This decision represents the ____________ interests of the people, which will lead to success.

A. general              B. fundamental      C. possible         D. especial

For forty years Jane has been ___________ about making the rest of the world understand and respect the life of these animals.

A. generous         B. obvious          C. outspoken            D. subjective

Unemployment in USA is        to remain high in 2010, and possibly for the next few years.

A. likely               B. necessary            C. gradual          D. normal

The questionnaire takes        ten to fifteen minutes to complete and can be used long with the assessment interview.

A. mainly               B. punctually           C. approximately        D. precisely

If you want to advance yourself in your studies, you will first have to ________ yourself of those shortcomings that can become barriers to progress.

A. remove           B. react                C. rid                  D. reduce

Since the outbreak of the disease, 90 patients have been         to have the illness and other suspected patients are still under examination.

A. confirmed            B. convinced            C. confused         D. consulted

She felt completely          during the vacation but now she has to go back to her work again.

A. at sea               B. at ease              C. at a loss        D. at risk

With the approach of the Spring Festival, the sharply rising prices of many goods          a new wave of purchase.

A. send off             B. take off         C. set off              D. show off

Last weekends, my kids along with few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of   31   other people’s cars as well. It was pretty   32  outside and I had no plans to   33   to be in the bright sun. She   34   wanted to give lemonade（柠檬汽水）to passersby for free. I had seen little kids  35   and sell fresh lemonade for a small cost but not free. Although I felt   36   , I decided to help her.  37  she asked me, “What if we   38   this a smile car wash?” I couldn’t hold back my tears and   39   her and the other kids to go outside the house and come up with   40   ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the gang walked up to me with a(n)   41   with beautiful images of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the   42  of their exercise was “smile”. It was pretty neat to see a team of kids ranging 5－11 years with the   43   to do something for others.

All that seemed   44   and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to   45   to them: their playtime, the heat outside—they just wanted to   46   others and do something nice in the community!

I helped them make some fresh lemonade and brought out some additional   47   to help clean cars. The passersby were   48   and one even shouted back to them saying “God Bless You, my kids…” One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. A pretty heartwarming   49  ! I feel blessed by being   50   by such wonderful and loving souls.

1. A. decorating               B. repairing                C. washing                  D. drying 

2. A. dirty                   B. hot                        C. different                D. quiet    

3. A. practice              B. avoid                      C. continue                 D. suggest       

4.A. hardly                B. therefore                C. already               D. further 

5. A  serve                     B. enjoy                      C. buy                    D. choose

6. A. difficult                B. popular                   C. confused             D. worried 

7.A. Luckily                   B. Simply                    C. Then                  D. Finally 

8.A. order                      B. leave                     C. make                 D. show 

9.A. encouraged              B. expected                C. invited                   D. challenged     

10.A. familiar                 B. ready                     C. changed             D. creative 

11.A. board                      B. picture                   C. idea                   D. car

12. A. purpose                      B. trouble                  C. secret                D. theme

13.A. need                       B. duty                   C. imagination         D. skill

14.A. important                B. disappointing          C. hopeful             D natural

15.A. matter                    B. object                     C. belong               D. refer

16.A. relax                      B. try                         C. help                      D. smile

17.A. friends                   B. rags                       C. children                 D. Fruit

18.A. interested                   B. amazed                    C. bored                     D. frightened

19.A. scene                      B. gift                        C. story                     D. explanation

20. A. supported                    B. understood            C. refused                D. surrounded

For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.

    She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.

Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.

    Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”

1. From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.

   A. knew her son was not bright enough

   B. saw the negative effects of the ranking system

   C. decided to help with her son’s school work

D. was troubled by her son’s low rankings

2.The mom was glad she didn’t give an answer at first because ______.

   A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon

   B. she felt intelligence doesn’t mean everything

   C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth

   D. she wanted to avoid another blow to her son’s self-respect

3.The story conveys the message that ______.

   a. only rankings show intelligence

   b. hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings

   c. parents should see children’s strengths and encourage them

   d. competition between students is good for society

   A. bc                B. cd               C. abc              D. bcd

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the story?

   A. How important are rankings?

   B. Little birds and seagulls

   C. The answer Mom gave

   D. Hard work pays off!