A few days ago we – that’s me and the husband – took a cab to the station. Chat with the driver fell to the wrong of cyclists, and the misunderstanding of the road rules. So far as the rules of the road go, there seems to be one basic principle: when you are driving a car you hate bikes, when you are riding a bike you hate cars (and I guess walkers hate everyone). 
There is an obvious difference of viewpoint built in here. It wasn’t until I started to drive a car (almost 20years after I had first rode a bike) that I actually realized that you could not see a cyclist at night without lights. In fact I now want to shout at late night cyclists without lights(like motortists once did at me): “You’ll get killed, sunshine, I can’t see you.”
The problem is that cyclists do ride headlong into danger. It's not just not having lights. It’s biking on pavements (and so threatening to injure a load of innocent walkers in the process) and biking down one-way streets the wrong way.
I admit that I do bike the wrong way down a one-way street sometimes. My feeble(軟弱無力) defense is that I try always to do it as if I know I was doing wrong. That is slowly, with an apologetic look on the face, and ready to get off at any minute. I can’t bear the guys(一伙人) (usually, but not always it is guys) who do it as if they owned the place, and at high speed.
So cyclists are not entirely innocent. But they are among the disadvantaged groups, because the bottom line is that a car or a lorry can kill a cyclist and not the other way around.
【小題1】When did the writer realize the danger for late night cyclists without lights?

A．Not until she became a driver herself.

B．Not until she had driven a car for 20 years.

C．After she was shouted at by a motorist.

D．After she was once knocked down by a group of guys.

【小題2】When the writer biked the wrong way down a one way street, she felt_________.

A．a(chǎn)ngry

B．guilty

C．innocent

D．proud

【小題3】Which group is most likely to face danger according to the writer?

A．walkers

B．passers-by

C．cyclists

D．motorists

【小題4】What can we learn about the writer?

A．She often took a cab with her husband.

B．She has been a motorist for over 20 years.

C．She used to ride a bike without lights at night.

D．She often biked the wrong way down a one way street.

Recently I fully understood that a little favor could really make a big difference. My daughter and I were, accidentally, in time to catch a falling heart just before it hit the ground.
It all started when Charlene, one of my co-volunteers at the library, asked if I could do her duty on Tuesday since her doctor appointment had been unexpectedly changed. I agreed, which meant I  was home on Friday instead of volunteering as previously planned.
My daughter, Mary, managers a book store in town. Mid-morning, she called to ask me for help. Would I buy a fifty dollar gift card, birthday card, and cake for one of Mary’s assistant managers, Cindy?
Mary explained she had to call Cindy in to take the place of another assistant manager who was sick, but felt terrible about it when she discovered it was Cindy’s birthday. Cindy insisted that it was just fine. But that was not what Mary thought, so she gathered enough money from other employees to throw a surprise party for Cindy. Since neither Mary, nor any of the other employees, could leave to pick up the goodies, they were turning to me for help. Days later, Mary told me the wonderful rest of the story, “Cindy cried and cried when we surprised her. After the party, Cindy told us that her boyfriend had chosen that morning to break up with her. To top that off, she only had 26 cents left in her bank account.”
We were surprised at the series of unexpected events that took place in order to circle Cindy with love and catch her falling heart just before it hit the ground.
【小題1】Why did Charlene ask a favor of the writer?

A．ShehadtoseethedoctoronFriday.

B．Shewantedtocelebrateherdaughter’sbirthday.

C．ShehadanunexpectedappointmentonTuesday.

D．Sheneededtoprepareforherdaughter’sbirthday.

【小題2】What can we learn about Mary?

A．Shewasalearned careerwoman.

B．Shehaduneasyrelationshipswithherassistants.

C．SheknewCindy’slovestorybeforethesurpriseparty.

D．Sheplayedthemostimportantroleinthiscircleoflove.

【小題3】Which of the following couldn’t be the reason why Cindy cried?

A．She had to work on her birthday.

B．She had little money in her bank account.

C．She was greatly moved by Mary’s care and kindness.

D．She and her boyfriend parted that very morning.

【小題4】The underlined word “goodies” refers to_________.

A．Gifts for Cindy

B．Good stories

C．Close friends

D．Goods on sale

Brief  Introduction
(Adeline) Virginia Woolf (née Stephen; 25 January 1882 – 28 March 1941) was an English novelist and essayist, regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century.During the interwar period, Woolf was a significant figure in London literary society and a member of the Bloomsbury Group. Her most famous works include the novels Mrs Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927) and Orlando (1928), and the book-length essay A Room of One's Own (1929), with its famous dictum, "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."
Main  body
My dear，
'Dearest, I feel certain I am going mad again. I feel we can't go through another of those terrible times. And I shan't recover this time. I begin to hear voices, and I can't concentrate. So I am doing what seems the best thing to do. You have given me the greatest possible happiness. You have been in every way all that anyone could be. I don't think two people could have been happier till this terrible disease came. I can't fight any longer. I know that I am spoiling your life, that without me you could work. And you will I know. You see I can't even write this properly. I can't read. What I want to say is I owe all the happiness of my life to you. You have been entirely patient with me and incredibly good. I want to say that - everybody knows it. If anybody could have saved me it would have been you. Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness. I can't go on spoiling your life any longer.
I don't think two people could have been happier than we have been...........................from the last letter of virginia woolf
【小題1】According to the first paragraph we can infer that            

A．During the interwar period，virginia woolf was important for London people.

B．She has been living for 55 years

C．Her first the novels Mrs Dalloway in 1925

D．She regarded as one of the foremost romanticism literary figures of the twentieth century

【小題2】what is form of The main body？

A．letter of resignation	B．Letter of condolence
C．Letter of suicide	D．Letters of Apologies ;

【小題3】Where can I see this article？

A．newspaper	B．biography
C．German Literature	D．television

【小題4】According to the main body, which of the following is not the reason of her Dutch act（自殺）？

A．She can't go on spoiling your life any longer

B．I feel certain I am going mad again

C．She cannot bear her husband's interference

D．The approach of war makes her psychological problems aggravated

As an experienced photojournalist in Nashville, Tennessee, I was hired by USA Today newspaper to photograph a spinal bifida (脊柱畸形) corrective surgical procedure. It was to be performed on a twenty-one week old fetus（胎兒）in uterus（子宮）at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At that time, in 1999, twenty-one weeks in uterus was the earliest that the surgical team would consider for surgery. The worst possible outcome would be that the surgery would cause premature delivery, and no child born earlier than twenty-three weeks had survived.
The tension could be felt in the operating room as the surgery began. A typical C-section cut was made to access the uterus, which was then lifted out and laid at the junction of the mother’s thighs（大腿）. The entire procedure would take place within the uterus, and no part of the child was to breach the surgical opening. During the procedure, the position of the fetus was adjusted by gently moving the outside of the uterus. The entire surgical procedure on the child was completed in one hour and thirteen minutes. When it was over, the surgical team breathed a sigh of relief, as did I.
As a doctor asked me what speed of film I was using, out of the corner of my eye I saw the uterus shake, but no one’s hands were near it. It was shaking from within. Suddenly, an entire arm thrust out of the opening, then pulled back until just a little hand was showing. The doctor reached over and lifted the hand, which reacted and squeezed the doctor’s finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shook the tiny fist. Samuel held firm. I took the picture! Wow! It happened so fast that the nurse standing next to me asked, “What happened?” “The child reached out,” I said. “Oh. They do that all the time,” she responded.
The surgical opening to the uterus was closed and the uterus was then put back into the mother and the C-section opening was closed.
It was ten days before I knew if the picture was even in focus(對焦). To ensure no digital manipulation(篡改) of images before they see them, USA Today requires that film be submitted unprocessed. When the photo editor finally phoned me he said, “It’s the most incredible picture I’ve ever seen.”
【小題1】What may be the best title for the passage?

A．An Amazing Moment	B．A Pitiful Fetus
C．An Honorable Job as a Photographer	D．An Impressive Surgeon

【小題2】In 1999, people believed that it was ________.

A．possible for a fetus 21 weeks born to survive

B．likely for a fetus born 21 weeks to become abnormal

C．right time for a fetus born 21 weeks to receive an operation

D．risky for a fetus 21 weeks in uterus to receive an operation

【小題3】From the second paragraph, we can see that the surgery was ________.

A．challenging but successful	B．demanding and unsuccessful
C．simple and short	D．long-lasting and difficult

【小題4】The underlined “It” in paragraph 3 refers to ________.

A．the uterus	B．the arm of the fetus
C．the picture	D．the head of the fetus

【小題5】From what the editor said in the last paragraph, we know he was very ________.

A．disappointed

B．satisfied

C．confident

D．depressed

She belongs to no one but the whole world that can understand her language. Her music is appreciated across the globe but it is Singapore, China, Thailand and Britain that have helped to shape her talent.
Violinist, Vanessa-Mae, best known for her pioneering mix of pop and classical music, has just completed her Asian tour. She has a magic power that has attracted an audience from around the world but the violin genius has always drawn fans by blazing a new trail.
“I don’t like playing it safe, I like jumping into new styles,” she said. She started her Asian performance tour in China’s Hong Kong on September 19 and visited the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumper. The tour, aiming to promote her new album, “The Best of Vanessa-Mae”, ends in Thailand’s capital Bangkok on September 30.
The graceful and beautiful musician has attracted lots of fans in the places she has visited. She said although she enjoys trying out different forms of performance, including fashion shows and singing, she feels more comfortable with her violin. She has promised her fans she will never abandon the classical music that was the foundation of her training.
Vanessa-Mae, now 23, first picked up the violin at five. After six months of intensive training in Beijing, he turned professional at 10. it was her fusion (融合) of classical and rock in her 1995 album “The Violin Player”, that shot the then 17-year-old to international recognition. The record sold 3 million copies worldwide.
She has a Chinese-Singaporean mother and a Thai father. She was born in Singapore and grew up in Britain. Vanessa-Mae has released seven albums and plans two more in the near future—first a classical album,, then a pop recording.
She has said she wants to perform for the next 10 years, but after that she may settle down with her boyfriend, a 33-year-old wine-dealer from France, and concentrate on writing music.
【小題1】Vanessa-Mae started her Asian performance tour           .

A．to concentrate on writing music

B．to go on a lobng journey

C．to sell her new album “The Best of Vanessa-Mae”

D．to attract her fans

【小題2】She has given performance in these forms EXCEPT        .

A．playing the violin	B．fashion shows
C．singing	D．playing the piano

【小題3】What can we know about Vanessa-Mae from the passage?

A．Her music is a mix of pop and classical music.

B．She has released nine albums.

C．Her music is a fusion of Chinese and Western music.

D．Being born in Singapore and growing up in Britain have resulted in popularity of her music.

Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.
　　Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.
　　These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simple to be herself.
　　It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.
　　Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉著), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.
【小題1】Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?

A．She serves as a role model for African women.

B．She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.

C．She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.

D．She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.

【小題2】What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?

A．They are victims of violence.

B．They are of an inferior violence.

C．They use quite a lot of body language.

D．They live on charity and social welfare.

【小題3】What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?

A．Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.

B．How Michelle should behave as a public figure.

C．How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.

D．What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House.

【小題4】What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?

A．However many fans she has, she should remain modest,

B．She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community.

C．However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody.

D．She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns.

【小題5】What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do?

A．Help change the prevailing view about black women.

B．Help her husband in the task of changing America.

C．Outshine previous First Lady.

D．Fully display her fine qualities.

One day, Jack threw some papers on my desk. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Next time you want to change anything, ask me first,” he said, and left. I had made just one small change. But it’s not that I hadn’t been warned. My colleagues had said he was responsible for the resignations of the two previous secretaries. As the weeks went by, I came to look down on Jack.
After another of his episodes had left me in tears I stormed into his office. “what?” he said suddenly. “Jack, the way you’ve been treating me is wrong. I’ve never had anyone speak to me that way. As a professional, it’s wrong for me to allow it to continue,” I said. Jack smiled nervously, “Susan, I make you a promise that I will be a friend. I will treat you as you deserve to be treated, with respect and kindness.”
Jack avoided me the rest of the week, and never questioned my work again. I brought cookies to the office one day and left some on his desk. Another day I left a note: ”Hope your day is going great. ” Over the next few weeks, there were no more Jack episodes. One year later
I discovered I had breast cancer, and was scared. The statistics were not great for my long-term survival.
One day, however, Jack visited me in the hospital and silently handed me a bundle with several bulbs inside. “Tulips(郁金香),” he said. I smiled, not understanding. “If you plant them when you get home, they’ll come up next spring. I think you will be there to see them when they come up. Next spring you will see the colours I picked out for you.” Tears clouded my eyes and he left. I have seen those red and white striped（有條紋的） tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years now. This past September the doctor declared me cured. At a moment when I was praying for just the right word, a man with very few words said all the right things. After all, that’s what friends do.
【小題1】Jack became angry that day because__________.

A．he was feeling unwell

B．Susan had failed to keep his office clean

C．he felt Susan changed too much about the papers

D．Susan had changed something without his permission

【小題2】Susan stormed into jack’s office to tell Jack that__________.

A．he wasn’t worthy of respect

B．he should apologize to her right away

C．she would treat him the way he treated her

D．one should show others respect and kindness

【小題3】Which of the following describes Susan?

A．Moody but firm.

B．Shy and demanding

C．Confident and friendly.

D．Tough and troublesome.

【小題4】From the passage, we can conclude that__________.

A．Jack cares about his employees

B．Jack gets along well with his employees

C．Jack is always particular about his work

D．Jack doesn’t care about the feelings of others

【小題5】We can infer from the passage that__________.

A．a(chǎn) friend in need is a friend in deed

B．a(chǎn) few words can be as meaningful as many

C．a(chǎn) friend who says little must be a good friend

D．we must treat disrespectful people with disrespect