I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan.

It was soo n clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway（斯坦威钢琴）.At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.

Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years.

The next morning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song.

I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't.

My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet（二重奏）. People went crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep.

There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune spots you, and lets you shine.

In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________.

A.his father was excited that his son succeeded at last.

B.his father was under too much pressure.

C.they could pay back the loan with the prize.

D.his father was proud of him.

Tell the order of the events.

a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia.

b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts.

c. He and his father played “Horses” together.

d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance.

e. The Curtis Institute of Music lent him a Steinway

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

Which of the following statements agrees with the author?

A. The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America.

B. The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him.

C. The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries.

D. One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough.

The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________.

A. America     B. Beijing.   C. Carnegie Hall  D. All the places he went to. 

What is the best title of the passage?

A. I Took Off!                          B. When Fortune Spots Me.

C. No Pain, No Gain.                    D. My father and I

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Another person’s enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved. That person was my stepmother.

I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia. My father  __36__  me to her with these words: “ I would like you to meet the fellow who is ­­­­­__37__ for being the worst boy in this country and will probably start throwing rocks at you no __38__ than tomorrow morning.”

My stepmother walked over to me, __39__ my head slightly upward, and looked me right in the eye. Then she looked at my father and replied, “You are __40__. This is not the worst boy at all, __41__ the smartest one who hasn’t yet found an outlet(释放的途径) for his enthusiasm.

That statement began a(n) __42__ between us. No one had ever called me smart. My family and neighbors had built me up in my __43__ as a bad boy. My stepmother changed all that.

She changed many things. She __44__ my father to go to a dental school, from which he graduated with honors. She moved our family into the county seat, where my father’s career could be more __45__ and my brother and I could be better __46__.

When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand __47__ and told me that she believed that I could become a writer. I knew her enthusiasm, I __48__ it, and I saw how it had improved our lives. I accepted her __49__ and began to write for local newspapers. I was doing the same kind of _ 50__ that great day I went to interview Andrew Carnegie and received the task which became my life’s work later. I wasn’t the __51__ beneficiary (受益者). My father became the __52__ man in town. My brother and stepbrothers became a physician, a dentist, a lawyer, and a college president.

What power _53__ has! When that power is released to support the certainty of one’s purpose and is __54__ strengthened by faith, it becomes an irresistible(不可抗拒的) force which poverty and temporary defeat can never __55__ .

You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.

1.                A．rushed         B．sent           C．carried   D．introduced

2.                A．distinguished    B．favored         C．mistaken  D．rewarded

3.                A．sooner         B．later           C．longer    D．earlier

4.                A．dragged        B．shook          C．raised    D．bent

5.                A．perfect         B．right           C．wrong    D．impolite

6.                A．but            B．so             C．and  D．or

7.                A．agreement      B．friendship       C．gap  D．relationship

8.                A．opinion         B．image          C．expectation   D．mind

9.                A．begged         B．persuaded      C．ordered  D．invited

10.               A．successful      B．meaningful      C．helpful    D．useful

11.               A．treated         B．entertained     C．educated  D．respected

12.               A．camera         B．radio          C．bicycle    D．typewriter

13.               A．considered      B．suspected       C．ignored   D．appreciated

14.               A．belief          B．request        C．criticism   D．description

15.               A．teaching        B．writing         C．studying   D．reading

16.               A．next           B．same          C．only  D．real

17.               A．cleverest       B．wealthiest       C．strongest  D．healthiest

18.               A．enthusiasm      B．sympathy       C．fortune   D．confidence

19.               A．deliberately     B．happily         C．traditionally    D．constantly

20.               A．win            B．reach          C．match D．doubt

He drove after drinking alcohol, having a severe accident and had to get his arms removed．Since then, he has had to __31__ on his younger brother, who became his shadow, never leaving him alone for years. Except for writing with his toes, he was totally unable to do __32__ else. As the two brothers grew up together, they had their own problems and would often __33__. Finally, his younger brother went away and lived __34__, leaving him heartbroken and at a loss what to do.

　　　 __35__, a misfortune befell（降临）a girl. One night she was preparing dinner when the kerosene light on the stove was overturned, __36__ in a fire which took her hands away. Having decidedly __37__ her sister’s willingness to help her, she determined to be thoroughly __38__. At school, she always studied hard．Most of all she learned to be self-reliant. “I am lucky. Though my __39__ are broken, my heart can still fly.” she wrote in her blog.

　　　 One day, the young man and the girl were both invited to a（n）__40__ programme. The boy told the television hostess about his __41__ future, whereas the girl was full of __42__ for her life. They were both asked to write something on a piece of paper with their __43__. The boy: My younger brother’s arms are my arms. The girl: Broken wings, flying heart.

　　　 They had both gone through the same ordeal（痛苦经历）, but their different __44__ determined the nature of their lives. As seems the case, __45__ disasters can strike our life at any time. How you handle the __46__ when faced with it is the true __47__ of your character. If you choose to __48__ or escape from the ordeal, it will follow you wherever you go. But if you decide to be strong, the __49__ will turn out to be a fortune on which new __50__will arise.

31．A．live　　　　　　　　　　 B．stand　　　　　　　　　 C．rely　　　　　　　　　　 D．assist

33．A．quarrel　　　　　　　 B．share　　　　　　　　　 C．support　　　　　　　 D．dislike

34．A．happily　　　　　　　 B．lonely　　　　　　　　 C．separately　　　　　 D．disappointedly

35．A．Unfortunately　　　 B．Unexpectedly　　　 C．Similarly　　　　　　 D．Naturally[来

36．A．leading　　　　　　　 B．bringing　　　　　　　 C．causing　　　　　　　 D．resulting

37．A．turned to　　　　　　 B．turned down　　　 C．turned off　　　　　 D．turned against

38．A．alone　　　　　　　　　 B．free　　　　　　　　　　 C．independent　　　　 D．successful

39．A．arms　　　　　　　　　 B．wings　　　　　　　　 C．dreams　　　　　　　 D．promises

40．A．interview　　　　　　 B．radio　　　　　　　　　 C．sports　　　　　　　　 D．health

41．A．hopeful　　　　　　　 B．uncertain　　　　　　 C．bright　　　　　　　　 D．miserable

42．A．calmness　　　　　　 B．enthusiasm　　　　 C．patience　　　　　　 D．excitement

43．A．hands　　　　　　　　 B．strength　　　　　　　 C．toes　　　　　　　　　 D．mouths

44．A．characters　　　　　 B．desires　　　　　　　 C．opinions　　　　　　 D．attitudes

45．A．unexpected　　　　 B．passive　　　　　　　 C．rough　　　　　　　　 D．serious

46．A．emergency　　　　 B．misfortune　　　　　 C．difficulty　　　　　　 D．accident

47．A．test　　　　　　　　　　 B．reflection　　　　　　 C．display　　　　　　　 D．problem

48．A．ignore　　　　　　　　 B．resist　　　　　　　　　 C．complain　　　　　　 D．suffer

49．A．problem　　　　　　 B．result　　　　　　　　 C．failure　　　　　　　　 D．hardship

50．A．solutions　　　　　　 B．ways　　　　　　　　　 C．rewards　　　　　　 D．hopes

 完形填空：（包括20个小题，每小题1。5分， 共30分）

It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the   36  . The wait seemed   37  .

       At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) coming along the frozen path. Anxiously, he   38   as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one   39  . Then another, and another. Finally, as the   40   rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man   41   the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by  42  .”

       The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to  43   his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.

       As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s   44   caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n)   45   to get a ride. Then I came up and you   46   asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider.   47   I had refused and left you there?”

       The old man replied, “I’ve been   48   here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no   49   for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes,   50   was evident. I knew,   51  , that your gentle spirit would   52   the opportunity to give me help in my time of   53  .”

       Those heartwarming comments   54   the horseman deeply.

       “I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I   55   to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

       With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

1.A. town                     B. river                 C. country                    D. island

2.A. meaningless    B. useless              C. careless                    D. endless

3.A. watched         B. asked         C. waved                   D. approached

4.A. come over      B. get off                  C. pass by                     D. take off

5.A. coming          B. leaving              C. next                         D. last

6.A. missed           B. caught            C. avoided                    D. saw

7.A. bus                B. car                    C. foot                         D. horse

8.A. feel                      B. push                 C. lift                           D. stand

9.A. honesty          B. courage             C. enthusiasm            D. curiosity

10.A. choice          B. stop                  C. effort                       D. scene

11.A. immediately  B. hurriedly           C. friendly                    D. strangely

12.A. What about   B. What if             C. How come                D. If only

13.A. in                B. out                   C. around                         D. beyond

14.A. concern B. doubt                C. chance                         D. reason

15.A. meaning              B. kindness            C. seriousness            D. help

16.A. then and there                           B. for a moment 

            C. all of a sudden                 D. sooner or later

17.A. offer            B. create                C. find                         D. welcome

18.A. need             B. danger                  C. fortune                     D. happiness

19.A. influenced    B. excited              C. touched                    D. hit

20.A. happen         B. try                    C. disagree                   D. fail

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

    When I was a young girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, who lived in a community especially for the elderly and near to an old people's home. They used to tell me that few volunteers would go there and said if someone elderly engages me in  36  ，I'd better make time for them. As a result，I   37  be the only person they got to talk to that day. I've never forgotten this and still  38   time to chat with elderly people.

    So when I   39  a 100-dollar prize in the kindness competition for my community, I  40 thought of the elderly! I then  41  my local community centre and told them how I'd made a suggestion that if I had 100 dollars to  42  my community, I would use it for the elderly who were living    43  . I asked, "Could you do something a bit  44  so that they could all get something from this   45  ？”"Yes, of course, we could do a buffet (自助餐）and dance,”the centre manager told me.

    I thought this was a fantastic   46  and a very worthwhile use of the   47  ．We bought food and beverages (饮料) enough to serve about 30 elderly residents. A poster was    48  to announce it and it was   49  for an afternoon.

    I went up to see how it was all  50  and it turned out to be a very enjoyable afternoon. I was very  51  to see that the people I wanted to serve had a wonderful and enjoyable times. It  52  me that one is never too   53  to have fun! I knew my grandparents would have been very  54 of me. It also helped me to remember that whatever is going on in the world，we can still make a(n) 55 to other people's lives.

1.A. walking              B. argument          C. conversation            D. shopping

2.A. might                   B. must                C. would                     D. should

3.A. consume               B. spare                C. devote                     D. share

4.A. won                     B. admitted           C. impressed                D. paid

5.A. eventually             B. usually             C. immediately             D. always

6.A. recognized            B. joined               C. contacted                 D. congratulated

7.A. purchase               B. create               C. benefit                    D. match

8.A. freely                   B. comfortably      C. lonely                      D. alone

9.A. adventurous       B. strange             C. special                     D. merciful

10.A donation              B. movement         C. collection                D. recreation

11.A. promise              B. idea                 C. discovery                 D. comment

12.A. community         B. competition      C. money                     D. space

13.A. thought of           B. put up              C. agreed on                D. sent up

14.A. known                B. applied             C. arranged                  D. read

15.A. going                 B. existing            C. preparing                 D. ending

16.A. pleased                   B. hopeful            C. curious                    D. anxious

17.A. provided             B. challenged               C. reminded                 D. puzzled

18.A. young                 B. busy                 C. poor                        D. old

19.A. proud                 B. ashamed .         C. cautious                   D. aware

20.A. fortune            B. influence          C. promise                D. contribution