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 and Australia did not like Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. The thought of neither of these gave him any pleasure. Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world. He possessed 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. When he was feeling honest, he could talk attractively. He frequently visited his aunt’s house; and soon he was living comfortably in the building which the profits of trade had provided.

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 loses 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 now 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? I have given you your chance. 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 favor. 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. Good night, 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.

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.Which part of what Hilary’s aunt said finally might make Hilary frustrated?

A. She wanted to sleep and never to wake up again.

B. She never got married to Mr. Parks.

C. Mr. Parks had a wife.

D. She would make a new will tomorrow.

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

A. Hilary escaped from the prison.

B. Hilary quarreled with his 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.

对话填空

请根据Helen, Sophie, Peter, Elena和Jacques五人各自的情况，从A、B、C、D、E、F六条信息中选出适合各人的匹配选项（选项中有一项为多余项）。
1.  Helen: A foreign tourist who loves rare animals.
2. Sophie: An economical mother with three children on holiday.
3. Peter: A man traveling in the north on business who enjoys southern dishes.
4. Elena: A young lady who pays special attention to her appearance.
5. Jacques: A French businessman who is particular about lifestyle.
A. Shangri-La Hotel Harbin
Located on the banks of the picturesque Songhua River, Shangri-La Hotel Harbin is close to the city's bustling business district and about 50 kilometers from the airport. Its 404 guestrooms, combining comfort and luxury, include the specially designed Horizon Club Executive Suite on floors 14 though 16. These cater to discerning business travelers and offer fast check-in and check-out privileges, free breakfast and afternoon tea. The hotel's Chinese restaurant Shang Palace is renowned for its authentic Cantonese dishes, but serves local Heilongjiang dishes and Sichuan fare too. The hotel has an imposing 1,350-square-meter banquet hall that can accommodate over 1,000 diners.
B. Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square
Ideally located inside the Xi'an city wall, Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square has 414 well-decorated guest rooms and suites equipped with elegant furniture and excellent facilities, including rainforest shower, broadband internet, and the specially designed Sofitel MyBed, which treats every Sofitel guest to the distinctions of a French lifestyle. In addition, the ClubSofitel lounge and all its 56 rooms and suites are equipped with advanced facilities, with a staff ready to provide tailor-made services that meet the demands of discerning business travelers.
C. Millennium Hotel Chengdu
The Millennium Hotel Chengdu, the newest upscale 5-star hotel in the Millennium Hotels & Resorts family, has opened its doors. Situated in the Chengdu Hi-tech Zone, the hotel features 360 elegant rooms, with beautiful views towering over the lush Shenxianshu Park and nearby Zishan Road, which is also known as “European Street.” The hotel features a 400-square-meter banquet hall and 9 smaller meeting halls, providing an ideal place for conferences or business activities. Special packages for company year-end parties and wedding celebrations are available. In addition, the hotel’s distinctive London cabs are on hand to whisk guests in style to destinations like the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and the Chengdu Panda Base.
D. Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
The Hilton Beijing Wangfujing presents its “Spring Essentials Spa Package,” inviting guests to indulge themselves in an organic body wrap, and lavish themselves with perfect moisture and skin-care, coupled with a massage (90 minutes) that will restore and renew the body’s energy flow. This promotion is now available for only RMB 780—35 percent off the normal rate of RMB 1,260 for this luxurious service.
The Spa, located on the hotel’s sixth floor, is open daily from 10 am to 11 pm.
Address: 8 Wangfujing East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
E. Legendale Hotel Beijing
On Easter weekend April 3 and 4 (Saturday and Sunday), chefs of the Legendale Hotel Beijing will serve up a special selection of delicious holiday cuisines, various desserts and traditional painted eggs to celebrate Easter. Plenty of traditional fun and games including egg hunts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, face painting and Easter egg decorating for you and your kids to take part in.
Lunch time: 12:00 to 14:30
Price: RMB 288 per adult (including soft drinks and wine but excluding service fee)
Up to two children per table are entitled to a free meal!
F. Zhaolong Hotel
The Zhaolong Hotel is conveniently located in Beijing’s Central Business District in Chaoyang, adjacent to the Yingke Center, home to many business giants and the well-known Sanlitun Village for shopping and entertainment. The hotel has 270 cozy, exquisitely decorated guestrooms set in a tranquil environment. VIP guests staying in the hotel’s suites on the Executive Floor will be privileged to enjoy a variety of tailor-made services. The restaurants in the hotel, which include the Hanmeifang Chinese Restaurant, Treasure Food Palace, the Tandoor Indian Restaurant, the Emerald Café, Lobby Bar and Longxi Function Room, provide guests with a fine selection of cuisines and professional conference services.

An old woman walked into a clothes shop. She asked the salesgirl to let her have a look at a new dress, but the girl stood still behind the counter(柜台), taking no notice of the request. The old woman spoke to the girl again, raising her voice a bit, but still received no answer. The old woman looked at the girl and nodded to herself, “I am too old to see well. I can’t even tell a plastic model from a real girl!”

On hearing this, the salesgirl shouted to the old woman, “What? Did you call me a plastic model?” The old woman was greatly surprised. “Oh, dear me,” she said. “The model can speak!”

What did the old woman go to the shop to do?

A. To choose a dress. 　       B. To buy a dress for herself.

C. To show off her dress.      D. To pick a quarrel with the salesgirl.

The salesgirl did not make a reply ________.

A. because she didn’t see the old woman

B. because she didn’t think the old woman had enough money for a new dress

C. because she was too busy to notice the old woman

D. for some reason unknown in this story

It was not until that woman spoke for the _______ time that the salesgirl said something.

A. first    B. second

C. third   D. fourth

When the old woman said, “I am too old to see well,” she _______.

A. meant to say that she really had poor eyesight

B. wanted the salesgirl to excuse her　

C. was simply telling a lie

D. was, in face, trying to make the salesgirl open her mouth

What do you think the salesgirl would do on hearing this? She would ______.

A. be too angry to say a word for a moment

B. run and tell the shop-owner about it

C. apologize to the old woman and do what she had been asked to do

D. turn back and cry

A lot of us lose life’s tough battles by starting a frontal(正面的) attack—when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who hit a traffic jam on his way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about being late on the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam’s a being late—serious illness at home—he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn’t work any longer. His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech.

Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work. Sam’s supervisor came up to him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand. “How do you do!” he said. “I’m Sam Maynard. I’m applying for a job. Which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?”

The room exploded in laughter. The supervisor clamped off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job—with the only tool that could win, a laugh.

Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected(忽略), means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying “no”, criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it’s the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians(喜剧演员) on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance(忍受力) than people in any other forum.

Why was Sam late for his job?

A. Because he was ill.

B. Because he got up late.

C. Because he was caught in a traffic jam.

D. He was busy applying for a new job.

The main idea of this passage is ________.

A. Sam Maynard saved his job with humor

B. humor is important in our lives

C. early bird gets the worm

D. humor can solve racial discriminations

The phrase “clamped off” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A. tried to hold back    B. tried to set    C. charged   D. gave out

Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?

A. Many lose life’s battles for they are lacking in a sense of humor.

B. It wasn’t the first time that Sam came late for his work.

C. Sam was supposed to come to his office at 8:30.

D. Humor is the most effective way of solving problems.