“I’ve changed my mind．I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my dad back．” Lucien Lawrence’s letter to Father Christmas, written after his father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched everyone’s heart．Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn’t see the stars in the sky．When those we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while．
But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again．And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father there too, either in your mind or heart．I find that my parents, who died years ago, still linger （留連） in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive．I still live to please them and I’m still surprised by their reactions．I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself that I couldn’t wait to cable my parents．The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all my mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!” I haven’t forgotten．The values of my parents still live on．
It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care．Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence has been to face the aggressors（入侵者）, and to lay down my life for those in my care? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It’s a serious thought, which gives me pause．
I pray silently, sometimes, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword and my darling from the power of the God．” Yet I know death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly．We must therefore plan to live together, but live as if we will die tomorrow．We live on, I’m sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure．If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today．
【小題1】According to the whole text we can see that the first paragraph ________.

A．puts forward the subject of the text

B．shows the author’s pity on the kid

C．serves as an introduction to the discussion

D．makes a clear statement of the author’s views

【小題2】In the second paragraph the author mainly wants to explain to us ________.

A．how much he misses his parents now

B．why his parents often appear in his dream

C．when Lucien will get over all his sadness

D．how proud he was when he succeeded in life

【小題3】In the author’s opinion, the value of a person’s life is ________.

A．to leave a precious memory to the people related

B．to have a high sense of duty to the whole society

C．to care what others will remember and treasure

D．to share happiness and sadness with his family

【小題4】What does the writer mean by the sentence taken from an old poem?

A．Call on criminals and murderers to lay down their guns.

B．Advise parents to stay with their children safely at home.

C．Spend every day meaningfully in memory of death.

D．Try to keep violence and murder far away from society.

All my life I had loved airports．To me，they were fl kind of magic gateway to the world，but today it seemed like a cold and heartless place．
“Well，here we are，the airport，"my sister said with fl sigh．As 1 watched her unload my luggage，I could see the sadness in her eyes．One last hug and a final good-bye and I would be on my way to a new lire abroad，leaving my beloved sister behind．
I looked at my sister and even though her eyes were filled with tears，she was trying to keep a brave face．“You’d better go or you’ll miss your flight，”she said．
“I am just going to walk away and not look back，” I said． As I held her one last time she whispered，“Don’t worry about me，I’ll be fine．"“I’ll miss you，” I replied with tears in my eyes．As I promised，I did not look back。but 1 was sobbing．To me it was the end of the world．
While boarding the plane 1 was still crying．I did not have the energy to put my bag in the overhead locker, so I put it on the empty seat next to mine．As I settled into my chair， a feeling of sadness overwhelmed（淹沒） me．I felt like my best friend had just been taken away from me．
The plane shook heavily and the bag fell，with some stuff spreading on the floor．When I bent over to gather the things up，I saw an unfamiliar little book in the middle of my belongings．It was not until I picked it up that I realized that it was a diary．
Immediately I recognized my sister’s handwriting． “Hi，Sis，What a day it has been today．First you let me know that you are moving abroad and then my boss…”My sister had been keeping a diary for the past month and she was now passing it on to me．I was to write in it for the next couple of months and then send it back to her．Even though a large ocean separated us，at some point it felt like she was actually there．
【小題1】The writer started to cry         .

A．when she watched her sister unload her luggage

B．when she held her sister one last time

C．when she settled herself into her chair

D．when she was boarding the plane

【小題2】what had the writer thought about airports before she separated from her sister?

A．Airports brought freedom．

B．Airports were on the top of her love．

C．Airports led to the wonderful world．

D．Airports were fl cold and heartless place．

【小題3】From the writer’s and her sister’s tears，we can see        .

A．they loved each other very much

B．they felt sad about the new life

C．they were afraid of the separation

D．it was the end of the world to them

Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there’s a big difference between “ being a writer” and “ writing”. In most cases these individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a computer. “You’ve got to want to write,” I say to them, “not want to be a writer.”
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the US Coast Guard to become a free writer, I had no promise at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used computer and felt a real writer.
After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t gotten a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I know I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if?  I would keep putting my dream to the test--- even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the Shadowland of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.
【小題1】The passage is meant to _______.

A．warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience

B．advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer

C．show young people it’s unrealistic for a writer to be after wealth and fame

D．encourage young people to be after a writer career

【小題2】What can be concluded from the passage?

A．Real writers often find their work interesting and rewarding

B．Writer’s success depends on luck rather than on effort

C．Famous writers usually live in poverty and isolation（隔離）

D．The chances for a writer to become successful are small

【小題3】Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?

A．He wasn’t able to produce a single book

B．He hadn’t seen a change for the better

C．He wasn’t able to have a rest for a whole year

D．He found his dream would never come true

【小題4】 “Shadowland” in the last sentence refers to _____. 

A．thewonderlandonoftendreamsabout

B．thebrightfuturethatoneislookingforwardto

C．thestateofuncertaintybeforeone’sfinalgoalisreached

D．aworldthatexistsonlyinone’simagination

Ever since Stephanie’s 13th birthday we have been receiving comments from other adults expressing their sympathies because our daughter is now a teenager．We’ve heard everything from，“Sure she’s a good kid，but just wait，now that she’s teenager…”to the ever inspiring，“Well，all kids are rotten when they are teenagers，just try to go through it the best way you can．”What’s more upsetting is that many of these insensitive adults feel the need to share their negative predictions well within the hearing of both our daughters．
I know that teenagers can be moody（悶悶不樂）and difficult at times，but I’m 38 and I can also be difficult and moody．We worry about the future and want today’s kids to know that we care for them and that there are opportunities that wait for them．However, at the very point they set out on that journey toward adulthood we stand there watching them disapprovingly（不贊成），just waiting for them to make mistakes．“just like we knew they would．”We tell them to respect themselves and to say no to drugs，yet we fail to set a positive example by treating them with kindness and consideration，demonstrating（示范）our respect for them．
I have，at times been guilty of this behavior but am now realizing that the more I see each person as a person，the more I am pleasantly surprised in some way or another. For example，a few weeks ago my husband and I were having dinner at our favorite restaurant and two teenage boys came in and sat down right beside us．I must admit that my first thought was，“perfect，there goes our quiet, peaceful dinner．”I was so wrong! These young men were well behaved．quiet and left a nice tip for the waitress．Once I looked beyond the jeans so loose they were practically falling off and the multi-colored hair, I saw what fine people these kids were．
Many of the people who，perhaps unknowingly, treat teens with disrespect are unhappy about the fact that pop singers and sports stars are our children’s heroes. I feel that unless we give them something better to go after, we really shouldn’t complain．
【小題1】When their children reach their teens，parents usually expect_________．

A．trouble	B．sympathy
C．congratulations	D．inspiring comments

【小題2】In the author’s opinion，the trouble with parents is that________．

A．they are too watchful of their teenage children

B．they are too concerned about their children’s future

C．they fail to treat teenagers with enough kindness and respect

D．they speak ill of their children within their hearing

【小題3】When two teenagers came into the restaurant and sat beside the author, her first thought was that__________．

A．they were wrong to have chosen this restaurant for dinner

B．something interesting was going to happen over dinner

C．her quiet dinner with her husband would be ruined

D．she and her husband were going to have a pleasant surprise

【小題4】What does the author think of the two teenage boys?

A．They may become nice people if they are willing to change their lifestyle．

B．They are typical of teenagers who wear ill-fitting clothes and dye their hair．

C．They’re fine young men despite their loose jeans and multi-colored hair．

D．They will respect you if you respect them．

A little stream flowed down from a high mountain far, far away through many villages and forests, until it reached a desert. The stream then thought, “I’ve been through countless obstacles. I should have no problem crossing this desert!” But when she decided to start her journey, she found herself gradually disappearing into the mud and sand. After numerous tries, she found it was all in vain and was very upset. “Maybe it’s my destiny(命運) ! I’m not destined to reach the vast ocean in the legend, ” she murmured sadly to herself.
At this time, a deep voice came, saying, “If a breeze can cross the desert, so can a river.”
It was the voice of the desert. Unconvinced, the little stream replied, “That’s because a breeze can fly, but I can’t.”
“That’s because you stick to what you are. If you’re willing to give it up, and let yourself evaporate （蒸發(fā)） into the breeze, it can take you across, and you can reach your destination,” said the desert in its deep voice.
The little stream had never heard of such a thing. “Give up what I am now and disappear into the breeze? No! No!” She could not accept this idea. After all, she had never experienced anything like it before. Wouldn’t it be self-destruction to give up what she was now?
“How do I know if this is true?” asked the little stream.
“The breeze can carry the vapor across the desert and release it as rain at an appropriate site. The rain will form a river again to continue its course,” answered the desert very patiently.
“Will I still be what I am now?” asked the little stream.
“Yes, and no. Whether you’re a river or invisible vapor, your inner nature never changes. You stick to the fact that you’re a river because you don’t know your inner nature,” answered the desert.
Deep down, the stream vaguely remembered that before she became a river, it was perhaps also the breeze that carried her halfway up a high mountain, where she turned into rain and fell onto the ground and became what she was now. Finally the little stream gathered her courage and rushed into the open arms of the breeze, which carried her to the next stage of her life.
Perhaps you can try asking yourself these questions: What is my inner nature? What is it that I cling （緊抓） to? And what is it that I really want?
【小題1】When reaching the desert at first, the little stream was ________ to cross it.

A．upset

B．confident

C．pessimistic

D．hesitant

【小題2】The desert suggests that the stream ________ in order to cross the desert.

A．change its form	B．disappear into the desert
C．stick to what it is	D．turn to another stream for help

【小題3】Finally the stream successfully crossed the desert with the help of ________.

A．the rain

B．the desert

C．the breeze

D．the mountain

【小題4】In the text the writer compares the stream to ________.

A．the Truth

B．the courage

C．the course of life

D．the obstacles in life

Don’t talk to me; I’m busy with my iPhone
Riding a London subway, a person from China will notice one major difference: in London, people do not look at each other. In fact, eye contact is avoided at all times. That’s not rudeness—people are just too busy to bother looking.
Busy doing what, you ask? Well, they’re certainly not using the time for a moment of quiet reflection, nor are they reading a book. New technology has replaced quiet habits. Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book.
Apple must earn a fortune from London commuters（乘車上下班的人）. Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40,000—yes, that’s 40,000—“apps” （programs downloaded for the iPhone） have been designed.
Commuters love them because they are the perfect time-fillers. One “app”, called iShoot, is a game that features tanks. Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the train to be closest to the exit of their destination. ISteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone. You can then write in the “ steam” on your phone screen.
For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be another choice. It’s not just teenagers who “plug in” to their music—iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages.
And if games, e-books and music aren’t enough to keep you occupied， then perhaps you would prefer a film. The development of palm DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV show or film on the way to work. With all this entertainments, it’s amazing that people still remember to get off the train.
【小題1】People in London do not make eye contact on the subway because they are busy ________.

A．playing games, reading e-books, listening to music or watching films.

B．going to work

C．reading books

D．thinking private things

【小題2】Those who like war games can download ________ to their iPhones.

A．Tube Exits

B．iShoot

C．ISteam

D．iPod

【小題3】The underlined word “occupied” in the last paragraph probably means ________.

A．delighted

B．busy

C．controlled

D．amused

【小題4】The article tells us that ________.

A．London commuters are unfriendly to strangers

B．Apple has earned a lo of money from selling 40,000 iPhones

C．with all the new time-fillers, London commuters often forget to get off the train.

D．technology is changing the way London commuters spend their traveling time.

Dreaming is a natural part of who we are. We explore our dreams and develop personal dreams. We even like to dream BIG!
For the most part our dreams and wishes focus on the end result. We see ourselves in love, married, driving a great car, on vacation, with tons of money, in a great career, etc. Dreaming about the end result is just fantasizing and wishing. Wishing relies on some magical force to make our dreams turn into reality, and we become unhappy as we’re not living(實現(xiàn)) our dreams.
So how can we make our dreams come true? That is a question we all often struggle with. Even though we struggle with the answer, the answer is not that clear. We make our dreams come true with the action we take.
In my opinion, if you dream about being in good health, then change your dream to see yourself working out and eating right day by day. See the beginning of the dream and let the dream build day by day with all the action that gets you to the end dream of you being in good health.
If you want riches, then change the dream. Dream of yourself going to school, developing a career, working hard and taking the steps to arrive at the destination. If you want love, love the process. Love the dating process(過程). Love yourself and the journey to find love.
Make all your dreams include the beginning, middle and end. Then when you are doing the action instead of thinking to yourself, “This is a drag. I don’t like working out,” or if you are having any negative thoughts about doing the work it takes to create your visions(夢幻), realize then that every step of the way you are living your dream. You are living your dream because you made the action and journey part of your dream.
【小題1】According to the writer, most of the people____.

A．pay more attention to developing their dreams

B．enjoy the process of their dreams

C．are always ignoring the process of living their dreams

D．probably dream of making much more money easily

【小題2】In order to live our dreams, we must____.

A．struggle with dreams day and night.

B．have great wishes and thoughts.

C．have magical forces every night.

D．take action or steps.

【小題3】 If you want to keep fit,______

A．you’d better dream a sweet dream first.

B．you must love the process of the journey.

C．you would rather begin with your diet and exercise.

D．you should have a good beginning first.

【小題4】 what can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．It’s important to focus on your final result.

B．Good mind and action can help you live your dream.

C．Think to yourself while living your dream.

D．Creating your visions comes first.

If you are living in the city, have you ever thought of going to live in the country for a change? Many people want to move from the country to the city because they think life in the city is more exciting and better than that in rural (農村的) areas, especially young people who like new and modern things.
Often people feel that they can find the latest styles only in the city. Other people are interested in technological (科技的) things and high-tech jobs and think they can find them only in a big city. If they want to find a job, especially a good position in a company, they feel they have to live in a city.        
To get these jobs, they are willing to put up with many of the disadvantages of city life such as heavy traffic and pollution.
However, it is now possible to enjoy a higher quality of life in the countryside and still enjoy some of the advantages (好處) of living in the city.
Nowadays, travel is fast and information is available (可獲得的) on the Internet, so many people are able to do their work in home offices.
Because they have e-mail and personal computers, they don't have to be in big cities to do their business. It is not important where they actually work because the results of their work can be sent everywhere with technology. Now they can enjoy life in the countryside and still be able to do good business and successful careers.
【小題1】The underlined phrase “put up with” (in Para. 3) probably means “_____”.

A．change

B．stand

C．be angry with

D．be pleased with

【小題2】 Now people can enjoy life in the countryside and still be able to do good business and successful careers _____.

A．because of the Internet and fast travel

B．because of e-mail and personal computers

C．because travel is fast

D．because the rural areas are developing faster than cities

【小題3】What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Life in the city	B．Life in the country
C．Go and live in the city	D．Go and live in the country