There lived a king who liked art. One day an artist offered to paint the most
beautiful picture in the world on the wall of his palace.
So the king said, “All right, you may work on one of the walls in the new hall.” Just then, another artist said, “ Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so the either of us cann’t see the other.”
Everyone in the king’s court, including the king and the first artist was surprised. So the king decided to give the man a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil and water. But the second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every day.
A month later the first artist said that his work was completed and invited the king to come.
So the king sent the message to the second artist, saying he was coming to see their works that evening.
After seeing the first artist’s wall, the king was very impressed with the painting and gave him a huge sum of money as a reward. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up.
The same painting was seen on the opposite wall too! It was exactly like the one on the first wall. But this man had not seen what was going on, on the other side of the curtain.
The man said simply, “It’s very easy I just polished the wall every day!”
It was a wall made of white marble. The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror.  
The reflection of the painting across the room showed up in it!
小題1:A thick curtain was put up between the two walls in order to _____________.

A．help them concentrate on their work.

B．keep the first artist’s painting a secret.

C．prevent their painting from being seen.

D．make it hare for them exchange ideas.

小題2:Why did the first artist receive a large sum of money from the king?

A．His painting satisfied the king.

B．His painting was the best the king has ever seen.

C．He painted better than the second artist.

D．The king promised to give him a reward.

小題3:How was the king feeling when he saw second wall?

A．Surprised and excited.	B．Fascinated and doubtful.
C．Satisfied and curious.	D．The paintings on the wall.

小題4:What would be the best title of the text? _____________

A．A king who loved art.	B．Two artists and the king.
C．Whose painting is better?	D．The painting on the wall.

It was 4 o'clock in the morning when I received the phone call．
“This is the emergency room calling and your son was just  36 in with severe burns on his face，neck and arms．We have called for a（n）  37  and are going to fly him to the burn unit in Seattle．” Seattle was 350 miles from his college，so we knew immediately this was  38 ．
The doctor described the  39 ，which caused the burns．At 6 am，our son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers in the courtyard of their apartment．When they   40  the charcoal（木炭），it burst into flames because they had sprayed too much gasoline（petrol）．The flames  41 my son’s shirt tail and shot from his waist to well over his head．
  42 ，one of the boys was quick-minded，grasped my son，and  43 him on the grass．While it saved his life，it was not in  44  to save him from severe burns and the terrible scars（傷疤）．
After he  45 from the treatments，the doctors told him they would not do plastic surgery（整容）for 6 months  46 it takes that long for the skin to stop shrinking and wrinkling．So，he had to return to college with scars typical of severe burns．
When I was a child, my mother told my sister，who had a 10-inch, very 47__ scar on her arm，“Nancy，if you ignore the scar，other people will ignore it．It does not mean they will not  48 it，but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn’t matter to you．’’
I  49 this wisdom on to my son．He took my advice to 50 and returned to school with his head held high--glad he was alive．
By the end of the six-month waiting period，he decided that the scars did not  51 , sohe made the  52 to give up any plastic surgery．
We all have “scars” that we believe  53 people to keep away from us．And we spend a lot of time thinking that if only we looked different，or dressed differently，people would like us better． 
But you see，people will only judge you by your looks，or your clothes，if you are judging yourself by these same  54 standards．Put your imperfections out of your mind and concentrate on what you value  55 yourself，and your beauty will shine through．

小題1:	A．brought B．given C．turned D．showed

小題2:	A．doctor B．hospital C．a(chǎn)ircraft D．a(chǎn)mbulance

小題3:	A．serious B．terrible C．painful D．important

小題4:	A．event B．process C．reason D．a(chǎn)ccident

小題5:	A．got B．lit C．burned D．moved

小題6:	A．took B．held C．caught D．a(chǎn)ttracted

小題7:	A．Fortunately B．Surprisingly C．Happily D．Slowly

小題8:	A．pushed B．threw C．dropped D．rolled

小題9:	A．shape B．place C．fact D．time

小題10:

A．benefited B．recovered C．suffered D．relaxed

小題11:

A．if B．while C．because D．a(chǎn)lthough

小題12:

A．normal B．violent C．obvious D．popular

小題13:

A．mention B．notice C．laugh D．hide

小題14:

A．sent B．kept C．handed D．passed

小題15:

A．heart B．life C．practice D．consideration

小題16:

A．grow B．matter C．exist D．a(chǎn)ppear

小題17:

A．mistake B．effort C．decision D．request

小題18:

A．invite B．cause C．a(chǎn)llow D．remind

小題19:

A．false B．strict C．moral D．general

小題20:

A．by B．over C．beyond D．within

I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always not enough, but we had a   36  over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always   37 . Not knowing we were poor, my kids (孩子們) just thought I was   38 . I’ve always been glad about that.
It was Christmas time, and although there wasn’t enough   39  for a lot of gifts, we planned to hold a family party. And the big   40  for the kids was the fun of Christmas   41 .
They planned weeks ahead of time, asking   42  what they wanted for Christmas. Luckily, I had saved $120 for them to buy   43 .
The big   44  arrived. I gave each kid a twenty-dollar bill and   45  them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered(散開(kāi)). We had two hours to shop; then we would   46  again at the “Santa’s Workshop”.
Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits,   47  my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually   48 . She had only one small, flat bag with a few candies　— fifty-cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn’t say anything   49  we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be   50  again. This is what she told me.
“I was looking   51 , thinking of what to buy, and I   52  to read the little cards on the ‘Giving Trees.’ One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she   53  for Christmas was a doll(玩具娃娃). So I took the card off the tree and   54  the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn’t have anything.”
I never felt so   55  as I did that day.

小題1:	A．roof B．hat C．sky D．star

小題2:	A．little B．less C．enough D．more

小題3:	A．busy B．serious C．strict D．kind

小題4:	A．effort B．room C．time D．money

小題5:	A．improvement B．problem C．surprise D．excitement

小題6:	A．shopping B．travelling C．parties D．greetings

小題7:	A．the other B．each other C．one by one D．every other one

小題8:	A．toys B．clothes C．presents D．bills

小題9:	A．day B．chance C．cheque D．tree

小題10:

A．forced B．reminded C．invited D．begged

小題11:

A．draw B．stay C．move D．meet

小題12:

A．including B．besides C．except D．regarding

小題13:

A．quiet B．excited C．happy D．a(chǎn)shamed

小題14:

A．since B．a(chǎn)fter C．while D．until

小題15:

A．happy B．a(chǎn)ngry C．joyful D．glad

小題16:

A．out B．over C．forward D．a(chǎn)round

小題17:

A．forgot B．stopped C．failed D．hated

小題18:

A．wanted B．did C．got D．played

小題19:

A．made B．searched C．bought D．fetched

小題20:

A．painful B．rich C．disappointed D．a(chǎn)ngry

Columbus returned home with the news of his discovery of “Indian” 36 Columbus called it. Then he was considered as the hero who had given a new world to Spain. Never had so great __37__ been shown to any __38__man.But there were some who were jealous of the __39__.”Who is this Columbus?” they asked, “and what has he done? Isn’t he a poor sailor from Italy？And could __40__ other seamen sail across the ocean just as he has done?”
One day Columbus was at 41 and several of these fellows were __42__ too. They tried to make Columbus __43__.”You have discovered strange lands __44__ the sea,”they said.“But we don’t see why there __45__ be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean and anybody can coast along the islands __46__ ,just as you have done. It is the __47__ thing in the world.”
Columbus made no answer, but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the people at the table, “Who __48__ you, gentlemen, can make the egg stand __49__ ?” One by one they tried the __50__．When the egg had gone __51__　around and everyone had failed, all said that it could not be done, Then Columbus took the egg and __52__the shell of the egg’s small end a little upon the table. After that there was no trouble in making it stand __53__.“Gentlemen,”said he, “what is easy than to do this __54__ you said was impossible ? It is simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it-----AFTER HE HAD BEEN SHOWN __55__.”
小題1:A. so         B. when     C as        D. that

小題2:	A．respect B．response C．reward D．request

小題3:	A．great B．common C．usual D．noble

小題4:	A．discovery B．inventor C．discover D．bravery

小題5:	A．some B．a(chǎn)ny C．no D．every

小題6:	A．palace B．hotel C．counter D．dinner

小題7:	A．friendly B．present C．rude D．a(chǎn)ngry

小題8:	A．uncomfortable B．happy C．satisfied D．disappointed

小題9:	A．beyond B．in C．a(chǎn)long D．on

小題10:

A．could B．would C．should D．might

小題11:

A．on another side B．on other side C．on the other side D．on one side

小題12:

A．easiest B．simplest C．content D．convenient

小題13:

A．besides B．a(chǎn)mong C．including D．except

小題14:

A．on end B．in end C．by end D．to end

小題15:

A．egg B．experiment C．method D．way

小題16:

A．entirely B．eventually C．fluently D．frequently

小題17:

A．supported B．hit C．broke D．stuck

小題18:

A．downward B．upward C．backward D．inward

小題19:

A．that B．what C．how D．why

小題20:

A．WHAT B．WHEN C．WHY D．HOW

Whenever we do something wrong, Jesus Christ sees it. He loves us and doesn’t say it. Perhaps he’s wondering how long we’ll keep our mind suffering. A little boy named Johnny was visiting his grandparents on their farm and he was given a slingshot(彈弓) to play with out in the woods. He  36  for some time but he could never hit the target he had set for himself. Getting a little  37 , he walked back to the farmhouse for dinner. As he was _   38 back, he saw Grandpa’s pet duck. Just out of   39 , he let the slingshot fly , hitting it in the head ,and killed it. In a panic, he    40 the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister Sally   41  be watching him. Sally had seen all this, but she said _42 . After lunch that day Grandma said, “Sally, it’s your turn to wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.” And then she spoke _43 to him, “Remember the duck？” So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if  44  wanted to go fishing, but Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help me make supper.” But Sally just smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he was too   45 to help you. And she whispered again, “Remember the duck?” So Sally went fishing and Johnny  46 to help make supper. After several days of doing both his 47 and Sally’s, Johnny finally couldn’t 48 it any longer. He came to his Grandma and told her that he had killed the duck .Grandma smiled and gave him a big 49 . “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was watering the flowers at the window   50  I saw you shoot my duck with the slingshot, and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I  51 you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally  52_ of you.”
In reality, no matter how  53__or how uncomfortable it is to admit our wrongdoing, we should always choose to  54 it and work it through instead of running away from it. Hard as it is, it  55  us and makes us who we are.

小題1:	A．promoted B．exercised C．practiced D．consumed

小題2:	A．delighted B．upset C．a(chǎn)mazed D．scared

小題3:	A．running B．rushing C．heading D．leaving

小題4:	A．sympathy B．pride C．impulse D．politeness

小題5:	A．hung B．presented C．protected D．hid

小題6:	A．should B．shall C．must D．might

小題7:	A．nothing B．everything C．something D．a(chǎn)nything

小題8:	A．loudly B．softly C．guiltily D．innocently

小題9:	A．Sally B．Johnny C．the children D．Grandma

小題10:

A．reluctant B．willing C．curious D．cautious

小題11:

A．kept up B．held back C．left behind D．stayed behind

小題12:

A．chores B．homework C．games D．sports

小題13:

A．a(chǎn)ccept B．stand C．withdraw D．a(chǎn)llow

小題14:

A．hug B．blow C．reward D．a(chǎn)ward

小題15:

A．whereas B．a(chǎn)s C．while D．when

小題16:

A．a(chǎn)ppreciate B．a(chǎn)dmire C．forgive D．force

小題17:

A．put the blame B．make friends C．put pressure D．make a slave

小題18:

A．doubtful B．grateful C．harmful D．painful

小題19:

A．reject B．control C．face D．witness

小題20:

A．develops B．shapes C．ruins D．prepares

Few people ever took notice of Mr. Jimmy Tan whenever he entered a room. He was a shy, quiet and simple man who preferred to keep to himself in public. On the other hand, Mr. Thomas Kim, a fellow scientist, was a man everyone would notice on the streets. He wore bright outfits with huge flower prints, spoke with a booming voice, and his laughter could be heard from all corners of a room. In addition to the differences in their characters, Mr. Kim and Mr. Tan were also great rivals at work in the Institute of Future Science.
On Christmas Eve, everyone left work early to celebrate the special occasion, except for Mr. Tan and Mr. Kim. They were in their laboratory analyzing the results of their latest experiments. Mr. Tan realized that something special was taking place in his experiment —the bacteria he had cultured were growing extremely quickly under high pressure and at a very low temperature. After noting down the findings in his notebook, he left the room to prepare for another round of tests. Shortly after, Mr. Kim entered.
“Hey Jimmy,” Mr. Kim called out, “do you have an extra copy of the laboratory booking form?”
There was no reply, so Mr. Kim looked through Mr. Tan’s things. He soon found Mr. Tan's notebook and was horrified to see that Mr. Tan had managed to make one of the most important discoveries in modern science. He then looked into the deep-freeze cupboard where a dish containing the bacteria was kept. He put them into his pocket and returned to his own laboratory.
Mr. Tan came back an hour later to find his notebook and the dish missing. He knew that Mr. Kim had taken them and went to Mr. Kim's laboratory to find out. When he opened the door, he found Mr. Kim lying on the floor motionless. His face was pale and his skin had turned black. The deadly bacteria had been handled improperly. He shook his head and left.
小題1:From the first paragraph we know Mr. Kim was a quite    person.

A．famous	B．hardworking
C．wealthy	D．outgoing

小題2:The underlined word "rivals" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to   .

A．enemies	B．colleagues
C．competitors	D．friends

小題3:What does the underlined word “them” refer to in the 4th paragraph?

A．the most important discoveries

B．the notebook and the dish

C．the cupboard and the bacteria

D．the dish and the bacteria

小題4:Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Mr. Kim was afraid Mr. Tan might succeed ahead of him.

B．Mr. Tan's bacteria grew very fast in a warm container.

C．Mr. Tan worked much harder than Mr. Kim.

D．Mr. Kim was so tired that he fell down into sleep.

小題5:What happened to Mr. Kim in the end?

A．He died on Christmas Eve.

B．He was arrested by the police.

C．He shared the success with Mr. Tan.

D．He succeeded ahead of Mr. Tan.

Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they  16  after having dinner together. They discussed the  17  they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, “I had a  18  house built for Mama.” The second said, “I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（經(jīng)銷(xiāo)商）send a  19  to her.” The third said, “I built a beautiful   20  for Mama.” The fourth said, “You know   21  Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t   22  very well. I met a   23  who had a parrot（鸚鵡）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to   24  it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years,  25  it is worth it.” On hearing that, the other brothers were   26  by his good thought.
After the holidays their mother   27  her thank-you notes, which read:
“Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to 28  the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to   29 . I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll 30  use the car. The   31  was good, although not practical. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to  32  plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost   33  my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the   34  son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so   35  . I liked it very much. Thank you.”

小題1:	A．fought B．talked C．studied D．slept

小題2:	A．gifts B．chances C．wishes D．challenges

小題3:	A．warm B．big C．safe D．lonely

小題4:	A．book B．bike C．car D．bag

小題5:	A．station B．museum C．library D．theater

小題6:	A．what B．how C．why D．when

小題7:	A．listen B．feel C．see D．walk

小題8:	A．nurse B．writer C．businessman D．lawyer

小題9:	A．protect B．beat C．raise D．teach

小題10:

A．but B．so C．unless D．a(chǎn)lthough

小題11:

A．treated B．impressed C．threatened D．hurt

小題12:

A．sent out B．put up C．took out D．picked up

小題13:

A．sell B．borrow C．clean D．visit

小題14:

A．learn B．work C．exercise D．travel

小題15:

A．never B．often C．regularly D．sometimes

小題16:

A．future B．hobby C．idea D．program

小題17:

A．create B．enjoy C．bring D．record

小題18:

A．lost B．a(chǎn)dmired C．remained D．discovered

小題19:

A．same B．last C．next D．only

小題20:

A．strange B．unpleasant C．bitter D．delicious

In his lowest days when few people bought his records, Taiwan singer Steve Chou lived alone in Canada and did little. One day, he passed by a local CD store and heard a song that greatly attracted him.
“My heart tells me that music is the thing I truly want to do, not for fame or money,” Chou said. That’s how we luckily have such a music genius, who has since then composed lots of hits for the pop music charts (排行榜). 
“Sometimes we need to get close to nature to look deeply into our souls and see what we really want to follow,” he said.
Recently he has made public his latest work Lovers Genesis. In this album he explores human relationships in the Internet age.“Technology itself is a good thing, but it depends on how you’re going to use it,”is Chou’s advice to teenagers.
Chou often gets his music ideas from trips. He has traveled to many places around the world and believes that learning a country’s language is the fastest way of experiencing the culture behind it.
Chou has worked hard on learning English to push forward his music career. He has flown to the UK to attend months-long English training schools three times. There he lives with local families and practices daily conversations.
“So I could easily read the English instructions on recording machines and communicate with the local music producers,” said Chou, “The music reviews of the US or British singers that I appreciate could help me learn and grow with them.”
小題1:Which of the following about Steve Chou is the correct order?
a. He made public his work Lovers Genesis.
b. He passed by a local CD store and heard a song that greatly attracted him.
c. He composed lots of hits for the pop music charts.
d. Few people bought his records.

A．a(chǎn)bcd

B．dbca

C．a(chǎn)cbd

D．dacb

小題2:Why has Chou flown to the UK to learn English?

A．Because he wants to live in the UK.

B．Because his record company asks him to.

C．Because he wants to sell his album in the UK.

D．Because he thinks it will be helpful for his music career.

小題3:Steve Chou may agree with the following except that __________.

A．taking trips gives him some ideas of music

B．what we really want to follow is the most important

C．music is a thing that can bring him fame and money

D．in International age, technology itself is not a bad thing

小題4:What is Steve Chou like according to the passage?

A．Kind and helpful.	B．Proud and confident.
C．Active and hard-working.	D．Calm and disappointed.

We spent a day in the country, picking wild flowers. With the car full of flowers we were going home. On our way back my wife noticed a cupboard outside a furniture shop. It was tall and narrow. “Buy it,” my wife said at once. “We’ll carry it home on the roof rack(行李架), I’ve always wanted one like that.”
What could I do? Ten minutes later I was 20 pounds poorer, and the cupboard was tied onto the roof rack. It was six inches long and eighteen inches square, quite heavy too.
In the gathering darkness I drove slowly. Other drivers seemed unusually polite that evening. The police even stopped traffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea.
After a time my wife said, “There’s a long line of cars behind. Why don’t they overtake, I wonder?”
In fact a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously as they passed. But then, with great kindness, they led us through the rush-hour traffic. The police car stopped at our village church. One of the officers came to me.
“Right, sir,” he said. “Do you need any more help?”
I was a bit puzzled. “Thanks, officer,” I said. “You have been very kind. I live just on the road.”
He was staring at our car: first at the flowers, and then at the cupboard. “Well, well,” he said, laughing. “It’s a cupboard you’ve got there! We thought it was, something else.”
My wife began to laugh. Then the truth hit me like a stone between the eyes. I smiled at the officer. “Yes, it’s a cupboard, but thanks again.” I drove home as fast as I could.
小題1:It can be inferred from the passage that______.

A．other drivers let the couple go first, because the husband did not drive fast

B．the cupboard cost less than 20 pounds

C．the husband, in fact, would rather not buy the cupboard

D．a(chǎn)ll the cars followed the couple’s

小題2:The police will be more polite to those who are______.

A．in great sorrow	B．driving in the gathering darkness
C．driving with wild flowers in the car	D．carrying furniture

小題3:What did the police officer think of the cupboard?

A．It was so expensive that it needed their help

B．It was a box for a dead person to be buried in.

C．There might be something stolen in it.

D．It was a big box with some bomb in it.

小題4:What did the husband think of the whole matter?

A．It was very strange.	B．He took great pride in it.
C．He was puzzled at it	D．He felt embarrassed.

My husband Mike hated Christmas. He didn’t hate the true meaning of ___36___, but the commercial aspects (方面) of it. Knowing he felt this ____37__, I decided one year to__38__the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something __39_just for Mike. The idea came in an unusual way.
　　 Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was____40__at the junior level at the school he attended and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match___41____a team sponsored（資助） by a church.
　　 These youngsters from the church, dressed in shoes so____42___that shoestrings(鞋帶) seemed to be the only thing holding them together,___43_____our son’s team were in their beautiful new wrestling shoes.
　　 As the match began, I was___44___to see that the other team was wrestling without a helmet(頭盔) designed to___45____a wrestler’s head. They clearly could not____46___ them. Well, our son’s team ended up defeating them and took every weight class. But as the other team ____47__up from the mat(墊子), they walked around with a sense of pride that couldn’t admit___48____.
　　 Mike, seated beside me, shook his head___49___, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential(潛力), but___50___like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved__51____and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball. That’s when the __52____for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and ___53____some wrestling helmets and shoes and sent them to the church.
　　 On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his____54___from me. His smile was the____55___ thing about Christmas that year.

小題1:	A．the gift B．a(chǎn)n envelope C．the wrestling D．Christmas

小題2:	A．way B．joy C．music D．fear

小題3:	A．buy B．a(chǎn)void 　 C．wear D．give

小題4:	A．beautiful B．expensive　 C．special D．new

小題5:	A．wrestling B．weightlifting C．shooting D．boxing

小題6:	A．a(chǎn)t B．a(chǎn)gainst 　　 C．for D．on

小題7:	A．big B．small 　 C．worn D．cheap

小題8:	A．because B．if 　 C．so D．while

小題9:	A．frightened B．disappointed C．pleased D．surprised

小題10:

A．cover B．surround　　 C．protect D．hide

小題11:

A．carry B．a(chǎn)fford 　 C．design D．expect

小題12:

A．got B．dressed 　　 C．turned D．cheered

小題13:

A．defeat B．evidence　　 C．charge D．mistake

小題14:

A．gently B．sadly　 C．nervously D．gladly

小題15:

A．running B．winning 　　 C．losing D．shaking

小題16:

A．workmates B．parents 　　 C．friends D．kids

小題17:

A．invitation B．idea 　　 C．care D．money

小題18:

A．return B．sold 　　 C．bought D．left

小題19:

A．gift B．warning 　　 C．praise D．love

小題20:

A．brightest B．funniest　 C．ugliest D．darkest