Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.

Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.

On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on, suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!

60．The text is mainly about ________.
A. a strange man 　 　 　　　　 B. an unusual party
C. how roller skating began 　

D. how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

61．People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.
A. often gave others surprises　　　 B. was a gifted musician
C. invented the roller skates　　　　 D. was full of imagination

62．What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A. The roller skates needed further improvement.　　

B. The party guests took merlin for a fool.
C. Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. 　　

D. Merlin got himself into trouble　　　　　　　　　　　　

Books which give instructions on how to do things are very popular in the United States today. Thousands of these “how to” books are printed; in fact, there are about four thousand books with titles that begin with the words “how to”. One book may tell you how to get more money, another one may tell you how to give your money away.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Many of these books make people use their free time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. Why have “how to” books become popular? Probably because life has become so complex (复杂). Today people have far more free time to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve. “How to” books help people deal with modern life.

56.“How to” books _____.

A.are very difficult to get　　　　　　　

B. have come out in great number

C. can be found in few countries

D. are very valuable and expensive

57. Many “how to” books tell you _____.

A. what to do with your job

B. how to live on nothing

C. how to give other people advice

D. how to make a million

58. “How to” books are popular because3;.63.525..55..55...5..5.5.54 _____.

A. life is very hard for most people

B. such books are very cheap

C.people have enough money to buy them

D. people need to deal with complex life

59. If you can’t do your jobs well, you can buy _____.

A. How to Turn Failure into Success

B. How to Make a Million

C. How to Live on Nothing

D. How to Get a Job

My senior year of high school was very busy. If I wasn’t studying or worrying about __36__, I was taking part in many activities after class or __37__to make my plans for college.

       As the senior year began to slow down, I got a __38__ job working at a local coffee shop. I had expected that the job would be __39__, but there are __40__ when I was angry because I couldn’t seem to __41__ anyone. There was always too much sugar, too little ice, or not enough milk. However, I __42__ working at this coffee shop.

       One day, one of my __43__ customers came in, looking depressed and defeated. I asked what the __44__ was and if I could help, but the customer wouldn’t say any details. He just said that he felt like lying on the bed, __45__ the sheets up over his head, and staying there for a few years. I knew exactly how he felt. Before he left, I handed him a __46__ with his coffee. He looked at me __47__ because he hadn’t ordered anything but the coffee. He opened the bag and saw that I had given him his favorite cookies. “It’s on me.” I told him.

       The next day that customer came again. __48__ ordering anything, he __49__ me a pink rose and a thank-you note saying that not too many people took the time to care about __50__ and that he was __51__ there were still people like me in the world.

       As time went on, I came across many __52__ customers. But anytime I felt __53__, I thought of that little __54__. Then I would smile, hold my head up high, clear my __55__ and ask politely, “How can I help you?”

36．A．time         B．grades       C．money             D．jobs

37．A．succeeded    B．failed         C．attempting              D．competing

38．A．permanent          B．better-paid    C．respectable          D．part-time

39．A．free         B．demanding      C．difficult           D．easy

40．A．moments     B．events             C．feelings           D．chances

41．A．please             B．admire         C．contact           D．excite

42．A．quit         B．enjoyed        C．kept                 D．avoided

43．A．poor         B．regular        C．big                D．potential

44．A．order        B．problem       C．illness                   D．feeling

45．A．tearing            B．covering            C．pulling             D．folding

46．A．bill              B．plate               C．note              D．bag

47．A．angrily            B．nervously          C．hopefully          D．doubtfully

48．A．Because of          B．Instead of      C．Except for        D．As for

49．A．ordered       B．returned       C．handed            D．promised

50．A．others             B．themselves       C．customers    D．him

51．A．glad         B．curious         C．worried             D．sad

52．A．polite        B．kind           C．complaining     D．interesting

53．A．lonely             B．proud           C．discouraged         D．happy

54．A．note        B．dialogue        C．bag                D．rose

55．A．mind       B．throat              C．tables             D．doubts

---- How long are you staying here ?

 ---- I don’t  know ;________.

  A. it all depends   B. it doesn’t matter   C. that’s nothing   D. if you like .

—You were brave enough to shout at the meeting.

—Well, now I regret ______ that.

　 A. to do　　 B. to be doing　 　C. to have done　 　D. having done

 There is a big stone in the way . we are trying to ________ it .

   A. replace      B. remove      C. raise       D. reduce

----Hi, Tina, can I use your car for a while this afternoon?

----- Sorry, _______.

A. it’s repaired B. it has been repaired

　　　 C. it’s being repaired　　　　　 D. it had been repaired

 The old statue , which ________ the Ming Dynasty, still attracts the visitors from all over the world today.

A. dated back to     B. dates back to     C. dated from     D. dating back to

John asked me _____to take off my shoes and put them at the door before entering the laboratory.

A. how would I like         B. whether would I like

C. whether I would like      D. which I would like

 The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a wonderful book, _____ I have learned a lot .

A. on which     B. by which     C. to which      D. from which