faster than all the others.

A. more clever　　　　　　　　 B. clever　　　　 C. much clever　　　　　　 D. more cleverer

 Great men never give up ______difficulty until they succeed.

A. in face of the　                                        B. when facing with

C. in the face of　                                        D. when facing by

 The army organized teams to dig out those who were trapped and to bury the ______.

  A. dying                           B. death                 C. dead                        D. died