It was near Christmas during my first semester teaching a new school. I love my small special class
more than any group I had taught in the past. They were hungry for knowledge and I was enjoying teaching.
     Other teachers had told me that our children were from poor families and not to expect any child to bring
a Christmas gift. In fact, I wasn't expecting any gifts.
     Imagine my surprise when every child brought me a gift on the day before our holiday break. First, I got
a much-loved stuffed monkey from a shy girl. I was told, "He is my favorite, but I love you and I want him
to be with you, Miss Taylor "How thrilled I was!" 
    Next came a new set of Christmas tree lights that was "missing" from a mother's cupboard.
     Finally, I came to one little boy's gift which I had never received. It was an old, dirty and broken
Christmas story book. Just then I wanted to express my happiness, I was interrupted (打断) by the giver,"
And see, it is new! It still has the price tag." 
     When other children laughed at him, I stopped them and said, "Oh, books are good in that way. The story
is always new if you have not read it before. Now, Let's share one together." Everyone listened quietly as I
read the most wonderful Christmas story of my life.
     I still keep those Christmas gifts, They always remind me of my lovely kids.

1. Why did the teacher like her small special class? 
    ____________________________________________
2. When did the children bring their teacher gifts?
    ____________________________________________
3. Who sent a stuffed monkey to the teacher? 
    ____________________________________________
4. Was the Christmas story, book new? 
    ____________________________________________
5. How did the teacher feel when she got the presents? 
    ____________________________________________

     Scott was not happy. He had no money left to buy the new toy train he wanted. Suddenly, he had an idea!
"I'll ask my brother Alan if I can borrow some money. He always has money to lend people."
     Scott found Alan in his room. "Alan, may I borrow $20 from you to buy myself a new train?"
     Alan replied, "I just spent all of my money on Mom's birthday present. I have no money left. You are barking
up the wrong tree."
     Scott was very disappointed. He decided to get a job. He went to many stores, but no one had a job for him.
He walked and walked from store to store.
     Finally, he got a job selling ice cream and he was very happy. "My feet are tired for walking all day, but I can
get enough money for a toy train."

1. Why did Scott need to borrow money?

A. Because he needed to get a job.
B. Because he wanted to buy a new toy train.
C. Because he wanted to buy a present for his mother.

2. The underlined ( 划线) phrase "barking up the wrong tree" means ______.

A. acting like a dog
B. asking the wrong person
C. asking the right person

3. According to the story, Scott might work in ______. 

A. a dessert house
B. a book store
C. a clothing store

4. What do you think of Alan?

A. He was unfriendly.
B. He was clever.
C. He was kind.

5. What can we know from the story?

A. Scott could get a new train.
B. Scott didn't like his brother.
C. Scott's family was very poor.

     An old man was fishing on the bank of a river. A child came to see him fishing. The old man was really
good at fishing and it didn't take long for him to catch a full basket of fish. The old man saw that the child
was very cute, and he wanted to give her a whole basket of fish. But the child shook her head. The old man
was surprised and asked, "Why don't you want the fish?" 
     The child replied, "I want the fishing rod (竿) in your hands."
     The old man asked," Why do you want the rod?"
     "It doesn't take long to eat all the fish in a basket. But if I have the fishing rod, I can go fishing by myself
and I won't be afraid of not having any more fish to eat."
     I think you will certainly say that the child is very smart. Wrong! If she doesn't know how to fish, she
cannot have fish to eat, even though she has the fishing rod. It's useless to only have a fishing rod. Fishing
skills are the most important, not the fishing rod.
     Too many people think that if they have a "fishing rod" in their life, they will no longer fear the wind and
rain. They are just like the child, who thought that if she had a fishing rod, she would have fish to eat.

1. The old man was fishing on the bank of _____.

A. a river
B. a lake
C. a pool

2. Why did the child refuse the fish the old man gave her?

A. Because she didn't like fish.
B. Because she wanted his fishing rod.
C. Because the old man had few fish.

3. The writer thought the child was _____ after she explained why she didn't want the fish.

A. smart
B. hardworking
C. silly

4. The article mainly tells us _____.

A. if you have a "fishing rod" in your life, you won't be afraid of anything
B. if you have a fishing rod, you'll have a lot of fish to eat
C. "fishing skills" are more important than "the fishing rod" in life

5. What is the best title (标题) for the article?

A. The Fishing Rod
B. The Fishing Man
C. The Fishing Girl

     I remember the first time I met Alfred after years. He was sitting on a bench in the park. He looked very
sad and cold. He hadn't got a coat on and it started to rain. Usually, I don't like to stop to speak to a stranger
who looked like that. His shoes were well-cleaned and his clothes were quite smart, but he did not have an
umbrella with him and he was getting wet in the rain. I stopped walking and said to him in a nice voice." Are
you OK?" he looked up, and was surprised to see me. He cried out." Are you …" he couldn't remember my
name. I was also surprised. He was Alfred!" I'm Tom, Alfred, what are you doing here?" I asked. He did not
explain to me, but caught my hand, and asked how my life was like. I told him that I was out of job. I
suggested that we go somewhere warm and dry.
     So we found a café nearby and continued our conversation. I learned that he married with two children,
and his wife was Sherry. I could not believe my ears. Twenty years ago his best friend was Linda, and Sherry
was his worst enemy! They often had quarrels (争吵) and fights in the play.
     Alfred told me that he became a businessman when he graduated from the school and owned two
companies in the city. I asked him why he was sitting in the rain in the park. He said that he had just had a
quarrel with Sherry, and acting in the same way as when she was young, threw him out of the door and
locked him out. He was young, threw him out of the door and locked him out. He was waiting for her to
be calm and let him in again.

1. What did Alfred look like?

A. Pleasant
B. Smart
C. Hungry
D. Well-dressed

2. Alfred was ________ them.

A. married
B. nice
C. weak
D. strong

3. How was Alfred when he was Tom?

A. Happy
B. Surprised
C. Glad
D. Angry

4. The writer ________.

A. liked to speak to a stranger
B. met Alfred in a café
C. thought Alfred's wife was Sherry
D. hadn't met Alfred twenty years

5. What happened to Alfred?

A. He lost his wife
B. He lost his job
C. His wife didn't let him go home
D. His friend didn't want to see him.

     Zhang Qin is a nineteen-year-old young man. Two years ago, when he 1______ middle school, he found
work in a shop. Usually he worked 2______ nine o'clock in the evening. When he got home, he always felt very
tired. After a quick supper he went to bed and fell 3______. So he never made any noise and his grandfather
was very pleased with him.
     One day he went back from work a little 4______. On his way home he met Li Jun, one of his 5______.
They were both very happy. Zhang Qin asked Li Jun to his house, and Li Jun agreed. Li Jun 6______ some fruit
and drink. They talked about their school, their teachers, their classmates and their 7______. They talked for a
long time. 
     "Have a look at your watch, please." Said Li Jun," What's the time now?"
     "Sorry, there is something wrong with my watch." Said Zhang Qin." Where is 8______?"
     "I 9______ it at home."
     Zhang Qin thought for a moment and found a way. He began to jump on the floor.
     The sound woke his grandfather up. The old man shouted 10______." It's twelve o'clock, Zhang Qin. Why
are you still jumping upstairs?"
      ( A. asleep B. future(s) C. downstairs D. finished E. until F. classmates G. left H. earlier I. brought J. yours )