To tell you the truth, I’m not interested in owning a cellular (网络) phone. Except for use in an emergency (紧急情况), for ordinary cellular phone service is very expensive. How would I get help if I were in trouble or in danger? A good friend said about a product she thought would settle my problem. It’s the SOS phone—a cellular phone service designed for emergency use.

With the touch of a button, the SOS phone will connect me to a roadside emergency service, a 911 service or a trained SOS operator, 24 hours a day. If I ever need help. I know it’s just a phone call away.

By pressing the “Tow” button, I’ll bc connected with my emergency roadside service provider. Or, if I don’t have one, the SOS operator can suggest one to me and get in touch with them immediately.

The “911” button would connect me to 911 emergency service in my area------best of all, the call is completely free!

If I just want to call home to tell my husband and children something necessary, I can, by pressing the “Call” hutton, I’ll reach an operator. When I ask the operator to call home, I’ll be connected automatically (自动地). And because the Call Center has my 10 most-used phone numbers, I don’t even have to recite the numbers.

Unlike ordinary cellular phone plans, the SOS phone doesn't have any minimum usage requirements (底价) or other promises that could change the price

Why not try it yourself!

1.The writer enjoys using the SOS phone because ______.

A. she is always in trouble or in danger

B. she thinks the cost of its service is reasonable

C. she needn’t pay for any emergency service

D. the ordinary cellular phone can not he used in an emergency

2.Press______button, and you can get service without paying fee.  

A. 911      B. Tow     C. call      D. Tow and 911

3.When you have an SOS phone, ________.  

A. you will get help whenever you are in an emergency

B. you will be safe wherever you are

C. you can be connected with anyone

D. you can get service from any cellular phones

4.When you want to call home, ______.  

A. you will have to tel1 the operator your home phone number

B. the operator will suggest one phone number to you

C. the Call Center will pass on your words to your family

D. you’ll be connected with your family with the Help of an operator

5.The writer wants to ______.

A. tell us her experience

B. let us know she has an SOS phone

C. let us know something about the SOS phone

D. tell us she is very safe now

“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, ” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.

Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn’t spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”

“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”

“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.

“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.

Aunt Emmy smiled.

“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.”

“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”

“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”

“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.

Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.

“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”

“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”

“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”

“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”

“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”

“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.

There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.

“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.

1.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.

A. She had to leave Aunt Mary

B. She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy

C. She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts

D. She had no time to make a proper decision

2. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”？

A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver.

B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver.

C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts.

D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody

3.What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?

A. Passion?? ????????????? ????????????? B. Sympathy?? ????????????? ????????????? C. Kindness?? ????????????? ????????????? D. Company

4.What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?

A. respectfully??? ????????????? B. confidently??? ????????????? ????????????? C. secretly??? ????????????? ????????????? D. willingly

5. Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?

A. cute and joyful??????????????????? ????????????? B. kind-hearted and emotional

C. optimistic and wise???????????????? ????????????? D. gentle and timid (羞怯的)

6.Which of the following is the best title?

A. A Special Christmas?????????????????? B. Clorinda’s Gifts

C. Aunt Emmy????????????????????????? D. Clorinda’s Choice

Christmas Eve means a warm get-together with friends, a candlelight dinner, or perhaps a celebration at a pub(酒馆) for students. But, for Cai Yingjie, the night has a different meaning: helping beggars(乞丐) and the homeless(people without homes).

Cai, who is a student in journalism at Tsinghua, could be found at Beijing’s Wudaokou Light Railway Station that special evening. When she saw an old beggar, she took the cold, rough hands of the woman with her warm, clean hands, and gave   the woman some warm bread and helped her put on a pair of new gloves(手套).

The woman was surprised for a few seconds, then burst into tears, saying “for  the first time I feel respected(尊重)”.

Cai said, “A beggar’s life is very hard. That’s why I want to help them.”

Cai was one of 14 Tsinghua students spending Christmas Eve among the poor. They walked in the cold wind along the streets from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, visiting 15 beggars in Beijing’s Haidian District.

They brought bread and gloves with them, and stopped to greet beggars and offer them some of the warm food. Each beggar greeted them with a look of surprise.

“I know the activity can’t help much, but it’s meant to show our respect and   care for beggars and the homeless who have been neglected for so long,” said Sun,  head of the group. “And Christmas is a good time for that.”

1.What does Christmas Eve mean to the 14 Tsinghua students?

2.What does the beggar mean by saying “for the first time I feel respected”?

3.What did each beggar feel when they received greetings?

4. The word “neglected” in the last passage means _______.

Haisong Jiang, who slipped (偷偷溜进) past a security checkpoint(安全关卡) on Jan. 3, causing a shutdown of Newark Airport, tried to apologize for his mistake.
" I feel guilty about this serious mistake. At that moment, I was very excited with my girlfriend, and I didn't think too much," Mr. Jiang, 28, said Tuesday in his first interview since causing the six-hour shutdown at the airport.
On Tuesday, Newark Municipal Court judged that besides the community service, he must pay a $500 fine (罚金) and $158 in court fees. In an agreement between the court and Mr. Jiang's lawyer, Mr. Jiang will pay off his money punishment all by community service instead.
　　Haisong Jiang, a native of China, about a year ago moved to the United States in 2004 to study and met his girlfriend, also Chinese and 26. She has since moved to California.
The lovebirds did the town over the Christmas holidays: shopping in SoHo, visiting the tree at Rockefeller Center, celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square - the works. On Jan. 3, he watched her pass through security, but he wanted to spend more time with her. When he noticed the officer leave his post, he saw his chance, he said. He slipped under the rope and kissed her and, arm in arm, walked her to her Continental Airlines gate and saw her onto the jetway. "And immediately I left," he said.
　　Three days passed. "Friday, the police found me," the future scientist said. He was at the gym when his roommate called to say two police officers were at their home. "It's not right to enter the airport. Immediately I know the police want to ask me this thing."
　  He expects to serve half of his community service in a soup kitchen - "I like to cook" - and the other half in a hospital. He plans on moving to California to be with her and work in a laboratory after completing his degree in May or June.
He never types his name into search engines on the Net: the number of hits is shocking.
What’s the best title of the passage?
A. A moving love story  B. An escape from security check
C. A kiss causing great trouble      D. When a man loves a woman
How much did Mr. Jiang finally pay for his mistake?
A. nothing      B. $ 500  C. $158   D. $ 658
Which of the following sentences is true?
A. Mr. Jiang was sent to the police station right after he went out of the airport.
B. The lovebirds spent their Christmas holidays in California.
C. Mr. Jiang caused so much trouble on purpose.
D. On Friday, the police didn’t find Mr. Jiang at his home at first.
What can you infer from the passage?
A. Mr. Jiang is an American-Chinese.
B. Mr. Jiang and his girlfriend’s love story has finally ended.
C. Many people have known about Mr. Jiang on the net.
D. Mr. Jiang will become a scientist with certainty.

I used to be ashamed of my grandma.I know that’s a ____ thing to say，but it was true until today，so I have to ___ it.

The ____ started when my friend Katy found Grandma’s false teeth floating in a glass on the bathroom sink.I was so used to seeing them that I ____ took notice of them.But Katy shouted，laughing and ___to talk to them.I had to get down on my knees and ___ her to shut up so my grandma wouldn’t ___ and get hurt.

After that happened，I ____ there were a million things about Grandma that were embarrassing.

Once she took Jill and me out to Burger King.____ ordering our hamburgers well?done，she told the person behind the counter，“They’ll have two Whoppers(巨无霸) well?to?do.” Jill burst out laughing，but I almost ____.

After a while，I started wishing I could ___ Grandma in a closet.I even complained to my parents.Both my parents said I had to be careful not to make Grandma feel ____ in our home.

Then last Wednesday，something happened that ____ everything completely.My teacher told us to help find interesting old people and ____ them about their ____ for a big Oral History project.I was trying to think of someone when Angie pushed me gently.

“Volunteer your grandmother，” she whispered.“She’s ___ and rich in experience.”

That was the last thing I ever thought Angie would say about my grandma.

This is how I ended up on ____ today interviewing my own grandmother before the whole school assembly(集合)．All my friends and teachers were listening to her ____ she was a great heroine.I was ____ of my grandma and hoped she would ____ know that I had been ashamed of her.

1.A.funny? B．common

C．terrible? D．clear

2.A.admit?? B．receive

C．refuse? D．show

3.A.quarrel? B．accident

C．trouble? D．adventure

4.A.already? B．always

C．simply? D．hardly

5.A.enjoying? B．pretending

C．imagining? D．continuing

6.A.warn? B．demand

C．advise? D．beg

7.A.mind? B．hear

C．see?? D．fall

8.A.expected? B．declared

C．realized? D．doubted

9.．A.Because of?? B．Except for

C．Such as? D．Instead of

10.A.died? B．cheered

C．disappeared? D．suffered

11.A.meet?? B．avoid

C．arrange? D．hide

12.A.independent? B．inconvenient

C．unwelcome? D．unfamiliar

13.A.changed? B．finished

C．stopped? D．prepared

14.A.interview?? B．report

C．tell? D．write

15.A.news? B．lives

C．advantages? D．achievements

16.A.free? B．popular

C．interesting? D．embarrassing

17.A.show? B．stage

C．duty? D．time

18.A.and then? B．even if

C．so that?? D．as if

19.A.sure? B．proud

C．ashamed? D．afraid

20.A.never? B．even

C．still? D．once