My mind went blank when I saw the gun pointing against the car window as we pulled out of the garage. This can’t be happening to me. Then I felt the gun, cold, against my head, and I heard my friend Jeremy saying, “What do you want? Take my wallet,” but at the time I thought of nothing.

I remember being a little annoyed when the gunman pulled me from the car by the hair. I remember the walk to the house --- Jeremy, me, the two men with two guns. I remember the fear and anger in the gunmen’s voices because Jeremy was being slow, and I remember wondering why he was being slow. I did not realize that Jeremy had thrown the keys into the bush. But I remember that sound of the gun hitting Jeremy’s head and the feeling as the man who had hold of my hair released me. And I remember the split second when I realized he was looking at Jeremy, and I remember wondering how far I could run before he pulled the trigger. But I was already running, and upon reaching the car across the street, I didn’t crouch(蹲伏) behind it but screamed instead.

I remember thinking there was something ridiculous and illogical about screaming “Help, help!” at eight o’clock on a Tuesday evening in December and changing my plea(恳求) to the more specific “Help, let me in, please let me in!” But the houses were cold, closed, unfriendly, and I ran on until I heard Jeremy’s screams behind me announcing that our attackers had fled.

The neighbors who had not opened their doors to us came out with baseball bats and helped Jeremy find his glasses and keys. In a group they were very brave. We waited for the police to come until someone said to someone else that the noodles were getting cold, and I said politely, “Please go and eat. We’re O.K.”

I was happy to see them go. They had been talking of stricter sentences for criminals, of bringing back the death penalty(处罚) and how the President is going to clean up the country. I was thinking, they could be saying all of this over my dead body, and I still feel that stiffer sentences wouldn’t change a thing. In a rush all the anger I should have felt for my attackers was directed against these contented people standing in front of their warm, comfortable homes talking about all the guns they were going to buy. What good would guns have been to Jeremy and me?

People all over the neighborhood had called to report our screams, and the police turned out in force twenty minutes later. They were ill-tempered about what was, to them, much trouble about nothing. After all, Jeremy was hardly hurt, and we were hopeless when it came to describing the gunmen. “Typical,” said one policeman when we couldn’t even agree on how tall the men were. Both of us were able to describe the guns in horrifying detail, but the two policemen who stayed to make the report didn’t think that would be much help.

The policemen were matter-of-fact about the whole thing. The thin one said, “That was a stupid thing to do, throwing away the keys. When a man has a gun against your head you do what you’re told.” Jeremy looked properly embarrassed.

Then the fat policeman came up and the thin one went to look around the outside of the house. “That was the best thing you could have done, throwing away the keys,” he said. “If you had gone into the house with them…” His voice became weaker. “They would have hurt her” --- he twisted his head toward me – “and killed you both.” Jeremy looked happier. “Look,” said the fat policeman kindly, “there’s no right or wrong in the situation. There’s just luck.”

All that sleepless night I replayed the moment those black gloves came up to the car window. How long did the whole thing last? Three minutes, five, eight? No matter how many hours of my life I may spend reliving it, I know there is no way to prepare for the next time --- no intelligent response to a gun. The fat cop was right. There’s only luck. The next time I might end up dead.

And I’m sure there will be a next time. It can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. Security is an illusion(幻觉); there is no safety in locks or in guns. Guns make some people feel safe and some people feel strong, but they’re fooling themselves.

1. When the writer saw the gun pointing against the car window, ______.

A. she felt very annoyed              B. she lost consciousness

C. she felt very much nervous          D. she lost the power of thinking

2.What most possibly drove the two gunmen away?

A. Jeremy’s fighting                B. The author’s screaming

C. Their neighbour’s brave action      D. The police’s arrival

3.When the author called for help, the neighbors didn’t come out immediately because ______

A. they were much too frightened

B. they were busy preparing dinners

C. they needed time to find baseball bats

D. they thought someone was playing a trick

4.The author was happy to see the neighbors go because ______.

A. she hated to listen to their empty talk

B. she did not want to become an object of pity

C. she was angered by their being late to come to her help

D. she wanted to be left alone with Jeremy to get over the shock

5.The police were rather angry because ______.

A. the author was not hurt and gave a false alarm

B. they thought it was a case of little importance

C. the author and Jeremy could not tell the police anything

D. the gunmen had already fled when they arrived on the scene

6.What the author wants to tell us is that______.

A. neighbors are not helpful in moments of difficulty

B. the police are not reliable when one is in trouble

C. security is impossible as long as people can have guns

D. preventing robbers entering your house is the best choice

 

I know what you’re thinking: pizza? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night’s leftovers in the morning if you want to.

I know lots of women who don’t have breakfast, and they have many different excuses for doing it. Some say they don’t have time, others think they’re “saving” calories(卡路里), still others just don’t like breakfast food.

But eating in the morning is very important when you’re trying to lose weight. Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all.

Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers found that those who don’t have breakfast have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal.

So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night’s leftovers-it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, “You can always eat it tomorrow,”I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it…you may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.

1.The word “leftovers” in Paragraph 1 probably means __________.

A.pizza topped with fruit                   B.things left undone

C.food remaining after a meal               D.meals made of vegetables

2.According to the last paragraph, it is important to__________.

A.be careful about what you eat              B.eat something for breakfast

C.heat up food before eating it               D.eat calorie-controlled food

3.What can we infer from the text?

A.Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast.

B.Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.

C.There are some easy ways of cooking a meal.

D.Eating vegetables helps save energy.

4.The text is written mainly for those__________.

A.who go to work early                    B.who go to bed late

C.who eat before sleep                    D.who want to lose weight

5.What does the author advise the readers to do?

A.Better eat up all the food at dinner in the night.

B.Better eat less in the night.

C.Better eat leftovers in the morning.

D.Better get up late and eat nothing in the morning in order to burn more calories.

 

The professor’s house, big and untidy, stood alone at one end of a huge garden. The place was totally uncared for, quite __36__ and overgrown with all sorts of useless things. I __37__ my way through bushes and tall weeds to the front door and rang the bell.

I was glad that I found him. In twenty minutes he put me right on all the __38__ that had puzzled me. I was on the __39__ of leaving when I looked out of his study window and said, “You’re very fond of gardening, I see”

“No, I’m not,” he said. “__40__, I love this garden, though. It’s __41__ I always wanted it to be. I never touch it __42__ all.”

“It could be made lovely. It seems a pity to let all this ground go to __43__. But perhaps you don’t _ 44__ that way?” said I.

“I don’t. I lived here when I was a child, and I had   45  of gardening then. It was my father’s hobby, you see. Unfortunately, he wasn’t   46  _ enough to do it himself. My brother and I did all of it between us year after year. There was one right way and many wrong ways. Each blade (叶片) of grass was an enemy to be _ _47__ out by hand, not just cut off. I’ve spent a good part of life at work here.”

“I see. You took a dislike to it, and now you’re getting even!”

“I dislike it. Then, of course, I didn’t understand the effect it had. It used to __48__ me. It appeared in my __49__ ——— a mistake here, something not quite straight here, the enemy showing its head in a place I was __50__ to have cleaned. The work was too much. It seemed endless. The size of the place was itself a fight to a boy.”

“And now it’s yours, you’re just letting it go to ...”

“__51__?” he said. “No, I don’t agree with that. This garden and I are now the best friends. I like  _52__ it grow in its own way. I make no __53__ on it. I never disturb it, and it never disturbs me. It has _ 54__ at last, and so have I.”

“But the path is over grown. It’s __55__ for you, isn’t it?”

“That’s part of my pleasure,” he laughed. “You can go out the back way. The weeds are shorter there because they don’t get the sun.”                             

1.                A.wild           B.crazy           C.large D.nice

 

2.                A.lost            B.felt            C.made D.took

 

3.                A.gardening       B.problems       C.plants    D.solution

 

4.                A.time           B.request         C.permission    D.point

 

5.                A.Even so         B.So             C.As though D.Even if

 

6.                A.where         B.as             C.why D.whether

 

7.                A.after           B.of             C.at   D.in

 

8.                A.desert         B.trouble         C.garden   D.waste

 

9.                A.recognize       B.observe        C.know D.see

 

10.               A.much          B.enough         C.something D.nothing

 

11.               A.interested      B.excited         C.fit    D.demanding

 

12.               A.fought         B.ruled          C.rooted    D.cut

 

13.               A.worry          B.shock          C.astonish   D.disappoint

 

14.               A.life            B.dreams         C.house D.hands

 

15.               A.thought        B.expected       C.ordered   D.supposed

 

16.               A.Ruin           B.Develop        C.Grow D.Sell

 

17.               A.watching       B.attending       C.watering   D.noticing

 

18.               A.comments      B.difference      C.sense D.demands

 

19.               A.time           B.freedom        C.sunlight   D.space

 

20.               A.important       B.useless         C.inconvenient   D.previous

 

 

 

阅读下列应用文及相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

首先,请阅读下列为读者来信所写的建议:

A.

It seems your friend works extremely hard but doesn't always achieve what she wants.I think she needs to ease the pressure on herself a bit and have some fun.How about suggesting that you both go for a picnic together? Have an outing together so that she is away from her studies.She may open out a bit then.

 

B.

Discuss this with your parents before you decide anything;they've invested time and money in giving you the best education,and they might want you to continue.Discuss the choices with your school and university,and they might be able to help you out.I assume you will have a few months before you start university.Maybe you can take that time to work and help your parents, and maybe keep a part time job while you attend university.

 

C.

It is time to confront your mother.It is not her future to decide,but it is yours.If it is a money issue,then you can wait a little longer.If not,then just confront her.Do not be afraid.My suggestion to you is,“Never give up your dream”,aim for what you want,and don't let a simple “no” stop you from what you love.

 

D.

Confidence comes from within.This often leads to your becoming more confident naturally.Make a plan in your head,try and smile at one complete stranger every day.Build up to making small talk to one person a day if you can.Once you realize that you can do it,then it will only get easier. Join out-of-school activities that you are interested in and you may find lots of people in the same situation as yourself. I wish you luck!

 

E.

Is it so important to get your exams? Could you find something that really suits you with an understanding company or employer that will help you gain experience and work up the ladder from a practical point of view rather than an academic result.I sometimes think that work experience is more important.You may have to come a bit closer to home and start from there to avoid the upset and ignorance of ot hers.Hope this helps.

 

F.

You need to believe in your own powers.I guess one way you can learn to do that is to set challenges for yourself,and then work to meet them,one by one.Gradually,you won't be able to deny to yourself that you can get things done.And that will improve your confidence,and will also help you see what you can't do.Start small,and never give in.You should see results in some time.I wish you the best.

以下是读者来信,请匹配来信与其对应的建议:

1.I have had learning difficulties all my life and life is impossible.I fail at everything I do and I'm left behind,like years behind.For people with no learning difficulties,life is always easier but that's not me.What people with learning difficulties are left by years while those don't move up the ladder quicker? The people like me are just left labeled a stupid guy,life passes by for me and people without learning difficulties go ahead without failing exams and life is great for them.People like me have to wait another year to repeated exams or maybe two while peers go on.

2.I'm from Europe and it's been a long time that I'm thinking of spending 6 months in the USA.in a High School.It's my dream.I asked my mom but she doesn't want me to go there.She didn't say why! I've spoken with people who went to study in the US and they told me that when I come back I'll be different.We don't have a lot of interesting courses like Americans.The cost is 5,300 Euros.I don't know how to say to my mom that I want to go there and that's my dream,and it'll be great for my future… Could you help me?

3.I have a friend.We studied at the same school.Before she did the Entrance Examination,she had hoped to study in the department of Dentistry(牙医).She concentrated on her books.She  read the books and did the exercise too much.After we did the Entrance Examination,she told me her scores were not enough.It meant she couldn't study in the department that she had hoped.I still encourage her.She told me she was all right,but I think she was sad.I want to help her feel better.What should I do?

4.I have serious confidence issues,and today I went to my first day of a new school.Unfortunately I have been at the same school previously my whole life.Yeah I have mates outside of school and that,but that one day has just changed everything about how I feel.I thought in my previous school I could make a difference in the world,but now I'm just lost,confused and I know no one.I'm not very sociable either,and just not comfortable with the environment.How can I be more sociable? Confident? Everything? HELP!!

5.I am writing to you to seek advice.My name is Nawel.I'll sit for my BAC exam soon.I'll  certainly succeed,but my parents are old and are in need of financial help. I'd really like to help them.However,if I do,I'll have to give up my dream of becoming a doctor.On one hand, if I decided to help,I'll have to give up my registration at University.On the other hand,if I don't,I'll feel guilty of not helping my family.I have no one to turn to.What should I do?

 

 

阅读下列应用文及相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

首先,请阅读下列为读者来信所写的建议:

A

It seems your friend works extremely hard but doesn't always achieve what she wants.I think she needs to ease the pressure on herself a bit and have some fun.How about suggesting that you both go for a picnic together? Have an outing together so that she is away from her studies.She may open out a bit then.

 

B

Discuss this with your parents before you decide anything;they've invested time and money in giving you the best education,and they might want you to continue.Discuss the choices with your school and university,and they might be able to help you out.I assume you will have a few months before you start university.Maybe you can take that time to work and help your parents, and maybe keep a part time job while you attend university.

 

C

It is time to confront your mother.It is not her future to decide,but it is yours.If it is a money issue,then you can wait a little longer.If not,then just confront her.Do not be afraid.My suggestion to you is,“Never give up your dream”,aim for what you want,and don't let a simple“no”stop you from what you love.

 

D

Confidence comes from within.This often leads to your becoming more confident naturally.Make a plan in your head,try and smile at one complete stranger every day.Build up to making small talk to one person a day if you can.Once you realize that you can do it,then it will only get easier. Join out-of-school activities that you are interested in and you may find lots of people in the same situation as yourself. I wish you luck!

 

E

Is it so important to get your exams? Could you find something that really suits you with an understanding company or employer that will help you gain experience and work up the ladder from a practical point of view rather than an academic result.I sometimes think that work experience is more important.You may have to come a bit closer to home and start from there to avoid the upset and ignorance of ot hers.Hope this helps.

 

F

You need to believe in your own powers.I guess one way you can learn to do that is to set challenges for yourself,and then work to meet them,one by one.Gradually,you won't be able to deny to yourself that you can get things done.And that will improve your confidence,and will also help you see what you can't do.Start small,and never give in.You should see results in some time.I wish you the best.

以下是读者来信,请匹配来信与其对应的建议:

56.I have had learning difficulties all my life and life is impossible.I fail at everything I do and I'm left behind,like years behind.For people with no learning difficulties,life is always easier but that's not me.What people with learning difficulties are left by years while those don't move up the ladder quicker? The people like me are just left labeled a stupid guy,life passes by for me and people without learning difficulties go ahead without failing exams and life is great for them.People like me have to wait another year to repeated exams or maybe two while peers go on.

57.I'm from Europe and it's been a long time that I'm thinking of spending 6 months in the USA.in a High School.It's my dream.I asked my mom but she doesn't want me to go there.She didn't say why! I've spoken with people who went to study in the US and they told me that when I come back I'll be different.We don't have a lot of interesting courses like Americans.The cost is 5,300 Euros.I don't know how to say to my mom that I want to go there and that's my dream,and it'll be great for my future… Could you help me?

58.I have a friend.We studied at the same school.Before she did the Entrance Examination,she had hoped to study in the department of Dentistry(牙医).She concentrated on her books.She  read the books and did the exercise too much.After we did the Entrance Examination,she told me her scores were not enough.It meant she couldn't study in the department that she had hoped.I still encourage her.She told me she was all right,but I think she was sad.I want to help her feel better.What should I do?

59.I have serious confidence issues,and today I went to my first day of a new school.Unfortunately I have been at the same school previously my whole life.Yeah I have mates outside of school and that,but that one day has just changed everything about how I feel.I thought in my previous school I could make a difference in the world,but now I'm just lost,confused and I know no one.I'm not very sociable either,and just not comfortable with the environment.How can I be more sociable? Confident? Everything? HELP!!

60.I am writing to you to seek advice.My name is Nawel.I'll sit for my BAC exam soon.I'll  certainly succeed,but my parents are old and are in need of financial help. I'd really like to help them.However,if I do,I'll have to give up my dream of becoming a doctor.On one hand, if I decided to help,I'll have to give up my registration at University.On the other hand,if I don't,I'll feel guilty of not helping my family.I have no one to turn to.What should I do?

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