Two women on a train were arguing. At last one of them called the conductor. She said,
"If this window is open, I'll probably die of cold." The other woman said, "But if this window
is closed, I'll die because I will feel difficult in breathing (呼吸)." The conductor didn't know
what to do.
     Just at that moment, an old man came up to them. "Oh, I have a good idea. First open the
window, and that will kill one. Next close it and that will kill the other. Then we can have peace
(和平). What do you think of it?"

1. The first woman wanted to close the window because _____.

A. she was very ill
B. she wanted to be cold
C. she was afraid of cold
D. she wanted to sleep

2. Who called the conductor?

A. The first woman.
B. The second woman.
C. The old woman.
D. We don't know.

3. The old man wanted to _____.

A. stop them arguing
B. make them happy
C. drive them out of the train
D. show he was cleverer than the conductor

4. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. The two women's seats were near each other.
B. The conductor didn't know how to stop the arguing.
C. The old man first opened the window and then closed it.
D. The four people were on the same train.

5. This story tells us that we should _____.

A. first open the window and then close it
B. help others whatever they want to do
C. help the conductor to stop the arguing
D. be polite and peaceful on a train

     How hard we have all prayed (祈祷) to grow up quickly, and looked forward to the happy days of being
a grown-up and enjoying the many interests that a youth should have.?
     At last, you have grown up. At least you are no longer a child. They call you "young lady". You then enjoy
the pleasure of being a young lady. You are proud of being a grown-up teenager. People welcome you-this
young lady-heartily. You are glad that your prayer has been answered.?
     But there is always something that troubles you a lot. You say, "Papa and Mama, give me some money
please. My pocket money is all gone already."?
     "No", they say, "Your age is a dangerous age. If you have too much money to spend, it won't do you
any good." Then you have to stay at home because you dare not go out with an empty pocket.?
     Another time you tell your grandma, "Grandma, see, I am a grown-up now."?
     "Good, now, you can sit here and knit (编织) this for me while I go and have a rest." To show that you
are no more a child, you have to sit there the whole afternoon doing the work, which only a grown-up can
do. After an hour, you find it hard to do, and give the knitting basket back to your grandma. Your grandma
criticizes your work. You hear what she says, "Such a big girl can't do such easy work." You wish then you
were a child again.?
     But the fact is, you are growing up, and you can't help it. That's the way it goes!

1. The passage is told about _________ problems.

A. a grown-up boy's
B. a teenage girl's
C. an old woman's
D. an old man's

2. It is clear that the writer, as a teenager, _________.

A. is pleased with the present life
B. is bored about growing up
C. doesn't think her present life happy enough
D. is sad about being a kid

3. How does she know her prayer has been answered?

A. People treat her as a young lady.
B. She doesn't need to play with kids now.
C. People begin to call her teenager.
D. She can join women in all kinds of activities.

4. From what her parents say, we know _________.

A. the girl always has much money in her pocket
B. it's dangerous for a girl to spend money
C. they love her more than before
D. they still regard her as a child

5. Why does she promise to help her grandma do some knitting?

A. Because she likes doing knitting.
B. Because she wants to show that she has grown up.
C. Because she has much more free time.
D. Because her grandma is very tired.

                                                        Waiting for Dr. Dirkson  
                                                                    (A play)
THE SCENE: A classroom in a high school.
        (场景) Summer is over. This is the first day of school. The students arrive one by one or in small
                   groups. Everyone stops to read the sign on the door. It says: 
                   PHYSICS 1, DR.F. DIRKSON.
THE CHARACTERS: Five students (Linda, Ben, Rudy, Tony, Molly) and Dr. Dirkson. 
        (人物)
Linda: Dirkson? Dirkson? I don't know that name. Who is he?
Rudy: Don't ask me. He must be a new teacher. I don't remember him teaching in this school last year.
         Do you, Ben?
Ben: No, but here comes Tony. If anyone can tell you about Dr. What's-His-Name, Tony can. He knows
        everything.
Tony: (laughs.) I don't know everything. I only know almost everything. What is your question, please?
Molly: What do you know about this new teacher?
Tony: I don't really know much about Dr. Dirkson. I do hear things, though. I hear lots of things.
Rudy: What do you hear? Is he a good teacher? I'm hoping to go to college. This class is important to me.
Tony: I have a friend who goes to Central High School. I'm almost sure that's where Dr. Dirkson comes 
         from. If it's the same teacher, he is rough. Believe me, he is rough and tough.
Linda: What do you mean 'rough and tough'? I plan to go to college, too. I have to do well in this class.
Tony: What I hear is that Dirkson's exams are very hard. He usually fails about half the class. All the girls.
Linda: (angry) That can't be true. You're making it up, Tony.
Molly: He's just talking like that to make us angry, Linda. Tony, What does Dr. Dirkson look like? Is he
          married?
Tony: I don't think so. But don't get excited, Molly. He isn't going to interest you. He's about seventy-seven
          years old and he uses a walking stick.
Molly: (she is angry) Tony, why do you say that this teacher fails all the girls? Do you think physics is too
          hard for girls? Do you think we can't do it?
Tony: All I'm saying, Molly, is that girls don't make it in Dr. Dirkson's class. Physics is very difficult. It's
          not like art or music or history. It's a science. How many famous women scientists are there? Hardly
          any. You can count them on the fingers of one hand.
Ben: That's not fair(公平), Tony. There are many women who are doctors and engineers and scientists. And
        there are more of them all the time.
Rudy: That's right, Tony. I agree with Ben. Girls can do anything we can do.
Tony: I don't care what anybody says. I'm telling you the truth, Molly. I'm not saying that girls are not
          intelligent (有智力的). They just don't have the right kind of intelligence to understand physics.
          Dr. Dirskson must know that. Take my advice (忠告) and get out of his class before he walks in.
          (A very pretty young woman hurries into the classroom.)
Dr. Dirkson: Good morning. I'm sorry I'm late. I am Dr. Dirkson. 
         (The whole class starts to laugh. Everyone laughs hard. Everyone except Tony.)

A. Tony is able to know about anyone that he doesn't know his name
B. nobody knows more than Tony about a man called What's-His-Name
C. only Tony can know what the man's name is instead of anyone
D. no one can remember people's names as many as Tony can

2. What kind of a boy is Tony? He is the boy that _______.

A. has an unusual memory
B. believes in himself
C. takes pity on the girls
D. likes making up stories

3. Which statement is right?

A. The boys are all for Tony's idea.
B. The girls like to have a man teacher.
C. Dr. Dirkson is rough and tough.
D. Tony has to face the fact.