“Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked. When the wrapped baby was laid in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she was shocked. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.

       Time proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was problem. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be filled with heartbreaks. He spoke out the tragedy. “A boy, a big boy...called me a monster.”

       He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. The boy’s father had a talk with the family physician. “Could nothing be done?” “I believe I could transplant a pair of outer ears, if they could be available,” the doctor decided. Then the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, “You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret.” The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person appeared. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of successes. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.（外交工作）.

       One day, he asked his father, “Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet.” The years kept their great secret, but the day did come. One of the darkest days that ever pass through a son, he stood with his father over his mother’s coffin. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears. “Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” his father whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?”

1．What’s the problem with the baby?        

       A．It was unhealthy.                                 B．It had a bad hearing.

       C．It had been born without ears.               D．It had a bad appearance.

2．Which is true about the passage?

       A．The boy became successful because of the ear operation.

       B．The boy was given the ear operation when he was born.

       C．The boy’s father was unwilling to donate his outer ears.

       D．The boy learned the truth after his mother died.

3．In order to enter the diplomatic service, a person should          .

       A．have talent for literature and music        B．be a genius

       C．have a good appearance                        D．be perfect both inside and outside

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

       A．Mother        B．Ears        C．A secret         D．Love

“Can I see my baby?” asked the happy new mother. The bundle (a collection of things wrapped or boxed together) was placed in her arms and when she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped -- the baby had been born without ears. Time, however, proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect except his appearance.
One day when he rushed home from school and threw himself into his mother’s arms, he cried out bitterly, “A boy, a big boy… called me -- a f... freak.” She sighed, knowing that his life was to be endless of heartbreaks.
He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift for literature and music.
The boy’s father had a talk with the family doctor. Could nothing be done? “I believe we could graft (移植) on a pair of outer ears, if they could be donated (捐献) ,” the doctor decided. So the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then, “You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret.” said the father.
The operation was a brilliant success. His talents blossomed into genius. School and college became a series of successes. Later he married and entered the diplomatic (外交) service. “But I must know!” he urged his father. “Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him.”
“I do not believe you could,” said the father，“but the agreement was that you are not to know…not yet.” The years kept the secret, but the day did come... one of the darkest days that ever passed through a son. He stood with his father over his mother’s casket (棺材). Slowly and tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to let out the secret.
【小题1】The story is mainly about _______.

“Can I see my baby?” asked the happy new mother. The bundle (a collection of things wrapped or boxed together) was placed in her arms and when she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped -- the baby had been born without ears. Time, however, proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect except his appearance.

One day when he rushed home from school and threw himself into his mother’s arms, he cried out bitterly, “A boy, a big boy… called me -- a f... freak.” She sighed, knowing that his life was to be endless of heartbreaks.

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift for literature and music.

The boy’s father had a talk with the family doctor. Could nothing be done? “I believe we could graft (移植) on a pair of outer ears, if they could be donated (捐献) ,” the doctor decided. So the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then, “You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret.” said the father.

The operation was a brilliant success. His talents blossomed into genius. School and college became a series of successes. Later he married and entered the diplomatic (外交) service. “But I must know!” he urged his father. “Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him.”

“I do not believe you could,” said the father，“but the agreement was that you are not to know…not yet.” The years kept the secret, but the day did come... one of the darkest days that ever passed through a son. He stood with his father over his mother’s casket (棺材). Slowly and tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to let out the secret.

1.The story is mainly about _______.

A．how a boy had new ears through an operation

B．what a devoted parent privately did for the child

C．how a disabled boy turned into a useful person

D．why a donator made a sacrifice to a bright boy

2.From the first paragraph we know that the mother _______.

A．was determined to donate her ears to perfect her son

B．kept her husband unknown about the baby’s situation

C．felt shocked and disappointed to see her new baby

D．complained of her bad luck to have a disabled child

3.The underlined word “freak” in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to “_______”.

A．slow-acting person                      B．funny-looking child

C．badly-behaved student                   D．strangely-shaped creature

4.What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The agreement was between the donator and the family.

B．The boy was so popular that he was made class president.

C．Finally the boy came to know who the donator was.

D．The mother donated her ears to her son after she died.

5.What moral lesson can we draw from this reading?

A．Real love lies in what is done unknown rather than what is done known.

B．It is parents’ responsibility to help their children heart and soul.

C．True beauty lies only in the heart not in appearance.

D．Young generations should learn to be grateful.

“Can I see my baby?” asked the happy new mother. The bundle (a collection of things wrapped or boxed together) was placed in her arms and when she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped -- the baby had been born without ears. Time, however, proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect except his appearance.
One day when he rushed home from school and threw himself into his mother’s arms, he cried out bitterly, “A boy, a big boy… called me -- a f... freak.” She sighed, knowing that his life was to be endless of heartbreaks.
He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift for literature and music.
The boy’s father had a talk with the family doctor. Could nothing be done? “I believe we could graft (移植) on a pair of outer ears, if they could be donated (捐献) ,” the doctor decided. So the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then, “You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret.” said the father.
The operation was a brilliant success. His talents blossomed into genius. School and college became a series of successes. Later he married and entered the diplomatic (外交) service. “But I must know!” he urged his father. “Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him.”
“I do not believe you could,” said the father，“but the agreement was that you are not to know…not yet.” The years kept the secret, but the day did come... one of the darkest days that ever passed through a son. He stood with his father over his mother’s casket (棺材). Slowly and tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to let out the secret

1. 1.

   The story is mainly about _______

   1. A.
      how a boy had new ears through an operation
   2. B.
      what a devoted parent privately did for the child
   3. C.
      how a disabled boy turned into a useful person
   4. D.
      why a donator made a sacrifice to a bright boy
2. 2.

   From the first paragraph we know that the mother _______

   1. A.
      was determined to donate her ears to perfect her son
   2. B.
      kept her husband unknown about the baby’s situation
   3. C.
      felt shocked and disappointed to see her new baby
   4. D.
      complained of her bad luck to have a disabled child
3. 3.

   The underlined word “freak” in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to “_______”

   1. A.
      slow-acting person
   2. B.
      funny-looking child
   3. C.
      badly-behaved student
   4. D.
      strangely-shaped creature
4. 4.

   What can be inferred from the passage?

   1. A.
      The agreement was between the donator and the family
   2. B.
      The boy was so popular that he was made class president
   3. C.
      Finally the boy came to know who the donator was
   4. D.
      The mother donated her ears to her son after she died
5. 5.

   What moral lesson can we draw from this reading?

   1. A.
      Real love lies in what is done unknown rather than what is done known
   2. B.
      It is parents’ responsibility to help their children heart and soul
   3. C.
      True beauty lies only in the heart not in appearance
   4. D.
      Young generations should learn to be grateful

第二部分：阅读理解（共25小题，每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节：阅读下列短文，然后从所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该项涂黑。
A
The best Mother’s Day gift I ever received was a magnolia(木兰)tree. At first, it was a tired little thing, but it was mine, and I know I would treasure it.
Magnolia trees were my mother’s favorite. We had one in the front yard of our house when I was growing up. I can still remember Mom’s pleasure upon seeing the buds. “Oh, look,” she’d cry out every year, “the magnolia tree is going to bloom(开花)—just in time for my birthday.” And sure enough, on April 19, her birthday, the graceful pink-and-white flowers would be all over the branches, announcing the arrival of spring.
Back then, I didn’t find the blooming of a tree to be an event worthy of celebration. A new toy, a pretty dress or a trip to the amusement park—those were exciting. But my mother had a way of appreciating the smallest things as wonders. A baby’s smile, or a call from an old friend filled her with happiness.
On the first Mother’s Day following her death six years ago, I wasn’t sure how I’d manage. Reminders of my mother’s absence seemed to be everywhere.
That Sunday morning I awoke to a quiet house, with warm sun streaming through the windows. I wondered where my husband had gone with our two daughters, Kira,4, and Sophie, 9 months. As I was relaxing in bed, enjoying the peace, Kira suddenly burst through the bedroom door.
“Look outside, Mommy!” she ordered. There, in the yard, David was digging a hole. Next to him was a little tree whose roots were wrapped.
“It’s a magnolia tree,” Kira said, though I didn’t need to be told. I raised the window and called out to David. “Happy Mother’s Day!” he said.
It was. Although I didn’t have my mother any longer, I had her tree, and each year since, I’ve had her enthusiasm(激情). Now when we pull up to our house on a bright spring day, I say to my daughters, “Oh look! The magnolia’s about to bloom.” And when it does, we admire its beauty and use it as a chance to talk about my mother and her love for flowers.
What time does the magnolia bloom according to the passage?