Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.

It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).

Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.

Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美国的爱国誓言).

Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”

Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.

To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.

A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.

What’s the article mainly about?

A. An American high school’s graduation ceremony.

B. The opening ceremony of a sports meeting.

C. A presentation of college diplomas.                     

D. A US college’s farewell party.

Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?

A. She was one of the graduates.                               B. She was a foreign exchange student.

C. She was excited to receive her diploma.              D. She felt it great to be at the ceremony.

The right order of the following events is______.

a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.     b. Students gave farewell speeches.

c. The US national anthem was played.      d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.

e. Seniors went into the stadium.

A. b,c,a,d,e       B. c,d,b,e,a         C. d,b,e,a,c         D. e,d,c,b,a

From the text, we can conclude that_______.

A. a diploma ensures a good job                       

B. a diploma guarantees a bright future

C. the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life

D. everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma

According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?

A. Hollywood superstars went to attend the commencement.

B. Every single senior became a superstar on the commencement day.

C. All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives.

D. When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were loud cheers.

D
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had an experience which occurred merely two feet away from me.
Trying to locate my friend among the passengers coming through the jet way, I noticed a man walking toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he kissed his three children one by one and said, “It’s nice to see you. I missed you so much!” Then he hugged his wife, “I’ve saved the best for last!” giving her the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. They stared at each other’s eyes, smiling at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds（新婚夫妇）, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t possibly be.
Full of admiration, I asked, “Wow! How long have you two been married?” “Being together for fourteen years total, married twelve of those.” He replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife’s face. “Well, then, how long have you been away?” I asked. “Two whole days!” “Two days?” I was astonished. By the intensity (热烈) of the greeting, I had assumed he’d been gone for at least several weeks --- if not months. I knew my expression betrayed me, so I turned away my eyes and said quietly, “I hope my marriage is still that passionate after so long!”
The man suddenly stopped smiling and looked me straight in the eye. With forcefulness he told me something that left me a different person. “Don’t hope, friend…decide!” Then he smiled again, shook my hand and said, “God bless!”
With that, he and his family turned and walked away together.
I was still watching that man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, “What are you looking at?” Without hesitation, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “My future!”
74. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The man replied to the author, with his eyes still fixed on his wife’s face.
B. After being away for several weeks, the man missed his family very much.
C. It was fourteen years since the couple had got married.
D. Their three kids reminded the author of newlyweds.
75. By saying “my expression betrayed me” (in Paragraph 4), the author means that _________.
A. he failed to express his ideas to the man 
B. the man sensed his real feelings from his expression
C. he didn’t believe in his expression any more  
D. his expression was not faithful to him
76. From the passage, we can infer that __________.
A. the experience may be easily forgotten by the author
B. the author will live a passionate life from now on
C. the author will be away from his family and hug them passionately upon his return
D. Americans prefer to save the best for last  

Soon it would be the holidays, but before that, there were year exams. All the 36 _____ had been working hard for some time, reviewing their lessons for the exams. If they didn’t 37 _____, they would have to retake them in September. There were usually a few who 38 _____, but Jane didn’t want to be one of them. She had worked hard all year, 39 _____ just before the exams she was working so hard that her sister Barbara was 40 _____ about her. She went to bed too 41 _____. The night before the first exam, Barbara 42 ____ that she have an early night and take a 43 ____ pill. She promised to wake 44 _____ up in the morning.
As she was falling asleep, Jane was afraid that she might oversleep. Her 45 _____ kept jumping from subject to subject. At last, with the help of 46 ____, she went to sleep. In no time at all, she was sitting in the examination hall, looking at the examination 47 _____, but she couldn’t answer any of the questions. 48 _____ around her was writing pages and pages. 49 _____ she thought hard, she couldn’t find anything to write 50 _____. She kept looking at her 51 _____. Time was running out. There was only an hour to go. She started one question, wrote two sentences, 52 _____ and tried another one. With only half an hour left she wrote another two sentences. By this time she was so worried that she started 53 ____. Her whole body shook. It shook so much that she 54 ____ up. She was still in bed and it had all been a 55 _____ dream. A minute later, Barbara called her name.

It was my first day of high school, and I was late. My next class, German, scared me. I just could not speak that  21  . As the bell rang, I ran to the classroom.

At the door, a hand reached out and   22  mine firmly. I looked up. A man with large glasses smiled. He  23  himself as Tony, which means teacher in German.  24 , his warm smile and   25  words eased my fears. That year, I   26  his classes a great deal because I learned   27  just German.

I admit I only speak a little German.   28  I try to live out the life lessons I learned from Tony.

Every day Tony stood   29  his classroom before and after class to give his “hand hug”. After school his room was always filled with students and he would  30  to and chat with them—_31   those not in his class. He taught me that every person is  32  your time.

One time, I was rejected by my friends. Tony told me, “Linda, life gives you  33. But learning its lessons will turn those ashes to jewels.” Therefore, I learned to look at my troubles   _34   and not to fear any difficulty.

In my senior year, I  35  president of one of the school’s clubs, so I was very  36 . Many times I didn’t even have time to buy lunch. He served me by giving me his food as well as advice. He   37   out what he taught us to do:   38  others.

The author William Arthur Ward  39 : “The mediocre(平庸的) teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher  40 .” Thank you Tony, for inspiring me.

Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me. They don’t act in the  ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is too  for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of .One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a question to ask you. Is there  between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice. She didn’t answer immediately. She  her head and continued to sew the quilt.

  I was very worried because I thought I had  her. I was  and I didn’t know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words: “Susan,” she said thoughtfully, “Look at this thread．Sometimes it , but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt . If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread．It can hardly be seen , but it’s really there. Love is.” I listened carefully but I  her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly  seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked. It seemed both of them had had a serious illness. After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father  on the country road．

  “Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.

  “Susan, don’t  me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom.”  his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.

  Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and . But from this experience, I understand that love is just  in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.