Angela Chang(张韶涵) didn’t know it would be so hard to turn singing into a career(失业). She went to many different record companies. But she was always turned down for looking too young and small.

“I’d never had such difficulties before,” Chang said. But Chang’s talent was finally accepted in 2002. When she got a piece of work, she cried.

She soon became a star. Her first album Over the Rainbow sold very well. She won many awards.

“You wouldn’t believe such a beautiful voice could come from such a small body,” said one musician after hearing Chang sing. “She has a special voice. You can’t forget it.”

But the 25-year-old girl has other talents too. Chang is also an actress. She has played a role in the popular TV plays, My MVP Valentine and At Dolphin Bay. Many people remember her common-girl parts in the plays. But acting is difficult. Chang once acted so badly that she was nearly fired(解雇). Another time it took her 27 tries to get a scene(一场戏) right.

“I cried when I got back home,” Chang said. “But I knew that I wouldn’t always fail. You only fail when you give up.”

Now with four albums behind her - Over the Rainbow, Aurora, Pandora and Flower in the Wonderland, it’s clear that Chang and music were made for each other. As she sings in one song, “I have a pair of invisible wings(隐形的翅膀). They fly me to the skies and give me hope.”

1. The phrase “turned down” in the first paragraph means “________________”.

        A. 承认                       B. 拒绝                       C. 开除                D. 雇用

2. Many record companies refused to co-operate(合作) with her because ______________.

A. she looks very common                                B. she is too young

 C. she doesn’t sing very well                                  D. she looks young and small

3. Which of the following is NOT right?

       A. She won many awards for the album Over the Rainbow.

       B. She has made four films.

       C. One musician spoke highly of(赞扬) her. 

D. She is not only a singer but an actress.

4. Although acting is difficult for her, she never gives up because ______________.

        A. she is strong-minded                                   

B. people like her films 

        C. she is interested in acting                             

D. she acted in the popular TV plays

5. Which do you think is the best title of the passage?

       A. The Small Girl.                                             B. Four Albums.

       C. I have a Pair of Invisible Wings.                      D. A Poor Actress.

Many years ago, when I was working as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Lisa. The poor little girl had a very serious disease and was dying. The doctor had done his best but no medicine really worked. The only chance to save her seemed to be a blood transfusion(输血) from her five-year-old brother. The little boy had the same disease before and had developed the antibodies(抗体) to fight the illness.

    The doctor talked to the little boy about what they planned to do, and asked him if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate(迟疑) for a moment. He took a deep breath and said, “Yes, I’ll do it if it can save Lisa.”

As the transfusion was going on, the little boy lay quietly in bed next to his sister. He looked at her and smiled all the time. When everything was done and the colour returned to his sister’s face, his smile disappeared and he looked a little afraid. He looked up at the doctor and asked, “ Will I start to die now?”

He was too young to understand the doctor. He thought he would have to give all his blood to his sister, but he agreed.

1.What happened to the 1ittle girl named Lisa at last?

A. She died of a very serious disease.

B. She got better with the antibodies from her brother.

C. She lost her little brother.

D. The transfusion failed and her illness got worse.

2.The doctor waited the little boy to _____.

A. give a11 his blood to his sister

B. give some of his blood to his sister

C. give his life to his sister

D. get the same disease as his sister

3.How did the five-year-o1d boy understand the doctor's plan?

A. He thought he was going to lose all his blood.

B. He thought he was going to be killed.

C. He thought he was going to die together with his sister.

D. He thought he was going to die when he grew up.

4.What did the boy feel when the doctor talked to him about the transfusion?

A. He was unhappy to help his sister.

B. He was so afraid that he refused to do anything.

C. He was worried about his sister.

D. He was willing to give his blood.

5.The writer still remember the story many years later _____.

A. because the little girl had a very strange disease

B. because the sister and brother had the same disease

C. because the doctor saved the little girl's life

D. because of what the boy did for his sister

阅读短文，根据其内容回答问题。
The British are known for their sense of humour. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main point to remember is that the British often use understatement.  
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, ‘It’s a little damp (潮湿的) outside.’ Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, ‘She isn’t exactly friendly.’ Understatement is often used in unpleasant situation or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humour.
Another key to understanding British humour is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly and unpleasant things that happen to our everyday life when someone accidently falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes about people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. What’s more, the British love to watch comedies (喜剧) about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedies series Mr Bean is a good example of this kind of humor.
Mr Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990. Mr Bean doesn’t talk often, and instead he uses his body movement and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world cannot do. Mr Bean is popular in many countries round the world because you do not have to speak English to understand the humour. Because of this, many people have become familiar with the British sense of humour.
【小题1】Is it difficult for foreigners to understand British jokes?
【小题2】What does ‘understatement’ mean?
【小题3】What do the British love to watch comedies about?
【小题4】How does Mr Bean make people laugh?
【小题5】What are the key points for people to understand British humour?

Molly Daniels opened the door so hard that the door nearly broke it. Then she looked through the window at her neighbor across the yard. “ She is in my garden again. Those are my strawberries, not hers. Maybe I should call the police.”
Her friend, Doris, was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in her hands. “You want to call the police because she picks your strawberries?” she asked.
“Of course,” Molly answered angrily. “What would you do if your neighbor walked into your yard without your permission and picked your strawberries?”
“I would say, better here the bees.”
“The bees don’t take my strawberries.”
“But the birds do,” Doris continued. “That old lady only picks a few strawberries every year, and the only ones she picks are those you leave to the birds. Why don’t you pick some of your good strawberries and give them to her?”
“Are you crazy? What are you thinking?’
“Don’t you remember what happened when you were in hospital last year? She went to see you and gave you a pot full of chicken soup. When you give her the strawberries you can tell her that you still remember that.”
Molly was shocked. She had almost forgotten that little kindness because she was too angry. Then she picked a basket of good strawberries and went out. Through the window, Doris could see that the anger on Molly’s face changed into a bright smile.
【小题1】Molly opened the door very hard because _____