We are pleased ______ to your party.

[    ]

 “Do you want to come with me?” Sally asked her brother. “I’m going to meet some friends at the bike course（赛道，路线）down the block. We’re going to practice for the race next week.”

“No, thanks,” Mark replied. “Sam’s coming over to play basketball.”

Sally rode off on her bike while Mark waited for his friend. Mark was fast,   35   he usually did well in most sports. He didn’t think it would   36   if he practiced the course. It could be hilly or sandy, and Mark knew he would   37   speed along.

The race day finally arrived. “My stomach feels like I ate some butterflies,” Sally told Mark when she saw so many kids around. Then they   38   the other riders at the start line.

“Sally is always nervous,” Mark thought. “Don’t worry.   39   will do fine,” he said. As soon as the starter shouted “Go!”, Mark’s legs pumped up and down like two machines. He moved   40   to the front.

A few minutes later, there wasn’t anyone ahead of him! Mark raced along the course. He rode past some pine trees. Then the path looped(环绕)around a pond. Mark was surprised that the course was so   41  .

His tired legs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. All at once, a flash of color caught his eyes. There was a line of bike riders on the course ahead of him! “How could this be?” Mark said to himself. “I must have taken a wrong   42   and made one more loop in the course,” he thought.

Mark pushed his achy muscles(肌肉)harder. He realized his   43   alone wouldn’t be enough this time;   44   the course was just as important. He managed to ride past a couple of bike riders, but he couldn’t   45   the riders who were in the lead.

After the race Mark saw his sister. “Wow, you must have done a good job in the race. What place did you get?” Mark asked.

“Third place!” Sally answered excitedly.

“That’s great! I came in ninth place. But I’ll do better next year because I’ll be     46   enough to practice the course with you,” Mark made a face at his sister and replied.

35. A. but                           B. as                        C. and                      D. or

36. A. help                          B. move                   C. care                     D. come

37. A. just                           B. even                     C. never                   D. still

38. A. joined                       B. passed                  C. visited                  D. invited

39. A. I                              B. You                      C. They                    D. She

40. A. quickly                     B. quietly                  C. clearly                  D. carefully

41. A. hard                         B. wide                    C. long                     D. tidy

42. A. chance                      B. turn                     C. step                     D. ride

43. A. patience                    B. spirit                    C. speed                   D. imagination

44. A. accepting                  B. changing              C. knowing               D. finishing

45. A. leave                         B. touch                   C. face                     D. reach

46. A. honest                      B. smart                   C. brave                   D. confident

　　Mr. Clarke lives at the foot of the mountain. He keeps the forest for a rich farmer there. The only road to the forest is just in front of his house. He can easily see the people who want to enter the forest. Sometimes he has to be on duty at night. When he hears some sound, he has to get up to see if someone cuts the trees.

　　One day he bought something in the town. He found a strong dog and bought it. He loves it very much and often gives some meat or bread to it. And when a strange man walks close to his house, it barks (吠) loudly. So he can soon know about it and goes out to find out who it is. But last week something was wrong with Mr. Clarke. He didn't feel well and couldn't fall asleep in the evening. He had to go to a hospital in the town. The doctor looked him over and then asked, “Have you got a dog, sir?”

　　“Yes, I have got one.”

　　“You have got a skin disease (皮肤病),” said the doctor. “I am sure your dog infected (传染) it to you. You can't come in touch with it any longer.”

　　When he came out of the hospital, he met a friend and told him about it. The man asked, “What are you going to do, to sell your dog or to give it to another man?”

　　“Neither,” answered Mr. Clarke, “I have decided to see another doctor. It's much easier to find a doctor than to buy a good dog!”

1．Mr. Clarke lives at the foot of the mountain because ________.

[　　]

A．it's very quiet there

B．he has a farm there

C．his work is to keep the forest

D．he can have a good rest there

2．Mr. Clarke is afraid, so he bought a dog, because ________.

[　　]

A．someone picks the fruit

B．some animals hurt him

C．someone hurt him

D．someone may cut the trees

3．________, so Mr. Clarke loves it.

[　　]

A．The dog can help him keep the forest

B．Everyone is afraid of the dog

C．The dog can stop people coming in the room

D．He can play with the strong dog

4．The doctor told him to ________.

[　　]

A．buy another dog

B．throw the dog away

C．take the dog to the hospital

D．buy some medicine for his dog

5．Which of the following is true?

[　　]

A．Mr. Clarke thought the dog was more useful than the doctor.

B．Mr. Clarke decided to go on coming in touch with his dog.

C．Mr. Clarke wouldn't hurt his dog.

[　　]

A．came　　　B．come　　　C．comes　　　D．coming