For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.
She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.
Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”
【小题1】 From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.

For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.
She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.
Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”
【小题1】From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.

That day I was later for school, so Mom offered me a   36 . I sat beside her in our car, daydreaming about my  37 . I’d be graduating from high school in a few months. I’d leave high school behind and do whatever I wanted. What  38 I do? Go to college? Or get a job in an office where I could  39 my way up?

Mom interrupted my thoughts.“Kassandra, do you  40  that?’’She asked just as we were  41  the railroad tracks. She stopped the car on the other side and   42  the window. “It looks like a child.’’  43 ,I saw a small boy walking by himeself. The warning lights on the train tracks flashed  44 .The boy stayed where he was right in the middle of the   45 .The whistle sounded. There’s no  46  that train can stop in time!The boy jumped up and down and   47  at the engineer.

I took off running. My shoes flopped(松动) against my feet as I   48 , so I kicked them off. I ran faster. Stones crunched(发出刺耳的碎裂声) and flew under my   49  feet. The ground shook. God, let me get to him! The train was almost on top of him. I   50 the boy in my arms. Keep running! But something   51  

me. I fell backward, away from the train. I pulled the boy with me onto safe ground. The train barreled(高速行驶)past. The noise was  52 . The wheels were so close that I could have reached out and touched one.

Once the train was out of  53 , I stood up. Mom ran up and hugged me. “Kassandra, I didn’t think you were going to  54 it !’’

I got ready for bed that night  55 looking forward to school the next day. I wanted to enjoy every moment in life.

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My parents were in a huge argument, and I was really upset about it . I didn’t know who I should talk with about how I was feeling . So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at my best friend’s house . Though I knew I wouldn’t tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to getting out of the house . I was in the middle of packing up my things when suddenly the power went out in the neighborhood . Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on .

I was really disappointed because I felt that we did not have much to talk about . But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark . I went to his room and told him that I’d stay with him until the power was restored . He was quite happy and said . “Great opportunity.”

“What is ?” I asked .

“To talk , you and I ,” he said .” To hold a private little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad , and what we’re going to do with ourselves now that we’re in the situation we are in .”

“But we can’t do anything about it , Grandpa,” I said , surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same “boat” as I was .

And that’s how the most unbelievable friendship between my grandfather and me started . Sitting there in the dark , we talked about our feelings and fears of life―from how fast things change , to how they sometimes don’t change fast enough . That night , because the power went out , I found a new friend , with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains , whatever they may be .

Suddenly , the lights all came back on . “Well,” he said , “I guess that means you’ll to go now .I really like our talk . I hope the power will go out every few nights!”

56．I wished to get out of the house because         .

    A．I was angry about my parents’ quarrel

    B．I found nobody to share my feelings with

    C．I wanted to escape from the dark house

    D．I planned to tell my friend about my trouble

57．Grandpa was happy to see me because         .

    A．he could discuss the problem with me              

    B．he had not seen me for a long time

    C．he was afraid of darkness       

    D．he felt quite lonely

58．What can be inferred from the passage ?

    A．The grandchild was eager to leave                 

    B．They would have more chats

    C．The lights would go out again .

    D．It would no longer be dark .