The house was quiet at 5 a.m.and Tim' s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He' d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring (轻微颤动声) of the freezer had been the sea.

      Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He' d eat after he' d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.

     He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches-but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she' d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table:

     Gone to Michael' s. Back tonight, Tim.

     The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn't up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.

     The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday' s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.

     The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched (延伸) across the sea. The sun was pushing its way over the edge of the world.

     Over the first rocks, along to the point. Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.

     He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious (神秘的) now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn't go in all the way...

43. What did Tim do at the beginning of the story?

A. He left the house quietly.                              B. He had breakfast at home.

C. He left a note on the freezer.                         D. He put a sweater in his schoolbag.

44. "He settled for some biscuits” ( in Paragraph 3 ) means that Tim_______.

A. had to leave the biscuits on the table              B. liked biscuits better than sandwiches

C. had to take biscuits instead of sandwiches       D. could only find some biscuits in the kitchen

45. What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?

A. The height of the first rocks.                         B. The ups and downs of the waves.

C. The change in the position of the sun.             D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach.

46. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?

A. The sea looked like a piece of gold.               B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.

C. Tim was the only person on the beach.           D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.

47.In the story, Tim' s mood (心情) changed from_________.

A. loneliness to craziness                                   B. anxiousness to excitement

C. helplessness to happiness                               D. eagerness to nervousness

The house was quiet at 5 a.m. and Tim’s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He’d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring (轻微颤动声) of the freezer had been the sea.

Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He’d eat after he’d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.

He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches——but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches. She’d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck at the table: Gone to Michael’s. Back tonight. Tim.

The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn’t up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.

The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday’s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.

The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched across the sea. The sun was pushing its way over the edge of the world. Over the first rocks, along to the point, Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.

He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn’t go in all the way…

21.What did Tim do at the beginning of the story?

A. He left the house quietly.             B. He had breakfast at home.

C. He left a note on the freezer.           D. He put a sweater in his schoolbag.

22. “He settled for some biscuits” (in Paragraph 3) means that Tim ______.

A. had to leave the biscuits on the table

B. liked biscuits better than sandwiches

C. had to take biscuits instead of sandwiches

D. could only find some biscuits in the kitchen

23. What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?

A. The height of the first rocks.                 B. The ups and downs of the waves.

C. The change in the position of the sun.   D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach.

24. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?

A. The sea looked like a piece of gold.

B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.

C. Tim was the only person on the beach.

D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.

25. In the story, Tim’s mood changed from ______.

A. loneliness to craziness               B. anxiousness to excitement

C. helplessness to happiness            D. eagerness to nervousness

Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York--he in computers, she in special education. "Teaching means everything to us," Tim would say. In April1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.

      Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton' s foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee.“I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire," Tim recalls.  He placed the brochure on his desk, "as a reminder."

      Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on imagination library .com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.

The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a look-see. “We didn’t want to give the children rubbish,” says Linda. The books-reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists and Dollywood board members-included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama series.

     Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative: “This program introduces us to books I’ve never heard of .”

  The Richters spend about ＄400 a month sending books to 200 children. “Some people sit there and wait to die,” says Tim. “Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.”

1.

What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?

A. His health problem.                       B .His love for teaching.

C.The influence of his wife.                   D .The news from the Web.

2.

What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?

A.Give out brochures.                        B .Do something similar.

C. Write books for children                    D. Retire from being a teacher.

3.

According to the text, Dollly Parton is           .

A. a well-known surgeon                     B. a mother of a four-year-old

C. a singer born in Tennessee                  D .a computer programmer

4.

Why did the Richters go to Dollywood?

A. To avoid signing up online.

B. To meet Dollywood board members.

C. To make sure the books were the newest.

D. To see if the books were of good quality.

5.

What can we learn from Tim’s words in the last paragraph?

A. He needs more money to help the children.

B. He wonders why some people are so busy.

C. He tries to save those waiting to die.

D. Hconsiders his efforts worthwhile.

On a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.

Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control.

Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves.

         "Everything went quiet in my head," Tim recalls (回忆). "I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line."

Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. "At one point, I considered turning back," he says. "I wondered if I was putting my life at risk." After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, "Take down the umbrella!"

        Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.

"Let's aim for the pier (码头)," Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. "Can you guys swim?" he cried. "A little bit," the boys said.

         Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys' faces.

“Are we almost there?" they asked again and again. "Yes," Tim told them each time.

         After 30minutes, they reached the pier.

1.Why did the two boys go to the sea?

A. To go boat rowing.                                               B. To swim in the open water.

C. To get back their football.                                  D. To test the umbrella as a sail.

2.What does "it" in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. The beach.                                                         B. The wind.                        

C. The boat.                                                             D. The water.

3.Why did Tim raise his head regularly?

A.To check his distance from the boys.      

B.To consider turning back or not.

C.To take in enough fresh air.    

D.To ask the boys to take down the umbrella.

4.How did the two boys finally reach the pier?

A. They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back.

B. They swam to the pier all by themselves.

C. They were washed to the pier by the waves.

D. They were dragged to the pier by Tim. 

On a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.

Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control.

Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves. "Everything went quiet in my head," Tim recalls(回忆). "I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line."

Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. "At one point, I considered turning back," he says. "I wondered if I was putting my life at risk." After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, "Take down the umbrella!" Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.

"Let's aim for the pier(码头)," Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. "Can you guys swim?" he cried. "A little bit," the boys said. Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swan toward land as water washed over the boys' faces.

“Are we almost there?” they asked again and again. "Yes," Tim told them each time. After 30minutes, they reached the pier.

1.Why did the two boys go to the sea?

A．To go boat rowing.

B．To get back their football.

C．To swim in the open water.

D．To test the umbrella as a sail.

2.What does "it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The beach.                            B．The water.

C．The boat.                              D．The wind.

3.Why did Tim raise his head regularly?

A．To take in enough fresh air.

B．To consider turning back or not.

C．To check his distance from the boys.

D．To ask the boys to take down the umbrella.

4.How did the two boys finally reach the pier?

A．They were dragged to the pier by Tim.

B．They swam to the pier all by themselves.

C．They were washed to the pier by the waves.

D．They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back.