The NBA’s version of the Ming Dynasty is done. After helping pro basketball gain a foothold in the world’s most populous market, Chinese star Yao Ming has retired.

Yao made it official Wednesday, telling a news conference that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30.

“I will formally end my career,” said Yao, who became a household name in China before starting his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2002. Yao played eight seasons in the NBA.

“Today is an important day for me and holds a special meaning for both my basketball career and my future,” Yao said. “I had to leave the court since I suffered a stress fracture (断裂) in my left foot for the third time at the end of last year. My past six months were a painful wait. I have been thinking about my future over and over. Today I am announcing a personal decision, ending my career as a basketball player and officially retire. But one door is closing and another one is opening.”

Yao said he would return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club and wants to contribute more.

“My playing career started with the club. I hope I can do something for it,” Yao said.

He later appeared with his family on the stage to the applause and cheers of the crowd. He thanked a lot of people ---- his family, former coaches, even players like Shaquille O’Neal ---- “for making me a better player. I will be always with you. Thank you.”

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was among those attending the farewell (告别) conference Wednesday. Morey made the long trip from Houston. Morey said 20 hours on planes was tiring but he would be sorry if he wasn’t here. “It’s a big moment,” Morey added. “Yao had a sense of humor, a great attitude and sense of responsibility. I hope we can continue his culture in the NBA.”

Yao had played six years with the Chinese national team before joining the Rockets, and was already a star in his home country. He carried the Olympic torch through Tiananmen Square and his country’s flag during the opening ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He also donated $ 2 million and set up a foundation to rebuild schools in the wake of the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan.

61. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

62. According to the passage, which of the following words can’t be used to describe Yao Ming?

63. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

  A. The reason why Yao Ming retired is that he is too old.

  B. Yao Ming played six years in America.

  C. Yao Ming started his playing career in Houston.

  D. Yao Ming was once an Olympic torchbearer.

64. What does the author want to tell us in the last paragraph but one?

  A. Daryl Morey is the general manager of Rockets.

  B. Daryl Morey was very tired at the conference.

  C. Daryl Morey thought highly of Yao Ming.

  D. The conference was a big moment of the year.

When I was a child, my mom liked to prepare food for dinner, every now and then. And I remember one night in 41 when she made dinner after a long, hard day at work.

That Monday evening so long ago, my mom 42 a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burnt toast (土司) in front of my dad. I remember 43 to see if dad noticed! 44 all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was 45 . I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him 46 butter and jelly (果冻) on that toast and eat every 47 !

When I got up from the 48 that evening, I remember hearing my mom 49 to my dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Baby, I love 50 toast.”

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy goodnight and I asked him if he 51 liked his burnt toast. He 52 me in his arms and said, “Son, your mum put in a 53 day at work today and she’s very 54 . Besides, a little burnt toast never 55 anyone!”

Actually, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. We can’t be 56 at everything we do. What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to 57 each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s 58 is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting 59 .

If you learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life as they are, you can 60 your life to the fullest.

41. A. particular　　　　　　 B. general　　　　　　　　　　 C. brief　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. detail

42. A. supplied　　　　　　　 B. placed　　　　　　　　　　　 C. managed　　　　　　　　　 D. offered

43. A. longing　　　　　　　 B. standing　　　　　　　　　 C. waiting　　　　　　　　　　 D. sitting

44. A. And　　　　　　　　　　 B. So　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Then　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Yet

45. A. at school　　　　　　 B. at home　　　　　　　　　 C. at work　　　　　　　　　 D. at church

46. A. cover　　　　　　　　 B. spread　　　　　　　　　　 C. extend　　　　　　　　　　 D. deliver

47. A. egg　　　　　　　　　　 B. sausage　　　　　　　　　　 C. bite　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. toast

48. A. chair　　　　　　　　　 B. bed　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. sofa　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. table

49. A. apologize　　　　　　 B. talk　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. whisper　　　　　　　　　 D. report

50. A. frozen　　　　　　　　 B. burnt　　　　　　　　　　　 C. dry　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. fresh

51. A. exactly　　　　　　　 B. certainly　　　　　　　　　 C. really　　　　　　　　　　　 D. specially

52. A. raised　　　　　　　　 B. pulled　　　　　　　　　　　 C. surrounded　　　　　　　 D. touched

53. A. hard　　　　　　　　　 B. comfortable　　　　　　　 C. simple　　　　　　　　　　 D. plain

54. A. sad　　　　　　　　　　 B. tired　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. impatient　　　　　　　　　 D. careless

55. A. damages　　　　　　 B. destroys　　　　　　　　　 C. hurts　　　　　　　　　　　 D. bothers

56. A. ready　　　　　　　　 B. clever　　　　　　　　　　　 C. skillful　　　　　　　　　　 D. good

57. A. accept　　　　　　　　 B. receive　　　　　　　　　　 C. admit　　　　　　　　　　　 D. allow

58. A. tempers　　　　　　　 B. differences　　　　　　　 C. characters D. personalities

59. A. circle　　　　　　　　 B. scholarship　　　　　　　 C. company　　　　　　　　 D. relationship

60. A. love　　 B. adapt　 C. enjoy D. devote

–Oh, my God! It’s an ocean of cars. How can you _____ your car?

–That’s simple. Mine is colored differently from the others.

A. spot　　　 B. catch C. pick　 D. get

Who is it up _____ decide whether we’ll go or not?

  A. to   B. to to   C. for to D. to for

I have suggested a good movie, _____ that will definitely interest _____ of the students.

A. one; everyone　　 B. which; everyone

C. it; every one D. one; every one

 Mary pretended _____ it, but, in reality, she knew it quite well.

  A. not to listen to     B. not to hear about

  C. not to have heard about     D. not to be listening to

There are several reasons _____ the disasters happening nowadays.

  A. account for   B. accounted for

  C. accounting for     D. to account for

–Thomas’s very diligent and hard-working.

–______, but I still don’t think he’s the right person for the position.

A. It’s a good idea　 B. No problem

C. That’s true D. I’m sorry

What a pity! I ______ with my colleagues when I was in Tibet, but I stayed in a hotel.

A. must have stayed　　　 B. needn’t have stayed

C. may have stayed D. could have stayed

Can you _____ me a job when I get there? You know, I have to work in order to

pay for my schooling.

  A. provide  B. guarantee C. arrange     D. apply