Little Robby, our neighbour’s nephew, carefully drew some water into a bowl and started for the door. How I hated this water rationing (定量供应). We were forced to bathe in the deep little pond we shared with Jessie, our cow. Wells were dry, and crops transformed to dust.

I watched Robby sitting down onto the steps to my house. Bees buzzed circling his hair, and he buzzed with them. I remembered his aunt’s words: I don’t know what I was thinking when I took him in. The crash killed my sister, and he wasn’t hurt, but he can’t talk. He’s in a world of all his own.

Why couldn’t she see the wonderful gifts this boy possessed? He was blessed with a loving nature and a deep admiration for all living things, and I knew he could talk to animals. My heart ached for Robby, who was to stay with us for the summer, and had already been the dearest part of our world, eagerly tending the garden with me and my husband, Tom.

On a string around Robby’s neck hung a whistle, in case he was ever lost or in danger. After all, he could not call out for help. But he knew perfectly well that the whistle was not a toy. Blowing on it would bring us both running. I had told him the story of the boy who cried wolf, and I knew he understood me.

I sighed as I cleared up the last supper dish. Every ounce of recycled water was saved for a tiny vegetable garden Robby had planted. Tom turned to me. “You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about...”

Before he could continue, a scream from the yard made us jump. My God! It’s Robby’s whistle! When we reached him, he was pointing excitedly to the sky. Looking up, we saw the most magnificent sight: Rain Clouds! “Robby! Quick! We need all the pots and pans!”

Robby raced with me to the house. A drop of water fell on my pot and then another. Soon the yard was enveloped in soaking, glorious rain. We all stood with faces held upward to feel the comfort of it. Tom picked up Robby and danced about the pots, shouting and whooping, “Rain for Robby!” Tom swung about to show me Robby’s face: he was laughing right out loud, “W-W-Wobby’s!” “Wobby’s … wain … Mom,” giggling（咯咯地笑）, and stretching out one tiny hand in the shape of a cup to catch the rain.

I hugged them both, tears of joy mixing with the rain.

1.The underlined phrase “the wonderful gifts” in the 3rd paragraph refers to Robby’s ______.

A．love for nature and all living things

B．kindness to help others around

C．independence since his childhood

D．readiness to accept what happened to him

2.It was because ______ that the author and her husband would run on hearing the whistle.

A．it was going to rain

B．Robby often surprised us with his whistle

C．something bad might happen to Robby.

D．Robby might find something special

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A．Robby was old enough, but still couldn’t speak.

B．Robby’s aunt regretted bringing Robby home.

C．Robby didn’t accept the author and Tom as his parents.

D．Robby happened to find the rain cloud and was terrified.

4.It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

A．we should show mercy for the disabled children

B．every child has his own talent however young he is

C．children from poor families take responsibilities earlier

D．children’s sensitive hearts are worthy to be taken care of

单词拼写（每小题1分 共15分）
【小题1】It sounds a good idea, but it r__________ to be seen whether it will succeed.
【小题2】She prefers pop music and jazz to c__________ music.
【小题3】A m_______ is a person who performs or writes music, especially as his/her job.
【小题4】Many countries, i_________ China, are strongly against terrorism (恐怖主义).
【小题5】C__________ among youths to enter the best colleges is intense (激烈的).
【小题6】Unexpected difficulties a__________ when they were doing their experiment.
【小题7】Man should protect w__________ for his own existence.
【小题8】There is no _________ (怀疑) that he can do the job well.
【小题9】More than a hundred people were killed in the crash and only five passengers ______(幸存).
【小题10】People in Europe are not ________ (熟悉) with Chinese music.
【小题11】We will ___________(替换) any goods that are damaged.
【小题12】The noise from the street __________ (影响) our work.
【小题13】What should we do to punish those who do _______(危害) to the animals?
【小题14】I would _________ (感激)it if you could pay in cash.
【小题15】Hangzhou is an ancient city with many c      sites. Many visitors come to Hangzhou every year.

单词拼写（每小题1分 共15分）

1.It sounds a good idea, but it r__________ to be seen whether it will succeed.

2.She prefers pop music and jazz to c__________ music.

3.A m_______ is a person who performs or writes music, especially as his/her job.

4.Many countries, i_________ China, are strongly against terrorism (恐怖主义).

5.C__________ among youths to enter the best colleges is intense (激烈的).

6.Unexpected difficulties a__________ when they were doing their experiment.

7.Man should protect w__________ for his own existence.

8.There is no _________ (怀疑) that he can do the job well.

9.More than a hundred people were killed in the crash and only five passengers ______(幸存).

10.People in Europe are not ________ (熟悉) with Chinese music.

11.We will ___________(替换) any goods that are damaged.

12.The noise from the street __________ (影响) our work.

13.What should we do to punish those who do _______(危害) to the animals?

14.I would _________ (感激)it if you could pay in cash.

15.Hangzhou is an ancient city with many c      sites. Many visitors come to Hangzhou every year.

Little Robby, our neighbour’s nephew, carefully drew some water into a bowl and started for the door. How I hated this water rationing (定量供应). We were forced to bathe in the deep little pond we shared with Jessie, our cow. Wells were dry, and crops transformed to dust.
I watched Robby sitting down onto the steps to my house. Bees buzzed circling his hair, and he buzzed with them. I remembered his aunt’s words: I don’t know what I was thinking when I took him in. The crash killed my sister, and he wasn’t hurt, but he can’t talk. He’s in a world of all his own.
Why couldn’t she see the wonderful gifts this boy possessed? He was blessed with a loving nature and a deep admiration for all living things, and I knew he could talk to animals. My heart ached for Robby, who was to stay with us for the summer, and had already been the dearest part of our world, eagerly tending the garden with me and my husband, Tom.
On a string around Robby’s neck hung a whistle, in case he was ever lost or in danger. After all, he could not call out for help. But he knew perfectly well that the whistle was not a toy. Blowing on it would bring us both running. I had told him the story of the boy who cried wolf, and I knew he understood me.
I sighed as I cleared up the last supper dish. Every ounce of recycled water was saved for a tiny vegetable garden Robby had planted. Tom turned to me. “You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about...”
Before he could continue, a scream from the yard made us jump. My God! It’s Robby’s whistle! When we reached him, he was pointing excitedly to the sky. Looking up, we saw the most magnificent sight: Rain Clouds! “Robby! Quick! We need all the pots and pans!”
Robby raced with me to the house. A drop of water fell on my pot and then another. Soon the yard was enveloped in soaking, glorious rain. We all stood with faces held upward to feel the comfort of it. Tom picked up Robby and danced about the pots, shouting and whooping, “Rain for Robby!” Tom swung about to show me Robby’s face: he was laughing right out loud, “W-W-Wobby’s!” “Wobby’s … wain … Mom,” giggling（咯咯地笑）, and stretching out one tiny hand in the shape of a cup to catch the rain.
I hugged them both, tears of joy mixing with the rain.
【小题1】The underlined phrase “the wonderful gifts” in the 3rd paragraph refers to Robby’s ______.