On a Sunday morning, I was driving down a road and saw something I couldn’t believe. A little girl, less than two, was pushing her stroller (嬰兒車) across the road. It was Sunday morning and traffic was not heavy.
I stopped my car at once and ran toward her. This little girl knew enough to run from a stranger. I tried to catch her in order that I could get her out of the road.
Suddenly her father came running down a hill across the road from where I had parked my car. He ran right to her and caught her up, saying “bad girl” to her. I picked up the stroller and gave it to him. The father grabbed the stroller and walked toward where he came from without a word.
I went back and sat in my car for a few minutes with my son. My hands were shaking and tears were about to run out of my eyes. “Do you feel cold, Mom?” asked my son. I just shook my head.
After this happened, I thought about how thankful I am. Even though the father didn’t say thank you, I feel that I did something good. Doing something for someone else is pleasing, even when it’s only a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
I didn’t really “save” her, but I feel like it was important that I happened to be there. It is sad that I was the only one who stopped. It really made me a little disappointed that no one else stopped to help.
【小題1】When the author saw the little girl, _____.

A．the girl had lost her way

B．she was driving to work in a hurry

C．the girl feared to go across the road

D．there weren’t many cars on the road

【小題2】The little girl ran away from the author because _____.

A．she wanted to stay on the road

B．she didn’t know the author at all

C．she wanted to look for her father

D．she needed to catch her stroller

【小題3】Why were the author’s hands shaking?

A．Because she was not feeling well.

B．Because she was too excited to keep calm.

C．Because the weather was very cold at that time.

D．Because she failed to be understood by the girl’s father.

【小題4】 The author thought that her help was _____.

A．really necessary

B．worth praising

C．not welcome

D．not useful

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch (大牧場) in San Isidro. He lets me use his house to hold events to raise money for youth at risk programs.
The last time I was there he greeted me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let you use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of a poor horse trainer who would go from stable (馬廄) to stable, farm to farm, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school was continually interrupted (打斷). One day in the last year of high school, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to do when he grew up.
“He wrote a seven-page paper about his goal of owning a horse ranch in great detail. He put a great deal of his heart into the project and even drew a detailed floor plan for the dream ranch. Then the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. But he got a low mark with a note that read, ‘See me after class.’  “The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I receive a low mark?’”
“The teacher said, ‘This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from a poor family. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you will rewrite this paper, I will reconsider your mark.’
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’
“Finally, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He wrote, ‘You can keep the low mark and I’ll keep my dream.’”
【小題1】Which of the following statements is TRUE about Monty Roberts?

A．He was born in a poor family.

B．He received a good education.

C．He is raising money for the poor.

D．He is a horse trainer who owns a big ranch.

【小題2】From Paragraph 3, we know Monty Roberts _____.

A．was just a daydreamer

B．decided to follow his father’s example

C．expected the teacher to praise him

D．had a great plan for his future

【小題3】The teacher thought Monty Roberts’s dream was _____.

A．strange

B．great

C．pleasant

D．impossible

【小題4】The purpose of the text is to tell readers that _____.

A．seeing is believing

B．knowledge is power

C．a(chǎn)ll roads lead to Rome

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

This week Faith Lapidus and Doug Johnson will tell you about Chuck Berry．Chuck Berry，born on October 18，1926，is often called the father of rock and roll．He is one of the most popular and influential performers of rhythm－and－blues and rock‘n’roll music during the 1950s，1960s and 1970s．
He started singing in church when he was six years old．His interest in music stuck with him．A lot of Chuck Berry’s material is about teenage life，especially school．Chuck Berry left school when he was 17．He headed west with two friends，but they did not get far．They were arrested after they used a gun to steal a car in Kansas City，Missouri．He was set free after four years.
Chuck Berry signed his first recording contract in 1955，with the company Chess Records．Because one of his early hits，“Rock＆Roll Music”，hit big in the United States then，which was greeted with enthusiastic reviews．Many other famous bands copied it again and again．
Filmmaker Taylor Hackford made a documentary called“Hail! Hail! Rock‘n’Roll”, named for a Chuck Berry song．It centered on the making of a concert to honor the musician on his 60th birthday in 1986．Guitarist Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones organized the concert．Listening to Chuck Berry songs got him interested in music．In Keith Richards’words，“I didn’t dream I could make a living at it but that’s what I wanted to do．”More than 75 artists and bands have done their own versions of Chuck Berry songs．
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland，Ohio，included Chuck Berry in its first year of honors in 1986．The Hall of Fame had this to say：“While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll，Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together．”
Thank you for your listening．Faith Lapidus and Doug Johnson were your announcers．
【小題1】The underlined words“hit big”in Paragraph 3 probably mean“__________”．

A．won great Success	B．made rapid progress
C．got into big trouble	D．made a small difference

【小題2】Guitarist Keith Richards is mentioned in Paragraph 4 to show ___________．

A．music is a way of making a life	B．Chuck Berry influenced him a lot
C．he disliked Chuck Berry in fact	D．he is a real fan of Chuck Berry

【小題3】Which of the following about Chuck Berry is true?

A．Chuck Berry was the first to invent rock and roll on his own．

B．Chuck Berry was put into prison for leaving school in 1943．

C．Chuck Berry can be said to have formed rock and roll’s basic structure．

D．Chuck Berry is the most popular and influential performer．

【小題4】Where does this text probably come from?

A．An advertisement．	B．A science fiction．
C．A magazine．	D．A radio report．

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to the patients at the clinic.
One evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. He’s hardly taller than my eight-year-old son. “Good evening. I’ve come to see if you’ve a room. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there’s no bus till morning.” He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with no success. “I guess it’s my face... I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments...” For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep in this chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning.”
I told him we would find him a bed. When I had finished the dishes, I talked with him. He told me he fished for a living to support his five children, and his wife, who was hopelessly crippled（殘疾的）from a back injury. He didn’t tell it by way of complaint. Next morning, just before he left, as if asking a great favor, he said, “Could I come back and stay the next time?” He added, “Your children made me feel at home. ”
On his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and the largest oysters（牡蠣）I had ever seen. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a. m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us and there was never a time that he did not bring us vegetables from his garden. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned how to accept the bad without complaint when facing the misfortune.
【小題1】Why did the author agree to let the man spend the night in his house at last?

A．Because the man said others refused to accommodate him.

B．Because the man said he would not cause much inconvenience.

C．Because the man said he had come from the eastern shore.

D．Because the man said he had been hunting for a room since noon.

【小題2】How long would it take the man to travel from his home to Baltimore by bus?

A．About 1 hour．

B．About 2 hours．

C．About 3 hours．

D．About 4 hours．

【小題3】From the text we can know that_____________．

A．the author’s children were kind and friendly to the man

B．the man was fed up with his hard-work and his family

C．John Hopkins Hospital provided rooms-for the patients to live in

D．the author and his family were thought highly of by his neighbors

【小題4】The author’s family were grateful to know the man because__________．

A．he often brought them fish and vegetables from his garden

B．he paid them money for his staying

C．he taught them how to accept the bad without complaint

D．he stayed only overnight with the writer’s family

Long ago there were two people--- a young father and an old neighbor. One day the young father was visiting the old neighbor. They were standing in the old man’s garden, talking about children. The young man said, “How strict should parents be with their children?”
The old man pointed to a string（繩子）between a big strong tree and a thin young one．“Please untie（解開）that string，” he said．The young man untied it, and the young tree bent over to one side. “Now tie it again，please,” said the old man, “but first pull the string tight so that the young tree is straight again.”
The young man did so．Then the old man said，“There，it is the same with children. You must be strict with them, but sometimes you must untie the string to know how they are getting on．If they are not yet able to stand alone，you must tie the string tight again. But when you find that they are ready to stand alone，you can take the string away.”
【小題1】The story is about ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．

A．how the young father should get on with his old neighbor

B．how to tie and untie the string

C．how to take care of young trees

D．how strict parents should be with their children.

【小題2】The young man untied the string ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．

A．only to find that the thinner one bent over to one side

B．in order to let the old man teach him

C．in order to throw it away

D．so that both of the trees would grow straight

【小題3】When can the string be taken away？＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．

A．When the young man has untied it next time

B．When the young tree grows strong enough

C．When the old man has left

D．After you have untied it

【小題4】At last the old man told the young man ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．

A． that he should be strict with his children if they could not yet stand alone

B．that he should be hard on them

C． that he should tie his children until they are ready to stand alone

D．that he should always be strict with his children

The light from the campfire brightened the darkness, but it could not prevent the damp cold of Dennis’s Swamp (沼澤地) creeping into their bones. It was a strange place. Martin and Tom wished that they had not accepted Jack’s dare. They liked camping, but not near this swamp.
“So,” Martin asked as they sat watching the hot coals. “How did this place get its name ? ”
“Are you sure you want to hear it ? It’s a scary story,” warned Jack.
“Of course!” cried out Tom. “If there were anything to be scared of, you wouldn’t have chosen this place!”
“Ok, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” said Jack, and he began his tale.
“Way back in time, a man called Dennis tried to start a farm here. He built that cottage over there to live in . In those days, the area looked quite different ---- it was covered with tall trees and the swamp was a crystal-clear river. After three hard years, Dennis had cleared several fields and planted crops. He was so proud of his success that he refused to listen to advice.
“ ‘You are clearing too much land, ’ warned one old man. ‘ The land is a living thing. It will hit back at you if you abuse it. ’
“ ‘ Silly fool,’ said Dennis to himself. ‘If I clear more land, I can grow more crops. I’ll become wealthier. He’s just jealous!’
“Dennis continued to chop down trees. Small animals that relied on them for food and shelter were destroyed. He was so eager to expand his farm that he did not notice the river flowing slowly towards his door. He did not notice salt seeping to the surface of the land. He did not notice swamp plants choking all the native plants.
“What happened ? ” Martin asked. It was growing colder. He trembled, twisting his body closer to the fire.
“The land hit back ---- just as the old man warned, ” Jack shrugged. “Dennis disappeared. Old folks around here believe that swamp plants moved up from the river and dragged him underwater. His body was never found.”
“What a stupid story, ” laughed Tom. “Plants can’t …” Before he had finished speaking, he screamed and fainted (暈倒). The other two boys jumped up with fright, staring at Tom. Suddenly, they burst out laughing. Some green swamp ivy (常春藤) had covered Tom’s face. It was a while before Tom could appreciate the joke.
【小題1】The underlined word “dare” in Paragraph 1 is closed in meaning to ________.

A．courage

B．a(chǎn)ssistance

C．instruction

D．challenge

【小題2】 Why did Jack tell Tom and Martin the story ?

A．To frighten them.	B．To satisfy their curiosity.
C．To warn them of the danger of the place.	D．To persuade them to camp in the swamp.

【小題3】Why did Dennis ignore the warning of the old man ?

A．The old man envied him.	B．The old man was foolish
C．He was too busy to listen to others.	D．He was greedy for more crops.

【小題4】Why did Tom scream and faint ?

A．He saw Dennis’s shadow	B．He was scared by a plant
C．His friends played a joke on him.	D．The weather became extremely cold.

【小題5】What lesson can we learn from the story of Dennis ?

A．Grasp all, lose all.	B．No sweat, no sweet.
C．It is no use crying over spilt milk.	D．He who makes no mistakes makes nothing.

Last year, around Labor Day, I read a “Happy Ad” in our local newspaper. There was a lady in a local nursing home, who was celebrating her 90th birthday and her family wanted everyone to know about it. It said that if you wanted to drop her a line, here was her address. So I did. I found a birthday card and dropped her a short note, wishing her a happy birthday.
A week or so later, someone knocked at my front door. I opened the door and found a middle-aged man standing on my doorstep. He introduced himself as the son of this woman to whom I had sent the card. He explained that he just wanted to drop by in person and thank me for sending such a nice card to his mom. Apparently, like many older folks, she did not receive much mail and was quite excited to receive mine. I just didn’t know what to say. I told him it was my pleasure and that I hoped his mom had enjoyed her birthday.
That year, I did not send out any Christmas cards, except to this lovely old lady in the nursing home. I just told her that I was thinking about her and hoped that she had a nice holiday. I sent her a Valentine and also a couple of notes in between. I just thought she might like to have someone write to her, to get some mail.
She passed away a couple of months ago. I never met this lady, but I did keep her and her family in my thoughts. I dropped them a line of sympathy. I hope that my few little notes were enough to brighten a couple of her days here on earth.
【小題1】The old lady’s address was given because ____________.

A．her family wanted to make her well-known.

B．the old lady wanted to receive a birthday card.

C．the son of the old lady wanted to meet the author.

D．her family wanted to give her a happy birthday.

【小題2】Which of the following best describes the author?

A．Brave

B．Polite

C．Caring

D．Faithful

【小題3】 Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．A Kind Act

B．An Old Lady

C．A Happy Ad

D．A Considerate Son

Mark had been scolded before for touching his father’s equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.
It was a strange-looking machine — one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. “It’s an experimental model,” his father had explained, so don’t touch it under any circumstances.” But his father’s warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into colours, shifting and changing, and then two big white words appeared in the centre of the screen: “SPACE TRANSPORTER.”
“Yes!” Mark cried excitedly, “It’s a computer game. I knew it! Dad’s only been pretending to work. He’s really been playing games instead!” A new message appeared on the screen:
“ENTER NAMES
VOYAGE�。�
VOYAGE�。�
Mark’s finger flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.
“INPUT ACCEPTED.
START  TRANSPORT  PROGRAM.
AUTO-RETRIEVE  INITIATED(自動回收程序已啟動).”
The screen turned even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.
“I think we’d better shut it off, Mark,” Jason yelled out in terror, reaching for the power switch. A beam(光束) of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow(光芒)，until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed：
“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL．
DESTINATION:  MARS.
RETRIEVE DATE:  2025
【小題1】Why did Mark touch the computer against his father’s warning?

A．He wanted to take a voyage.	B．He wanted to practice his skills.
C．He was so much attracted by it.	D．He was eager to do an experiment.

【小題2】Where did the boy’s father most likely work?

A．In an electronic factory.	B．In a computer company.
C．In a scientific research center.	D．In an information processing center.

【小題3】Mark thought “SPACE TRANSPORTER” on the screen was the name of ________.

A．a(chǎn) computer game	B．a(chǎn) company website
C．a(chǎn) software producer	D．a(chǎn)n astronomy program

【小題4】Why did Jason want to shut off the computer?

A．He was afraid of being scolded.

B．He didn’t like the loud noise and light.

C．He didn’t want to play games.

D．He was afraid something dangerous might happen.

【小題5】What happened to the boys at the end of the story?

A．They were blown into the air.

B．They were sent to another planet.

C．They were hidden in the strong light.

D．They were carried away to another country.

When I was young, I went looking for gold in California. I never found enough to make a rich strike. But I did discover a beautiful part of the country called Stanislau. Like Heaven on Earth, it had bright green hills and deep forests where soft winds touched the trees. By the time I arrived, the charming paradise had been deserted because miners’ good luck didn’t last.
Then, I realized I was not alone after all.
A man was smiling at me as he stood in front of his little house. Its front yard was full of blue and yellow flowers. White curtains hung from the windows and floated in the soft summer wind.
Still smiling, the man invited me inside. My spirit seemed to come to life again. I saw a bright rug on the shining wooden floor. And on little tables there were seashells, books and china vases full of flowers. A woman had made this house into a home. The delight in my heart showed on my face. The man read my thoughts. “All her work.” He said affectionately, “Nothing here hasn’t felt the touch of her hand.”
One picture on the wall was not hanging straight. He went to fix it. He stepped back several times to make sure the picture was straight. Then he gave it a gentle touch. “She always does that,” he explained, “It is like the finishing pat a mother gives her child’s hair after she has brushed it. I don’t know why I do it. I just do it.”
As he talked, I went to a little black-walnut shelf that held a small picture of the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. There was a sweetness and softness in the woman’s expression. The man stared at the picture. “Nineteen her last birthday. That was the day we married. When you see her...ah, just wait until you meet her!” “Where is she now?” I asked. “Oh, she is away visiting her parents. This is Wednesday,” he said slowly. “She will be back on Saturday, in the evening.”
That night, I stayed. The man told me his name was Henry.
Thursday evening we had two visitors, Tom and Joe. “We just drop over to ask when little madam is coming home. Any news from her?” “Oh yes,” the man replied. “A letter.” He took a yellowed letter out of his wallet and read it. It was full of loving messages. While reading, he glimpsed his friends and cried out, “Oh no, you are doing it again, Tom! Take your hands away and let me see your eyes. I’m going to tell her this time!” “No, you mustn’t do that, Henry,” the grey-haired miner said. “I am getting old. And any little sorrow makes me cry. Lord, we miss her so.”
Saturday finally came.
I was glad to see his two friends, Tom and Joe, with guitars, coming down the road as the sun began to set. They put the flowers they brought in vases and began to play some fast and lively songs.
Henry’s friends kept giving him glasses of whiskey. When I reached for one of the two remaining glasses, Tom stopped my arm. “Drop that! Take the other.” he whispered. I did so. Henry was served last. He had hardly swallowed his drink when the clock struck midnight. His face grew pale and paler. “Boys,” he said, “I am sick with fear. Help! I want to lie down.” Henry was asleep almost before the words were out of his mouth.
In a moment, those handy men had his clothes off and tucked him into his bed. They seemed to be getting ready to leave. So I said, “Please don’t go, gentlemen. She won’t know me. I am a stranger.” They glanced at each other. Then Joe said, “She? Poor thing, she’s been dead nineteen years!” “Dead?” I whispered. “That or worse.” he said.
“She went to see her folks half a year after she got married. On her way back, on a Saturday evening in June, when she was almost here, the Indians captured her. She’s never been heard of since. Henry went insane. But he only gets bad when that time of year comes round. Then we drop in here, three days before she’s due, to encourage him up and listen to him read the letter. Saturday we all come and get everything ready for a dance. We’ve done it for nineteen years. The first Saturday there were twenty-seven of us, but only two now. We drug him to sleep through the night. Then he’s all right for another year.”
The two old men opened the door and disappeared into the darkness of Stanislau.
【小題1】You can sense the existence of a woman from the following sentences EXCEPT “______”.

A．Soft winds touched the trees in Stanislau.

B．There was a bright rug on the shining wooden floor.

C．There were seashells, books and china vases full of flowers.

D．A little black shelf held a small picture of a woman.

【小題2】Tom cried when Henry read the yellowed letter, because ______.

A．he was getting older and older

B．he was moved by the loving messages in the letter

C．he felt sad at the thought of Henry’s wife

D．he was disappointed that Henry’s wife would arrive so late

【小題3】Tom stopped my reaching for whiskey because ______.

A．there was not enough whiskey for Henry	B．he didn’t want me to get drunk
C．that glass of whiskey was drugged	D．it was for Henry’s wife

【小題4】The underlined word “insane” probably means “______”.

A．depressed

B．disappointed

C．mad

D．sick

【小題5】It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

A．Henry’s wife was 38 when she was last seen

B．Tom and Joe have heard the letter many times

C．the author stayed in Henry’s house because he was lost

D．the two miners came on Saturday to share past memories

【小題6】The story is mainly about ______.

A．ever-lasting love	B．lifelong friendship
C．a(chǎn)n unforgettable experience	D．charming Stanislau

During the next several weeks I went completely to the wolves. I took a tiny tent and set it up on the shore of bay. The big telescope was set up in the mouth of the tent in such a way that I could observe the wolves by day or night.
Quite by accident I had pitched (set up) my tent within ten yards of one of the major paths used by the wolves. Shortly after I had taken up residence one of the wolves came back and discovered me and my tent, but he did not stop or hesitate in his pace. Later, one or more wolves used the track past my tent and never did they show the slightest interest in me. I felt uncomfortable at being so totally ignored. The next day I noticed a male wolf make boundary markers by passing water on the rounds of his family lands.
Once I had become aware of the strong feeling of property rights which existed among the wolves, I decided to use this knowledge to make them at least recognize my existence. One evening, after they had gone off for their regular nightly hunt I staked out a property of my own, including a long section of the wolves’ path. In order to ensure that my claim would not be overlooked, I made a property mark on stones, dumps of moss, and patches of vegetation with a lot of tea. Before the hunters came back, task was done, and I retired, somewhat exhausted, to observe results. A few minutes later, the leading male appeared. As usual he did not bother to glance at the tent, but when he reached the point where my property line intersected (cut across) the trail, he stopped as suddenly as if he had run into an invisible wall.
Cautiously, he extended his nose and sniffed at one of my marked bushes. After a minute of hesitation he backed away a few yards and sat down. Then, he looked directly at the tent and at me.
His glare seemed to become more fierce as I attempted to stare him down. The situation was becoming intolerable. To break the impasse I turned my back on the wolf. Then quickly and with an air of decision, he turned his attention away from me and began a systematic tour of the area I had staked out as my own. As he came to each boundary marker he sniffed it once or twice, then carefully placed his mark on the outside of mine.
【小題1】 Why did the wolves manage to ignore the author’s presence?

A．Because his tent was out of the wolves’ estate boundaries.

B．Because the author and the wolves were already good friends.

C．Because they did not know him at all.

D．Because the wolves were afraid of strangers.

【小題2】 Which is TRUE according to the passage ?

A．The author likes staring matches esp. with wolves.

B．Staking the land was very easy.

C．Wolves can see the estate boundaries clearly with their eyes.

D．The author managed to know why the wolves ignore his presence.

【小題3】 What was the author’s discovery?

A．Wolves were not settled beasts, as is almost universally believed.

B．Wolves were settled beasts and the possessors of an estate with definite boundaries.

C．Wolves were not interested with strangers.

D．Wolves’ family was dominated by a female.

【小題4】Why did the author stake out an area of his own?

A．Because he thought it better to be stared at than to be ignored.

B．Because he didn’t want the wolves to use the track past his tent.

C．Because he wanted the wolves to take cognizance of his existence.

D．Because he wanted to find out how fierce the wolf’s glare was.