Daphne asked Jim, a friend of Walter's, for some extra help on her political science homework. On Friday, they agreed to meet at his dormitory study room at 8 Sunday night. It was 8∶05 when Jim arrived. He wasn't on time as he usually is, because he had been out enjoying the spring weather after eating at McDonald's. But he wasn't worried, because he knew from Walter that Daphne was usually late. When Daphne hadn't arrived by 8∶25, Jim was a little surprised. He decided to go to the dorm lounge(休息室) and watch his favorite Sunday night TV show. It started at 8∶30, so he had to hurry. When he got to the lounge, Walter was just leaving. “Hey, Jim, your favorite TV show just finished. Where were you? It was fantastic!”

　　“What do you mean, Walter? It's 8∶30, so I'm just in time to watch it!” Jim replied, looking a little confused.

　　 “Didn't you change your watch last night?” Walter asked. Then he explained, “Last night you were supposed to move your watch ahead one hour. We do this every year on the last Sunday in April. Then, on the last Sunday in October, everyone moves clock back an hour. We say‘spring ahead, fall back ’to help us remember which way to change our clocks.” Walter stopped to see if Jim had understood his explanation. “You don't do that in Indiana, I guess.”

　　“No, we don't,” Jim said, shaking his head. “In that case, I was over an hour late for my appointment with Daphne, not only five minutes late. Wow! She'll never let me forget this!”

1．What is the important idea of this story?

[　　]

A．Daphne is usually late.

B．there are no time changes in Indiana.

C．Jim likes his favorite Sunday night TV show.

D．Jim was late because he didn't know about the time changes.

2．Why did Jim look confused when he learned the TV show had just finished?

[　　]

A．Because he missed the fantastic TV show.

B．Because he thought he was just in time to watch his favorite TV show.

C．Because he was late for the show.

D．Because he forgot the time of the show.

3． All the citizens in the United States are supposed to move their watches ahead in spring and back in fall.

[　　]

A．Certainly they are.

B．No, they are not.

C．No, those who live in Indiana do not do that.

D．Certainly they are besides those living in Indiana.

4． How did Jim feel after Walter told him about the time changes?

[　　]

A．He felt very upset that he hadn't kept his appointment with Daphne.

B．He looked confused about the time changes.

C．He was surprised that Daphne was over an hour late.

D．He felt very glad that he didn't miss his favorite TV show.

5．Imagine you are going to a party at 2 p.m. of the last Sunday in April. If you forget about the time change, what time will you arrive?

[　　]

阅读理解

　　Daphne asked Jim, a friend of Walter's, for some extra help on her political science homework. On Friday, they agreed to meet at his dormitory study room at 8 Sunday night. It was 8:05 when Jim arrived. He wasn't on time as he usually is, because he had been out enjoying the spring weather after eating at Mac Donald's. But he wasn't worried, because he knew from Walter that Daphne was usually late. When Daphne hadn't arrived by 8:25, Jim was a little surprised. He decided to go to the dorm lounge and watch his favourite Sunday night TV shows. It started at 8:30, so he had to hurry.

　　When he got to the lounge, Walter was just leaving. “Hey, Jim, your favourite TV show just finished. Where were you? It was wonderful!”

　　“What do you mean, Walter? It's 8:30, so I'm just in time to watch it!” Jim replied, looking a little confused. “Did you adjust your watch last night?” Walter asked. Then he explained, “Last night you were supposed to move your watch ahead one hour. We do this every year on the last Sunday in April. Then, on the last Sunday in October, everyone moves clock back an hour. We say spring ahead, fall back to help us remember which way to adjust our clocks.” Walter stopped to see if Jim had understood his explanation. “ You don't do that in Indiana, I guess.”

　　“No, we don’t,” Jim said, shaking his head. “In that case, I was over an hour late for my appointment with Daphne, not only five minutes. Wow! She'll never let me forget this!”

1．What is an important idea of this story?

[　　]

A．Daphne is usually late.

B．There are no time changes in Indiana.

C．Jim likes his favourite Sunday night TV show.

D．Jim was late because he didn't know about the time changes.

2．Why did Jim look confused when learned the TV show had just finished?

[　　]

A．Because he missed the wonderful TV show.

B．Because he thought he was just in time to watch his favorite TV show.

C．Because be was late for the show.

D．Because he forgot the time of the show.

3．All the citizens in the United States are supposed to move their watches ahead in spring and back in fall, aren't they?

[　　]

A．Certainly they are.

B．No, they are not.

C．No, those who live in Indiana do not do that.

D．Certainly they are besides those living in Indiana.

4．Imagine you are going to a party at 2 p. m. on the last Sunday in April. If you forget about time change, what time will you arrive?

[　　]

　　Daphne asked Jim, a friend of Walter's, for some extra help on her political science homework. On Friday, they agreed to meet at his dormitory study room at 8 Sunday night. It was 8∶05 when Jim arrived. He wasn't on time as he usually is, because he had been out enjoying the spring weather after eating at McDonald's. But he wasn't worried, because he knew from Walter that Daphne was usually late. When Daphne hadn't arrived by 8∶25, Jim was a little surprised. He decided to go to the dorm lounge(休息室) and watch his favorite Sunday night TV show. It started at 8∶30, so he had to hurry. When he got to the lounge, Walter was just leaving. “Hey, Jim, your favorite TV show just finished. Where were you? It was fantastic!”

　　“What do you mean, Walter? It's 8∶30, so I'm just in time to watch it!” Jim replied, looking a little confused.

　　 “Didn't you change your watch last night?” Walter asked. Then he explained, “Last night you were supposed to move your watch ahead one hour. We do this every year on the last Sunday in April. Then, on the last Sunday in October, everyone moves clock back an hour. We say‘spring ahead, fall back ’to help us remember which way to change our clocks.” Walter stopped to see if Jim had understood his explanation. “You don't do that in Indiana, I guess.”

　　“No, we don't,” Jim said, shaking his head. “In that case, I was over an hour late for my appointment with Daphne, not only five minutes late. Wow! She'll never let me forget this!”

1．What is the important idea of this story?

[　　]

A．Daphne is usually late.

B．there are no time changes in Indiana.

C．Jim likes his favorite Sunday night TV show.

D．Jim was late because he didn't know about the time changes.

2．Why did Jim look confused when he learned the TV show had just finished?

[　　]

A．Because he missed the fantastic TV show.

B．Because he thought he was just in time to watch his favorite TV show.

C．Because he was late for the show.

D．Because he forgot the time of the show.

3． All the citizens in the United States are supposed to move their watches ahead in spring and back in fall.

[　　]

A．Certainly they are.

B．No, they are not.

C．No, those who live in Indiana do not do that.

D．Certainly they are besides those living in Indiana.

4． How did Jim feel after Walter told him about the time changes?

[　　]

A．He felt very upset that he hadn't kept his appointment with Daphne.

B．He looked confused about the time changes.

C．He was surprised that Daphne was over an hour late.

D．He felt very glad that he didn't miss his favorite TV show.

5．Imagine you are going to a party at 2 p.m. of the last Sunday in April. If you forget about the time change, what time will you arrive?

[　　]

Little Brother

By Cory Doctorow, 382 pages, $19.95

In the very near future, Marcus Yallow is walking with his friends in San Francisco when a 9/11-sized terrorist attack occurs blocks away. Everyone around is secretly taken away by the Department of Homeland Security to see whether they're terrorists. However, during the investigation, one of his friends dies mysteriously. The friends try to find out the truth. If you read only one science-fiction novel this year, make it this one.

The Flying Troutmans

By Miriam Toews, 274 pages, $32

The heart of the book is a road journey in Canada made by Hattie，Thebes and Logan to find Cherkis, the kids' dad. It's rich in dialogue, sometimes funny, sometimes surprisingly sad, always character-true. Toews is an extraordinarily gifted writer, with tough-minded compassion (同情) for her characters.

Reading By Lightning

By Joan Thomas, 388 pages, $22.95

We're in 1930s Canada, where Lily's father arrived three decades earlier to be promised fertile agricultural land. But they had been cheated and thrown in the middle of Manitoba. Now William Piper and his wife farm their land and place little hope in this life.

What They Wanted

By Donna Morrissey, 325 pages, $32

A father has a heart attack; a brother and a sister leave Newfoundland and go to Alberta, Canada to work； a tragedy brings reconciliation (和解), but also terrible loss. Primarily a novel of character, it's also a novel of Canada, of two very specific and vividly drawn places. Donna Morrissey's characters are troubled, sensitive, quick to be moved to anger or pain, and just as quick to laughter and affection.

If Jim only has 20 dollars, which book could he buy?

      A. The Flying Troutmans.     B. What They Wanted.

       C. Little Brother.             D. Reading By Lightning.

According to the text, we know that The Flying Troutmans is      .

     A. full of dialogue           B. a sad story

     C. about tourism            D. a real story

In Reading By Lightning, why did William Piper arrive in Canada?

      A. To carry out his promise.     B. To` work in a big city.

      C. To get work experience.      D. To seek his fortune.

If you want to know about two different places of Canada, whose novel is the best choice?

    A. Cory Doctorow's.            B. Miriam Toews's.

    C. Joan Thomas's.    D. Donna Morrissey's.

When I was an official of a school in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our board, wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly’s son, Jim, had great difficulty in school. He was classified as the educationally handicapped and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents knew his difficulties, but they always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper.

“Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known that the last time I had talked to him would be the last time. If I had only known that, I would have said to him, ‘Jim, I love you and I’m always so proud of you.’ I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he had brought to the lives of the people who loved him. I would have taken the time to appreciate his beautiful smile, his laughter, and his genuine love to other people.

“When I put all the good things on the scale and try to balance them with all the irritating (恼人的) things such as the radio that was always too loud, the haircut that wasn’t to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., I find that the irritations really don’t amount to much.

“I won’t get another chance to tell my son all that I would have wanted him to hear, but, other parents, do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear as if it may be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the morning of the day when he died. He called me to say, ‘Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. You have to go to work now. Bye.’ That day, he gave me something to treasure forever. ”

If there is any purpose at all for Jim’s death, maybe it is to make others appreciate life more and to tell people, especially family members, that they should take the time to let each other know just how much they care. You may never have another chance. Do it today!

1.What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “the educationally handicapped”?

2.According to the writer, which of the following about Jim is TRUE？

3.What did Polly think of Jim?

4.The purpose of Polly’s letter is to _______.               .