Toys are something that can be used for play.  60  . Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable way of training children for life. Toys and games are important when children are growing up and learning about the world around them. Before 1970, most toys were made of metal and wood.  61  . Toys include balls, plastic cars and dolls. Some people think video games are also toys.

  62   . The beginning of the word “toy” is not known. However, it is thought that it was first used in the 14th century. The earliest toys were often made from rocks, sticks or clay（粘土）.  63   . In old Rome, children played with dolls made of clay, sticks and yo-yos. In ancient Greece, girls were asked to give up the toys to the gods when they were about fourteen years old. They would offer their dolls in a temple on the day they got married.

      What happened to that brilliant idea that you once had? Did you ignore (忽略) it because you thought that it was just a little thought?       Have you ever considered what that little thought would have become if you had acted on your instincts (本能) or if you had paid more attention to it?

       Imagine a scene, where you are sitting at home watching television or reading a book, suddenly a light bulb is turned on in the dark tunnel of your mind as a thought or an idea crosses your mind. The thought catches your attention but seems so meaningless and you want to give it up, but wait a minute! That thought could be the potential (潛在的) beginning of the success you have wanted so much. As the thought crosses your mind, your senses become alert and you suddenly see a possibility, a realization, a solution, a conclusion, or find the answer to a problem whose solution has long escaped from you.

       It is almost as if a great being has spoken the perfect solution quietly into your ear or awakened your senses to a reality by this means bringing light to your life. It is like finding the last piece of jigsaw puzzle. This becomes an AHA moment and everything freezes around you as you excitedly try to grasp the practicality of that little but powerful thought.

       Your self-confidence and interest increase as you become aware of the great possibilities that can arise if that little thought is acted upon. This becomes the moment to build upon that thought and to write down any ideas that are streaming from that little thought for later review. Seemingly meaningless little thoughts or ideas when acted upon have a potential to burst into great projects.     Many successful projects have been born from the little positive thoughts that were carefully nurtured (培育) and recognized as tickets to great things.

       You may have heard people say many times that it just came to me in a flash moment, a small idea or seemingly meaningless thought may cross your mind about something you have been planning to complete. Don’t waste an opportunity to act on a potentially brilliant idea. You don't have to wait for a major peer (同伴) for a major idea, a master strategy or agreement in order for you to act on that little thought. That little thought or idea is the beginning of great things if you decide to follow it.

57.   In paragraph 3, “an AHA moment” refers to the moment that _____________.

A. you suddenly understand and find something

B. you get the agreement from your peers

C. a thought or an idea crosses your mind

D. a light bulb is turned on in the dark

58.   What is the best title for the passage?

A. Can You Catch Your Chances?

B. Are You Ignoring that Little Thought?

C. Little Thoughts in Your Leisure Time

D. How to Make Use of the Little Thought

59. What does the writer want to tell us?

A. Little thoughts help increase the interest for your job.

B. Think over the little thoughts for the later great invention.

C. Many successful projects have been born from your dreams.

D. Act on the little thoughts because they might lead to great things.

Apple’s newest product, the iPad Mini, is a downsized brother of the 100-million selling iPad product line. I think if Steve Jobs were still around, this product wouldn’t exist (存在). He was strongly against a device (裝置) this size. The technical details of the device may shake Apple’s fans, and leave Android fans pleased. Here are four reasons you should not buy this new piece of Apple hardware.

The Resolution (分辨率)

The iPad Mini is a thin, beautiful piece. Visit the official iPad Mini product page, and you’ll see it said to be “Every Inch An iPad.” Unfortunately the 7.9″ screen’s 1024 x 768 resolution is the same as the iPad 2 — a device now two generations (代) old. I find it funny that Apple is pushing their Retina technology, while at the same time producing an iPad Mini with a lower resolution. Newcomers to the iPad will not be impressed, and existing iPad owners probably will not choose to buy the iPad Mini as a second device.

The Price

Apple asks for $329 for an iPad Mini. However, Google’s Nexus 7 is priced at $249, and the search giant includes a $25 voucher (優(yōu)惠券). It used to be enough for Apple to pull back the curtain on a new product to cause praise, but now the fierce competition has led to dirty marketing.

The Short Life Cycle

Apple has now proved they have no problem introducing a new revision (修訂) of their products every six months. With the 4th generation iPad available (可以得到的) soon, it’s nothing less than a slap in the face to Apple fans. We should expect a similar treatment of the iPad Mini. By summer 2013, expect Apple to roll out an iPad Mini 2.

The A 5 Chip (芯片)

This is the same chip powering the iPad 2 — a device now two generations old — and the iPod Touch. Apple is a brilliant technology company. Some may call them a lifestyle company. The iPad is worth every bit of praise and success it has gained so far. But this time, Apple didn’t come up with a new and clever product.

53.What would happen if Steve Jobs were still alive?

A. Apple wouldn’t produce the iPad Mini.

B. He would make the iPad Mini more popular.

C. Android fans would be happy for the new product.

D. The technical details of the iPad Mini would be better.

54.Which of the follwing is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The resolution of the iPad Mini is high enough.

B. Using too many electronic devices is bad for health.

C. Google has similar products with a higher price.

D. The newest iPad Mini will go out of date very soon.

55. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The failure of Apple.

B. An introduction of an iPad Mini.

C. Reasons one shouldn’t buy an iPad Mini.

D. The advantages and disadvantages of an iPad Mini.

56.What can you infer about the author’s attitude?

A. The author admires Steve Jobs very much.

B. The author isn’t much of a fan of the iPad Mini.

C. The author thinks Apple isn’t as good as Google.

D. The author considers all Apple products useless.

Save the Game

　 The basketball final between Perfect School and Sunrise School has entered white-hot stage. There are only fifteen seconds left. Sunrise School is one point ahead. Mitchell, who is one of the best players of Perfect School, is now controlling the ball. The students are extremely excited. They cannot help standing up and shouting, “Go! Mitchell!”O(jiān)ther teammates also encourage Mitchell, “Take a shot, boy!”

　 Mitchell knows it will be the last shot. He hesitates (猶豫) and falls into careful thinking. He imagines that he shoots from the halfway line. The hall turns quiet. All eyes follow the track of the basketball. It jumps round the ring over and over again and finally rolls out of the court. The world turns noisy. Mitchell sees his coach lower his head, his teammates kneel down and his fans cry. It gives him so much pain. It is the last match for his coach before retiring. All the teammates practiced hard and hoped to give their coach a perfect ending. But now, the bubble bursts (破裂).

　 “Is that what you want?” Mitchell asks himself.“Certainly not. But how can I change the situation? Teamwork!”Mitchell returns to reality from his thinking. He does not have a shot by himself but surprisingly passes the basketball to his teammate, Jack, who is standing near the basket. Jack catches the basketball and quickly scores a two-point shot. There goes the whistle at the same time. Perfect School finally wins the game.

50. When there are only fifteen seconds left, ______.

A. the students are surprised

B. Mitchell’s coach is shouting

C. Sunrise team is one point ahead

D. Perfect team is two points ahead

51. How does Mitchell help his team win the game?

A. He tries to stand near the basket.

B. He passes the basketball to Jack.

C. He shoots from the halfway line.

D. He quickly scores a two-point shot.

52. What can we learn from the story?

A. Teamwork helps win the game.

B. Jack is the most popular player.

C. The coach will retire next year.

D. The hall turns quiet after the final shot.

TALENT ON PARADE（游行）

47. In the past, actors ________ in the talent show.

   A. ran              B. talked       C. sang and danced        D. took photos        

48. Students can enjoy the show at ________.

A. 6:30 pm on Wednesday              B. 7:30 am on Thursday

C. 8:30 am on Friday                     D. 5:30 pm on Saturday

49. This year’s actors will be chosen in a new way and no ______ will be held.

   A. acts             B. concerts                   C. meetings                  D. tryouts                                                   

Reggie couldn’t hear a thing. He was a normal boy, but he had been born deaf. He was well known to everyone in town, and they were all very fond of him. 35 unfortunately, he was always treated differently from everyone else. Children 36 that they would hurt him, adults acted like he was unable to understand them, as if he was a baby.

Reggie didn’t like this very much. But the person who disliked it the most was his friend Michael, who decided that things had to be 37 . Michael’s father was the town’s Mayor, and Michael managed to convince him that this year, in honor of Reggie, they should offer one day to deaf people. During that whole day everyone in town would have to 38 earplugs(耳塞).

People liked the idea, because everyone loved Reggie. The day became known 39 the Day of Silence, and when it arrived everyone stuck plugs in their ears with great 40 . That morning was filled with jokes and laughter. But, as the hours passed, people became aware of (意識(shí)到) how 41 life was when you couldn't hear anything. However, learning about how life was more difficult for the deaf was 42 compared to the greatest discovery of the day: Reggie was amazing!

On that day no one was thinking of Reggie as 43 a deaf person. This meant he could be treated just like any other little boy; and people saw a whole new side of him. Not only that, but Reggie had a 44 mind. On that day, using his usual gestures (手勢(shì)), Reggie was the one who could communicate best with everyone. This meant that people paid more attention to what he was saying, and they were surprised by his intelligence and his ability to find solutions to almost any problem. They realized that in normal life all Reggie needed was a little more time than others to communicate. That was the only 45 .

So the Day of Silence was the day when Reggie’s true nature became known. And it was the day that everyone realized you have to give people a chance to show how 46　 they are.

35. A. Or　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. So　　　　　　　　　 C. And　　　　　　　　 D. But

36. A. considered　　　　　　　 B. worried　　　　　　 C. suggested　　　　 D. wondered　　　　

37. A. changed　　　　　 　　　 B. finished　　 　　　 C. decided　　 　　　 D. happened

38. A. hold　　 　　　 　　　 B. get　　　　　　　　　 C. wear　　　　　　　　 D. carry

39. A. as　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. in　　　　　　　　　　 C. at　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. on

40. A. honor　　　　 　　　　　　 B. hurt　　　　　　　　 C. anger 　　　 　　　 D. fun

41. A. serious　　　　　　 　　　 B. careful　　　 　　　 　　　 C. difficult　　　　　　 D. nervous

42. A. anything　　　　　 　 B. nothing　　　　　　 C. something　　　　 D. everything

43. A. just B. always C. ever D. already　　　　　　 　　　

44. A. simple 　　　　　　　　 B. strange　　　　　　 C. bright　　　　 　　　 D. general

45. A. result 　　　　　　　　　　 B. effort　　　　　　　 C. reason 　　　　　　 D. difference

46. A. active　　　　　　　　　　　 B. valuable　　　　　　 C. healthy　　　　　　 D. popular

— Can you tell me _______ yesterday?

— By the time I got outside, the bus had already left.

A. why you come late　　　 B. why did you come late

C. why you came late　　　 D. why do you come late

The first television ________ in America in 1927.

A. makes　　　 B. made　　　　　　 C. is made　　　 D. was made

 The doctor asked me not __________ too many candies. It’s bad for my teeth.

 A. to eat                  B. eat             C. eating              D. eats

 Kathy enjoys _______ mountains in autumn.

A. climb         B. climbs          C. to climb        D. climbing