It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, carrier, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of the dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories fleshed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. it’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it, ” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture … Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.

Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside,

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bernett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes. Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved: “Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

“Oh. My God! This is the thing he valued most …”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

   A. College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Belser.

   B. Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.

   C. Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.

   D. His present busy life washed away his children memories.

Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that _________.

   A. Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing

   B. Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday

   C. Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address

   D. Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?

   A. Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.

   B. Because he had no children or relatives.

   C. Because he thought he had to keep his word.

   D. Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.

Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?

   A. He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.

   B. He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.

   C. He had missed his son and his family for days.

   D. He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.

Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

   A. The Good Old Times   B. What He Valued Most

   C. An Old Gold Watch    D. The Lost Childhood Days

--- Bill, can I get you anything to drink?
--- _________.

      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 feeling 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 want 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 seem 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 our again.                   D. It would no longer be dark.

One day I decided to quit．I quitted my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the   36   to have one last talk with God． "Can you give me one good   37   not to quit?" His answer surprised me．

Michel is a young girl who works for the police ____ a handwriting expert. She has helped ____ many criminals (罪犯) by using her special talents.

　　When she was fourteen, Michel was already  ____ interested in the differences in her friends'  ____ that she would spend hours  ____ them. After  ____ college she went to France for a  ____ two-year class in handwriting at the School of Police Science.

　　Michel says that it is  ____ for people to hide their handwriting. She can discover  ____ of what she needs to know simply  ____ looking at the writing with her own eyes,  ____ she also has machines  ____ help her make  ____ different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often  ____ great help to the police.

        Michel believes that handwriting is a good  ____ of what kind of person the  ____ is. "I wouldn't go out with a fellow  ____ I didn't like his handwriting." She says. But she  ____ she fell in love with her future husband, a young policeman  ____ she studied his handwriting. It is later proved to be  ____, however.

1.A. with           B. by                            C. like                           D. as

2.A. search                 B. follow            C. catch                      D. judge

3.A. so                         B. too                          C. quite                       D. extra

4.A. books                   B. letter                       C. tongues                  D. handwriting

5.A. writing                 B. studying                  C. settling                   D. uncovering

6.A. attending   B. finishing                 C. starting                   D. stepping into

7.A. powerful    B. natural                    C. special                     D. common

8.A. main           B. safe                         C. easy                        D. impossible

9.A. most           B. nothing          C. little                        D. sight

10.A. with          B. by                            C. of                    D. about

11.A. so                       B. for                            C. thus                        D. but

12.A. they                   B. in which                  C. that                         D. those

13.A. up            B. out                           C. for                           D. into

14.A. of                       B. to                             C. with                        D. for

15.A. test           B. sign                          C. means           D. habit

16.A. thief                   B. criminal                   C. writer            D. policeman

17.A. whether            B. unless                      C. if                    D. after

18.A. adds                  B. tells                          C. repeats                  D. cries

19.A. before              B. after                        C. shyly                       D. and

20.A. necessary         B. all right          C. important              D. quite easy