They wanted to use a person ________ him ________ a stepping stone.

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They wanted to use a person ________ him ________ a stepping stone.

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In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last year.

　　As a writer I know about winning contests, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip from the publisher. I also know the pressures of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn’t win the contest again? That’s the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and dashed hopes can surface.

　　A revelation (启示) came last week when I asked her, “Don’t you want to win again?” “No,” she replied, “I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade.”

　　I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously (自发地) told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly “guided” by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it.

　　Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting (借用) my daughter’s experience.

　　While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices.

1.What did the author say about her own writing experience?

A. She was constantly under pressure of writing more.

B. Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers.

C. Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations.

D. She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer.

2.Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest?

A. She wanted to share her stories with readers.

B. She had won a prize in the previous contest.

C. She was sure of winning with her mother’s help.

D. She believed she possessed real talent for writing.

3.The author took great pains to refine her daughter’s stories because ________.

A. she wanted to help Rebecca realize her dream of becoming a writer

B. she believed she had the knowledge and experience to offer guidance

C. she did not want to disappoint Rebecca who needed her help so much

D. she was afraid Rebecca’s imagination might run wild while writing

4.What’s the author’s advice for parents?

A. Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions.

B. Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience.

C. Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in.

D. A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue.

Michel is a young girl who works for the police   36 a handwriting expert (专家). She has helped   37  many criminals (罪犯) by using her special talents (天才).

　　When she was fourteen, Michel was already  38  interested in the differences in her friends'  39 that she would spend hours 40  them. After  41  college she went to France for a   42  two-year class in handwriting at the School of Police Science.

　　Michel says that it is  43  for people to hide their handwriting. She can discover 44  of what she needs to know simply   45 looking at the writing with her own eyes, 46  she also has machines   47   help her make    48  different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often   49  great help to the police.

Michel believes that handwriting is a good  50  of what kind of person the    51  is. "I wouldn't go out with a fellow   52  I didn't like his handwriting.” She says. But she   53 she fell in love with her future husband, a young policeman  54  she studied his handwriting. It is later proved to be    55 , however.

Michel is a young girl who works for the police ____ a handwriting expert. She has helped ____ many criminals (罪犯) by using her special talents.

　　When she was fourteen, Michel was already  ____ interested in the differences in her friends'  ____ that she would spend hours  ____ them. After  ____ college she went to France for a  ____ two-year class in handwriting at the School of Police Science.

　　Michel says that it is  ____ for people to hide their handwriting. She can discover  ____ of what she needs to know simply  ____ looking at the writing with her own eyes,  ____ she also has machines  ____ help her make  ____ different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often  ____ great help to the police.

        Michel believes that handwriting is a good  ____ of what kind of person the  ____ is. "I wouldn't go out with a fellow  ____ I didn't like his handwriting." She says. But she  ____ she fell in love with her future husband, a young policeman  ____ she studied his handwriting. It is later proved to be  ____, however.

1.A. with           B. by                            C. like                           D. as

2.A. search                 B. follow            C. catch                      D. judge

3.A. so                         B. too                          C. quite                       D. extra

4.A. books                   B. letter                       C. tongues                  D. handwriting

5.A. writing                 B. studying                  C. settling                   D. uncovering

6.A. attending   B. finishing                 C. starting                   D. stepping into

7.A. powerful    B. natural                    C. special                     D. common

8.A. main           B. safe                         C. easy                        D. impossible

9.A. most           B. nothing          C. little                        D. sight

10.A. with          B. by                            C. of                    D. about

11.A. so                       B. for                            C. thus                        D. but

12.A. they                   B. in which                  C. that                         D. those

13.A. up            B. out                           C. for                           D. into

14.A. of                       B. to                             C. with                        D. for

15.A. test           B. sign                          C. means           D. habit

16.A. thief                   B. criminal                   C. writer            D. policeman

17.A. whether            B. unless                      C. if                    D. after

18.A. adds                  B. tells                          C. repeats                  D. cries

19.A. before              B. after                        C. shyly                       D. and

20.A. necessary         B. all right          C. important              D. quite easy