（湖北省部分重点中学2009届高三第二次联考）

D

y brother-in-1aw opened the drawer of my sister’s cupboard and took out a package．He said。“This is a new silk slip（衬裙）．Jane bought it in New York nine years ago．She never wore it．She was saving it for a special occasion．I guess this is the occasion．”

It was an exquisite（精美的）handmade silk slip．The price tag on it was still attached．

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed，with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician（殡仪员）．His hands fingered on the soft material for a moment, then he shut the drawer and turned to me．“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion．Every day you’re alive is a special occasion．’’

His words have changed my mind．I’m spending more time with my family and less time on meetings．I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them．I’m not saving anything．I wear my good skirt to the market if I feel like it．I can pay $28·49 for a small bag of  groceries．I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties．If something is worth seeing or hearing or doing，I want to see and hear and do it now．“Someday” has disappeared in my vocabulary．

I’m not sure what Jane would have done if she had known she’d not be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted．I’m guessing Jane would have called family members and a few close friends．She might have apologized to her former friends for their past quarrels．She’d have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food．

I’m trying hard not to put off, hold back。or save anything that would add laughter to our fives．Every morning I open my eyes。I tell myself that every day, every minute，every breath is a gift．

73．Why didn’t Jane wear the brand new silk slip?

A．She meant to wear it on her death．     B．She wanted to save it for her sister．

      C．She thought it was too dear．               D．She saved it for a special occasion

74．After Jane’s death．the author begins to             ．

A．treasure the simple pleasure of life               B．spend more time having meetings

C．save more money for necessities                 D．care about her special parties

75．What does the underlined sentence “Someday” has disappeared in my vocabulary．”（in Paragraph4）mean?

A．I prefer to leave out the word “someday” in my speech．

B．“Someday” is found missing from my old dictionar．

C．I will not delay enjoying the pleasure of life

D．I decide not to enjoy something good at the moment·

76．It can be inferred from the passage that              ．

A．it makes sense to follow our dream

B．we tend to leave good things until the last minute

C．we should take pleasure in our work

D．it is meaningless to save something for the future

GREENBURGH, N. Y., Oct. 3-When Antonio McDyess appeared, his fans all cheered. But he just watched his teammates training on the court(训练场). He wanted to join them but didn't.

    “When I stepped back, I just didn't realize how much I really  missed  basketball,” said McDyess, who sat out all of the last season and played just 10 games with the Denver Nuggets (丹佛掘金队) the previous ( 之前的) season because of injuries to his left knee. “Watching them has made me want to get on the court so badly, but I know I can’t.”

　　 McDyess said that team doctors had told him that in a week he might be able to join the training. But no one, including McDyess, is ready to offer a timetable for his return to playing.

　　 After he had surgery last October to repair an injured kneecap, McDyess expected he would return in March. He was destroyed when he needed surgery again in April, this time for a bone graft (移植)to help the healing of his kneecap.

1. What is Antonio McDyess?

A. A runner.

B. A basketballer.

C. A basketball fan.

D. A football player.

2. Why didn’t McDyess join his teammates in training?

A. He didn't want to.

B. He sat out all of the last season.

C. His knees were badly hurt.

D. There was something wrong with his left knee.

3.“But no one, including McDyess, is ready to offer a timetable for his return to playing” means“　　　　 ”.

A. No one except McDyess is sure when he can come back to the court

B. Everyone besides McDyess is sure about the time when he can come back to the court

C. Only McDyess does not know when he can be well enough to play games again

D. No one knows when McDyess will be all right to come back to the court, nor does he himself

4. How many times has McDyess’ knee been operated on?

A. Only once.　　　　  B. Twice.

C. Three times.　　　　 D. No one knows.

    “When I stepped back, I just didn't realize how much I really  missed  basketball,” said McDyess, who sat out all of the last season and played just 10 games with the Denver Nuggets (丹佛掘金队) the previous ( 之前的) season because of injuries to his left knee. “Watching them has made me want to get on the court so badly, but I know I can’t.”

　　 McDyess said that team doctors had told him that in a week he might be able to join the training. But no one, including McDyess, is ready to offer a timetable for his return to playing.

　　 After he had surgery last October to repair an injured kneecap, McDyess expected he would return in March. He was destroyed when he needed surgery again in April, this time for a bone graft (移植)to help the healing of his kneecap.

1. What is Antonio McDyess?

A. A runner.

B. A basketballer.

C. A basketball fan.

D. A football player.

2. Why didn’t McDyess join his teammates in training?

A. He didn't want to.

B. He sat out all of the last season.

C. His knees were badly hurt.

D. There was something wrong with his left knee.

3.“But no one, including McDyess, is ready to offer a timetable for his return to playing” means“　　　　 ”.

A. No one except McDyess is sure when he can come back to the court

B. Everyone besides McDyess is sure about the time when he can come back to the court

C. Only McDyess does not know when he can be well enough to play games again

D. No one knows when McDyess will be all right to come back to the court, nor does he himself

4. How many times has McDyess’ knee been operated on?

A. Only once.　　　　  B. Twice.

C. Three times.　　　　 D. No one knows.

A few days ago I asked my sons’ governess（女家庭教师）Julia to come into my study. “Be seated, Julia, ”I said, “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month...”

　　“Forty.”

　　“No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you’ve been here two months, so...”

　　“Two months and five days.”

　　“Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... you know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays... ”Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but - not a word.

　　“Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven - nineteen. Take nineteen off ... that leaves. hmm.... forty one dollars. Correct？”

　　Julia’s left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but - still not a word.

　　“Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but- forget it. When didn’t I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect （疏忽）, Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars.”

　　“You didn’t. ”sobbed Julia.

　　“But I made a note of it.”

　　“Well... if you say so.”

　　“Take twenty seven from forty one -that leaves fourteen.”

　　Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!

　　“Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.”

　　“Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen.. leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is !”

　　I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.

　　“Merci （法语: 谢谢）,”she whispered.

　　I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. “For what, this - ‘merci’?” I asked.

　　“For the money. ”

　　“But you know I’ve cheated you - robbed you ! I have actually stolen from you ! Why this‘merci’？”

　　“In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all.”

　　“They didn’t give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you... I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless （懦弱）?Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws（爪）—to be such a fool?”

　　Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression,“It is possible.”

　　I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little“merci”several times and went out. I looked after her and thought,“How easy it is to crush the weak in this world !”

While talking to Julia, the wrier expected from her ________.

　　A. a protest　　　　　　　　　　　B. gratitude

　　C. obedience　　　　　　　　　　 D. an explanation

What shocked the writer was Julia’s ________.

　　A. nervousness in front of her boss

　　B. acceptance of injustice

　　C. shyness when talking about money

　　D. reluctance to express herself

The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess ________.

　　A. to be more aggressive

　　B. to be more careful in her work

　　C. to protect her right

　　D. to live independently

At the end of the story, the writer said,“ How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”to show ________.

　　A. his understanding of Julia’s anxiety

　　B. his worry about Julia’s future

　　C. his concern on the living condition of working - class people

　　D. his sympathy for the mental state of those exploited

From the story, we can tell that Julia’s employer was ________.

　　A. greedy but honest

　　B. ill - tempered but warm - hearted

　　C. strict but forgiving

　　D. none of the above

-----Why didn’t you ring me up?
----- Sorry, I forgot your phone number. Otherwise, I _____ long before.