The first time Luca heard the Island of Inventions, he was very young, but the wonders he heard about sounded so unbelievable to him that they were forever kept in his memory. Since then, he never stopped searching clues which might lead him to that place of wonder. He read widely to collect information.
Taking a little from here and there, he got quite a clear idea of what the Island was really like. It was a secret place, where all the great men learn and invent together. To be able to join that select club, you had to have created great inventions. Only then could you receive the invitation.
To get a chance, Luca spend the years studying and inventing. Every new idea he got, he made it into an invention, and if there were anything he didn’t understand, he would seek help. Soon he met other brilliant inventors too, and he told them of the secrets of the Island. These young inventors would likewise dream of being sent “the letter”.
As time passed, the disappointment of not being sent the letter gave rise to even greater cooperation and help between them. Their inventions soon became known throughout the world.
But no invention came.
They didn’t lose heart. They continued learning and inventing, trying to come up with better ideas. Fresh talent was added to their group. One day, Luca, already very old, was speaking with a brilliant young man who had written to join their group. Luca told the young man the secrets of the Island, and of how he was sure that they would receive an invitation. Surprised, the young inventor said: “What? You mean this isn’t really the Island of Inventions?”
It inspired Luca and he realized that his dream had become true.
【小题1】Luca read widely to ________.

When Mary Moore began her high school in 1951, her mother told her, "Be sure and take a typing course so when this show business thing doesn't work out, you'll have something to rely on. " Mary responded in typical teenage fashion. From that moment on, "the very last thing I ever thought about doing was taking a typing course," she recalls.
The show business thing worked out, of course. In her career, Mary won many awards. Only recently, when she began to write Growing Up Again, did she regret ignoring her morn," I don't know how to use a computer," she admits.
Unlike her 1995 autobiography, After All, her second book is less about life as an award-winning actress and more about living with diabetes (糖尿病). All the money from the book is intended for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), an organization she serves as international chairman. "I felt there was a need for a book like this," she says. " I didn't want to lecture, but I wanted other diabetics to know that things get better when we're self-controlled and do our part in managing the disease. "
But she hasn't always practiced what she teaches. In her book, she describes that awful day, almost 40 years ago, when she received two pieces of life-changing news. First, she had lost the baby she was carrying, and second, tests showed that she had diabetes. In a childlike act, she left the hospital and treated herself to a box of doughnuts (甜甜圈). Years would pass before she realized she had to grow u p ---again---and take control of her diabetes, not let it control her. Only then did she kick her three-pack-a-day cigarette habit, overcome her addiction to alcohol, and begin to follow a balanced diet.
Although her disease has affected her eyesight and forced her to the sidelines of the dance floor, she refuses to fall into self-pity. "Everybody on earth can ask, 'why me?' about something or other," she insists. "It doesn't do any good. No one is immune (免疫的) to heartache, pain, and disappointments. Sometimes we can make things better by helping others. I've come to realize the importance of that as I've grown up this second time. I want to speak out and be as helpful as I can be. "
【小题1】Why did Mary feel regretful?

下列句子中，每句有一个错误，请予以改正。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：必须严格按以上要求做题，否则无效。

1.      They shook hands and kissed each other on their cheek.

2.      Walking ahead and you’ll see the library on your right.

3.      Who would you have to deliver the parcel?

4.      Only then we realize how important friendship was.

5.      The baby bent over, curious watching the red spider.

6.      The teacher gave a series of example in her lecture in order that everybody could understand.

7.      I have met him in several occasions, but don’t remember his name.

8.      I’ve come with a message from Mr. Wang how he won’t be able to see you this afternoon.

9.      The problem discussed now is about the newly-built canteen.

10.  The boy lost his heart when he learned that he failed the exam again.

As I held my father’s hands one night, I couldn’t help but notice their calluses (老茧) and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a    16  , including all his struggles.
One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾) hit Ontario, turning it into a   17   desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last  18  from the grocery shore. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which  19   took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn’t   20  quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we    21   needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and    22   . Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves!” Dad    23   , “Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we’re    24   . ” Such is Dad—whatever problem he    25   , he never gives up.
   26   , the disastrous effects of the drought were felt all over our country. It was a challenging time for everyone,   27   Dad remained optimistic. He    28   to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates. Only then did I truly begin to    29   Dad and his faith guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real    30  . From dawn to dark, he works countless hours to    31   our family. He always puts our happiness    32   his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games    33   his exhaustion after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and    34  , putting others first.
Dad, the life    35   I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized(强调)the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

    One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an proper topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic. “ So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was wonderful.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was stopped again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, ‘You don’t say.’ actually means ‘really’! It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know how foolish I had been. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

1.At first, on hearing “You don’t say”, I thought the foreigner meant_______.

A. He was not interested in the topic

B. He was only interested in the Great Wall

C. I had talked too much   

D. I had to stop talking

2.The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means_______.

A. interesting          B. important    C. terrible        D. unlucky

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall.

B. The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it.

C. The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide.

D. The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth (值得) visiting.

4.After the Englishman explained the idiom, ________.

A. I thought the Englishman had made me a fool

B. The Englishman became a real fool

C. I felt very foolish

D. I became more careful in everything