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

阅读下面短文，根据以下提示：1）汉语提示，2）首字母提示，3）语境提示，在每个空格内填入一个适当的英语单词；并将该词完整地写在右边相对应的横线上。所填单词要求意义准确，拼写正确。
Sometimes you can learn more about what a person is trying to
say just by watching instead of l   . You might be talking to someone
【小题1】          
about an idea you have. He might say that he’s interested     your idea.
【小题2】           
Just watch his face. Is he l     at you or are his eyes moving around,
【小题3】          
just tired of w   you’re saying ? It’s important to watch other’s body
【小题4】          
language carefully because it provides a lot of useful       （信息）.
【小题5】          
Sometimes a person will be speaking too q    or use words that you 
【小题6】         
don’t understand. If you pay attention to the     （信号）he is giving,
【小题7】          
maybe you can still follow him, even    you’re not sure of the meaning
【小题8】          
of the words. This is especially    (有必要的)when watching TV or
【小题9】          
in other situations        you can’t ask the speaker to slow down.  
【小题10】         

句子填空（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

Dear Nicolaus Copernicus,

I am a s______1. studying astronomy and I would very much like to read your new theory about the solar s_____2.

I hope you will p______3.it for several reasons.

I understand the problems with the present theory. The way the plants move is not what you would expect if the earth was the center of the u_______4.. It is also odd that the brightness of some s____5.seems to change. So I agree with you that we need a new theory.

I know your observations have been very carefully c_____6.out over many years. Now you must have the courage to publish them. S______ 7.can never advance unless people have the courage of their beliefs. I know you worry about what will h_____8. if you publish your new theory. No m_______ 9.how people oppose it, time will show w_____10.your ideas are right or wrong.

So I hope you will feel you can publish your new theory.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36~55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Roland was a carpenter in America. He and Sheila had three   36  —two boys and baby Jessica. The baby had been in and out of the hospital for the last year because of infections and   37  problems. She was very weak and sick. The doctors were not   38  that she would live another year. w.w
39  Jessica was expensive. The family was deep in   40 . Things were bad. Roland saw no light at the   41  of this tunnel (隧道). Then he saw an ad in the newspaper: “Security guards   42 , $150,000 a year. ”   
He called the number. The line was busy, but he   43  calling and finally got through. He was worried that the jobs were all taken,   44  they told him plenty of jobs were still available. They said they would give him two weeks of   45  in Texas. Then they would   46  him to Iraq for his assignment.
Roland told Sheila he had to take this job. He knew it was   47 ；he might get injured or killed, but the money was too good.   48  , the family would have full medical benefits,   49  would enable the baby to get the care she needed. Roland said if he survived the first year, he would   50  work there for one more year.
Sheila was   51 . She asked, “What if you get killed? What are we going to do without you?”
“You can’t   52  like that, honey,” he said. “You’ve got to think   53 . Think about how well off we’ll be in two or three years after I bring back all that   54 . This is the best thing I could do for this family.” Sheila   55  him and sobbed (呜咽地说) . “I don’t want you to go.”
Roland flew to Houston five days later. w.w
36．A．students         B．friends           C．workmates            D．kids
37．A．other             B．another          C．puzzling         D．strange
38．A．afraid             B．satisfied          C．confident        D．sad
39．A．Thinking of     B．Getting rid of  C．knowing of            D．Taking care of
40．A．debt              B．danger            C．thought           D．surprise
41．A．top                 B．entrance         C．bottom            D．end  
42．A．sold               B．watched         C．wanted            D．welcome
43．A．stopped          B．enjoyed          C．kept                D．finished
44．A．but                B．and                 C．so                   D．because
45．A．holiday           B．training           C．work              D．rest
46．A．invite             B．drive              C．expect            D．fly
47．A．dangerous       B．easy               C．comfortable   D．interesting
48．A．However        B．Besides          C．Therefore       D．Otherwise
49．A．that                  B．which            C．who               D．where
50．A．luckily            B．happily          C．carefully         D．probably
51．A．excited          B．worried          C．satisfied         D．disappointed
52．A．think             B．guess             C．live               D．work
53．A．active             B．positive           C．hard              D．honest
54．A．time            B．news               C．money           D．paper
55．A．took              B．missed                  C．hugged           D．left

句子填空（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

Dear Nicolaus Copernicus,

I am a s______ studying astronomy and I would very much like to read your new theory about the solar s_____

I hope you will p______it for several reasons.

   I understand the problems with the present theory. The way the plants move is not what you would expect if the earth was the center of the u_______. It is also odd that the brightness of some s____seems to change. So I agree with you that we need a new theory.

   I know your observations have been very carefully c_____out over many years. Now you must have the courage to publish them. S______ can never advance unless people have the courage of their beliefs. I know you worry about what will h_____ if you publish your new theory. No m_______ how people oppose it, time will show w_____your ideas are right or wrong.

   So I hope you will feel you can publish your new theory.

                                                    Yours sincerely,

                                                                  Li Hua