Arthur Miller was born on October 17th, 1915 and died on February 10th, 2005.Over the course of seven decades(十年) of literature career(文学生涯), Arthur Miller created some of the most memorable stage plays(舞台剧) in American Literature. He is the author of DeathofaSalesmanandTheCrucible. Born and raised in Manhattan, Miller went through the best and the worst of American society.

Arthur Miller's childhood：His father was a productive shop­keeper and clothing manufacturer(制造商) until the Great Depression(大萧条时期) dried up nearly all business opportunities.Yet, despite being faced with poverty, Miller made the best of his childhood. He was a very active young man, in love with such sports as football and baseball. When he wasn't playing outside, he enjoyed reading adventure stories. He was also kept busy by his many boyhood jobs. He often worked alongside his father. During other times in his life, he delivered bakery goods and worked as a clerk in a car parts warehouse.

College life: In 1934, Miller left the east coast to attend the University of Michigan. He was accepted into their school of journalism. His experiences during the Depression made him skeptical (怀疑的) about religion. Politically, he began leaning towards the "Left”.And since the theater was the cutting edge way for socio­economic liberals (自由主义者) to express their views, he decided to enter the Hopwood Drama competition. His first play, NoVillain, received an award from the university.It was an impressive beginning for the young playwright; he had never studied plays or playwriting, and he had written his play in just five days!

Miller's later years: In 1987, his autobiography was published. Many of his later plays dealt with personal experience. In particular, his final play, FinishingthePicture mirrors the last days of his marriage to Marilyn Monroe.In 2005, Arthur Miller passed away at the age of 89.

1.What can we know about Arthur Miller from Paragraph 2?

A．He was born into a poor family.

B．His father wasn't good at business.

C．He couldn't adjust himself to poverty.

D．He had to do lots of jobs to make a living.

2.Arthur Miller began to write plays ________.

A．when he was in college

B．when he was a small boy

C．because his father encouraged him to do so

D．because it was one of his school assignments(作业)

3.We can infer from Paragraph 3 that ________.

A．the University of Michigan is on the east coast of the USA

B．Miller's university education made him doubt religion

C．Miller learned playwriting all by himself

D．socio­economic liberals were probably not politically "left”

4.Which of the following plays tells the story of Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe?

A．Death of a Salesman.

B．The Crucible.

C．No Villain.

D．Finishing the Picture.

5.The passage is intended to________.

A．introduce Arthur Miller's plays

B．tell us about Arthur Miller's childhood

C．explain how Arthur Miller started to write plays

D．give us a brief introduction to Arthur Miller's life

When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm. In the winter especially, we were quite far away from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that my life has its problems too.

One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma (哮喘), and the air is so serious polluted that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.

Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment (娱乐活动). Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising — and , what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.

Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens (十几岁) or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.

What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?

A. Staying on the farm.                      B. Leaving home for the city.

C. Moving to the countryside.             D. Running away from the school.

Which of the following is true about the writer?

A. He lives in the city now.           B. He is in good health.

C. He prefers driving a car.                D. He is very old now.  

In the passage, the writer tries to __________.

A. persuade the reader to live in the city         B. describe his life in the countryside

C. show an interest in the outside world           D. express his opinions about the way of life

How is the passage mainly developed?

A. By inferring.                B. By listing examples.       

C. By comparing.          D. By giving explanations.

1.After the earthquake, only few houses s________.

2.The family began to d___________ the Christmas tree with glass balls and lights a week ago.

3.They c_________ for the first prize in the race yesterday.

4.I’m looking for the boss who is in c_________ of your company .

5.It’s my great h______ to represent my school to attend the opening ceremony.

6. It remains unknown which country will h_________ the international tennis tournament.

7.He was a__________ to Beijing University, which made his family excited.

8.China is a country b________ to the Third World.

9.While many people turn to computer for news and movies, it doesn’t mean that the TV set will be r________ in the near future.

10.The gloves were d_________ for extremely cold weather.

A Faithful Father

My husband ,kissed me  goodbye ，stroked, the baby’s  cheek and then rushed out of the door ，into his busy day. With the cold of the morning fading, I fed my baby and it fell fast asleep. Usually I would place it in bed and quickly have the house somewhat in 36______ ,

This morning ，however, I stayed seated ,just 37_____,with the baby in my arms ,The thoughts  ran into 38______ of the mornings with my husband, a father rushing out of the door to meet the obligations of life. It was only a small jump to thoughts of my own 39______

My mother passed away when I was ten, and as I looked 40 ______I could see how much of a family man my dad was. He went to work every morning and 41______ to his family every evening. He 42______ food, clothing, warmth ，and protection. He was a faithful father.

Setting the baby down ,I dialed the 43 ______ number. I had just realized the 44 ______ of the ordinary—the daily life going on around us that we often took for granted, and that it needed to be 45______

“Hi ，Dad. ” I said, 46______ back tears.

“Hey, Bud- How are you? ” 47______ was in his voice.:

“ Fine, Fm just calling to say. ,, thank you. ” I got it out before my throat 48______ too much for me to speak.

"What for?”

— For getting up and going to work every morning of ray life. Now that I have my' own 49______ and I see my husband doing the same ，I just wanted to thank you for being 50______ ”

There was 51______ for a moment as my dad composed himself ，and with a small . .52______ in his voice he said, “You’re welcome, Bud. ”

I don’t  remember much of the rest of the call, 53______ that moment of revelation (显露） about my father, I will never forget. There are those who are known for their heroic 54 ______，and also those who are known for their fortunes and fame ，but it is the 55 ______everyday fathers who are the true heroes. I’m thankful that my father was one of them.

1.                A．use            B．line            C．order    D．fashion

2.                A．thinking        B．dreaming       C．imagining D．praying

3.                A．conversations    B．struggles        C．incidents  D．memories

4.                A．baby           B．husband        C．mother   D．father

5.                A．out            B．away           C．back D．around

6.                A．moved         B．returned        C．escaped  D．walked

7.                A．provided       B．collected        C．sought   D．bought

8.                A．popular        B．relative         C．regular   D．familiar

9.                A．difference      B．significance      C．balance   D．absence

10.               A．recognized      B．arranged       C．reduced   D．achieved

11.               A．sending        B．pushing        C．holding    D．putting

12.               A．Sympathy       B．Stress          C．Doubt D．Concern

13.               A．cleared        B．hurt           C．ached D．tightened

14.               A．child           B．duty           C．plan  D．career

15.               A．inspiring        B．faithful         C．considerate    D．admirable

16.               A．peace          B．calm           C．silence    D．rest

17.               A．tremble        B．hesitation       C．passion    D．sigh

18.               A．and           B．but            C．or    D．nor

19.               A．ideas          B．deeds          C．remarks   D．words

20.               A．outstanding     B．patient         C．ordinary   D．honest