As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of for a woman to do that. I got a taste of that dream in 2001, when my husband arranged for me to ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday. But the experience turned out to be very dull. Around then, I wanted to skydive. So when our retirement community organized an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream.

I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr. did it at age 80. Why not me? I was just 84 and pretty healthy. At first I heard nothing. But then they announced that I was one of the winners. I just couldn’t believe it. Inspired by this, I decided to realize my dream, even though some of my family and my doctor were against it.

On June 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered to watch my dive. My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience. The plane was very noisy, but I wasn’t frightened—I was just looking forward to the experience. Reached 13,000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane. When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe. For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then everything got calmer. We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute（降落伞）, then we just floated downward for about five minutes. Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt. I was just enjoying it.

Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life. I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don’t stop living just because you are 84 years old. If there’s something you want to experience, look into it. If it’s something that is possible, make it happen.

41. What happened to the author in 2001?

A. She flew an airplane.

B. She entered a competition.

C. She went on a hot air balloon ride.

D. She moved into a retirement community.

42. The author mentioned George Bush Sr. in her essay to 　　　.

A. make her argument persuasive

B. show her admiration for him

C. compare their health condition

D. build up her own reputation

43. How did the author feel immediately after she jumped out of the plane?

A. Excited.　 　　　　　 B. Regretful.　 　　　　 C. Nervous.　 　　　　　 D. Scared.

44. What did the author enjoy most when she was skydiving?

A. The beautiful clouds.　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. The wonderful view.

C. The company of Jay.　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. The one-minute free fall.

45. What is the best title of the passage?

A. Impossible is nothing. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. A dream made come true.

C. An unforgettable skydiving.　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. I Went Skydiving at 84!

Eleven-year-old Angela was stricken with a debilitating disease involving her nervous system.She was unable to walk and her movement was restricted in other ways as well.The doctors did not hold out much hope of her ever recovering from this illness.They predicted she’d spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.They said that few,if any,were able to come back to normal after contracting this disease.The little girl was undaunted.There,lying in her hospital bed,she would vow to anyone who’d listen that she was definitely going to be walking again someday.
She was transferred to a specialized hospital in the San Francisco Bay area.Whatever therapies could be applied to her case were used.The therapists were charmed by her undefeatable spirit.They taught her about imaging—about seeing herself walking.If it would do nothing else,it would at least give her hope and something positive to do in the long waking hours in her bed.Angela would work as hard as possible in physical therapy,in whirlpools and in exercise sessions.But she worked just as hard lying there faithfully doing her imaging;visualizing herself moving,moving,moving!
One day,as she was staining with all her might to imagine her legs moving again,it seemed as though a miracle happened:The bed moved!It began to move around the room!She screamed out,“Look what I’m doing!Look!Look!I can do it!I moved,I moved!”
Of course,at this very moment everyone else in the hospital was screaming,too,and running for cover.People were screaming,equipment was falling and glass was breaking.You see,it was the recent San Francisco earthquake.But don’t tell that to Angela.She’s convinced that she did it.And now only a few years later,she’s back in school. You see,anyone who can shake the earth between San Francisco and Oakland can conquer a piddling little disease,can’t they?

1. 1.

   The underlined word “undaunted” in the first paragraph can probably be replaced by _________.

   1. A.
      encouraged
   2. B.
      not discouraged
   3. C.
      losing heart
   4. D.
      excited
2. 2.

   Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

   1. A.
      The girl got over her disease just by imagining.
   2. B.
      It was because of her strong determination and constant efforts that she got walking again.
   3. C.
      The girl was on top of the world when she moved the bed in her room.
   4. D.
      Doctors believe imagining being healthy helps patients recover.
3. 3.

   By saying the last sentence in the last paragraph,the author means that_________.

   1. A.
      where there is a will,there is a way
   2. B.
      a person who is strong enough to shake the earth can get over any disease
   3. C.
      just as it is impossible for one to shake the earth,so it is to conquer a serious disease
   4. D.
      though one can shake the earth,he can’t defeat a little disease
4. 4.

   What might be a good title for the text?

   1. A.
      Did The Earth Move For You?
   2. B.
      A Miracle Made by a Young Girl
   3. C.
      A Young Girl Conquered Disease
   4. D.
      Strong Will Defeats Illness