．I will do what I can_________ the people in trouble .

A．help   B．to help      C．help   D．helped

．I will do what I can_________ the people in trouble .

A．help  B．to help     C．help  D．helped

My mind went blank when I saw the gun pointing against the car window as we pulled out of the garage. This can't be happening to me. Then I felt the gun, cold, against my head, and I heard my friend Jeremy saying，“What do you want? Take my wallet，” but at the time I thought of nothing.

I remember being a little annoyed when the gunman pulled me from the car by the hair. I remember the walk to the house—Jeremy, me, the two men with two guns. I remember the fear and anger in the gunmen's voices because Jeremy was being slow, and I remember wondering why he was being slow. I did not realize that Jeremy had thrown the keys into the bush. But I remember that sound of the gun hitting Jeremy's head and the feeling as the man who had hold of my hair released me. And I remember the split second when I realized he was looking at Jeremy，and I remember wondering how far I could run before he pulled the trigger. But I was already running, and upon reaching the car across the street, I didn't crouch (蹲伏) behind it but screamed instead.

I remember thinking there was something ridiculous and illogical about screaming “Help, help！” at eight o'clock on a Tuesday evening in December and changing my plea(恳求) to the? more specific “Help, let me in, please let me in！” But the houses were cold, closed, unfriendly, and I ran on until I heard Jeremy's screams behind me announcing that our attackers had fled.

The neighbors who had not opened their doors to us came out with baseball bats and helped Jeremy find his glasses and keys. In a group they were very brave. We waited for the police to? come until someone said to someone else that the noodles were getting cold, and I said politely，“Please go and eat. We're OK.”

I was happy to see them go. They had been talking of stricter sentences for criminals, of? bringing back the death penalty(处罚) and how the President is going to clean up the country. I? was thinking, they could be saying all of this over my dead body, and I still feel that stiffer? sentences wouldn't change a thing. In a rush all the anger I should have felt for my attackers was? directed against these contented people standing in front of their warm, comfortable homes? talking about all the guns they were going to buy. What good would guns have been to Jeremy? and me?

People all over the neighborhood had called to report our screams, and the police turned out? in force twenty minutes later. They were ill?tempered about what was, to them, much trouble? about nothing.? After all, Jeremy was hardly hurt, and we were hopeless when it came to? describing the gunmen. “Typical，” said one policeman when we couldn't even agree on how tall? the men were.? Both of us were able to describe the guns in horrifying detail, but the two? policemen who stayed to make the report didn't think that would be much help.

The policemen were matter?of?fact about the whole thing. The thin one said，“That was a? stupid thing to do, throwing away the keys. When a man has a gun against your head you do? what you're told.” Jeremy looked properly embarrassed.

Then the fat policeman came up and the thin one went to look around the outside of the? house. “That was the best thing you could have done, throwing away the keys，” he said. “If you? had gone into the house with them...” His voice became weaker. “They would have hurt her” ——he twisted his head toward me——“and killed you both.” Jeremy looked happier. “Look，” said the fat policeman kindly, “ there's no right or wrong in the situation. There's just luck.”

All that sleepless night I replayed the moment those black gloves came up to the car? window. How long did the whole thing last? Three minutes, five, eight? No matter how many? hours of my life I may spend reliving it, I know there is no way to prepare for the next time—no? intelligent response to a gun. The fat cop was right. There's only luck. The next time I might end up dead.

And I’m sure there will be a next time.? It can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone.Security is an illusion(幻觉); there is no safety in locks or in guns. Guns make some people feel safe and some people feel strong, but they're fooling themselves.

1.When the writer saw the gun pointing against the car window，________.

A．she felt very annoyed

B．she lost consciousness

C．she felt very much nervous

D．she lost the power of thinking

2.What most possibly drove the two gunmen away?

A．Jeremy's fighting.

B．The author's screaming.

C．Their neighbour's brave action.

D．The police's arrival.

3.When the author called for help, the neighbors didn't come out immediately because________.

A．they were much too frightened

B．they were busy preparing dinners

C．they needed time to find baseball bats

D．they thought someone was playing a trick

4.What the author wants to tell us is that________.

A．neighbors are not helpful in moments of difficulty

B．the police are not reliable when one is in trouble

C．security is impossible as long as people can have guns

D．preventing robbers entering your house is the best choice

WASHINGTON-After years working in financial and real estate management, 61-year-old

Bill Copeland retired to his version of the American dream—not full-time rest but a less-taxing job．

He’s hardly alone. Close to two-thirds of Americans who have not yet retired say that when the time comes they will work for pay after retiring. The reason given most often has nothing to do with money—they simply want to stay busy．

For Copeland, after years of 60-and 80-hour work weeks , that means “only” 40 hours a week at a job selling power tools and advising people on how to use them．

“I’m doing something I want to do , that I know about and I can help people,” said Copeland , who works in Falls Church , Virginia , at a Home Depot , a company that makes a special effort to attract older workers.

The political debate on the future of Social Security has fixed fresh attention on retirement and how older Americans make ends meet. As they live longer , healthier lives , work is a choice for an increasing number of old Americans．

In a recent Associated Press—Ipsos poll, 63 percent of those who have not retired said the thought they would work for pay after they retired ．The reason given most often was “to stay busy,” followed by “to make ends meet” and “to have enough money for extras．”

People find various ways to stay in the work force —working past retirement age , cutting back to part-time , or retiring and then taking a new job —often with less stress, fewer hours and less money．For many people , retirement is not an event but a process．

Dennis Bardy, a 47—year-old teacher , shares the same view with many who plan to keep working．

“It would be nice to have a little bit of extra money ,” he said , adding , “I also want to stay active．Too many times , you see people who retire just seeming to fade away．

1．According to the passage, Bill         ．

       A．works in a company serving older workers ．

       B．has many children and grandchildren to live together with him

       C．has found another job after retirement

       D．now works part time in financial and real estate management

2．We can learn from the passage that         ．

       A．more and more Americans prefer to retire step by step

       B．over half of the Americans plan to keep working just for pay after retirement

       C．nearly two-thirds of Americans are working 60 to 80 hours per week

       D．American people find various ways to stay where they are working after retirement

3．The underlined phrase “fade away” in the last paragraph probably means         ．

       A．lose their jobs                                     B．disappear completely

       C．become less active                              D．move away to live in other places

4．What would be the best title for this passage ?

       A．Older Americans In Trouble                 B．Bill Copeland’s Life After Retirement

       C．Living Conditions Of Older Americans   D．Americans Choosing Work After Retirement

Oh, boy! Time for a game now． oldest brother is the seeker so k have to hide extra good because he’s smart and will find me quickly．But where? Behind the garage won’t work. The barn is too easy. Wait, I know. The door leading under the porch is perfect. No one would look for me under there.
It smells unpleasant under this porch． Wish I had picked another place to hide． Smelly cats! Too late now, I can hear brother seeking everyone out. I’ll just sit here quiet as a mouse. Hah hah hah! I can hear you out by the barn! You’ll never find me over there!
It’s been a while and he hasn’t found me yet. What’s that I hear? Now all my brothers are looking for me. They’ve all been caught, but not me. They’ll never trick me into coming out to catch me. Wait, is that Dad I hear calling my name? Oh no, now I hear someone going to call Grandpa to help look for me. I’m not coming out now because I’m in really big trouble.
What to do? If I come out and say I heard them calling me, I’ll be in big trouble. Think, think! How do I get out of trouble? I know what to do! I’ll tell them I fell asleep while waiting. Is that Grandpa’s voice? Heh heh heh! Now’s my chance. I’ll crawl out slowly and rub my eyes. Now that I see Grandpa go towards me quickly, I say. “I feel asleep.”
“Oh! You had us all worried!” says Grandpa. “You little devil, I’m just glad you’re all right, but next time try not to fall asleep and scare us like that, okay?” says Dad. Whew! I pulled it off (成功). Now to keep my mouth shut. And I did, for over 42 years. Once in a while, a kid pulls the wool over people’s eyes. So that’s one of my little secrets I’ve never revealed before. Don’t tell anyone now!
【小题1】The place where the boy was hiding smelt terrible because it         .

A．Children can win others’ trust more easily than adults.

B．Children can tell a lie that others believe to be true.

C．Children can be easily fooled by adults.

D．Children are good at telling lies.