B
Anthony Horowitz was miserable (痛苦的) as a child. He was, as he puts it, “not very bright” and couldn’t win the attention of his very wealthy parents, who preferred his “clever” older brother. At age 8, Horowitz was sent away to an abusive (虐待的) boarding school in his native England, even though he screamed and pleaded (恳求) with his parents year after year not to send him. “The thought was, ‘It’ll be good for him’,” Horowitz recalls (回忆).
It was not. Horowitz did badly in his studies, had few friends and was bullied (欺负) for five years. “My teachers couldn’t have had a lower opinion of me,” he said. “I wasn’t even smart enough to rebel (反抗). The one thing I remember from the very earliest age was this desire to write. When I was 10 years old, I remember asking my parents to get me a typewriter for my birthday because I wanted to be a writer.”
Now, at 55, Horowitz is one of the world’s most successful children’s book authors. His Alex Rider series has sold more than 5 million copies, and the eighth book featuring the young spy, Crocodile Tears, came out this month.
The Alex Rider books tell the adventures of 14-year-old Alex Rider, an agent for the British intelligence agency MI6.
Horowitz said he doesn’t try to write for kids; it just comes out that way. “I have a feeling it’s to do with purity and simplicity. I give as little information as is necessary to describe the room, the character in the room, and get on with the action,” he said.
That style has also made Horowitz a successful writer of television shows for adults in Britain because, he says, writing books for kids is a lot like writing television for grown-ups: In both cases, it’s all about entertaining people with a good story.
Now, Horowitz couldn’t be happier with his life. He sums up his success: “…you can be anything you want to be if you just believe in yourself. I do believe it completely.”
61. The text is mainly about _____.
A. Horowitz’s popular book – Alex Rider       B. Horowitz’s miserable childhood
C. Horowitz, a successful children’s writer        D. Horowitz’s special writing style
62 In his childhood, Anthony Horowitz _____.
A. was more intelligent than his brother       
B. was paid more attention by his parents
C. couldn’t understand why he was sent to the boarding school
D. led a miserable life because of poverty
63.In the boarding school, Horowitz’s teachers ______.
A. showed great concern for him                B. often abused and bullied him
C. taught him how to write stories               D. thought little of his ability
64. Which of the following is true of Anthony Horowitz?
A. He was the beloved child of his family.       
B. He benefited a lot from boarding school.
C. He emphasizes the plot rather than character in stories.
D. Although he is successful, he isn’t very happy.
65. What advice does Horowitz have for readers?
A. Confidence is the key to success.           B. Hardship teaches valuable lessons.
C. Interest is the best teacher.                D. Diligence is the parent of success.

Without any hesitation, he said, “I’d be better off dead.” Hearing those words come out of my best friend’s mouth tore my heart apart. He has repeated that phrase more than once, and my mind continually plays it over like a voice recording.

I met my best friend about three years ago. After knowing me for six months, he told me about his struggles with depression. Sadness was not the only emotion that came over me; I was shocked. He seemed so outgoing and happy all the time. I soon learnt that he was physically and emotionally abused as a young child, causing him to have suicidal (自杀的) thoughts.

He refuses to talk to others about his depression because he now distrusts adults, especially those in his family. In spite of this, he feels as if I understand him and that I know the right words to say. Thus, when it comes to helping him, convenience is not in my vocabulary. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I am doing, for he takes priority. Sometimes he just needs the assurance of my voice telling him that everything is going to be okay and that I will not let him down.

Many students at his school laugh at him when they notice the scars on his arms from cutting. It seems that other kids have every right to make fun of him and to look down on him. But no one holds such a right, so I encourage him to ignore the heartless kids who treat him badly. When he feels the weight of judging eyes or hateful voices, I always remind him that I care about him unconditionally. Just hearing me say I will always be his best friend seems to give him the security he needs to keep on going.

My best friend once told me that if he hadn’t had me, he wouldn’t be alive. He said that my encouraging words convinced him not to take his life. Our friendship has taught me that a single word can impact on someone’s life. With the fragility of life as it is, I believe in the necessity of encouragement.

1.The author’s friend got into depression mainly because _____ .

2.We know from the passage that the author’s friend_____.

3.What is the best title for the passage?

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29,1958 in Gary, Indiana. Being the seventh child in his family, Michael was often physically abused (虐待) by his father, beaten up and also orally abused. But Michael also owed his success to his father’s strict discipline.

Michael was always an entertainer. Even when he just started school, he would perform in front of his friends and classmates. He started his professional music career at the age of 11, as a member of The Jackson Five.

He is well-known for increasing the popularity of MTV through his music videos. Before this, music videos were made just to promote the album. But Michael’s videos managed to change that by making them an art and a big business. Some of the music videos that are good examples of this are Beat It, Billie Jean, and thriller。Through these works the world got caught onto the idea of music videos and focused on music video channels.

Michael enthralled his fans and audience with his style of singing, dressing, and his complex dance moves, especially the moonwalks all around the world to show their love for him.

Through his work and various foundations(基金会), Michael raised and donated millions to charity, which is much more than any showman. He supported 39 charities in all. Apart from that, he had a great love for children, especially the poor ones, and he felt that children were the best thing than God.

Michael planned to start a 50-concert tour in July 2009. Sadly  on June 25^th, 2009, Michael passed away at home. Besides a great performer, showman and entertainer, he was a good and charitable person. Nobody can be another graeter entertainer like Michael Jackson ever again.

1.According to the passage, Michael Jackson _____.

A．had nine brothers and sisters

B．live a happy life as a child

C．loved performing at school

D．fell in love with music at the age of 11

2.The underlined word “enthralled”in Paragraph 4 probably means ____.

A．encouraged       B．puzzled           C．developed         D．attracted

3.In the author’s opinion, Michael Jackson ‘s greatest contribution lies in _____.

A．Five making MTV popular                 B．creating music video channel

C．joining the Jackson                      D．popularizing the moonwalk

第三节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分,满分30分）

阅读下面短文,从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和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。

In the fifteenth century in Nuremberg ,lived a family with eighteen children .They were so poor that two children ,who wanted to pursue their talent for  41  , knew their father would never be  42  able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

So they tossed（掷）a coin. Albrecht Durer, the younger,  43  the toss and went off to Nuremberg .Albert went down into the dangerous 44   and ,for the next four years ,financed his brother , who did so well that his works were even better than those of most of his  45 . By the time he graduated ,he was beginning to earn  46  fees by drawing for wealthy people.

When Albrecht returned home, at dinner he drank a  47  to his beloved brother for the years of    48  that had enabled him to fulfill his  49 . He said, "Albert ,my blessed brother ,now it is your      50  to go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream ,and I will take care of you."

With tears in his eyes ,Albert held his hands close to his right cheek and said, "No ,brother. I cannot go . Look... look what four years in the mines have done to my  51  ! The bones in every finger have been  52  at least once. Lately I have been suffering from arthritis（关节炎）so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a  53 to return your toast ,much less make delicate lines with a pen or a brush. No ,brother... for me it is too  54  ."

Deeply moved ,Albrecht painstakingly drew his brother's  55  hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward .He called his powerful drawing  56  "Hands" , to which the entire world immediately opened their hearts and later they  57 it "The Praying Hands."

The next time you see a copy of that  58  creation, take a second look. Let it be your  59  ,if you still need one ,that no one ever makes it  60   !

41.A.assistance       B.art       C.science D.dreaming

42.A.fundamentally       B.frequently   C.financially   D.flexibly

43.A.won       B.lost      C.ended   D.started

44.A.mountains      B.oceans  C.deserts D.mines

45.A.classmates      B.colleagues   C.professors    D.brothers

46.A.concrete B.considerable       C.considerate  D.confidential

47.A.beer       B.drink   C.drop    D.toast

48.A.donation B.education    C.sacrifice      D.experience

49.A.attempt   B.ambition     C.assignment  D.assessment

50.A.turn       B.dream  C.kindness      D.hope

51.A.health     B.body    C.mind    D.hands

52.A.injured   B.strengthened       C.sharpened    D.used

53.A.knife      B.spoon   C.glass    D.pen

54.A.urgent    B.unnecessary C.messy  D.late

55.A.abused    B.dark     C.wide    D.fragile

56.A.seriously B.simply C.carefully     D.gently

57.A.sold       B.bought C.found   D.renamed

58.A.longing  B.touching      C.challenging  D.disturbing

59.A.reminder       B.aid       C.guide   D.coach

60.A.along     B.aside    C.alone   D.aware

Without any hesitation, he said, “I’d be better off dead.” Hearing those words come out of my best friend’s mouth tore my heart apart. He has repeated that phrase more than once, and my mind continually plays it over like a voice recording.
I met my best friend about three years ago. After knowing me for six months, he told me about his struggles with depression. Sadness was not the only emotion that came over me; I was shocked. He seemed so outgoing and happy all the time. I soon learnt that he was physically and emotionally abused as a young child, causing him to have suicidal (自杀的) thoughts.
He refuses to talk to others about his depression because he now distrusts adults, especially those in his family. In spite of this, he feels as if I understand him and that I know the right words to say. Thus, when it comes to helping him, convenience is not in my vocabulary. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I am doing, for he takes priority. Sometimes he just needs the assurance of my voice telling him that everything is going to be okay and that I will not let him down.
Many students at his school laugh at him when they notice the scars on his arms from cutting. It seems that other kids have every right to make fun of him and to look down on him. But no one holds such a right, so I encourage him to ignore the heartless kids who treat him badly. When he feels the weight of judging eyes or hateful voices, I always remind him that I care about him unconditionally. Just hearing me say I will always be his best friend seems to give him the security he needs to keep on going.
My best friend once told me that if he hadn’t had me, he wouldn’t be alive. He said that my encouraging words convinced him not to take his life. Our friendship has taught me that a single word can impact on someone’s life. With the fragility of life as it is, I believe in the necessity of encouragement.
【小题1】The author’s friend got into depression mainly because _____ .