up  take  walk  make  early  on  time wait  of  ride  late  off

I've never been _1__ for school,but yesterday I came very close. My alarm clock didn't go __2_ and by the time I woke __3__, my father had already gone into the bathroom and I had to __4__ for him to come out. I had to really rush.  I _5_ a quick shower, had some breakfast, and then ran off to the bus stop. Unfortunately, by the _6 I got there, the bus had already left. I started __7__, but I knew I couldn't get to school 8__ time. Luckily , my friend Tony and his dad came by in his dad's car and they gave me a _9__. When I got to school, the final bell was ringing. I only __10__ it to my class.

Worries about school bus safety have drawn much attention. Now schools in some poor areas are looking   41   some other ways to go to school.

In the countryside, students are living in different places. And there isn’t enough   time for school buses to go around and pick up   42   student. So the most useful way is to let students living in the   43   village take a special school bus which is for them only. And the cost is   44  by their parents and the school.

Each bus is asked to carry only five students on the same route(路线) every day. Traffic police are also making daily checks to make sure drivers don’t carry__45   than 5 students. For a bus like this, the drivers can   46   make any money. So schools pay 300 yuan to drivers every month. The rest comes from the parents’ pockets（口袋）.

 The roads to the students’ homes are rough(崎岖的) and sometimes even dangerous,   47   falling rocks and narrow（狭窄的） bridges. After spending at least an hour on the road, the students finally make it home.   48  the money for taking a bus has increased and it’s not easy for parents to make money, they are glad to know that their children will   49   home safely each day. And they feel happy to see their child enjoy their time at school. But one girl says she’s seen the big yellow school   50   on TV, and wonders when she’ll ride one of her own.

1.A. at                 B. up               C. for          D. through

2.A. all             B. every             C. both        D. either

3.A. near           B. far              C. same         D. poor

4.A. bought         B. spent            C. paid         D. took

5.A. few           B. fewer            C. many         D. more

6.A. always            B. often             C. sometimes    D. hardly

7.A. and            B. but              C. with         D. without

8.A. Because        B. Although         C. If           D. When

9.A. get B. arrive at           C. arrive in        D. reach to

10.A. desks             B. bags             C. buses        D. bikes

One morning the Browns get up very early．They want to buy something in a new shop．They get to the shop at nine thirty． In the shop Mrs. Brown buys a shirt for their son, a skirt for their daughter, and a sweater for Mr. Brown．Mr. Brown looks at his watch．Then he says, “Oh, it’s twelve o’clock．I think we must go home now．It’s quite late．” So they go out of the shop and drive home, but they lose their way． 

    Mr. Brown drives along the street．He still can’t find the way．Then he drives up to an old man and asks, “Excuse me, sir．Where am I?”  

    The old man looks at him and their car． “You are in your car, sir,” he says．

1．The Browns go shopping          ．

A．by bus         B．by bike               C．on foot             D．by car

2．They buy some          in the shop．

A．food         B．drink              C．clothes          D．cars

3．They are in the shop for about          ．

A．two hours    B．two hours and a half  C．three hours       D．fours hours

4．In the story “lose their way” means          in Chinese．

A．迷路            B．问路               C．没有办法         D．按原路

How do you usually get to school? Buy bus? On foot? Roby Burch, 16, a US student, gets to school a little 36__________---he goes by horse (马).

Burch has been riding his white horse 4 miles to and from school 37 __________the beginning of the semester. “Every morning, wearing my blue jacket and jeans, I’m on my way at 6 am.” Burch says, “The streets are mostly 38__________ at this time of morning. It’s a nice way to start the day.”

The idea was his 39__________. His family were enjoying their vacation on their farm this summer, “My dad just said, ‘Roby, you 40__________ ride your horse to school every day.’” says Burch. He thought it really was a good idea.

When they got back home, Burch asked for permission from the headmaster (校长), Joe Cox, and surprisingly, he got the green light. Cox even 41__________ Burch to keep the horse next to the headmaster’s house. Then his dad helped Burch find the best route to school. It is along back streets and has 42__________cars than the others.

For the return trip every afternoon, Burch leaves school at 5:45 pm. Even now, as the days grow shorter and colder, he 43__________ to ride his horse. “ I will ride my horse even in the coldest weather.” he says.

Burch says the first time he sat on a horse as a four-year-old boy he was afraid. 44__________ now, “it’s what I do best.” It’s no surprise that he wants to be a cowboy (牛仔) when he grows up. “I love riding horses more than 45 __________ else.” He says, “It’s really a guy thing.”

36. A. normally   B. casually   C. differently   D. actually

37. A. for   B. since   C. before   D. after

38. A. empty   B. crowded   C. busy   D. awful

39. A. sister’s   B. brother’s   C. mom’s   D. dad’s

40. A. will   B. won’t   C. should   D. shouldn’t 

41. A. invited   B. allowed   C. taught   D. urged

42. A. fewer   B. few   C. more   D. many

43. A. begins   B. stops   C. continues   D. refuses

44. A. so   B. or   C. and   D. but

45. A. anything   B. nothing   C. everybody   D. somebody