At Blossom End Railroad Station, 22-year-old Stanley Vine sat, waiting for his new employer. The surrounding green fields were so unlike the muddy landscape of war-torn France. After four horrible years as an army private fighting in Europe, Stanley had returned to England in February 1946. Armed now with some savings and with no prospects for a job in England, he answered a newspaper ad for farm help in Canada. Two months later he was on his way.

When the old car rumbled (发着辘辘声) toward the tiny station, Stanley rose to his feet, trying to make the most of his five foot and four inches frame. The farmer, Alphonse Lapine, shook his head and complained, “You’re a skinny thing.” On the way to his dairy farm, Alphonse explained that he had a wife and seven kids. “Money is tight. You’ll get room and board. You’ll get up at dawn for milking, and then help me around the farm until evening milking time again. Ten dollars a week. Sundays off.” Stanley nodded. He had never been on a farm before, but he took the job.

From the beginning Stanley was treated horribly by the whole family. They made fun of the way he dressed and talked. He could do nothing right. The humourless farmer frequently lost his temper, criticizing Stanley for the slightest mistake. The oldest son, 13-year-old Armand, constantly played tricks on him. But the kind-hearted Stanley never responded.

Stanley never became part of the Lapine family. After work, they ignored him. He spend his nights alone in a tiny bedroom. However, each evening before retiring, he lovingly cared for the farmer’s horses, eagerly awaiting him at the field gate. He called them his gentle giants. On Saturday nights he hitch-hiked into the nearest town and wandered the streets or enjoyed a restaurant meal before returning to the farm.

Early one November morning Alphonse Lapine discovered that Stanley had disappeared, after only six months as his farmhand. The railway station master, when questioned later that week, said he had not seen him. In fact no one in the community ever heard of him again. That is, until one evening, almost 20 years later, when Armand, opened an American sports magazine and came across a shocking headline, “Millionaire jockey (赛马骑师), Stanley Vine, ex-British soldier and 5-time horse riding champion, began life in North America as a farmhand in Canada.”

1.Stanley Vine decided to go to Canada because ___________.

A．he wanted to escape from war-torn France

B．he wanted to serve in the Canadian army

C．he couldn’t find a job in England

D．he loved working as a farmhand

2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Stanley joined the French army when he was 18 years old.

B．On the farm Stanley had to milk the cows 14 times a week.

C．The Lapine family were very rich but cruel to Stanley.

D．Stanely read about the job offer in a newspaper.

3.What did Stanley like doing after work each day?

A．Hitch-hiking to different towns.

B．Caring for the farmer’s horses.

C．Wandering around the farm alone.

D．Preparing meals on the farm.

4.Why was Armand so astonished when he read about Stanley in the magazine?

A．He didn’t know Stanley had been a British soldier.

B．He had no idea Stanley had always been a wealthy man.

C．He didn’t know his father paid Stanley so little money.

D．He didn’t expect Stanley to become such a success.

At Blossom End Railroad Station, 22-year-old Stanley Vine sat, waiting for his new employer. The surrounding green fields were so unlike the muddy landscape of war-torn France. After four horrible years as an army private fighting in Europe, Stanley had returned to England in February 1946. Armed now with some savings and with no prospects for a job in England, he answered a newspaper ad for farm help in Canada. Two months later he was on his way.
When the old car rumbled (发着辘辘声) toward the tiny station, Stanley rose to his feet, trying to make the most of his five foot and four inches frame. The farmer, Alphonse Lapine, shook his head and complained, “You’re a skinny thing.” On the way to his dairy farm, Alphonse explained that he had a wife and seven kids. “Money is tight. You’ll get room and board. You’ll get up at dawn for milking, and then help me around the farm until evening milking time again. Ten dollars a week. Sundays off.” Stanley nodded. He had never been on a farm before, but he took the job.
From the beginning Stanley was treated horribly by the whole family. They made fun of the way he dressed and talked. He could do nothing right. The humourless farmer frequently lost his temper, criticizing Stanley for the slightest mistake. The oldest son, 13-year-old Armand, constantly played tricks on him. But the kind-hearted Stanley never responded.
Stanley never became part of the Lapine family. After work, they ignored him. He spend his nights alone in a tiny bedroom. However, each evening before retiring, he lovingly cared for the farmer’s horses, eagerly awaiting him at the field gate. He called them his gentle giants. On Saturday nights he hitch-hiked into the nearest town and wandered the streets or enjoyed a restaurant meal before returning to the farm.
Early one November morning Alphonse Lapine discovered that Stanley had disappeared, after only six months as his farmhand. The railway station master, when questioned later that week, said he had not seen him. In fact no one in the community ever heard of him again. That is, until one evening, almost 20 years later, when Armand, opened an American sports magazine and came across a shocking headline, “Millionaire jockey (赛马骑师), Stanley Vine, ex-British soldier and 5-time horse riding champion, began life in North America as a farmhand in Canada.”
【小题1】Stanley Vine decided to go to Canada because ___________.

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

　 An acrobatic（杂技的）master performed a tightrope（钢丝）walk between two mountains, which attracted thousands of people.

　 When the 　36 started, he went to one end of the tightrope, 　37 straight at the goal ahead, with open arms, walking slowly step by step to the opposite side of the mountain. Immediately, the audience 　38 loud applause.

“If my hands are tied, do you also believe ! can 　39 ？” he asked the audience.

　 　40 , some people didn’t believe, but in order to know the 　41 , they said, “We believe you !”

Then, he had his hands tied with a rope and walked past 　42 .

　 He looked around and said, “If I’m blindfolded（蒙着眼睛的）with my hands tied, do you ___43 believe I can go past?”

　　 This time, the people said without 　44 , “We believe you!”

　　 In this way, his eyes were 　45 with a black cloth. He moved slowly to the tightrope and

walked along it inch by inch. This time, he went past once again. The audience burst into 　46 .

Then, he 　47 a child and asked all the people, “If I put him on any shoulders 　48__ I’m blindfolded with my hands tied as well, do you still believe I can make it?”

　 All the people replied before 　49 , “We believe you!”

　 “I ask you again, do you really believe me?”

　 “Yes, we believe you completely !”

　 Then, he said, “Well then, since you believe me, 　50 my child with yours. Who will?”

　 All of a sudden, the audience fell 　51 . The silence lasted for nearly ten minutes.

　 After ten minutes, the acrobatic master said nothing, just put the child on his shoulders and walked past along the tightrope. Sure enough, this time he 　52 once more.

Faced with things far from their own 　53 , people can often make judgments easily and quickly, but once involved in（牵涉）it, most of people “cannot 　54 it clearly”. Only those who are really confident, like the master in the tightrope walk, can stay 　55 at any time.

36. A. talent　　　　　　　　 B. play　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. program　　　　　　　　 D. show　　　　　　　　

37. A. stepping　　　　　　 B. staring　　　　　　　　　　 C. wandering　　　　　　　 D. pointing　　　　　　

38. A. broke into　　　　　 B. came into　　　　　　　　 C. gave off　　　　　　　　 D. sent out

39. A. get through　　　　 B. walk down　　　　　　　 C. go across　　　　　　　 D. pass around

40. A. Finally　　　　　　　 B. Actually　　　　　　　　　 C. Hopefully　　　　　　　　 D. Especially　　　　　

41. A. result　　　　　　　　 B. experience　　　　　　　 C. challenge　　　　　　　　 D. trick　　　　　　　　

42. A. slightly　　　　　　　 B. luckily　　　　　　　　　　 C. smoothly　　　　　　　　 D. nervously　　　　　

43. A. even　　　　　　　　　 B. just　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. always　　　　　　　　　　 D. still　　　　　　　　　

44. A. difficulty　　　　　 B. hesitation　　　　　　　　 C. concern　　　　　　　　　 D. mercy　　　　　　　　　　　

45. A. blocked　　　　　　 B. hidden　　　　　　　　　　 C. covered　　　　　　　　　 D. equipped　　　　　

46. A. cheers　　　　　　　 B. joy　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. tears　　　　　　　　　　　 D. laughter　　　　　　

47. A. chose　　　　　　　　 B. supported　　　　　　　 C. pushed　　　　　　　　　　 D. held　　　　　　　　　

48. A. till　　　　　　　 　 B. before　　　　　　　　　　 C. while　　　 　　　　 D. since　　　　　　　　

49. A. arguing　　　　　　　 B. thinking　　　　　　　　　 C. refusing　　　　　　　　　 D. wondering　　　　

50. A. exchange　　　　　 B. compare　　　　　　　　 C. take　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. treat　　　　　　　　　

51. A. silent　　　　　　　　 B. noisy　　　　　　　　　　　 C. doubtful　　　　　　　　　 D. anxious　　　　　　

52. A. won　　　　　　　　　 B. walked　　　　　　　　　 C. acted　　　 　　　　 D. succeeded　　　　

53. A. children　　　　　　 B. fears　　　　　　　　　　　 C. interests　　　　　　　　　 D. performances　　

54. A. sense　　　　　　　　 B. see　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. understand　　　　　　　 D. realize　　　　　　　　

55. A. awake　　　　　　　 B. encouraged　　　　　 C. patient　　　 　　　　 D. focused　　　　　　

It was two days after the seventh Harry Potter book came out. I was halfway through 　　36　 it, and I certainly didn’t want to be 　　37　 .But the phone kept ringing, so I 　 38　 　it.

　　　　 Patty from my church said, “Rachel, we are 　 39　 　at the soup kitchen (施粥所) at the Methodist church this afternoon and need 　　40　 　right now. Are you 　 41　　 ?”

　　　 I wanted to have an entire day to read the book, 　 42　 my mouth answered, “Sue, I will be there at 5:15.”

　　　 When I 　 43　　 , other volunteers were already at work. I glanced through the door and saw people already lining up outside.

　　　 At 5:30, the 　 44 　 　began to move. A family with two kids in wheelchairs came through first. The mother and father each carried two plates and 　　45 a wheelchair.

　　　　 Then two older men came over. “No watermelon,” one said.

　　　　 “Are you kidding?” I asked 　 46 　. “You don’t want watermelon?”

　　　　 He grinned (咧着嘴笑). “I am kidding. Give me one of those.”

　　　　 A family of five came through the line. The son 　　47　 　his plate for watermelon and bread. “Is that all you want?” I asked. He nodded. “I’m not 　48　 .”

　　　　 Five minutes later, he was back. “Can I have some more? I’m only hungry for watermelon.” I 　 49 　and served him another slice (片).

　　 One 　 50　 came through holding hands and smiling at each other. “We have been married 49 years, and I love her like I did when we just got married!” the man told me 　　51　 .

　　　　 Although the people 　　　52　　 　food, they gave me more than I gave them. They told me about their 　 53　 —how one’s daughter was getting married, and another’s son was learning to read.

　　　　 I kept watching them eating, happy or sad, talking excitedly with friends or eating 　 54 　　 in the corner, each with a story to tell.

　　　　 Although I love to read Harry Potter, I’m still 　 55　 I went to the soup kitchen that afternoon.

36. A. writing　　 　　　　　　 B. reading　　 　　　　　 C. publishing　 　　　　 D. buying

37. A. fired　 　　　　　 B. hurt　　 　　　　 C. disturbed　 　　　　　 D. protected

38. A. used　 　　　　　 B. ignored　 　　　　　　 C. answered　　 　　　　 D. replaced

39. A. helping　 　　　　 B. relaxing　 　　　　　　 C. watching　 　　　　　 D. playing

40. A. cooks　 　　　　 B. fans　　 　　　 C. friends　 　　　　　　 D. volunteers

41. A. busy　 　　　　　 B. sure　 　　　　　 C. free　　 　　　　 D. awake

42. A. and　 　　　 B. so　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. though　 　　　　　　 D. but

43. A. returned　 　　　 B. left　 　　　　　　 C. stopped　 　　　　　　 D. arrived

44. A. group　　 　　　　 B. line　　 　　　　　 C. car　 　　　　　　　　　 D. wheelchair

45. A. pushed　 　　　　 B. roe　 　　　　　　 C. brought　 　　　　　　 D. took

46. A. angrily　 　　　　 B. doubtfully　 　　　　 C. excitedly　　 　　　　 D. anxiously

47. A. gave up 　　　　 B. broke up　 　　　　　 C. covered up　 　　　 D. held up

48. A. fine　 　　　　　　 B. hot　　 　　　　 C. sick　 　　　　　　 D. hungry　　

49. A. apologized　 　 B. shouted　 　　　　　　 C. laughed　 　　　　　　 D. sighed

50. A. man　 　　　　　　 B. child　 　　　　 C. couple　 　　　 D. team

51. A. eagerly　 　　　　 B. happily 　　　　　　　 C. bravely　 　　　　　　 D. calmly

52. A. sold　 　　　　　　 B. accepted　　 　　　　 C. borrowed　　 　　　 D. saved

53. A. families　 B. jobs　　 　　　　 C. dreams　 　　　　　　 D. plans

54. A. lightly　　 　　　 B. freely　　 　　　　　　 C. alone　　 　　　 D. well

55. A. worried　 　　　 B. ashamed　　 　　　　 C. tired　　 　　　　 D. glad

While we were riding the old German bus in Albania, a gypsy (吉普赛人) girl got on. She was about seven years old. Most gypsy children had a 36 look in their eyes.
　　 They were hardened by the world and by 37 they had experienced. The gypsies 38 in slums (贫民窟). The children begged on the streets or did other work so that their parents could 39 to buy wine. Every time we saw these 40 , we could always see the dead look in their eyes. But not this 41 . She was cheerful and had a beautiful smile on her face. As soon as she 42 , she started talking to us. Her name was Angela and she was on her 43 to visit her grandfather in a nearby slum village. I 44 my purse for something nice to give her. 45 , all I had with me was gum. She eagerly put a 46 in her mouth, and then squinted (眯着眼睛看) her eyes because the 47 was mint-flavored (薄荷味). It seemed like she had 48 tasted it before. She 49 in a funny way and the other people on the bus were all amused by what she did. When the bus 50 , she picked up the big bag she was carrying, 51 and jumped out of the bus.
　　She is out of my life, but not out of my 52 . This girl deserved so much more than her 53 surroundings, yet she didn’t let any of them get herself 54 . I pray I will 55 her again someday, so that I can give her that hug which I should have given her that day on the bus!

36. A. worried　　 B. happy　　　 C. dead　　　　 D. curious
37. A. which　　 B. this　　　　 C. that　　　　　 D. what
38. A. lived　　　 B. played　　　 C. worked　　　　 D. studied
39. A. manage　　 B. try　　　　 C. have　　　　 D. afford
40. A. children　　 B. adults　　　 C. beggars　　　 D. passers-by
41. A. day　　　　 B. girl　　　　 C. place　　　　 D. story
42. A. sat down　 B. crowded in 　C. moved off　　 D. lied down
43. A. bus　　　 B. car　　　　 C. way　　　　　 D. taxi
44. A. searched　 B. examined　　 C. touched　　　 D. found
45. A. Fortunately B. Sadly 　　　　C. Surprisingly　 D. Clearly
46. A. little　　　 B. block　　　 C. piece　　　　 D. set
47. A. smell　　　 B. sweet　　　 C. sugar　　　　 D. gum
48. A. ever　　　 B. never　　　 C. always　　　　 D. often
49. A. laughed　　 B. shouted　　 C. cried　　　　　 D. complained
50. A. got on　　 B. got off　　　 C. pulled in　　 D. pulled down

51. A. sighed 　　 B. bent　　　　 C. nodded　　　 D. waved
52. A. feeling　　 B. dream　　　 C. mind　　　　 D. eyesight
53. A. poor　　　 B. warm　　　　 C. comfortable　　 D. rich
54. A. off　　　　 B. up　　　　　 C. away　　　　 D. down
55. A. help　　　 B. meet　　　　 C. invite　　　　 D. thank