I will be the first to say that I am not materialistic. My friends regard me as a goody-goody; my parents say I am conservative and modest when it comes to clothes. None of my skirts or shorts end above my knees.
So why, why did I feel so invited? My family and I were in Target, and there it was, waiting. A skirt, specifically designed not to cover anything. It looked like something that one of those modern schoolgirls would wear.
I checked my purse. The skirt cost $10. I had the money. I could buy it. I imagined walking into school and my friends’ jaws (下巴) dropping. Guys would ask me out, and I would be happy. I could buy it, no, — I should buy it.
I showed my mother. She was surprised but said it was my decision. My sister looked on enviously.
I went into the dressing room to try it on. So sure was I that this skirt would change me, somehow make me not what I am but what I wished to be. I slid my jeans off and put it on. I looked in the mirror. There I was — a terrible girl in a Superman T-shirt and sneakers. My glasses fogged up as I started to cry.
The skirt did not change me. Though it fit well and might make me look good in the eyes of today’s world, it was not me. I am not a girl who wears cool clothes to fit in.
I took the thing off and slid back into the ­comfort of modesty. My mom knocked on the door. “Emily, are you okay?”
I wiped away my tears. “I’m fine.” I looked in the ­mirror again and saw a slim girl with funny ­glasses. I saw myself.
小題1:In the author’s eyes the skirt that interested her was ______.

A．not modern	B．very short
C．too expensive	D．poorly designed

小題2:The author thought if she went to school in this skirt her schoolmates would be ______.

A．shocked

B．hurt

C．confused

D．happier

小題3:The underlined sentence in the 3^rd paragraph indicates the author ______.

A．hesitated about buying the skirt

B．made up her mind to buy the skirt

C．was able to afford to buy the skirt

D．worried about others’ opinion on the skirt

小題4:The author cried because ______.

A．she found that she looked ugly in the skirt

B．she was aware the skirt didn’t fit her well

C．she realized it’s a wrong decision to make a change

D．she was disappointed the skirt failed to change her

Last Friday, after doing all the family shopping in the town, I wanted to have a rest before catching the train. I ____ a newspaper and some chocolate and ____ into the station coffee shop. It was a cheap self-service place with long tables to ____ at. I put my heavy bag down on the floor, ____ the newspaper and the chocolate on the table and then went to get a cup of coffee.
When I came back with the coffee, There was someone ____ in the next seat. ____ was a boy, with dark glasses and old clothes, and ____ bright red at the front. He had started to eat my chocolate!
Naturally, I was rather uneasy about him, but I didn’t want to have any ____. I just read the newspaper, tasted my coffee and took a bit of chocolate. The boy looked at me in ____.Then he took a ____ piece of my chocolate. I could hardly believe it. Still I didn’t say anything to him. When he took a third piece, I felt more angry than uneasy. I thought, “Well, I shall have the last piece.” And I got it.
The boy gave me a strange look, then ____ up. As he left, he shouted out, “There’s something ____ with that woman!” Everyone looked at me, ____ I didn’t want to quarrel with the boy, so I kept quiet. I did not realize that I had ____ a mistake until I finished my coffee and was ready to ____. My face turned red when I saw my unopened chocolate under the newspaper. The chocolate that I had been eating was the boy’s!

小題1:	A．stole B．bought C．sold D．wrote

小題2:	A．went B．sat C．seated D．looked

小題3:	A．sit B．seat C．lie D．laugh

小題4:	A．pushed B．took C．put D．pulled

小題5:	A．jumping B．playing C．sitting D．sleeping

小題6:	A．He B．It C．Who D．What

小題7:	A．cut B．washed C．covered D．colored

小題8:	A．coffee B．trouble C．chocolate D．matter

小題9:	A．carelessness B．a(chǎn)nger C．surprise D．happiness

小題10:

A．first B．second C．very D．last

小題11:

A．stood B．took C．cried D．looked

小題12:

A．strange B．wrong C．OK D．funny

小題13:

A．a(chǎn)nd B．but C．so D．while

小題14:

A．spelt B．corrected C．made D．found

小題15:

A．finish B．leave C．jump D．shop

A businessman was deep in debt (欠債)and could see no way out. He sat on the park bench,  21 in hands, wondering if anything could     his company.
Suddenly an old man appeared. “I can see   is troubling you,” he said. After listening to the businessman's     , the old man said, “I believe I can    you.”  He asked the businessman’s name ,and      a check (支票), saying , “Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can     me back at that time.” Then he left quickly.
The businessman    in his hand a check for $ 500,000,signed(簽字)by John D. Rockefeller, who was then one of the    men in the world! “I can get rid of my money worries now!” he realized. But instead, he   to put the check in his case, just knowing it was there to give him the strength to work out a    to save his company.
Within a few months, he was out of debt and   money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the   with the check. At the agreed-on   , the old man appeared. Just   the businessman was about to hand back the cheek and    his successful story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man.“I am so    I caught him!” she cried, “I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's    escaping from the rest home and     people he’s John D. Rockefeller.” And she led him away by the arm. The businessman just stood there,       .
Suddenly, he realized it wasn't the money, real or imagined, but his newfound self-confidence that gave him the power to achieve anything he went after.

小題1:	A．money B．hair C．check D．head

小題2:	A．start B．stop C．save D．sell

小題3:	A．something B．everything C．nothing D．a(chǎn)nything

小題4:	A．programs B．troubles C．wishes D．dreams

小題5:	A．find B．teach C．help D．protect

小題6:	A．packed up B．picked up C．took out D．wrote out

小題7:	A．bring B．pay C．feed D．call

小題8:	A．saw B．tied C．pulled D．hid

小題9:	A．tallest B．richest C．strongest D．busiest

小題10:

A．continued B．refused C．decided D．forgot

小題11:

A．record B．result C．problem D．way

小題12:

A．losing B．making C．lending D．raising

小題13:

A．park B．room C．company D．hospital

小題14:

A．time B．corner C．price D．weekend

小題15:

A．if B．a(chǎn)s C．a(chǎn)fter D．because

小題16:

A．read B．test C．share D．hear

小題17:

A．sad B．a(chǎn)ngry C．tired D．glad

小題18:

A．seldom B．hardly C．never D．a(chǎn)lways

小題19:

A．ordering B．warning C．telling D．reminding

小題20:

A．shocked B．bored C．excited D．interested

I felt excited, curious and nervous at the same time. I was excited because I would be skipping(跳級)two grades. I was curious because I didn't know how high school students were taught. However, I was most nervous at the idea that I would be doing high school homework.
I had just walked into the class when the bell rang. This wasn't a good start. But the kid in front of me looked very friendly. Luckily, since it was the first day of school, my teacher talked for about half of the period and  we just had the rest of the period to start the class. I didn't know what he was saying at first, but when I saw the problems on the paper, I knew what to do.
The next day, the kid said hi and I said hi back. We got into a conversation. It seemed that whenever I was talking to my friend, everyone stopped staring at (盯著看)me. Then the class started. It was easy. But I was still uncomfortable because I couldn't look around without meeting others’eyes, so I just kept my eyes on the whiteboard and on my textbook.
However, my friend didn't show up the next day, and the eighth graders just kept on staring at me. I didn't know why.
The next day everything changed. My friend was back to school. I was praised for my homework. Everyone stared at me less. Some started to be a little friendlier towards me. I felt at home at last here. My teachers also seemed pretty nice.
小題1:If the author didn't skip, he should study in _________ .

A．the fourth grade	B．the sixth grade
C．the seventh grade	D．the eighth grade

小題2:What may make the author curious?

A．What his old friends are doing.

B．How high school students study.

C．How he will do his high school homework.

D．What the eighth graders' homework is.

小題3:Why did the author always keep his eyes on the whiteboard and the textbook?

A．To pay attention to his teachers.

B．To attract his teachers' attention.

C．To follow his teachers' teaching.

D．To avoid meeting others' eyes.

小題4:According to the passage, we know that the author ___________ .

A．got along well with his new class very soon

B．felt sorry about having skipped two grades

C．had one friend in his class all the time

D．got used to others' stares in the classroom

My friend Jessie and I have known each other since we were very young. After we both got married we seldom had time to get together          I always promised myself that I would meet her whenever I was free.
Friendships get more          as we get older, and when we reached our forties, we          to do something to keep our          strong, healthy and growing. We picked out one Saturday a month and          to do something together that day. Sometimes we had a long lunch out, and other times we went to see a movie or went shopping. We also promised to have a(n)          every few days. In some adventures we drove to our favorite places and          a night there. Other times we just        , stopping wherever we wanted.
One of our adventures          us to a very small town in South Georgia. The people there were          a special festival. We were          to buy the handmade gifts and to eat the          food. There was also a parade. Everyone in the parade           and waved to us! It was so great! We          had a great time that day!
        is always on the menu, whether it’s a weekend trip or a couple of hours’ chat over lunch. We are so happy and have a great          on each other’s lives. We share our sorrow and          and we ask for and receive advice. We always laugh, too!
Don’t keep promising yourself that “someday” you’ll          your friends. Do it now. Pick up your phone and make a          for THIS weekend. You’ll be a happier and          person for it! You need it and your friends need it, too.

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)s B．unless C．though D．since

小題2:	A．precious B．difficult C．boring D．interesting

小題3:	A．refused B．decided C．remembered D．regretted

小題4:	A．friendship B．connection C．marriage D．life

小題5:	A．paused B．promised C．prepared D．pretended

小題6:	A．revision B．a(chǎn)dventure C．operation D．a(chǎn)ppointment

小題7:	A．consumed B．took C．cost D．spent

小題8:	A．disappeared B．left C．drove D．ran

小題9:	A．showed B．took C．pushed D．forced

小題10:

A．offering B．enjoying C．presenting D．conducting

小題11:

A．willing B．eager C．delighted D．a(chǎn)llowed

小題12:

A．delicious B．terrible C．a(chǎn)wful D．valuable

小題13:

A．wiped B．stared C．smiled D．a(chǎn)nnounced

小題14:

A．hardly B．nearly C．really D．probably

小題15:

A．Fun B．Mercy C．Concern D．Disagreement

小題16:

A．consideration B．influence C．discussion D．impression

小題17:

A．weakness B．benefits C．problems D．happiness

小題18:

A．meet B．impress C．support D．forgive

小題19:

A．design B．plan C．speech D．record

小題20:

A．busier B．prettier C．healthier D．cleaner

Moving can bring out the best and the worst in people, I’m finding. And I’ve discovered where a very generous spirit lives: Defiance, Ohio.
After suffering through many months of unemployment, my wife and I had to move this week from Colorado to Ohio, where she would work as a sales assistant. Not knowing a person there, we were pretty concerned about all the work, including how we’d get all the things unloaded without killing ourselves.
We decided to pay a couple of college students to help with all the heavy lifting once we got there. But one neighbor after another stopped by and joined in. “What? Have we moved to some other country? Maybe we’ve died and gone to heaven!” I thought.
Unloading actually became fun as we connected with so many wonderful new friends as we worked. The more people that helped, the easier the work became. A job we were afraid might take days for the two of us alone was done in just a few hours. Many total strangers would either walk by or drive by to ask us if we were moving in. Many were delighted that this fine old house that had sat empty for so long was coming to life again. We were invited to an outdoor meal yesterday by neighbors on the same street.
All the while, my brain was on this new sense of hope that people could be outgoing and kind to strangers. Among all the conversations were lots of offers to be of help to one another in a variety of ways. It’s wonderful to live in such a kind little town. I feel so grateful to be here, and wish the rest of the world could see how an entire society can be a model for what it’s like to look out for one another. I used to stay away from friendships with strangers, but now I live in Defiance!
小題1:The author and his wife moved to Defiance because ________.

A．they thought moving often brought out the best

B．a(chǎn) couple of students had promised to help them

C．they liked this little town

D．his wife had found a job

小題2:When offered help, the author at first felt________.

A．grateful

B．surprised

C．embarrassed

D．excited

小題3:The neighbors did all of the following EXCEPT________.

A．help them unload	B．invite them to a dinner
C．offer to drive them around	D．welcome their coming

小題4:What can we know about the author’s past life?

A．He hated to live in a little town.

B．He liked to make friends with strangers.

C．He usually offered some help to others.

D．He refused to make friends with strangers.

小題5:The author mainly wants to tell us ________.

A．we don’t know what is good until we have lost it

B．kindness is the sunshine of social life

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

D．there is no place like home

Eighty-year-old retired tailor, James McKay, spent Saturday night in jail after      thirty-year-old Keith Smith over the head      his walking stick. McKay's wife, Laurence told us that while McKay is usually a        person, he had been        to this act of violence by getting wet just once too often.
Smith lives above the McKays and it appears that not only is he a keen gardener, he is also a        collector. Unfortunately for him, the water he sent over his balcony every day ended up on the McKay's, or too often, on the McKays       .
“For the last fortnight, since Smith moved into the flat above us, we have hardly dared to go to our       ,” said Laurence. She added that it wasn't so much the water falling onto their balcony from Smith watering his plant        bothered them, it was more the way he cleaned his fish tanks. “We'd be        there happily reading our newspapers, when        so much water would come from above that we'd be as wet as if we'd        with our clothes on! Neither could we get rid of the        of fish!”
And on Saturday evening it was just too       . “It was James's birthday,” explained Laurence, “and I'd made him a birthday cake. The candles were a great sight as you can imagine, but James didn't get to blow them out.”       , Smith emptied one of his larger tanks over his balcony and both the McKays and the cake were wet       . Rarely had Laurence seen McKay move so fast. “I couldn't        him. He was up there in a flash. It was the fastest I'd seen him move since 1964.”
Smith is not going to take things further with the police. He has also promised to change his        from now on. And what of James McKay?        he left the police station, a large crowd of supporters sang him, “Happy Birthday”. “      the most exciting birthday       !” said the cheerful old man. “The best since my adolescence I'd say!”         

小題1:	A．hitting B．tapping C．pushing D．touching

小題2:	A．by B．via C．through D．with

小題3:	A．quiet B．peaceful C．sensitive D．stubborn

小題4:	A．a(chǎn)ccustomed B．taken C．driven D．a(chǎn)ttracted

小題5:	A．fish B．seed C．plant D．newspaper

小題6:	A．himself B．itself C．themselves D．herself

小題7:	A．bathroom B．kitchen C．bedroom D．balcony

小題8:	A．which B．what C．that D．whether

小題9:	A．sitting B．exercising C．sleeping D．eating

小題10:

A．regularly B．unconsciously C．precisely D．suddenly

小題11:

A．swum B．showered C．watered D．drowned

小題12:

A．taste B．sense C．feeling D．smell

小題13:

A．little B．soon C．late D．much

小題14:

A．Beside B．Instead C．Otherwise D．Consequently

小題15:

A．over B．a(chǎn)cross C．through D．down

小題16:

A．stop B．blame C．ignore D．stand

小題17:

A．views B．a(chǎn)ttitude C．ways D．mind

小題18:

A．While B．Since C．Until D．As

小題19:

A．Sincerely B．Impossibly C．Definitely D．Previously

小題20:

A．before B．ever C．a(chǎn)lready D．since

I was on a long drive last weekend and stopped for a rest．At that moment,I noticed a man in a wheelchair        by the stop sign．He held a sign in hand，      “Trying to make it home for the holidays”．I        looked away from it,because I had no        to give him．I watched as people drove by,and either ignored him or stared at him        he was a curiosity（怪人）of sorts．I felt really        for the poor man．
I know some people wouldn’t like to have the thought of        money to such strangers in the street,because they thought these people may use that money for drugs,alcohol,or some other undesirable（不良的）      ．I started to drive my car away but soon        ．Since I don’t usually have much cash on me,I        it would be a good idea to offer some food        ．So I asked him if he was        ．Hearing my words,he seemed shocked that someone        his well-being,but he happily        it．He said he would like a sandwich and a can of soda．
Inside the store,I bought a sandwich,soda,some water and chips．I        them to the new friend who was quite        to receive so many delicious foods．      the meal time ,I asked his name．He said he was called Chewie,and he was thankful for my help．I        him a Smile Card．He read it with a big smile and said,“I always        random（偶然）acts of kindness．”
As I drove away,I said a silent prayer（祈禱）that Chewie makes it home for the holidays,or at least he spends them somewhere safe and        ．

小題1:	A．jumping B．sitting C．running D．climbing

小題2:	A．a(chǎn)sking B．copying C．showing D．reading

小題3:	A．quickly B．happily C．a(chǎn)ctively D．finally

小題4:	A．money B．gift C．time D．sign

小題5:	A．a(chǎn)s long as B．in case C．even though D．a(chǎn)s if

小題6:	A．proud B．happy C．sorry D．strange

小題7:	A．lending B．giving C．wasting D．throwing

小題8:	A．purposes B．interests C．views D．roles

小題9:	A．took off B．gave up C．turned around D．picked up

小題10:

A．doubted B．refused C．listed D．thought

小題11:

A．besides B．yet C．instead D．though

小題12:

A．happy B．sleepy C．tired D．hungry

小題13:

A．brought about B．talked about C．cared about D．thought about

小題14:

A．bought B．a(chǎn)ccepted C．paid D．a(chǎn)te

小題15:

A．dropped B．donated C．offered D．supported

小題16:

A．glad B．stressful C．uneasy D．formal

小題17:

A．Before B．Above C．For D．During

小題18:

A．handed B．ordered C．borrowed D．sold

小題19:

A．cut in B．believe in C．take in D．give in

小題20:

A．cold B．upset C．warm D．a(chǎn)fraid

That warm day was the only day of the week without rain．I opened the door,took a seat and began to enjoy the wonderful sunshine．Suddenly,I noticed that the house near mine had been sold．An elderly lady was in front of the door,with some beautiful flowers beside her．I walked to her．She looked to be in her early eighties and had the prettiest white hair．
“Hi！My name is Karmen,”I said smiling brightly at the old lady．She smiled back and said,“Hello,Karmen．I ’m Henrietta．”Her voice was very strong for someone at her age．Later，I learned she was alone and had no family or relatives to help her．From that day on,I often visited her and helped her with her housework and sometimes she gave me some delicious food．A year passed,and I considered Henrietta to be one of my best friends．
One day,I walked over for my morning visit and knocked on the door,but there was no answer．I knocked again,and she still didn’t turn up．So I let myself in,using the key she had given me．I checked her living room and then her kitchen．I finally went into her bedroom,and she was lying peacefully on her bed．Beside her there were two notes．One was her will（遺囑）,which said all that she had would be given to me．The other was a thank-you note．I went to her bedside and cried sadly．
Though several years have gone by,I still miss her deeply．Whenever I look at the beautiful flowers in front of her house,I remember the wonderful friendship we had．
小題1:The writer came out of the house to ______．

A．look at an old lady	B．enjoy some flowers
C．enjoy the sunshine	D．clean the house nearby

小題2:Through visiting the old lady,the writer learnt that the old lady ______．

A．disliked all her relatives

B．had no one to look after her

C．didn’t want to live with her family

D．was looking for someone to look after her

小題3:What can we learn from the passage?

A．The old lady was not kind．

B．The writer didn’t have any good friends．

C．The old lady didn’t know how to make food．

D．The writer got along very well with the old lady．

小題4:What does the underlined part “turn up”in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Appear

B．Leave

C．Try

D．Change

A famous Renoir had been stolen from a museum. Detective Earl Blackman was to work on the case.
Everyone was in the dark before an art professor came to point out the false picture. So the museum even didn’t know when the picture had been stolen. Thousands of people came to visit the museum every day. After long work, some art students were focused on.
The five students who had made copies of the Renoir during the last six months were asked to bring their copies to the museum. The fifth student said she had sold her copy, which was later proved to be the one in the museum. She, however, could only remember the buyer was a man with the little finger on his left hand missing.
Blackman went back and stayed in his office looking at all the pictures of known thieves. No success.
The next afternoon, at about closing time, Blackman went to the museum to ask if the cleaning men were in the museum after everyone else had left. The director told him they had no cleaning man but six cleaning women.
As the detective left the director’s office, he saw five cleaning women. He stopped one and asked about her work. Then came the sixth cleaning woman. She was dressed just like the other women except the gloves on her hands which made her different. Blackman watched her for some time. When she came near, Blackman caught her. The woman cried out in a man’s voice, “What was that?” Blackman was more sure.
小題1:Everything came to light ________________.

A．when an art student was asked

B．when the cleaning man came into the office

C．when Blackman looked at all the pictures

D．when the cleaning woman cried

小題2:Arrange the following sentences in the right order.
a. The museum asked for help.
b. The four students showed their copies.
c. An art professor came.
d. The detective looked at all the pictures.
e. The thief bought a picture.

A．a(chǎn)-c-e-d-b

B．c-a-d-s-b

C．e-c-a-b-d

D．e-a-b-d-c

小題3:Blackman caught the cleaning woman because of __________.

A．the glove

B．the clothes

C．her sex

D．her work