I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family tried to 31 an ant farm at home. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we brought some ants from the backyard and placed them into the 32 home.

Shortly after the new 33 were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew 34 what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had particular given jobs. With my mom’s help, I kept a journal of what happened each day and 　35 the ants. My favorite was the biggest, Cinderella. I drew a picture of her in my journal, which I still have.

On day five a disaster 36 the ant farm. While I was 37 the ants, I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, 　38 in all the tunnels. Although the ants 39 their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was 40 as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of “frustration”—feeling annoyed and impatient as they couldn’t control the situation. They simply could not 41 the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Cinderella was the last to die; she did so while carrying a dead ant on her back.

Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, 　42 it taught me much more. 43 the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of 44 . Working together, they were able to create a(n) 45 world for themselves. I also learned that they should be 46 for their hard work. Day in and day out, each labored at their task. The ant farm demonstrated that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key 47 to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not 48 until recently: Disaster is a natural part of life, and must be 49 . Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face 50 . Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.

31. A. create　 　　　　　　 B. purchase　 　　　　　　 C. maintain　　 　　　　　　 D. abandon

32. A. empty　 　　　　　　 B. new　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. strange　　　 　　　　　　 D. distant

33. A. guests　 　　　　　　 B. settlers　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. friends　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. members

34. A. probably　　 　　　 B. roughly　　 　　　　　　 C. exactly　　　 　　　　　　 D. normally

35. A. named 　　　　　　 B. trained　　　 　　　 　　　 C. compared 　　　　　　 D. measured

36. A. affected　　　 　　　　　　 B. struck 　　　　　　　　　　 C. kicked 　　　　　　　　　　 D. beat

37. A. removing　　 　　　 B. teaching　　 　　　　　　 C. observing　 　　　　　　 D. collecting

38. A. turning 　　　　　　 B. rushing　　　 　　　　　　 C. filling　　　　 　　　 　　　 D. caving

39. A. experienced 　　　 B. predicted　 　　　　　　 C. faced 　　　　　　　　　　 D. survived

40. A. annoyed　　　 　　　 B. horrified　　 　　　　　　 C. moved　　　　　　 　　　 　　　 D. thrilled

41. A. reflect　 　　　　　　 B. ignore 　　　　　　　　　　 C. confirm 　 　　　　　　 D. stand

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

43. A. In 　　　　　　　　　　 B. For　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. From 　　　　　　　　　　 D. Over

44. A. teamwork 　 　　　 B. devotion　　 　　　　　　 C. responsibility　　 　　　 D. organization

45. A. relaxing 　　　　　　 B. amusing　　 　　　　　　 C. moving 　 　　　　　　 D. amazing

46. A. supported　　 　　　 B. inspired　　 　　　　　　 C. admired　　 　　　　　　 D. admitted

47. A. certificates　 　　　 B. approaches 　　　　　　 C. ingredients 　　　 　　　 D. circumstances　

48. A. give　　 　　　　　　 B. realize 　　　　　　　　　　 C. take　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. adopt

49. A. accepted　　 　　　 B. suffered　　 　　　　　　 C. achieved 　 　　　　　　 D. managed

50. A. anxiety 　　　　　　 B. confusion　 　　　　　　 C. pressure　　 　　　　　　 D. disappointment

It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight 　36 .

I worked in a 　37 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 　38 than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 　39 home and my husband, being the 　40 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe 　41 I hurried, I could still make it home.

I was heading inside to 　42 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for 　43 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just 　44 a few minutes ago.

The young man at the counter was trying to be 　45 in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 　46 . One of them was 　47 trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 　48 ?”

A look of 　49 crossed the woman’s face.

“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an) 　50 since I had just made up my mind to do 　51 that.

I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 　52 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 　53 . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.

Later, as I arrived home, my husband 　54 , “So you aren’t ever late any more.”

I said, “Sometimes it’s 　55 to be late.”

36. A. break　　　　　　　　 B. fever　　　　　　　　　　　 C. cold　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. headache

37. A. foreign　　　　　　　 B. common　　　　　　　　　 C. busy　　　　　　　　　　　 D. noisy

38. A. earlier　　　　　　　　 B. later　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. easier　　　　　　　　　　　 D. simpler

39. A. getting　　　　　　　 B. cooking　　　　　　　　　 C. calling　　　　　　　　　　 D. working

40. A. tough　　　　　　　　 B. punctual　　　　　　　　　 C. generous　　　　　　　　 D. careful

41. A. as　　　　　　　　　　　 B. since　　　　　　　　　　　 C. while　　　　　　　　　　　 D. if

42. A. pay　　　　　　　　　　 B. change　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. wait　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. search

43. A. opinions　　　　　　 B. trouble　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. directions　　　　　　　　 D. money

44. A. reached　　　　　　　 B. visited　　　　　　　　　　 C. called　　　　　　　　　　　 D. left

45. A. skilled　　　　　　　　 B. helpful　　　　　　　 　 C. experienced　　　　　　　　　　 D. active

46. A. comments　　　　　 B. promises　　　　　　　　 C. jokes　　　　　　　　　　　 D. offers

47. A. only　　　　　　　　　 B. still　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. even　　　　　　　　　　　 D. ever

48. A. station　　　　　　　 B. office　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hospital　　　　　　　　　 D. hotel

49. A. panic　　　　　　　　 B. relief　　　　　　　　　　　 C. sadness　　　　　　　　　 D. peace

50. A. duty　　　　　 　　　 B. fact　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. reason　　　　　　　　　　 D. lie

51. A. partly　　　　　　　　 B. properly　　　　　　　　　 C. exactly　　　　　　　　　　 D. perfectly

52. A. across　　　　 　　　 B. before　　　　　　　　　　 C. beside　　　　　　　　　　 D. behind

53. A. go up　　　　　　　　 B. die down　　　　　　　　 C. speed up　　　　　　　　 D. turn down

54. A. teased　　　　　　　　 B. shouted　　　　　　　　　 C. burst　　　　　　　　　　　 D. laughed

55. A. possible　　　　　　 B. special　　　　　　　　　　 C. good　　　　　　　　　　　 D. safe

Five years ago. I went to Shao Xing to visit my cousin. My grandpa had been outside smoking when my aunt called him into the house. He left his 　36 on the front porch（门廊） steps so he could continue smoking it 　 37 he returned.

My cousin was 38 to see what smoking was really like，so he picked up the cigarette，put it in his mouth and puffed(吹) in 39 . Next，he was 　40 his head off. He looked like he was about to throw up，but he stretched his hand out toward me to 　41 me the cigarette. “Come on. Try it.”he said.

I just grabbed the stupid thing out of his hand and smashed it with my 　42 .Then，grandpa returned. “Where’d my cigarette go?” he asked. I just stood there，not wanting to admit what I had done or what my 　43 had done before that. But I knew that this was the moment of truth. I took a deep breath and began to 　44 .

I told my grandpa that I couldn’t 45 believe he would choose to smoke. I was sure he knew how bad it was，so why did he do it? He said he started smoking when he was just a teenager. Now he was so 46 that he couldn’t stop. It was just too hard to 　47 .

Here was an old man，my own grandpa. ，admitting there was something that he couldn’t control that was probably 48 killing him. I stood there in disbelief. dumbfounded(目瞪口呆的). Then I remembered this ad I had seen on TV: There was this lady who was so addicted(有瘾的) to cigarettes that she’d gotten really sick. Doctors had to 49 a hole in her throat for her to 50 ，and she was still smoking through the hole! It was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. Standing in front of my grandpa，I began to cry. 　51 that happened to him?

Ever since that day， my grandpa has 52 　on cigarettes. I know one thing: I want to live a long time. I don’t want to be 　53 or out of control of my life the way 　54 that lady was. I’ll never smoke. I’ll take 　55 air.

36.　　　　　 A. cellphone　　　　 B. cigarette　　　　　 C. book　　　　　　　 D. box

37.　　　　　 A. while　　　　　　　 B. if　　　　　　　　　　 C. when　　　　　　　 D. though

38.　　　　　 A. curious　　　　　 B. glad　　　　　　　　 C. surprised　　　　 D. amazed

39.　　　　　 A. rain　　　　　　　　 B. stone　　　　　　　 C. dust　　　　　　　　 D. smoke

40.　　　　　 A. coughing　　　　 B. shaking 　　　　 C. nodding　　　　　 D. waving

41.　　　　　 A. offer　　　　　　　 B. help　　　　　　　　 C. supply　　　　　　 D. warn

42.　　　　　 A. hand　　　　　　　 B. arm　　　　　　　　 C. shoe　　　　　　　　 D. toes

43.　　　　　 A. grandpa　　　　　 B. nephew　　　　　 C. brother　　　　　　 D. cousin

44.　　　　　 A. comment　　　　 B. explain　　　　　　 C. excuse　　　　　　 D. announce

45.　　　　　 A. hardly　　　　　　 B. really　　　　　　　 C. exactly　　　　　　 D. actually

46.　　　　　 A. applied　　　　　　 B. devoted　　　　　 C. accustomed　　 D. addicted

47.　　　　　 A. continue　　　　　 B. interrupt　　　　　 C. quit　　　　　　　　 D. remain

48.　　　　　 A. slowly　　　　　　 B. quickly　　　　　 C. frequently　　　　 D. calmly

49.　　　　　 A. hit　　　　　　　　　 B. pat　　　　　　　　 C. cut　　　　　　　　　 D. break

50.　　　　　 A. sleep　　　　　　　 B. eat　　　　　　　　　 C. smell　　　　　　　 D. breathe.

51.　　　　　 A. If only　　　　　　 B. What if　　　　　 C. How about　　　 D. So what

52.　　　　　 A. cut across　　　 B. cut out　　　　　　 C. cut back　　　　　 D. cut in

53.　　　　　 A. fearful　　　　　　 B. sick　　　　　　　　 C. shy　　　　　　　　 D. worried

54.　　　　　 A. what　　　　　　　 B. which　　　　　　 C. that　　　　　　　　 D. how

55.　　　　　 A. simple　　　　　　 B. light　　　　　　　　 C. fresh　　　　　　　 D. heavy

　 "Just sign here, sir," the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.

The package consisted of a long, narrow box ???__36___ wrapped in brown paper. ???__37___ the box, Oscar saw an umbrella inside — a very old one with a beautifully carved wooden handle. ???__38___ he had not seen it in more than 20 years, he recognized it ???__39___ .

Oscar was 16 when he first saw the ???__40___ umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, h noticed an umbrella on an empty seat, impressed by its ???__41___, Oscar felt a strong desire to find its ???__42___ .

Oscar ???__43___the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a name matched the seat ???__44___ Oscar had found the umbrella. The name was Mrs. Katie O'Brien.

Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O'Brien's ???__45___ on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. "May I__________ ???__46___　 you?" she asked.

"I'd like to return it if it's yours," Oscar said, ???__47___ the umbrella as if presenting a ???__48__ that had long been wished for.

"Why, yes! It's mine," replied Mrs. O'Brien with a ???__49___ smile and shining eyes. "It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your ??__50_ ?"

"No, ma'am," he said, "My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward. "

"Well, that's ???__51___ what my father used to say. What is your name, young man?"

Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O'Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how ???__52___ it was. Why had it arrived here today?

As if ???__53___ , a note fell from the paper. It reads: Mrs. O'Brien wanted to ???__54___ this umbrella as a present for a kind, ???__55___ gesture long ago.

36. A. carefully　　　　 B. strictly　　　　　　　 C. roughly　　　　　　 D. casually

37. A. Observing　　　 B. Seizing　　　　　　　 C. Opening　　　　　　 D. Searching

38. A. After　　　　　　　 B. When　　　　　　　　 C. Since　　　　　　　　 D. Although

39. A. clearly　　　　　　 B. fully　　　　　　　　　 C. suddenly　　　　　 D. immediately

40. A. average　　　　　 B. unusual　　　　　　 C. plain　　　　　　　　 D. typical

41. A. origin　　　　　　 B. shape　　　　　　　　 C. beauty　　　　　　　 D. history

42. A. designer　　　　 B. owner　　　　　　　 C. user　　　　　　　　　 D. seller

43. A. convinced　　　 B. forced　　　　　　　 C. encouraged　　　　 D. advised

44. A. until　　　　　　　 B. where　　　　　　　 C. which　　　　　　　 D. before

45. A. family　　　　　　 B. theater　　　　　　　 C. house　　　　　　　　 D. neighborhood

46. A. invite　　　　　　　 B. help　　　　　　　　　 C. bother　　　　　　　 D. know

47. A. holding out　　 B. turning out　　　　 C. picking up　　　　 D. putting up

48. A. chance　　　　　 B. gift　　　　　　　　　 C. fact　　　　　　　　　 D. result

49. A. wide　　　　　　　 B. confident　　　　　 C. proud　　　　　　　　 D. shy

50. A. patience　　　　　 B. kindness　　　　　　 C. courage　　　　　　 D. determination

51 A. obviously　　　　 B. naturally　　　　　　 C. exactly　　　　　　　 D. probably

52. A. nice　　　 B. rare　　　　　　　　　 C. precious　　　　　　 D. old

53. A. in contrast　 B. in answer　　　 C. in exchange　 D. in return

54. A. possess　　　　　 B. value　　　　　　　　 C. carry　　　　　　　　 D. accept

55. A. unselfish　　　　 B. significant　　　　　 C. attractive　　　　　 D. sympathetic

---- Do you have to work late tonight ?

---- 　 . I’d like to watch the football match .

　 A . No problem　 B . I think so　 C . Exactly　 D . I hope not