Tail Spin

Two dolphins race around in a big pool in the Ocean Park. The smaller dolphin, Grace, shows off a few of her tricks, turning around and waving hello to the crowd. The most amazing thing about her, however, is that she's even swimming at all. She doesn't have a tail.

Grace lost her tail as a baby when she got caught up in a fish trap. When the dolphin arrived at the Ocean Park in December 2005, she was fighting for her life. “ Is she going to make it？” Her trainer, Abbey Stone, feared the worst. Grace did make it—but her tail didn't. She ended up losing her flukes and the lower part of her peduncle.

Over the past six years, she has learned to swim without her tail. Dolphins swim by moving their flukes and peduncle up and down. Grace taught herself to move another way—like a fish! She pushes herself forward through the water by moving her peduncle from side to side.

The movements put harmful pressure on Grace's backbone. So a company offered to create a man?made tail for her. The tail had to be strong enough to stay on Grace as she swam but soft enough that it wouldn't hurt her.

The first time Grace wore the artificial tail, she soon shook it off and let it sink to the bottom of the pool. Now, she is still learning to use the tail. Some days she wears it for an hour at a time, others not at all. “The new tail isn't necessary for her to feel comfortable，” says Stone, “but it helps to keep that range of motion (動(dòng)作) and build muscles (肌肉)．”

Now, the dolphin is about to get an even happier ending. This month, Grace will star in Dolphin Tale, a film that focuses on her rescue and recovery. Her progress has inspired more than just a new movie. Many people travel from near and far to meet her. Seeing Grace swim with her man?made tail gives people so much courage.

1.When Grace first arrived at the Ocean Park, her trainer worried about her ________.

A．physical build

B．potential ability

C．chance of survival

D．a(chǎn)daptation to the surroundings

2.A man?made tail is created for Grace to ________.

A．let her recover faster

B．make her comfortable

C．a(chǎn)djust her way of swimming

D．help her perform better tricks

3.The story of Grace inspires people to ________.

A．stick to their dreams

B．treat animals friendly

C．treasure what they have

D．face difficulties bravely

I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage(按揭)，credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us ____ chasing the same thing.

One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell ____. I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $56. I ____ the countryside for some place I could rent for the ___ possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road ____ the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was ____， full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and ____ a corner to camp in.

The locals knew nothing about me, ____ slowly, they started teaching me the ____ of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began ____ around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a ____ American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of ____.

What I had believed in, all those things I thought were ____ for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. ____ on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my ____ with my neighbors.

Four years later, I moved back into ____. I saw many people were having a really hard time, ____ their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to ___ a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house，but over time I've had nine people come in and move on to other places. We'd all be in ____ if we hadn't banded together.

The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It's not so much about what I can get for myself; it's about ____ we can all get by together.

1.A.separately　　　　　　　B．equally

C．violently D．naturally

2.A.off B．a(chǎn)part

C．over D．out

3.A.crossed B．left

C．toured D．searched

4.A.fullest B．largest

C．fairest D．cheapest

5.A.at B．through

C．over D．round

6.A.occupied B．a(chǎn)bandoned

C．emptied D．robbed

7.A.turned B．a(chǎn)pproached

C．cleared D．cut

8.A.but B．a(chǎn)lthough

C．otherwise D．for

9.A.benefit B．lesson

C．nature D．a(chǎn)rt

10.A.sticking B．looking

C．swinging D．turning

11.A.wild B．real

C．different D．remote

12.A.neighborliness B．happiness

C．friendliness D．kindness

13.A.unique B．expensive

C．rare D．necessary

14.A.Up B．Down

C．Deep D．Along

15.A.cooperation B．relationships

C．satisfaction D．a(chǎn)ppointments

16.A.reality B．society

C．town D．life

17.A.creating B．losing

C．quitting D．offering

18.A.put in B．turn in

C．take in D．get in

19.A.yards B．shelters

C．camps D．cottages

20.A.when B．what

C．whether D．how

—Have you got any news about John, Lily?

—He ________(participate) in a job interview the other day and he's waiting for the result.

—When did you last hear ________ Jay?

—He phoned me this morning, and we agreed ________ a time and place to meet.

Why don't you take off your clothes and have them washed? They will soon dry________ in the sun.

Do you know when the plane will take off? The passengers are dying ________ (know) it.

I can hardly remember any occasions ________ I get caught in a traffic jam in our town.

—I hear that you will be on travel again.

—Yeah. My boss arranged ________ me to discuss business details with someone from another company.

Not the way he did it but his words ________(be) criticized by people present.

—What about her concert last night?

—It was ________ priviledge to hear her sing.