People say that a mother’s love knows no boundaries (边界). This is true when it comes to my mother. She has given up many things so that my sisters and I could live a better life.

My mother comes from a large family and her parents died when she was quite young. She dropped out of school when she was fifteen because no one could afford to pay her studies. At the age of 19, she married my father and when they had my sisters and I, they moved to the United States so that we could have a better life. My parents did not know English but somehow they communicated with other people. My mother stayed at home and raised us while my father was working. There were so many dangerous incidents that happened where we lived that my mother finally decided that we all moved to Texas when I was seven.

My mother has worked so hard to give us everything. She always tells us that all she wants is for us to be happy.

As the saying goes, “You don’t appreciate (意识到) something until it’s gone.” Well, I finally had a chance to experience it. My mother went to Mexico this winter because she needed to have an operation. It was the first time in my life that my mother was not there to hold and comfort me. Those two weeks when she was away made me realize how much I love her. All she has done for me is incredible (难以置信的). When I suffer she suffers with me. I have to show her how much I care about her. She means the world to me.

1.Which is the RIGHT order of the following events?

a. My mother married my father.

b. My mother went to Mexico to have an operation.

c. We all moved to Texas.

d. My mother dropped out of school.

e. They moved to the United States.

f. My mother’s parents died when she was young.

A. a, b, f, c, d, e             B. d, e, a, c, f, b       C. f, d, a, b, e, c                   D. f, d, a, e, c, b

2.What does the underlined word “it” refer to in the fourth paragraph?

A. My mother’s experience.               B. My mother’s care for me.

C. The meaning of the saying.             D. My mother’s love.

3.The writer didn’t realize that he loves his mother very much until ______.

A. they moved to Texas    B. his mother told them all she wanted was for them to be happy

C. his mother left home for an operation        D. his mother died

4.According to the passage, we can infer that the writer writes the passage in a(n) ______ mood.

A. affectionate (挚爱的)           B. humorous        C. serious              D. bitter

Scott and his companions were terribly disappointed. When they got to the South Pole, they found the Norwegians had  16  them in the race to be the first ever to reach it. After  17    the British flag at the Pole, they took a photograph of themselves  18  they started the 950-mile journey back.

The journey was unexpectedly  19    and the joy and excitement about the Pole had gone out of them. The sun hardly  20  . The snow storms always made it impossible to sight the stones they had  21     to mark their way home. To make things  22    , Evans, whom they had all thought of  23   the strongest of the five, fell badly into a deep hole in the ice. Having  24    along for several days, he suddenly fell down and died.

The four who were  25    pushed on at the best speed they could  26   . Captain Oates had been suffering for some time from his  27   feet; at night his feet swelled（肿胀） so large that he could  28     put his boots on the next morning, and he walked bravely although he was in great  29    . He knew his slowness was making it less likely that 30      could save themselves. He asked them to leave him behind in his sleeping-bag, but they refused, and helped him  31    a few more miles, until it was time to put up the  32    for another night.

The following morning, 33    the other three were still in their sleeping-bags, he said. “I am just going outside and may be 34   some time.” He was never seen again. He had walked out  35    into the snow storm, hoping that his death would help his companions.

1.A. hit            B. fought            C. won             D. beaten

2. A. growing     B. putting           C. planting        D. laying

3. A. after         B. until              C. while            D. before

4.A. safe          B. fast               C. short             D. slow

5. A. rose          B. set            C. appeared        D. disappeared

6.A. taken up     B. cut up           C. set up           D. picked up

7. A. easier     B. better            C. bitter            D. worse

8.A. to          B. upon              C. as               D. in

9.A. battled      B. struggled       C. speeded               D. waited

10. A. left       B. lost              C. defeated         D. saved

11. A. manage      B. try               C. employ           D. find

12. A. ached        B. frozen             C. hardened         D. harmed

13.A. hardly       B. never             C. seldom           D. nearly

14. A. pain         B. fear               C. trouble           D. danger

15.A. all others     B. some others       C. others        D. the others

16.A. away          B. with            C. off                D. on

17. A. bed           B. tent         C. blanket          D. sleeping-bag

18. A. while         B. since              C. for                D. once

19. A. missed         B. separated          C. passed            D. gone

20.A. patiently      B. lonely       C. alone            D. worriedly

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选 出最佳选项。

Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they  1after having dinner together. They discussed the  2they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said,“I had a   3house built for Mama.”The second said,“I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（经销商）send a   4to her.”The third said,“I built a beautiful  5for Mama.”The fourth said,“You know  6Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t  7very well. I met a   8who had a parrot（鹦鹉）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to  9it and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years,  10it is worth it.”On hearing that, the other brothers were  11by his good thought.

After the holidays their mother  12her thank-you notes. She wrote:

“Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to  13the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”

“Marvin, I am too old to  14.I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll  15use the automobile. The  16was good, although notpractical. Thanks.”

“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to  17plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost  18my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”

“Dearest Melvin, you were the  19son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so  20. I liked it very much. Thank you.”

1.A.fought          B.talked                C.studied           D.slept

2.A.gifts           B.chances           C.wishes                D.challenges

3.A.warm            B.big               C.safe              D.lonely

4.A.book            B.bike              C.car               D.bag

5.A.station         B.museum            C.library               D.theater

6.A.what            B.how               C.why               D.when

7.A.listen          B.feel              C.see               D.walk

8.A.nurse           B.writer                C.businessman       D.scientist

9.A.protect         B.beat              C.raise             D.teach

10.A.but                B.so                    C.unless                D.although

11.A.treated            B.impressed         C.threatened            D.hurt

12.A.sent out       B.put up                C.took out          D.picked up

13.A.sell               B.borrow            C.clean             D.visit

14.A.learn          B.work              C.exercise          D.travel

15.A.never          B.often             C.regularly         D.sometimes

16.A.future         B.hobby             C.idea              D.program

17.A.create         B.enjoy             C.bring             D.record

18.A.lost           B.admired           C.remained          D.discovered

19.A.same           B.last              C.next              D.only

20.A.strange            B.unpleasant            C.bitter                D.delicious

     Animals can move from place to place, but plants cannot. When an animal is under attack, it can run away or fight back.. Plants certainly cannot run away, and they lack teeth and claws. But plants can defend themselves by using both physical and chemical means.

      Some plants have their own ways to keep animals away. For example, the leaves of the holly plant have sharp spines (刺) that discourage grass-eating animals. Holly leaves on lower branches have more spines than leaves on upper branches. This is because the lower leaves are easier for most animals to reach..

      Some plants, such as the oak tree, have thick and hard leaves that are difficult for animals to eat. Some grasses may contain a sandy material; eating such grasses wears down the animal's teeth.

      Many plants also have chemical defenses. Some plants produce chemicals that taste bitter or cause an unpleasant reaction. Some plants may fight against an attack by increasing the production of these chemicals. When a caterpillar (毛虫) bites a tobacco leaf, the leaf produces a chemical messenger. This messenger sends to the roots the information to produce more nicotine. The higher levels of nicotine discourage the caterpillar.

      Many plants depend on both physical and chemical defenses. A certain plant in China, for instance, has prickly (多刺的) leaves, and each prickle contains poisonous venom (毒液) A single experience with this kind of plant will teach an animal to stay away from it in the future.

1.The holly plant has more spines on the lower leaves because most animals________.

  A. are not tall enough                        B. like the lower leaves only

  C. are not clever enough                 D. can get the lower leaves easily

2.To defend themselves, oak trees use________.

  A. chemical means                         B. physical means

  C. bitter chemicals                       D. sandy materials

3.How does tobacco protect itself against an attack from a caterpillar?

  A. Its leaves fight against the attack by physical means.

  B. Its roots send a messenger to discourage the caterpillar.

  C. Its roots increase the production of nicotine when it is attacked.

  D. Its leaves produce poisonous sand to drive the caterpillar away.

4.What would be the best title for this passage?

  A. Plants and Animals                     B. How Plants Defend Themselves

  C. Attacks and Defenses                   D. How Animals Eat Plant Leaves