Discoveries in science and technology are thought by “untaught minds” to come in blinding flashes or as the result of dramatic accidents. Sir Alexander Fleming did not ,as legend would have it ,look at the mold on a piece of cheese and get the idea for penicillin there and then. He experimented with antibacterial substances for nine years before he made his discovery. Inventions and innovations（创新）almost always come out of laborious trial and error. Innovation is like soccer; even the best players miss the goal and have their shots blocked much more frequently than they score.

The point is that the players who score most are the ones who take the most shots at the goal-and so it goes with innovation in any field of activity. The prime difference between innovators and others is one of approach. Everybody gets ideas, but innovators work consciously on theirs, and they follow them through until they prove practicable or otherwise. What ordinary people see as fanciful abstractions, professional innovators see as solid possibilities.

“Creative thinking may mean simply the realization that there’s no particular virtue in doing things the way they have always been done.” wrote Rudolph Flesch, a language authority. This accounts for our reaction to seemingly simple innovations like plastic garbage bags and suitcases on wheels that make life more convenient: “How come nobody thought of that before?”

The creative approach begins with the proposition that nothing is as it appears. Innovators will not accept that there is only one way to do anything. Faced with getting from A to B, the average person will automatically set out on the best – known and apparently simplest route. The innovator will search for alternate courses, which may prove easier in the long run and are bound to be more interesting and challenging even if they lead to dead ends.

Highly creative individuals really do march to a different drummer.

1．What does the author probably mean by “untaught mind” in the first paragraph?

       A．A person ignorant of the hard work involved in experimentation.

       B．A citizen of a society that restricts personal creativity.

       C．A person who has had no education.

       D．An individual who often comes up with new ideas by accident.

2．According to the author, what distinguishes innovators from noninnovators?

       A．The variety of ideas they have               B．The intelligence they possess.

       C．The way they deal with problems.         D．The way they present their findings.

3．In the first sentence of paragraph 2, “…the players who score most are the ones who take the most shots at the goal …” is most similar to the meaning of ______.

       A．He laughs best who laughs last.             B．Never too old to learn.

       C．Time and tide wait for no man.             D．No pain, no gain.

4．The phrase “march to a different drummer” （the last line of the passage） suggests that highly creative individuals are ______.

       A．working hard at following their goals

       B．unwilling to follow common ways of doing things

       C．devoted to the progress of science

       D．concerned about the advance of society

Tired and exhausted, I came back home from work. I found the front door was 　36　 open and I felt a little scared. Did I carelessly forget to lock it after I left? I looked around 　37 to see what could be 　38 . Why would someone come into my home only to 　39 with nothing? After searching every inch, I realized that everything was 　40 I had left it. No 　41 cushions, broken lamps, or 　42 emptied out on the carpet. Feeling much 　43　 ，I looked out my oversized window of my dinning room at Ms. Sullivan’s house. Jimmy, the little boy next door was visiting her. Jimmy cared a lot about Ms. Sullivan and was very concerned with her health after she became ill. She used to 　44　 Jimmy when he was just a baby.

Forgetting about the 　45 with my front door, I decided to walk over to Ms. Sullivan’s house to see how she was 　46 . With a warm hello, she invited me into her home. I noticed twelve beautiful roses delicately presented on the table next to her bed. They looked exactly like the 　47 on my dinning room table in front of my oversized window. With a pleasant smile, she told me Jimmy brought them to her as a “get-well gift”. Suddenly Jimmy 　48 out of his seat in an instant and said that he had to go home for a while to do some homework but he promised to be back to 49 up on Ms. Sullivan.

Talking for a while, Ms. Sullivan began to get very tired so I gave her my phone number in case she 50 needed help, and left her home. I thought about how 　51 it was for little Jimmy to be so concerned for Ms. Sullivan. I got home, laughing at how 　52 I was that morning about what had happened over 　53 . I walked passed the dinning room and noticed my roses 　54 in the vase were missing. Without a second 55 , I glanced out the window at Ms. Sullivan’s house and with a smile on my face I turned off the light in the room and went to sleep.

The next morning my door bell rang. I opened the door Jimmy was there…

36. A. easily　　　　　　　　　　 B. slowly　　　　　　　　　　 C. slightly　　　　　　　　　 D. silently

37. A. tensely　　　　　　　　　 B. patiently　　　　　　　　 C. eagerly　　　　　　　　　 D. calmly

38. A. burning　　　　　　　　　 B. losing　　　　　　　　　　 C. lacking　　　　　　　　　 D. missing

39. A. get　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. deal　　　　　　　　　　　 C. steal　　　　　　　　　　　 D. leave

40. A. what　　　　　　　　　　　 B. where　　　　　　　　　　 C. that　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. how

41. A. worn　　　　　　　　　　　 B. changed　　　　　　　　 C. unwashed　　　　　　　 D. overturned

42. A. lockers　　　　　　　　　 B. kettles　　　　　　　　　　 C. drawers　　　　　　　　 D. coats

43. A. eased　　　　　　　　　　 B. angry　　　　　　　　　　 C. surprised　　　　　　　 D. curious

44. A. watch　　　　　　　　　　 B. guard　　　　　　　　　　 C. follow　　　　　　　　　　 D. visit

45. A. accident　　　　　　　　 B. experience　　　　　　 C. incident　　　　　　　　 D. condition

46. A. working　　　　　　　　　 B. doing　　　　　　　　　　 C. sleeping　　　　　　　　 D. acting

47. A. lamps　　　　　　　　　　 B. vases　　　　　　　　　　 C. roses　　　　　　　　　　 D. gifts

48. A. stood　　　　　　　　　　 B. ran　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. stepped　　　　　　　　 D. jumped

49. A. look　　　　　　　　　　　 B. check　　　　　　　　　　 C. pick　　　　　　　　　　　 D. call

50. A. ever　　　　　　　　　　　 B. still　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. only　　　　　　　　　　　 D. just

51. A. smart　　　　　　　　　　 B. sensitive　　　　　　　　 C. sweet　　　　　　　　　　 D. thankful

52. A. strange　　　　　　　　　 B. nervous　　　　　　　　 C. careless　　　　　　　　 D. wrong

53. A. everything　　　　　　 B. something　　　　　　　 C. anything　　　　　　　　 D. nothing

54. A. growing　　　　　　　　　 B. sitting　　　　　　　　　　 C. lying　　　　　　　　　　　 D. arranging

55. A. thought　　　　　　　　　 B. intention　　　　　　　　 C. expectation　　　　　　 D. delay

One fine afternoon I was walking along Fifth Avenue, 　 21　 I remembered that it was necessary to buy a pair of socks. Why I wished to buy only one pair is 　 22　 . I turned into the first sock shop that 　 23　 my eye, and a boy clerk who could not have been more than seventeen years old 　 24　 . “What can I do for you, sir?” “I wish to buy a pair of socks.” His eyes were shining. There was a note of 　 25　 in his voice. “Did you know that you had come into the finest place in the world to buy socks?” I had not been aware of that, as I entered the shop 　 26　 . “Come with me,” said the boy, excitedly. I followed him to the back part of the shop, and he began to take down from the shelves box after box, 　 27　 their contents for my enjoyment. “Hold on, young man, I am going to buy only one pair!” “I know that,” said he, “but I want you to see 　28　 beautiful these are. Aren’t they wonderful?”　 29　 was on his face an expression of pleasure, 　 30　 he were uncovering the mysteries of his religion. I became far 　 31　 interested in him than in the socks. I looked at him in amazement. “My friend,” said I, “if you can keep this up, if this is not 　32　 the enthusiasm that comes from having a new job, if you can keep up this enthusiasm and excitement day after day, in ten years you will own every 　 33　 in the United States.”

My amazement 　 34　 his pride and joy in salesmanship will be easily understood by all who read this article. In many shops the 　 35　 has to wait for someone to serve him. And when 　 36　 some clerk does notice you, you are made to feel as if you were interrupting him. Either he is 　 37　 in deep thought in which he hates to be disturbed or he is chatting with a girl clerk and you feel like 　 38　 for “being too rude”.

He shows no interest either in you or in the goods he 　 39　 to sell. Yet possibly the very clerk who is now so indifferent(冷漠的) began his career with hope and 　 40　 . The daily work was too much for him; the newness disappears slowly; his only pleasures were found outside of working hours; and he saw younger clerks who had more enthusiasm in their work promoted over him. He became sour. That was the last stage. His usefulness was over.

21.　　 A. while　　　　　　　　　　 B. when 　　　　　　　　　 C. as　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. what

22.　　 A. unimportant 　　　　 B. unusual　　　　　　　　　 C. useless　　　　　　　　　 D. unnecessary

23.　　 A. kept　　　　　　　　　　　 B. shut　　　　　　　　　　　 C. took　　　　　　　　　　　 D. caught

24.　　 A. came about　　　　　　 B. came across　　　　　 C. came forward　　　　 D. came around

25.　　 A. anxiety　　　　　　　　　 B. shame　　　　　　　　　 C. panic　　　　　　　　　　 D. excitement

26.　　 A. in particular　　　　　 B. in place　　　　　　　　　 C. by accident 　　　　　 D. on purpose

27.　　 A. exchanging　　　　　　 B. showing 　　　　　　　 C. selling　　　　　　　　　 D. hiding

28.　　 A. how 　　　　　　　　　　 B. which　　　　　　　　　　 C. that　　　　　　　　　　　 D. what

29.　　 A. There　　　　　　　　　　 B. That　　　　　　　　　　　 C. One　　　　　　　　　　　 D. It

30.　　 A. although　　　　　　　　 B. even if　　　　　　　　　 C. as if 　　　　　　　　　　 D. since

31.　　 A. much　　　　　　　　　　 B. more 　　　　　　　　　 C. less　　　　　　　　　　　 D. little

32.　　 A. mostly　　　　　　　　　 B. likely　　　　　　　　　　 C. only　　　　　　　　　　　 D. hardly

33.　　 A. sock　　　　　　　　　　 B. money　　　　　　　　　 C. joy　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. store

34.　　 A. with　　　　　　　　　　　 B. at　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. to　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. on

35.　　 A. salesman　　　　　　　 B. passenger　　　　　　　 C. manager　　　　　　　　 D. customer

36.　　 A. firstly　　　　　　　　　　 B. especially　　　　　　　 C. absolutely　　　　　　　 D. finally

37.　　 A. absorbed 　　　　　　　 B. devoted　　　　　　　　 C. busy　　　　　　　　　　 D. attracted

38.　　 A. forgiving　　　　　　　 B. apologizing 　　　　　 C. favoring　　　　　　　　 D. approving

39.　　 A. paid　　　　　　　　　　　 B. is paid　　　　　　　　　 C. was paid　　　　　　　　 D. pays

40.　　 A. content　　　　　　　　　 B. sympathy 　　　　　　 C. surprise　　　　　　　　 D. enthusiasm

    When we talk about boomerangs (回飞棒), we usually mean the curved devices(弯曲的设备) that return to you when you throw them, but there are actually two different kinds of boomerangs: the returning type and the non-returning type. Most returning boomerangs measure 30 to 60 cm across. Non-returning boomerangs are usually heavier and longer; typically 1 meter or more across, usually used as hunting weapons.

    Experts believe the invention of boomerangs was mostly a matter of trial and error. First let’s consider how a primitive hunter might have come up with a non-returning boomerang. In nature, there are plenty of sticks that are bent in a curve like a boomerang, and people probably threw the sorts of sticks all the time. Because of the stabilizing motion of the two branches of the stick, this sort of stick would have stayed in the air longer and would have been easier to send in the desired direction. Primitive humans noticed this and so they started specifically seeking out bent sticks. Then they started selecting the best curved sticks (thinner, longer ones work better) and were soon making some changes so they were especially suited for taking down birds and animals.

    Experts aren’t really sure when and where people first developed returning boomerangs, but the Aborigines of Australia are generally credited with the invention. The Aborigines used non-returning boomerangs, which they called kylies, widely in hunting, and the theory is that at some point, one or more Aborigines used a kylie with the particular shape of a boomerang and noticed that it traveled in a curve. That might have been a pure accident.

    The amazing flight pattern of the new discovery didn’t really help out much in hunting—it actually made it harder to aim accurately—but it was, of course, really cool. Evidently, the Aborigines perfected the boomerang design and throwing technique for the simple pleasure of it. However, the boomerang did have some limited use in hunting. The Aborigines would set up nets in trees and then throw the boomerang into the air while making a hawk（鹰）call. This would scare birds so they would fly down into the nets.

51. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us?

A. How primitive men invented returning boomerangs.

B. How non-returning boomerangs were invented.

C. How the Aborigines of Australia use boomerangs.

D. How to throw and catch returning boomerangs.

52. We learn from the passage that returning boomerangs_________.

A. were developed from non-returning boomerangs

B. were invented earlier than non-returning boomerangs

C. are generally called“kylies”by the Aborigines

D. are heavier and longer than non-returning boomerangs

53. From the fourth paragraph, we can infer non-returning boomerangs are more suitable for hunting because _________.

A. they look more frightening

B. they can move in a circle

C. they are easier to aim

D. they are lighter to carry

54. According to the passage，it is most probable that Aborigines_________.

A. first used bent sticks to frighten animals

B. never used returning boomerangs in hunting

C. liked to play with the kylie for pleasure

D. are the inventor of returning boomerangs

B
On the last day of his life, my dog Otto spent that morning of spring napping in the garden. This was always one of his favorite things to do, even before the days when he was too old and too weak to get out of a car by himself.
I probably would have started crying over Otto right then, if my two other little dogs hadn't suddenly raced past. Larry, who was a puppy, got knocked into Otto, then licked Otto's ear, and that got Otto excited, and Otto barked and tried to stand up again, but it was hard for him.
Soon it was time for me to drive to see Steve, our vet.
When Steve gave Otto the first shot, it made him woozy (眩晕的). Otto wandered over to where Steve and I were sitting and settled down between us. He has always liked to touch everyone in his pack, if possible, while he sleeps.
After Steve gave him the last shot and Otto stopped breathing, he didn't look like Otto anymore. He looked like an old gray-brown piece of beat-up carpet, and I suddenly realized what bad shape he'd been in for a long, long time. I wondered if he'd been in much more pain than I knew. Wondering made me feel even worse.
The week after Otto died was not good. Every morning when I walked Larry and Sticky in the neighborhood, somebody would come up and say they had heard about Otto and they were sorry. They were all Otto's friends and some of them cried. Others, like Debbie who lives on my street, reminded me about how, even at the end. Otto would stand between her twins' stroller (婴儿车) and the street when the garbage truck went by. "Like it was his job to protect them," she marveled.
Otto has left us, but his memory lives on.
60. How did the author feel when Otto was napping in the garden?
A. She felt like crying.                      B. She thought life was beautiful.           C. She found spring was wonderful.            D. She was relieved.
61. According to the passage, how did the dog die?
A. He had an accident on the street.          B. He died naturally.                  C. He was made to die by a vet.                   D. He starved.
62. What can we know about Otto?
A. He was already too old to bark.                            B. He liked people to keep him company.     C. He died a very painful death.                       D. He was protected by the neighbours.
63. We can see from the passage that Sticky is a ______.
A. cat                 B. dog              C. child            D. Neighbour