I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt's house, and
my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and
some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought
of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.  
     I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was
saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was
going to see-the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I
was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.  
     The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism (乐观主义), but the idea did not
come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost-having to study in three
schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother
remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I
got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to "the hard times."
     My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with immigration officers, took my grandparents to
the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.  
     From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles eventually go
away!   Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I
believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.  

1. How did the author get to know America?

A. From her relatives.          
B. From her mother.
C. From books and pictures.      
D. From radio programs.

2. For the first two years in New York, the author        .  

A. often lost her way                
B. did not think about her future
C. studied in three different schools    
D. got on well with her stepfather 

3. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4? 

A. She worked as a translator.
B. She attended a lot of job interviews.
C. She paid telephone bills for her family.
D. Her good command of English helped her family.

4. The author believes that       . 

A. her future will be free from troubles
B. it is difficult to learn to become patient
C. there are more good things than bad things
D. good things will happen if one keeps trying   

      "Linda, if beating yourself up were an Olympic sport, you'd win a gold medal!"
      Annabel, my close friend, stunned (使…震惊) me with that frank observation after I told her how I had
mishandled a situation with a student in a third-grade class where I was substituting (代替). "I should never
have let him go to the boy's room without a pass! It was my fault he got into trouble with the hall monitor!
I'm so stupid!"
      My friend burst out laughing, and then made her "Olympic" comment. After a brief period of reflection
I had to admit that she was right. I did put myself down an awful lot. Why, just during the previous day I
had called myself "a slob" for having some papers spread out on my desk, "ugly" when I left the house
without makeup and "an idiot" when I left the house for an emergency substitute job without my emergency
lesson plan.
      In a more reflective tone, Annabel said, "I once took a workshop at church where the woman in charge
had us list all the mean things we say about ourselves."
      "How many did you have on your list?" I asked.
      "Fifteen," she confessed. "But then the teacher said, 'Now turn to the person next to you and say all the
items on your list as if you were speaking to that person!'"
      My jaw dropped, "What did you do?"
      "Nothing. Nobody did. We all just sat there, until I said, 'I could never say these things to anyone else!'"
      "And our teacher replied, 'Well, if you can't say them to anyone else, then don't ever say them to
yourself!'"
       My friend had a point. I would never insult a child of God-and I'm God's child, too!
       God, today let me be as kind to myself as I would be to another of Your children.

1. What does Annabel mean by the first sentence of the passage?

A. The writer is a good athlete.
B. The writer scolds herself too much.
C. She is encouraging the writer.
D. A gold medal is not a big deal.

2. What does the writer intends to tell us through the second and third paragraphs?

A. She has low self-esteem over some small things.
B. She often makes serious mistakes in daily life.
C. She is a third-grade teacher.
D. She cares too much about her appearance.

3. We can infer that the underlined word "slob" might be _____.

A. something untidy
B. someone dangerous
C. something dirty
D. someone lazy

4. What can we learn about Annabel?

A. She used to put herself down a lot.
B. She often goes to church.
C. She was in charge of a workshop.
D. She used to be too shy to talk to others.

5. What does the writer mean by the last sentence of the passage?

A. She is ready to turn to God for help.
B. She will be kind to all children.
C. She won't insult (侮辱) herself as well as others.
D. She is willing to be a child of God.

     "Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton (骨骼) in the closet (衣橱)?" Jessica asked. "A skeleton in the closet?" her mother paused thoughtfully. "Well, it's something that
you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad's family
had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be 'a skeleton in his family's closet'. He really wouldn't
want any neighbor to know about it. "
     "Why pick on my family?" Jessica's father said with anger. "Your family history isn't so good, you
know. Wasn't your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes? " "Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as
prisoners." "Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now," Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
     After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica's parents were still angry each other. Her mother was
ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind newspaper pretending
to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica's
closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark
depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica's mother sank into a faint (晕倒), waking
only when Jessica's put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her
husband and daughter.
     "What happened? Where am I?" she asked. "You just destroyed the school's skeleton, Mum,"
explained Jessica. "I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you, but it seemed
that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad. " Jessica
looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. "They're both crazy," she thought.

1. According to Jessica's mother, "a skeleton in the closet" means ______.

A. a family honor
B. a family secret
C. a family story
D. a family treasure

2. What can we learn about some Australians' ancestors from Paragraph 2?

A. They were brought to Australia as prisoners.
B. They were the earliest people living in Australia.
C. They were involved in some crimes in Australia.
D. They were not regarded as criminals in their days.

3. Jessica's mother fell down into a faint because she was _____.

A. knocked
B. frightened
C. injured
D. surprised

4. Why did Jessica bring a skeleton home?

A. She was curious about it.
B. She planned to keep it for fun.
C. She needed it for her school task.
D. She intended to scare her parents.

5. Jessica's parents laughed madly at the end of the story probably because_______.

A. they were crazy
B. they were overexcited
C. they realized their misunderstanding
D. they both thought they had won the quarrel

     I finished my last evening shift of the week and could hardly wait to get home. I took off my nursing
shoes, relaxed and then said goodnight to the rest of the girls and headed out of the door.
     It was so cold and I could see the ice crystals in the air. As I approached my car, I saw one of my
coworkers standing by the bus stop. I thought it would only take a couple of extra minutes to give her a
ride home, and besides, it was too cold to be standing outside on the coldest night in January.
     We chatted as I drove and before we knew it, we arrived at her house. As she headed up the steps
to her door she turned around. "Do you know how to get to your house from here?" "How hard can it
be? I'll just backtrack the way I came."
     I started driving. Nothing looked familiar, but at first that didn't bother me since I'd never been to this
neighborhood before. I kept driving, and soon I sensed that something was wrong. I recognized nothing,
not the neighborhoods, not even the street names. My husband would be worried about me. I looked
down at my watch. It was now 2:30. I'd left work at 11:30 pm.
     I stopped my car. I thought I'd better take stock of my situation. My gas gauge (汽油量表) was
slowly going down. In total defeat I put my head down on the steering wheel and asked for help. I lifted
my head. I saw a shadow down the road in front of me. It was a car. What was a car doing in the middle
of nowhere at 2:30 in the morning?
     Hesitantly, I got out of my car and knocked on the window of the other car. An elderly man slowly
rolled his window down.
      I said, "I'm lost and don't know how to get back into town."
     In silence, he started driving. I drove behind him.
     Finally I recognized a familiar street. As I turned to head home, I lost sight of my guiding angel. When
I pulled into my driveway the warning light for my gas tank turned on.

1. The first paragraph tells us that the writer _______.

A. lived near her workplace
B. used to go home by bus
C. worked in a woman's hospital
D. had been working at night for a week

2. Why did the writer stop her car?

A. To consider and judge the situation.
B. To check whether there was gas.
C. To prevent the car breaking down.
D. To turn to somebody for help.

3. How did the old man help the writer?

A. He told her the way to the town.
B. He led her by driving in front.
C. He called the police to help her.
D. He sent her to her home with his car.

4. When the writer got home, _______.

A. she thanked the old man very much
B. her husband was waiting for her anxiously
C. the oil in her car was just going to run out
D. she was totally frozen on the cold night

5. What might be the suitable title for the passage?

A. Keep up and you will succeed at last.
B. Meeting a friendly old man in trouble.
C. Giving a ride to my coworker at night.
D. Losing my way on a cold winter night.

     There was a story many years ago of a school teacher-Mrs. Thompson. She told the children on the
first day that she loved them all the same,. But that was a lie. There in the front row was a little boy
named Teddy Stoddard. He didn't play well with the other children and he always needed a bath. She
did not like him.
     Then Mrs. Thompson got to know that Teddy was actually a very good boy before the death  of his
mother. Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when, like all her other students,
Teddy brought her a Christmas present too. It was his mother's perfume (香水).
     Teddy said,"Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my Mom used to." After the children  left she
cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she stopped teaching reading, writing and math. Instead, she
began to teach children.
     Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The boy's mind seemed to come alive. The more
she encouraged him, the faster he improved. By the end of the sixth grade, Teddy had become one of the
smartest children in the class.
     Six years went by before she got a note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school, third
in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. He went  to college. Mrs.
Thompson got two more letters from him with the last one signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.(医学
博士).
     The story doesn't end there. On his wedding day, Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear,
"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. You made me feel important  and showed me that I
could make a difference."
     Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the
one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

1. What did Mrs. Thompson do on the first day of school?

A. She changed Teddy's seat to the front row.
B. She told the class something untrue about herself.
C. She made Teddy feel ashamed.  
D. She asked the children to play with Teddy.

2.What did Mrs. Thompson find out about Teddy?

A. He needed motherly care.          
B. He enjoyed playing with others.
C. He often told lies.              
D. He was good at math.

3. In what way did Mrs. Thompson change?

A. She no longer liked her job as a teacher.    
B. She cared more about educating students.
C. She taught fewer school subjects.        
D. She became stricter with her students.

4. Why did Teddy thank Mrs. Thompson at his wedding?

A. She had sent him Christmas presents.        
B. She had taught him how to judge people.
C. She had kept in touch with him.    
D. She had given him encouragement.

                                                            Heroes of Our Time
     A good heart
     Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa among great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown
University on a scholarship (奖学金) to study medicine - but Coach (教练) John Thompson got a look
at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United
States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his fortune with others. He built a
new hospital in his old hometown in the Congo. A friend has said of this good-hearted man: "Mutombo
believes that God has given him this chance to do great things."
     Success and kindness
     After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to share her love of music and art
with her child. So she borrowed some equipment, and began filming children's videos (录象) in her own
house. The Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business grew to more than $20
million in sales. And she is using her success to help others - producing child safety videos with John
Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her new program: "I
believe it's the most important thing that I have ever done. I believe that children have the right to live in a
world that is safe."
      Bravery and courage
     A few weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls
when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks,
pulled the man into the space between the rails (铁轨), and held him as the train passed right above their
heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: "We have got to show each other some love."

1. What was Mutombo praised for?

A. His work in the church.
B. His willingness to help the needy.
C. Being a star in the NBA.
D. Being a student of medicine.

2. Mulombo believes that building the new hospital is

A. a chance for his friends to share his money
B. a way of showing his respect to the NBA
C. helpful to his personal development
D. something he should do for his homeland

3. What did the Baby Einstein Company do at its beginning?

A. Sell children's music and artwork.
B. Look for missing and exploited children.
C. Produce safety equipment for children.
D. Make videos to help protect children.

4. Why was Wesley Autrey praised as a hero?

A. He protected two little girls from getting hurt.
B. He saved a person without considering his own safety.
C. He helped a man get across the rails.
D. He stopped a man from destroying the rails.

     Looking back on my childhood, I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made. Although we
were all brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and
insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do
mental arithmetic.
     Before World War Ⅰwe spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the
house we lived in, of my room and my toys. Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a clear memory of the dogs, the farm animals,
the local birds, and above all, the insects.
     I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world and my enthusiasm led me
into varied investigations .I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil while
reading about other people's observations and discoveries. Then something happens that brings these
observations together in my conscious mind.
     Suddenly you fancy you see the answer to the riddle, because it all seems to fit together. This has
resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books, which some might honor with the title of scientific
research.
     But curiosity, a keen eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make
a scientist:one of the outstanding and essential qualities required is selfdiscipline, a quality I lack. A
scientist requires not only selfdiscipline, but hard training, determination and a goal. A scientist, up to a
certain point, can be made. A naturalist is born. If you can combine the two, you get the best of both
worlds.

1.The first paragraph tells us the author________.

A. was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood
B. lost his hearing when he was a child
C. didn't like his brothers and sisters
D. was born to a naturalist's family

2. The author can't remember his relatives clearly because________.

A. he didn't live very long with them
B. the family was extremely large
C. he was too young when he lived with them
D. he was fully occupied with observing nature

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The author is a naturalist, but not a scientist.
B. The author is a scientist as well as a naturalist.
C. The author is first of all a scientist.
D. The author is neither a naturalist nor a scientist.

4.The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he________.

A. has a great deal of trouble doing mental arithmetic
B. lacks some of the qualities required of a scientist
C .just reads about other people's observations and discoveries
D. comes up with solutions in a most natural way