Five people are at our table, including myself. I’ve already learnt a great deal about them in the short time we’ve been at sea, although we rarely meet except at mealtimes.
First of all, there is Dr. Stone. He is a man of about sixty-five, with gray hair and a friendly face. He gave up his work a short while ago and is now traveling round the world before he retires to some quite country village. As a young man, he served for many years as a doctor in the army and visited many countries. He’s told us a great deal about the city to which they are going.
Then there is “Grandmother”. I call her that because her name escapes me. In spite of being a grandmother, she looks remarkable young, no more than fifty. She is on her way to visit a daughter who went to Australia some years ago. Naturally she is very excited at the thought of seeing her again, and her three grandchildren, whom she has never seen.
Then there is a man I don’t care for very much, the engineer by the name of Barlow. He has been on leave in England and is now returning to his work in Singapore.
The other person who sits at our table is Mrs. Hunt. I’ve found out hardly anything about her. She’s extremely quiet and rarely talks, except to consult the doctor about children’s various illnesses. She is on her way to join her husband in India.
【小题1】What can we know about Mr. Stone?

It was the old lady’s eightieth birthday. She was sure Myra wouldn’t forgot her mother’s birthday, even if she was busy. After all, eighty was a special birthday. Perhaps Myra might come. Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited like a child.
Mrs. Morrison had brought a card and a bunch of flowers when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake. Johnnie, the little boy next door, was now up with her with a packet of sweets.
“I guess you’ll get lots and lots of presents, ” he said. “I did last week when I was six.”
What would she like? A pair of slippers, perhaps. A blue new cardigan. Or a table lamp. Or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.
She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.
“Granny, granny, ” Johnnie returned. “I’ve got your post!”
He gave her four envelopes. Three were from old friends. The fourth was in Myra’s writing.
“No parcel(包裹), Johnnie?”
“No, granny.”
Almost reluctantly, she tore the fourth envelope open. Folded in the card was a check. Written on the card was a message: Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the check, Myra and Harold.
The six-figure check fell to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady bent to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.
【小题1】 As can be inferred from the passage, _______.

Our daughter Kerrin, a student at Boston University, had been home for a week-end visit, and I dropped her off at the bus station just in time for her back to college. After Kerrin’s bus had gone and I was driving away, I noticed that she had left her purse on the passenger seat. Worried that she would arrive in Boston without money or keys to her room, I called my wife, Bette Jean, on the car phone, explaining why I would be late. As I was following the bus, Bette Jean phoned me back to say she had phoned the bus dispatcher（调度员）on the other line and he, in return, had phoned the bus driver on yet another phone. The driver asked me to wave out of my window to show where I was. Then he pulled over at a rest stop, and I did the same. Kerrin jumped off the bus, and I handed her the purse and went on my way.

11. The writer saw his daughter’s purse right after       .

  A. seeing her off at the bus station

B. starting his car again

  C. she got off the car

D. she got on the bus

12. Kerrin didn’t find her purse missing until       .

  A. the bus started off

B. her mother told her

  C. the bus stopped again

D. she returned to the university

13. In which order did the following persons know about the loss of the purse?

  A. driver—writer—Better Jean—Kerrin

B. Kerrin—writer—Better Jean—driver

C. writer—driver—Kerrin—Better Jean

D. writer—Bette—Jean—driver—Kerrin

14. Which of the following is not true?

  A. The bus was too fast for the car to catch up with in no time.

  B. The writer had tried to phone the dispatcher but failed.

  C. The writer couldn’t get in touch with the driver by the phone.

  D. Both the writer and the bus driver could use the car phone.

15. Which of the following seems the most necessary in helping the writer?

  a. his car           b. phone

  c. the bus driver     d. the dispatcher

  e. his wife         f. his daughter

A. a, b, d and e       B. c, d, e and f    C. a, b, c and d      D. b, c, d and e

After a long day at school, I walked home with my heavy schoolbag . By the time I got home, I was sweaty,  16  and hungry. I threw my things on the couch and grabbed something from the kitchen to  17  . I passed by the living room and wished I could watch TV , but I knew my  18   would take me the whole night. I grabbed my schoolbag and went  19  to my room, feeling defeated. I tried to understand chemistry and  20  sleepiness at the same time. I was stressed out and  21  . I wanted something to cheer me up .

Later in the evening , I  22  the sound of the front door opening. And I waited for it—the sound of my mom singing .  23  she sings off-key (跑调), it made me excited that she was here. I ran down the stairs to greet my mom. We  24  and I ran back upstairs to do homework again. I like it when my mom was happy. Her  25  flowed down to me and I got the strength to  26  the stress again.

Sometimes, I wonder how my mom can still be  27  after coming back from work. Every weekday, she wakes up  28  in the morning to go to work and spends an hour on the bus before getting downtown . At a  29  factory, she works standing for the whole day and draws patterns for clothes over and over. After work, she gets stuck in  30  for two hours on her way back home. When I  31  my school life with her work life, I should not be the one to  32  . At least I have some fun things to do at school, while one mistake at work can cost my mom her job. I  33   that my mom has a positive attitude and lives her life with a joyous heart even though there may be   34  . Seeing her happy makes me feel  35  , too.

1.A. heavy      B. busy             C. sleepy           D. unlucky

2.A. keep           B. eat          C. give                 D. watch

3.A. dream          B. supper           C. homework         D. experience

4.A. aside          B. upstairs         C. outwards             D. nearby

5.A. put off            B. fight off        C. refer to             D. research into

6.A. bored          B. shocked      C. worried          D. frightened

7.A. made           B. recorded         C. imagined         D. heard

8.A. Unless         B. Though       C. If               D. As

9.A. agreed         B. debated      C. hugged           D. celebrated

10.A. need          B. idea         C. faith                D. energy

11.A. face          B. change       C. accept           D. leave

12.A. creative      B. careful          C. positive         D. professional

13.A. early         B. naturally        C. fast             D. regularly

14.A. furniture     B. tobacco      C. car              D. clothing

15.A. task          B. traffic          C. communication        D. examination

16.A. replace       B. exchange     C. connect          D. compare

17.A. complain      B. decide       C. study                D. play

18.A. achieve       B. notice           C. appreciate           D. improve

19.A. lies          B. difficulties         C. confusions       D. accidents

20.A. successful        B. skillful     C. good                 D. important

Seeing her father, the little girl ran to him, her schoolbag ______ behind her.

   A. was flying      B. flew     C. to fly     D. flying