My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. In this way he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.

One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and asked God for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”

I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up（哽咽）and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands. ” For a moment there was silence on the other and of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.

　　Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he was even on the list of the best students at school. In his fourth year, I attended a parent –– teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were surprised at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”

1.Which of the following has the similar meaning as the underlined word “withdrawn” in the  first paragraph?

2.There was silence on the other end of the line because _ _________.

3.Who was it that telephoned Karl’s mother that day?

4.From the passage we can learn that _____________.

My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. In this way he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and asked God for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”
I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up（哽咽）and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands. ” For a moment there was silence on the other and of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.
　　Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he was even on the list of the best students at school. In his fourth year, I attended a parent –– teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were surprised at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”
【小题1】Which of the following has the similar meaning as the underlined word “withdrawn” in the  first paragraph?

       When I was 18 years old, one morning, my father told me to drive him into a town, about 40 miles away.I had just learned to __1__, so I agreed with pleasure.When we came to the town, something was wrong with the car.Then I took the car to a nearby garage to have it __2__ and promised to pick dad up at 4 p.m.Because I had a few hours to spend, I decided to go to the __3__.However, I became __4__ interested in the film that I forgot the time.When the last film finished, it was 6 o'clock.

       I was afraid dad would be __5__  and never let me drive again, so I drove back quickly to meet dad and made an excuse (借口) __6__ my being late.I'll never forget the cry he gave me, “I'm disappointed that I feel you have to tell a lie to me, Jack.I'm angry, not with __7__ but with myself.I have failed __8__ I've brought up a son who can not even tell the truth to his own father.I'm going to walk home now and think seriously about __9__ I have done wrong all these years.”

       Dad began __10__ along the road.I begged (乞求) all the way, telling him how I drove behind him for 40 miles, at a speed of 5 miles an hour.It was the most unforgettable lesson.I have never told a lie to him ever since.

(　　)1.A.drive   B.work    C.live    D.travel

(　　)2.A.made    B.repaired   C.waited   D.parked

(　　)3.A.concert   B.bookstore    C.shop   D.cinema

(　　)4.A.very    B.too   C.so    D.fairly

(　　)5.A.excited  B.angry    C.disappointed   D.sad

(　　)6.A.at    B.to    C.for  D.with

(　　)7.A.me    B.it   C.you    D.him

(　　)8.A.so   B.because    C.after   D.before

(　　)9.A.where    B.when    C.why    D.how

(　　)10.A.running    B.driving    C.crying  D.walking

英语趣味阅读

　　Watson won his most important game and became Southern Chess Master (南部象棋大师) in 1997. He was given the silver(银)cup

　　“It isn't rightly mine, ”he said, when he was holding the cup. “It was won two years ago when I was on holiday in…”

　　“A family was staying at my hotel(旅馆)at that time. Mrs Prag, the mother, was told that I played chess; and she begged me to give her young son a game. He's only ten, she said. I've been told that he plays quite well. ”

　　“Well, as you can guess, I wasn't too happy. A player likes the opponent(对手)to play as well as he does. But it was holiday time and I agreed to play. We placed the board(棋盘)in the garden. The game began. I hoped it would quick—and so it was. ”

　　“I soon knew that David Prag was no learner. After ten minutes his sister came outside and began to play tennis against a wall. The boy seemed to lose interest in our game . He moved a piece(棋子)without care. I gave my attention to the board.”

　　“Call me when you are ready, Mr. Watson,”he said.

　　“When I was ready, I looked up . He had gone off to play with his sister. I studied the board-and found I was driven into a corner. So it went on with David : a quick move , then tennis , back to the board, then back to his sister. My difficult condition became impossible to change. I was beaten. Oh so easily, by a ten－year－old chess player. He was the winner in twenty-eight minutes. ”

　　“David Prag : a name to remenber. I had a chance to use his game today, and it won this cup for me . To him , of course , it is only one of a hundred, or perhaps a thousand, winning games. ”

l．When Mr. Watson said, “It isn't rightly mine. I was won…”, he meant________ two years before.

［    ］

A．he had played chess with a little boy for twenty-eight minutes

B．he had had a chance to take part in an important game

C．he had learned how to play chess from a child

D．he had learned a good game from a child

2．Befor the game, Mr. Watson was quite sure that ________.

［    ］

A．the boy played as well as he did

B．he would be Southern Chess Master two years later

C．he could win the game easily

D．the boy would win the game quickly

3．Why did David. play tennis while he was playing chess with watson? Because he ________.

［    ］

A．had no interest in playing chess with adults(成年人)

B．was not good at playing chess

C．liked playing tennis much better than playing chess

D．played chess much better than Watson

4．From the story, we know that ________.

［    ］

A．David Prag was the real winner

B．Mr. Watson was the real winner

C．neither of them was the real winner

D．both of them were the real winners

5．Which of the following(下列)is NOT ture ?

［    ］

A．Sometimes young children can beat adults in playing chess.

B．Watson thought he could win the game quickly, and so he did.

C．Watson learned something from David and won the sliver cup.

D．Watson would never forget the name of the boy.