I will never forget the very moment that caused me to leave my gift behind because I wanted the gift that my older sister Maria had.
My family was spending a week at the beach. One morning, Maria went to the beach early, but I stayed behind to finish a drawing of a seashell. After finishing the drawing, I walked to join Maria. She was a top gymnast (体操运动员). Her show was perfect as she wheeled along the beach. The beauty of that sight froze me, and I decided immediately that I too would become a gymnast like her.
I knew that I had never been very good at sports. However, when I told my parents I wanted to take a gymnastics class, they agreed with me in surprise. The next week, I went to a beginners’ class.
If only my parents had talked me out of this misguided plan! Five minutes into the first class, it was clear that I didn’t have the gift of a gymnast. But I kept at it.
During this time, drawing and painting—which had been my two favorites—all but left my mind. It must have been hurting for my family as they watched my hopeless efforts. I blindly decided to be like Maria. I just would not give up.
At the same time, on the advice of Ms. White, my art teacher, I hurriedly handed in my seashell drawing for an art contest in our town. One night as I was having a hard time practicing, the phone rang. It was Ms. White. “Alice, you won the contest!” she said loudly.
“Really?” was all I could reply.
“Yes,” Ms. White said. “They’re going to give you a prize. And that’s not all. The winner is also accepted into Wildale’s Summer Fine Arts Institute.” I couldn’t believe what I heard. Only a handful of young artists were accepted each summer.
That night I didn’t go back into the living room to continue practicing. Gymnastics was Maria’s gift, not mine. It had taken me a while, but I realized that I had a gift of my own.
【小题1】Alice wanted to be a gymnast because ________.

-- Did you go to bed early last night?

--- No. I watched a            movie, so I didn't go to bed until 11 o’clock.

A. 3-hours          B. 3-hours’     C. 3-hour’s     D. 3-hour

根据下列句子及所给单词的首字母，在答题卷上按题号写出各单词的完全形式（每空限填一词）。
【小题1】My grandfather likes to water the f______ in the garden on weekends.
【小题2】The boy is too young. So don’t leave him a______ at home.
【小题3】If I don’t help my mom do some h______ on weekends, my mother will be very angry with me.
【小题4】Last night I didn’t go to bed u______ the TV program was over.
【小题5】Last Sunday I w______ a letter to my father.
【小题6】I need to look smart for my job i______.
【小题7】He f______ his test last week. He should study hard.
【小题8】He m______ his teacher in the street yesterday.
【小题9】When the little girl saw the big tiger, she felt very s______.
【小题10】Last week, I p______ 500 yuan for my new bike.

Dear John, Thank you very much for your letter. I am glad that you enjoyed your holiday with me. We enjoyed having you and your sister here. We hope that you will both be able to come again next year. Perhaps you’ll be able to stay longer next time you come. A week is not really long enough, is it? If your school has a five-week holiday next year, perhaps(或许) you’ll be able to stay with us for two or three weeks.
We have been back at school three weeks now. It feels like three months! I expect(期待) that you are both working very hard now that you are in Grade One. I shall have to work hard next year when I am in Grade One. Tom and Ann won’t be in Grade One until 2011.
They went for a picnic yesterday but I didn’t go with them because I cut my foot and I couldn’t walk very well. They went to an island and enjoyed themselves. Do you still remember the island? That’s where all five of us spent the last day of our holiday.
Tom, Ann and I send our best wishes to Betty and you. We hope to see you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Michael
【小题1】        stayed with Michael for a holiday.