On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily, and he realized the fact that the time had come for him to provide against the coming winter.

The winter ambitions of Soapy were not of the highest. In them there were no dreams of Mediterranean voyages or blue Southern skies. Three months on the Island was what his soul desired. Three months of assured board and bed and good company, safe from north winds seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing.

Just as the more fortunate New Yorkers had bought their tickets to Palm Beach each winter, Soapy had made his arrangements for his annual journey to the Island. And now the time had come.

There were many institutions of charity in New York where he might receive lodging and food, but to Soapy’s proud spirit the gifts of charity were undesirable. You must pay in humiliation of spirit for everything received at the hands of mercy. So it was better to be a guest of the law.

Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about accomplishing his desire. He left his bench and went up Broadway. He stopped at the door of a glittering cafe. He was shaven and his coat was decent. If he could reach a table in the restaurant, the portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted duck, with a bottle of wine, a cigar and a cup of coffee would be enough. Such a dinner would make him happy, for the journey to his winter refuge.

But as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter’s eye fell upon his shabby trousers and old shoes. Strong hands pushed him in silence and haste out into the street.

Some other way of entering the desirable refuge must be found.

At a corner of Sixth Avenue Soapy took a stone and sent it through the glass of a glittering shop window. People came running around the corner, a policeman at the head of them. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of the policeman.

“Where is the man that has done that?” asked the policeman.

“Don’t you think that I have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, friendly.

The policeman paid no attention to Soapy. Men who break windows don’t remain to speak with policemen. They run away. He saw a man running and rushed after him, stick in hand. Soapy, disgusted, walked along, twice unsuccessful.

On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant for people with large appetites and modest purses. Soapy entered this place without difficulty. He sat at a table and ate beefsteak and pie. And then he told the waiter he had no money.

“Go and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.”

“No cop for you,” said the waiter. “Hey!”

Then Soapy found himself lying upon his left ear on the pavement. He arose with difficulty, and beat the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed a rosy dream. The Island seemed far away.

After another unsuccessful attempt to be arrested for harassing a young woman, Soapy went further toward the district of theatres.

When he saw a policeman standing in front of a glittering theatre, he thought of “disorderly conduct”. On the sidewalk Soapy began to sing drunken songs at the top of his voice. He danced, cried, and otherwise disturbed the peace.

The policeman turned his back to Soapy, and said to a citizen, “It is one of the Yale boys celebrating their football victory. Noisy, but no harm.”

Sadly, Soapy stopped his useless singing and dancing. The Island seemed unattainable. He buttoned his thin coat against the north wind.

In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man who had set his silk umbrella by the door. Soapy entered the store, took the umbrella, and went out with it slowly. The man with the cigar followed hastily.

“My umbrella,” he said.

“Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Well, why don’t you call a policeman? I took your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There stands one on the corner.”

The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. The policeman looked at them curiously.

“Of course,” said the umbrella man, “well, you know how these mistakes occur…if it’s your umbrella I hope you’ll excuse me – I picked it up this morning in a restaurant – if it’s yours, I hope you’ll…”

“Of course it’s mine,” said Soapy.

The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to help a well-dressed woman across the street.

Soapy threw the umbrella angrily. He was angry with the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. They seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.

At last Soapy stopped before an old church on a quiet corner. Through one window a soft light glowed, where, the organist played a Sunday anthem. For there came to Soapy’s ears sweet music that caught and held him at the iron fence.

The moon was shining; cars and pedestrians were few; birds twittered sleepily under the roof. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends.

The influence of the music and the old church produced a sudden and wonderful change in Soapy’s soul. He thought of his degraded days, dead hopes and wrecked faculties.

And also in a moment a strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fate. He would pull himself out of this pit; he would make a man of himself again. Those sweet notes had set up a revolution in him. Tomorrow he would be somebody in the world. He would…

Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.

“What are you doing here?”

“Nothing.”

“Then come along,” said the policeman.

“Three months on the Island,” said the Judge the next morning.

1.Soapy regarded the Island as his winter ambition because _____.

A. he wanted to go on Mediterranean voyages and enjoy blue Southern skies

B. he wanted to spend the cold winter somewhere warm other than New York

C. he wanted to be put into prison to survive the coming winter

D. he wanted to buy a ticket to the Island to spend the cold winter

2.Which of the following is the reason for Soapy’s not turning to charity?

A. His pride gets in the way.

B. What the institutions of charity offer isn’t what Soapy needs.

C. He wants to be a citizen who obeys the law.

D. The institutions of charity are not located on the island.

3. How many times did Soapy try to accomplish his desire?

A. 4.                                       B. 5.                                       C. 6.                                       D. 7.

4. From the passage, we can see what the two restaurants have in common is that _____.

A. they are both fancy upper class restaurants

B. neither of them served Soapy

C. they both drove Soapy out of the restaurant after he finished his meal

D. neither of them called cops

5.Hearing the Sunday anthem at the church, Soapy _____.

A. was reminded of his good old days and wanted to play the anthem again

B. was reminded of his unaccomplished ambition and was determined to get to the Island

C. was reminded of his disgraceful past and determined to transform himself

D. was reminded of his rosy dream and wished to realize it

6.By ending the story this way, the author means to _____.

A. show that one always gets what he/she wants with enough efforts

B. make a contrast and criticize the sick society

C. surprise readers by proving justice was done after all

D. put a tragic end to Soapy’s life and show his sympathy for Soapy

On Sundays my father always wore that black apron—the one with the race cars all over it. After breakfast Dad always announced: “Go ahead everyone.I'll take care of the dishes！” With that my mother disappeared into the folds of the Sunday paper. Off_came_the_suit_coat_he_had_worn_to_church_that_morning._Up_went_the_shirtsleeves._On_went_that_apron. For the next hour Dad did the dishes, singing songs like“Who Put the Chow in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder”？

I suppose it was strange for a father to wear an apron—even one with race cars—but I never thought much of it until that Sunday when we walked home from church together.“Tommy”， he said，“There comes a time in every boy's life when he must take on responsibilities．” “Responsibilities？” I asked. “Yes. It's time you took a greater role in the household. Starting today, I want you to do the dishes on Sunday morning so your mother and I can relax.” “The dishes？” “Anything wrong with taking over the dishes？”I started to say something about a man's job, but I knew immediately that my protests would fall on deaf ears.

I didn't taste a bit of breakfast that morning. My father announced to my mother, “Let's go to read the paper, honey.Our oldest son has generously offered to fill the position.”So this was what my life had come to.

People often say there is a special chemistry between a father and a son. He came back into the kitchen just as I was about to storm out. In his right hand was the old apron.“I want you to have this, Tommy. It'll keep your clothes from getting wet.” And before I could do anything, he had put that apron on me. “Thanks, Son. Your mother and I appreciate this.”

With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked down at the apron.It had seen better days.I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. Soon I was singing about Mrs. Murphy's Chowder.

16．What is the main purpose of the underlined sentences in the first paragraph?

A．To show the unwillingness of his father when doing dishes.

B．To instruct the main steps of how his father does dishes.

C．To emphasize his father's clumsy way of doing dishes.

D．To stress the enjoyment and happiness of his father's doing dishes.

17．What does the underlined word “responsibilities” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．Taking care of the brothers.

B．Making progress academically.

C．Doing all the dishes.

D．Washing the apron with race cars.

18．What did the author mean by saying “People often say there is a special chemistry between a father and a son” in the fourth paragraph?

A．Mind acts upon mind.

B．Like father like son.

C．A child is better unborn than untaught.

D．Obedience is the first duty of a boy.

19．How did the author feel at the end of the passage?

A．Proud. B．Enjoyable.

C．Surprised. D．Regretful.

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would ___36__."

Blue interrupted, "You only think about the __37__, but consider the sky and the sea．__38__ the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be __39__."

Yellow chuckled （笑道）, "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, fun, and __40__ into the world．"

Orange started next to blow her trumpet, "I am the color of health and strength. I may be __41__, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. When I fill the sky __42__, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another __43__ to any of you."

Red could stand it __44__ and he shouted out, "I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to __45__ truth. I am also the color of passion and of love."

Then came Purple and Indigo （深蓝）. …

The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own __46__. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder. Rain started to pour down __47__. The colors crouched （蜷缩） down __48__, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor （叫嚷）, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors, fighting __49__ yourselves, each trying to dominate __50__. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, __51__? Join hands with __52__ and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors __53__ and joined hands. They formed a colorful rainbow. From then on, whenever a good rain ___54__ the world, a rainbow appears in the sky. They remember to __55__ one another.

36．A．stay                      B．leave                     C．go out                    D．die

37．A．earth                     B．moon                     C．star                        D．sun

38．A．That is                   B．I am                             C．It is                      D．This is

39．A．anything               B．nothing                  C．something              D．everything

40．A．warmth                  B．sadness                  C．depression             D．anxiety

41．A．usual                     B．normal                   C．common                D．scarce

42．A．at midnight            B．at noon or at night   C．at sunrise or sunset D．during the day

43．A．gift                      B．honor                    C．thought                  D．respect

44．A．for more               B．any more                      C．very much              D．no longer

45．A．turn to                   B．fight for                 C．struggle with          D．bend over

46．A．superiority             B．disadvantages        C．inferiority             D．weakness

47．A．gently                    B．quietly                   C．violently               D．peacefully

48．A．with care                      B．in fear                   C．by chance              D．on purpose

49．A．amongst                 B．by                         C．for                        D．against

50．A．others                    B．themselves             C．the other               D．the rest

51．A．equal and simple     B．ordinary and similar C．more or less    D．unique and different

52．A．each other              B．me                        C．one another            D．them

53．A．combined               B．separated               C．united                    D．divided

54．A．cleans                    B．washes                   C．brightens               D．dampens

55．A．appreciate              B．quarrel with           C．ignore                    D．praise

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would   21  ."

Blue interrupted, "You only think about the   22  , but consider the sky and the sea.   23  the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be   24  ."

Yellow chuckled（笑道）, "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, fun, and   25   into the world."

Orange started next to blow her trumpet, "I am the color of health and strength. I may be  26  , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. When I fill the sky   27  , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another   28   to any of you."

Red could stand it   29   and he shouted out, "I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to   30   truth. I am also the color of passion and of love."

Then came Purple and Indigo（深蓝）….

The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own   31  . Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder. Rain started to pour down   32  . The colors crouched（蜷缩）down   33  , drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor（叫嚷）, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors, fighting   34

yourselves, each trying to dominate  35   . Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose,   36  ? Join hands with   37   and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors   38   and joined hands. They formed a colorful rainbow. From then on, whenever a good rain   39   the world, a rainbow appears in the sky. They remember to   40   one another.

A. stay              B. leave               C. go out               D. die

A. earth            B. moon               C. star                   D. sun

A. That is          B. I am                C. It is                  D. This is

A. anything              B. nothing            C. something          D. everything

A. warmth         B. sadness           C. depression           D. anxiety

A. usual            B. normal             C. common              D. scarce

A. at midnight     B. at noon or at night    C. at sunrise or sunset   D. during the day

A. gift                 B. honor                 C. thought              D. respect

A. for more             B. any more                   C. very much          D. no longer

A. turn to      B. fight for                   C. struggle with         D. bend over

A. superiority     B. disadvantages        C. inferiority         D. weakness

A. gently        B. quietly                C. violently            D. peacefully

A. with care       B. in fear                C. by chance         D. on purpose

A. amongst        B. by                   C. for                  D. against

A. others        B. themselves             C. the other            D. the rest

A. equal and simple B. ordinary and similar  C. more or less  D. unique and different

A. each other     B. me                  C. one another               D. them

A. combined      B. separated            C. united            D. divided

A. cleans        B. washes                C. brightens            D. dampens

A. appreciate     B. quarrel with           C. ignore            D. praise

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would ___1__.”

Blue interrupted, “You only think about the __2__, but consider the sky and the sea. __3__ the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. Without my peace, you would all be __4__.”

Yellow chuckled (笑道), “You are all so serious. I bring laughter, fun, and __5__ into the world.”

Orange started next to blow her trumpet, “I am the color of health and strength. I may be __6__, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. When I fill the sky __7__, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another __8__ to any of you.”

Red could stand it __9__ and he shouted out, “I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to __10__ truth. I am also the color of passion and of love.”

Then came Purple and Indigo (深蓝) …

The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own __11__. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder. Rain started to pour down __12__. The colors crouched (蜷缩) down __13__, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor (叫嚷), rain began to speak, “You foolish colors, fighting __14__ yourselves, each trying to dominate __15__. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, __16__? Join hands with __17__ and come to me.”

Doing as they were told, the colors __18__ and joined hands. They formed a colorful rainbow. From then on, whenever a good rain ___19__ the world, a rainbow appears in the sky. They remember to __20__ one another.

1. A. stay                     B. leave                    C. go out                     D. die

2. A. earth                   B. moon                          C. star                         D. sun

3. A. That is                 B. I am                        C. It is                         D. This is

4. A. anything              B. nothing                    C. something             D. everything

5. A. warmth                      B. sadness                   C. depression              D. anxiety

6. A. usual                   B. normal                     C. common              D. scarce

7. A. at midnight           B. at noon or at night     C. at sunrise or sunset   D. during the day

8. A. gift                      B. honor                      C. thought                   D. respect

9. A. for more              B. any more                 C. very much                   D. no longer

10. A. turn to                      B. fight for                   C. struggle with            D. bend over

11. A. superiority          B. disadvantages           C. inferiority                D. weakness

12. A. gently                B. quietly                     C. violently                  D. peacefully

13. A. with care           B. in fear                     C. by chance               D. on purpose

14. A. among                   B. by                           C. for                          D. against

15. A. others                B. themselves               C. the other                  D. the rest

16. A. equal and simple  B. ordinary and similar   C. more or less          D. unique and different

17. A. each other          B. me                          C. one another              D. them

18. A. combined           B. separated                 C. united                      D. divided

19. A. cleans                B. washes                    C. brightens                 D. dampens

20. A. appreciate          B. quarrel with             C. ignore                     D. praise