One morning I wasted nearly an hour watching a tiny ant carry a huge feather．Several times, it   36    several obstacles in its path．And after a momentary pause it would make the necessary detour （绕道）．  37   one point, the ant had to cross a crack about 10mm wide．After some   38    thoughts, the ant laid the feather over the crack, walked   39   it and picked the feather up on the other side, then continued on its way．I was   40   by the cleverness of this ant．It was only a small insect, lacking in   41   yet equipped with a brain to reason, explore, discover and overcome．  42    this ant, like the other two-legged creatures   43   on the earth, also shares human failings．

       After some time the ant   44   reached its destination --- a flower bed and a small hole that was the entrance to its   45   home．It was there that the ant met its   46  ．How could that large feather possibly   47   such a small hole? Of course, it couldn’t．So the ant, after all this   48   and using great brightness, overcoming problems a1l along the way, just gave up the   49   and went home．The ant had not thought the problem through   50   it began its journey and in the end the feather was   51   more than a burden．Isn’t our   52   like that?

       We worry about our families; we worry about the   53   of money; and we worry about all kinds of things．These are all burdens --- the things we pick up along life’s path, and drag them around the obstacles and over the cracks that life will bring, only to   54   that at the destination they are   55   and we can’t take them with us．

A．came across        B．came about      C．got over        D．dealt with

A．For               B．At              C．To              D．With

A．brave            B．tiring        C．short            D．magic

A．through          B．across           C．beside         D．behind

A．satisfied           B．frightened       C．annoyed      D．attracted

A．height             B．size             C．depth         D．length

A．Therefore       B．Otherwise        C．But             D．Moreover

A．living             B．working        C．sleeping      D．walking

A．finally             B．probably       C．suddenly     D．easily

A．lonely            B．comfortable   C．underground    D．big

A．partner          B．parent        C．match         D．friend

A．fix            B．fit              C．fill             D．suit

A．trouble        B．pleasure         C．decision         D．matter

A．insect         B．problem      C．feather          D．hole

A．before            B．after           C．until            D．once

A．everything        B．anything      C．something    D．nothing

A．study           B．aim          C．dream          D．1ife

A．waste           B．lack            C．worth        D．danger

A．think           B．wonder          C．warn            D．find

A．bad           B．useless          C．meaningful      D．practical

One August afternoon, Richard Allen dropped off his last passenger, Mrs. Carey. Lifting two grocery bags, he followed her across the yard and stood on the step of her house. Glancing up, he saw a large wasp（黄蜂） nest under the roof. Allen had heard that wasps can become more likely to sting (sting, sting, stung蜇) in summer. He mentioned this to Mrs. Carey, who had opened the door.

“Oh, they don’t bother me,” she said lightly. “I go in and out all the time.”

Anxiously, Allen looked at the nest again—— to see the wasps flying straight at him. “Hurry!” he shouted to Mrs. Carey. “Get in!”

She stepped quickly inside. Allen ran for his mini-bus. Too late; they were upon him. Just as he jumped aboard, half a dozen red spots showed on his arm, and he felt more on his back and shoulders.

As he was driving down the road, Allen felt as if something was burning at the back of his neck, and the “fire” was spreading forward toward his face. And immediate anxiety took hold of him. Allen knew that stings could cause some persons to die. But he had been stung the previous summer and the after-effects soon passed. However, what he didn’t know what that the first sting had turned his body into a time bomb waiting for the next to set off an explosion.

Miles from the nearest medical assistance, Allen began to feel his tongue thick and heavy and his heartbeat louder. Most frightening, he felt his breathing more and more difficult. He reached for the radio mike（话筒）, trying to call the mini-bus center, but his words were hardly understandable. Signals were also poor that far out. He knew a rescue team was on 24-hour duty at the Amherst Fire Department’s north station. So his best chance was to make a run for it.

Rushing down the mountain, Allen tried not to panic, focusing his mind on each sharp turn. He was almost through the last of them when he felt sure he was going into shock（休克）. Just then he reached for the radio mike again.

“Call fire station,” he shouted, concentrating to form the words. “Emergency. Bee sting. Emergency. There in ten minutes.”

“Five-ten,” the center replied.

Hold on, Allen thought. Keep your eyes open. Breathe. Keep awake.

At last he reached the station. Two firemen ran out. Allen felt their hands grasp him before he hit the ground. You made it, he thought.

It is mentioned in the passage that wasps are more likely to attack when _______.

A. there are huge noises

B. strangers are approaching

C. the air is filled with food smell

D. the hottest season comes around

Allen didn’t know that if stung by wasps again, he would _______.

A. have no after-effects

B. suffer from sharper pain

C. surely lose his life

D. become more sensitive

Allen failed at his first attempt to send his message to the mini-bus center because _______.

A. he was unable to speak clearly

B. his radio equipment was poor

C. he was in a state of shock

D. no one was on duty

Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. Allen, A Helpless Driver

B. Wasps, Bloody Killers

C. A Race Against Death

D. War Against Wasps

One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of the wonderful works..

A young couple viewing the paintings ahead of me chatted nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided she was doing all the talking. I admired his patience for tolerating her constant words. Disturbed by their noise, I moved on.

I encountered them several times as I moved through the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her constant talking, I moved away quickly.

I was standing at the counter of the museum gift store doing some shopping when the couple approached the exit. Before they left, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He turned it into a long cane (手杖) and then tapped his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.

“He’s a brave man,” the clerk at the counter said, “Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there’s a new art show.”

“But what does he get out of the art?” I asked, “He can’t see.”

“Can’t see! You’re wrong. He sees a lot. More than you or I do,” the clerk said, “His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head.”

I learned something about patience, courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without sight and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to change his life.

And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away arm in arm.

Which of the following statements is true?

A. The husband was doing all the talking when the couple viewed the works.             

B. The husband tapped his way to the coatroom to get his jacket.   

C. The husband was considered a brave man by the clerk at the store.             

D. The husband allowed blindness to change his life.

The underlined word “encountered” in the passage means “________”.

A. saw    B. met     C. talked        D. argued

At first the author’s attitude towards the wife of the couple was _________.

A. positive     B. neutral           C. bored      D. admiring

What can be inferred from the passage is ___________. 

A. the man had his eyes blinded in a fight

B. the man must be a painter before

C. the woman was very devoted to his husband

D. the man often killed time by visiting exhibitions

One day I visited an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was expecting a quiet   21   of the splendid artwork.

       A young   22   viewing the paintings ahead of me   23   nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man’s   24   for putting up with her   25   stream of words.   26   by their noise, I moved on.

       I met them several times as I moved   27   the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her continuous flow of words, I moved away   28  .

       I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a   29   when the couple approached the   30  . Before they left, the man   31   into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He   32   it into a long stick and then   33   his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.

       “He’s a   34   man,” the clerk at the counter said. “Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in   35   there is a new art show.”

       “But what does he get out of the art?” I asked. “He can’t see.”

       “Can’t see! You’re   36  . He sees a lot. More than you and I do,” the clerk said. “His wife   37   each painting so he can see it in his head.”

       I learned something about patience,   38   and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without   39   and the courage of a husband who would not   40   blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, their arms intertwined.

A. touch      B. view   C. wander       D. scenery

A. lady B. man    C. couple D. clerk

A. yelled      B. shouted      C. screamed    D. chatted

A. attempt    B. independence     C. wisdom      D. patience

A. vivid       B. constant     C. casual D. vague

A. Adopted  B. Adapted     C. Conducted  D. Disturbed

A. through   B. to       C. towards      D. from  

A. anxiously B. urgently     C. quickly      D. worriedly

A. comment B. decision     C. purchase     D. profit

A. entrance B. exit     C. front   D. queue

A. plugged B. held    C. reached      D. bent

A. made     B. lengthened  C. brought      D. broadened

A. led B. found  C. forced D. tapped

A. brave     B. rough  C. smart  D. generous

A. wherever      B. whatever    C. whichever  D. whenever

A. right      B. silly    C. wrong D. unique

A. describes       B. draws  C. shows D. decorates

A. kindness       B. pride   C. enthusiasm D. courage

A. support  B. sight   C. expectation D. confidence

A. get B. hope   C. allow  D. cause

One bitterly cold day, a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood, I quickly set out with my best friend, Bruce, to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of dangers.

   When I chose a big 23-meter-tall tree and prepared to cut it down, my best friend suddenly warned me, “Don’t cut down that tree! It’s too close to the power line!” I wasn’t sure about it. So I decided to disregard his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell, there was no longer any doubt that my friend was right.

   The tree caught the power line, bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all, electricity can’t travel through wood, so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree, pain ran up my arm and through my head. I had been shocked!

   After I returned home and told my mother what had happened, she quickly called the power company. Workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree, and when I told him I had, his face turned pale.

“You should have been killed,” he said.

So why am I still alive? It was my boots that saved my life.

Within two hours, the workers removed the tree. Soon the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother.

Even though she was glad I wasn’t hurt, my mother was well serious with me. After all, I shouldn’t have brushed off my friend’s warning.

Through this experience, I learned that it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective(观点). Taking the time to listen might actually save a lot of time and trouble. It certainly would have kept me from getting the “shock of my life”.

The underlined word “disregard ” in the second paragraph means “________”.

  A. pay no attention to     B. take notice of       C. consider    D. follow

In spite of Bruce’s warning, the author still cut the tree because ________.

  A. he was sure there would be nothing to happen

  B. he wasn’t sure whether Bruce was right and was anxious to go home

  C. he didn’t hear his friend’s warning at all because of the blowing wind

  D. he was angry with his friend and didn’t want to listen to him

The author wrote the passage mainly to _______.

  A. give an account of one of his terrible experiences

  B. make us know it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective (观点) through his experience

 C. tell us not to cut trees down any more

  D. remind us to be careful while working

Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

  A. But for his boots, the writer would have died.

  B. The writer regretted having brushed off his friend’s warning.

  C. The writer knew nothing about electricity.

  D. When the tree was cut down, the writer realized his friend was right