He could have been president of Israel or played violin at Carnegie Hall, but he was too busy thinking. His thinking on God, love and the meaning of life grace our greeting cards and day-timers.

Fifty years after his death, his shock (蓬乱) of white hair and hanging mustache still symbolize genius. Einstein remains the foremost scientist of the modern time. Looking back 2,400 years, only Newton, Galileo and Aristotle were his equals.

Around the world, universities and academies (研究院) are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Einstein's "miracle year" when he published five scientific papers in 1905 that basically changed our grasp of space, time, light and matter. Only he could top himself about a decade later with his theory of relativity.

Born in the age of horse-drawn carriages, his ideas launched a technological revolution that has made more change in a century than in the previous two thousand years. Computers, satellites, telecommunication, lasers, television and nuclear power all owe their invention to ways in which Einstein exposed a stranger and more complicated reality underneath the world．

He escaped Hitler's Germany and devoted the rest of his life to human rights and peace with an authority unmatched by any scientist today, or even most politicians and religious leaders. He spoke out against fascism (法西斯主义) and racial prejudice. His FBI (美国联邦调查局) file ran 1,400 pages.

His letters expose a disorderly personal life -- married twice and indifferent toward his children while absorbed in physics. Yet he charmed lovers and admirers with poetry and sailboat outings. Friends and neighbors fiercely protected his privacy.

The first paragraph implies that Einstein _____.

       A．had the gift for politics and music

       B．had run for president before he worked at his research

       C．was an excellent violinist

       D．was more a political leader or a musician than a thinker

When you think of Einstein, what typical appearance was formed in your mind?

       A．Funning and humorous, with an air of a musician.

       B．Wearing very wide trousers, a moustache, with an image of an actor.

       C．Rough untidy mass of white hair and hanging moustache, with an image of thinking.

       D．Black long hair and moustache, with his eyes deep set.

Why was 1905 called Einstein’s “miracle year”?

       A．Because he topped himself with the theory of relativity.

       B．Because he made important discoveries of space, time, light and matter.

       C．Because he published five papers on his theory of relativity.

       D．Because he wrote five important articles to help people better understand space, time, light

and matter.

Which of the following is not true about Einstein according to the passage?

       A．When he was absorbed in his research, he didn’t care for his family.

       B．He tried to amuse his family and friends in his spare time.

       C．He was so busy with the physical research that he showed no interest in politics.

       D．His theory led to much improvement in many technological fields.

Today is my first day at Merchiston Castle School,and I was really nervous about it, because I have never visited the school before and didn’t take any summer course. Despite my anxiety,I soon relaxed once I arrived; the staff were so nice that I felt my spoken English was better than it actually was! As soon as I walked into the dayroom of my boarding house,I was absolutely(完全地) amazed by the friendly atmosphere; everyone was so friendly that a boy as shy as I had no difficulty in setting in,and I made many new friends on my very first day,although I was struggling to remember all the names.

Also I realized there were other international students in the house from all over the world,such as South Korea,Japan and Russia.Although their English was not so fluent,it didn’t take long for us to understand each other at all.In some ways,it was even better to practice Enlgish by speaking to the international students,because we were both learning.

As a boarder,the quality of food is something I consider very important,and Merchiston has not let me down.The school kitchens are run by a professional catering company,and the quality of food is excellent,also they take the issue of a healthy diet really seriously.I remember once I was asked to take more salad for my meal by a member of the kitchen staff for I did not have enough vegetables.This brings to another point of being a boarder:you need to learn how to look after yourself and be responsible for yourself.One of the huge advantages of being a boarder is that we can have breakfast in the school,which means we don’t have to pull ourselves out of the bed as early as the daypupils!

Why was the writer nervous when he was at Merchiston Castle School on the first day?

  A.Because he had no friends and relatives there.

  B.Because he didn’t know the school well.

  C.Because he was not good at English.

  D.Because he was shy.

On the first day,         .

  A.though the writer was anxious,he soon relaxed

  B.he found the dayroom of his boarding house terrible

  C.he made many new friends,but he didn’t remember any of their names

  D.he thought he spoke English better than the staff in the school

Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?

  A.In the boarding house,there are only students from South Korea,Japan and Russia.

  B.The international students in the boarding house don’t speak Englsih very fluently.

  C.The food in Merchiston doesn’t make the writer disappiointed.

  D.The professional catering company thinks the issue of a healthy diet is very important.

The underlined word“boarder”in the first paragraph means“       ”.

  A. a student who is from abroad    B. a student who lives at school

  C.a student who is good at English  D. a student who used to be shy

So        that even the students in the next classroom could hear his argument with somebody.

A．loudly he spoke                        B．he spoke loudly

C．loudly did he speak                      D．loudly spoke did he

 

I once had a friend that was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the news that he might only live up to six months was a great shock to him, his family, and his friends．However, in spite of the serious illness, he was initially（开始） determined to look into all available treatments that might cure or extend his life．I think that when you find yourself in such situations, you tend to look up every possible way for hope of saving your life．
As months went on and his health grew worse, I noticed an unexpected change in attitude that came over him．He had also been a happy person with a cheerful personality, but rather than give in to discouragement and self-pity, he took comfort in God and humanity（人性）．His talks focused on others rather than himself, and he spoke of the afterlife as something he was prepared for, believing that his concerned ancestors, including his mother and father, were there waiting for him．
During the last few months, weeks, and days of his life, he was kindly cared for by family, friends, his loving wife, who looked after both his physical and emotional needs, and workers from a local hospice （安养院） came to the home to regulate（调节） his medication （药）and provide any other needed support．He didn't complain about his fate, and he willingly allowed others to serve him．
Indeed, one might think why God allows death and suffering in our world, but for me, such experiences taught me to value family more and kindness for others．You often can't learn these important attributes（属性）in the lap of luxury（处在优裕舒适的环境中）, and perhaps, such an experience is the greatest and final gift the illness can give those left behind．
【小题1】Which word can best describe the man's initial reaction as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer?

A．Satisfied．

B．Sad

C．Surprised

D．Concerned．

【小题2】What did the man do after he first learned of his illness?

A．He was operated on immediately．

B．He researched cancer treatments．

C．He retired from his job

D．He felt sad, doing nothing．

【小题3】What was the man's main source of comfort after several months with the disease? 

A．His family and friends．	B．The care from others
C．His doctors’ encouragement．	D．His belief in humanity．

【小题4】What did the author learn from his friend’s story?

A．Getting comfort from God．

B．Extending life as possible．

C．Caring for yourself and enjoying luxury．

D．Giving more respect to friends

Mr. Smith is well known in Washington because of his many social blunders. He always likes to attend the various so??cial functions because he wants to expand his circle of friends. Whenever he is invited, he goes, unless he is ill.

Recently he received an invitation to a fashionable ban??quet. Although he did not know the hostess, he accepted the invitation. He was secretly very pleased, because he felt that his reputation as a desirable guest was growing.

When he arrived at the banquet hall, he found that about one hundred people had been invited. He began to move a-round the hall. He spoke to other guests whether he knew them or not. He soon realized that he had never met any of the other people present, although they seemed to know each other.

At dinner he was seated beside a very dignified woman. The woman tried to be friendly even though she had never met Mr. Smith before. She spoke politely whenever he spoke to her. Between the first and the second course of the meal, she, turned to Mr. Smith and said, “Do you see that gray-haired man at the end of the table? The one with glasses.”

“Ah, yes. Who is he?”

“He’s the Secretary of the Interior!” she replied.

Mr. Smith said, “So that’s the secretary of the Interior! I’ m afraid that I find very little to admire about him, although he is the Secretary.”

The woman stiffened and did not reply. Mr. Smith contin??ued in spite of her coldness. “I really can’t see how he re??ceived his appointment unless he is perhaps a relative of the President.”

“It hardly matters whether you like the Secretary or not,” she said. “He was chosen because the President thought he was the man for the job. If he does the job well, you should have no complaint.”

“That’s just it,” persisted Mr. Smith. “No one does the things he does, unless he is a complete fool!”

“Sir!” said the woman in all her dignity. “Do you know who I am?” “No,” replied Mr. Smith.

“I am the Secretary’s wife,” she said coldly. Mr. Smith was shocked, but he went on in spite of his embarrassment. “Madam, do you know who I am?”

“No, I don’t,” the woman replied.

“Thank goodness!” exclaimed Mr. Smith, as he quickly left the table.

Why is Mr. Smith well known in Washington?

A. He’s the Secretary of the Interior.

B. He has more friends than other people.

C. He always makes foolish mistakes on social occasions.

D. He likes to go to all kinds of parties.

At dinner he was seated beside a very dignified woman. The underlined part means ________.

A. beautiful          B. serious             C. noble                D. kind-hearted

When Mr. Smith learned that the woman didn’t know who he was, he felt ________.

A. shocked            B. worried          C. embarrassed   D. relieved