An African-American man named John Henry was the hero of former slaves and the people who built the railroads in the US in the 19th century.
John Henry was born a slave. He was known for his strength. Many people say he represents the spirit of growth in America during that period.
John Henry grew up in a world that did not let children stay children for long. Before he was six years old, he was carrying stones for workers building a nearby railroad. By the time John Henry was a young man, he was one of the best railroad workers in the country.
John Henry was asked to lead workers on a hard project, creating a tunnel through a mountain. The project required about 1,000 laborers and lasted three years. Hundreds of men became sick as a result of the hot weather and tiredness. John Henry was the strongest and fastest man. Concerned his friends might lose their jobs, he picked up their hammers and began doing their work. He worked day and night, rarely stopping to have a rest.
One day, a salesman came to the work area with a new drilling machine powered by steam. He said it could drill holes faster than twelve men working together.
John Henry looked at the machine and saw images of the future. He saw machines taking the place of America’s best laborers. He saw himself and his friends unemployed and sanding by a road, asking for food. He decided he would never let the machine take their jobs. Therefore, a competition between a man and a machine began .At first, the steam-powered drill worked twice faster. Then, John Henry started working with a hammer in each hand. He worked faster and faster. People cheered when the machine broke down and was pulled away. But they were sad to find John Henry fall to the ground, with blood spilling all around, and still holding a hammer in one of his hands.“I beat them,”he said. Then he took his last breath.
【小題1】What does the underlined part in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A．Many children in those days starved to death.

B．Children at that time grew much faster.

C．Children in those days had to work like adults.

D．Children at that time couldn’t stay together.

【小題2】Why did hundreds of workers become sick?

A．Because they had to work long hours.

B．Because the weather was hot and they were tired.

C．Because the project was too hard.

D．Because they didn’t have time to eat.

【小題3】John Henry helped do his friends’ work     .

A．because he was the strongest and fastest man

B．for fear that his friends would lose their jobs

C．so that they could regain their strength

D．in order be the hero of the railroad workers

【小題4】Which of the following best describes John Henry?

A．Kind and determined.	B．Cautious and considerate.
C．Brave and strict.	D．Hardworking and stubborn.

I must have been about fourteen then, and I put away the incident from my mind with the easy carelessness of youth. But the words, Carl Walter spoke that day, came back to me years later, and ever since have been of great value to me.
Carl Walter was my piano teacher. During one of my lessons he asked how much practicing I was doing. I said three or four hours a day.
“Do you practice in long stretches, an hour at a time?”
“I try to.”
“Well, don’t, ” he said loudly. “When you grow up, time won’t come in long stretches. Practice in minutes, whenever you can find them five or ten before school, after lunch, between household tasks. Spread the practice through the day, and piano-playing will become a part of your life.”
When I was teaching at Columbia, I wanted to write, but class periods, theme-reading, and committee meetings filled my days and evenings. For two years I got practically nothing down on paper, and my excuse was that I had no time. Then I remembered what Carl Walter had said. During the next week I conducted an experiment. Whenever I had five minutes unoccupied, I sat down and wrote a hundred words or so. To my astonishment, at the end of the week I had a rather large manuscript(手稿) ready for revision. Later on I wrote novels by the same piecemeal （零碎的）method. Though my teaching schedule had become heavier than ever, in every day there were moments which could be caught and put to use.
There is an important trick in this time-using principle: you must get into your work quickly. If you have but five minutes for writing, you can’t afford to waste it in chewing your pencil. You must make your mental preparations beforehand, and concentrate on your task almost instantly when the time comes. Fortunately, rapid concentration is easier than most of us realize.
I admit I have never learnt how to let go easily at the end of the five or ten minutes. But life can be counted on to supply interruptions. Carl Walter has had a significant influence on my life. To him I owe the discovery that even very short periods of time add up to all useful hours I need, if I throw myself into it without delay.
【小題1】The meaning of “stretch” in the underlined part is the same as that in the sentence “_______”

A．The dog woke up, had a good stretch and wandered off.

B．Bob worked as a government official for a stretch of over twenty years.

C．My family wasn’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination.

D．This material has a lot of stretch in it.

【小題2】Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The author didn’t take the teacher’s words to heart at first.

B．Rapid concentration is more difficult than people imagine.

C．The author thanked his teacher for teaching him to work in long stretches.

D．Carl Walter has influenced the writer greatly since he was a student.

【小題3】We can infer that the author______.

A．had new books published each year however busy his teaching is

B．is tired of interruptions in life because he always has much work

C．has formed a bad habit of chewing a pencil while writing his novels

D．makes mental preparations beforehand so as to focus on work quickly

【小題4】What is probably the best title for this text?

A．Concentrate on Your Work	B．A Little at a Time
C．How I Became a Writer	D．Good Advice

Anais Nin was a famous writer. Nin was born French-Cuban but lived in the United States in her later years of life till she died. Nin’s works had her relationships with authors, artists, and other figures as the main subject. Some of her writings were made into films. Nin was also a visiting lecturer in several colleges and promoted Women's Movement with her strong writings.
Anais Nin was born in France in 1903. Her father was a Spanish artist and a composer living in Cuba (古巴) where he met her mother, a French singer working in Cuba. As a child Nin was brought up in Spain. When her parents separated, Nin and her two brothers moved to New York with their mother. At the age of 16, Nin decided to give up studying and started to work as a dancer and model to reduce the financial burden on her mother so that her brothers could go on with their studies.
In 1923, Nin got married to her husband, Hugh Parker Guiler in Cuba. In 1924, Nin and Hugh moved to Paris where Hugh continued with his banking career and Nin started writing. Nin wrote her first book in print, D. H. Lawrence: An Unprofessional Study in 16 days. In 1939, Nin left Paris as it was a French government’s request to its residents to leave Paris because of the coming war. Nin returned to New York with Hugh and sent her written books to Frances Steioff of the Gotham Book Mart in New York for safekeeping.
In 1931, Nin wrote her book Henry and Jun: From the Unexpurgated Diary of Anais Nin. In 1936, Nin published House of Incest which was a 72-page fiction novel
Nin also appeared and was a part of various films. In 1973, Anais Nin was awarded an honorary doctorate    (榮譽博士學位) by the Philadelphia College of Art. In 1974, Nin was elected to the United States National Institute of Arts and Letters.
In 1977, Nin died in her Los Angeles home after battling with cancer for three years.
【小題1】What can we know about Anais Nin from the first paragraph?

A．She was a native American.

B．She started Women’s Movement

C．She gave lectures in several colleges.

D．She wrote mainly about her family life.

【小題2】Why did Anais Nin give up studying at the age of 16?

A．Because she wanted to help support her family.

B．Because her parents divorced.

C．Because she wanted to realize her dream of becoming an artist

D．Because she moved from country to country.

【小題3】 In 1939 Nin and her husband moved back to New York to______ .

A．enter the film industry	B．stay away from war
C．have her books published	D．promote her new books

【小題4】What is the passage mainly about?

A．The awards Anais Nin won.

B．Anais Nin and her incomplete family.

C．The hardship Anais Nin experienced.

D．Anais Nin and her great achievements.

Inventor，physicist，surveyor，astronomer，biologist，artist... Robert Hooke was all these and more. Some say he was the greatest experimental scientist of the seventeenth century. Once he worked with renowned（有名聲的） men of science like Christian Huygens，Antony van Leeuwenhoek，Robert Boyle，Isaac Newton and the great architect，Christopher Wren.
Hooke’s early education began at home，under the guidance of his father. He entered Westminster School at the age of thirteen，and from there he went to Oxford，where he came in contact with some of the best scientists in England. Hooke impressed them with his skill at designing experiments and devising（發(fā)明） instruments. In 1662，at the age of twenty－eight，he was named Curator of Experiments of the newly formed Royal Society of London. Hooke accepted the job，even though he knew that it had no money to pay him!
Watching living things through the microscope was one of his favorite occupations. He devised a compound microscope for this purpose. One day while observing a cork (軟木) under a microscope，he saw honeycomb－like structures. They were cells—the smallest units of life.In fact，it was Hooke who coined the term “cell” as the boxlike cells of the cork reminded him of the cells of a monastery(修道院)．
Perhaps because of his varied interests，Hooke often left experiments unfinished. Others took up where he left off and then claimed sole(獨占的)credit. This sometimes led to quarrels with colleagues. One work that he finished was his book MICROGRAPHIA，a volume that reveals the immense potential of the microscope. The book also includes，among other things，ideas on gravity and light which may have helped scientists like Newton while they were developing their own theories on these phenomena.
Hooke made valuable contributions to astronomy too. A crater(隕石坑) on the moon is named after him in appreciation of his services to this branch of science.
【小題1】From the first paragraph，we can know that Robert Hooke __________.

A．was famous because he worked with many scientists

B．liked making friends with the famous people

C．received a lot from other scientists

D．made contributions to many different fields

【小題2】Robert Hooke probably went to school in __________.

A．1647

B．1634

C．1662

D．1640

【小題3】Robert Hooke made himself known to some of the best scientists in England by __________.

A．learning by himself with his father’s help

B．introducing himself to them

C．designing experiments and instruments

D．refusing any reward from Royal Society of London

【小題4】Robert Hooke couldn’t get along well with his colleagues because __________.

A．he couldn’t finish his work on time sometimes

B．he had all kinds of interests in his daily life

C．he was too proud to look up to them

D．the other scientists took the fruits of his experiments

Where we live，on the eastern shore of Maryland，the gentle waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips.
The Canada geese know this place，as do the white swans and the ducks. In autumn，they come home for the winter. Once or twice each year，snow and frozen rain move into the area. When this happens，if the river is at its narrowest，there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice.
One morning，a friend of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window，which overlooked the Tred Avon River. Suddenly she leaned forward and cried out，“There is a goose out there.”
We saw the figure of a large Canada goose，very still，its wings folded tight to its sides，its feet frozen into the ice.
Then from the dark skies，she saw a line of swans. They floated from the top of the sky downward and at last landed on the ice. My friend was on her feet now，with one hand against her mouth，unbelieving. As the swans surrounded the frozen goose，she feared that life it still had might be pecked(啄) out by those great swan bills.
Instead，those bills began to work on the ice. The long necks were lifted and curved down，again and again. It went on for a long time. At last，the goose’s head was lifted. Its body was pulled. Then the goose was free and stood on the ice. And the swans stood in the air watching. Then，as if it had cried，“I cannot fly.” Four of the swans came down around it. Their powerful beaks chipped off the ice held in the feathers. Slowly，the goose spread its wings as far as they would go，and moved slowly into the sky.
This is a true story. I just think of it in the bad moment，and from it comes only one hopeful question：If so for birds，why not for man？
【小題1】Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．Why Not for Man?	B．Graceful Swans
C．Swans’ Brave Act	D．I Just Couldn’t Believe It!

【小題2】What happened to the Canada goose?

A．It was deserted by other geese.

B．It was stuck in the ice.

C．It was wounded and couldn’t fly.

D．It was lost in the water.

【小題3】At first the author’s friend was worried that________.

A．the swans would not help the Canada goose

B．she didn’t care about this matter any more

C．the swans wouldn’t identify with the Canada goose

D．the swans would peck the Canada goose to death

【小題4】What did the swans do when they saw the Canada goose couldn’t fly?

A．They chipped off the ice held in its feathers.

B．They waited patiently for the ice held in its feathers to melt.

C．They came down and lifted it up to the sky together.

D．They stayed with it and protected it.

I will never forget the lesson about my window. Four years ago, I moved to a house in a large town. One of my new neighbors’ house was only a few feet away from mine. There lived a woman. Through one of my windows, I could see her reading by her window every afternoon.
Several months later, I found I couldn’t see the woman clearly. I thought her window was too dirty. I said to myself, “Why doesn’t she clean her window? It looks terrible!”
One afternoon, I decided to clean my house including the window. I felt tired after three hours of hard work. So I sat down by the window for a rest. What a surprise! I could see the woman reading there clearly again! By that time, I realized that my own window was too dirty, not hers! I really felt ashamed for myself. I had been watching her through my dirty window in the past days!
The experience is very important for me. So I try to clean the window of my heart before judging others.
【小題1】How long has the writer lived in the house according to the passage?

A．One years

B．Two years.

C．Three years.

D．Four years.

【小題2】What did the woman do every afternoon?

A．Read by her window.	B．played tennis on the grass.
C．Danced in her house.	D．sang in front of the house.

【小題3】The writer couldn’t see the woman clearly because ______________.

A．the writer’s window was dirty

B．the woman’s house was too far

C．the woman didn’t open her window

D．there was something wrong with his eyes.

【小題4】The underlined word “ashamed” means _________________.

A．高興的

B．放松的

C．羞愧的

D．自豪的

【小題5】 According to the passage, the writer has learnt how to __________________.

A．clean the house

B．judge others

C．help neighbors

D．learn English

When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings. Week by week her list grew: I was very thin; I wasn’t a good student; I talked too much; I was too proud and so on. I tried to bear all these things as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked, “Are the things she said true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you are really like? Well, you now have the girl’s opinion. Go to make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to other things she said.”
I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half of the things were true. some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I got a fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it, “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else, the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just closing your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to other people’s opinions, but hear the truth and do what you know is right.”
Daddy’s advice returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.
【小題1】Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?

A．Not an Enemy, but a Best Friend

B．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had

C．My Father

D．My Childhood

【小題2】“Week by week her list grew” means “________”.

A．Week by Week, my shortcomings grew more serious.

B．She had made a list of shortcomings.

C．I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on.

D．Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and pointed them out.

【小題3】Her father listened to her quietly was because        .

A．He believed what her daughter’s enemy said was mostly true.

B．He had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings.

C．He didn’t believe in his daughter.

D．He wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth.

【小題4】After the father heard his daughter’s word, he        .

A．told her to write down what her “enemy” had said and pay attention to the true things.

B．criticized(批評) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings.

C．told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” said.

D．refused to take the list and have a look at it.

In the 1950s, a family that owned a farm near Beulah, Michigan kept a bull chained to an elm (榆樹). The bull paced around the tree, dragging the heavy iron chain, which led to a groove (槽) in the bark . The groove deepened over the years. Though for whatever reason, it did not kill the tree.
After some years, the family took their bull away. They cut the chain, leaving the loop around the tree and one link hanging down.
Then one year, agricultural disaster struck Michigan in the form of Dutch Elm Disease. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became infected and died. Everyone thought that the old elm would be the next.
The farm owners considered doing the safe thing: pulling it out and cutting it up into firewood before it died. But they simply could not bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had become a family friend. So they decided to let nature take its course.
Amazingly, the tree did not die. Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the county!
Plant experts from Michigan State University came out to observe the tree. They observed the scar left by the iron chain, now almost completely covered by bark. The experts decided that it was the chain that saved the elm’s life. They reasoned that the tree must have absorbed so much iron from the chain that it became immune to the virus.
　It’s said that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. Or, as Earnest Hemingway put it, "Life breaks us all, but afterwards, many of us are strongest at the broken places."
【小題1】What did the family do with the elm when the agricultural disaster hit Michigan one year?

A．They invited plant experts to observe it.

B．They pulled it out and chopped it up into firewood.

C．They prevented it from being infected by the disease.

D．They did nothing and just let it be.

【小題2】Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．A groove formed because of natural forces.

B．The family decided to keep the tree because they had become attached to it.

C．All of the elms in Beulah, Michigan died of the disease.

D．The plant experts advised the family to chop it down.

【小題3】What actually saved the elm?

A．The bull.

B．The groove.

C．The iron chain.

D．The experts.

【小題4】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Let nature take its course

B．Strengthened by our wounds

C．Constant dripping wears away a stone

D．Bend, but don’t break

The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light, I looked sadly before a huge pile of troublesome stuff they call “books”.
I was going to have my examination the next day. “When can I go to bed?” I asked myself. I didn’t answer, in fact I dared not.
The clock struck 12. “Oh, dear!” I cried, “ten more books to read before I can go to bed!” We pupils are the most wretched creatures ( 可憐的人 ) in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy.
The clock struck one. I was quite hopeless now. I forgot all I had learnt. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, “Oh, God, Please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen.” My eyes were heavy, so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep.
【小題1】When the author was going over his lessons, all the others in the house were_____ .

A．a(chǎn)sleep

B．working in bed

C．outside

D．quietly laughing at him

【小題2】Reviewing his lessons didn’t help him because ________. 

A．it was too late at night

B．he was very tired

C．his eyes lids were so heavy that he couldn’t keep them open

D．he hadn’t studied hard before the examination

【小題3】What do you suppose happened to the author？

A．He went to a church to pray again

B．He passed the exam by luck

C．He failed in the exam

D．He was punished by his teacher

【小題4】The best title for the passage would be __________ .

A．The Night Before the Examination

B．Working Far into the Night

C．A Slow Student

D．Going Over My Lessons

Mr. Grey was the manager of a small office in London. He lived in the country, and came up to work by train. He liked walking from the station to his office unless it was raining, because it gave him some exercise.
One morning he was walking along the street when a stranger stopped him and said to him, “You may not remember me, sir, but seven years ago I came to London without a penny in my pockets, I stopped you in this street and asked you to lend me some money, and you lent me £ 5, because you said you were willing to take a chance so as to give a man a start on the way to success.”
Mr. Grey thought for a few minutes and then said, “Yes, I remember you. Go on with your story!” “Well,” answered the stranger, “are you still willing to take a chance?”
【小題1】Mr. Grey liked walking to his office because ________.

A．he couldn’t afford the buses

B．he wanted to save money

C．he wanted to keep in good health

D．he could do some work on the way

【小題2】Mr. Grey had been willing to lend money to a stranger in order to_______

A．give him a start in life	B．help him on the way to success
C．make him rich	D．gain more money

【小題3】One morning the stranger recognized Mr. Grey, and_______

A．wanted to return Mr. Grey the money

B．a(chǎn)gain asked Mr. Grey for money

C．would like to make friends with him

D．told Mr. Grey that he had been successful since then

【小題4】In the second paragraph,“… take a chance” means ______.

A．Mr. Gray happened to meet a stranger

B．Mr. Grey had a chance to help a stranger

C．Mr. Grey helped a stranger by chance

D．Mr. Grey took the risk that the stranger would not give back the money which he lent him