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A

Many years ago my student asked me the question, "Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?" Without taking time to reflect, I answered, "Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone's life." Even though I was sincere, that wasn't a very good answer and my student didn't let it slide.

"Let me get this straight," he said, "You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?" He shook his head as if I were crazy and walked away looking confused. I'm one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.

Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach:

It's in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled(逐渐灌输) in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.

Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples go on and on until they reach the shore. You can't have ripples without a "stone." Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that's what I strive to do.

I genuinely love teenagers.

I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they'll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too.

Teaching isn't for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.

41. Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?

  A. Because he thought her answer was unbelievable.

  B. Because the writer was insincere.

  C. Because the student was naughty.

  D. Because the answer was difficult to understand.

42. What do you think of the writer?

  A. Stupid.                       B. Honest.                    C. Conservative.                   D. Polite.

43. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?

  A. The writer’s mother has the greatest influence on her.

  B. The writer’s answer made the student confused.

  C. In the writer’s opinion, some people in the world are unfit to teach.

  D. The writer annoyed the student who asked the question.

44. We can infer from the text that _________.

  A. the writer was also a good teacher in school

  B. the writer often plays with her students beside a pond

  C. the writer devotes herself to teaching and her students

  D. the writer often accompanies the students on their way home

45. What’s the main idea of the text?

  A. A student’s silly question.                                 B. A good teacher who likes students.

  C. A confused student.                                          D. The reason why I teach.

John has put on so much weight recently that his mother has to ______ all his trousers to his measure.

A. let out                  B. give away  C. bring in                 D. make up

When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother’s Chinese English. Because of her English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.

My mother has realized the limitations of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker(股票经纪人). I said in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, “This is Mrs. Tan.”

And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, “Why he don’t send me cheek already two week long.”

And then, in prefect English I said, “I’m getting rather concerned. You agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn’t arrived.”

Then she talked more loudly. “What he want? I come to New York tell him front of his boss.” And so I turned to the stockbroker again, “I can’t tolerate any more excuse. If I don’t receive the check immediately, I am going to have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week.”

The next week we ended up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting to his boss in her broken English.

When I was a teenager, my mother’s broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, and full of observation and wisdom. It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.

1. Why was the author’s mother poorly served?

A．She was unable to speak good English.

B．She was often misunderstood.

C．She was not clearly heard.

D．She was not very polite.

2. After the author made the phone call, __________.

A．they forgave the stockbroker

B．they failed to get the check

C．they went to New York immediately

D．they spoke to their boss at once

3. What does the author think of her mother’s English now?

A．It confuses her.

B．It embarrassed her.

C．It helps her understand the world.

D．It helps her tolerate rude people.

4. We can infer from the passage that Chinese English _________.

A．is clear and natural to non-native speakers

B．is vivid and direct to non-native speakers

C．has a very bad reputation in America

D．may bring inconvenience in America

My mother really knows how to get others to do what she suggests. Besides my father, her neighbors and even a stranger in a grocery store, has fallen under her 36  .

One day we were shopping in a supermarket. When we were passing by the baby aisle(过道), she    37 a young mother browsing through different brands of powdered milk. Her baby was playing with a toy. My mother   38  babies so she went up to the woman and chatted with her.

My mother is an easy person to like. She has the kindest eyes in the world, so it isn’t 39 

to trust her. She 40 with the baby a little bit and told the woman about how I used to be cute at that age, too. They laughed together.

The woman was about to put Brand X Milk Powder in her cart when my mother suggested Brand Y  41 because it obviously had better vitamins. Would you believe the woman actually

42      brands just like that?

She really does know how to influence people. But what about her getting other people to

43     whatever she tells them?

My father and I actually had a long conversation about her  44 on how to influence people. According to my father, my mother is just a really likeable person, and she has 45 been

like that, even when he first met her. Chatting people up is natural for her.

During our conversation, I realized that what my mother has is the  46 to build rapport(亲善) with other people. With rapport comes  47 . People are more likely to be influenced by those who they think understand their viewpoints or share their opinions.

阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意，然后从36-55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中，选出最佳选项（共20个小题，每小题1分，满分20分）。

One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had one dime (一角银币) left. He was hungry so he decided to    36    for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve (不知所措，慌张) when a lovely young woman opened the door.    37    a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked   38   so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I   39   you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied, “Mother has taught me never to accept  40    for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt   41   physically, but it also increased his faith in God and the human race. He was about to give up and    42    before this point. Years later the young woman became seriously ill. The  43   doctors were baffled (阻挡). They finally sent her to the big city, where specialists(专家) can be called in to study her   44   disease. Dr. Howard Kelly, now   45    , was called in for the consultation (会诊). When he heard the name of the town she came __46__, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he  47  and went down through the hospital hall into her room. Dressed  48  his doctor’s gown (罩衣) he went in to see her. He recognized(辨认) her at once. He went back to the   49   room and determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special   50   to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was   51  . Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval (批准). He looked at it and then    52   something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was    53   to open it because she was sure that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill    54   her attention. She read these words…

“Paid in (已缴)full with a glass of   55  .”

(Singed) Dr. Howard Kelly Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently: “Thank you, God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands.”

36. A. search   B. beg     C. wait    D. look

37. A. Because of   B. In front of  C. In case of   D. Instead of

38. A. upset    B. thirsty C. hungry       D. sad

39. A. owe      B. cost    C. lend    D. own

40. A. offer    B. pay     C. help    D. thanks

41. A. quicker B. weaker       C. stronger     D. warmer

42. A. stop      B. continue     C. retire  D. surrender

43. A. local     B. poor   C. kind    D. cruel

44. A. common      B. ordinary     C. rare    D. scarce

45. A. old       B. famous       C. unknown    D. retired

46. A. from    B. to       C. into    D. for

47. A. stood    B. waited C. fell     D. rose

48. A. on      B. in    C. with   D. of

49. A. waiting B. treating      C. information       D. consultation

50. A. interest B. food   C. attention           D. effort

51. A. defeated       B. won    C. lost     D. completed

52. A. changed       B. left     C. crossed       D. wrote

53. A. excited B. afraid  C. nervous      D. surprised

54. A. caught  B. called  C. paid    D. caused

55. A. water    B. coffee      C. milk  D. ice cream