I don’t ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it’s like to work in a field dominated by men. I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space-lime and the nature of black holes.

  At 19, when I began studying astrophysics, it didn’t bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as a post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me. My every achievement-jobs, research papers, awards-was viewed through the lens of gender(性别) politics. So were my failures. Sometimes, when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus right brain, or nature versus nurture(培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.

  Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women’s college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how many of the 45 students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer, 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children. And I don’t dismiss those concerns. Still, I don’t tell them “war” stories. Instead, I have given them this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science. And that’s a sight worth talking about.

1. Why doesn’t the author want to talk about being a woman scientist again?

A. She feels unhappy working in male-dominated fields.

B. She is fed up with the issue of gender discrimination

C. She is not good at telling stories of the kind

D. She finds space research more important

2. Form Para 3, we can infer that people would attribute (归结于) the author’s failures to___

A. the very fact that she is a woman

B. her involvement in gender politics

C. her over-confidence as a female astrophysicist

D. the burden she bears in a male-dominated society

3. How does the author feel when talking about her class?

A. worried  B. satisfied   C. excited  D. concerned

4. What does the image the author presents to her students suggest?

A. Women students needn’t have the concerns of the generation

B. women have more barriers on their way to academic success

C. Women can balance a career in science and having a family

D. Women now have fewer problems in pursuing a science career

Jerry was 15 when I was only 10, but the fact that he was so much older than I seemed to make no __1__ to him. We took long walks together, on which he would tell stories he had __2__ from TV and radio programs. I suppose he changed the plots(情节) a lot and added twists of__3__own, but he knew what would__4__the lively imagination of a 10-year-old. Jerry never seemed to __5__ giving me so much of his time and __6__ he had many old friends, he always made me feel that I was his __7__ one. He taught me all I still know about birds and flowers; he came over to read to me every day when I had to stay home for weeks with my leg broken. I __8__ came to feel Jerry meant more to me than either my father or mother did, and began to look up to (仰慕) him as I would have to a god.

However, __9__months rolled by, a change came in our relationship. Jerry

__10__stopped coming to my house and every time I went to his or telephoned him, he put me off with some __11__ such as he was studying. I __12__ him with a girl once __13__ a while and several times saw him going out in his family's car on weekends. I __14__ couldn't understand __15__ was so great about girls, parties and big social affairs.

hat I could understand was my __16__ when he finally made me know that our closeness as friends was at an end. __17__ he didn't really mean to hurt me, but it was a long time before I realized it was __18__ problem that caused the break. There's a world of difference between the attitudes and interests of a teenager and a 12-year-old. __19__ I'm over 16 myself, I realize this and the hurt I felt then has __20__ way to happy memories of the good times we once had together.

1. A. good B. difference C. sense D. way

2. A. picked up B. given up C. got up D. kept up

3. A. my B. our C. his D. their

4. A. form B. attract C. give D. send

5. A. mind B. enjoy C. practise D. remember

6. A. because B. since C. once D. although

7. A. different B. special C. new D. ordinary

8. A. gradually B. immediately C. continually D. hurriedly

9. A. when B. while C. with D. as

10. A. seldom B. almost C. sometime D. usually

11. A. excuse B. reasons C. problems D. businesses

12. A. realized B. noticed C. refused D. understood

13. A. after B. for C. in D. upon

14. A. hardly B. justly C. simply D. bitterly

15. A. who B. which C. how D. what

16. A. position B. pleasure C. hurt D. friendship

17. A. Therefore B. So C. Moreover D. Of course

18. A. an important B. an age C. a great D. a different

19. A. Now that B. As though C. The moment D. Even if

20. A. taken B. passed C. given D. exchanged

Every day people often saw a boy sing in a park. In fact, they didn’t know the fact that this boy had cancer for a long time and he had no more time left. He looked very optimistic and he didn’t feel self-contemptuous（自卑的）at all.

One day, he was wandering in the park. Suddenly a good smell flew over and it attracted him to come under a peach. To his joy, he saw a girl dancing pleasingly.

“You are great! You look like a dancing butterfly!” watching her for a long time, then he said.　

“Thank you!” this girl looked up and said shyly.

“Are you blind?” said the boy amazedly.

The girl made no reply, but she nodded hard.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you!” said the boy in a hurry.

“Never mind!” the girl seemed to be easy.

They knew each other in this way.

From then on, they often met each other. And while the boy was singing, the girl danced for him.

Time passed quickly! Many days passed before they knew it.

“Look! How beautiful the peach blossoms are! They are just like you!”said the boy unconsciously（无意地）.

“But I can’t see.” the girl lowered her head.

“I’m sorry!” the boy couldn’t help regretting. He felt his heart bitten hard by a snake, “How foolish I am! How can I say such words before her?” His heart was soon covered by an inexplicable idea.

Several days later, the girl told the boy happily that her eyes would be cured quickly because someone was willing to contribute his cornea（角膜）to her. Hearing the girl’s words, the boy also smiled happily.

That day, darkness seemed to come earlier than ever. The boy said many words to the girl: “I had never believed there was forever in the world. But I know I am mistaken! There is forever indeed — friendship. Now I have to go and I am afraid that we can’t meet each other again, either. I will treasure our friendship up in my memory!”

Hearing the boy’s words, the girl couldn’t help crying. Then the boy sang again while the girl danced.

Later the boy went quietly, but he was regretless, because he gave the last song in his life to the girl.

Soon the girl’s operation succeeded, she saw everything and knew the truth, too. To people’s surprise, the peach didn’t blossom that year.

When the girl came to the appointed place with tears, she seemed to see the boy singing and walking to her in the setting sun.

41. From the passage we know that the girl was as _____ as the boy though she was disabled.

A. helpful                      B. self-contemptuous            C. old                   D. optimistic

42. From the passage we can infer that it was _____ that the boy said, “Look! How beautiful the peach

blossoms are! They are just like you!”

A. unconsciously            B. mockingly                       C. foolishly            D. on purpose

43. What do the underlined words “an inexplicable idea” refer to?

A. The fact that the boy had an incurable disease and was dying soon.

B. The idea that the boy would like to contribute his cornea to the girl.

C. The idea that the friendship between them would last forever.

D. The fact that the girl was very pitiful and badly needed help.

44. What’s the best title of this passage?

A. The Friendship                                       B. An Unselfish Boy      

C. The Last Song in Life                                   D. A Touching Story

Around twenty years ago I was going through hard times. I could not find a satisfying job. To my shame, I had to drive a school bus to make ends meet and lived in a friend’s house.
One afternoon, while driving through a quiet suburban (郊外的) neighborhood I was so sad that I kept asking myself “Why has my life become so hard?” “What’s wrong with the world?” Then I pulled over the bus to drop off a little girl and as she passed she handed me a pretty earring, saying she found it on the floor of the bus and I should keep it in case the owner came to look for it.
In the evening, the owner did come to look for her earring. When I handed it to her, she got very excited and continued saying “Thanks, you’re a real gentleman.” I told her that she should thank the little girl who had found it. She said, “Yes, and you are a good driver, too. What a lovely world it is!” Then she left with satisfaction. I was touched by her last words. I had thought something was wrong with the world just because of my poor condition. In fact, nothing was wrong with the world. I should change my attitude towards life. I should be positive about life.   
At first it was hard, and then it got easier. Every day I could find things to make me happy. Then one night there was a phone call for me at my friend’s house from a lady who was a manager in a large hospital. She said she had read my application form and asked me if I would like to work in the hospital. I said yes and got the job. Looking back at the experience I know the most important is to have a positive attitude towards life.
【小题1】We know from the second paragraph that ________.