Now，perhaps，more than ever before，people are wondering what life is all about，and what it is for.Seeking material success is beginning to　26　large numbers of people around the world.They feel that the long-hour work culture to make more money to buy more things is　27　up their lives，leaving them very little   28   or energy for family or hobbies.Many are turning to   29 　ways of living and downshifting is one of them.

Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to　30　last year.One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz.They　31　to work in central London.He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank.They　32　go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs，　33　their two children with a nanny.Nearly twice a month Daniel had to　34　New York for meetings.They both earned a large amount of  money　35　began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays，they run　36　in the mountains of Wales.“I always wanted to have one here，”says Daniel，“and we took almost a year to　37　to downshift.It’s taken some time getting used to，but it’s been　38　it.We have to think　39　now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any　40　.However，I think it’s made us stronger as a family，and the children are a lot　41　.”

Liz，however，is not quite sure.“I used to enjoy my job，　 42　it was hard work and long hours.I’m not really a country girl，but I suppose I’m　43　getting used to looking after the animals.One thing I do　44　，though，is being able to see more of my children.My advice for other people wanting to do the　45　is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

26.A.trouble                 B.attract                       C.encourage                  D.frighten

27.A.putting                 B.looking                            C.building                    D.eating

28.A.money                  B.material                    C.spirit                         D.time

29.A.other                    B.simple                       C.free                          D.many

30.A.retire                    B.downshift                  C.rest                           D.travel

31.A.wanted                 B.liked                         C.used                          D.planned

32.A.should                  B.would                       C.might                        D.could

33.A.keeping                B.sending                     C.letting                       D.leaving

34.A.fly                       B.walk                         C.move                        D.run

35.A.and                      B.so                             C.but                           D.however

36.A.company                     B.farm                         C.house                        D.school

37.A.discuss                 B.study                        C.have                         D.make

38.A.worthy                 B.worth                        C.worthless                   D.worthwhile

39.A.once                     B.twice                        C.hardly                       D.worriedly

40.A.money                  B.holidays                    C.friends                      D.difficulties

41.A.more bored          B.more worried             C.happier                            D.cleverer

42.A.even though          B.when                        C.as if                          D.unless

43.A.directly                B.particularly                C.especially                  D.gradually

44.A.doubt                   B.admire                      C.like                           D.admit

45.A.job                       B.research                    C.experiment                D.same

I believe that families are not only blood relatives, but sometimes people who show up and love you when no one else will.

In May 1977, I was living in a Howard Johnson’s motel off Interstate 10 in Houston. My dad and I 21 a room with two double beds and a bathroom which was too 22 for a 15-year-old girl and her father. Dad’s second marriage was 　23 and my stepmother had 　24 us both out of the house the previous week. Dad had no　 25_ what to do with me. And that’s when my other family 　26 .

Barbara and Roland Beach took me into their home 　27　 their only daughter, Su, my best friend, asked them to. I 　28 with them for the next seven years.

Barb washed my skirts the same as Su’s. She 　29 I had lunch money, doctors’ appointments, help with homework and nightly hugs. Barbara and Roland attended every football game where Su and I were being cheerleaders. 30 I could tell, for the Beaches there was no 31 between Su and me; I was their daughter, too.

When Su and I 32 college they kept my room the same for the entire four years I attended school. Recently, Barb presented me with an insurance policy they bought when I first moved in with them and had continued to pay on for 23 years.

The Beaches knew 33 about me when they took me in – they had heard the whole story from Su. When I was seven, my mother died and from then on my father relied on other people to _34 his kids. Before I went to live with the Beaches I had believed that life was entirely 　35__ and that love was shaky and untrustworthy. I had believed that the only person who would take care of me was me.

36 the Beaches, I would have become a bitter, cynical (愤世嫉俗的) woman. They gave me a(n) 37 that allowed me to grow and change. They kept me from being paralyzed(使瘫痪 ,使麻痹 ,使无能力)by my _38　 , and they gave me the confidence to open my heart.

I 　39 family. For me, it wasn’t the family that was there on the day I was 　40　 , but the one that was there for me when I was living in a Howard Johnson’s on Interstate 10.

16．A. lived　　 B. shared 　　 C. possessed　　　　 D. bought

17．A. cheap　　 B. noisy　　　 C. small　　　　　　 D. limited

18．A. in trouble B. in sight 　　 C. in place 　 D. in parts

19．A. struck　　　　 B. removed　 C. kicked 　　 D. knocked

20．A. plan　　　　 B. choice 　　　 C. chance 　　 D. idea

21．A. looked after　 B. showed up　　 C. turned over 　　 D. came cross

22．A. so　　　　　 B. because　　　 C. until 　　　　 D. while

23．A. worked　　　 B. traveled　　　 C. lived 　　　　 D. learned

24．A. worked out　　 B. called up　　 C. watched out　　　 D. made sure

25．A. As long as B. As far as　　 C. As soon as 　　　 D. As many as

26．A. change 　　 B. problem 　 C. conflict 　 　　D. difference

27．A. set off　　　　　 B. left for　　　　 C. entered into 　　 　　　 D. admitted into

28．A. all 　　 B. little 　 C. something D. nothing

29．A. supply B. teach C. encourage D. raise

30．A. different 　 B. unfair 　　　 C. easy　　 　　　 D. hopeful

31．A. Thanks to B. In spite of C. Except for 　　　 D. But for

32．A. home 　　　 B. house 　　　 C. ability 　　　 　　D. lesson

33．A. choice 　　 B. failure 　　　 C. past　 　　 　　D. present

34．A. doubt about 　　 B. call on 　　 C. center on　　 D. believe in

35．A. born B. accepted 　 C. educated　　 D. deserted

When we read books we seem to 21 a new world. This new world can be similar to the one we are living in, or it can be very　22 . Some stories are told 　23 they were true. Real people 24 live in a normal world do real things; in other words, the stories are about people just like us doing what we do. Other stories, such as the Harry Potter books, are not 　25 . They are characters and creatures that are very different from us and do things that would be 　26 for us.

27 there is more to books and writing than this. If we think about it, even realistic writing is only imagined. How can we tell the difference between what is real and what is not real? For example, when we read about Harry Potter, we 28　seem to learn something about the real world. And when Harry studies magic at Hogwarts, he also learns more about his real life than 29 . Reading, like writing, is an action. It is a way _30_ living. When we read or write something ,we do much more than simple look at words on a page. We use our 31 　--which is real—and our imagination—which is real in a different way --- to make the words come to life in our minds.

Both realism and fantasy(幻想) 32 　the imagination and the “magic” of reading and writing to make us think. When we read　 33　realistic, we have to imagine that the people we are reading about are just like us, even though we　 34 that we are real and they are 35 . It sounds strange, but it works. When we read, we fill in missing information and　36 about the causes and effects of what a character does. We help the writer by pretending that _37_we read is like real life. In a way, we are writing the book, too.

Most of us probably don’t think about what is going on in our 38 when we are reading. We pick up a book and lose　 39 in a good story, eager to find out what will happen next. Knowing how we feel　40 we read can help us become better readers, and it will help us discover more about the real magic of books.

21.　 A. arrive　　　 B. enter　　　　　　 C. come　 D. get

22.　 A. possible　 B. easy　　 C. new　　　 D. different

23.　 A. that　　　　 B. what　　C. whether　　　　 D. as if

24.　 A. who　 B. whom　　 C. where　　　　　 D. which

25.　 A. realistic　　 B. reasonableC. moral　　 　 D. instructive

26.　 A. difficult　 B. impossible C. important　 D. necessary

27.　 A. Otherwise　 B. But　　　 C. While　　　　 D. Furthermore

28.　 A. do　　 B. make　　　　 C. have　　　　　　 D. are

29.　 A. lessons B. dreams　　 C. experience　　 D. magic

30.　 A. with　 B. to C. for　　 D. of

31.　 A. knowledge B. skill　　 C. words　　　 D. grammar

32.　 A. make　 B. get　　　 C. use　　　 D. have

33.　 A. a newspaper B. something C. everything　　 D. a story

34.　 A. find　　　　 B. learn　　 C. know　　　　 D. hope

35.　 A. too　　　　　B. not　　　 C. all　　　　　 D. so

36.　 A. talk　　　　 B. learn　　 C. read　　　　 D. think

37.　 A. that　 B. what　　　　 C. which　　　　　 D. when

38.　 A. mind　　　　 B. life　　　 C. world　　　 D. society

39.　 A. heart　　　　B. time　　　 C. money　　　 D. ourselves

40.　 A. what　　　　 B. how　　　　C. when　　　　 D. why

Back in the late 1950’s, I grew up in a small village in the Cotswolds. There was 16　 else

to do but read and write. As a teenager, I wanted to hear from people who lived in 　 17　 countries and see how they lived and what their 　18　 was like. I got, from a magazine, the 　　　19 of one teenager called Glenys, like me who wanted to have a pen-pal. She 　20　 in North Island, New Zealand.

Glenys and I wrote to each other via blue airmail letters 　　21　 there were no computers then! Sometimes it was so 　 22　 because a proper letter would arrive with photographs and newspaper　 23　 ,showing each other how different our lives were－but strangely enough－very 　24　 in some aspects(方面). We married, had children at about the same time. Over the years we 　25　 lots of heartbreak , tears and laughter. My　 26　 died－so did Glenys’. We cheered each other up during these times and both 　　27　 . She is leading a happy life with her second husband Brian. I am enjoying my new marriage life to the full.

　 　 28　 with the use of the e-mail, keeping in touch became much 　 29　 , and we decided time was moving on and it became necessary to 　 30　 each other. So in 2006 I　 31　 the longest flight of my life and went to NZ. We looked at each other at Auckland　　　　 　 32　 and burst into tears. Newspapers there　 33　 the story. What a wonderful time I had there!

　　 This September 2011Glenys came to the UK to see me. It was such an emotional 　　34　 . She flew back last night and I was feeling very 35　 . My dearest wish is that Glenys and I will meet again, sometimes. Friendship is boundless.

16．A. anything　　　　　　　　　 B. everything C. nothing　　　　　　　　　 D. something

17．A. developed　　　　　　　　 B. different C.developing　　　　　　　 D. the same 18．A.country B. culture C.school　　　　　　　　　　 D. life

19．A. name　　　　　　　　　　　 B. picture C. address　　　　　　　　　 D. reply 20．A. worked　　　　　　　　　 B. traveled　　　　　　　　　 C. taught　　　　　　　　　　 D. lived

21．A. because　　　　　　　　　 B. when C. although　　　　　　　　　 D. while

22．A. disappointing　　　　　 B. boring C. exciting　　　　　　 　 D. surprising

23．A.listings　　　　　　　　　　 B. cuttings C. collections　　　　　　　 D. advertisements

24．A. sad　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. similar　　　　　　　　　　 C. important　　　　　　　　 D. special

25．A.asked　　　　　　　　　　　 B. remembered　　　　　　 C. faced　　　　　　　　　　　 D. shared

26．A.parents　　　　　　　　　　 B. daughter C. husband　　　　　　　　　 D. neighbour

27．A.reintroduced　　　　　　 B. remarried C. recalled　　　　　　　　　 D. reeducated

28．A. Later　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Next　　　　　　　　　　　 C. First　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Finally

29．A. easier　　　　　　　　　　　 B. cheaper　　　　　　　　　 C. faster　　　　　　　　　　　 D. safer

30．A. survive　　　　　　　　　　 B. meet C.learn　　　　　　　　　　　 D. follow

31．A. got B. carried C. took D. chose

32．A.airport　　　　　　　　　　　 B. station　　　　　　　　　　 C. park　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. square

33．A. heard　　　　　　　　　　　 B. wrote　　　　　　　　　　　 C. printed　　　　　　　　　　 D. reported

34．A. revisit　　　　　　　　　　 B. holiday　　　　　　　　　　 C. reunion　　　　　　　　　 D. trip

35．A. worried　　　　　　　　　 B. tearful　　　　　　　　　　 C. tired　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. helpful

"You probably don't remember me," she began, "But I've come back to apply for graduation with excellent grades．" Then she　 21　 a piece of paper from her 22 and gave it to me．It was my handwriting, but I 　23 writing it．

As the assistant professor of the Honors Programs at the university, one of my　 24　 was to review student transcripts （学生成绩报告单） to make sure they　 25　 requirements for continuing in Honors．It was 　26　 for freshmen （大一新生） to have a rough start and be 　 27　 that they could no longer continue in Honors after their first term．Sometimes their second term report cards would fee sent to us, even though students were no longer in the program．

The note she handed me　 28 ，"Congratulations on your excellent second term．You may have been　 29　 at your fall grades, but you should feel　 30　 of how you've turned your effort around．Best of luck in 　31 the good work, and you'll be qualified for graduation with excellent grades．"

I didn't remember sending the note, written at the bottom of her second term transcript．

The student went on and said, "You can't know what this 　32 to me．I've carried it in my wallet for three years and took it out 　33 I didn't want to do my work．For three years I've been 　34　 to enter your office and give you this note and this transcript．" She handed me her　 35　 transcript with good marks．

We were both excited．She cried and I　 36　 to．Writing the note seemed like nothing to me, 　37 it made a great difference to her．I really had no 　38　 my actions had such meaning．

I've enjoyed this memory for many years—with 　39　 for such an act of kindness．The kindness of course wasn't mine in writing the note, but her kindness in wanting me to know what I did had 　40 ．I really thank her!

21．A．pulled down　　　　 B．pulled off　　　　　　 C．pulled out　　　　　 D．pulled up

22．A．bag　　　　　　　　　　 B．pocket　　　　　　　　 C．wallet　　　　　　　　 D．box

23．A．remembered　　　 B．forgot　　　　　　　　 C．regretted　　　　　　 D．minded

24．A．aims　　　　　　　　　 B．wishes　　　　　　　 C．pleasures　　　　　　 D．jobs

25．A．met　　　　　　　　　　 B．dissatisfied　　　　　 C．set　　　　　　　　　　 D．relaxed

26．A．hard　　　　　　　　　 B．unusual　　　　　　　 C．popular　　　　　　　 D．common

27．A．blamed　　　　　　　 B．told　　　　　　　　　　 C．reminded　　　　　　 D．refused

28．A．read　　　　　　　　　 B．showed　　　　　　　 C．indicated　　　　　　 D．announced

29．A．surprised　　　　　　 B．disappointed　　　　 C．embarrassed 　　 D．delighted

30．A．sick　　　　　　　　　 B．afraid　　　　　　　　 C．tired　　　　　　　　　 D．proud

31．A．keeping up　　　　　 B．holding up　　　　　 C．depending on 　　 D．trying on

32．A．brought　　　　　　　 B．meant　　　　　　　　 C．influenced　　　　　 D．happened

33．A．however　　　　　　 B．wherever　　　　　　 C．whenever　　　　　 D．whatever

34．A．hesitating　　　　　　 B．advising　　　　　　　 C．planning　　　　　　 D．promising

35．A．latest　　　　　　　　　 B．lost　　　　　　　　　　 C．first　　　　　　　　　 D．dirty

36．A．failed　　　　　　　　 B．wanted　　　　　　　 C．decided　　　　　　　 D．hated

37．A．so　　　　　　　　　　　 B．or　　　　　　　　　　　 C．and　　　　　　　　　　 D．but

38．A．doubt　　　　　　　　 B．wonder　　　　　　　 C．idea　　　　　　　　　 D．problem

39．A．appreciation　　　　 B．excitement　　　　　 C．respect　　　　　　　 D．pride

40．A．succeeded　　　　　 B．changed　　　　　　 C．improved　　　　　　 D．mattered