Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.

It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).

Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.

Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美国的爱国誓言).

Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”

Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.

To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.

A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.

What’s the article mainly about?

A. An American high school’s graduation ceremony.

B. The opening ceremony of a sports meeting.

C. A presentation of college diplomas.                     

D. A US college’s farewell party.

Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?

A. She was one of the graduates.                               B. She was a foreign exchange student.

C. She was excited to receive her diploma.              D. She felt it great to be at the ceremony.

The right order of the following events is______.

a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.     b. Students gave farewell speeches.

c. The US national anthem was played.      d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.

e. Seniors went into the stadium.

A. b,c,a,d,e       B. c,d,b,e,a         C. d,b,e,a,c         D. e,d,c,b,a

From the text, we can conclude that_______.

A. a diploma ensures a good job                       

B. a diploma guarantees a bright future

C. the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life

D. everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma

According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?

A. Hollywood superstars went to attend the commencement.

B. Every single senior became a superstar on the commencement day.

C. All graduates would treasure the diploma for the rest of their lives.

D. When each graduate got his or her diploma, there were loud cheers.

In 1987, while serving as the public affairs officer at Fort Bragg, I would frequently visit the local high schools to speak to the students about the Army. As a lieutenant colonel(中校), I found it particularly rewarding to talk with the teenagers about the benefits of military service, if only for a few years of their lives.

During one of these visits, I reported to the secretary in the principal’s office to let her know that I was here for the third-period class. I was a little surprised when she told me. “The principal would like to see you before you go to the class.”

As I entered his office, I was greeted by a gentleman who appeared to be in his late thirties, and he welcomed me with a smile and a handshake. “You don’t remember me, do you?” he said.

I looked closely at the face again and could not recall where we may have met before.

“You were my company commander in basic training at Fort Jackson in 1970,” the principal said.

“Let me help you out,” he suggested. “You gave me a three-day pass to go home and see my newborn baby.” I immediately remembered the incident!

“Yes,” I said. “I remember now.” It was the only three-day pass I had issued because the soldiers were on their way to Vietnam immediately after they finished training. But I knew if I did not let him go home to see his son and something happened to him, I would regret denying the opportunity he had to be with his family.

“Come on, Colonel. I’d like to introduce you to ‘the baby’. He’s in your third-period class. By letting me go see him, you gave me a reason to stay focused and to come home safe from that war. Thank you , sir.”

It was the most rewarding class I had ever given, and I had no problem in telling the students about the bonds of friendship and the values that Army life can provide…and that can last a lifetime.

In the writer’s opinion, talking to teens about the Army is       .

A. a forced task                           B. a pleasant thing

C. an unavoidable duty         D. an embarrassing experience

Why did the principal want to see the writer?

A. He wanted to send his son to the Army.

B. He felt sorry for causing the writer trouble.

C. He was disappointed at the writer’s lecture.

D. He intended to express his thanks to the writer.

The underlined part in the text suggests that       .

  A. the son may die                          B. the son may become ill

C. the soldier may die in the war     D. the soldier may be hurt in the training

What might be the most suitable title for the text?

A. A soldier remembers.               B. A principal thinks

C. A baby grows                          D. A lecture continues

With a lot of problems _______, the principal decided to hold a meeting to have a discussion about them

More Than I Had Dreamed Of

From the time I was seven, I had a dream of becoming a member of the Students Union. I always 36  my school leaders for taking responsibility for all of us. So I dreamed of being a leader.

Years flew by, and soon I was able to participate in the elections,   37  I would win. But the reality struck that I hadn’t had a chance. I wasn’t pretty. Girls across the school hardly knew me. I just did not have what it   38  to win a school election. I was   39 .

As I cried in my room that evening, I   40  took a deep breath and decided I wouldn’t stop dreaming. I decided that I would   41  elections again in my final year at school—and I would win.

I recognized that my   42  had a lot of things in their favor. What were the   43  that would work in my favor? I had good grades, and I was friendly and helpful. And my biggest   44  was the faith I had. I would not allow my   45  appearance to hold me back from putting my best foot forward. That evening, I   46  my election plans a whole year in advance.

I realized that girls would have to get to know me and recognize that I had the ability to   47  them. I loved making friends and I liked being helpful,   48  I decided that perhaps I could use these qualities to work to my advantage. In order to learn how to present a great election   49 , I also attended a course on effective public speaking.

The day after the election, when the principal(校长) announced I won the second highest number of votes, the students   50 . That joy on the faces of all my friends showed me that my victory was    51  theirs.

Suddenly, I realized that I had   52  much more than I had dreamed of. I had made many new friends and had helped people   53  the way. I had won the   54  and love of my school-mates and they knew me as somebody who would stand by them. I was able to put a smile on their faces and    55  their day.

36-40BBACD  41-45BDACA    46-50CDBAB  51-55BCADD

I was being interviewed by a senior manager for a big company. I told him honestly that the principal reason that I was interviewing with them was my need to keep my family in Boston. My wife had recently died of a heart attack. A job in Boston would help me reduce some pain for my 16-year-old daughter and me. It was important to me to keep her present high school.

      Bruce, the interviewer, was politely kind, but he didn't search any further. He acknowledged(承认) my loss and, with great respect, moved on to another subject. After the next round of interviews, Bruce took me to lunch with another manager. Then he asked me to take a walk with him. He told me that he had lost his wife. And, like me, he had also been married 20 years and had 3 children. I realized that he had experienced the same pain as I had and it was almost impossible to explain to someone who had not lost a loved one. He offered his business card and home phone number and suggested that, should I need help or just want someone to talk to, I should feel free to give him a call. Whether I got the job or not, he wanted me to know that he was there if I ever needed help.

      From that one act of kindness, when he had no idea if we could ever see each other again, he helped our family deal with one of life's greatest losses. He turned the normally cold business interview process into an act of earing and supporting for another person in a time of extreme need.

1.According to the passage, the interviewer, Bruce, was very       .

    A. generous         B. kind            C. happy         D. mean

2.The underlined word "principal" in the first paragraph probably means     .

    A. main            B. unimportant     C. necessary     D. possible

3.We can infer from this passage that       .

    A. the writer didn't get the job in the company

    B. Bruce made the writer pass the interview

    C. another manager also lost his wife

    D. the business interview was cold

4.Which of the following statement is NOT true?

    A. The writer's daughter was studying in Boston at that time.

    B. Both the writer and the interviewer experienced the same pain.

    C. Bruce was a senior manager of a big firm.

    D. Bruce wanted to make Mends with him because he gave him his business card and home phone number.