Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe. I had been abroad a couple of times，but I could hardly claim to know my way around the continent. Moreover, my knowledge of foreign languages was limited to a little college French.

I hesitated. How would I, unable to speak the language, totally unfamiliar with local geography or transportation systems, set up interviews and do research? It seemed impossible, and with considerable regret. I sat down to write a letter begging off. Halfway through, a thought ran through my mind： you can't learn if you don't try. So I accepted the assignment.

There were some bad moments. But by the time I had finished the trip I was an experienced traveler. And ever since，I have never hesitated to head for even the most remote of places，without guides or even advanced bookings, confident that somehow I will manage.

The point is that the new, the different, is almost scary by definition. But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you.

I've learned to ski at 40, and flown up the Rhine River in a balloon. And I know I'll go on doing such things. It's not because I'm braver or more daring than others. I'm not. But I'll accept anxiety as another name for challenge and I believe I can accomplish wonders.

1.The author accepted the assignment because _____

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

3.We can infer from the text that the author is  _____.

4.What's the best title of the text?

In the year 480 BC the Greek allies (聯(lián)軍) faced invasion by the King of Persia, Xerxes, who commanded a huge army of about half a million men. When the Persian army marched into northern Greece, the Greek states, led by Athens and Sparta, were ill equipped to deal with the threat. The Persians were well supplied with food and weapons. Their army included infantry, cavalry, and a large navy. It seemed that they would easily defeat the Greeks.

    The Greek allies decided to send 10,000 men northwards to slow down the Persians, while the rest prepared to defend their homelands. A group of 300 best Spartan soldiers were chosen to lead the force going north, with Leonidas in command. Leonidas realized that the only hope of slowing the Persians would be to block the narrow passage of land at Thermopylae. The Pass of

Thermopylae was the route between the mountains and the sea, and was so narrow that only a few men could get through at a time.

     When the Persian army arrived at Thermopylae, they found Leonidas' tiny army opposing them. The Persians attacked, but could not get through. They attacked again and again, but each time they were driven back by the Greeks, led by the fearless Spartans. Leonidas' plan worked well until a Greek traitor called Ephialtes went m Xerxes. He told the Persian king about a goat's path in the mountains that would take the Persian army past Thermopylae. When Leonidas saw the enemy crossing the mountains, he realized that he could no longer hold Thermopylae. He sent all the Greek soldiers except the 300 Spartans back to their homelands.

     The Spartans waited for the 500,000 Persians at the goat’s path. Although hopelessly outnumbered, the Spartans fought bravely. They all died, but the other Greeks were able to get home to strengthen the defenses.

61. Compared with the Persian army, the Greek allies were very________.

    A. powerful        B. wise           C. weak          D. foolish

62. The Pass of Thermopylae was very important for the Greeks because __

    A. it was easy to hold but hard to attack

    B. only very small boats could get through it

    C, it was a secret pass unknown to the Persians

    D. a huge number of soldiers could be stationed there

63. Why did Leonidas send most of his soldiers back to their homelands?

    A. Because their homelands were under attack.

    B. Because he found they were not brave enough.

    C. Because the Persians gave up attacking Thermopylae.

    D. Because he found it impossible to hold Thermopylae.

64. Which of the following is NOT ture according to the passage?

    A. Leonidas was a great commander.

    B. The Persians failed to pass Thermopylae.

    C. Ephialtes betrayed his own country.

    D. The 300 Spatans would be regarded as heroes by the Greeks.

65. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

  A. The Greek Allies  B. The Goat’s Path  C. The King of Persia  D. Xerxes and Ephialtes

第三節(jié)完形填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）

閱讀下面短文，從短文后所給各題的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。

A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. She told him that she would   26   the water in ten minutes.

Thirty minutes later, when the passenger’s ring for   27   sounded, the air hostess realized it at once. She was kept so   28   that she forgot to deliver him the   29  . As a result, the passenger was   30  to take his medicine. She hurried over to him   31   a cup of water, but he 32   it.

In the following hours on the   33  , each time the air hostess­ passed be the   34  , she would ask him with a   35   whether he needed help or not. But the passenger   36   paid attention to her words.

When he was going to get   37   the plane, the passenger asked the air hostess­ to   38   him the passengers­’ booklet(意見簿). She was very   39  . She knew that he would write down 40   words, which might result in the loss of her job.   41   with a smile she handed it to him.

Off the plane, she   42   the booklet, and cracked a smile,   43   the passenger put it, “On the flight, you asked me whether I need help or not for twelve times   44  . How can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?”

That’s   45  ! Who can refuse your twelve sincere smiles from a person?

26．A．take     B．bring    C．carry          D．hold

27．A．food     B．drink    C．service         D．medicine

28．A．tired     B．silent    C．calm           D．busy

29．A．water    B．help     C．milk           D．warning

30．A．held on  B．held up  C．held out      D．held down

31．A．for       B．a(chǎn)bout    C．with               D．in

32．A．refused   B．a(chǎn)ccepted C．liked          D．hated

33．A．seat      B．a(chǎn)ir      C．floor           D．flight

34．A．customer B．passenger  C．guest          D．visitor

35．A．glance     B．look       C．smile          D．cry

36．A．never          B．often    C．a(chǎn)lways        D．seldom

37．A．on        B．to         C．off           D．from

38．A．hand     B．take      C．throw         D．lend

39．A．glad      B．a(chǎn)ngry    C．curious        D．sad

40．A．important B．sharp      C．polite        D．nice

41．A．So       B．Because  C．And        D．But

42．A．hid       B．tore      C．opened         D．closed

43．A．if         B．for       C．a(chǎn)fter         D．when

44．A．in all     B．a(chǎn)bove all  C．or else       D．or so

45．A．wrong    B．wonderful  C．impossible  D．right

Everyone knows that exercise is important. We all need to exercise. Doctors say it is good for us. It makes your heart and body strong. Children who often exercise are more alert (靈活). This means they do better in tests and schoolwork than those who don’t exercise.

There are many ways to exercise. You can walk, run, swim, skate, or play ball games. Make sure you exercise in the following ways; you have to like what you’re doing. Exercise enough— but not too much. It’s best to exercise twice each week, Thirty minutes each time is enough. Try all kinds of things until you find one, two or even three sports that feel right for you.

You can exercise at fitness centers. They have a lot of equipment（設(shè)備）there. The equipment will help to exercise your arms, legs and other parts of your body to make you fit. Some people buy equipment for their homes. But it is very expensive.

Exercising can be fun. Friends can exercise together at a fitness center or they can play sports together. How do you exercise?

1.In the text, the writer tells us that we all need to         .

2.Which of the following sports is not mentioned (提到) in the next?

3.The words “fitness centers” in the next mean         .

4.The sentence, Children who often exercise are more alert, tells us that people who often exercise can do better in         .

5.Exercising can be fun, because         .

完形填空（共20小題；每題1分，滿分20分）

       閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。

James was a curious young man. Everywhere he went, he liked to observe things and to __21__ people—what they did, what they said and what they wore. Subconsciously, he was making quick __22__ all the time. He couldn’t really __23__ it; it just happened.

For example, he once saw a man whose body was __24__ with tattoos(文身). That man was strong and walked proudly. James imagined his __25__ people up, sometimes with sticks and sometimes with his hands, speaking __26__ words each time he opened his mouth. A troublemaker, perhaps, James __27__ to himself.

Sometimes James felt __28__ for judging others this way, but that feeling was __29__ and never really lasted.

Then, one day, he saw a woman seated alone in a café. The woman was __30__, quite fat, and although she was not __31__, James could tell she was a short lady. __32__, James glanced across at her, looking at her from top to bottom. As his eyes reached her __33__, he got a shock.

There she was, on her left foot, wearing a platform shoe that was at least 3 inches high. __34__ could such a little middle-aged lady who was average-looking at best be so vain as to wear high platforms? Look beautiful? In that short moment of time, __35__ thoughts flowed through James’ mind.

A second later, James’ eyes naturally moved across to the lady’s right foot. And there, he got an even bigger __36__. ----It was a flat shoe. She was not vain; she had a birth defect(缺陷) ----uneven length of her legs. If anything, she deserved __37__ and understanding, certainly not blame, not even mental ones.

James was __38__ with guilt. It was a(n) __39__ lesson he learned about not __40__ conclusions, about not judging people, especially so quickly.

A. greet                         B. watch                       C. meet                 D. cheat

A. mistakes                    B. progress                   C. judgments         D. promises

A. help                            B. get                           C. accept               D. keep

A. faced                           B. covered                    C. filled                D. charged

A. cheering                    B. dressing                   C. beating              D. holding 

A. humorous                  B. modest                     C. bad                   D. cautious

A. thought                      B. proved                            C. explained          D. told

A. curious                      B. guilty                       C. excited              D. happy

A. temporary                  B. strange                     C. permanent         D. deep

A. young                        B. middle-aged             C. old                   D. pretty

A. speaking                    B. standing                   C. sitting               D. walking

A. Therefore                   B. However                  C. As well             D. As usual

A. feet                      B. hands                       C. eyes                  D. legs

A. When                          B. Why                        C. How                 D. What

A. inspiring               B. blaming                   C. persuading         D. defending

A. pleasure                       B. honor                       C. comfort             D. shock

A. love                            B. award                      C. sympathy          D. respect

A. hit                              B. started                      C. equipped           D. struck

A. new                            B. valuable                   C. interesting         D. difficult

A. denying                       B. reaching                   C. leading to          D. jumping to