William Shakespeare was born four hundred years ago and spent his childhood in his hometown, Stratford-on-Avon.

Little was known about his childhood though many stories are published, some of __1__may be true. He probably went to Grammar School at Stratford. At 13 he had to__2__school as his father suffered some losses and became__3__for a long time. So William had to__4__his own living. At 18 he married a farmer's daughter. Not long after he left Stratford for London. London was__5__growing. All types of people were to be__6__in it. Here Shakespeare met travelers, students, and scholars, and his__7__was stirred(激发) by the stories they told. He also met writers and actors. He soon found__8__work in a theatre. __9__he became an actor and writer of__10__himself. There were a few theatres in London. One of the most famous of these was__11__the Globe. Shakespeare himself__12__one of the owners of this theatre. Shakespeare's reputation(名望)__13__a writer of plays began to grow. He__14__use of the writing of others and found ideas in the old __15__like Chaucer (乔叟). But by his genius he__16__all these old stories into masterpieces(杰作) of his own. Shakespeare wrote__17__fewer than 37 plays. They describe all kinds of men and women, and give__18__pictures of great events in history. In 1593 Shakespeare acted__19__Queen Elizabeth I, and received ten pounds for his services. Soon he got greater__20__, and became rich enough to buy a house in Stratford. He was able to retire to his native town and spent the last few years of his life in comfort there.

1. A. them B. which C. these D. whom

2. A. finish B. stay C. go D. leave

3. A. poorer B. richer C. better D. stronger

4. A. take B. have C. earn D. spend

5. A. slowly B. rapidly C. quietly D. carefully

6. A. gathered B. found C. collected D. visited

7. A. memory B. wish C. reading D. imagination

8. A. any B. one C. few D. some

9. A. Before long B. Long before C. After all D. In all

10. A. films B. novels C. plays D. stories

11. A. known B. called C. hoped D. made

12. A. acted B. played C. helped D. became

13. A. as B. for C. with D. of

14. A. had B. gave C. took D. made

15. A. singers B. poets C. students D. musicians

16. A. cost B. took C. turned D. got

17. A. not B. no C. none D. all

18. A. us B. him C. her D. them

19. A. ahead B. after C. like D. before

20. A. rewards B. gifts C. wishes D. presents

In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken, not 　 1　 . In the 　 2　 of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually　　3 　 saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.

In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were 　 4　 for advanced degrees had to　　5　 questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject. This　 6　 exists today as part of the process of,　　7 　 candidates (应试者) for the doctor's degree.

Generally,　　8　 , modern examinations are written. The written examination,　　9　 all students are tested on the same questions, was probably　　10　 until the nineteenth century. Perhaps it came into existence with the great 　 11　 in population and the development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state examination,　 12 　 exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by managers, is similar to a group of　 13　 at an automobile factory. Certainly, during examinations teachers and students are　 14　 to act like machines.

One type of test is sometimes　　15　 an "objective test". It is intended to deal with facts, not　　16　 opinions. To　 17 　 an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has　　18　 one correct answer. Along with each question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that　　19　 answers to students who have not learned the material　　20　 .

1. A. writing B. speaking C. written D. listening

2. A. governments B. schools C. homes D. offices

3. A. considered B. enjoyed C. suggested D. included

4. A. working B. teaching C. looking D. waiting

5. A. raise B. answer C. talk D. discuss

6. A. work B. university C. custom D. question

7. A. asking B. producing C. testing D. hiring

8. A. but B. however C. though D. still

9. A. where B. that C. when D. which

10. A. known B. not known C. worked out D. not worked out

11. A. progress B. development C. decrease D. increase

12. A. timed B. measured C. controlled D. required

13. A. machines B. cars C. workers D. students

14. A. willing B. expected C. hoped D. imagined

15. A. made B. given C. treated D. called

16. A. own B. social C. personal D. true

17. A. make sure B. make out C. make use of D. make up

18. A. nearly B. at least C. only D. more than

19. A. are B. look like C. give D. look as if

20. A. properly B. happy C. ago D. easily

It is clear that we need to go no into the matter .

A. farther B. deeply C. better D. further

 The twins look so much alike that it is impossible to ________.

A. tell them apart B. tell apart them C. tell from them D. tell them about

 In my opinion, ________ the three boys are suitable for the post.

A. none of B. neither of C. no one of D. all of

 - I ________ to be here on time.

- But you ________ late again.

A. had meant; were B. mean; were C. have meant; are D. have meant; had been

 One more week, ________ we'll accomplish the task.

A. or B. so that C. and D. if

 It's of great ________ for us to read English every morning, but it's no use without thorough ________.

A. important;understanding B. importance;understood

C. important;understand D. importance;understanding

 What I want to say is ________ follows: ________ least twenty of us have joined the Party.

A. as;In B. as;At C. like;In the D. like;In

 The little boy ________ his hand out for the apples on the bookshelf.

A. lifted B. reached C. rose up D. raised