In this age of Internet chat，videogames and reality television，there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied．Yet，despite the competition，my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories．She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest，a competition she won last year．

    As a writer I know about winning contests，and about losing them．I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip from the publisher．I also know the pressure of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories．What if she doesn.t win the contest again？That’s the strange thing about being a parent．So many of our own past scars and dashed hopes can surface．

A revelation（启示）came last week when l asked her，”Don’t you want to win again？” “No,” she replied，“I just want to tell the story of an angel（天使）going to first grade．”

I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously（自发地）told them．Telling myself that l was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall. I offered suggestions for characters，conflicts and endings for her tales．The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly“guided”by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson．I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it．

Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks．Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade，I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting（借用）my daughter’s experience．

While stepping back was difficult for me，it was certainly a good first step that l will quickly follow with more steps，putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked．All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment，grow and find their own voices．

What did the author say about her own writing experience？

    A．Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers．

    B．She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer．

    C．Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations．

    D．She was constantly under pressure of writing more．

Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest？

    A．She wanted to share her stories with readers．

    B．She was sure of winning with her mother’s help．

    C．She believed she possessed real talent for writing．

    D．She had won a prize in the previous contest．

The author took great pains to refine her daughter’s stories because       ．

    A．she was afraid Rebecca’s imagination might run wild while writing

    B．she did not want to disappoint Rebecca who needed her help so much

    C．she believed she had the knowledge and experience to offer guidance

    D．she wanted to help Rebecca realize her dreams of becoming a writer

What’s the author’s advice for parents？

    A．Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in．

    B．Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience．

    C．A writing career，though attractive，is not for every child to pursue．

    D．Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions．

Salvation Army Angel Program

Angel Tree collects gifts for children and families in need. Participate by selecting an angel from any Angel Tree at all Cyprus Credit Union location or any Utah Macy's Department store. Shop for your angel, then return your new, unwrapped gift to the same Angel Tree. Gifts must be returned before December 14. For more information, call (801) 988-5678 in the Salt Lake area,(801) 374-2588 in the Provo area. 

Utah Association for People with Intellectual Disabilities Holiday Gift Box Program

The program serves primarily low-income adults with intellectual disabilities who don't qualify for other programs because of age limits, said Joyce Whalen, the association's board president. To donate, visit the association at 1326 S.2100 East from 9am to about 5:30 pm to choose an ornament(装饰物) that provides information about an individual who will benefit from the program. Shop for new items and return them by December 14. Donations of generic items, such as towels, socks and hygiene products also accepted, as are monetary donations. For more information, call 801-440-1674.

Utah Foster Care Foundation's Giving Tree Program

The program seeks new gifts and cash donations to fulfill the holiday wishes of more than 1,000 children in state-licensed foster homes." Many of the children in care have been removed from their biological homes because of neglect or abuse," said Nikki Mackay, the foundation's director. " Christmas can be a difficult time for them." To learn how to support the program, call 877-505-5437.

Utah State Hospital Forgotten Patient Program

The program provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of patients with mental illness. In the history of the program--which may go back as far as 60 years, organizer Shawna Peterson said, "we've never had a forgotten patient." And she doesn't want this year to change that. To support the program, contact Peterson at 801-344-6088. 

After you buy an angel, you should ________.

post it to where you bought         B. open its package to examine it

C. send it to families in need for yourself D. bring it back in its original form

If you want to help adults with intellectual disabilities, you should call_____.

A. 801-440-1674                     B.801-988-5678

C. 877-505-5437                     D. 801-344-6088

   The underlined phrases "biological homes" in the third program refers to ______.

homes where they are just brought up

homes where their natural parents live

homes where they learn biology

homes where are related to bacteria

   From the last program, we can infer that ______.

the patients often forgot to come to the hospital

the patients are often forgotten to be looked after

the patients are being taken good care of

the patients had a poor memory in the hospital

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中的两项为多途选项。

Swimming cycling, jogging, skiing, dancing, walking or any of dozens of other activities can help your heart.       . Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all exercise adds up to having a healthier heart. Here are some tips for exercise success.

Choose activities that are fun and add variety. Develop several activities that you can

enjoy.  

Wear comfortable, properly fitted shoes and comfortable, loose—fitting clothing appropriate for the weather and the activity.

Find a convenient time and place to do activities.     . If you miss an exercise opportunity, work activity into your day another way.

Use music to keep yourself entertained.

    Decide what kind of support you need. Do you want them to remind you to exercise? Exercise with you regularly or occasionally? Be understanding when you get up early to exercise?　Spend time with the children while you exercise? Try not to ask you to change your exercise routine? Share your activity time with others. Ask your family members, friends or co—workers for help.

Don’t overdo it, especially at first. You can slowly increase the time and intensity (强度) of your activities as you become more fit.    

Keep a record of your activities. Reward yourself at times. Nothing will inspire you more than success!

Try to make it a habit, but be flexible.

They all cause you to feel warm and breathe heavily without being out of breath.

Be an active role model for your children.

That way, exercise will never seem boring.

If you are overweight or have a high risk of heart disease, see your doctor for medical advice before exercising.

Surround yourself with supportive people.

Gradually, work up to exercising on most days of the week for 30—60 minutes.

When I stayed in the countryside, I enjoyed ____ leisurely walk in the fields, and felt ____ warmth of the sun on my face.

A. / ; the     B. a ; a     C. / ; a     D. a ; the

Up to now, Hope Project has helped thousands of students who would       have dropped out of school.

    A．therefore    B．anyway   C．otherwise    D．nevertheless

--$ 500, but this is my last offer.       ---OK, it is a __________.

  A. cost              B. price              C. reward          D. deal

It is interesting to know what people of different nations like to do best.

  In France, when a woman enters a cafe or restaurant, she is freely discussed, not only about her appearance but about her past and future as well. She invites looks in the street whether she is beautiful or plain. There is no better way for a woman to get back her self-confidence than a walk in the streets of  Paris or Marseilles, and women really like that.

  In Italy, people love talking. They sit about in cafes, exchanging news and discussing politics. They do not hesitate to ask questions about the family, income and private life of anybody who happens to be there.

  The Swiss eat as a pastime. Ladies walk into a teashop, eat a couple of ice creams and a large piece of chocolate cake, and then leave, complaining about their weight.

 For the Americans, the greatest fondness is said to be the push of buttons. You push a button in the lift, you push a button for cigarette, chewing gums, stamps, even for a life insurance. You can even push a button to get married and another button to get divorced.

  In England, waiting in a line is national passion. The English will form a line whether they have the opportunities when the train is practically empty and everybody can have a seat.

---Let’s go outing this weekend, shall we?

   ---_______. I love getting close to nature.

  A. I couldn’t agree more    B. I’m afraid not    C. I believe not    D. I don’t think so

Albert Einstein,        life had once been very hard, was given the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921

A. of whom          B. for whom         C. for whose        D. in whom

It was not until midnight _________ they reached the camp site.

   A. that           B. when             C. while        D. as