Things of Value
Our area was just a few miles from the largest wildfire in Colorado’s history. We were on “evacuation alert (疏散警報)”. If we got the   1  to evacuate, we would have to leave immediately.
We   2  suitcases with some clothes and set them by the door. We didn’t  3 these things were valuable, but time was. We moved the computers, with which I wrote for newspapers and made a   4 . We took family pictures off the   5  and packed them in boxes. These were truly valuable and could not be replaced.
Then we took a hard look at all that   6 . There was a lamp that belonged to my great grandmother. It was a   7  to my family. And there was the piano my wife   8  to play when she was a little girl. Not of great   9  in itself, but another family connection. It was impractical to move everything from our home and store them for an indefinite (無限的) time. Some important items would have to stay behind.
The thought of   10  something passed down from our families saddened me deeply,   11  I’d never been much attached to things. It’s about what they   12  —family and love. They each had a(n)   13  to tell, and some of them spoke in the   14  of our parents and grandparents.
The fire   15  reached our home. We were lucky. And though I felt grateful that all was   16 , I also realized just how fortunate I had been   17 . I saw just how rich my life had been.
Someone  18 said, “There are people so poor that the only thing they have is money.” And now I  19  I was indeed rich. I was rich in family, rich in memories, rich in everything that really  20 to me. I am wealthier than I ever believed possible.
It took a fire to teach me, I wonder if there is any other kind of wealth worth seeking.

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)nswer B．task C．chance D．call

小題2:	A．packed B．bought C．searched D．sold

小題3:	A．worry B．think C．care D．doubt

小題4:	A．mark B．sign C．living D．plan

小題5:	A．a(chǎn)lbums B．ceilings C．windows D．walls

小題6:	A．left B．remained C．burnt D．unmoved

小題7:	A．connection B．present C．symbol D．treasure

小題8:	A．forgot B．a(chǎn)greed C．learned D．refused

小題9:	A．quality B．taste C．sense D．value

小題10:

A．knocking out B．leaving behind C．giving away D．picking out

小題11:

A．even though B．unless C．but D．or

小題12:

A．contained B．included C．represented D．gathered

小題13:

A．idea B．lie C．right D．story

小題14:

A．sounds B．speeds C．voices D．feelings

小題15:

A．once B．never C．seldom D．finally

小題16:

A．spared B．returned C．stopped D．found

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)t last B．in return C．in another way D．a(chǎn)t most

小題18:

A．curiously B．a(chǎn)ccidentally C．coldly D．wisely

小題19:

A．knew B．promised C．a(chǎn)nnounced D．thanked

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)ffects B．matters C．helps D．desires

Bertie knew there was something in the wind. His mother had been sad in recent days, not sick，just strangely sad. The lion had just lain down beside him，his head warm on Bertie’s feet，when Father cleared his throat and began, “You’ll soon be eight, Bertie. A boy needs a proper education. We’ve found the right place for you, a school near Salisbury in England. ”
His heart filled with a terrible fear, all Bertie could think of was his white lion. “But the lion,” he cried, “What about the lion?”
“I’m afraid there’s something else I have to tell you, ” his father said. Looking across at Bertie’s mother, he took a deep breath. Then he told Bertie he had met a circus owner from France, who was over in Africa looking for lions to buy. He would come to their farm in a few days.
“No! You can’t send him to a circus!” said Bertie. “People will come to see him. He’ll be shut up behind bars. I promised him he never would be. And they will laugh at him. He’d rather die. Any animal would! ” But as he looked across the table at them, he knew their minds were quite made up.
Bertie felt completely betrayed (出賣). He waited until he heard his father’s deep breathing next door. With his white lion at his heels，he crept (躡手躡腳地移動) downstairs，took down his father’s rifle (步槍) and stepped out into the night. He ran and ran till his legs could run no more. As the sun came up over the grassland, he climbed to the top of a hill and sat down, his arms round the lion’s neck. The time had come.
“Be wild now”，he whispered. “You’ve got to be wild. Don’t ever come home. All my life I’ll think of you. I promise I will. ” He buried his head in the lion’s neck. Then, Bertie climbed down the hill and walked away.
When he looked back, the lion was still sitting there watching him; but then he stood up, yawned, stretched, and sprang down after him. Bertie shouted at him, but he kept coming. He threw sticks. He threw stones. Nothing worked.
There was only one thing left to do. With tears filling his eyes and his mouth，he lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired over the lion’s head.
小題1:Bertie’s mother was sad probably because she _____.

A．had been seriously ill recently

B．had decided to send Bertie to school

C．knew Bertie would hate to go to England

D．knew selling the lion would upset Bertie

小題2:The underlined word “they” in Para. 4 probably refers to _____.

A．other animals

B．some audience

C．Bertie’s parents

D．circus owners

小題3:In the last paragraph, the boy lifted the rifle to _____.

A．threaten the lion back to the wild	B．kill the lion out of fear
C．protect himself from the lion	D．show his anger towards his father

小題4:The passage intends to show that _____.

A．a(chǎn)nimal-hunting is popular in Africa

B．parents are sometimes cruel to their children

C．people and animals can be faithful to each other

D．a(chǎn)nimals usually lead a miserable life in circuses

B
I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it. Mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be a most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed in action. But as a young girl. I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易動感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface (表面)”.
As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.
My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace – it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
But the present of her desk told me, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside – a photo of my father and a one-paper letter, folded and refolded many times. It was my letter.
“In any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.”
小題1:The writer began to love her mother’s desk________.

A．a(chǎn)fter Mother died	B．a(chǎn)fter she wrote the letter
C．when she was a child	D．when Mother gave it to her

小題2:The passage shows that_________.

A．Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter

B．Mother was too serious about her daughter in words

C．Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words

D．Mother wrote to her daughter in careless words

小題3:Which of the following is NOT true?

A．The author may work as a writer

B．The author and her mother love each other, but didn’t say it out

C．Neither the author nor her mother had a happy family.

D．The author’s mother is a person who prefers act to words.

小題4:What did Mother do with her daughter’s letter asking for forgiveness?

A．She had never received the letter.

B．For years, she often talked about the letter.

C．She didn’t forgive her daughter at all in all her life.

D．She read the letter again and again till she died.

小題5:What’s best title of the passage?

A．My letter to Mother	B．Mother and children
C．My Mother’s Desk	D．Talks between Mother and me

                                      B
Sunday, October 5                                                        
Clear, 69°F
My wife, Eleanor and I took the train from Paris to Strasbourg, where we were met by our driver and guide, and the minibus which goes along with the boat. We stopped off in Barn for an hour on the way. Then we were taken to Nancy where the boat was kept.
After the other passengers arrived, we had our first dinner on the boat. After dinner we walked into downtown Nancy, a village with a large square and wooden houses.
Monday, October 6                           
Rained last night, cloudy in the morning, 69°F
We spent about two hours in Nancy, and then sailed on the Canal de la Marne au Rhine. Kind of a lazy day. Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, after dinner we watched a tape on Baccarat, where we will visit tomorrow. It was pleasant to sit out on deck （甲板）and watch the scenery go by at about 3 mph.
Tuesday, October 7                             
Light rain, 64°F
This mourning we drove over to Baccarat and toured its museum and the church, which has this unbelievable lamp that is going on a world tour the next day. We did lost of shopping, then walked across the bridge to see a very, very modern Catholic church with special Baccarat windows.
We drove to the top of the Voges Mountains and started down the eastern side. Later we drove to Sorrenbourg to see the 13th century church at the Cordeliers. It contains the largest window by Mar.
Wednesday, Ocrober8
Cloudy.65 °F
Today we sailed from Schneckenbush to Saverne. We went though two caves, an extremely unusual part of the journey. This river scenery is very different. We were in a mountain valley with grassland on one side and a forest beginning to show some color on the other.
Thursday, Ocrober9
Cloudy, 66°F
Our dependable minibus was waiting to load the luggage and take us to the hotel where everyone went their separate ways. Our boating days are over until next time.
小題1:Where did the author get off the train?

A．Paris

B．Barn

C．Nancy

D．Strasbourg

小題2:On which days did the tourists spend most of their time on the boat?

A．Monday and Wednesday	B．Tuesday and Wednesday
C．Wednesday and Wednesday	D．Monday and Tuesday

小題3:From the text, we learn that Baccarat and Sorrenbourg are the names of_________.

A．churches

B．towns

C．museums

D．mountains

小題4:What does the author think of the tour?

A．Tiring

B．Expensive

C．Enjoyable

D．Quick

Congratulations! You have applied for a job and now you are getting ready for that important job interview and you are looking forward to making a good impression on your future (hopefully) boss.

When you walk in the room the very first impression you make on the interviewer can have a great influence on the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and are friendly. In a job interview, the first question is often a “breaking the ice” type of question. Don’t be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like: “How are you today?” or “What do you think of the weather lately?” Answer the question without going into too much detail.
Talking about qualifications (資歷) is the most important part of any job interview. Your qualifications include your education and any special training you may have received in the past. Your qualifications also include your experience in any previous work. It is important to explain what experience you have in detail. Generally, employers want to know exactly what you did and how well you accomplished your tasks. This is not the time to be modest.
Try to avoid some big mistakes in the job interview, such as leaving the mobile on and criticizing previous bosses. The worst thing is you yourself have no questions. Having no questions shows you are either not interested or not prepared. Remember that interviewers are more impressed with the questions you ask than the selling points you try to make.
小題1:The passage is mainly about          .

A．the typical questions asked in job interviews

B．importance of interviewees’ qualifications in job interviews

C．some common mistakes found in job interviews

D．Dos and Don’ts in job interviews

小題2:A “breaking the ice” type of question is         .

A．a(chǎn) question that makes people unhappy

B．a(chǎn)n opening question asked to make people less nervous

C．a(chǎn) sharp question that makes people angry

D．a(chǎn) question asked about serious topic

小題3:All of the following are considered to be the interviewee’s qualifications EXCEPT         .

A．educational background	B．social background
C．a(chǎn)ll kinds of special training received	D．experience in previous work

小題4:Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a mistake found in job interviews?

A．Leaving the mobile on	B．Criticizing previous bosses.
C．Having no questions.	D．Arriving late.

House buyers have three main choices: building from the ground up, moving into an old house or buying a new one. All the three are very different and should be considered carefully. Your budget will probably have the biggest effect on your choice. Comparing the three will help you make a good decision.
New houses are untouched and fresh, which means they can suit your personality and you know exactly where all of the materials come from. New houses won’t hold many unpleasant surprises, such as weak foundations, or other damaged areas. Most of these modern houses are also far more eco-friendly, with future decoration being just as easy to make and do as you like. Buying new houses is also a great way to save money, and you may find its benefit with the price going up in the future.
Some buildings, such as those that are rare or in certain areas, are of value over the years. Sometimes it is the history that draws more buyers into older houses. A famous person may have lived there, or an important event may have taken place in the house. This may not add any value to the house, but it can add to the attraction. There may be more repairs which will need to be done in the old houses,so before you think you’ve found a great bargain, be sure to get a careful inspection.
There are those who prefer building from the ground up. Building your own house can be a very rewarding, tiring, and expensive experience. While people have many expectations of planning and building their own houses, one thing is sure: it will take a while. There are always difficulties during construction, so you always find the construction time will be longer than your plan, not to mention the budget. Time can add up as well as materials and costs. Building is a good choice for those who are able and qualified.
小題1:In Paragraph 2, the writer mainly tells readers _____.

A．How to choose a good new house.

B．The benefits of buying a new house

C．Things to consider when they buy a house.

D．How to save money when they buy a new house.

小題2:What does the writer suggest people do when they are buying an old house?

A．Check whether the price is low

B．Check whether it is a rare house

C．Check carefully whether lots of repairs are needed

D．Check whether a famous person has lived in it

小題3:The writer seems to believe that building a house of one’s own is ____.

A．easy	B．costly
C．interesting	D．impossible

小題4:What is the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To encourage readers to build a house of their own

B．To explain why it is hard to decide what house to buy

C．To tell readers how to find a great bargain when they are buying a house

D．To help readers make a better decision when they are buying a house

Dear David,
My daughter will be five years old. She is happy, well-mannered, loving and pretty. She has attended a Montessori school since she was 16 months old and has made two friends. The three girls are always together, or talking with each other.
But recently the girls told my daughter that they would not play with her if she kept playing with the boy who was disliked by most of the class. My daughter always finds good things in others and insisted they play with him, too. Then one of the friends told my daughter she didn’t have straight hair and shouldn’t play with them. Then she started ignoring my daughter. My mother-in-law decided to iron my girl’s beautiful curly hair(卷發(fā)).
With her birthday coming, my child decided to invite her friends to her party. When I asked her why, she said because they were always together, but I know one of the girls will not attend her party. 
I’m concerned about her. I feel lost, not knowing how to help my child.
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
It’s always painful to a mother when someone hurts her child. Your daughter’s friends weren’t nice to her, but little kids are still learning how to get along with others. As a result, young friendships are often fleeting, even changing from day to day. Your daughter seems to be remarkably loving, outgoing and mature(成熟的) beyond her years. Perhaps you need to be proud of the way she treats people.
Ironing your daughter’s hair won’t send your daughter or the other girls a good message. It implies that there is something wrong with the way she is. You have no choice but to let your daughter know that one of the girls won’t be attending her birthday party. If she seems upset, remind her that other friends will be there. My guess is that she will rise to the occasion.
Hope this helps.
David
小題1:What’s the mother’s problem?

A．Her daughter doesn’t respect other kids

B．Her daughter seems to be losing her friends

C．Her daughter cares too much about her friends

D．Her daughter doesn’t know how to deal with others

小題2:When the daughter was asked not to play with that boy, she probably ____.

A．thought her friends were right.

B．felt lucky to have such good friends.

C．thought her friends shouldn’t have said that.

D．realized her friends were not popular with others.

小題3:David used the underlined word“fleeting”to show that  _____.

A．kids value friendship

B．young friendships don’t last long

C．young friendships are very important

D．kids are good at dealing with others

小題4:In David’s opinion, ironing the daughter’s hair _____.

A．is the right thing to do	B．will make her more popular.
C．will make her doubt the way she is.	D．will help her win back her friends.

With more and more cars on the road, traffic jams are inevitable. Traffic jams can lead to increased accidents as there are more cars, with more people trying to get to their destination, all the while getting worse. Although it’s impossible to avoid traffic jams altogether, there are some tips you can follow to reduce the amount of time on the road.
Check for traffic jams before you leave. You can listen to the radio for traffic news, or check on the Internet to get up-to-minute information on traffic. If the route you want to take is heavy with traffic, you can choose another.
Look for a different route permanently. Most traffic jams occur on busy roads. Using country roads could see you avoiding a lot of traffic. Although the distance you may have to travel is further, it can work out quicker.
Set your car radio to receive traffic bulletins. Many new car stereo systems (汽車音響系統(tǒng)) are equipped with a radio system by which you can hear the traffic channel. This way you can get the latest traffic information and change your journey if necessary.
_____________________________. Most traffic jams usually occur during rush hour, so try to avoid this time period if possible. Some jobs offer flexible working hours so that you can travel to work outside of rush hour. Some jobs even allow you to work at home so as to avoid commuting altogether. Ask your manager to see what you can do if traffic is a problem for you.
Use public transport alternatives where available. The easiest way to avoid traffic jams is to take buses or the underground instead of driving your own car. Not only will you avoid traffic jams but you will most likely be saving money as the cost of motoring rises.
小題1:The underlined word “inevitable” in Paragraph 1 probably means _____.

A．hard to accept	B．impossible to avoid
C．getting less serious	D．seen everywhere

小題2:The author wrote the text in order to ______.

A．explain why there are traffic jams	B．tell us the negative effects of traffic jams
C．tell us what we can do on the road	D．tell us how to save time on the road

小題3:To get the latest traffic information, you could do the following EXCEPT ______.

A．surfing the Internet	B．listening to the radio for traffic news
C．listening to the traffic channel	D．turning to other drivers for information

小題4:Which of the following can be put in the blank in the text?

A．Choose a job that has flexible working hours	B．Try traveling at different time
C．Make friends with your manager	D．Work from home

Most people give little thought to the pens they write with, especially since the printers in modern homes and offices mean that very  小題1: things are hand written. All too often, people buy a pen based only on  小題2:, and wonder why they are not satisfied  小題3: they begin to use it. However, buying a pen that you’ll enjoy is not  小題4: if you keep the following in mind.
First of all, a pen should fit comfortably in your hand and be  小題5:  to use. The thickness of the pen is the most important characteristic  小題6: comfort. Having a small hand and thick fingers, you may be comfortable with a thin pen. If you have a  小題7: hand and thicker fingers, you may  小題8: a fatter pen. The length of a pen can 小題9: influence comfort. A pen that is too  小題10: can easily feel top-heavy and unstable.
Then, the writing point of the pen should  小題11: the ink to flow evenly（均勻地）while the pen remains in touch with the paper.  小題12: will make it possible for you to create a  小題13: line of writing. The point should also be sensitive enough to  小題14: ink from running when the pen is lifted. A point that does not block the    小題15:   may leave drops of ink,  小題16: you pick the pen up and put it down again.
 小題17:, the pen should make a thick, dark line. Fine-line pens may  小題18: bad handwriting, but fine lines do not command  小題19: next to printed text, as,  小題20: , a signature on a printed letter. A broader line, on the other hand, gives an impression of confidence and authority（權威）.

小題21:

A．many B．pleasant C．few D．important

小題22:

A．reason B．looks C．value D．a(chǎn)dvantages

小題23:

A．once B．if C．because D．though

小題24:

A．convenient B．difficult C．practical D．strange

小題25:

A．heavy B．easy C．hard D．safe

小題26:

A．determining B．finding C．taking D．seeking

小題27:

A．stronger B．weaker C．smaller D．larger

小題28:

A．order B．prepare C．prefer D．demand

小題29:

A．hardly B．a(chǎn)lso C．never D．still

小題30:

A．light B．soft C．long D．thick

小題31:

A．a(chǎn)llow B．change C．reduce D．press

小題32:

A．They B．One C．Some D．This

小題33:

A．thin B．rough C．smooth D．black

小題34:

A．prevent B．free C．protect D．remove

小題35:

A．way B．sight C．stream D．flow

小題36:

A．so B．a(chǎn)s C．a(chǎn)nd D．yet

小題37:

A．Meanwhile B．Generally C．Afterwards D．Finally

小題38:

A．show up B．differ from C．make up for D．break down

小題39:

A．a(chǎn)ttention B．support C．respect D．a(chǎn)dmission

小題40:

A．a(chǎn)t most B．for example C．in brief D．on purpose

A “blogger” is a person who writes on an Internet website called a “blog”. The word “blog” is a short way of saying “web log”, or “personal website”. Anyone can start a blog, and they can write about anything they like．
There are millions of blogs on the Internet today. They provide news, information and ideas to the people who read them．They contain links to other websites．And they provide a place for people to write their ideas and react to the ideas of others．
A research company called Perseus has studied more than 3,000 web logs. It says that blogs are most popular with teenage girls. They use them to let their friends know what is happening in their lives. The study also says that more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity after a year．
However, some people develop serious blogs to present political and other ideas. For example, the Republican and Democratic parties in the southern state of Kentucky recently started their own blogs. And American companies are beginning to use blogs to advertise their products．
At thesame time, some long-standing blogs have ended. Last week, blogging leader Dave Winer closed his free blog service “weblogs.com”． He said the site became too costly to continue. He started the blog four years ago, and thousands of people had written on it. They are now upset because they did not know that the site was closed．
One blog that is still going strong is called Rebecca’s Pocket．Rebecca Blood created the website in 1999. She wrote about the history of blogs on the site．That article led to a book called The Weblog Handbook．It has been translated into four languages so far．
Miss Blood says Rebecca’s Pocket gets about thirty thousand visitors a month．She writes about anything and everything —— politics, culture and movies. She recently provided medical advice． And she wrote about how to prevent people from being stolen from online bank accounts．
小題1:The text is mainly written to _______．

A．introduce an Internet website called “blog”

B．introduce a short way of saying “web log”

C．tell readers about blogs

D．tell readers how to write blogs

小題2:From the text we can learn that blogs cover almost everything except _______．

A．different ideas	B．medical advice
C．a(chǎn)dvertisements	D．a(chǎn)ccount passwords

小題3:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?

A．Politicians don’t use blogs at all．

B．A lot of bloggers no longer write or read blogs．

C．Those who like to use blogs are mostly teenage girls．

D．Dave Winer closed his “weblogs.com” because of the money shortage．

小題4:The reason why Rebecca’s Pocket is still going strong is that _______．

A．it was created by a woman

B．it is about the history of blogs

C．it provides useful information and advice

D．it has editions in atleast four different languages