C
FOR many of us, cartoon strips（连环画） are simply one of our pastimes. The popular Japanese manga provides us with an escape from reality into a world of fantasy, adventure and romance. With much less text and pictures running for pages, it fits perfectly into today's fast, throwing away city lifestyle.
But Tsai Chih-chung, a famous Taiwanese illustrator (漫画家), doesn't agree. He believes cartoons can be a bridge connecting traditional Chinese culture and wisdom with the modern world in a much more wise and acceptable way.
He has interpreted（演绎） Lao Zi, Confucius, Mencius, Zhuang Zi and Sun Zi and made their works accessible to a global audience. He has also produced two books about Zen (禅宗), introducing oriental philosophy（哲学）. His cartoons are humorous yet full of wisdom and are admired as an easy way to learn Chinese classics.
After avoiding the public for ten years, Tsai made a comeback in late April with seven new works. But does his age, 61, work as a gap between him and his young readers? Tsai doesn't think so.
The topics he has covered range from philosophy in a time of individuality(个性) to the learning and memorizing techniques used at school. "Every child is a genius and has the potential beyond his own imagination," he said.
If popular Japanese manga is simply for entertainment, Tsai's work, to a large extent, is to light the power of thinking in a light-hearted way. Tsai uses different forms of water to refer to people. In his eyes some people are like an ocean, some are like vapor , while others may be ice or rain. But in essence they share a similarity – human being's forever chasing for the true and the good.
"The person who thinks over life issues is not necessarily a scholar or a philosopher," he said. "I've devoted my whole life to thinking and individual freedom, not making a living."
64．Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Tsai’s work fits today’s city lifestyle.
B．All of Tsai’s works mainly introduce eastern philosophy.
C．Tsai’s works are humorous as well as full of wisdom.
D．Tsai’s works are not involved in children’s study.
65．What’s the word “vapor” mean in the 6th paragraph?
It means          .
A．a kind of food  B．a form of water       C．a form of solid D．a kind of people
66．From the passage we know that       .
A．Tsai once stopped writing his works for ten years
B．Tsai writes his works in order to make a living
C．Tsai thinks everyone should be a scholar or a philosopher
D．Tsai doesn’t think there is a gap between him and his young readers
67．In the author’s opinion,         .
A．Japanese Manga is more valuable than Tsai’s
B．Tsai’s works are more valuable than Japanese Manga
C．Japanese Manga is as valuable as Tsai’s
D．Both Japanese Manga and Tsai’s works are valueless

B

To: manager@ tastytreat.com.ca

Date: Monday, 7 October, 3:34p.m.

From: raymondyuen@ canada.net

Subject: Complaint

Dear Mr. Price,

I have eaten in your restaurant many times and have always been happy with the food and service. This makes what happened last Saturday even more disappointing.

It was my son’s birthday so we booked a no-smoking table at your restaurant for 7:30 p.m. We arrived on time but were told that our table was not yet ready. At 8:00 p.m., we were given a table in the smoking section. I asked to move but I was told that there were no other tables. A lot of people were smoking so it was uncomfortable and unhealthy.

Our first waitress, Janet, was very polite and helpful. She gave us free drinks for waiting so long. Our food also came quickly and looked fresh and tasty. When my wife had eaten most of her meal, she found a dead cockroach (蟑螂) in her vegetables. She was shocked and wanted to leave. At first, the waitress told us it was a piece of garlic(蒜). When we told her that garlic does not have legs, she apologized and took the food away.

We asked for the bill, expecting not to pay for my wife’s meal. Nobody came. After 15 minutes, I asked to see the manager. The head waiter told us that you were on holiday. I complained again about the horrible cockroach. He told me Janet had finished work. He didn’t believe my story and gave me a bill for three meals. I argued with him but was forced to pay.

The waitress, Janet, was always friendly, but I would like an apology from your impolite head waiter and a full refund (退款) for our meal. It cost $68. Until then, I will not be eating at your restaurant or recommending it to anyone.

You can contact me at 742-3254 or through e-mail if you want more information.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Raymond Yuen

69. We learn from the text that last Saturday Mr. Yuen _____.

　 A. was satisfied with the restaurant.          B. was disappointed with the restaurant

　 C. had to wait for his food                   D. ate for the first time at the restaurant

70. The writer had to pay the bill because _______.

A. the head waiter would not believe his story 

B. the manager was on holiday

C. Janet didn’t believe there was cockroach in the vegetables

D. his wife had eaten most of her meal

71. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Mr.Yuen demanded that the head waiter apologize to him.

B. Mr.Yuen asked for a full refund for their meal.

C. Mr.Yuen will not eat at the restaurant any more.

D. The head waiter was not as polite as Janet. 

                      D

After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed.

During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy（肌肉萎缩症）. When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, and then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter(举重运动员), and I knew about overcoming obstacles (障碍) and going for my dreams.

I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weight with me.

When we finished talking, I went to my briefcase(衣箱) and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion(冠军). You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”

Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents telling me that Matthew had passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:

Dear Rick,

My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live anymore. But I still smile as much as I can.

I told you someday I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I will never get to do that. But I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.

       Your friend,

        Mathew

72.  The boy wanted to meet the author because ______.

       A. he was interested in what the author was doing 

B. he wanted to get a gold medal himself

       C. he admired the author very much    

D. he wanted the author to know him too

73.  The underlined part in the third paragraph probably means “______”.

       A. Why do you come to see me?    B. Why do I have to stay at home?

       C. Why does the disease fall on me?     D. Why not give a gold medal to me?

74.  We can infer from the passage that ______.

       A. Matthew was a determined boy and considered himself as normal

       B. Rick used to have the same disease and later became a power lifter

       C. Matthew was to become a champion before he died

       D. After meeting Matthew, Rick regarded him as normal.

75.  The author wrote the passage with the purpose of ______.

       A. describing his unusual friendship with a disabled child

       B. showing his admiration towards the disabled child

       C. telling an experience of meeting a disabled child

D. expressing his pity to all the disabled children

D

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, some high schools in America wanted the students to pledge allegiance（宣誓效忠） to the flag. Is it necessary or not? Let’s see how the kids think of this requirement.

Lea Mouallem, Marymount High School

I believe that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a way of reminding our country that no matter what happens, we are united. I don’t think our president wants us to go and join the army now, but he wants to tell us that we will be able to overcome the disaster as a whole nation that is working together.

Harry Chin, 15, Culver City High School

I am not for the Pledge of Allegiance and I am not against the Pledge of Allegiance because I just say it so many times that it loses meaning. I say it every day at school in the second period. It doesn’t mean anything any more.

David Tran, 15, Warren High School.

The Pledge of Allegiance is another sign of country. We should have some respect to it. In many schools, we don’t say the Pledge every morning-we just stand up and let the National anthem ring through the silence. We said the Pledge of Allegiance on Sept. 12.

Danny Maryanor, 16, Santa Monica High School

I wonder why we were suddenly asked to recite the Pledge when many of us stopped after elementary school; and the Pledge was recited before the play of “Ode to Joy” （欢乐颂）with recorders. This was not to express patriotism（爱国主义）, or even to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

I feel I cannot support a nation that in this time of crisis looks outward for revenge（报复）instead of inward for peace. Perhaps we should think more about our problems.

68.Saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag first appeared in American schools______

    A．after Sept. 11, 2000     B．before Sept. 11, 2001

       C．on Sept. 11, 2001           D．after Sept. 11, 2001

69．Who were for the Pledge of Allegiance?

       A．Lea Mouallem; David Tran         B．Harry Chin; Danny Maryanor

       C．Lea Mouallem; Danny Maryanor    D．Harry Chin; David Tran

70．Which of the following is TRUE?

       A．Harry Chin thought the government required them to join the army.

       B．Lea Mouallem thought the Pledge of Allegiance of no meaning.

       C．Danny Maryanor felt the terrorist attacks happened partly because of America’s own problem.

       D．The Pledge of Allegiance is of another country.

71．According to the passage, it can be imagined that________.

       A．all high school students say yes to the Pledge of Allegiance.

       B．all high school students say no to the Pledge of Allegiance.

       C．all kids don’t agree to the requirement of saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

       D．all high schools will require their students to pledge allegiance to the flag.

C

       FOR many of us, cartoon strips（连环画） are simply one of our pastimes. The popular Japanese manga provides us with an escape from reality into a world of fantasy, adventure and romance. With much less text and pictures running for pages, it fits perfectly into today's fast, throwing away city lifestyle.

       But Tsai Chih-chung, a famous Taiwanese illustrator (漫画家), doesn't agree. He believes cartoons can be a bridge connecting traditional Chinese culture and wisdom with the modern world in a much more wise and acceptable way.

       He has interpreted（演绎） Lao Zi, Confucius, Mencius, Zhuang Zi and Sun Zi and made their works accessible to a global audience. He has also produced two books about Zen (禅宗), introducing oriental philosophy（哲学）. His cartoons are humorous yet full of wisdom and are admired as an easy way to learn Chinese classics.

       After avoiding the public for ten years, Tsai made a comeback in late April with seven new works. But does his age, 61, work as a gap between him and his young readers? Tsai doesn't think so.

       The topics he has covered range from philosophy in a time of individuality(个性) to the learning and memorizing techniques used at school. "Every child is a genius and has the potential beyond his own imagination," he said.

       If popular Japanese manga is simply for entertainment, Tsai's work, to a large extent, is to light the power of thinking in a light-hearted way. Tsai uses different forms of water to refer to people. In his eyes some people are like an ocean, some are like vapor , while others may be ice or rain. But in essence they share a similarity – human being's forever chasing for the true and the good.

       "The person who thinks over life issues is not necessarily a scholar or a philosopher," he said. "I've devoted my whole life to thinking and individual freedom, not making a living."

64．Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?

       A．Tsai’s work fits today’s city lifestyle.

       B．All of Tsai’s works mainly introduce eastern philosophy.

       C．Tsai’s works are humorous as well as full of wisdom.

       D．Tsai’s works are not involved in children’s study.

65．What’s the word “vapor” mean in the 6th paragraph?

       It means          .

       A．a kind of food  B．a form of water       C．a form of solid D．a kind of people

66．From the passage we know that       .

       A．Tsai once stopped writing his works for ten years

       B．Tsai writes his works in order to make a living

       C．Tsai thinks everyone should be a scholar or a philosopher

       D．Tsai doesn’t think there is a gap between him and his young readers

67．In the author’s opinion,         .

       A．Japanese Manga is more valuable than Tsai’s

       B．Tsai’s works are more valuable than Japanese Manga

       C．Japanese Manga is as valuable as Tsai’s

       D．Both Japanese Manga and Tsai’s works are valueless