For some minutes, all was quiet in the street. Then from across the street someone came walking.
It looked like a man of middle height, dressed in a big raincoat, a soft hat and rubber-soled boots or shoes, and making little sound while walking. No one was in sight. It was a street with two rows of about fifty small houses and there were three lamps on either side. The lamp nearest to the child’s house could be seen clearly, but the others were almost hidden by the smoky air. A car passed the end of the street and its lights showed faintly，but clearly enough to show the smooth skin of a woman’s face. The car disappeared as the woman, wrapped up in her coat, reached the doorway of the child’s house. She put a key in the lock quickly, pushed the door open and stepped inside, then closed the door without looking round. She began to breathe hard.
She leaned against the door for a moment, then straightened up as if with an effort, and walked towards the door of the front room, the passage leading to the kitchen, and the narrow staircase. She hesitated outside the door, then went up the stairs quickly but with hardly a sound. There was enough light from the narrow hall to show the four doors leading off a small landing(樓梯平臺). She pushed each door open in turn and shone a torch inside, and the light fell upon beds, walls, furniture, a bathroom hand-basin, a mirror which flashed brightness back; but this was not what the woman was looking for. She turned away and went downstairs, and hesitated again at the foot of the stairs, then turned towards the kitchen. Clearly there was nothing there, or in the small washroom that she wanted. Two rooms remained; the front room and a smaller one next to it. She opened the front room door. After a moment, she saw the child’s bed and the child.
【小題1】The lights of the car passing the end of the street showed that ______.

A．a(chǎn) woman was driving the car

B．someone was standing by a street lamp.

C．a(chǎn) man and a woman were walking up the street.

D．a(chǎn) woman was walking by herself up the street.

【小題2】After the woman closed the front door, she ___________.

A．looked round quickly	B．started breathing again
C．rested before moving	D．walked straight towards the front door

【小題3】 When she was upstairs, the woman _______.

A．saw that there was a wash-basin in each room

B．noticed a mirror which she was looking for

C．found a torch in one of the rooms

D．opened four different doors

【小題4】 Once she was in the house, the woman behaved as if what she was looking for ____

A．might be in the kitchen

B．was more likely to be upstairs

C．would be easily seen by the light from the hall

D．would look frightening to a child

Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don’t give friendship back. That is why some friendships do not last very long. To have a friend, you must learn to be one. You must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules. Be honest; be generous; be understanding.
Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you do not tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest you may lose your friends’ trust. Good friends always depend on one another to speak and act honestly.
Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You do not have to give your lunch money or your clothes of course. Instead you have to learn how to share things you enjoy, like your hobbies and your interest. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them you help your friend know you better.
Sooner or later every one needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve (解決). Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.
No two friendships are ever exactly alike (同樣的). But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friends, you must practise honesty, generosity, and understanding.
【小題1】Some friendships don’t last very long because ______.

A．there are too many people who want to make friends.

B．those who never give others friendships receive no friendship from others.

C．those who give others friendship receive friendship from others.

D．they don’t know friendship is something serious.

【小題2】According to the passage honesty is _____.

A．something good	B．the base of friendship
C．a(chǎn)s important as money	D．more important than anything else

【小題3】The underlined word “generosity” means ___.

A．大度

B．節(jié)約

C．吝嗇

D．和氣

One evening I went out and left my 17-year-old son in charge of his 8-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister．On this occasion, the work was made less troublesome by the presence of his girlfriend．I left with complete confidence that the older children would do a wonderful job of babysitting the younger children．Later, I discovered that complete confidence was the last thing I should have left home with．
I had decided to return home earlier than planned so that my son and his girlfriend could go out．I called home with this happy news．But instead of hearing his cheerful, grateful voice on the other end of the line, all I heard was the sound of a telephone ringing．
It was, I should point out, after 10 p．m．,when the two younger children should have been in bed, and when the two older children should have been answering the phone．“I’ll give him a lesson,” I said． I decided they must be outside．Why they might be outside at 10:30 on a winter night I had no idea, but it was the only explanation I could come up with．
Finally, in desperation, I called his girlfriend’s house． After what seemed like countless rings, his girlfriend answered．“Yes,” she said brightly, “He’s right here．”
He came on the phone．I was not my usual calm, rational（理智的）self． After all, one of the rules of survival for modern parents is that you can’t trust modern teenagers．“Where are the children?” I said．He said they were with him．They had done nothing wrong．My son had taken the younger children over to his girlfriend’s house just for ice cream and cake．This was too good to be believed． Well, it turns out that I shouldn’t have believed it．It was only part of the truth．
The following Saturday evening we were at my parents’ home, celebrating my birthday．My oldest son gave me the children’s gifts．Mounted and framed were a series of lovely color photographs of my children, dressed in their best clothes, and wearing their most wonderful expressions．They are pictures to treasure a lifetime, all taken by the father of my son’s girlfriend．
【小題1】The author went out and left her eldest son in charge of the younger children because         ．   

A．she knew that her eldest son was a good baby-sitter

B．she thought it no hard work to take care of the younger ones

C．she believed he could do well with his girlfriend’s help

D．she could not find a baby-sitter on that winter night

【小題2】When the author called home that evening, she found that           ．

A．two younger children had already been in bed

B．the children were preparing a birthday gift for her

C．her son was quarrelling with his girlfriend

D．there was no one answering the telephone

【小題3】What might the children do that evening?

A．They had a birthday party．	B．They framed some photographs．
C．They had their pictures taken．	D．They made some beautiful clothes．

【小題4】What does the author intend to tell us by the story?

A．Modern teenagers are not worth trusting．

B．It is no easy job to look after young children．

C．It’s no good to have a girlfriend at an early age．

D．Her children have a caring and tender heart．

As kids, my friends and I spent a lot of time out in the woods. “The woods” was our part-time address, destination, purpose, and excuse. If I went to a friends house and found him not at home, his mother might say, “Oh, he’s out in the woods, ” with a tone(語氣) of airy acceptance. It is similar to the tone people sometimes use nowadays to tell me that someone I’m looking for is on the golf course or at the gym, or even “away from his desk.” For us ten-year-olds, “being out in the woods” was just an excuse to do whatever we feel like for a while.
We sometimes told ourselves that what we were doing in the woods was exploring(探索). Exploring was a more popular idea back then than it is today. History seemed to be mostly about explorers. Our explorations, though, seemed to have less system than the historic kind: something usually came up along the way. Say we stayed in the woods, throwing rocks, shooting frogs, picking blackberries, digging in what we were briefly persuaded was an Indian burial mound.
Often we got “l(fā)ost” and had to climb a tree to find out where we were. If you read a story in which someone does that successfully, be skeptical: the topmost branches are usually too skinny to hold weight, and we could never climb high enough to see anything except other trees. There were four or five trees that we visited regularly—tall beeches, easy to climb and comfortable to sit in.
It was in a tree, too, that our days of fooling around in the woods came to an end. By then some of us had reached seventh grade and had begun the rough ride of adolescence(青春期). In March, the month when we usually took to the woods again after winter, two friends and I set out to go exploring. We climbed a tree, and all of a sudden it occurred to all three of us at the same time that we really were rather big to be up in a tree. Soon there would be the spring dances on Friday evenings in the high school cafeteria.
【小題1】The author and his friends were often out in the woods to _______.

A．spend their free time

B．play golf and other sports

C．a(chǎn)void doing their schoolwork

D．keep away from their parents

【小題2】What can we infer from Paragraph 2 ?

A．The activities in the woods were well planned.

B．Human history is not the result of exploration.

C．Exploration should be a systematic activity.

D．The author explored in the woods aimlessly.

【小題3】The underlined word “skeptical” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.

A．calm

B．doubtful

C．serious

D．optimistic

【小題4】How does the author feel about his childhood?

A．Happy but short.

B．Lonely but memorable.

C．Boring and meaningless.

D．Long and unforgettable.

When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings. Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn’t a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like ? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could—and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it.“That’s just for you,” he said.“You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”
Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.
【小題1】What did the father do after he had heard his daughter’s complaint?

A．He told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” had said.

B．He criticized (批評) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings.

C．He told her to write down all that her “enemy” had said about her and pay attention only to the things that were true.

D．He refused to take the list and have a look at it.

【小題2】Why did her father listen to her quietly?

A．Because he believed that what her daughter’s “enemy” said was mostly true.

B．Because he had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings that he wanted to show this by keeping silent for a while.

C．Because he knew that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment.

D．Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth.

【小題3】Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?

A．Not an Enemy, but the Best Friend

B．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had

C．My Father

D．My Childhood

If you are lost in the mountains, stay calm in the face of darkness, loneliness, and the unknown. It will greatly increase your chances of survival. Many people think that   preparing necessary equipment and knowing how to use it are very important, but in fact eighty percent of mountain survival is your reaction(反應(yīng)) to fear.
Finding a hiding place
Unnecessary labor (勞動) will make you sweat and make you cold. Find a hiding place around you before trying to start your own construction. If you are in a snow-covered area, you may be able to dig a cave in deep snow for protection from the wind. You should try to hide yourself in the middle of the mountain if possible. Stay out of the valleys--- cold air falls, and the valley floor can be the coldest area on the mountain.
Signal(發(fā)信號) rescuers for help
The best time to signal rescuers is during the day. Signal for help from the highest point possible--- it will be easier for rescuers to see you, and any sound you make will travel farther. If you take a box of matches and a space blanket ( a special blanket for traveling ), build three smoky fires and put your blanket ---gold side facing out --- on the ground.
Do not walk away
It will make finding you more difficult , as search teams will be trying to follow your path and may miss you if you have gone off in a different direction. Searchers often end up finding a car with no one in it. If you get frostbitten(凍傷) , do not rewarm the affected area until you are out of danger.
You can walk on frostbitten(凍傷) feet, but once you warm the area and can feel the pain, you will not want to walk anywhere. Try to protect the frostbitten area and keep it dry until you are rescued.
【小題1】 When lost in the mountains, you can increase your chances of survival if you _____.

A．take a space blanket with you	B．do more physical labor
C．try to find a car immediately	D．walk as far as possible

【小題2】 According to the passage, people most probably fail to survive if they ______

A．do not take enough equipment	B．stay in the middle of the mountain
C．do not keep themselves warm	D．stay in a snow-covered area

【小題3】What can we infer from the passage?

A．Don’t travel by yourself	B．Mountain traveling is dangerous
C．Don’t get frightened in danger	D．Avoid going to unfamiliar places

【小題4】 Which statement is not true according to the passage?

A．If lost in the mountains, you must try to find a way out quickly.

B．Stay out of the valleys when looking for a hiding place

C．The best time to signal rescuers is during the day

D．With a space blanket, you can put it on the ground---gold side facing out

Read the following time table and then answer the following questions.
Train Timetable.
Lv. (Leave) Boston   Ar. (Arrive) Midway     Ar. New York
5:10 AM EX. (Except) Sun.  7:00 AM    10:45 AM
7:10 AM Daily    9:00 AM              12:45 PM
9:10 AM Ex, Sat. & Sun.       11:00 AM       2:45 PM
10:00 Am Ex. Hol. (Holiday)  11:45 AM       2:45 PM
1:15 PM Daily    3:15 PM              5:45 PM
3:40 PM Ex. Hol.    5:40 PM            8:15 PM
5:20 PM Daily    7:20 PM             9:55 PM
【小題1】.What is the shortest time between Boston and New York by train?

A．5 hours 35 minutes	B．5 hours 5 minutes
C．4 hours 30 minutes.	D．4 hours 25 minutes.

【小題2】.How many trains have to spend over five hours on the way from Boston to New York?

A．5.

B．3.

C．7.

D．2.

【小題3】.On Christmas Day, how many trains at least can you take from Boston to New York?

A．2.

B．4.

C．5.

D．3.

There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers, he used two buckets. One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one, which had seen many years of service, but was now past its best.
Every morning, the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path, one on each side, to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled (溢出). The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds, much water had leaked（漏水） along the path.
Sometimes the new bucket would say, “See how great I am! How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day! I don't know why he still bothers with you. What a waste of space you are!”
And all that the old bucket could say was. “I know I am not very useful, but I can only do my best. I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me, at least.”
One day, the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual, he said, “You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back. I want you to look carefully along the path.”
Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed, on the side where the new bucket was carried, there was just bare（光禿禿的）earth; on the other side where the old bucket was carried, there was a joyous row of wild flowers, leading all the way to the garden.
【小題1】What does the underlined word “dilapidated” probably mean?

A．dirty

B．dark

C．dusk

D．broken

【小題2】What was the old bucket ashamed of?

A．His leaking.

B．His aging.

C．His manner.

D．His past.

【小題3】The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to   _________.

A．show off its beautiful looks	B．feel sorry about the old one
C．laugh at the old one	D．praise the gardener’s kindness

【小題4】Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?

A．Because it was used to keep balance（平衡）

B．Because it stayed in its best condition

C．Because it had its own value

D．Because it was treated as a treasure

One bitterly cold day，a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood，I quickly set out with my best friend，Bruce，to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along with. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of danger.
When I chose a big tree about 23 meters tall and prepared to cut it down，my best friend suddenly warned me，“Don’t cut down that tree！It’s too close to the power line！”I wasn’t sure about it. So I decided to disregard his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell，there was no longer any doubt that my friend was right.
The tree caught the power line，bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all，electricity can’t travel through wood，so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree，pain ran up my arm and through my head. I was shocked!
After I returned home and told my mother what had happened，she quickly called the power company. The workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree，and when I told him I had，his face turned pale.
“You should have been killed，” he said.
So why am I still alive？It was my boots that saved my life.
Within two hours，the workers removed the tree. Soon the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother.
Even though she was glad I wasn’t hurt，my mother was still serious. After all，I shouldn’t have brushed off my friend’s warning.
Through this experience，I learn it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective.  time to listen might actually save a lot of time and trouble. It certainly would have kept me from getting the “shock” of my life.
【小題1】The underlined word “disregard” in the second paragraph means “________”．

A．pay no attention to	B．take notice of
C．consider	D．follow

【小題2】In spite of Bruce’s warning，the author still cut down the tree because________.

A．he was sure there would be nothing to happen

B．he wasn’t sure if Bruce was right and was anxious to go home

C．he didn’t hear his friend’s warning at all because of the blowing wind

D．he knew electricity can’t travel through wood

【小題3】The underlined part “the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother” means “________”．

A．my mother was still angry with me for not listening to my friend’s warning

B．my mother was still in fear of the terrible accident

C．my mother was still comforting me

D．my mother was still worried about my safety

【小題4】The author wrote the passage mainly to________.

A．give an account of one of his terrible experiences

B．make us know it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective through his experience

C．tell us not to cut trees down any more

D．remind us to be careful while we are working

Reporters collect information and write news stories. These stories appear in newspapers and magazines. Some reporters appear on television and radio. To get information, reporters should look at documents, observe the scene and interview people.
To get the latest news, radio and television reporters often reporter “l(fā)ive” from the scene.
Some reporters work long hours. They might work strange schedules. At morning newspapers, reporters might work from late afternoon until midnight. At evening or afternoon papers, they may work from early morning until afternoon. Radio and television reporters work during the day or in the evening. Magazine reporters generally work during the day. Reporters may have to change their work hours to follow a story.
If someone wants to be a reporter, a bachelor’s degree(學(xué)士學(xué)位) in journalism(新聞工作) is preferred. Some employers like graduates with other majors(專業(yè)). Working at school newspapers or broadcasting stations is good experience. Internship(實(shí)習(xí)生身份) with news organizations also help when looking for a job as a reporter.
Reporters must write clearly and effectively. They need word processing(文字處理)，computer graphics(圖片), and desktop publishing skills. Speaking a second language is necessary for some jobs.
【小題1】The underlined word “scene”in the first paragraph probably means _______.

A．spot

B．office

C．stage

D．company

【小題2】If one wants to be a reporter, he must  _______.

A．be doctor	B．have enough experience
C．study in a newspaper company before	D．be good at writing

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Magazine reporters usually work during the day.

B．Only the person majoring in journalism can be a reporter.

C．We can get the latest news from the live report.

D．Sometimes reporters have to change work hours in order to follow a story.

【小題4】What is the best title for this passage?

A．Who is a reporter?	B．How does a reporter report?
C．What is a reporter?	D．When does a reporter work?