“ Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a packet.

The package consisted of a long, narrow box 　36 wrapped in brown paper. 　37 the box, Oscar saw an umbrella inside—a very old one with a beautifully carved wooden handle. 　38 he had not seen it in more than 20 years, he recognized it 　39 .

Oscar was 16 when he first saw the 　40 umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, he noticed an umbrella on an empty seat. Impressed by its 　41 Oscar felt a strong desire to find its 　42 .

Oscar 　43 the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a man matched the seat 　44 Oscar had found the umbrella. The name was Mrs. Katie O’Brien.

Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O’Brien 　45 on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I 　46 you?” she asked.

“I’d like to return it if it’s yours,” Oscar said, 　47 the umbrella as if presenting a 　48 that had long been wished for.

“ Why, yes ! It’s mine,” replied Mrs. O’Brien with a 　49 smile and shining eyes. “It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your 　50 ?

“No, ma’ma, ”he said , “My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.”

“Well, that’s 　51 what my father used to say. What is your name, young man?”

Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’ Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how 　52 it was. Why had it arrived here today?

As if 　53 , a note fell from the paper. It read：Mrs. O’Brien wanted you to 　54 this umbrella as a present for a kind, 　55 gesture long ago.

36．A．strictly　　　　　　　　　 B．carefully　　　　　　　　 C．roughly　　　　　　　　　 D．casually

37．A．Opening　　　　　　　　 B．Seizing　　　　　　　　　 C．Observing　　　　　　　 D．Searching

38．A．After　　　　　　　　　　 B．When　　　　　　　　　　 C．Since　　　　　　　　　　 D．Although

39．A．clearly　　　　　　　　　 B．fully　　　　　　　　　　　 C．immediately　　　　　　 D．suddenly

40．A．average　　　　　　　　　 B．unusual　　　　　　　　　 C．plain　　　　　　　　　　　 D．typical

41．A．beauty　　　　　　　　　 B．shape　　　　　　　　　　 C．origin　　　　　　　　　　 D．history

42．A．designer　　　　　　　　 B．seller　　　　　　　　　　 C．user　　　　　　　　　　　 D．owner

43．A．convinced　　　　　　　 B．forced　　　　　　　　　 C．encouraged　　　　　　 D．advised

44．A．until　　　　　　　　　　　 B．before　　　　　　　　　　 C．which　　　　　　　　　　 D．where

45．A．family　　　　　　　　　　 B．theatre　　　　　　　　　 C．house D．neighborhood

46．A．invite　　　　　　　　　　 B．help　　　　　　　　　　　 C．bother　　　　　　　　　 D．know

47．A．putting up　　　　　　　 B．turning out　　　　　　 C．picking up D．holding out

48．A．chance　　　　　　　　　 B．fact　　　　　　　　　　　 C．gift　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．result

49．A．wide　　　　　　　　　　　 B．confident　　　　　　　 C．proud　　　　　　　　　　 D．shy

50．A．patience　　　　　　　　 B．kindness　　　　　　　　 C．courage D．determination

51．A．obviously　　　　　　　 B．naturally　　　　　　　　 C．exactly　　　　　　　　　 D．probably

52．A．old　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．rare　　　　　　　　　　　 C．precious　　　　　　　　 D．nice

53．A．in contrast　　　　　　　　　　 B．in return　　　　　　　　 C．in exchange D．in answer

54．A．possess　　　　　　　　 B．accept　　　　　　　　　 C．carry　　　　　　　　　　 D．value

55．A．attractive　　　　　　　 B．significant　　　　　　　 C．unselfish D．sympathetic

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

56. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　 A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

　 C. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

57. What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

　 A. annoyed　　　 B. got over　　　 C. convinced　　　 D. made less angry

58. What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?

　 A. She felt disappointed with him.　　 B. She was strict with him.

　 C. She was supportive of him.　　　　 D. She was afraid of him.

59. What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.

　 A. how angry she was　　　　　 B. how effective she handled Mr. Carr.

　 C. that she was able to save him　 D. that she didn’t cry

60. From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.

　 A. was no longer a youth.　　　　　 B. felt proud of his mother

　 C. wanted his mother to be happy　　 D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed.

Every day，the news of the world reaches people by over 300 million copies of daily papers，over 400 million radio sets，and over 150 million television sets.　Additional news is 　1　by　motion（动作） pictures，in theatres and cinemas all over the world.　As more people learn what the important events of the day are，　2　still only care for the events of their own household.　Nearly four hundred years ago the English writer John Donne said，“No man is an island.”This 　3　is more appropriate（恰当的）today　than it was 　4　Donne lived.　In short，wherever he lives，a man 　5　to some society；and we are becoming more and more aware（清楚的） that ?　6　happens in one particular society affects，somehow，the life of mankind.?

Newspapers have been published in the 　7　world for about four hundred years.　Most of the newspapers 　8　today are read in Europe and North America.　However,　　9　they may be read in all parts of the world，　10　to the new inventions that are changing the techniques of newspaper 　11　.?

Electronics and automation（自动化） have made it 　12　to produce pictures and texts far more quickly than before.　Photographic（照相的） copying doesn't 　13　to use type（铅字） and printing machines.And fewer specialists（专家），　14　type?setters，are needed to produce a paper? or magazine by the 　15　method.　Therefore，the publishing of newspapers and magazines can 　16　more money.　Besides，photocopies can be sent over great 　17　now by means of ?television　channels and satellites such as Telstar.　Thus（因此），　18　can be brought to the public　more quickly than before.?

Machines that prepare printed texts for photocopies are being used a great deal today.　Film，　 19 　 light and small，can be sent rapidly to other places and used to print copies of the text 　20　they are needed.　Film pictures can also be projected（投影） easily on a movie or television screen.?

1.A.　taken　　　　 B.　shown　　　　 C.　seen　　　　 D.　known

2.A.　fewer　　　　 B.　higher　　　 C.　lower　　　　 D.　less?

3.A.　study　　　　 B.　argument　　 C.　knowledge　　 D.　idea?

4.A.　that　　　 B.　while　　　　 C.　when　　　　 D.　then?

5.A.　moves　　　 B. goes　　　　 C.　belongs　　　　 D.　comes?

6.A.　it　 　　　 B.　whatever　　 C.　something　　 D.　anything?

7.A.　common　　 B.　modern　　　 C.　ordinary　　 D.　usual?

8.A.　bought　　 B.　printed　　　　 C.　found　　　　 D.　discovered?

9.A.　fast　　　 B.　suddenly　　 C.　immediately　　 D.　soon?

10.A.　has　　　 B.　brings　　　 C.　thanks　　　 D.　imagines?

11.A.　delivering B.　making　　　 C.　selling　　　　 D.　publishing

12.A.　clear　　 B.　possible　　 C.　bright　　　 D.　successful?

13.A.　want　　　　 B.　need　　　　 C.　like　　　　 D.　hope?

14.A.　including B.　besides　　　　 C.　such as　　　　 D.　except?

15.A.　advanced　　 B.　easy　　　　 C.　unusual　　　　 D.　suitable?

16.A.　make　　　　 B.　earn　　　　 C.　save　　　　 D.　get?

17.A.　places　　 B.　distances　　　 C.　cities　　　 D.　villages

18.A.　pictures　　 B.　newspapers　　　 C.　letters　　　　 D.　words?

19.A.　becoming　　 B.　feeling　　　　 C.　turning　　　　 D.　being?

20.A.　where　　 B.　there　　　　 C.　which　　　　 D.　because of

Arthur Miller (1915—2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the “Great American Dream”. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early 1930s.

　　Miller's most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with this system. Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment: if he can't do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.

　　When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards.

　　Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.

1.Why did Arthur Miller's father move to the USA?

A．He suffered from severe hunger in his home country.

B．He was attracted by the “Great American Dream.”

C．He hoped to make his son a dramatist.

D．His family business failed

2.What can we learn about Willy Loman?

A．He treats his employer badly.

B．He runs the Wagner Company.

C．He is a victim of the American system.

D．He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues.

3.After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman________.

A．achieved huge success

B．won the first Tony Award

C．was warmly welcomed by salesmen

D．was severely attacked by dramatists

4.What is the text mainly about?

A．Arthur Miller and his family.

B．The awards Arthur Miller won.

C．The hardship Arthur Miller experienced.

D．Arthur Miller and his best-known play.