After Mom died, Dad and I took a trip together every summer. Just the two of us, father and daughter. This was especially meaningful because Dad was old and we lived two thousand miles apart — so a week with Dad, undisturbed from other family members or from work was a treat.

    Our first destination was a tour up the Mississippi river. We boarded the steamboat（汽艇）in St. Louis and noticed that we were some of the youngest people among the travelers! Even Dad, at 73 looked young! We sat in rocking chairs on the deck, the warm breeze blowing on our faces, admiring the lush green trees linking the mighty river. A jazz band played in the background.

    On the deck we met John, who met the love of his life at a singles’ dance for old people and asked the lady to marry him two weeks later. Then there was Jane, a teacher from Little Rock, Arkansas(阿肯色州) who danced with Bill Clinton decades ago at a school fundraiser. Sometimes on the deck Dad and I sat quietly, reading.

    At lunchtime we stood in line for the food. People asked if Dad was my brother! Amazing for our thirty-eight-year age difference! Dad filled his plate with bread, meats, and cheeses to make a sandwich. Dad loved mayonnaise! Anything else between two pieces of bread was extra fillings.

    After lunch we landed at Alton（奧爾頓）, Missouri. This small town was home to a lot of antique shops. Dad, with little interest in shopping or antiques (although he was almost an antique himself) walked in and out of shop after shop. We walked up the hill, down the hill, and through the old town. We walked all day. It was the longest time I ever spent shopping with Dad.

    Each day combined together like the last, until seven days passed. On the seventh day we reached Minnesota（明尼蘇達州）at the top of the Mississippi. My home was there. Dad saw my house for the first time and met my two cats, Coconut and Coffee Bean. Coconut sat on his lap and purred(打呼嚕). The two became quick friends.

    This was the first of many trips we planned together, but unfortunately, it would be our last. Dad died a few months later from being hit by a drunk driver while crossing a street in his hometown. What made this trip special was our time together, just the two of us. I had grown from the teenager embarrassed to be with Dad to the adult cherishing our time together. I’ll always treasure these memories of my father, and be proud of who I have become.

51．What did the writer think of the journey together with her father?

    A. Appropriate            B. Significant           C. Enjoyable        D. Worthless

52. According to the passage, most of the travelers aboard were _______. 

    A. parents and children                    B. teachers and students

    C. the aged people                        D. couples and friends

53. Why was the author proud of herself?

    A. She had grown up.                    B. She took a trip with her father.

    C. She felt embarrassed with her father.      D. She came to value the time with her father.

54. What’s the main purpose of the text?

    A. To memorize her father.                 B. To advocate diverse ways of life.

    C. To share an interesting story.             D. To solve a problem.

Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more _31_ , waiting for the final school bell. Upon its _ 32_    everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.

　　David was a small boy in ragged clothes. I had often  33_ what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so  34  for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David_ 35_ . I can still remember he was always  36_ a smile and willing to help. He always_ 37 _ after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He _ 38 _ just simply smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly  39  home.

　　Weeks passed and the 40_ over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of   _41  before the holiday break. I smiled in  42  as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David 43  standing by my desk.

　　“I have something for you,” he said and  44  from behind his back a small box.  45  it to me, he said anxiously, “Open it.” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my 46  saw nothing. I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’s 47 .”

　　“Oh no it isn’t,” said David. “It’s full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”

Tears filled my eyes 48  I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given  49  to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning _50_ the little empty box set on my desk.

31. A. anxious                   B. cautious                        C. serious                   D. optimistic

32. A. screaming                      B. ringing                           C. calling                            D. warning

33. A. realized                   B. wondered                            C. adopted                 D. learned

34. A. modestly                 B. inaccurately                  C. inappropriately     D. naturally

35. A. popular                   B. special                          C. upset                   D. funny

36. A. expressing               B. delivering                     C. sharing                   D. wearing

37. A. wandered                      B. practiced                     C. studied                  D. stayed

38. A. would                      B. might                            C. should                         D. could

39. A. head for                          B. turn to                          C. put off                           D. aim at

40. A. argument                B. judgment                    C. movement               D. excitement

41. A. school                      B. education                            C. year                        D. program

42. A. public                      B. return                                C. relief                       D. control

43. A. weakly                            B. sadly                           C. helplessly                      D. quietly

44. A. found                             B. pulled                              C. raised                     D. searched

45. A. Holding                   B. Sending                         C. Handing               D. Leaving

46. A. appreciation           B. surprise                      C. delight                        D. expectation

47. A. cheap                             B. useless                          C. empty                         D. improper

48. A. though                            B. until                            C. because                  D. as

49. A. attention                B. support                         C. advice                    D. command

50. A. from                         B. towards                        C. behind                           D. over

 When it comes to managing a supermarket, if your service is beyond customers’ expectations, making money is _____.

A. out of breath       B. out of order         C. out of place              D. out of question  

 They _______ the video that was related to them, so what had happened at that time still reminded a mystery.

    A. cut off           B. cut out             C. cut down           D. cut in 

 Do please        your work; you must concentrate on what is important for your future development.

A. refer to           B. adapt to            C. attend to           D. adopt to

 Finally, the manager announced, “In the ______ of actual data(事實數(shù)據(jù))we can hardly make sure that this proposal (提案) is better. So further study is needed.”

A absence           B. abolition            C. dignity            D. encouragement

 “The development of the railway service will be immensely(極大地) _____ to the speedy movement of passengers and goods.

    A. adequate          B. beneficial          C. available           D. ambitious

 You may find it hard to believe that the young people in Japan enjoy arranged marriage, but the tradition is ______ rooted in its culture.

    A. firmly             B. deliberately        C. absolutely         D. clumsily

 In order to catch the government’s attention and advocate more people to fight against the prejudice, he ______ a campaign against racial segregation(種族隔離).

    A. abolished           B. resigned          C. assisted           D. conducted

 The suggestion is impossible to get my Dad’s ______, for he thinks it dangerous for girls to live outside.

A. persuasion                 B. appreciation           C. approval              D. annoyance