As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of for a woman to do that．I got a taste of that dream in 2001,when my husband arranged for me to ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday．But the experience turned out to be very dull．Around that time, I told my husband that I wanted to skydive．So when our retirement community(社区)announced that they were having an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream．
In the essay, I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr．did it at age 80．Why not me? I was just 84 and in pretty good health．A year went by and I heard nothing．But then at a community party in late April 2009, they announced that I was one of the winners．I just couldn’t believe it．Inspired by this, I decided to realize my dream, even though some of my family members and my doctor were against it．
On June 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered in the area close to where I would land while I headed up in the airplane．My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience．The plane was the noisiest one I had ever been in, but I wasn’t frightened－I was really just looking forward to the experience．When we reached 13,000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane．When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe．For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then everything got calmer．We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute(降落伞), then we just floated downward for about five minutes．Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt－much better than the hot air ballon．I was just enjoying it．
Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life．I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don’t stop living just because you are 84 years old．If there’s something you want to experience, look into it．If it’s something that is possible, make it happen．
(1)
What happened to the author in 2001?_________
[ ]
A．
She flew an airplane
B．
She entered a competition
C．
She went on a hot air balloon ride
D．
She moved into a retirement community
(2)
The author mentioned George Bush Sr．in her essay to．
[ ]
A．
build up her own reputation
B．
show her admiration for him
C．
compare their health condition
D．
make her argument persuasive
(3)
How did the author feel immediately after she jumped out of the plane?
[ ]
A．
Excited
B．
Scared
C．
Nervous
D．
Regretful
(4)
What did the author enjoy most when she was skydiving?
One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read：
For washing the car ＄5.00
For making my own bed this week ＄1.00
Going to the provision shop ＄0.50
Playing with little sister ＄0.25
Taking out the rubbish ＄1.00
Getting a good report card ＄5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor ＄2.00
Total ＄14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment．I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind．So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over, this is what she wrote：
For nine months I carried you, growing inside me No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you No Charge
For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose No Charge
When you add it all up, the full cost of my love No Charge
Well, when he finished reading, he had big tears in his eyes．He looked at his mother and said,“Mummy, I love you．”Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the“bill”“All paid．”
(1)
What's the best title for this passage?
[ ]
A．
Part-time Job
B．
Mother's Love, No Charge
C．
Payment for House Work
D．
Greedy Mother
(2)
The write wrote the passage in order to ________．
[ ]
A．
show that children should be paid for their housework
B．
show that children should not be paid for their housework
C．
show a clever way of teaching children
D．
tell children how to spend their spare time
(3)
How do you think of the mother in the passage?
[ ]
A．
Clever
B．
Greedy
C．
Cold－hearted
D．
Selfish
(4)
From the last passage we know that ________
[ ]
A．
the boy got all the money he wanted
B．
the mother was unwilling to give the money to the boy
C．
the boy realized that it was not right to ask for money for the housework
D．
the mother was angry with what the boy said
阅读理解
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel．Green said,“Clearly I am the most important．I am the sign of life and hope．I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves．Without me, all animals would 1 ．”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea． 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be 4 ．”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious．I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world．”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength．I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life．When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you．”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you．I am the color of danger and of bravery．I am willing to 10 truth．I am also the color of passion and of love．”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)…．
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 ．Their quarreling became louder and louder．Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder．Rain started to pour down 12 ．The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort．
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 ．Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me．”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands．They formed a colorful rainbow．From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky．They remember to 20 one another．
