I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A. PhD. student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile----warm and reassuring—and I retuned her gift by smiling back.

 “Must be a special lady,” whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.

 “Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one.’ ”Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”

 “Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week-even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; be was very romantic and---of course---- I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased(bought). “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her-that was the night that I won her heart .

Why was the writer in a hurry that day ? 

A. He was to meet his girlfriend.           B. He had to go back to school soon.

C. He was delayed by an elderly lady.       D. He had to pick up some groceries.

What does the underlined phrase “her gift” （Paragraph 2 ） refer to ?  

A. Her words.     B. Her smile.     C. Her flowers.     D. Her politeness.

Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady ?

A. She told him a nice story.           B. She allowed him to pay first.

C. She gave him encouragement.        D. She liked flowers very much.

What is the message conveyed in the story ?

A. Flowers are important for a date.        B. Small talk is helpful.

C. Love and kindness are rewarding.       D. Elderly people deserve respecting.

根据句意和括号内的汉语提示,写出下列各句中所缺单词，共10 分;每小题1分.满分10分)
【小题1】She doesn’t know how to ______________(举止得体)in public.
【小题2】When we were young, we often sat in the ____________阴凉处)of a big tree, listening to an old grandpa telling us stories.
【小题3】The patient was ______________(观察)over a period of several months.
【小题4】He is a much loved and highly ______________(尊敬)teacher.
【小题5】The star left the hotel surrounded by _____________(人群) of journalists.
【小题6】She’s very ________________(谦虚)about her success.
【小题7】The United States _______________(出口)soybeans.
【小题8】It is to be _____________(遗憾) that so many young people leave school without qualication. 
【小题9】There is still much to discuss, we shall ___________(所以)，return to this item at our next meeting.
【小题10】Do you have your milk _________________( 递送) ?

Harvard University named historian Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president on Sunday, ending a lengthy and secretive search to find a successor to Lawrence Summers.

The seven-member Harvard Corporation elected Faust, a noted scholar on History of the American South and dean of Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, as the university’s 28th president.

“This is a great day, and a historic day, for Harvard,” James R. Houghton, chairman of the presidential search committee, said in a statement. “Drew Faust is an inspiring and accomplished leader, a superb scholar, a dedicated teacher, and a wonderful human being.”

Her selection is noteworthy given the heated debates over Summers’ comments that genetic differences between the sexes might help explain the lack of women in top science jobs.

Faust has been dean of Radcliffe since 2001, two years after the former women’s college was combined into the university as a research center with a mission to study gender issues.

Some professors have quietly groused that the 371-year-old university is appointing a fifth president who is not a scientist. No scientist has had the top job since James Bryant Conant retired in 1953; its last four have come from the fields of classics, law, literature and economics.

Faust is the first Harvard president who did not receive a degree from the university since Charles Chauncy, a graduate of Cambridge University, who died in office in 1762. She attended the University of Pennsylvania.

“Teaching staff turned to her constantly,” said Sheldon Hackney, a former president of the University of Pennsylvania and historian who worked closely with Faust. “She’s very clear. She has a sense of humor, but she’s very strong-minded. You come to trust in her because she’s so solid.”

1.Which might be the best title for the passage?

A．Harvard named its first female president.

B．History of Harvard University changed.

C．Debates on female equality ended.

D．Drew Gilpin Faust, a famous woman historian.

2.Which is NOT true about Drew Gilpin Faust?

A．She is the 28th president of Harvard University.

B．She is a famous scholar from the American South.

C．She isn’t a graduate from Harvard University.

D．She was head of Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

3.The underlined word “groused” in the 6th paragraph means____ .

A．approved         B．commented        C．complained        D．indicated

4.This passage probably appears in a____ .

A．biography         B．personal letter      C．research paper     D．newspaper report

第二节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

　　阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

　　I am a man who has been egoistic(以自我为中心的) and I have had a lack of respect for myself and others around me.I participated in various transformation workshops, 36 ,it made no differece.I remained 37 in my life.As a result,I became 38 from my family and reached rock 39 in my life.Having reached there,I resisted transforming myself.

　　After some time,I thought to myself: start believing in yourself and it will make a 40 in your life.I first started loing 41 and then all those around me.I started respecting myself and then others around me.My 42 increased.

　　Sangeeta is my workmate.She's transparent, 43 and respectful.She's very 44 and has a large family to support.In addition,her husband doesn't hold a regular job.In short,she's struggling in life.

　　On a cold winter morning,when she came to work,I found her 45 .I asked whether she had a pullover(毛线套衫). She didn't reply.I had my 46 .The next day when she came to work again,I gave her the money to buy a 47 for herself.The expression of 48 in her eyes was something that would remain with me for a long time.

　　A few weeks ago,she was 49 and didn't come to work.Instead,she sent her friend to do her work.The moment I 50 Sangeeta was sick,I gave 51 the money to buy medicines for her treatment. I took Sangeeta some time to recover 52 her illness.The first thing I 53 was whether she needed any more help of any kind. And she said,"Sir, you've done enough for me.I'm grateful to you."

　　That was the moment 54 I realized that I'm walking my path.Sometimes,I still fall down,but I get up and start walking again 55 I may have hurt myself in the process.

　　36.A.fortunately     B.however        C.gradually       D.obviously

　　37.A.stuck          B.engaged        C.caught         D.made

　　38.A.independent     B.separated       C.prevented      D.locked

　　39.A.top            B.turning         C.bottom        D.exit

　　40.A.progress        B.deal           C.decision        D.difference

　　41.A.others          B.life            C.myself         D.friends

　　42.A.self - worth      B.self - control    C.self - service     D.self - defense

　　43.A.imaginative      B.fascinating     C.honest          D.good - looking

　　44.A.poor            B.healthy        C.patient          D.disappointed

　　45.A.exciting         B.singing        C.confusing        D.shaking

　　46.A.idea            B.promise        C.performance     D.answer

　　47.A.bike            B.pullover        C.ticket          D.drink

　　48.A.thankfulness    B.guilty          C.pity            D.shock

　　49.A.away           B.ill             C.late            D.missing

　　50.A.puzzled         B.considered      C.realized        D.admitted

　　51.A.her husband     B.her family       C.Sangeeta       D.her friend

　　52.A.from           B.of              C.off           D.for

　　53.A.looked into      B.took down       C.cared about    D.called on

　　54.A.that            B.which           C.how          D.when

　　55.A.as if           B.even though      C.so that        D.if only

Paul was dealing with a crisis. The new girl Linda in class really liked him a lot. Paul was not happy about it.
Paul's good friend, Sam, tried to comfort him.  "What's the big deal? I think Linda is kind of cute and nice enough."
Paul glared at Sam. "Then why don't you ask her to be your girlfriend? There she is, sitting all by herself at the other end of the cafeteria. Go there and ask her to be your honey!"
"She's crazy about you, not me," Sam replied.
"Well, I don't want any girlfriend, especially not a girl like her! "Paul growled.
Sam wouldn't give up.  "The only thing pesky about her is that she keeps writing you those notes ."
"I don't like notes at all!" Paul interrupted. He took another sip of milk.
"Did you notice those strange brown eyes? Why aren't they normal red or pink?"
Sam took another look at Linda. "I think her face is a lovely shade of green. And her dark green curly hair is quite pretty. Besides, she's very gentle and that's what really matters."
Paul stuck out his tongue. "I think I'm going to be sick!  I'd better save my dessert for later." He crammed a small bag of Maggot Munchies into his even smaller shirt pocket.  "The fact is, I have a problem. That girl is getting on my nerves!  "
Sam followed Paul’s example and decided to save his dessert for later. However, he carefully placed the bag into his lunch box.  "Do you have any ideas about how to solve your problem?" Tremor asked.
"I'm going to be mean and rude to her," Paul announced.  "I'll call her names and make ugly faces at her."
"That's how you treat everyone," Sam reminded his friend.
Paul nodded. "It's time that Linda got to know the real Paul !"
【小题1】 What does the underlined part "a crisis" in Paragraph 1 refer to?