Once there was an emperor(皇帝) who was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor(继承人). He called all the 　21　 　people in the kingdom together one day. He said, “I am going to give each of you a seed(种子) today. I want you to go home,　 22　 　the seed in a pot(花盆),　 23　 　it and come back here one year later from today with what you have 24　 　from this one seed. I will then 　25　 　the plants that you bring to me, and the one I choose will be the 　26　 　emperor of the kingdom!”

A year finally went by, nothing ever grew 　27　 　Ling tried his best. However, all the youths of the 　28　 　brought their plants to the emperor for check. Ling told his mother that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But his mother 　29　 　him to go, and to take his pot, and to be 　30　 　about what happened.

The time Ling got, he put his 　31　 　pot on the floor. He was 　32　 　at all kinds of plants grown　 33　 　all the other youths. They were beautiful, in all forms and sizes.

When the emperor arrived, he greeted the young people. 　34　 , the emperor saw Ling at the　 35 　of the room with his empty pot. He 　36 　his men to bring him to the front. When Ling got to the front, he looked at Ling, and then said to the crowd, “Look at your new 　37　 ! His name is Ling!”

Then the emperor said, “One year ago today, I gave 　38　 　here a seed. But I gave you all 　39　 　seeds which would not grow. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to 　40　 　me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!”

21. A. young　　　 B. rich　　　　 C. old　　　　 D. poor

22. A. produce　　　 B. carry　　　　 C. save　　　 D. plant

23. A. dry　　　　 B. cool　　　　 C. water　　　 D. warm

24. A. developed　　 B. grown　　　 C. discovered　 D. invented

25. A. choose　　　 B. leave　　　　 C. harvest　　 D. check

26. A. next　　　　 B. first　　　　 C. last　　　　 D. other

27. A. and　　　　　 B. since　　　　 C. though　　 D. so

28. A. family　　　 B. kingdom　　　 C. home　　　 D. circle

29. A. forced　　　 B. warned　　　 C. begged　　 D. encouraged

30. A. honest　　　 B. exact　　　　 C. careful　　　 D. sure

31. A. full　　　　 B. cheap　　　　 C. empty　　　 D. small

32. A. worried　　　 B. surprised　　 C. pleased　　 D. frightened

33. A. with　　　　 B. to　　　 　　C. for　　　　 D. by

34. A. Suddenly　　 B. Sadly　　　　 C. Fortunately　 D. Happily

35. A. right　　　　 B. left　　　　　 C. back　　　　 D. front　

36. A. invited　　　 B. ordered　　　 C. wanted　　　 D. led　

37. A. friend　　　 B. classmate　　 C. commander　 D. emperor

38. A. him　　　　 B. everyone　　　 C. someone　　 D. them　

39. A. bad　　　　 B. good　　　　　 C. true　　　　 D. gold　

40. A. borrow　　　 B. lend　　　　　 C. bring　　　　 D. send

20. When you meet new words while reading, you can______ your dictionary.　

A. get to　 B. come to　　 C. refer to　　 D. look up

19. We were traveling ______ a speed of thirty miles an hour when a boy waved hands to us.

A. with　　 B. in　　　 C. at　　　　 D. for

18. Remember that it makes a bad __________ if you are late.

A. behaviour　　　 B. action　　 C. description　 D. impression

17. She is very strict ________ all of us.

A. in　　　　 B. with　　　 C. on　　　　 D. for

16. I really appreciate ______ some time to surf the Internet, but I’m too busy.

A. to have　　 B. to having　　 C. having　　　 D. have

15. Tom wouldn’t eat anything _________ he cooked it himself.

A. until　　　 B. since　　 C. unless　　　 D. while