As an engineering student, I had a degree and three good job offers. I couldn’t help trembling when I heard about studies which showed that women are at a (n) 　1 when it comes to math. However, I discovered: just because a subject is 　2 to learn, it does not show you are not good at it. You just have to grit your teeth and work harder to get good at it. 　3 you do, there’s a (an) 　4 chance you will enjoy it more than anything else.

In eighth grade I took algebra (代数). On one test I got only 1 percent of the 　5 answers. I failed the next one, too. I started to 　6 maybe I’m just not good at this. I was lucky enough to have a teacher who didn’t take my bad grades as a judgment of my 　7 , but 　8 as an indication that I should study more. He 　9 me aside and told me he knew I could do better. Success grows out of struggles to overcome difficulties. I 　10 the following tests, and pulled my grade up to an A.

I studied a lot in college, too. I had moments of fear while sitting below the fluorescent lights in the 　11 library on Saturday afternoons, when I 　12 that the estrogen (雌性激素) in my body was 　13 me from understanding thermodynamics (热动力学). But the 　14 in my class had to work just as hard, and I knew that I couldn’t 　15 to lose confidence in myself. I didn’t want to choose between my femininity (女人气) and a good career. 16 I reminded myself that those 　17 , the ones that say math comes more naturally to men, are faulty.

Here’s a secret: math and science don’t go 　18 to most people. No one was 　19 born knowing calculus (微积分). But as a famous saying goes: Y nothing is difficult if you put your heart into it. A woman can learn anything a man can, but first she needs to know that she can do it, and then takes a leap of 　20 .

1．A．advantage　 B．disadvantage　　 C．trouble　　 D．discomfort

2．A．enjoyable　 B．humorous C．simple　　 D．difficult

3．A．Once　 B．Where　　 C．Although　 D．Until

4．A．strong B．poor C．impossible D．few

5．A．wrong B．complete　 C．correct　　 D．missing

6．A．think　 B．astonish　 C．know　　　 D．decide

7．A．marks B．standards C．characteristics D．abilities

8．A．extremely　 B．simply　　 C．slightly　　 D．especially

9．A．pulled B．led　　 C．put　 D．pushed

10．A．designed　 B．attended　 C．got　 D．took

11．A．chemistry B．engineering　　　 C．biology 　 D．geography

12．A．worried　 B．agreed　　 C．knew D．realized

13．A．protecting B．awaking　 C．preventing D．attempting

14．A．girls B．boys C．students　 D．classmates

15．A．afford　　　 B．try　　 C．help　 D．manage

16．A．Also B．But　 C．Though　 D．So

17．A．studies　　 B．grades　　 C．students　 D．experiments

18．A．actively　　 B．easily C．difficultly D．gradually

19．A．never B．ever　 C．even D．often

20．A．honesty　 B．knowledge　　　 C．reality　　　 D．faith

I do not know the city at all and 　1 , I could not speak a word of the language. After having spent my first day seeing 　2 in the town centre, I decided to lose my 　3 deliberately (故意地) on my second day, since I 　4 that this was the best way to get to know my way 　5 . I got on the first bus that passed, and some thirty minutes later came to 　6 must have been a suburb (郊区). The first two hours passed 　7 enough. I discovered mysterious little bookshops in back streets and 　 8 arrived at a market-place where I stopped and had a coffee in an open-air cafe. Then I decided to 　9 back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about 　10 for some time, I made up my mind to ask 　11 . The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the 　12 of the street in which I lived and 　13 that I pronounced badly. The policeman 　14 me, smiled and gently 　15 me by the arm. There was a 　16 look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I nodded politely and began walking 　17 the direction he told me. About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting 　18 and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the country. The only thing 　19 for me to do was to find the 　20 railway station.

1. A. more or less　　　　 B. what's more C. on the whole D. above all

2. A. sights　　　　　　　　　 B. boob　　　　　　　　　　　 C. everything　　　　　　　 D. anything

3. A. wallet　　　　　　　　　 B. way　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hotel　　　　　　　　　　　 D. meals

4. A. knew　　　　　　　　　 B. found out　　　　　　　　 C. came to see　　　　　　　　　　 D. believed

5. A. here　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. there　　　　　　　　　　　 C. over　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. around

6. A. that　　　　　　　　　　 B. what　　　　　　　　　　　 C. with 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. it

7. A. unhappily　　　　　　 B. stupidly　　　　　　　　　 C. pleasantly　　　　　　　　 D. difficultly

8. A. at once　　　　　　　　 B. carefully　　　　　　　　　 C. finally　　　　　　　　　　 D. sadly

9. A. return　　　　　　　　　 B. come　　　　　　　　　　　 C. run　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. get

10. A. happily　　　　　　　 B. aimlessly　　　　　　　　 C. correctly 　　　　　　　 D. carelessly

11. A. the way　　　　　　　 B. a meal　　　　　　　　　　 C. the name　　　　　　　　 D. people

12. A. name　　　　　　　　 B. place　　　　　　　　　　　 C. shop　　　　　　　　　　　 D. people

13. A. even　　　　　　　　　 B. still　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. yet　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. so

14. A. stared at　　　　　　 B. came to　　　　　　　　　 C. listened to　　　　　　　　 D. nodded to

15. A. caught　　　　　　　 B. took　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. seized　　　　　　　　　　 D. touched

16. A. mysterious　　　　 B. good　　　　　　　　　　　 C. foolish　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. distant

17. A. to　　　　　　　　　　　 B. in　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. for　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. at

18. A. larger　　　　　　　　 B. better　　　　　　　　　　　 C. fewer　　　　　　　　　　　 D. more

19. A. left　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. given　　　　　　　　　　　 C. that　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. right

20. A. best　　　　　　　　　 B. smallest　　　　　　　　　 C. nearest　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. biggest

Good advice is like medicine for the soul. What kind of 1　 have you recently received? Who do you go to got advice? Do you have a mentor(顾问)? A mentor is a　 2　 adviser.
　 Parents, teacher and friends are often great 　 3 .Sports figures, public officials can also be good 　4　 of mentors, but a person with whim you are a personal relationship will most likely be able to 　5 you the best advice.
　 Mentors teach things that seem to be 　6　 sense. Proverbs are wise old sayings that are common in every language and　 7　 , and can sometimes be　 8 for a nonnative to understand. For example, all that　 9　 is not gold(some things are not as 　　10 as they appear ).
　 Advice 11 in newspapers and magazines are another way to 12　 advice.
　 Talk shows on radio and television are also very popular. Americans and Canadians love to 　　 13　 themselves. Many people are not　 14 to ask for help or　 15 about a problem in order to receive advice. People generally will 16　 their own experience to 17 their friends. Overcoming a difficult situation is 18　 respecter in North America. People love to heat motivational (积极的) stories and 19　 . One proverb, a friend in need is a friend indeed, shares the concept that a true friend will help you out in times of 　 20　 .

1. A. success　　　　 　　　 　　　 B. measure　　　 　　　　　 C. position　　　　 　　　 D. advice

2. A. devoted　　　 　　　 B. united　　　　　 　　　　 C. trusted　　　　　 　　　　 D. expected

3. A. interviewers　 　　 B. mentors　　　　 　　　　　 C. followers　　　 　　　　　 D. competitors

4. A. examples　　　 　　　 B. mentors　　　　 　　　　　 C. manners　　　 　　　　　　 D. services

5. A. consider　　　 　　　 B. exchange　　　 　　　　　　 C. adapt　　　　　 　　　　 D. offer

6. A. present　　　　 　　　 B. attractive　　　 　 　　　 C. common　　　 　　　　　 D. particular

7. A. experience　 　　 　　　 B. difference　　　 　　 　　　 C. culture　　　　　 　　　　 D. behavior

8. A. simple　　　　　 　　 　　　 B. difficult　　　　 　 　　　 C. natural　　　　　 　　　 　　　 D. brief

9. A. glitters B. packages　　　 　　　　　　 C. acts D. forces

10. A. different　　　 B. negative　　　　 　 　　　 C. primary　　　　 　　　　　 D. valuable

11. A. columns　　 　 　　　 B. materials　　　　 　 　　　 C. wonders　　　 　　　　　 D. add

12. A. reduce　　　 　　　 B. add　　　　　　　 　　　　　 C. keep　　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. get

13. A. enjoy　　　　 　　　 B. teacher　　　　　 　　　 C. express　　　　 　　　　 D. defeat

14. A. brave　　　　 　　　 B. afraid　　　　　　 　　 　　　 C. honest　　　　　 　　　 D. lucky

15. A. talk　　　　　 　　　 　　　 B bring.　　　　　　　 　　 　　　 C. care　　　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. look

16. A. remind　　　　 　　　 B. suggest　　　　 　　　　 C. clone　　　　　 　　　　　 D. share

17. A. lead to　　　　 　　　 B. set free　　　　 　　　　 C. help out　　 　　　　 D. take over　　　　

18. A. originally　　 B. highly　　　　　 　　　　 C. equally　　　 　　　　　　 D. closely　　　

19. A. encouragementB. sadness　 　　　　 　　　 C. movement　 　　　　 D. adventure　　　

20. A. happiness　 　　 　　　 B. trouble　　　　　 　　　　 C. excitement　 　　　　 D. nature

Coming home from school that dark winter day so long ago, I was filled with excitement of having the weekend off. But I was 　1 into stillness by what I saw. Mother was seated at the far end of the sofa, 　2 , with the second-hand green typewriter on the table. She told me that she couldn’t type fast and then she was out of work. My shock and embarrassment at finding mother in tears was a perfect proof of how 　3 I understood the pressures on her. Sitting beside her on the sofa, I began very 　4 to understand. “I guess we all have to 　5 sometimes,” Mother said quietly. I could 　6 her pain and the tension (紧张) of 　7 the strong feelings that were interrupted by my arrival. Suddenly, something inside me 　8 . I reached out and put my arms around her. She broke then. She put her face 　9 my shoulder and sobbed (啜泣). I held her 　10 and didn’t try to talk. I knew I was doing what I should, what I could 　11 it was enough. In that moment, feeling mother’s 　12 with feelings, I understood for the first time, she being so easy to 　13 . She was still my mother, 　14 she was something 　15 , a person having the ability of bearing fear, 　16 and failure. I could feel her pain as she must have felt mine on a thousand occasions when I sought 　17 in her arms.

A week later Mother took a job selling dry goods at half the salary the radio station 　18 . “It’s a job I can do, though,” she said simply. But the evening practice on the old green typewriter continued. I had a very 　19 feeling now when I passed her door at night and heard her tapping 　20 across the paper. I knew there was something more going on in there than a woman learning to type.

1. A. tired　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. ashamed　　　　　　　　　 C. lazy　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. shocked

2. A. crying　　　　　　　　 B. smiling　　　　　　　　　　 C. thinking　　　　　　　　　 D. whispering

3. A. eagerly　　　　　　　　 B. worriedly　　　　　　　　 C. little　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. much

4. A. quickly　　　　　　　　 B. slowly　　　　　　　　　　 C. suddenly　　　　　　　　 D. proudly

5. A. fail　　　　　　　　　　　 B. win　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. fall sick　　　　　　　　　 D. give in

6. A. know of　　　　　　　 B. watch　　　　　　　　　　 C. sense　　　　　　　　　　　 D. recognize

7. A. holding back　　　　 B. putting away C. sitting up D. stopping from

8. A. lit up　　　　　　　　　 B. came true　　　　　　　　 C. turned　　　　　　　　　　 D. increased

9. A. to　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. up　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. through　　　　　　　　　 D. against

10. A. thoughtfully　　　　 B. tightly　　　　　　　　　　 C. carefully　　　　　　　　　 D. politely

11. A. and that　　　　　　　 B. now that　　　　　　　　　 C. but that　　　　　　　　　 D. so that

12. A. hand　　　　　　　　　 B. face　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hair　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. back

13. A. content　　　　　　　 B. break　　　　　　　　　　　 C. fall　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. understand

14. A. therefore　　　　　　 B. however　　　　　　　　　 C. yet　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. though

15. A. more　　　　　　　　 B. much　　　　　　　　　　　 C. little　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. huge

16. A. wound　　　　　　　 B. defeat　　　　　　　　　　　 C. cut　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. hurt

17. A. kindness　　　　　　 B. memory　　　　　　　　　 C. comfort　　　　　　　　　 D. support

18. A. supplied　　　　　　 B. offered　　　　　　　　　　 C. paid for　　　　　　　　　 D. contributed

19. A. different　　　　　　 B. hard　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. pleasant　　　　　　　　　 D. serious

20. A. off　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. away　　　　　　　　　　　 C. out　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. through

As China faced up to a battle against bird flu, the government announced a range of control measures it believed would bring the disease under control.

   This bird flu  1  more than 16 people across Asia and was made certain in China in late January, 2004. No 2  cases had been found in the mainland but at least 13 of the country’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions（自治区）and municipalities had__3__the disease in poultry（家禽）.

“It remains a _4   task for China to prevent and control the disease,  5   the government is confident in the fight,” said a Vice-Minister of Agriculture. He gave details of a range of measures designed to  6  the disease spreading. Poultry within 3km of infected farms was to be killed and those within 5km vaccinated（接种疫苗）.  7  , there would be constant monitoring（监控）and daily  8   on the disease across the country, and  __9  production of bird flu vaccines.

Among the 11 Asian countries and regions  10   by bird flu in animals, only Viet Nam and Thailand had reported human cases. The people infected were reported to have   11__   the disease from poultry.

While the World Health Organization said there was  12   proof of human transmission（传播）of bird flu, it admitted that two sisters who died of bird flu in Viet Nam  13  have caught it from their brother.

The big  14  was that the disease could combine with a human flu virus（病毒）to create a deadly  15   disease that would kill millions of people across the  16  . Many Asian farmers live closely with their animals and sell   17   chickens on the market. This greatly increases the ___18_ of human being infected with bird flu.

An official from WHO said Asian countries affected by bird flu should introduce a more  __19 way of raising and selling chickens. They have to completely_ 20  their lifestyle and attitude towards animals.

1. A. hurt        B. hit             C. struck            D. killed

2. A. animal         B. bird              C. human                  D. poultry

3. A. shown                B. reported           C. struck        D. said

4. A. difficult        B. interesting        C. anxious         D. great

5. A. but           B. and               C. while             D. so

6. A. fight           B. control            C. keep              D. stop

7. A. However        B. Meanwhile      C. Therefore         D. Instead

8. A. controls       B. treatments         C. reports            D. vaccines

9 A. started          B. improved                C. increased          D. attempted

10. A. affected      B. destroyed          C. connected     D. introduced

11. A. held           B. covered         C. carried                  D. caught

12. A. some         B. much             C. no            D. more

13. A. should       B. might            C. must           D. need

14. A. accident    B. problem         C. task          D. flu

15. A. new         B. strange           C. serious         D. bad

16. A. country     B. area             C. mainland        D. globe

17. A. killed      B. many         C. dead            D. live

18. A. speed                B. possibility         C. introduction     D. experience

19. A. healthy      B. useful          C. simple          D. gentle

20. A. stop         B. change          C. form            D. keep

I climbed the stairs slowly, carrying a big suitcase, my father following with two more. By the time I got to the third floor, I was ___1___ and at the same time feeling lonely. Worse still, Dad ___2___ a step and fell, sending my new suitcases ___3___down the stairs. “Damn!” he screamed, his face turning red. I knew ___4___was ahead. Whenever Dad’s face turns red, __5___!

How could I ever ___6___ him to finish unloading the car ___7___ screaming at me and making a scene in front of the other girls, girls I would have to spend the ___8___of the year with? Doors were opening and faces peering out(探出), as Dad walked ___9___ close behind. I felt it in my bones that my college life was getting off to a(n) ___10___start.

“___11___the room quickly,”I thought. “Get him into a chair and calmed down.” But ___12___, would there be a chair in Room316? Or would it be a(n) ___13___ room?

___14___I turned the key in the lock and ___15___ the door open, with Dad ___16___ complaining (抱怨) about a hurting knee or something. I put my head in, expecting the ___17___. But to my ___18___, the room wasn’t empty at all! It had furniture, curtains, a TV, and seven paintings on the walls.

And there on a well-made bed sat Amy, my new ___19___, dressed neatly. Greeting me with a nod, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, you must be Cori.” Then, she ___20___ the music and looked over at ___21___. “And of course, you’re Mr. Faber, she said 　　　 ___22___. “Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Dad’s face turned decidedly ___23___ before he could bring out a “yes.”

I knew ___24___ that Amy and I would be ___25___ and my first year of college would be a success.

1. A. helpless B. lazy C. anxious 　 D. tired

2. A. took B. minded C. missed 　　 D. picked

3. A. rolling B. passing 　C. dropping 　 D. turning

4. A. suffering 　　 B. difficulty C. trouble D. danger

5. A. go ahead B. look out C. hold on D. give up

6. A. lead B. help C. encourage D. get

7. A. after B. without 　C. while D. besides

8. A. best B. beginning 　C. end D. rest

9. A. with difficulty B. in a hurry C. with firm steps D. in wonder

10. A. fresh B. late C. bad D. unfair

11. A. Search B. Find C. Enter D. Book

12. A. in fact B. by chance 　C. once more D. then again

13. A. small B. empty 　C. new D. neat

14. A. Finally B. Meanwhile 　C. Sooner or later D. At the moment

15. A. knocked B. forced C. pushed D. tried

16. A. yet B. only 　C. even D. still

17. A. worst B. chair C. best D. tea

18. A. regret B. disappointment C. surprise D. knowledge

19. A. roommate B. classmate C. neighbour D. companion

20. A. turned on B. turned down C. played D. enjoyed

21. A. Dad B. me 　C. the door D. the floor

22. A. questioning B. wondering C. smiling D. guessing

23. A. red B. less pale C. less red D. pale

24. A. soon B. there C. later D. then

25. A. sisters B. friends C. students D. fellows

I’d been proud that I’d never lost my cellphone until my husband Jack got a call one evening.

We went to visit a friend in hospital last year. When Jack’s  1  rang, it was my mother calling from my  2 . She asked if I had  3  my mobile. I checked my purse. It was  4 !

I used Jack’s phone to call my number. Then a boy, whom I’ll call Rhys,  5  it. “I found your phone!” he said, excitedly. “I have been trying to find you, but  6  it was getting late, I decided to leave.” He gave me the address of a  7  near his home.

Later that evening, I went to  8  him there. I didn’t dare to go  9 , worrying this was some cheater. So Jack came along. After  10  10km, we got to the coffee shop which Rhys  11 .

My  12  were gone. Rhys was just a young boy. “How did you  13  my mum?” I asked. He  14  that when he found my mobile by the roadside, he started calling people in my list of contacts. But all they  15  was my mobile phone number—which didn’t    16  . He’d called many names, starting with the letter A. Finally he got Adam, one of my friends, who  17  my house.

I was  18  to get my phone back with all the contacts, messages and photos I could have lost for ever. I was so  19  to Rhys and offered him some money, but he  20 .

As we drove back, we praised Rhys for his honesty.

1.    A. electric car B. mobile phone     C. radio   D. doorbell

2.    A. hospital      B. company    C. school D. home

3.    A. found  B. changed     C. lost     D. bought

4.    A. gone   B. new    C. busy   D. broken

5.    A. accepted    B. returned     C. got     D. answered

6.    A. before B. because      C. after   D. if

7.    A. coffee shop       B. post office  C. hotel   D. supermarket

8.    A. follow B. meet   C. catch  D. punish

9.    A. slowly B. back   C. alone   D. finally

10.   A. driving       B. running      C. walking      D. riding

11    A. talked about       B. looked for   C. heard of     D. knew about

12    A. difficulties  B. fears   C. diseases     D. hopes

13    A. remember   B. know  C. tell      D. understand

14    A. realized      B. repeated     C. explained    D. believed

15    A. had     B. noticed       C. expected    D. finished

16    A. happen       B. matter C. help    D. fit

17    A. called  B. visited C. shared D. sold

18    A. sorry  B. glad    C. sad     D. proud

19    A. useful B. strange       C. grateful      D. polite

20    A. missed       B. appeared     C. agreed D. refused

We often talk about ourselves as if we have permanent genetic defects(缺陷) that can never be changed. “I’m impatient.” “I’m always behind.” “I always put things 　　1 !” You’ve surely heard them. Maybe you’ve used them to describe　　　 ___2　 .

These comments may come from stories about us that have been 　3　 for many years—often from 　4　 childhood. These stories may have no 　5　 in fact. But they can set low expectations for us. As a child, my mother said to me, “Marshall, you have no mechanical (操作机械的) skills, and you will never have any mechanical skills for the rest of your life.” How did these expectations　 6　 my development? I was never 　7　 to work on cars or be around　 8　 . When I was 18, I took the US Army’s Mechanical Aptitude Test. My scores were in the bottom for the entire nation!

Six years later,　 9　 , I was at California University, working on my doctors degree. One of my professors, Dr. Bob Tannbaum, asked me to write down things I did well and things I couldn’t do. On the positive side, I　 10　 down, “research, writing, analysis, and speaking.” On the　 11　 side, I wrote, “I have no mechanical skills.”

Bob asked me how I knew I had no mechanical skills. I explained my life 　12 and told him about my 　13　 performance on the Army test. Bob then asked, “　 14　 is it that you can solve 　 15　 mathematical problems, but you can’t solve simple mechanical problems?”

Suddenly I realized that I didn’t 　16　 from some sort of genetic defect. I was just living out expectations that I had chosen to 　17　 . At that point, it wasn’t just my family and friends who had been　 18　 my belief that I was mechanically hopeless. And it wasn’t just the Army test, either. I was the one who kept telling myself, “You can’t do this!” I realized that as long as I kept saying that, it was going to remain true. 　19　 , if we don’t treat ourselves as if we have incurable genetic defects, we can do well in almost 　20　 we choose.

1. A. away 　　　　　 B. off 　　　　　　　 C. up 　　　　　　　　　 D. down

2. A. them 　　　　 B. myself 　　　　　 C. yourself 　　　　 D. others

3. A. said 　　　　　 B. spoken 　　　　　 C. spread 　　　　　 D. repeated

4. A. as long as 　 B. as far back as 　 C. as well as 　　　 D. as much as

5. A. basis 　　　　 B. plot 　　　　　　　 C. cause 　　　　　　　　　　 D. meaning

6. A. lead 　　　　　 B. improve　　　　　　 C. affect 　　　　　 D. change

7. A. encouraged B. demanded 　　 C. hoped 　　　　　 D. agreed

8. A. means 　　　 B. tools 　　　　　　 C. facilities 　　　　 D. hammers

9. A. therefore 　 B. somehow 　　　 C. instead 　　　　　 D. however

10. A. settled 　　 B. turned 　　　　　 C. took 　　　　　　　　　　 D. got

11. A. passive 　　　 B. active 　　　　　 C. negative 　　　　　 D. subjective

12. A. experiences 　　　 B. trips 　　　　　　　　　　 C. roads 　　　　　　 D. paths

13. A. unexpected B. poor 　　　　　　 C. excellent 　　　 D. average

14. A. When 　　　 B. What 　　　　　　 C. How 　　　　　　　 D. Why

15. A. complex 　 B. advanced　　　　　 C. common 　　　　 D. primary

16. A. arise 　　　　 B. separate　　　　　　 C. suffer 　　　　　 D. come

17. A. believe 　　 B. suspect 　　　　 C. adopt 　　　　　　 D. receive

18. A. weakening B. strengthening 　 C. abandoning 　 D. accepting

19. A. As a result 　　　 B. At the same time C. In addition 　　 D. On the contrary

20. A. anything 　　 B. something 　　 C. nothing 　　　　 D. all

I was late for the school bus and rushing to get ready. My dog, Tippy, got to the front door and lay down in front of it – his way of asking to be petted. I___1___his begging for affection (喜爱), hurdled over him and ran for the waiting bus.

   ___2___, that afternoon, when I came home, Mom said to me___3___, “Honey, I have some___4___news that I need to tell you. This morning, while you were at school, Tippy was hit by a car and___5___. I’m so sorry.”

   “No! It’s not true!” I was___6___. I couldn’t believe her. “Tippy, come here! Come on, boy!” I called and called for him. I waited. He didn’t come. Feeling___7___, I wandered into the living room. I didn’t cry that night. I still couldn’t believe that he was___8___.

   When I got off the bus the next day, the___9___at home was deafening. Finally, my sobs (哭泣) bubbled up and erupted (喷发) like lava (熔岩) from a volcano. I couldn’t stop___10___. I hadn’t even petted him when I left.___11___could I have known that was my last chance? I cried until I felt empty inside.

   Time passed, and against my will, I started to___12___some things. I realized what little control any of us have over what happens ___13___ a dog. We can do everything right, but___14___things can still happen. But good things can happen too. That’s___15___. The best way to deal with the hard times is to___16__what you need to do to get through them when they come, and to remember that hard times always___17___.

   I now deeply understand the “circle of life”. Everyone is born, everyone___18___, and that’s the way it is. If dogs never died, there would be no___19___for others like Belle – my new dog.

   Best of all, I realized that Tippy___20___all of my good memories of him. And they come to me every time I call!

1. A. met                 B. ignored           C. promised                 D. preferred

2. A. However            B. Besides       C. Therefore                D. Finally

3. A. excitedly            B. quickly            C. nervously                D. seriously

4. A. good                  B. sad                 C. dull                         D. happy

5. A. escaped              B. wounded         C. killed                       D. knocked

6. A. in disagreement   B. in anger           C. in silence                 D. in shock

7. A. lost                 B. sleepy            C. crazy                             D. uncertain

8. A. gone                  B. missing          C. alive                        D. stolen

9. A. noise                  B. quarrel                  C. silence                     D. sound

10. A. waiting               B. crying             C. thinking                   D. expecting

11. A. Why                 B. What              C. Which                     D. How

12. A. forget                B. recall              C. understand               D. change

13. A. to                          B. about          C. out                          D. into

14. A. surprising           B. bad                C. amazing                   D. amusing

15. A. nature                B. human            C. life                          D. rule

16. A. figure out            B. picked out      C. try out                     D. put out

17. A. disappear            B. overcome       C. help                        D. pass

18. A. grows                B. lives               C. suffers                    D. dies

19. A. chance                      B. room              C. possibility                D. doubt

20. A. thought of           B. brought up      C. left behind                      D. picked up

A water bearer in India had two large pots;  each hung on the ends of a pole. The water bearer often  carried the pole __36__ his neck. One of the pots had a crack(裂缝) in it, __37__ the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house,  the cracked pot __38__ only half full. For a full two years,  this went on __39__，  with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course,  the perfect pot was __40__ of its advantages. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,  and __41__ that it was able to __42__ only half of what it had been made to do.  __43__ two years of what  sensed to be a bitter __44__，  it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself,  and I want to __45__ to you. I have been able to  __46__ only half my load because this crack  in my side __47__ water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my __48__，  you have to do a lot of this work,  and you don't get full value from your __49__，”  the pot said.

 The bearer said to the pot,  “Did you __50__ that there were flowers only on your side of the path,  __51__ not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always __52__ your fault,  and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path,  and every day while we walk back,  you've __53__ them.

For two years I have been able to __54__ these  beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the __55__ you are,  there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

36．A.above　　  B．over　　　  C．across　　　  D．through

37．A.as                        B．while                  C．when                    D．so

38．A.arrived                 B．realized            C. made                 D．concluded

39．A.weekly          B．daily                        C．monthly                    D．yearly

40．A.ashamed                B．proud        C．happy              D．disappointed

41．A.sad                             B．pleased                   C．comfortable                D．safe

42．A.admit      B．achieve      C．reduce         D．attract

43．A.Before                  B. Since                      C．After                     D．By

44．A.failure                  B．success                 C．excitement            D．satisfaction

45．A.apologize                  B. talk                         C．admit                    D．apply

46．A.develop         B．permit     C．depend           D．deliver

47．A.takes                    B．causes                   C．makes                   D．reminds

48．A.fault              B．success                 C．kindness                D．sorrow

49．A.effects                 B．efforts                   C．operation                      D．attempt

50．A.look                            B．pay                       C．notice                   D．watch

51．A.but                             B．and                              C．since                     D．after

52. A．known about  B．told about C．worried about       D．come about

53．A.cared                   B．watered              C．planted                  D．pulled

54．A.pick     B．buy               C．sell         D．borrow

55．A.attitude                B．way                          C．measure            D．appearance