Like a backward tape, time returns to my mom's teens．She is waiting for admission results from a famous high school．She has studied for the test but with joy, since she feels no suffering in learning．Suddenly I spy her jumping and laughing, waving a paper in her hand while her family stands nearby, more shocked than happy．No one else from their village has ever passed the test．

??? Later, at her new high school, I proudly watch as she continues to rise to the top．Many of her essays are published in newspapers, and her classmates seek her advice when a test is approaching． She never refuses them, and I feel honored to be related to such an intelligent person．

??? As I walk with her through her journey, I finally come to the point I have been looking forward to most: her life in America． After passing several tests and finding a kind boss to sponsor her, she becomes a college student at University of California, Los Angeles． At first, I sense her loneliness and panic as she tries to adapt to her new surroundings．Though her English is broken and she knows little about American culture, I can tell she is more than grateful to be here． Here she has access to electricity and running water, and most importantly, better schools． At UCLA, she has so many opportunities to grow and advance in her field．

??? Her journey to America was for just one reason: education．Though having an education will better her life, I know she doesn't do it for herself．My mom wants her children to have an easier life that will not require hard labor．I see what my mom goes through, and I'm filled with gratitude that she has made the brave choice to move here．

1.According to the first paragraph, the writer's mother considers learning to be???????? .

A． easy and joyful???????????????? ????????????? B． bitter but rewarding

C． costly and boring????????????????????? D． exciting but fruitless

2.Which of the following does the writer's mother do at high school?

A．Working as a newspaper deliverer．

B．Feeling proud of her intelligence．

C．Working hard to be honored and awarded．

D．Giving her classmates advice before tests．

3.How does the writer's mother pay for her college education?

A． By doing a part-time job．

B． By asking her parents for support．

C． With the financial support from a kind boss．

D． With the help from her teachers and classmates．

4.What is the final aim of the writer's mother's going to America?

A． To accumulate wealth．

B． To benefit her children．

C． To make her parents live better．

D． To become famous in her field of study．

.

I don’t like getting up too early unless I have to. When you’re filming, you’ve got make-up on, which doesn’t happen often. As I’m not filming at present I’ll get up at 8.30.

Work normally means Matt coming over to my house about 10 am. We’re writing at the moment. We’ll chat for a bit before going to my study. One of us will have an idea for a sketch (梗概), we’ll talk about the characters and when we feel we have enough we’ll start writing.

Matt and I met at the National Youth Theatre in 1990 and started doing shows together in ’95, at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. We know we’re onto something if we’ve made each other laugh, and that’s a really special moment. It’s not always like that, but we’re comfortable enough with each other that we can be honest and go. Some days you’re not in the mood to be funny—like writing when my dad was dying of cancer, or when Matt was separating from his partner.

We stop for lunch and sometimes go to Wagamama in Camden, but the last time we were followed by paparazzi (狗仔队), which gets you down—who wants to be pictured eating noodles?

When I’m not writing with Matt I work on other projects. My second children’s book comes out later in the year. It’s called Mr. Stink. The first one I dedicated to my three-year-old nephew, Eddie. Both books have been illustrated by Quentin Blake; it’s been a thrill to work with him—like 20 years ago reading a Roald Dahl book and looking at those drawings, then one day that person illustrates your work… magical.

At 5 I go swimming in Soho. My trainer makes me do horrible exercises, but I always feel better after.

Being in all day, I like to go out in the evening and look smart, but not like I’ve come out of the City. I’m a tall, broad guy and well-dressed.

For dinner I’ll meet friends. When you’re a single guy it’s great to have some good female friends. Or I might take my mum to the theatre, as I know she really appreciates it. I like watching TV comedy shows to see what everyone’s doing. When you see something impressive it makes you work harder. I also love Larkin’s poems: they don’t try to transcend (超越) the commonplace; they’re much more straightforward.

Poetry is great to dip into before going to bed, rather than falling asleep reading a novel and being confused over what you’ve read or not. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in seven years; unfortunately, I rely on pills. I’ve tried everything. If I could wish anything for myself, I’d wish I could sleep better.

67. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. the author spends much time with his friends

B. the author and Matt are both famous in the district

C. the author doesn’t care much about what to wear

D. the author works at home and seldom goes out every day

68. Where does the passage most likely appear?

A. In a travel diary.                         B. In a news column.

C. In an online diary.                    D. In a research paper.

69. Why does the author read some poetry before going to bed?

A. Because poetry can often bring him some funny ideas.

B. Because poetry is much easier to understand than novels.

C. Because poetry is very abstract and reflects unusual things.

D. Because poetry can be of some help for him to kill time.

70. What might be the best title for the passage?

A. A day’s work with Matt                 B. A new life-style 

C. A life in the day                       D. A good way to write

Sophia Richardson: Both my parents are really important to me. My parents are really more than friends. They’re the people I can open up and talk to. Talking to them is like talking to one of my friends. They’ve been there for me and given me good advice on a lot of my problems.
Stacey Avnes: My Jewish big sister is important to me. Her name is Lauren. We’ve been together for two years. My mom is a single mom and she is very busy. Lauren is someone who helps me deal with all this stuff because she’s someone I can talk to. She’s like a second mom to me and also a best friend. If I have any problem, I can call her and she’ll come and pick me up and we’ll go to a park and talk.
Jean Park: It’s my uncle who is important to me. When I’m with him, I’m grateful（感激的） for the small things—being alive and healthy; having a good family and friends. He’s also very grateful for the small things and gives back to his community（社区）.
Melaku Shierfaw: My father is important to me. He came here from a rich family in Africa. But when he came, he didn’t take any money and started fresh. He showed that he could do everything by himself without the help of others and he’s successful. It shows me that I can do anything as long as I try.
Kalin Scott-Wright: My great grandmother is in charge of our whole family. She was born in 1920. I know she went through a lot in her life. She was a very strong woman and she raised my mom and took her in. She had a kind spirit and loved me and my brother. She’ll always be there for me although she’s not alive any longer.
【小题1】We can infer that Sophia             .

“Have a nice day!” may be a pleasant gesture or a meaningless expression. When my friend Maxie says “have a nice day” with a smile, I know she sincerely cares about what happens to me. I feel loved and secure since another person cares about me and wishes me well.
“Have a nice day. Next!” this version of the expression is spoken by a salesgirl at the supermarket who is rushing me and my groceries out of the door. The words come out in the same tone (腔调)with a fixed procedure. They are spoken at me, not to me. Obviously, the concern for my day and everyone else’s is the management’s attempt to increase business.
The expression is one of those behaviors that help people get along with each other. Sometimes it indicates the end of a meeting. As soon as you hear it, you know the meeting is at an end. Sometimes the expression saves us when we don’t know what to say. “oh, you just had a tooth out? I’m terribly sorry, but have a nice day.”
The expression can be pleasant. If a stranger says “Have a nice day!” to you, you may find it heart-warming because someone you don’t know has tried to be nice to you.
Although the use of the expression is an insincere, meaningless social custom at times, there is nothing wrong with the sentence except that it is a little uninteresting. The salesgirl, the waitress, the teacher, and all the countless others who speak it without thinking may not really care about my day. But in a strange and comfortable way, it’s nice to know they care enough to pretend they care when they really don’t care all that much. While the expression may not often be sincere, it is always spoken. The point is that people say it all the time when they like.
【小题1】How does the author understand Maxie’s word?

“Have a nice day!” may be a pleasant gesture or a meaningless expression. When my friend Maxie says “have a nice day” with a smile, I know she sincerely cares about what happens to me. I feel loved and secure since another person cares about me and wishes me well.

“Have a nice day. Next!” this version of the expression is spoken by a salesgirl at the supermarket who is rushing me and my groceries out of the door. The words come out in the same tone (腔调)with a fixed procedure. They are spoken at me, not to me. Obviously, the concern for my day and everyone else’s is the management’s attempt to increase business.

The expression is one of those behaviors that help people get along with each other. Sometimes it indicates the end of a meeting. As soon as you hear it, you know the meeting is at an end. Sometimes the expression saves us when we don’t know what to say. “oh, you just had a tooth out? I’m terribly sorry, but have a nice day.”

The expression can be pleasant. If a stranger says “Have a nice day!” to you, you may find it heart-warming because someone you don’t know has tried to be nice to you.

Although the use of the expression is an insincere, meaningless social custom at times, there is nothing wrong with the sentence except that it is a little uninteresting. The salesgirl, the waitress, the teacher, and all the countless others who speak it without thinking may not really care about my day. But in a strange and comfortable way, it’s nice to know they care enough to pretend they care when they really don’t care all that much. While the expression may not often be sincere, it is always spoken. The point is that people say it all the time when they like.

1.How does the author understand Maxie’s word?

A．Maxie shows her anxiety to the author.

B．Maxie really wishes the author a good day.

C．Maxie encourages the author to stay happy.

D．Maxie really worries about the author’s security.

2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．The salesgirl is rude.

B．The salesgirl is bored.

C．The salesgirl cares about me.

D．The salesgirl says the words as a routine.

3.According to the last paragraph, people say “Have a good day” __________

A．sincerely          B．as thanks          C．as a habit          D．encouragingly

4.What is the best title of the passage?

A．Have a Nice Day---- a Social Custom

B．Have a Nice Day----- a pleasant Gesture

C．Have a Nice Day----- a heart-warming Greeting

D．Have a Nice Day----- a polite ending of a Conversation