Some years ago, writing in my diary used to be a usual activity. I would return from school and spend the expected half hour recording the day’s events, feelings, and impressions in my little blue diary. I did not really need to express my emotions by way of words, but I gained a certain satisfaction from seeing my experiences forever recorded on paper. After all, isn’t accumulating memories a way of preserving the past?

　　When I was thirteen years old, I went on a long journey on foot in a great valley, well-equipped with pens, a diary, and a camera. During the trip, I was busy recording every incident, name and place I came across. I felt proud to be spending my time productively, dutifully preserving for future generations a detailed description of my travels. On my last night there, I wandered out of my tent, diary in hand. The sky was clear and lit by the glare of the moon, and the walls of the valley looked threatening behind their screen of shadows. I automatically took out my pen….

　　At that point, I understood that nothing I wrote could ever match or replace the few seconds I allowed myself to experience the dramatic beauty of the valley. All I remembered of the previous few days were the dull characterizations I had set down in my diary.

　　Now, I only write in my diary when I need to write down a special thought or feeling. I still love to record ideas and quotations that strike me in books, or observations that are particularly meaningful. I take pictures, but not very often—only of objects I find really beautiful. I’m no longer blindly satisfied with having something to remember when I grow old. I realize that life will simply pass me by if I stay behind the camera, busy preserving the present so as to live it in the future.

　　I don’t want to wake up one day and have nothing but a pile of pictures and notes. Maybe I won’t have as many exact representations of people and places; maybe I’ll forget certain facts, but at least the experiences will always remain inside me. I don’t live to make memories—I just live, and the memories form themselves.

　　51. Before the age of thirteen, the author regarded keeping a diary as a way of ______.

　　A. observing her school routine

　　B. expressing her satisfaction

　　C. impressing her classmates

　　D. preserving her history

　　52. What caused a change in the author’s understanding of keeping a diary?

　　A. A dull night on the journey.

　　B. The beauty of the great valley.

　　C. A striking quotation from a book.

　　D. Her concerns for future generations.

　　53. What does the author put in her diary now?

　　A. Notes and beautiful pictures.

　　B. Special thoughts and feelings.

　　C. Detailed accounts of daily activities.

　　D. Descriptions of unforgettable events.

　　54. The author comes to realize that to live a meaningful life is ______.

　　A. to experience it

　　B. to live the present in the future

　　C. to make memories

　　D. to give accurate representations of it

When a storm is coming, most people leave the area as quickly as possible and head for safety…But there are a few people who will get into their cars and go straight for the center of the storm．These people are willing to risk being killed by floods or 100-Kilometer- an-hour winds for the excitement of watching the storm close up．
　 “Storm chasing (追逐)”is becoming an increasingly popular hobby，especially in the Midwest of the United States, where there are frequent storms between March and July．A storm chaser begins the day by checking the Internet for the latest weather reports, and then drives up to l,000 kilometers to where the storm will be and waits for it to develop．
　  Although anyone can do it，storm chasing is extremely dangerous．The power of a big storm  can throw a cow into the air or destroy a whole house in seconds．Storm chasers are also often hurt in accidents caused by driving in a heavy rain．If you are a beginner, it is much safer to join a group for storm - chasing vacations during the storm season．
　  Even then，storm chasing is not all adventure and excitement．“Storm chasing is 95％driving，”says Daniel Lynch，who spends most of his summer storm-chasing．“Sometimes you
Can sit around for hours waiting for something to happen，and all you get is blue sky and a few light showers.”
　  However，for storm chasers，it is all worth it. “When you get close to a storm，it is the most exciting sight you will ever see in your life，”says Jasper Morley．“Every storm is an example of the power of nature．It is the greatest show on Earth．”
【小题1】For storm chasing，the first thing storm chasers do is to　　　 ．

Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list 　36 in our past that we felt 　 37　 of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.

This seemed like a very 38 process, but there’re always some 39 souls in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then 40 that we find ways to 41 people, or take some actions to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever 42 my communication.

Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my 43 , I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff 44 of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a 45 on him.

After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s. o. b. (畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious 46 . Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one 47 found out. ”

Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name 48 on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still 49 . Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few 50 , I heard, “Hello? ” I said, “Sheriff Brown? ” Paused. “Yes. ”“Well, this is Jimmy Calkins. ”

“And I want you to know that I did it. ”Paused. “I knew it! ” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a 51 discussion. His closing words were，“Jimmy, I always felt bad for you 52 your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it 53 all these years. I want to thank you for calling me. . . for your sake. ”

Jimmy inspired me to 54 all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to 55 the past wrongdoings.

36. A. something　　　　 B. anything　　 C. somebody　　　　　　 D. anybody

37. A. ashamed　　　　　B. afraid　　　　　C. sure　　　　　　　　　　　D. proud

38. A. private　　　　　　B. secret　　　　　C. interesting　　　　　　 D. funny

39. A. foolish　　　　　 B. polite　　　　　　C. simple　　　　　　　　　D. brave

40. A. expected　　　 B. suggested　　 C. ordered　　　　　　　 D. demanded

41. A. connect with　 B. depend on C. make an apology to　　 D. get along with

42. A. improve　　　　　B. continue　　　C. realize　　　　　　　　 D. keep

43. A. notes　　　　　　 B. list　　　　　　 C. plan　　　　　　　　　　 D. stories

44. A. any　　　　　　　　B. most　　　　　 C. none　　　　　　　　　　D. all

45. A. part　　　　　　　 B. game　　　　　 C. trick　　　　　　　　　 D. record

46. A. view　　　　　　　B. sign　　　　　　 C. attention　　　　　　 D. remark

47. A. also　　　　　　　 B. even　　　　　 C. still　　　　　　　　　　 D. ever

48. A. appears　　　　 B. considers　　 C. presents　　　　　　 D. remembers

49. A. angry　　　　　　 B. happy　　　　 C. doubtful　　　　　　 D. alive

50. A. words　　　　　 B. rings　　　　　　 C. repeats　　　　　　　D. calls

51. A. cold　　　　　　　B. plain　　　　　　 C. nervous　　　　　　　D. lively

52. A. in case　　　　　B. so long as　　 C. unless　　　　　　　　 D. because

53. A. around　　　　　B. out　　　　　　　 C. on　　　　　　　　　　　D. away

54. A. build up　　　 B. make up　　　 C. clear up　　　　　 　D. give up

55. A. regret　　　　　 B. forgive　　　　　C. right　　　　　　　　　 D. punish

Zigfried, a little mouse, blew his breath on the frosty window of the farmhouse and rubbed it to see the outside. Still nobody came. Maybe today, he thought   31 .It was only a few days before Christmas and he was watching for a miracle (奇迹).

　　This farmhouse had been   32   too long. It needed a family. Zigfried’s　　33   made a noise. He realized that he hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday. He jumped from the windowsill (窗沿), grabbed a   34   from his home, and went next door to Farmer Mike’s.

　　Farmer Mike’s house had been a great place for the little mouse   35   the farmer married a wife who had a cat. Zigfried   36   when he thought of it. He looked around cautiously as he   37   into the room where grain was stored and was quite   38   as he filled his bag with wheat. He was turning to leave when suddenly he   39   a hot breath about his ear. His heart beat   40  , and without thinking he started to run and luckily   41   the cat’s paws (爪子).

　　The next afternoon Zigfried heard some good news: a   42   family would be moving into the farmhouse soon. Zigfried’s granny would arrive on Christmas Eve to　　43   with him. He hoped that the family would come before his granny came. Before long, a car came   44   the road leading to the house, with butter sandwiches, cheese and chocolate.

　　Zigfried’s Christmas miracle did arrive!

　　The house came   45   the next few days. Zigfried   46   every single hour of them.   47, the day before Christmas when he was drinking hot chocolate with a   48   smile at the door of his home, he heard the   49   of the children of the family about what they might get for Christmas. What? A cat ? The   50   froze on his face; his mouth fell wide open. After a long while, he at last found his voice: “Hey! Whose Christmas miracle is this?”

　　31. A. carefully    B. excitedly                 C. hopefully                D. proudly

　　32. A. shabby      B. noisy               C. messy             D. empty

　　33. A. mouth       B. nose               C. stomach                 D. throat

　　34. A. bag           B. stick                C. bowl                D. coat

　　35. A. although          B. until                 C. whereas                 D. unless

　　36. A. leapt                B. sniffed             C. trembled                D. withdrew

　　37. A. broke               B. marched          C. paced                     D. stole

　　38. A. curious      B. nervous          C. pitiful               D. sensible

　　39. A. took                 B. released                C. felt                  D. drew

　　40. A. strongly     B. irregularly               C. slowly              D. wildly

　　41. A. escaped    B. seized                     C. rubbed            D. scratched

　　42. A. close                B. happy             C. new                 D. young

　　43. A. celebrate   B. communicate   C. compete          D. compromise

　　44. A. across              B. from                       C. off                   D. up

　　45. A. alive           B. loose               C. open                D. still

　　46. A. counted    B. enjoyed           C. missed            D. wasted

　　47. A. However    B. Instead            C. Moreover               D. Therefore

　　48. A. bitter          B. forced                     C. polite                      D. satisfied

　　49. A. introduction B. discussion            C. comment         D. debate

　　50. A. blood               B. smile               C. tear                 D. sweat

—Have you got any particular plans for the coming holiday?
—Yes，________，I’m going to visit some homes for the old in the city.