1 

My mother began to ask us to be on time when my twin brother and I were about five years old.  She _1_ told us not to be late for the bus, not to be late for school, and so on. “ Don’t be late” became our family rule.

Mother_2 as a teacher when my twin brother and I started the first grade. Every school day morning, she called us to get up, and cooked _3_ breakfast.  School started at 8:00 am, _4_ we arrived at the school before 7:30 am each school day morning.

When we were in high school, our_5_ once told my mother that we had been late for three times in one month.  That made my mother so _6_ that she beat us.  After that I was not late for anything.

I kept the _7_ of being on time for a long time. When I _8_ a teacher, we were asked to get to school at 8；00 am, but I always got there at 7；15 am.  That gave me more time to do my job _9_ .

When you learned good habits from your _10_ , they will give you more than you can imagine.

1.A.  never     B.  already     C.  always      D.  even

2.A. worked     B.  helped      C.  learned     D.  studied

3.A.  her       B.  him         C.  us          D.  them

4.A. because    B.  but         C.  and         D.  so

5.A.  teacher       B.  sister      C.  brother     D.  father

6.A.  happy    B.  angry       C.  excited     D.  relaxed

7.A. trip        B.  time       C.  hope        D.  habit

8.A. caught      B.  got        C.  started     D. became

9.A. worse          B.  worst       C.  better      D.  best

10.A. classmate    B.  family       C.  friend      D.  group

How do you usually get to school? Buy bus? On foot? Roby Burch, 16, a US student, gets to school a little 36__________---he goes by horse (马).

Burch has been riding his white horse 4 miles to and from school 37 __________the beginning of the semester. “Every morning, wearing my blue jacket and jeans, I’m on my way at 6 am.” Burch says, “The streets are mostly 38__________ at this time of morning. It’s a nice way to start the day.”

The idea was his 39__________. His family were enjoying their vacation on their farm this summer, “My dad just said, ‘Roby, you 40__________ ride your horse to school every day.’” says Burch. He thought it really was a good idea.

When they got back home, Burch asked for permission from the headmaster (校长), Joe Cox, and surprisingly, he got the green light. Cox even 41__________ Burch to keep the horse next to the headmaster’s house. Then his dad helped Burch find the best route to school. It is along back streets and has 42__________cars than the others.

For the return trip every afternoon, Burch leaves school at 5:45 pm. Even now, as the days grow shorter and colder, he 43__________ to ride his horse. “ I will ride my horse even in the coldest weather.” he says.

Burch says the first time he sat on a horse as a four-year-old boy he was afraid. 44__________ now, “it’s what I do best.” It’s no surprise that he wants to be a cowboy (牛仔) when he grows up. “I love riding horses more than 45 __________ else.” He says, “It’s really a guy thing.”

36. A. normally   B. casually   C. differently   D. actually

37. A. for   B. since   C. before   D. after

38. A. empty   B. crowded   C. busy   D. awful

39. A. sister’s   B. brother’s   C. mom’s   D. dad’s

40. A. will   B. won’t   C. should   D. shouldn’t 

41. A. invited   B. allowed   C. taught   D. urged

42. A. fewer   B. few   C. more   D. many

43. A. begins   B. stops   C. continues   D. refuses

44. A. so   B. or   C. and   D. but

45. A. anything   B. nothing   C. everybody   D. somebody