I loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it when mother sat doing letters. Looking at the ink bottle, pens and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother,“But the desk,”she said again,“is for Elizabeth. ”
I never saw her get angry, and never saw her cry. I knew she loved me, and she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened and a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易动感情的)”, but she lived“on the surface”.
As years went by and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way that she did forgive (原谅) me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer. It didn’t come.
It seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to her.
I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told me that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work, though she had never been able to. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside… a photo of my father and a one-paper letter. Folded (折叠) and refolded many times.
Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
【小题1】The writer began to love her mother’s desk ______.

Oxford graduates sell faces to pay ￡50,000 university debts

    Business is growing for two graduates who decided to pay off ( 偿清) their university debts by selling advertising space on their faces .Ross Harper and Ed Moyse, both from Oxford , are selling advertising space for hundreds of pounds a day and have earned more than ￡25,000 since setting up business last October.

Anyone can buy the advertising space , from businesses to individuals or groups, on a day-to-day basis, through the pair’s website, buymyface .co. uk. The logo (标识) is then seen by people as they go about their daily business. The pair sold their first face ads to friends and family for just ￡ 1 a day, but as need has increased, so has the daily price , which has reached an amazing ￡400 by now, the end of May. So far , the main customers have been Paddy Power , the online betting agency ( 网络博彩企业), and accountancy firm ( 会计事务所)Earnest & Young , which is now the website ‘s official sponsor ( 赞助商).

Moyse and Harper said , “ It’s our special way of paying off our student debts. We’ve seen so many students unsuccessfully applying for jobs , only to find one that they never really wanted. It’s just something a bit different and has taken off quite nicely.”  ( 236 words)

1.Why do the two Oxford graduates sell advertising space on their faces?

   A. To raise money for their friends.            

B. To earn money for their family.

   C. To pay off their university debts .          

D. To pay for their online betting

2.Where can people buy their advertising space ?

   A. At Oxford University.                    

B. At the website buymyface. co.uk.

   C. At the accountancy firm.                  

D. At the online betting agency.

3.How much money do they earn every day on average (平均) so far ?

   A. Just ￡1 .           B. About￡100 .           C. Over ￡400.             D. Up to￡500.

4.From the last paragraph we can learn that Moyse and Harper _____________________.

   A. are satisfied with their special job           

B. have paid off their debts already

   C. are ready to apply for another job           

D. never really wanted to do face ads

Everyone is talking about bird flu. Yes, it is a very dangerous illness that could make people very sick. It will be some months still before we have good medicine 1 bird flu. But that doesn’t  mean you can’t do anything to prevent（预防）it now.   So far, all the people who have caught bird flu have been those who touched sick chickens or their  2 . So it’s a good idea for people  3 living chickens.

“People  4  go to the markets to buy living chickens to eat, but now they have to change  that habit（习惯）,” said Peter Cordingley, a WHO expert（专家）. But if you do touch a sick bird, remember 5 your hands carefully with soap right away .  Experts also say having good habits and a healthy body will help you  6  safe from bird flu. For example, do not buy or eat birds that    7  . Do not eat anything that has touched raw（生的） meat. Also, don’t forget to open your windows often and exercise every day.   8  enough sleep is also very important for beating illness. If you feel sick, see a doctor as soon as possible. 9 , no one in China has bird flu. But WHO says children under 12 years old could easily get sick with bird flu. Try to stay away from people who have the flu, and always cover your mouth and nose when you 10  .

1.                A．to             B．for            C．at   D．in

2.                A．houses         B．droppings(粪便)  C．eggs D．food

3.                A．to stay out of    B．to stay off       C．to stay over    D．to stay away from

4.                A．are used to      B．used to         C．used D．have used to

5.                A．washes         B．to wash         C．washing  D．washed

6.                A．keep           B．to get          C．got  D．keeping

7.                A．has been checked B．have been checked   C．has checked    D．have not been checked

8.                A．Get            B．Have           C．Got  D．Getting

9.                A．In the past      B．From then on    C．Since then D．So far

10.               A．laugh          B．cough          C．cry   D．Sleep

It's time for school! But on May 14th, 170 students at Duncanville High School in Texas, US, were told to go back home.Why? Because they were wearing the wrong clothes to school. Schools in the US don't always ask students to wear uniforms. But they have dress codes(着装要求). For example, Duncanville High School tells students to wear belts, shirts without logos （标识）.Schools' most-hated clothes are different.
In 2011, the saggy ( 松 垮 的 ) trousers law was passed in Florida. It stops students from wearing trousers that show body parts.
Now, "the favourite new target ( 目 标 ) of the school dress code" is leggings( 紧 身 裤 ), reported the Associated Press. Some schools don't allow leggings. Other schools ask students to wear a shirt or a skirt over leggings.
Some students complain  (抱怨)   that schools are going too far. But schools say dress codes help protect students' safety and make sure they grow up with good taste."We want to teach them that they must meet the expectations (期望) not only here in school, but also outside school," said Andre Smith.
【小题1】What happened to 170 students at Duncanville High School on May 14th?