When I entered Berkeley. I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could   36 tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he   37  in class.
When I took the first exam, I was   38  to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,   39  English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained   40 .
I decided to try harder, although I didn’t know what that   41  because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I   42  with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn’t change his   43 .
One more test before the final exam. One more   44  to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time,   45  the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my   46  did no good and everything   47  as before.
The last hurdle（障碍）was the final. No matter what   48  I got, it wouldn’t cancel C-pluses. I might as well kiss the   49  goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even   50  myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I’d have   51  with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne’s office. He   52  to be expecting me. “If I gave you the A-pluses you   53 , you wouldn’t continue to work as hard.”
I stared at him,   54  that his analysis and strategy(策略) were correct. I had worked my head   55 , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I’ve always remembered Professor Jayne’s lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

第二节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The end of senior year is a truly special and wonderful time for American students. It's  21 
they will remember for the rest of their lives. My senior year, I can't believe it's  22  over. Now when I look back, it was  23  , but exciting, the ball, graduation, and then, of course, college.
I started my college  24  process months before Christmas. My parents told me it would be smart if I was arranged  25  interviews and tours. But I didn' t have a  26 aim. I wanted to go to college, but I didn't want to deal with the stress.
As the days flew by, my applications  27  on my desk just as I had left them three months before. "You are  28  valuable time," my parents Complained. Sweeping away the gathered dust on the applications, I  29  them every Sunday until I finished.
Next came writing the essays. I had many ideas, but every school had different  30  . I changed them until I was pleased. Finally, everything was  31  .
Now I just had to wait. In March, I started receiving letters of rejection. I began to think that I had prepared myself for disappointment. I  32  a letter from Salem State College stating that they wanted to see my third quarter grades   33   they made their decision. Yes! At least someone wanted to  34  me. At the beginning of April, I received a letter from Keens State. I had been 35  . Those opening words "We regret to inform you... " made me sit down and cry. I had lost all hope. Then I heard from Plymouth State. Not my first  36  , but ... I had been accepted. Maybe if I get my  37 up, I can manage to another nicer school...
The college application process  38  me deeply. All my friends had dozens of schools to choose from. I guess my  39  were right. "High school grades are undoubtedly important to your future plans. " If I could do it all over again, I would  40  it more seriously.
21．A．something               B．anything                 C．everything                     D．nothing
22．A．completely              B．finally                    C．nearly                     D．eventually
23．A．wonderful               B．important                C．different                 D．stressful
24．A．examination            B．application              C．graduation                     D．rejection
25．A．about                            B．on                          C．with                       D．for
26．A．true                        B．special                    C．clear                       D．serious
27．A．lay                         B．stood                      C．appeared                 D．gathered
28．A．spending                 B．wasting                   C．taking                     D．having
29．A．worked at               B．worked on                     C．worked for                 D．worked out
30．A．requirements           B．experiences             C．processes                D．statements
31．A．in order                  B．under control          C．in place                  D．under way
32．A．typed                            B．kept                      C．had                        D．wrote
33．A．after                       B．before                    C．until                       D．while
34．A．consider                 B．think                      C．believe                   D．refuse
35．A．admitted                 B．accepted                 C．rejected                  D．fired
36．A．idea                       B．essay                      C．interview                D．choice
37．A．letters                     B．grades                    C．hopes                D．plans
38．A．hurt                       B．frightened               C．damaged                 D．cheated
39．A．friends                   B．students                  C．teachers                  D．parents
40．A．make                      B．have                       C．take                        D．Get

I’m sorry I didn’t phone you, but I’ve been very busy____ the past couple weeks.

Dear Dad,
I was very upset when I received your letter. I knew you  46 not like my results, but I didn’t realize you and Mum were so  47 with me. This has made me  48 very carefully about myself, and now I  49  how silly I have been.
My poor  50 have come from my own  51 . Of course, I want to do my best. I want you and Mum to be proud  52  me, but somehow when I get to school I just can’t keep my   53  on the subject and I stop  54  the teacher. So many other things seem so much more  55 , but I know that I must not  56 the chance you and Mum have given me. If I don’t work very hard  57  the next few months, I am going to get  58 results. So I am going to study hard this summer. And I will show Mum anything  59 I can’t understand so that she can give me help.
I  60 you will allow me to play some basketball. I think I need some exercise,   61 _ I will control the time I   62 on it properly.
If you want me to stop meeting Cindy, I will — but there is  63 serious. We are just good friends, and she often helps me  64 my schoolwork.
Dad, I am really sorry I have made you angry. I’m going to try my best to  65 my study. I promise that I will make you proud of me soon.
Yours,
Jimmy

完形填空 (共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从41—55各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Never Save Something Beautiful for That Special Day
　　Years ago I was talking with a classmate in Sydney. At the time his wife had just passed away not too long ago. He told me while going through her things, he found a silk scarf _1  in a designer store when they had traveled to New York City. The scarf was beautiful, with elegant _2 , and a high price tag still hanging. His wife begrudged wearing it; she was _3  it for a special day.
　　He _4  at that moment; I didn’t say anything either. After a long pause he said: “Never save something beautiful for that special day. Each _5  day is a special day.”
　　Whenever I _6  what he had said, I would put down the things I was doing to grab a novel, turn on the music and lie down on the couch to _7  some time for myself. I would appreciate the glorious scenery of the Tanshui River through a French window, _8  the dust gathered on the glass. I would take my wife out to _9 , not thinking what to do with the meal already cooked. Life should be the experience we truly cherish, not days we just have to endure.
　　One time I shared the above conversation with a lady. When I saw her again, she told me that she no longer _10  the beautiful china in a cabinet. She had thought to save them for a special day, only to discover that it never _11  came. “Future”, “someday” are not contained in her _12  any more. If there are things that are pleasant or make her complacent, she wants to hear or see them now.
　　We often hope to gather with old friends, but always say, “let’s find a(n) _13 .” We often want to hug our grown children, but always wait for the appropriate moment. We often want to write to our spouses to express our strong affection or to show our deep admiration, but always tell ourselves that there is no need to _14 . In fact, each morning when we open our eyes, we should tell ourselves that this is a special day. Each day, each minute is so incredibly _15 .