To son, Cecil,
Just a quick note before I start in earnest. When I wrote this, you were 8, still a little boy. In 2002, I was called to active duty in the Marine Corps in the war on Terrorism (恐怖主义). On the 11th of September 2001 when America was attacked, I knew that I would eventually have to go and I was filled with a deep sense of sadness. That night as you and Keiko were asleep, I looked at your little faces and couldn’t help but fight the tears. I knew it would be hard for you because I had a similar experience. When I was a little boy aged 6, my dad, your Grandpa Cawley, was sent to Vietnam during the war there. I remember how much I missed him, too. But now unfortunately I have come to realize just how rough it must have been for Grandpa to be away from his children for a year. Thinking about this, I wanted to put my thoughts and feelings down for you and your sister. I am so sorry that I had to leave for such a long time. There is no place I would rather be than with you and Keiko. You two are the lights of my life. I have known no greater joy than in the few years since you two were born. I hope to have many more years with you. If this doesn’t happen, then know that I love you more than words can express. If for some reason I don’t make it home, I will need you to take care of your little sister and your Mom. You will be the man of the Cawley family. Be good my son and God will watch over you as he has me. I will be waiting impatiently for the time when we can all be together again.
【小题1】The writer of the letter may be ______.

A.an American soldier in the battle field
B.an American policeman
C.a soldier in the Vietnam War
D.a postman working far away from home
【小题2】Keiko is the ______ of the writer.
A.wifeB.sonC.daughterD.sister
【小题3】One of the experiences the writer and his son had in common is that ______.
A.they both experienced the Vietnam War
B.their fathers had to leave them and fight abroad.
C.they used to study in the same school
D.they were both eight when the fathers had to leave them
【小题4】We can infer(推断) that ______.
A.the writer was a devoted son
B.the writer was a brave soldier
C.the writer realized he might die in the battle field
D.the writer’s wife was suffering from a terrible illness.

February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
【小题1】Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?

A.Because there were few women in his country at that time.
B.Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
C.Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
D.Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
【小题2】Valentine was put into prison because _____.
A.he killed one of the soldiersB.he stole a lot of food
C.he didn’t obey the emperor’s orderD.he didn’t want to be a soldier
【小题3】The last paragraph mainly tells us _____.
A.students in China send cards to their teachers
B.it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
C.it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
D.Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
【小题4】The best title for this passage should be _____.
A.Valentine’s DayB.A Brave Priest
C.Valentine’s Day in ChinaD.A Romantic Man

On the wall in my mother’s bedroom there was a photo, which showed a soldier with a gun.

Below the photo there was the word ”Speaking”.

“Who’s that soldier called Speaking?” I asked one day.

“He was Harold.” She said, ‘He was my only brother. When the Second War began, Harold was eighteen. I was twelve then, and my sisters were ten and nine.”

“Harold liked to play with us, and we often quarreled. When we quarreled, we said, ‘We’re not speaking to you.’ But before long we were all happy again, and then we said, ‘I’m speaking now. Are you speaking to me?’”

“When the war broke out, Harold joined the army. A month later, he came to see us. He brought the gun to show us. Then he went miles away to the war. We didn’t see him for three years, three long, empty years. We didn’t often hear from him. But one day in May there was a loud bang on the front door.”

“I ran to open it, it was Harold! He was an old Harold, a thinner Harold, too. He looked at me with his two green eyes and smiled. That smile was just the same as before, then he said one word “Speaking’”.

‘I didn’t. I couldn’t answer. I just fell into his arms and he dropped his gun. He stayed with us for a month. We played all our old games again. Then he went back to the war, and never came back again. So I wrote the word on the photo.”

60. When I first saw the word “Speaking” below the photo, I thought ____.

A .the soldier was calling “Speaking” 

B. it was taken when the soldier was speaking

C .“Speaking” was the soldier’s name 

D. Mum wished the soldier could speak to her

61. How old was the author’s mother when Harold came back for the last time?

A.Twelve                  B.Thirteen                    C. Fifteen                     D. Twenty-one

62. When Harold came back home, ____.

A.he changed a lot except for his eyes and smile

B.he made a shoot in front of the door

C.his sister could hardly recognize him

D.his sister had another quarrel with him

63. Harold never came back again because ____.

A.he didn’t want to speak to his sister any more

B.he died in a battle

C.his sister had not answered him when he came back

D.he went far away to the war

 

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