We have two daughters: Kristen is seven years old and Kelly is four. Last Sunday evening, we invited
some people home for dinner. I dressed them nicely for the party, and told them that their job was to join
Mommy in answering the door when the bell rang. Mommy would introduce them to the guests, and then
they would take the guests' coats upstairs and put them on the bed in the second bedroom.
     The guests arrived. I introduced my two daughters to each of them. The adults were nice and kind and
said how lucky we were to have such good kids.
     Each of the guests made a particular fuss over Kelly, the younger one, admiring her dress, her hair and
her smile. They said she was a remarkable girl to be carrying coats upstairs at her age.
     I thought to myself that we adults usually make a big "to do" over the younger one because she's the one
who seems more easily hurt. We do it with the best of intentions.
     But we seldom think of how it might affect the other child. I was a little worried that Kristen would feel
she was being outshined. I was about to serve dinner when I realized that she had been missing for twenty
minutes. I ran upstairs and found her in the bedroom, crying.
     I said, "What are you doing, my dear?"
     She turned to me with a sad expression and said,"Mommy, why don't people like me the way they like
my sister? Is it because I 'm not pretty? Is that why they don't say nice things about me as much?"
     I tried to explain to her, kissing and hugging her to make her feel better.
     Now, whenever I visit a friend's home, I make it a point to speak to the elder child first.

1. The underlined expression ' make a big "to do" over' (paragraph 4) means ______.

A. show much concern about
B. have a special effect on
C. list jobs to be done for
D. do good things for

2. The guests praised Kelly for carrying coats upstairs because of her ______.

A. beautiful hair
B. pretty clothes
C. lovely smile
D. young age

3. Kristen felt sad and cried because ______.

A. the guest gave her more coats to carry
B. she didn't look as pretty as Kelly
C. the guests praised her sister more than her
D. her mother didn't introduce her to the guests

4. We can conclude from the passage that ______.

A. parents should pay more attention to the elder children
B. the younger children are usually more easily hurt
C. people usually like the younger children more
D. adults should treat children equally

     We were on tour a few summers ago, driving through Chicago, when right outside of the city, we got
pulled over. A middle-aged policeman came up to the car and was really being troublesome at first. Lecturing
us, he said,"You were speeding. Where are you going in such a hurry?" Our guitarist, Tim, told him that we
were on our way to Wisconsin to play a show. His way towards us totally changed. He asked, "Oh, so you
boys are in a band (樂隊(duì))?" We told him that we were. He then asked all the usual broad questions about the
type of music we played, and how long we had been at it. Suddenly, he stopped and said, "Tim, you want to
get out of this ticket, don't you?" Tim said, "Yes." So the officer asked him to step out of the car. The rest
of us, inside the car, didn't know what to think as we watched the policeman talk to Tim. Next thing we
knew, the policeman was putting Tim in the back of the police car he had parked in front of us. With that, he
threw the car into reverse (倒車), stopping a few feet in back of our car. Now we suddenly felt frightened.
We didn't know if we were all going to prison, or if the policeman was going to sell Tim on the black market
or something. All of a sudden, the pollen's voice came over in a loudspeaker. He said, "Ladies and gentlemen,
for the first time ever, we have Tim here singing on Route 90." Turns out, the policeman had told Tim that
the only way he was getting out of the ticket was if he sang part of one of our songs over the loudspeaker in
the police car. Seconds later, Tim started screaming into the receiver. The policeman enjoyed the performance,
and sent us on our way without a ticket.

1. The policeman stopped the boys to _____.

A. put them into prison
B. give them a ticket
C. enjoy their performance
D. ask some band questions

2. The policeman became friendly to the boys when ha knew they ______.

 A. had long been at the band
B. played the music he loved
C. were driving for a show
D. promised into a performance

3. The boys probably felt ______ when they drove off.

A. joyful
B. calm
C. nervous
D. frightened

     The house was quiet at 5 am and Tim's mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the
quiet. He'd dreamt of the cave last night. The purring (輕微顫動聲) of the freezer had been the sea.
     Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He'd eat
after he'd been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.
     He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches-but his
mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she'd want to know why he had to
leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table:
                                                     Gone to Michael's. Back tonight. Tim.
     The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn't up. Even the highway up the hill
was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.
     The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday's sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down
to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds
marching up and down watching the waves.
     The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched (延伸) across the sea. The sun was
pushing its way over the edge of the world.
     Over the first rocks, along to the point. Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed
higher in the sky.
     He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as
the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more
mysterious (神秘的) now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn't go in
all the way …

1. What did Tim do at the beginning of the story?

A. He left the house quietly.
B. He had breakfast at home.
C. He left a note on the freezer.
D. He put a sweater in his schoolbag.

2. "He settled for some biscuits"(in Paragraph 3)means that Tim _____.

A. had to leave the biscuits on the table
B. liked biscuits better than sandwiches
C. had to take biscuits instead of sandwiches
D. could only find some biscuits in the kitchen

3. What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?

A. The height of the first rocks.
B. The ups and downs of the waves.
C. The change in the position of the sun.
D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach.

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?

A. The sea looked like a piece of gold.
B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.
C. Tim was the only person on the beach.
D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.

5. In the story, Tim's mood (心情) changed from _____.

A. loneliness to craziness
B. anxiousness to excitement
C. helplessness to happiness
D. eagerness to nervousness

     The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of
one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade
break. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not
experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything.
As Dong loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky
dough (面團(tuán)) covered with ugly yellowish marks. realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish
bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal,
and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed
disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went
to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish
bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped
the stick and explained that there was something alive in out rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the
lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my
work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast (酵母) made the surface
shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the 'living thing 'was and why it was there. I
don't know who was more embarrassed (尷尬) by the whole thing Doug or me.

1. The writer's purpose in writing this story is ______. 　　

A. to tell an interesting experience 　　
B. to show the easiest way out of a difficulty 　　
C. to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman 　　
D. to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books

2. Why did the woman's attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful? 　　

A. The canned orange had gone bad. 　　
B. She didn't use the right kind of flour. 　　
C. The cookbook was hard to understand. 　　
D. She did not follow the directions closely.

3. Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin? 　　

A. She didn't see the use of keeping it 　　
B. She meant to joke with her husband. 　　
C. She didn't want her husband to see it. 　　
D. She hoped it would soon dry in the son.

4. What made the dough in the rubbish bin? 　　

A. The rising and falling movement. 　　
B. The strange-looking marks. 　　
C. Its shape. 　　
D. Its size.

5. When Doug went out the third time, the woman looked out of the window because she was ______. 　　

A. surprised at his being interested in the bin 　　
B. afraid that he would discover her secret 　　
C. unhappy that he didn't enjoy the meal 　　
D. curious to know what disturbed him

     At a few minutes past five. Dave noted that the blanket of darkness was lifting. He was just able to make
out the heavier masses that eventually appeared as the familiar trees that lined the road at the base of the hill.
The upper reaches of the sky showed lighter shades of gray.
     Dave got out of bed quietly and dressed quickly. He mixed a spoonful of instant chocolate into a glass of
cold water, and his impatience forced him to finish the drink in gulps.
     As he walked down toward the lake. Dave paused to reach for the fishing pole and gear box on the bench
where he had left them the night before.
     By the time where he reached the small boat, a thick white mist (霧氣) had spread over the surface of the
water. He stepped into the boat, sat down, and rowed out of the weed beds that lined the edge of the shore.
     The outer fringe (邊緣) of the lake disappeared as the boat moved forward noiselessly. All he could see
was the enveloping whiteness. He could not tell where the boat and the surrounding air met the surface of the
lake.
     Dave rowed steadily ahead, relying of a mental picture of the surroundings. Then the mist began to rise,
slowly it soon rested inches above the still surface of the lake. The heavy silence was now being broken by
the fish breaking through the surface as they leaped out of the water for low-flying insects.
     The magic time had arrived. Dave raised his pole. Davn was broken. He was excited with expectancy.

1. Dave got up early in the morning to _____.

A. enjoy the scene of the lake
B. seek adventure at the lake
C. go fishing in the lake
D. take a walk by the lake

2. Accrding to the story, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Dave broke the quietness of the lake.
B. Dave was familiar with the surroundings.
C. Dave took a picture of the lake with him.
D. Dave forgot the fishing pole at the beginning.

3. The underlined word "It" in Paragraph 6 refers to _____.

A. fish
B. boat
C. silence
D. mist

4. What can we learn from the end of the story?

A. Dave was hopeful of catching a lot of fish.
B. Dave wished the weather would be better.
C. Dave was happy that dawn was broken.
D. Dave expected someone else would come.

     Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there
a few years ago, and I was eager to see his now place and meet his friends. My earliest memories of my father
are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family, but uncomfortable with his children.
As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult (成年人) I feared him and felt bitter about him. He
seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A's and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not
as "successful" as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things
to say, feeling on guard.
     On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father's friends for lunch at an outdoor cafe. We
walked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son's funny facial
expressions. Gone was my father's critical (挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my
father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
     The next day, my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own
childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment
. After so many years, I'm at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I'm delighted with my new
friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.

1. Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?

A. He was silent most of the time.
B. He was too proud of himself.
C. He did not love his children.
D. He expected too much of her.

2. When the author went out with her father on weekends, she would feel _____.

A. nervous
B. sorry
C. tired
D. safe

3. What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?

A. More critical. 
B. More talkative.
C. Gentle and friendly.
D. Strict and hard-working.

4. The underlined words "my new friend" in the last paragraph refer to _____.

A. the author's son
B. the author's father
C. the friend of the author's father 
D. the cafe owner 

     The famous director of a big and expensive movie planned to film a beautiful sunset over the ocean, so
that the audiences could see his hero and heroine in front of it at the end of the film as they said goodbye
to each other forever. He sent his camera crew out one evening to film the sunset for him.
     The next morning he said to the men, "Have you provided me with that sunset?"
     "No, sir," the men answered.
     The director was angry. "Why not?" he asked.
     "Well, sir," one of the men answered, "we're on the east coast here, and the sun sets in the west. We
can get you a sunrise over the sea, if necessary, but not a sunset."
     "But I want a sunset!" the director shouted. "Go to the airport, take the next flight to the west coast,
and get one."
     But then a young secretary had an idea. "Why don't you photograph a sunrise," she suggested, "and
then play it backwards? Then it'll look like a sunset."
     "That's a very good idea!" the director said. Then he turned to the camera crew and said, "Tomorrow
morning I want you to get me a beautiful sunrise over the sea."
     The camera crew went out early the next morning and filmed a bright sunrise over the beach in the
middle of a beautiful bay. Then at nine o'clock they took it to the director. "Here it is, sir," they said, and
gave it to him. He was very pleased.
     They all went into the studio. "All right," the director explained, "now our hero and heroine are going
to say goodbye. Run the film backwards so that we can see the sunset behind them."
     The "sunset" began, but after a quarter of a minute, the director suddenly put his face in his hands
and shouted to the camera crew to stop.
     The birds in the film were flying backwards, and the waves on the sea were going away from the beach.

1. One evening, the director sent his camera crew out _____.

A. to watch a beautiful sunset
B. to find an actor and an actress
C. to film a scene on the sea
D. to meet the audience

2. Why did the director want to send his crew to the west coast?

A. Because he changed his mind about getting a sunset.
B. Because he was angry with his crew.
C. Because it was his secretary's suggestion.
D. Because he wanted to get a scene of sunset.

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. The crew had to follow the secretary's advice (忠告).
B. If you want to see a sunrise, the east coat is the place to go.
C. The camera crew wasn't able to film the scene the first day.
D. The director ordered his crew to stop filming the "sunset".

4. The director wanted to film a sunset over the ocean because _____.

A. it went well with the separation of the hero and heroine
B. when they arrived at the beach it was already in the evening
C. it was more moving than a sunrise
D. the ocean looked more beautiful at sunset

5.  After the "sunset" began, the director suddenly put his face in his hands _____.

A. because he was moved to tears
B. as he saw everything in the film moving backwards
C. as the sunrise did not look as beautiful as he had imagined
D. because he was disappointed with the performance of the hero and heroine

     I came to study in the United States a year ago. Yet, I did not know the real American society until I was
injured in a car accident because after the car accident I had to see a doctor-and go to court (法庭).
     After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him
one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good
reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my
injury, I'd have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer. Now that he
had help me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
     But every time I want to see doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at
the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final
examination report consisted of ten lines and it cost me $215.
     My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very
well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect
his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
     Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance (保險(xiǎn)) company the date
I was leaving American. Knowing that, they played for time and I left without getting a cent.
     My experience taught me two things about America: firstly, in a country like America money is everything.
It is more important than friendship, honor or professional morality (道德). Secondly, foreigners are still being
treated unfairly. So when we talk about America, we should see both its good and bad sides.

1. The author's roommate offered to help him because _____.

A. he felt sorry for the author
B. he thought it was a chance to make some money
C. he knew the doctor was a very good one
D. he wanted the author to have a good lawyer

2. A good doctor is essential for the author to _____.

A. to be properly treated
B. talk with the person responsible for the accident
C. recover before he leave America
D. eventually get the responsible party to pay for his injury

3. The word "charge"in this passage means ______.

A. be responsible
B. accuse
C. ask as a price
D. claim

4. Both the doctor and the lawyer in the passage are very _____.

A. friendly
B. greedy
C. professional
D. busy

5. What conclusion can you draw from the story?

A. Going to court is something very common in America.
B. One must very careful while driving a car.
C. There are more bad sides in America than good sides.
D. Money is more important than other things in America.