Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．

She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．

Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a six pence in his pocket．

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him: her will．

"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"

"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．

His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations．"

On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will lose its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．

After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．

"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want more than anything to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do.Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．

1.From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was ______．

A．bad-tempered and lonely                 B．kind-hearted and wise

C．careless about money                    D．cruel to her nephew

2.Why did Hilary's father consider his aunt dead?

A．Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage．

B．Because she married a businessman with a wife against his will．

C．Because she broke away from the family for a better life．

D．Because he thought she was a shame to the family

3.The underlined sentence "He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman" in paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______．

A．was determined to put his aunt's life to an end

B．decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C．made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D．would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

4.Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A．Hilary's aunt's money．                  B．Hilary Smith's debts．

C．The intended murder．                  D．Hilary's aunt's marriage．

5.According to the law book,_____．

A．Hilary's aunt is not allowed to make a new will．

B．the money will go to Hilary after his aunt dies without a new will．

C．Hilary's aunt must leave the money to the religious people after she dies．

D．Hilary must look after his aunt till her death because he is the only relation．

6.Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

A．Hilary escaped from the prison．

B．Hilary quarelled with is aunt about ten pounds．

C．Hilary's aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her．

D．Hilary's aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else．

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.
Hilary did not like Australia. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．
She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．
Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a six pence in his pocket．
One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him: her will．
"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"
"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．
His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations．"
On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will lose its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．
After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．
Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.
One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．
"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want more than anything to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do.Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"
Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．
【小题1】From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was ______．

In December,2010,many American newspapers publish a list of the best books of the year. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is one of the most repeatedly praised books on this year’s list of favorites. It tells about the ups and downs of the Berglund family over many years. Mr.Franzen fills the book with sharp observations about American politics, culture and society.

Jennifer Egan’s book A Visit from the Goon Squad takes place in 13 chapters over 40 years. The story moves back and forth in time,from different viewpoints. One main character is former rock musician Bennie Salazar who works for a record company. The other main character is a troubled young woman named Sasha who works for Bennie. The reader learns about their pasts and those of their friends.

The main character in The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman is a failing English Language newspaper published in Rome,Italy. Each chapter of the book tells about a reporter or editor working for this paper. Their stories are filled with intelligence and great personality.

    Two of the most popular non­fiction books of 2010 were about rock and roll stars. Just Kids is by rock singer Patti Smith. It tells about her friendship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1960s and 1970s before they became famous. Life is the autobiography of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. It is an honest and exciting look at the development of rock and roll and the wild times this famous band has experienced.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand tells about a man named Louis Zamperini. She tells about his extraordinary survival story after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during Would War Two.

Stacy Schiff has received great praise for her book Cleopatra: A Life. It tells about one of the most misrepresented and famous women in his story, Cleopatra. She ruled ancient Egypt about 2,000 years ago. One critic said Ms. Schiff has brought Cleopatra to life again by unearthing her story from centuries of lies.

1.The following books are related to music EXCEPT________.

A. The Imperfectionists          B. A Visit from the Goon Squad   

C. Just Kids                   D. Life

2.If your major is the history of ancient Africa, you may pay attention to ________.

A. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen                        

B. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

C. The Imperfections by Tom Rachman

D. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff   

3.Which book will give you a practical understanding of the USA?

A．Life                                       B．Cleopatra: A Life

C．Freedom                                 D．A Visit from the Goon Squad

4.The last sentence of the passage implies that ________.

A．Stacy Schiff is an archaeologist

B．the critic finds the character in the book very real

C．the critic speaks highly of Cleopatra in history

D．Stacy Schiff tells a story about an imaginary Egyptian queen

根据括号里的中文提示用单词的适当形式填空。（每空0.5分，共5分）
1. Animals become __________ (漠不关心的) to their young as soon as their young can look after themselves, but human beings find this difficult.
2. We should __________ (谴责) any attempts to break into company networks to obtain users’ information
3. The __________ (执行的) director of board assumes the responsibility of managing financial, productive and marketing affairs.
4. Our __________ (可持续的) levels of happiness are up to our life circumstances and our everyday activities.
5. Students from all over the world take a major step along their life's journey when they __________ (参与) in an advanced education.
6.Care must be taken that each task ends with a sensible state, because there is no __________ (保证) when the next step will be carried out.
7. In this book, Adam Smith's emphasis that the ________ (无形的) hand usually leads markets to allocate resources efficiently.
8. If you have a keen __________ (欣赏) for good art, you may have a strong interest in cultural activities or entertainment.
9. Getting the best out of digital __________ (广播电视) will probably mean replacing, or at least repositioning, the indoor or rooftop aerial.
10. The eruption of volcano __________ (伴随) by an earthquake caused great damage to the living things around.

Tilly Smith, the 11-year-old British girl, who was called as “Angle of the Beach”, saved 100 tourists from a Thai beach hit by the tsunami① in 2004 and has been named Child of the Year by readers of a French children’s newspaper.

She came ahead of a South African Aids orphan, a six-year-old girl who survived a kidnapping② and a young Parisian pop singer to win the Mon Quotidien award. Tilly had studied tsunamis with her geography teacher, Andrew Kearney, shortly before flying to Thailand for a holiday with her parents and younger sister last year. As she watched the waves suddenly begin to move back, and the sea was bubbling③, she warned her mother, Penny, that the beach was about to be struck by a tsunami. Mrs Smith and her husband, Colin, warned other holidaymakers and hotel staff and scores of people were cleared from Maikhao beach at Phuket.

Tilly, now 11, and back in Thailand for anniversary commemorations④ of the disaster, said: “It’s really good, just to know about tsunamis or any natural disaster in case you are in one. I’m very glad that I was able to say on the beach that a tsunami was coming. And I’m glad that they listened to me.”

Tilly is unaware of her great popularity among French children. Her picture appears on the front page of Mon Quotidien, which is read by 10 to 14-year-olds.

“Our readers chose Tilly because they could identify with her,” said Francois Dufour. “To be a pop star at 11 seems impossible, and the idea of having Aids or being kidnapped is far from their lives.”

1. The passage mainly wants to tell readers that ______.

  A. a little girl saved 100 tourists out of a tsunami

B. British “Angle of the Beach” was named Child of the Year

  C. many people came for anniversary commemorations

  D. the tsunami was able to be avoided

2. The underlined words “Mon Quotidien” (in Paragraph 4) should be the name of ______.

  A. a magazine      B. a book       C. a novel       D. a newspaper

3. Which of the following about Tilly Smith is TRUE?

  A. She could make full use of her knowledge from books.

  B. She was ever kidnapped by a pop singer.

  C. She visited Thailand by boat with her parents.

  D. She had expected to attract the French children.

4. According to the Tilly Smith’s knowledge, when there is a tsunami, ______.

  A. the sea water will not be clear         B. the sea will be bubbling when moving back

  C. the sea water will make great noise     D. the sea will be bubbling when moving forward