"I've been writing a book, John. Do you think anyone would be interested in __1__ it?" said the old lady.

John took __2__ the papers from her shaking hand and seated her in a chair. He remembered her rich __3__ in the early days of the Old West. He looked through the papers, "It's good, Grandma," he said gently. Then realizing that she couldn't hear him, he shouted __4__ her ears. "I think it's very good. I'll __5__ it to a publisher."

Ten days later, he reported that the publisher had had time to read only a few__6__. But he was so impressed that he had sent $100 for an option(买版权).

__7__money would be given as an advance(预付款). Every month John __8__ $100 for her with a letter from the publisher telling about the progress of the book.

One morning, three months after her 100th birthday. Grandma didn't get up. The doctor told her that she couldn't__9__more than a few days. She was ready to go, but she first wanted her book to be in __10__. John promised that he would get it very soon.

Grandma __11__ on until the day the book came into her hands with the title and her name on the cover. Though she couldn't see it, she could __12__ it. She __13__ felt her name with her fingers, tears in her eyes. Two hours later, she died peacefully, __14__ holding her book.

Her granddaughter took up the book and opened it. "Why, it's just blank pages!" she cried in __15__.

John's face turned __16__. Then the girl understood. There __17__ was a book. Grandma couldn't hear the little bell when the typewriter came to the __18__ of the line. She would keep on working, not knowing the whole sentences and sometimes the paragraphs were __19__. John did not tell her, for he couldn't take away her only __20__. It was John himself who had written the letters and sold his car to pay the advance.

1. A. buying B. publishing C. reading D. lending

2. A. away B. over C. on D. off

3. A. sufferings B. experiences C. thoughts D. neighbors

4. A. between B. out of C. into D. up

5. A. throw B. put C. send D. lift

6. A. novels B. copies C. pages D. books

7. A. Some B. Much C. Enough D. More

8. A. brought B. borrowed C. spent D. stole

9. A. die B. read C. last D. write

10. A. time B. bookstore C. sale D. print

11. A. talked B. wrote C. gave D. held

12. A. read B. sell C. hear D. touch

13. A. proudly B. quickly C. careful D. slow

14. A. still B. yet C. always D. then

15. A. anger B. joy C. surprise D. tears

16. A. white B. red C. angry D. surprise

17. A. indeed B. certainly C. hardly D. never

18. A. middle B. last C. end D. beginning

19. A. missing B. finished C. completed D. ended

20. A. hope B. book C. life D. paper

   A little girl was given so many picture books on her seventh birthday that her father. Who should have run his office and let her mother run the home, thought his daughter should give one or two of her new books to a little neighbor boy named Robert, who had visited their home sometimes.

   Now, taking books, or anything else, from a little girl is like taking sweets from a baby, but the father of the little girl had his way and Robert got a couple of her books. “After all, that leaves you with nine,” said the father, who thought he was a child psychologist（心理学家）,and couldn’t shout his big stupid mouth on the subject.

  A few weeks later, the father went to his library to look up “father” in The Oxford English Dictionary, eager to enjoy the praise of fatherhood through the centuries, but he couldn’t find volume（册）F-G and then he discovered that others were missing too. A-B,L-M, V-Z. He looked everywhere for them, and learned what had happened to the four missing volumes.

   “A man came to the door this morning” said the little daughter, “and he didn’t know how to get from here to Torrington or from Torrington to Wintec, and he was a kind man, much nicer than Robert, and so I gave him four of your books After all, there are thirteen volumes in the Oxford English Dictionary, and that leaves you with nine.

According to the writer’s opinion,      

A. a mother should keep house and father educate the children

B. A father should run the home as well as his office

C. A father should run his office and leave his children to his wife

D. A father shouldn’t only run his office but educate his children

“The father of the little girl has his way” means       

the father went out to work in his office 

B. the father decided to the girl a lesson

C. the father still did what he wanted to.

Considering himself a psychologist, the father        

couldn’t stop discussing the subject    

B. couldn’t helping（禁不住）talking about the subject

couldn’t refuse to listen to the subject  

D. couldn’t give an explanation of he subject

What’s still unclear to us in the story?

A. The exact number of the picture books the girl had received.

B. How many volumes the Oxford English Dictionary includes.

C. Whether each volume of the dictionary includes entries beginning with two letters.

D. Whether the father knew his daughter’s mind well

What do we know about the little girl?

A. She liked Robert very much.            B. She liked reading dictionary

She dislikes what her father did to her picture books.  

D. She is a kind and helpful girl.

As I was leaving to meet Lynne，my roommate told me that I’d better take some money，but I didn’t listen to him. I thought that Lynne would pay because she had invited me.
I arrived at the restaurant exactly on time. I’d been told that Americans expect you to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table in the corner of the restaurant and a waitress came and took our order. The dinner was a great success. I talked a lot about Saudi Arabia and Lynne told me all about herself. After two hours the waitress finally came and asked if we wanted one check or two. Lynne said two. We went to the cashier and Lynne paid her check. I was embarrassed (尴尬) when the cashier gave me my bill. I had no money to pay for my meal. Then I had an idea. I pretended to look for something in my pockets and said，“Oh！I forgot my money! Can I call my roommate，please？” The cashier showed me where the phone was and I quickly called my roommate.
In a few minutes he arrived with some money，but he couldn’t hide how he felt. He laughed all the way home.
Now，I think it’s funny too. But at the time I was terribly embarrassed. I thought that an invitation to have dinner meant the same thing in the United States as in my country. I guess you have to understand that your customs（习俗） are only your customs. When you visit a foreign country，you have to learn about their customs，too.
【小题1】Customs can be ________in different countries according to this passage.