When I was in the third grade, I wanted to be just like Mrs. Abshere. She always had a 　36for her students. She made us feel both special and wanted. I truly felt that Mrs. Abshere cared about me. Her patience and kindness helped me 　37 many hard times.

One day, after I got home, the police suddenly came and arrested (逮捕) my parents. I was 38 to death! I held on to my brother and sister as we were 　39 to a children’s home.

As my parents waited for their 　40 , my brother, sister and I waited in the children’s home. Soon days turned into weeks. When I was told that they would be in prison for six months, I 　41 on my bed and cried for hours. I was mad at the world and no longer saw any future for myself. Just at this very moment one of the girls came running up to me. “Hey, there’s a lady here to see you. I think it’s your mom.” Could it be true?

When I got to the end of the hallway, there stood Mrs. Abshere! She held her arms out to me. “Honey, I know 　42 is better than your mom, but I love you, too!” I hugged her and 　43 thanked God for bringing this angel thirty miles out of her way to see me.

As I 　44 Mrs. Abshere around the grounds, I began to feel 　45 again. I was so excited to show her off to all my new friends.

Two weeks later, I said good-bye to all my friends and moved across the state to live in another city with my grandparents.

Sixteen years later, I 　46 Mrs. Abshere, so that I could tell her how grateful (感激的) I was. When I found her, we had the most wonderful conversation. I felt so much 　47 telling her that I was only a year away from becoming a teacher myself. “Oh! That’s great. You can teach students in my room!” So, perhaps I will be returning to Mrs. Abshere’s classroom soon, only this time as a peer (同行) and a very grateful friend.

36. A. message　　　　　　　　　 B. game　　　　　　　　　　　 C. smile　　　　　　　　　　　 D. prize

37. A. with　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. through　　　　　　　　　 C. out　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. off

38. A. lonely　　　　　　　　　　　 B. bored　　　　　　　　　　　 C. frightened 　　　　　　　 D. sorry

39. A. invited　　　　　　　　　　 B. pushed　　　　　　　　　　 C. found　　　　　　　　　　　 D. driven

40. A. news 　　　　　　　　　　 B. reply　　　　　　　　　　　 C. letters　　　　　　　　　　　 D. sentence

41. A. jumped　　　　　　　　　　 B. fell　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. spread　　　　　　　　　　 D. slept

42. A. nobody B. somebody C. anybody　　　　　　　　　 D. everybody

43. A. carefully B. seriously C. nervously D. silently　　

44. A. walked　　　　　　　　　　 B. helped　　　　　　　　　　 C. talked　　　　　　　　　　　 D. saw　　　

45. A. wonderful　　　　　　　 B. hopeful　　　　　　　　　　 C. interested　　　　　　　　 D. relaxed

46. A. searched for 　　　　　 B. rang up C. called on D. bumped into

47. A. patience　　　　　　　　　 B. shame　　　　　　　　　　 C. pride　　　　　　　　　　　 D. hope

　　It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I'll meet you in the cafe at 7 o'clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

　　In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure. By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic. If the girl doesn't want to go out with the boy, she won't turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn't want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

　　The conditional is often used by people in the news－politicians, for example－who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

　　“If” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First－probability－if I can come to your party, I will; the Second－improbability－if I saw you tomorrow, I'd give you the book; and the Third－impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened)－if you have told me, I would have helped you.

　　注：conditional structure表示條件的句式，avoid避免，diplomatic婉轉(zhuǎn)的，achieve達(dá)到，politician政客

1．The using of the conditional can make a speech ________.

[　　]

2．Which of the following is TURE according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Language used in the news should make room to argue.

B．Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

C．English people never speak out their ideas in public.

D．The word “if” can show different meanings.

3．In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means ________.

[　　]

A．the workers will make more money

B．the spokesman doesn't give any promise

C．the spokesman keeps his word

D．the workers' problems aren't difficult

4．This passage is mainly talking about ________.

[　　]

A．the conditional in communication

B．how to invite a girl in Britain

C．British people and their life

D．some language points in daily English