To son, Cecil,

       Just a quick note before I start in earnest. When I wrote this, you were 8, still a little boy. In 2002, I was called to active duty in the Marine Corps in the war on Terrorism (恐怖主义). On the 11th of September 2001 when America was attacked, I knew that I would eventually have to go and I was filled with a deep sense of sadness. That night as you and Keiko were asleep, I looked at your little faces and couldn’t help but fight the tears. I knew it would be hard for you because I had a similar experience. When I was a little boy aged 6, my dad, your Grandpa Cawley, was sent to Vietnam during the war there. I remember how much I missed him, too. But now unfortunately I have come to realize just how rough it must have been for Grandpa to be away from his children for a year. Thinking about this, I wanted to put my thoughts and feelings down for you and your sister. I am so sorry that I had to leave for such a long time. There is no place I would rather be than with you and Keiko. You two are the lights of my life. I have known no greater joy than in the few years since you two were born. I hope to have many more years with you. If this doesn’t happen, then know that I love you more than words can express. If for some reason I don’t make it home, I will need you to take care of your little sister and your Mom. You will be the man of the Cawley family. Be good my son and God will watch over you as he has me. I will be waiting impatiently for the time when we can all be together again.

1.The writer of the letter may be ______.k*s5*u

A. an American soldier in the battle field           

B. an American policeman

C. a soldier in the Vietnam War                        

D. a postman working far away from home

2.Keiko is the ______ of the writer.

     A. wife                        B. son                          C. daughter                          D. sister

3.One of the experiences the writer and his son had in common is that ______.

A. they both experienced the Vietnam War 

B. their fathers had to leave them and fight abroad.

C. they used to study in the same school

D. they were both eight when the fathers had to leave them

4.We can infer(推断) that ______.

A. the writer was a devoted son        

B. the writer was a brave soldier

    C. the writer realized he might die in the battle field

D. the writer’s wife was suffering from a terrible illness.

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart．She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence．Outside, it was pouring so heavily．
We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart．We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day．I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world．
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance （昏昏欲睡） we were all caught in．"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said．
"No, honey．We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied．
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain．"
" We'll get wet totally if we do," Mom said．
"No, we won't, Mom．That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tore at her Mom's arm．
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent．I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the rain．We all stood silently. No one came or left in. the next few minutes,Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say．
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly．Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith．"Honey, you are absolutely right．Let's run through the rain．If get wet, well maybe we just need washing," Mom said．Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case．They got soaked．But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars．And yes, I did．I ran．I got wet．I needed washing．
You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories．So don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories．
【小题1】Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word "affirmation"?

第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36～55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

This morning, I received a phone call from one of my close friends, Nikko, which immediately changed this bright sunny day into a dark terrible pit of endless sorrow. He told me that Diane’s dad had just  36  , at 12:00 on January 3,2008.

Nikko told me that Diane had  37  everything about her dad on her blog, so I  38  right up from bed and got to her blog instantly. Her blog, always so  39  and nice, is suddenly filled with sorrow and grief.

She must have been writing with  40  streaming down her cheeks, with eyes so  41  from the sleepless night, and with a heart so  42  and regretful and yet, she wrote the post, full of determination and will,  43  strength and love. She showed no  44  of weakness and retreat. She  45  that she didn’t notice how her father was feeling before the sudden stroke (中风)   46 him on his sleep. I feel so sorry for her , as her close friend, that I am not able to give her my support and a shoulder to  47  because I live so far away. But I know she will be  48  . She had determined to become the pillar(支柱) of  49  for her mom and her brother.

Although Diane’s father is no longer  50  , his memories would always be with his family. I gave Diane my deepest condolence（吊唁）for her  51  of her most beloved one.

I have known Diane and her family ever since we were in primary school.  52  can be really cruel sometimes,  53  someone or something you have learned to love and rely on. A(n)  54  death like Diane’s father is the most sorrowful. Destiny didn’t even give his family the  55  to say their last goodbyes.

Diane wanted everyone to cherish their loved ones and do not wait until it’s already too late. Tell them you love them and let them know how you feel before it’s too late.

36．A. passed away            B. left over                     C. sent off                     D. filled up

37．A. spoke                     B. found                         C. written                      D. uncovered

38．A. jumped                   B. run                            C. shouted                     D. cleaned

39．A. interesting               B. colorful                      C. good                         D. mind

40．A. water                      B. tears                           C. blood                        D. sweat

41．A. sleepy                     B. big                             C. infected                     D. red

42．A. bleeding                 B. heavy                         C. painful                      D. sympathetic

43．A. from                      B. of                              C. on                            D. without

44．A. sign                        B. explanation                 C. expression                 D. impression

45．A. argued　　　　      B. noticed                       C. blamed                      D. regretted

46．A. broke                     B. attacked                      C. affected                     D. made

47．A. depend on               B. keep up                      C. cry on                       D. carry out

48．A. strong                     B. weak                          C. sorrowful                  D. lonely

49．A. mind                      B. center                         C. power                       D. support

50．A. lively                     B. present                       C. painful                      D. alive

51．A. loss                        B. love                           C. regret                        D. thanks

52．A. Future                    B. Lives                          C. Destiny                     D. experience

53．A. giving up                B. taking away                C. suffering from           D. mourning for

54．A. regretful                 B. heart-broken               C. unforgettable             D. instant

55．A. chance                    B. reward                       C. treat                          D. attention

第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36～55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
This morning, I received a phone call from one of my close friends, Nikko, which immediately changed this bright sunny day into a dark terrible pit of endless sorrow. He told me that Diane’s dad had just  36  , at 12:00 on January 3,2008.
Nikko told me that Diane had  37  everything about her dad on her blog, so I  38  right up from bed and got to her blog instantly. Her blog, always so  39  and nice, is suddenly filled with sorrow and grief.
She must have been writing with  40  streaming down her cheeks, with eyes so  41  from the sleepless night, and with a heart so  42  and regretful and yet, she wrote the post, full of determination and will,  43  strength and love. She showed no  44  of weakness and retreat. She  45  that she didn’t notice how her father was feeling before the sudden stroke (中风)   46 him on his sleep. I feel so sorry for her , as her close friend, that I am not able to give her my support and a shoulder to  47  because I live so far away. But I know she will be  48  . She had determined to become the pillar(支柱) of  49  for her mom and her brother.
Although Diane’s father is no longer  50  , his memories would always be with his family. I gave Diane my deepest condolence（吊唁）for her  51  of her most beloved one.
I have known Diane and her family ever since we were in primary school.  52  can be really cruel sometimes,  53  someone or something you have learned to love and rely on. A(n)  54  death like Diane’s father is the most sorrowful. Destiny didn’t even give his family the  55  to say their last goodbyes.
Diane wanted everyone to cherish their loved ones and do not wait until it’s already too late. Tell them you love them and let them know how you feel before it’s too late.
36．A. passed away            B. left over                     C. sent off                     D. filled up
37．A. spoke                     B. found                         C. written                      D. uncovered
38．A. jumped                   B. run                            C. shouted                     D. cleaned
39．A. interesting               B. colorful                      C. good                         D. mind
40．A. water                      B. tears                           C. blood                        D. sweat
41．A. sleepy                     B. big                             C. infected                     D. red
42．A. bleeding                 B. heavy                         C. painful                      D. sympathetic
43．A. from                      B. of                              C. on                            D. without
44．A. sign                        B. explanation                 C. expression                 D. impression
45．A. argued　　　　      B. noticed                       C. blamed                      D. regretted
46．A. broke                     B. attacked                      C. affected                     D. made
47．A. depend on               B. keep up                      C. cry on                       D. carry out
48．A. strong                     B. weak                          C. sorrowful                  D. lonely
49．A. mind                      B. center                         C. power                       D. support
50．A. lively                     B. present                       C. painful                      D. alive
51．A. loss                        B. love                           C. regret                        D. thanks
52．A. Future                    B. Lives                          C. Destiny                     D. experience
53．A. giving up                B. taking away                C. suffering from           D. mourning for
54．A. regretful                 B. heart-broken               C. unforgettable             D. instant
55．A. chance                    B. reward                       C. treat                          D. attention

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. Outside, it was pouring so heavily.
We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance (昏昏欲睡) we were all caught in. “Mom, let’s run through the rain,” she said.
“ No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit.” Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated, “Mom, let’s run through the rain. ”
“We’ll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.
“ No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,”  the young girl said as she tore at her Mom’s arm.
“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!”
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I dare say you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith. “Honey , you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If get wet, well maybe we just need washing.” Mom said. Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, l did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories. So don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories.
【小题1】 Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “affirmation”?