“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, ” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.

Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn’t spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”

“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”

“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.

“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.

Aunt Emmy smiled.

“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.”

“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”

“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”

“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.

Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.

“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”

“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”

“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”

“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”

“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”

“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.

There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.

“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.

1.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.

A. She had to leave Aunt Mary

B. She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy

C. She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts

D. She had no time to make a proper decision

2. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”？

A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver.

B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver.

C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts.

D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody

3.What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?

A. Passion?? ????????????? ????????????? B. Sympathy?? ????????????? ????????????? C. Kindness?? ????????????? ????????????? D. Company

4.What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?

A. respectfully??? ????????????? B. confidently??? ????????????? ????????????? C. secretly??? ????????????? ????????????? D. willingly

5. Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?

A. cute and joyful??????????????????? ????????????? B. kind-hearted and emotional

C. optimistic and wise???????????????? ????????????? D. gentle and timid (羞怯的)

6.Which of the following is the best title?

A. A Special Christmas?????????????????? B. Clorinda’s Gifts

C. Aunt Emmy????????????????????????? D. Clorinda’s Choice

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分；满分20分）

My name is Amy. I’m a 25-year-old graduate student who likes yoga, home-decorating shows and eating spoonfuls of peanut butter   1  from the jar. Oh yeah, and I’m an iPhone addict.

I wasn’t always an addict. In fact, for many years I told myself I didn’t want a   2       cellphone. They seemed like too much work, always beeping, ringing and   3  attention. I was   4  content with my simple antique (古董，此处指旧手机), and I didn’t expect to change my mind any time soon.

However, about a year ago, I found myself envious of all those proud iPhone owners, cradling their shiny new phones and   5  all their friends. I started listening secretly to conversations about “iPhone apps”, feeling like a   6  listening to a language I couldn’t speak.

Eventually I couldn’t   7  my iPhone instinct (本能) any longer, and I welcomed my new iPhone into my life.

To my surprise, I suddenly found myself with a whole new circle of friends. They   8     my iPhone-related inquiries when my other friends couldn’t, and didn’t   9  when I bragged about (吹嘘) all the things little Eloise (yes, I named her) could do.

However, I realized I had a problem when one day I found myself Google-mapping my way to my mailbox, which happens to be right outside my front door.

When I   10  the past few months, I couldn’t believe I didn’t see this coming. All the   11  signs were there. Eloise slept right beside me and was the first thing I   12 in the morning. I   13  my e-mail about 20 times a day. I also experienced   14  when I left poor Eloise in the change room at the gym.   15  she beeped and needed my response?

Okay, so I was addicted to my iPhone.

I decided   16  had to be done. But, as I quickly realized, iPhones are like   17  and not easy to quit.

Then, while taking the bus to work one day, I was   18  forced to quit—at least   19 . When I reached into my purse to grab Eloise, (to refer to my e-mail for only the seventh time that morning), I found her   20  by fever. She was so hot that I dropped her immediately back into my bag. When I picked her up again, she was gone.

1.                A．straight         B．excitedly        C．hurriedly D．randomly

2.                A．faithful         B．fancy           C．fragile    D．curious

3.                A．demanding      B．attempting      C．rejecting  D．paying

4.                A．partly          B．frequently       C．perfectly  D．gradually

5.                                  A．showing them off to   B．impressing them on

C．discussing them with                D．recommending them to

6.                A．farmer         B．tourist          C．native    D．worker

7.                A．inspect         B．submit          C．ignore    D．confirm

8.                A．turned down    B．laughed at       C．comment on   D．responded to

9.                                  A．roll their eyes   B．open their mouths

C．wave their hands                   D．nod their heads

10.                                A．rest on B．reflect upon

C．settle down                       D．concentrate on

11.               A．funny          B．guilty          C．warning   D．positive

12.                                A．dream of   B．came across

C．glanced through                   D．reached for

13.               A．checked        B．wrote          C．delivered  D．deleted

14.                                A．happiness   B．anxiety

C．starvation                        D．disappointment

15.               A．How when      B．How about      C．What if    D．In case

16.               A．nothing        B．anything        C．everything D．something

17.               A．cigarettes       B．coffee         C．books D．milk

18.                                A．instantly    B．unexpectedly

C．completely                       D．surprisingly

19.                                A．permanently B．unwillingly

C．temporarily                       D．accidentally

20.               A．drowned       B．removed       C．exploded  D．overcome

There was a sweet, wonder-filled little girl who was hurt over and over again. She  36  that she was so bad that others just couldn’t be  37  to her.

She asked many wise people to help her  38  why she was so bad that even her mother hurt her, and why she was unable to be  39  so that others wouldn’t hurt her. So she was on a  40  that she thought was to help her be “better”, but she carried a big  41  with her everywhere she went.  42  was all the hurt she had experienced. During the trip she willingly  43  what the wise people said about forgiving（宽恕）.

After 50 years, she decided to  44  the bag up and just see what happened. When she looked inside it was filled with bits of paper. Once they had  45  on then, detailing the hurt. But as time went on, the words  46  slowly. She had been carrying this bag that held nothing  47  the image（印象）of something that once was.

The little girl had now become an almost-old woman. She  48  the silliness of carrying that bag around. She started  49  and dancing and she felt free!

She was able to see that her  50  loved her child, but was  51  that her little girl felt unloved. By throwing away the bag of paper and forgiving those who  52  her, she looked in the mirror and said, “I am clever, interesting and kind.” But most  53  , she was able to say “I am lovable.”  54  it took many years, she was finally open to bringing  55  into her life.

She finally saw the sweet, wonder-filled little girl that she had always been.

1.A. decided                        B. considered                C. promised           D. hoped           

2.A. bad                      B. sorry                        C. thankful            D. nice           

3.A. guess                           B. understand                C. expect               D. invent          

4.A. better                           B. worse                       C. angrier                     D. harder           

5.A. holiday                        B. date                         C. trip                   D. path           

6.A. bowl                                B. basket                      C. bag                   D. purse          

7.A. Beneath                        B. Above                      C. Outside             D. Inside          

8.A. agreed with                  B. fought against           C. gave up      D. suffered from          

9. A. pick                            B. open                        C. put                   D. break          

10.A. pictures                      B. memories                 C. words               D. dreams          

11.A. disappeared         B. appeared                   C. showed             D. changed          

12.A. and                                B. with                         C. among                     D. but          

13.A. refused                       B. forgot                      C. realized             D. preferred          

14.A. crying                        B. laughing                   C. shouting            D. worrying           

15.A. daughter                         B. mother                            C. teacher              D. friend          

16.A. sad                          B. happy                      C. excited              D. hopeful          

17.A. liked                          B. hurt                         C. educated            D. ignored          

18.A. surprisingly                B. terribly                    C. nervously          D. importantly          

19.A. Although                    B. If                                   C. Because             D. So          

20.A. trouble                       B. love              C. money               D. future          

阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从26－45各题所给的四个选项（A，B，C，D）中选出最佳选项。
On my first day of the sixth grade, I noticed one little girl called Amy on the school bus. “Don’t __26__ her,” Lauren said, who sat beside me. “Or they will make fun of you.”
Amy had many __27__ differences — lots of reasons for other kids to make fun of her. Her eyes weren’t straight. Her glasses were an inch thick. And she had really ugly teeth.
Every day __28__ we drove to and from school, kids would shout insults (侮辱) at Amy. “God, what a (n) __29__ face! Stop looking at me!” “Mr. Rolland (the driver)! Amy took off her __30__, and now her eyes are __31__ me! Make her put them back on!” For a while I shouted my share of insults, just so I’d fit in (合群). __32__, I didn’t want them to treat me the same way they treated Amy.
But while I was insulting her, my heart __33__ for the girl. I could see that the insults were making her look __34__, because she was so ashamed (羞愧) and alone. Then I wanted to __35__ her. I just didn’t know how to stop my schoolmates __36__ the night of our class roller-skating party.
Our whole class was there, including Amy. Amy didn’t know how to __37__, but I could see how much she wanted to __38__ like the rest of us. So I skated over to her and took her by the hand; we began the journey together around the skating rink (溜冰场). She just smiled, and sometimes she would laugh in __39__.
On the school bus the next morning there was much news about Amy and me __40__ together, __41__ nobody insulted her or me. And they didn’t do that for the rest of the year.
After graduation, I never __42__ Amy again. However, I never forget her and I’ve always __43__ if I changed her life for the better. But I know for sure she changed my __44__. After becoming her friend, I no longer tried to impress (给……留下印象) people by trying to __45__ like them. I became myself.
26. A. laugh at     B. ask about    C. talk to      D. be afraid of
27. A. common       B. small        C. social       D. physical
28. A. as           B. though       C. after        D. before
29. A. pretty       B. strange      C. ordinary     D. lovely
30. A. glasses     B. coat        C. shoes       D. hat
31. A. frightening  B. interesting  C. encouraging  D. injuring
32. A. Instead      B. After all    C. If so        D. Therefore
33. A. beat         B. lost         C. ached        D. opened
34. A. happier      B. taller       C. prettier     D. uglier
35. A. give in to   B. deal with    C. stand up for D. believe in
36. A. until        B. except       C. before       D. after
37. A. stand        B. skate        C. play         D. walk
38. A. catch up     B. have fun     C. sit down     D. fall over
39. A. fear         B. surprise     C. comfort      D. joy
40. A. talking     B. chatting     C. skating      D. travelling
41. A. so          B. because     C. but         D. still
42. A. wrote to     B. laughed at   C. heard from   D. made fun of
43. A. hoped        B. wondered     C. thought     D. considered
44. A. life         B. mind         C. interest     D. friend
45. A. study       B. fight        C. act         D. play

Once there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was said that the island would go down, so all made boats and left except Love.
Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to offer her help until the last possible moment. When the island had almost gone down, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a great boat. Love said, “Richness, can you take me with you?” Richness answered, “No, I can’t. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you.”
Sadness was close by, so Love asked, “Sadness, let me go with you .” “Oh, Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!”
Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even notice when Love called her.
Suddenly, there was a voice, “Come, Love, I will take you.” It was an elder. Love was so excited that she even forgot to ask who the elder was. So Love asked Knowledge, another elder, “Who helped me?” “It was Time,” Knowledge answered. “Time?” asked Love. “But why did Time help me?”
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, “Because only Time understands how valuable Love is.”
【小题1】What would happen to the island?