A bullet was shot out of the dark cold hole of the rifle and ______ its target without the slightest error as its master’s wish.

A. reached                        B. noticed                     C. reflected                   D. found

She made a conscious attempt to look ______ though she felt tired out.

A. pleasant                       B. available                   C. thoughtful                D. fresh

That ______ makes the heart grow fonder means the being away from someone you love makes you love them more.

A. presence                  B. absence                       C. shortage                  D. lack

In spite of all those arguments between the boss and workers, the new workshop is ______ being completed.

A. under the way           B. by way of                    C. on the way to                  D. in the way of

The beauty of the place ______ them to pause in their hike and rest a while.

A. allowed                      B. switched                  C. invited               D. addicted

In time of war, different parties tend to ______ their political differences to fight against foreign invaders shoulder to shoulder.

A. pick up                        B. relate to                      C. set aside                    D. give away

Besides being short, a good dialogue must be ______ in such a way that the speakers’ parts are balanced.

A. updated                B. constructed           C. demonstrated          D. valued

In a recent class I was asked “What is a short story?” My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination（启示）to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking through heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a “real” short story was closer to poetry than to the novel.

Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet's: “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime”. One writer said: “the theme of a novel won't fit into the framework of a short story; it's like trying to squeeze a large painting done on a wall into the frame of a miniature （微型画）. And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp. ”

The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Often a character undergoes some event, something that offers him or her change. This is why it’s said that short stories usually “say something ”, often a small something, but sometimes delivered with such accuracy that the effect is strongly felt, even a life-moment for some readers, something similar to a religious experience or to witnessing a never-to-be-repeated scene in nature.

Ok, let’s form a definition here: A short story is an account, rarely over 10, 000 words or below 500 words―more commonly 1, 500 to 5, 000 words―a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader. It is narrow and focused to produce an effect through the story, most commonly through events affecting some change in an individual.

Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: “Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you're done. Short stories are more difficult―they have to be perfect, complete in themselves. ”

64．The writer of the passage is probably a ______.

A. poet                        B. painter             C. teacher             D. student

65．What should the ideal short story be in length?

A. at most 10, 000 words   B. below 500 words       C. over 5, 000words     D. around 2, 000 words

66．The underlined word “undergoes ” in the third paragraph probably means “________ ”.

A. experiences                 B. discovers           C. discusses          D. appreciates

67．What would be the best title for the passage?

A. How Do You Write a Short Story?               B. What Exactly Is a Short Story?

C. Is a Short Story Similar to Poetry?               D. Are Short Stories Perfect and Complete?

Do you want to see the effects of global warming? Then head north. Recent studies indicate that the North Pole could be underwater during the summer in less than 10 years, instead of coated in thick sea ice. But seeing the Arctic terrain （地带） up close isn’t easy, unless you’re handy with a dogsled. Steger is going to take all of us there．

Steger, 64, is a great polar explorer. He was the first person to make a dogsled trip to the North Pole, and is also a devoted environmentalist who was early to ring the alarm bell on global warming.

Steger is about to lead a team of six young adventurers on a 1, 400-mile, 60-day-long dogsled trip across Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic. The sea ice in that region should still be frozen. “We want to take our audience to the front lines of global warming, ” says Steger. The team will be uploading videos, stories and photos to the website global warming 101.com as they march along, allowing armchair adventurers and kids in classrooms to follow their progress day to day.

Steger’s team will include some already-famous young explorers. Sam Branson, 22-year old, is an experienced Arctic traveler. Also on the journey will be 27-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Ekran. Last year Ekran become only the second woman in history to win Rookie （新秀） of the Year for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

What they will see may be surprising. Even Steger doesn’t know exactly what to expect. Climate change has already reshaped the geography of the Arctic. “Within a decade or less, it’s going to be impossible to reach the North Pole by dog team, without flotation （漂浮）, ”says Steger.

60．We can learn from Paragraph 1 that                ．

A. climate change happens only in the far north

B. the effects of climate change are obvious in the Arctic terrain

C. climate change is going to be the biggest issue facing human race

D. climate change is the result of pollution

61．It can be inferred that the aim of the dogsled trip is to                   ．

A. encourage young people to explore the Arctic        

B. present the Arctic terrain to geography classes

C. study the cause of climate change in polar region

D. raise awareness of the damage that climate change is causing in polar regions

62．Which of the following statements about Steger’s team is TRUE?

A. Sam Branson, a member, is skilled at travelling in the Arctic.

B. Steger, the leader is a great environmental expert.

C. Ekran, a member, is the second woman to have reached the North Pole.

D. All the members are experienced Arctic explorers.

63．Why does Steger NOT know what they will see during their trip?

A. Because it will be the first time for him to go that far north.

B. Because the sea ice in that region should still be frozen.

C. Because the geography there has changed due to warmer temperatures.

D. Because they will go there by boat instead of by sledge.