I was feeling a little blue because my mother had been laid off from her job and she had lots of bills to pay. It left me wondering what was going to happen to us now. But it reassured me some when my mother told me she was relieved to be leaving since her boss wasn't the nicest person to be around.

I got off the college shuttle bus and started walking. That's when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the people and the traffic. I walked a little slower so I could find out where it was coming from. Through the crowd I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a carriage next to her.[来源:Zxxk.Com]

She was singing songs about love, keeping on trying, and not underestimating the power within yourself. The way she was singing comforted me a bit. I stood there watching her play for about fifteen minutes, thinking that it must take courage to perform on your own in the middle of a crowded New York ferry terminal. 

So I stood there listening.

She must have felt my presence because she would occasionally look in my direction. By now I was telling myself that if she could perform in front of hundreds of people she didn't know then I could at least tell her how good she sounded. I walked over and put some money in her carriage and she said, "Thank you." Instead of continuing my way home, I said to her, "I have been going through a rough time lately, but you've made me hopeful again."

"I'm happy that I could help," she replied. "Why are you so sad?"

"Well, my mum told me she had got fired from her job, and that made me sad. I'm not so sure what to do ..."

"You see, here's the problem," she explained. "The way you were walking, your head was down. Don't look defeated, because opportunity comes in different ways and if your head is down you might never see it. You should smile more ... lift your head up."

I smiled faintly, amazed by how she was encouraging me. So, I asked her, "Why are you playing the piano in the middle of a crowded place? I've seen you do this more than once."

She explained to me that she sees a lot of negative people in the world and she tries to alleviate the pain and bring more positivity by sharing motivational music. She told me that when she wasn't making music she studied psychology. So, that was how she knew some of the things she was telling me.

I smiled a little wider because I knew that she was doing a good thing. So, after that we parted, my heart touched and lightened by a musical soul!

1.We can learn from Paragraph 3 that the young lady sang to _________.

2.Which word may best describe the young lady?

3.Which do you think is the best title of the passage?  

I'm walking along a river bed in California. The future stretched out ahead, in the valley, hills and mountains. The past is there too, but today I prefer to walk forward: to live “in the now”， and truly see all the good things in the world. Light clouds float high in the bright blue sky, and the sunlight shines off the house in the distance. People ride bicycles on the bike path that follows the river. They talk and laugh together. What a beautiful and peaceful  scene it makes!

My heart is suddenly full of joy as I remember it is New Year's Day. A day to start afresh and to feel gratitude for the gift of life God has given me. I pass by a man holding his son, one or two years old, whose face is a study in pure joy and wonder, as he looks out over the green hills and towering mountains. Tears gather in my eyes with the sweetness of this simple thought. A man sits gazing into the distance. In this lonely scene, I'm reminded of other days in the past when sadness and hopelessness were my only companions. I say a silent prayer for him, and thanks to God. Then I walk on.

A young couple crouch (蹲) next to a bicycle that has dropped its chain. As they look up, I smile and say “Happy New Year”. They smile and wish me the same. It is a simple thing, but for a moment we have become one with the world and a sudden joy takes my breath away. An old woman leans on a fence post. She doesn't seem either happy or sad, just gazes into the past, or maybe the future. A feeling of timeless peace flows through me and all fear of what the future may bring disappears. I thank her with my thoughts, and move on.

I walk by a stand of young trees. A loud burst of cheerful chirping (唧唧叫) from the little woods, and I can't help but laugh out loud. As I reach home, I say another thanks to God for the gift “now”. It has taken a long time to find it, and although I can't keep it with me all of the time, I know how to open the door again. I know whatever the New Year will bring, there will be joy and enough love of “now” to help me through the hard times we all must face.

Happy New Year!

56．How does the writer feel after he sees the old woman?

A．Fearful.　　　　B．Hopeless.                    C．Thankful.    D．Regretful.

57．How many scenes does the writer describe about people?

A．Three.         B．Four.                          C．Five.          D．Six.

58．What does the underlined word “we” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The young couple and the writer.

B．All the people in the world.

C．The people whom the writer has met.

D．The young couple and the old woman.

59．What can we learn from the text?

A．Happiness is in getting together with your parents.

B．Watching people can make you relax.

C．Walking makes people energetic.

D．Smile brightens people up.

“Get your hands off me, I have been stolen,” the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft: a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken.

The program allows users to display alerts on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.

Owners must report their laptop missing by logging on to a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” banner pops up on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version(版本) of the software, users can also send a spoken message.

The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it. “One customer sent a message saying, ‘You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.

In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. The default through the computer’s speakers is: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, please report me now.”

The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 (￡21) but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs. Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password prompt if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access details.

If a thief accesses the internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.

Thousands of laptops are stolen every year from homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.

Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.

72. The expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind” can be understood as “_______”.

73. Different from other security software, Retriever can ______.

74. One function of the program is that it allows the owner to ______ at a distance.

A. change some access details for switching on the laptop

B. turn on the laptop by using the original password

C. operate the laptop by means of an alternative password

D. erase the information kept in the stolen laptop

75. Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage?

A. With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year.

B. A new software provides a means to reduce laptop theft.

C. Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers.

D. A new program offers a communication platform with the thief.

“Get your hands off me, I have been stolen,” the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft (the crime of stealing): a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken.
The program allows users to display alerts (warning) on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.
Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version of the software, users can also send a spoken message.
The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it. “One customer sent a message saying, ‘You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.
In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop’s speakers will say: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now.”
The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs. Owners can remotely (远程地) switch to an alternative (可替换的) password immediately if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access (进入, 使用) details.
If a thief accesses the Internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the Internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.
Thousands of laptops are stolen every year from homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.
Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.
【小题1】The underlined expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind” in Paragraph 2 can be understood as “_______”.        

“Get your hands off me, I have been stolen,” the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft (the crime of stealing): a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken.

The program allows users to display alerts (warning) on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.

Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version of the software, users can also send a spoken message.

The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it. “One customer sent a message saying, ‘You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.

In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop’s speakers will say: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now.”

The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs. Owners can remotely (远程地) switch to an alternative (可替换的) password immediately if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access (进入, 使用) details.

If a thief accesses the Internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the Internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.

Thousands of laptops are stolen every year from homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.

Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.

1.The underlined expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind” in Paragraph 2 can be understood as “_______”.        

A．to give the thief an alert mind

B．to express the owners’ anger to the thief

C．to remind the thief of his conscience (良心)

D．to make the thief give up his mind

2.Different from other security software, Retriever can _______.

A．record the stealing process

B．help recognize the lost laptop

C．lock down the computer remotely

D．send a spoken message

3.One function of the program is that it allows the owner to _______ at a distance.                         

A．change some access details for switching on the laptop

B．turn on the laptop by using the original password

C．operate the laptop by means of an alternative password

D．erase the information kept in the stolen laptop

4.Which of the following can best sum up the main idea of the passage?

A．With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year.

B．A new software provides a means to reduce laptop theft.

C．Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers.

D．A new program offers a communication platform with the thief.

5.What does the word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．the alert message                       B．the computer

C．the program                           D．the laptop