The books in David’s schoolbag felt like bricks as he ran down the street. What he wanted to do was to play basketball with Eric, 　41　 his mother told him he would have to return his sister’s books to the library first.

He had 　42　 set foot in a library and he wasn’t about to do so today. He would just 　43　　　 the books in the outside return box. But there was a 　44　 ; it was locked.

He went into the building, only a few minutes 　45　 closing time. He put the books into the return box. And after a brief 　46　 in the toilet, he would be on his way to the playground to　 　47　 Eric.

David stepped out of the toilet and stopped in 　48　 --the library lights were off. The place was 　49　 . The doors had been shut. They 　50　 be opened from the inside. He was trapped　 -- in a library!

He tried to 　51　 a telephone call, but was unable to 　52　 . What’s worse, the pay phones were on the outside of the building. 　53　 the sun began to set, he searched for a light and found it.

54　 he could see. David wrote on a piece of paper: “ 55　 ! I’m TRAPPED inside!” and stuck it to the glass door. 　56　 , someone passing by would see it.

He was surprised to discover that this place was not so unpleasant 　57　 . Rows and rows of shelves held books, videos and music. He saw a book about Michael Jordan and took it off the shelf. He calmed down, settled into a chair and started to 　58　 .

He knew he had to 　59　 , but now, that didn’t seem to be such a 　60　 thing.

41. A. but 　　　　　　　　　 B. because 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. or 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. since
42. A. ever 　　　　　　　　 B. nearly 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. never 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. often
43. A. pass 　　　　　　　　 B. drop 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. carry 　　　　　　　　　　 D. take
44. A. problem 　　　　　 B. mistake 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. case 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. question
45. A. during 　　　　　　　 B. after 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. over 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. before
46. A. rest 　　　　　　　　 B. break 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. walk 　　　　　　　　　　 D. stop
47. A. visit 　　　　　　　　 B. meet 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. catch 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. greet
48. A. delight 　　　　　　　　　　 B. anger 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. surprise 　　　　　　　　 D. eagerness
49. A. lonely　　　　　　　　 B. empty 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. noisy 　　　　　　　　　　 D. crowded
50. A. wouldn’t 　　　　　 B. shouldn’t　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. couldn’t 　　　　　　　　 D. needn’t
51. A. make 　　　　　　　 B. fix 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. use 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. pick
52. A. get on 　　　　　　　 B. get up 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. get through 　　　　　　 D. get in
53. A. If 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. As 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Though 　　　　　　　　 D. Until
54. A. On time 　　　　　 B. Now and then 　　　　　　　 C. By the way 　　　　　　 D. At last
55. A. Come 　　　　　　　 B. Help 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Hello 　　　　　　　　　　 D. Sorry
56. A. Surely 　　　　　　　 B. Thankfully 　　　　　　　　　　 C. Truly 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Gradually
57. A. at most 　　　　　　 B. after all　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. in short 　　　　　　　　 D. as usual
58. A. watch 　　　　　　　 B. play 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. read 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. write
59. A. wait 　　　　　　　　 B. stand 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. sleep 　　　　　　　　　　 D. work
60. A. bad 　　　　　　　　　 B. cool 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. strange 　　　　　　　　　 D. nice

When middle-aged Alex gave up his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell surely whether he would succeed or not．He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work．
After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself．He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote．But Alex determined to put his dream to the test-even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadow land （虚幻世界） of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．
One day Alex got a call, "We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year．" $ 6,000 was real money in 1960．It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more．Besides, he could write in his spare time．As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses．He had dreamed of being a fulltime writer．"Thanks, but no," Alex said firmly and swiftly.
After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents．Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself," There's everything you've made of yourself so far．I'm not sure I ever felt so low．"
Finally his work was published in 1970．Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience．The shadows had turned into focus of attention．
Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before．Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents．Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room．It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence （坚毅） it takes to stay the course (坚持到底)in the shadow land．
【小题1】Why did Alex give up his job?

A．Because he didn't like the working conditions．

B．Because he couldn't earn enough to make a living．

C．Because he felt he had no potential in his job．

D．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer．

When middle-aged Alex gave up his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell surely whether he would succeed or not．He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work．

    After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself．He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote．But Alex determined to put his dream to the test-even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadow land （虚幻世界） of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．

    One day Alex got a call, "We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year．" $ 6,000 was real money in 1960．It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more．Besides, he could write in his spare time．As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses．He had dreamed of being a fulltime writer．"Thanks, but no," Alex said firmly and swiftly.

    After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents．Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself," There's everything you've made of yourself so far．I'm not sure I ever felt so low．"

    Finally his work was published in 1970．Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience．The shadows had turned into focus of attention．

    Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before．Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents．Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room．It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence （坚毅） it takes to stay the course (坚持到底)in the shadow land．

1.Why did Alex give up his job?

    A．Because he didn't like the working conditions．

    B．Because he couldn't earn enough to make a living．

    C．Because he felt he had no potential in his job．

    D．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer．

2.What did Alex express when he answered the call?

    A．He refused the job offer．

    B．He was willing to give them a hand．

    C．He expected them to pay him more money．

    D．He would write in his spare time．

3.What kind of person is Alex?

    A．Determined．  B．Modest．      C．Shy．     D．Brave．

4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage ?

    A．Look before you leap．               B．Two heads are better, than one．

    C．Hold on to your dream, and it will come true．   D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush．