“I don’t believe in Santa Claus!” Trogmire announced.
Tremor looked shocked. “Why not?” he asked.
“Because he never leaves me any gifts at all,” Trogmire growled.
Tremor thought about the evidence for a few seconds. “Maybe,” he suggested, “it’s because when Santa checked his list, your name wasn’t in the ‘nice’ column.”
“So, he could at least bring me a lump of coal!” Trogmire replied. “And,” he went on, “Troubled doesn’t believe in Santa, either.”
“Right,” Tremor said, “because he saw his parents putting the ‘From Santa’ presents under the tree. But I know the truth about that. My mother found out from Troubled’s mother. When Troubled’s parents got an e-mail from Santa, saying that he would never bring Troubled another gift, they didn’t want to tell him the truth. So now they buy presents and pretend they’re from Santa.”
“What did Troubled do to get Santa so mad?” Trogmire questioned.
“I think it had something to do with the time he put glue paper all over the living room floor on Christmas Eve, and left a sign that said, ‘Trapped like a rat!’ hanging over the fireplace.” said Tremor.
“I guess Santa doesn’t have a sense of humour,” sighed Trogmire. “Well, at least I’m not the only one who Santa scratched off his name list.”
【小題1】Why doesn’t Santa leave presents for Trogmire or Troubled?

A．Their parents won’t let him leave gifts.	B．He can’t find their homes.
C．He often forgets their names.	D．They have behaved badly.

【小題2】Trogmire and Troubled don’t believe in Santa because ________.

A．Santa has no sense of humor	B．Santa doesn’t give them anything
C．they are too naughty to believe	D．Tremor convinced them he wasn’t real

【小題3】Troubled’s parents never ________.

A．told him about the message from Santa	B．loved him very much
C．cared about how he behaved	D．bought him anything

【小題4】Trogmire’s last comment could be an example of the saying _______.

A．Misery(苦難,不幸) loves company	B．Easy come, easy go
C．Beauty is only skin deep	D．Love me, love my dog

A few years ago, I moved into a new house in Los Angeles. Soon after, a family moved in next door. It wasn’t the best of times for me. I had just divorced(離婚) from my second wife, and I wasn’t working. I’d come home each day and sit by myself in the backyard. One night, I heard someone from the yard next door, “Tom ! How are you, Tom? ” 
I couldn’t see anybody through the trees, but I answered, “I’ m good.”
“Good!” said the voice.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Eric.” Then I heard someone say, “Eric, don’t bother him.”
“Okay!” Eric said. “Talk to you tomorrow!”                                                                           
Months later, on Halloween, we finally met face to face. Eric came to the door dressed like a rap star. We became friends. We’d hang out in our yards, and Eric, who was almost 17 at the time and look liked a 13-year-old, would tell me his ideas and dreams. Eric’s dad, Alec Gores, is a billionaire(億萬(wàn)富翁), the head of Gores Technology Group.
One day, Alec called me and said, “I know you are an actor. My son’s an actor, too. And he’s very good. I want you to write a movie for him. He wants to do something like True lies.” That’s the movie I made in 1994. His father has given Eric the great gif of confidence. He believes he can do anything he wants. He also offered to fund the movie. And that’s how The Kid & I, which opens in November, began.
Well, I really have to say that opportunity(機(jī)會(huì))lies anywhere.
【小題1】What do we learn about the writer when he had just moved into his new house in Los Angele?

A．He often came back very late.

B．He was working in the city at that time.

C．He and his second wife had just gotten divorced.

D．He often talks with others in the backyard.

【小題2】The writer of this passage is a(an)        .  

A．teacher

B．a(chǎn)ctor

C．singer

D．doctor

【小題3】What do we learn about Eric from the passage?

A．He lives alone with his father.	B．He has a very rich father
C．He often feels very lonely.	D．He is a rap star.

【小題4】The second last paragraph(倒數(shù)第二段)mainly tells us        .

A．how The Kid & I began	B．the roles in The Kid & I
C．how the writer met Eric’s father	D．what The Kid & I is about

【小題5】From his experience in Los Angeles, the writer learnt that        . 

A．where there is a will, there is a way.

B．one should always learn from the past.

C．one can find opportunity anywhere.

D．life can always be better.

Jenny，
I often think if I am as important to you as you are to me.
We had an unhappy time yesterday. I really felt sad after it and almost apologized (道歉) to you. However，you could still laugh and talk with others like nothing had happened. I suddenly realized that I was not that important to you. You didn’t even realize that I was angry and sad. What’s more，you even forgot my birthday this year.
Goodbye，my friend. I have closed my feeling toward you. It is sad to say goodbye，my friend. But it is meaningless for us to be friends any longer.
Lucy
Dear Lucy，
I’m sorry that I hurt you so much yesterday. But here is something I really need to tell you. I never thought the quarrel we had yesterday was as serious as you thought. I just felt tired and didn’t feel like going shopping. Susan and Lily are also my good friends. I couldn’t pretend (假裝) not seeing them when they passed by. I also couldn’t let them know I was blue because of the quarrel. I didn’t want them to feel sad just because I was sad. I’m your best friend，but I don’t want to be your only friend. I don’t want to be with you all the time because sometimes I need to have my own time. I want to spend some time with my other friends and my brother. Please try to make more friends. You will feel much happier if you have more friends. And remember，I’m your best friend forever!
Jenny
【小題1】What’s the purpose of Lucy’s letter?

A．To tell Jenny that she is really sorry for what happened yesterday.

B．To tell Jenny she doesn’t want to be friends with her any longer.

C．To ask Jenny not to be friends with Susan or Lily.

D．To ask Jenny if she means much to her.

【小題2】What’s the cause of the quarrel yesterday?

A．Jenny laughed and talked with others.

B．Jenny didn’t notice that Lucy was sad.

C．Jenny didn’t want to go shopping.

D．Jenny didn’t remember Lucy’s birthday.

【小題3】In the letter，Jenny suggests Lucy should________.

A．make more friends	B．leave her alone
C．make friends with Susan and Lily	D．spend more time with her family

【小題4】According to the passage，if we say someone is blue，we mean he/she is________.

A．a(chǎn)ngry

B．sad

C．kind

D．happy

【小題5】After reading Jenny’s letter，we learn that________.

A．Jenny and Lucy are both students

B．Lucy doesn’t know how to keep a healthy friendship

C．A friend in need is a friend indeed

D．Lucy is Jenny’s only friend

An artist went to beautiful part of the country for a holiday, and stayed with a famer. Every day he went out with his paints and his brushes and painted from morning to evening. When it got dark, he went back to the farm and had a good dinner before he went to bed. At the end of his holiday, he wanted to pay the farmer, but the farmer said, “No I do not want money, but give me one of your pictures”, .The farmer smiled and answered, “It’s not that. I have a son in London. He wants to become an artist. When he comes here next month. I will show him your picture, and then he will not want to be an artist any more, I think.”
【小題1】What did the artist go to the country for?

A．To look for the farmer	B．To spend a holiday
C．To teach the farmer’s son	D．To see the farmer’s son

【小題2】What did the artist do every day in the country?

A．He chatted with the farmer every day	B．He went out to paint every day
C．He played cards with the farmer every day	D．He worked for the farm

【小題3】Where did the artist live in the country?

A．In a hotel	B．He was in France
C．He was in Britain.	D．In his own house

You might say that Barack Obama was elected President of the US because he knows how to give a speech. In 2004, the little-known Obama gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention (民主黨全國(guó)會(huì)議). It was a great speech — poetic, and inspiring. The people who heard it would remember it for a long time.
Since 2004, Obama has written and delivered thousands of speeches. There are usually praised for two reasons: he treats the audiences like intelligent adults, and he is able to express complicated ideas in a straightforward, natural way.
Before becoming President, Obama was a lawyer, a college professor, and a successful writer – his two memoirs (回憶錄) have become best sellers. The skills he needed to succeed in his previous jobs have also contributed to his success as a speechmaker.
As a lawyer, Obama learned how to make strong, convincing arguments. As a professor, he learned how to explain complex subjects in ways that helped students understand without boring them. As a writer, he learned how to use languages to have a powerful influence on his audience. A famous American musician even turned one of Obama’s early speeches into a song during the election campaign.
Secret weapons of Obama
Writing team: Obama has a team of people who write his speeches. The writers chat with Obama for hours about what he wants to say. Then listen to recordings of past presidential addresses and seek advice from advisers. Obama usually edits and rewrites the drafts several times.
Make fun of the guests: Obama starts his speech by gently making fun of his guests. His opening lines attract the audience’s attention while giving them an opportunity to relax and laugh at themselves and each other.
Make fun of himself: Obama laughs at his past mistakes and is never afraid of showing them to the public.
Obama delivers speeches to audiences large and small. He can make his audiences laugh or cry. His speeches are always thoughtful, well written and just right for each occasion.
【小題1】The third and fourth paragraph mainly talk about _______.

A．why Obama’s speeches are praised

B．how Obama acquired his speaking ability

C．what subjects Obama’s speeches are about

D．Obama’s success as a writer and a lawyer

【小題2】What do we know about Obama’s writing team according to the passage?

A．They always seek advice from the ordinary people.

B．They analyze the speeches given by former US Presidents.

C．They usually have to finish writing a speech in a short time.

D．They try not to mention Obama’s past mistakes in the speeches.

【小題3】When delivering a speech, Obama __________.

A．usually starts with some famous saying

B．sometimes turns his speech into a song

C．sometimes shares a joke with the audience

D．is very strict most of the time

【小題4】What’s the author’s attitude towards Obama’s speeches?

A．negative

B．indifferent(漠不關(guān)心的)

C．positive

D．doubtful

A
My friend Robert started a new job this week and he’s been in the training class for two days. The employer has a very strict dress code—dark blue shirts and pants.
On the first day, an older gentleman in his class did not have the proper clothes and he was strictly told that he would be fired if he didn’t have the right clothes the next day. He explained, “Sir, I had not been told about this. Because of my larger size, it’s sometimes difficult to find the right clothing for a price I can afford.”
Last night, Robert and I decided that this old man shouldn’t lose the chance of work simply because he couldn’t afford the clothes. I had some cash on hand and Robert took it with him this morning just in case it was needed.
When training started this morning, the trainer was ready to fire the older gentleman. “You have 10 minutes to be in proper clothes,” he was told. At this point, Robert spoke up and asked if he could have 10 minutes to get him the clothes. He then ran out to the store and bought the proper-sized pants and a shirt; he returned with both and gave them to the older man.
The older gentleman began to cry and told him that he couldn’t accept such a gift from a stranger. Robert told him he had to because he had lost the receipt(收據(jù)) and couldn’t return them—a little white lie. The pants were a perfect fit, the shirt was a bit tight but he was able to keep his job.
“My wife and I tried to gather together some money last night, but we didn’t have enough to buy the clothes,” he told Robert. “It’s unbelievable to me that anybody would do such a thing for only knowing me a day!”
More unbelievable is how good it has made Robert and me feel to do this.
【小題1】If the older man did not have the proper clothes, he would _____

A．be punished	B．be offered another job
C．put off the training class	D．lose his job

【小題2】 The money which was paid for the clothes belonged to _____

A．the trainer	B．the older man
C．the writer	D．Robert

【小題3】How did Robert persuade the older man to accept the clothes?

A．He told the older man that he would lose his job if he did not take them.

B．He told a lie that the clothes didn’t fit himself.

C．He told the older man that he could save money and return it later.

D．He told the older man that he had no way to send them back.

【小題4】What might be the best title for the passage?

A．Proper clothes for a stranger	B．Fight against strict rules
C．A strange employer	D．An unbelievable thing

Imagine landing in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language, understand the culture and don’t know anybody. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a friend who could help you out?
John Smith, an English explorer who landed in America in 1607, found the best friend ever. She was a Native American named Pocahontas (1595-1617). And she did more than teach Smith the language: she saved his life, twice.
Smith was captured(捕捉) by members of Pocahontas’s tribe(部落) and was going to be killed. But for some reason, the Chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, felt sorry for Smith (who was probably the first white man she had ever seen) and threw her body over his to protect him. Smith returned safely to the small village he was living in. During the winter the English settlers did not know how to get food from nature. Pocahontas often brought food for Smith and his friends.
A year later Pocahontas’s father tried to kill Smith again because the Native Americans were very scared the English would try to take over their land. Pocahontas warned him and he was able to escape. Later she became a Christian and eventually married an Englishman named John Rolfe. She spent the last year of her life in London. Pocahontas has become an American legend. Her life story has been re-created in many books and films, including Disney’s 1995 film, Pocahontas.
One of the reasons she is so popular is that many Europeans look at Pocahontas as an excellent example of how a minority can adjust into the majority. Pocahontas is also respected because of her selfless love. She proved that people can be kind and loving even to people of a different race or culture. John Smith was very different from Pocahontas but she could see he was a good man and that was all that mattered. No race or country owns goodness, love and loyalty.
【小題1】 What difficulties might early European settlers meet in America EXCEPT ___________?

A．the fierce conflict with Native Americans

B．lack of food in winter

C．bad-tempered natives who enjoyed killing

D．unfamiliarity with a foreign land

【小題2】 Pocahontas saved John Smith twice because ___________.

A．she believed in general kindness even to people of a different race

B．she wanted to become a Christian and marry an English

C．he was the first white man she had ever seen in her life

D．she was on the settlers’ side and against her cruel father

【小題3】Which is Not an element to make Pocahontas a legend?

A．Her tribal background and her marriage to a white settler.

B．The recreation of her life story in the 1995 Disney film.

C．Her complicated life story different from common people’s

D．Her selfless help to people regarded as enemy of her tribe.

【小題4】What can we infer from the passage?

A．People from different cultures can never really get along well with each other.

B．The Europeans think the early settlers should have learned to adjust to the local cultures.

C．The creation of America is based on the settlers’ victory over the Native Americans.

D．The battles between early settlers and Native Americans resulted from their fighting for land.

                                                                                                        
In elementary school, Guadalupe Quintanilla was often referred to as a “slow learner” by her teachers. But she really wasn’t slow at all. She just didn’t understand the language used in the classroom. Her problem was that she didn’t speak English. So she left school after the fourth grade.
When Guadalupe grew up, married, and had children of her own, she knew that her children were clever. But some of their teachers didn’t think so. The children were having trouble in school because they didn’t speak English. Mrs Quintanilla was angry. She didn’t want people to think that her children were slow learners. So she decided to learn English herself as a way of helping them. She practiced English. She looked up words in the dictionary. She asked the school headmaster to let her sit in on classes. It wasn’t easy, but she passed all her exams. She said that many of the other students helped her.
Mrs Quintanilla has helped her children with their lessons. Her two sons have won success. One is a teacher, and the other is a doctor. Her youngest child, a daughter, is studying in a university.
【小題1】 Guadalupe was called as low learner             .

A．to make her study harder	B．because she wasn’t clever
C．because she stayed at home	D．because she didn’t speak English

【小題2】 According to the story, children who don’t speak English             .

A．may have more trouble in school	B．have trouble playing football
C．often write a diary	D．grow up to be teachers

【小題3】 Which happened first?

A．Guadalupe passed all her exams.

B．Guadalupe left school after the fourth grade.

C．Guadalupe had three children.

D．Her two sons won success.

【小題4】 The story is mainly about             .

A．learning to sing and dance	B．the problem of slow learning
C．going to a university	D．Mrs Quintanilla’s success

I have recently completed my college degree. The last project was called “Smile”. The class was asked to go out to smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake.
My husband, youngest son and I went out to McDonald. We were standing in line when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away. As I turned around I smelled a horrible body odour （氣味）and saw two poor homeless men standing behind me. As I looked at the short blue-eyed gentleman closest to me, he was “smiling”. The second man fumbled（摸索）with his hands as he stood behind his friend.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, “Coffee is all, Miss,” because that was all they could afford.
Then I really felt it－I embraced（擁抱） the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked two more breakfast meals on and gave them to the men.
The blue-eyed gentleman looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Thank you.” When I sat down my husband smiled at me. We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that because of the good fortune that we had been given.
I turned in my project. My teacher said, “Can I share this?” I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings share this need to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald’s and every soul that heard the story in the classroom. But, I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn.
【小題1】Why did people around the author in the McDonald step back?

A．Because they were very polite to the two men.

B．Because they were moved by the two men.

C．Because the two men smelt terrible.

D．Because the two men seemed unfriendly.

【小題2】Why did the two men only buy coffee?

A．Because they didn’t have enough money.

B．Because they didn’t feel hungry.

C．Because they knew others would help them.

D．Because they were looked down upon.

【小題3】How did the teacher think of the author’s project?

A．Hard to believe.	B．Interesting to read.
C．Very puzzling.	D．Very satisfying.

【小題4】What did the author think she learn from the story?

A．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

B．Helping others can bring pleasure to many people.

C．Nothing is difficult to a willing heart.

D．Don’t judge people according to their appearance.

Rome had the Forum. London has Speaker's Corner. Now always–on–the-go. New Yorkers have Liz and Bill.
Liz and Bill, two college graduates in their early 20s, have spent a whole year trying to have thousands of people talk to them in subway stations and on busy street corners. Just talk.
Using a 2-foot-tall sign that says, "Talk to Me." they attract conversationalists, who one evening included a mental patient, and men in business suits.
They don't collect money. They don't push religion. So what's the point?
"To see what happens, said Liz. " We simply enjoy life with open communication."
Shortly after the September 11,2001 attacks, they decided to walk from New York City to Washington, a 270-mile trip. They found they loved talking to people along the way and wanted to continue talking with strangers after their return.
"It started as a crazy idea, "Liz said." We were so curious about all the strangers walking by with their life stories. People will talk to us about anything: their jobs, their clothes, their childhood experiences, anything."
Denise wanted to talk about an exam she was about to take. She had stopped by for the second time in two days, to let the two listeners know how it went.
Marcia had lost her husband to a serious disease. "That was very heavy on my mind," Marcia said. "To be able to talk about it to total strangers was very good," she explained.
To celebrate a year of talking, the two held a get-together in a city park for all the people they had met over the past year. A few hundred people showed up, as well as some television cameramen and reporters.
They may plan more parties or try to attract more people to join their informal talks. Some publishers have expressed interest in a book, something they say they'll consider.
【小題1】What did Liz and Bill start doing after September 2001?

A．Chatting with people.	B．Setting up street signs
C．Telling stories to strangers	D．Organizing a speaker's corner

【小題2】What they have been doing can be described as_________.  .

A．pointless

B．normal

C．crazy

D．successful

【小題3】Why are Denise and Marcia mentioned in the text?

A．They knew Liz and Bill very well.

B．They happened to meet the writer of the text.

C．They organized the get-together in the city park.

D．They are examples of those who talked to Liz and Bill.

【小題4】What will Liz and Bill do in the future?

A．Go in for publishing.	B．Do more television programs.
C．Continue what they are doing.	D．Spend more time reading books.

【小題5】How do they like the idea of writing a book?

A．They have decided to wait a year or two

B．They will think about it carefully

C．They agreed immediately

D．They find it hard to do that