Last week, President Barack Obama gave a back- to-school speech to students at the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Students in schools across the country al­so tuned in to watch the President's speech on TV. He stressed the importance of trying new things, working hard and believing in yourself.

While admitting that times are tough for families across the country, Obama reminded students that hard work now can mean big success later. “Nobody gets to write your destiny(命运）but you,” he said. “Your future is in your hands. Your life is what you make of it. And nothing—absolutely nothing—is beyond your reach."

Obama spoke about his own life, and lessons he learned from his mother, who had to remind him to stay focused on his studies. He told students the recipe (诀窍) for success: “Showing up to school on time. Paying attention in class. Doing your homework. Studying for exams. Staying out of trouble. ”

Obama encouraged students to embrace(欣然接受)what makes them different. “We shouldn't be em­barrassed by the things that make us different,” he said. “We should be proud of them.”

He also suggested taking advantage of all of the opportunities at your school, and always being open to trying new things. “Just because you’re not the best at something today doesn't mean you can't be tomorrow,” he said. “Even if you don't think of yourself as a math person or as a science person—you can still excel in those subjects if you're willing to make the effort. And you may find out you have talents you’d never dreamed of.”

1.What does Obama mainly want to tell the students in Paragraph 2?

A. Some families are experiencing a hard time.

B. Different people have different destinies.

C. They can create their own future.

D. Those who don't study hard will achieve nothing.

2.In Paragraph 3, Obama tried to encourage the students by _______.

A. telling an interesting story

B. sharing the secret to success

C. telling his own life experience

D. referring to some famous people

3.Obama suggested the students should   _________ .

A. not study hard for high marks

B. accept things that make them different

C. do what they are really interested in

D. not do things which are difficult for them

4.The underlined phrase “excel in” in the last para­graph means “_________”.

A. be careful with                                                   B. be attracted to

C. be interested in                                                 D. be good at

It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he couldn't go back home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, an idea came to his mind, “I'll send Mum some roses(玫瑰).”While John was picking his flowers, a young man went inside. “How many roses can I get for only five dollars, madam?” he asked. The assistant(店员) was trying to tell him roses were as expensive as forty dollars a dozen(一打). Maybe he would be happy with carnations(康乃馨).
“No, I have to have red roses,” he said. “My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't get to spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special, it has to be roses as rose is her favourite.”
After hearing it, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. Moved by both of them, the assistant said, “Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you.” Taking the roses, the young man almost jumped into the air and ran out of the shop. It was well worth twenty－five dollars that John paid to see the exciting moment. Then John paid for his dozen of roses and told the assistant to send them to his mother.
As he walked out, he felt nice. Suddenly he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon John realized it was not a park but a cemetery(墓地). Crying, the young man carefully put down the roses, “Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her.”
Seeing this, John turned and quickly walked to the shop. He would take the flowers home himself.
46. The assistant tried to ask the young man to buy carnations instead of roses because_________ .
A. carnations were nicer than roses
B. roses were saved for John
C. roses were more expensive than carnations
D. carnations were special flowers for Mother's Day
47. John spent _________ altogether(总共) in the flower shop that day.
A.$5                     B.$25             C.$30             D.$55
48. The young man cried at the cemetery because he
A. had spent all his money on the roses
B. wasn't able to tell his mother he loved her himself
C. felt sorry to ask John to pay for his flowers
D. hadn't got enough money for his sick mother
49. At last John changed his mind and went home because he wanted to
A. tell his mother he loved her himself
B. ask his mother for more money
C. tell his mother the young man's story
D. ask his mother if she liked roses
50. The writer writes the passage in order to tell us
A. Buy roses for your mother when she is ill
B. Let your mother know how much you love her
C. Work hard to get more money for your mother
D. Send your mother flowers on Mother's Day

       It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he couldn't go back home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, an idea came to his mind, “I'll send Mum some roses(玫瑰).”While John was picking his flowers, a young man went inside. “How many roses can I get for only five dollars, madam?” he asked. The assistant(店员) was trying to tell him roses were as expensive as forty dollars a dozen(一打). Maybe he would be happy with carnations(康乃馨).

       “No, I have to have red roses,” he said. “My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't get to spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special, it has to be roses as rose is her favourite.”

       After hearing it, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. Moved by both of them, the assistant said, “Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you.” Taking the roses, the young man almost jumped into the air and ran out of the shop. It was well worth twenty－five dollars that John paid to see the exciting moment. Then John paid for his dozen of roses and told the assistant to send them to his mother.

       As he walked out, he felt nice. Suddenly he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon John realized it was not a park but a cemetery(墓地). Crying, the young man carefully put down the roses, “Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her.”

       Seeing this, John turned and quickly walked to the shop. He would take the flowers home himself.

46. The assistant tried to ask the young man to buy carnations instead of roses because_________ .

       A. carnations were nicer than roses

       B. roses were saved for John

       C. roses were more expensive than carnations

       D. carnations were special flowers for Mother's Day

47. John spent _________ altogether(总共) in the flower shop that day.

       A.$5                     B.$25             C.$30             D.$55

48. The young man cried at the cemetery because he

       A. had spent all his money on the roses

       B. wasn't able to tell his mother he loved her himself

       C. felt sorry to ask John to pay for his flowers

       D. hadn't got enough money for his sick mother

49. At last John changed his mind and went home because he wanted to

       A. tell his mother he loved her himself

       B. ask his mother for more money

       C. tell his mother the young man's story

       D. ask his mother if she liked roses

50. The writer writes the passage in order to tell us

       A. Buy roses for your mother when she is ill

       B. Let your mother know how much you love her

       C. Work hard to get more money for your mother

       D. Send your mother flowers on Mother's Day