Anthony Horowitz suffered a lot as a child. He was, as he puts it, “not very bright” and couldn’t win the attention of his very wealthy parents, who preferred his “clever” older brother. At age 8, Horowitz was sent away to an abusive (虐待的) boarding school in his native England, even though he screamed and begged his parents year after year not to send him. “The thought was, ‘It’ll be good for him’,” Horowitz recalls.

It was not. Horowitz did badly in his studies, had few friends and was bullied (欺负) for five years. “My teachers couldn’t have had a lower opinion of me,” he said. “I wasn’t even smart enough to rebel (反抗). The one thing I remember from the very earliest age was this desire to write. When I was 10 years old, I remember asking my parents to get me a typewriter for my birthday because I wanted to be a writer.”

Now, at 55, Horowitz is one of the world’s most successful children’s book authors. His Alex Rider series has sold more than 5 million copies, and the eighth book featuring the young spy, Crocodile Tears, came out this month.

The Alex Rider books tell the adventures of 14-year-old Alex Rider, an agent for the British intelligence agency MI6.

Horowitz said he doesn’t try to write for kids; it just comes out that way. “I have a feeling it’s to do with purity and simplicity. I give as little information as is necessary to describe the room, the character in the room, and get on with the action,” he said.

That style has also made Horowitz a successful writer of television shows for adults in Britain because, he says, writing books for kids is a lot like writing television for grown-ups: In both cases, it’s all about entertaining people with a good story.

Now, Horowitz couldn’t be happier with his life. He sums up his success, “…you can be anything you want to be if you just believe in yourself. I do believe it completely.”

1. In his childhood, Anthony Horowitz _______.

A. was more intelligent than his brother

B. was paid more attention to by his parents

C. hated to be sent to the boarding school

D. led a miserable life because of poverty

2. In the boarding school, Horowitz’s teachers _______.

A. showed great concern for him                                 B. often abused and bullied him

C. taught him how to write stories                    D. thought little of his ability

3. Which of the following is true of Anthony Horowitz?

A. He was the beloved child of his family.

B. Although he is successful, he isn’t very happy.

C. He emphasizes the plot rather than character in stories.

D. He developed his writing ability in the boarding school.

4. What advice does Horowitz give to readers?

A. Confidence is the key to success.                      B. Hardship teaches valuable lessons.

C. Interest is the best teacher.                              D. Diligence is the parent of success.

 1685 was a very good year for German composers. Within the space of a month, two of the greatest were born: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.

Handel’s father was a barber and surgeon, which sounds like a strange combination today, but back then those occupations went hand in hand. Even though Handel was very interested in music, his father didn’t think that was a good way to earn a living, so he wanted his son to be a lawyer. The story goes that Handel smuggled a quiet piano into the house so that he could practice in secret.

One day, Handel went along when his father went to shave a duke. While his father was working, Handel sat down and played the duke’s organ. The duke was so impressed that he convinced Handel’s father to let his son study music, and Handel finally got to learn how to compose.

Handel soon discovered that what he liked most was opera. In fact, he was so passionate about opera that he even fought a duel (决斗) over it with one of his friends. Since Italy was the place to learn about opera composing, Handel went off to Italy to study. When he got home, he got a job as court composer for a German prince.

Having landed such a wonderful job, Handel immediately asked his boss for time off. He wanted to go to England, where he’d heard that there weren’t nearly enough composers to satisfy the British taste for Italian opera.

After great success writing opera in London, Handel came back to Germany. Then fate played a funny trick on Handel and his boss. The Queen of England died, and it just so happened that the prince Handel worked for was next in line to the British throne ( 王位 ). When he arrived in London as King George, followed Handel, his court composer in Germany.

In addition to serving the King, Handel became one of the most successful opera composers of his time. And he also produced them and traveled all over Europe to hire the best singers. There are stories of battles with rival ( 对手 )opera producers and of fights between rival singers. Handel apparently had quite a temper.

If you ever go to London, look for Handel’s grave in Westminster Abbey, where there’s a wonderful monument to him.

66. How did Handel begin to learn to compose?

A. His father was sure of his future success.

B. His performance impressed a duke.

C. He begged his father to send him to Italy.

D. He practiced hard and taught himself music.

67. What does the underlined word “smuggled” mean in the passage?

A. bought secretly               B. took secretly  

C. carried in advance          D. possessed personally

68. Why did Handel later settle down in Britain instead of Germany?

A. Because he could find better jobs in London.

B. Because he enjoyed greater fame in London.

C. Because his boss became King of Britain and brought him along.

D. Because London was a wonderful place to learn about opera.

69. Which of the following words can NOT be used to describe Handel, as 

shown in the passage?

A. bad-tempered   B. talented     C. enthusiastic  D. optimistic

70. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the passage?

A. Handel was born in the same year with Bach.

B. Many people worked both as a barber and surgeon.

C. Handel quit his job to learn about opera in Italy.

D. Handel was buried in London and was built a monument.

1685 was a very good year for German composers. Within the space of a month, two of the greatest were born: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.
Handel’s father was a barber and surgeon, which sounds like a strange combination today, but back then those occupations went hand in hand. Even though Handel was very interested in music, his father didn’t think that was a good way to earn a living, so he wanted his son to be a lawyer. The story goes that Handel smuggled a quiet piano into the house so that he could practice in secret.
One day, Handel went along when his father went to shave a duke. While his father was working, Handel sat down and played the duke’s organ. The duke was so impressed that he convinced Handel’s father to let his son study music, and Handel finally got to learn how to compose.
Handel soon discovered that what he liked most was opera. In fact, he was so passionate about opera that he even fought a duel (决斗) over it with one of his friends. Since Italy was the place to learn about opera composing, Handel went off to Italy to study. When he got home, he got a job as court composer for a German prince.
Having landed such a wonderful job, Handel immediately asked his boss for time off. He wanted to go to England, where he’d heard that there weren’t nearly enough composers to satisfy the British taste for Italian opera.
After great success writing opera in London, Handel came back to Germany. Then fate played a funny trick on Handel and his boss. The Queen of England died, and it just so happened that the prince Handel worked for was next in line to the British throne ( 王位 ). When he arrived in London as King George, followed Handel, his court composer in Germany.
In addition to serving the King, Handel became one of the most successful opera composers of his time. And he also produced them and traveled all over Europe to hire the best singers. There are stories of battles with rival ( 对手 )opera producers and of fights between rival singers. Handel apparently had quite a temper.
If you ever go to London, look for Handel’s grave in Westminster Abbey, where there’s a wonderful monument to him.
66. How did Handel begin to learn to compose?
A. His father was sure of his future success.
B. His performance impressed a duke.
C. He begged his father to send him to Italy.
D. He practiced hard and taught himself music.
67. What does the underlined word “smuggled” mean in the passage?
A. bought secretly               B. took secretly  
C. carried in advance          D. possessed personally
68. Why did Handel later settle down in Britain instead of Germany?
A. Because he could find better jobs in London.
B. Because he enjoyed greater fame in London.
C. Because his boss became King of Britain and brought him along.
D. Because London was a wonderful place to learn about opera.
69. Which of the following words can NOT be used to describe Handel, as 
shown in the passage?
A. bad-tempered   B. talented     C. enthusiastic  D. optimistic
70. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the passage?
A. Handel was born in the same year with Bach.
B. Many people worked both as a barber and surgeon.
C. Handel quit his job to learn about opera in Italy.
D. Handel was buried in London and was built a monument.

1685 was a very good year for German composers. Within the space of a month, two of the greatest were born: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.
Handel’s father was a barber and surgeon, which sounds like a strange combination today, but back then those occupations went hand in hand. Even though Handel was very interested in music, his father didn’t think that was a good way to earn a living, so he wanted his son to be a lawyer. The story goes that Handel smuggled a quiet piano into the house so that he could practice in secret.
One day, Handel went along when his father went to shave a duke. While his father was working, Handel sat down and played the duke’s organ. The duke was so impressed that he convinced Handel’s father to let his son study music, and Handel finally got to learn how to compose.
Handel soon discovered that what he liked most was opera. In fact, he was so passionate about opera that he even fought a duel (决斗) over it with one of his friends. Since Italy was the place to learn about opera composing, Handel went off to Italy to study. When he got home, he got a job as court composer for a German prince.
Having landed such a wonderful job, Handel immediately asked his boss for time off. He wanted to go to England, where he’d heard that there weren’t nearly enough composers to satisfy the British taste for Italian opera.
After great success writing opera in London, Handel came back to Germany. Then fate played a funny trick on Handel and his boss. The Queen of England died, and it just so happened that the prince Handel worked for was next in line to the British throne. When he arrived in London as King George, followed Handel, his court composer in Germany.
In addition to serving the King, Handel became one of the most successful opera composers of his time. And he also produced them and traveled all over Europe to hire the best singers. There are stories of battles with rival opera producers and of fights between rival singers. Handel apparently had quite a temper.
If you ever go to London, look for Handel’s grave in Westminster Abbey, where there’s a wonderful monument to him.
【小题1】How did Handel begin to learn to compose?

第二节 完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21—40各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

One day a small group of young people were at a wildlife park on a field trip.

“Oh, look at her, she's so beautiful.” All of us   21   a cheetah（印度豹）named Subira in respect－except a teenage boy called Cory in the back row, who seemed to be   22   to himself in impatience. When several members of the group turned in his   23  , he brushed the front of his T-shirt as though to   24   dust, and, in a gesture clearly meaning to   25   us, rolled up the right sleeve (袖子）of his shirt, further showing his well-developed   26  .

Cory had   27   of playing professional baseball someday. No one doubted Cory's   28  . But that was before the car accident. Not only did Cory lose a   29    in the accident but his hope and his spirit.

Seeing such a large audience, Subira couldn’t wait to give the crowd a   30   of her skills. “How fast she runs!” one shouted. “But she only has three legs.” one cried.

No one was more   31   than Cory. He stared at the animal with the missing leg and he smiled, tears of hope in his   32  .

Looking   33   into Cory' s face, the organizer explained “It was soon after she came to us that she showed her own worth－a   34    gift of love and spirit. In the past few years, the gift of Subira has   35   people around the world，and without words Subria has become our most persuasive   36  , and the most priceless gift.”

Cory asked   37  , “Can I touch her?”

As the rest of the group looked on in amazement, the boy wheeled himself over to the large gate and   38   to push it open. The expression on his face was one of great   39  . It was clear that Cory had   40   the gift of Subira.

21. A. listened to   B. laughed at C. smiled at    D. stared at

22. A. talking      B. wondering  C. sitting     D. lying