There are two things I can count on my dad asking every time he calls me: “Is there anything I can do for you?” and “How’s the car?” I guess he asks what he can do for me because his dad (an air force officer) was never really there for him, and he’s determined to provide me with the support he lacked. During my youth he never missed a school play or softball game. In fact, he was so supportive that I sometimes longed for one of those dads who dressed better and cared less. But my dad would forever be the guy wearing shorts with dress shoes and black socks, cheering me on, expecting greatness.

His other standard question—How’s the car? -- used to strike me as a waste of long-distance dollars from a man who once suggested making a list of what you want to talk about before calling someone out of state. What I now realize is that “How’s the car?” is not about the car. It’s a father’s way of asking his adult daughter how she is doing. The advantage is that if there’s something wrong with the car, he knows what to do about it and how much it will cost, whereas if you’re having problems about marriage or doubting a career choice, he might have to act Mom on the line.

At age thirty I finally took the plunge(跳进) into adulthood by renting a car without my dad’s help or advice. I’m sure my dad was hurt rather than proud. Though a daughter’s independence is evidence of a job well done, it still implies the job’s done, and many fathers are unwilling to retire. Even when my dad was overworked, he’d happily jump on a plane if I said I needed help. His frequent question “Is there anything I can do for you?” underlines the fact that he wishes there was still something he could provide. It’s interesting: Even though we’re tied by blood and I love him no matter what, he still seems to need a concrete function -- suggesting stocks, finding the cheapest plane fare -- to feel he has a role in my life.

1.In the author’s opinion, her father always attended her school plays or softball games to_____.

A. satisfy any demand she made to him

B. show his interest and watch them for fun

C. make up what he was previously short of?

D. expect his daughter would be great in games

2.The author has learned that by asking “How is the car?”, her father is actually_____.

A. reminding her not to waste money

B. asking how his daughter is getting along

C. expressing his concern for her daughter’s safety

D. asking his daughter if the car breaks down or not

3.According to the author, her father, like many other fathers, is unwilling to retire probably because_____.

A. he wants to continue to earn money

B. he is doubtful of children’s independence

C. he won’t put an end to caring for his children

D. he is afraid of losing connection with children

4.We can safely draw a conclusion from the story that in the author’s eye her father_____.

A. has a strong passion for his work

B. has the deepest love for his children

C. has great interest in his daughter’s car

D. has too much control over his children

What I Want for You and Every Child in America

Dear Malia and Sasha,

       I know that you've both had a lot of ___（31） these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have．But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't ____（32）for all the time we've been apart．I know ____（33）I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey．

       When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd___（34） my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want．But then the two of you came into my____（35） with all your curiosity and mischief （捣乱） and those smiles that never____（36） to fill my heart and light up my day．

       I want all our children to go to schools_____（37） of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill （灌输） in them a sense of_____（38） about the world around them．I want them to have the chance to go to college____（39）their parents aren't rich．And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own_____（40）and retire with dignity．

       I want us to____（41） the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer．And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach _____（42）the divides of race and region, gender and religion that_____（43） us from seeing the best in each other．

       That was the_____（44） your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for_____（45） because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean_____（46）．

       She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better and that the_____（47）work of perfecting our union falls to each of us．It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to_____（48）we know America should be．

       These are the things I want for you, to_____（49）in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach．And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have．That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure．

       I am so proud of both of you．I love you______（50）you can ever know．And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise （自信）, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House．

       Love, Dad

A．play         B．fun        C．pain      D．gain

A．take up            B．pick up       C．make up     D．put up

A．how much      B．how many       C．how soon        D．how long

A．lose               B．make          C．take         D．walk

A．world            B．family          C．position         D．place

A．succeed          B．come        C．tend           D．fail

A．worth            B．worthless     C．worthwhile      D．worthy

A．humor             B．happiness       C．wonder         D．sadness

A．even if            B．as if            C．though          D．although

A．friends           B．kids            C．boys           D．girls

A．rush              B．catch           C．push            D．pull

A．to                B．in              C．into            D．beyond

A．keep              B．let              C．make           D．warn

A．way              B．method         C．means           D．lesson

A．quantity           B．quality          C．equality         D．quarter

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

A．unfinished          B．finished        C．unfinishing      D．finishing

A．which             B．who            C．what            D．that

A．wake up           B．grow up        C．come up        D．get up

A．rather than        B．other than       C．less than         D．more than

“Mama, when I grow up, I’m going to be one of those!” I said this after seeing the Capital Dancing Company perform when I was three. It was the first time that my dream took on a vivid form and acted as something important to start my training. As I grew older and was exposed to more, my interests in the world of dance certainly varied but that little girl’s dream of someday becoming a dancer in the company never left me. In the summer of 2005 when I was 18, I received the phone call which made that dream a reality: I became a member of the company dating back to 1925.
As I look back on that day now, it surely lacks any sense of reality. I believe I stayed in a state of pleasant disbelief until I was halfway through rehearsals (排练) on my first day. I never actually expect to get the job. After being offered the position, I was completely astonished. I remember shaking with excitement.
Though I was absolutely thrilled with the chance, it did not come without its fair share of challenge. Through the strict rehearsal period of dancing six days a week, I found it vital to pick up the material fast with every last bit of concentration. It is that extreme attention to detail (细节) and stress on practice that set us apart. To then follow those high-energy rehearsals with a busy show schedule of up to five performances a day, I discovered a new meaning of the words “hard work.” What I thought were my physical boundaries were pushed much further than I thought possible. I learned to make each performance better than the last.
Today, when I look at the unbelievable company that I have the great honor of being a part of, not only as a member, but as a dance captain, I see a tradition that has inspired not only generations of little girls but a splendid company that continues to develop and grow-and inspires people every day to follow their dreams.
【小题1】 How many years has the Capital Dancing Company existed when the author received the phone call from it?

Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title, says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games.

Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism"

"In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me."

She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure in Athens.

"Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me."

Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens.

"In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the race."

Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records.

However, Radcliffe has not ruled out in the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times.

"I don't think that ——although I can't put a number on it," said. Radcliffe. "That changes from person to person."

Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in the United States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again 12 months later.

Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometre race three years ago.

Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later in Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 London event.

1.Radcliffe’s failure in Athens made her___________.?

A. develop respect for Liz?   B. love people around her more?

C. rest for five months?      D. face criticism calmly?

2.Which of the following is true according to the passage??

A. Radcliffe broke the world record in the New York City marathon.?

B. Radcliffe didn’t fully recover before the New York City marathon.?

C. Radcliffe won her first marathon title in the New York City marathon.?

D. Radcliffe had a 3-month training before the New York City marathon.?

3. By saying “I can’t put a number on it,” Radcliffe means she’s not sure ___________.?

A. if she has the ability to set a new world record?

B. if she can win another race though she has won many times?

C. how many times a marathon runner can set the world record?

D. if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times?

4. According to the text, Radcliffe has won ___________ London marathon title(s).?

A. one　　　　　B. two?             C. three          D. four

5.What can we learn from Radcliffe’s story??

A. Practice makes perfect.?            B. Well begun is half done.?

C. Where there is a will, there is a way.?  D. A friend in need is a fried indeed.

完形填空（共20小题；每小题2分，满分30分 ）
The car， running along the well-lit road， now sank in darkness. I broke the _____36_____ on purpose， ______37_____ that the driver was too tired to drive. ’’When do you go back home in the evening？“9 o’clock after this _____38_____.”Then when do you come out in the morning？“I _____39______ another question.”9 o’clock， too——just as if I worked at an office.” His ____40____ surprised me， because every time I ride a taxi， what I _____41____ from the driver are only complaints that they have to work from morning till night， it’s hard to earn money， they’re often _____42____ by the police， or that their leaders are seated lazy， ____43____ the fruits. But this driver told me，”I find it ____44____ to be a section chief as I was before. I like driving just for _____45_____. Its fortunate that I hardly drive ____46____ a passenger. So I earn two or three thousand Yuan a month with ease. Yes， I never _____47_____ an empty taxi. If it goes southward， I go northward. If it goes along a _____48_____， I turn into a narrow street…”
　　His words showed his ______49_____ with his life and the pride he _____50_____ in his job. Such feelings are so rare among people nowadays as oxygen in high _____51_____. As an ancient saying goes，”Neither joy in material _____52_____ nor grieve over personal setbacks.” How many people nowadays can show high ideals by _____53_____ living and go far with a calm mind？ I couldn’t help feeling _____54_____ when finding such a state of mind in a stranger on a cold _____55_____.