I was in a rush as always，but this time it was for an important date I just couldn't be late for ! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries.A PhD student with not a lot of money，I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers.I was in a huge rush，thinking of my upcoming evening.I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston，a place not always known for small conversation between strangers.The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me.She smiled.It was a nice smile—warm and reassuring—and I returned her_gift by smiling back.

“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers，”she said.

“Yes，she's special，”I said，and then to my embarrassment，the words kept coming out.“It's only our second date，but somehow I am just having the feeling she's‘the one.’”jokingly，I added，“The only problem is that I can't figure out why she'd want to date a guy like me.”

“Well，I think she's very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her.”the woman said.“My husband used to bring me flowers every week—even when times were tough and we didn't have much money.Those were incredible days；he was very romantic and—of course—I miss him since he's passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries.There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her.I touched her on the shoulder and said，“You were right，you know.These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.”I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased.“You have a wonderful evening.”I said.I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story.A couple of years later，when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me，she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her—that was the night that I won her heart.

64．Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

A．He was to meet his girlfriend.

B．He had to go back to school soon.

C．He was delayed by an elderly lady.

D．He had to pick up some groceries.

65．What does the underlined phrase“her gift”(Paragraph 2 ) refer to?

A．Her words.     B．Her smile.

C．Her flowers.  D．Her politeness.

66．Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?

A．She told him a nice story.

B．She allowed him to pay first.

C．She gave him encouragement.

D．She liked flowers very much.

67．What is the message conveyed in the story?

A．Flowers are important for a date.

B．Small talk is helpful.

C．Love and kindness are rewarding.

D．Elderly people deserve respecting.

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
My wife called, "Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?" I rushed to the scene. My only daughter, Sindu,  36   frightened. In front of her was a bowl filled with  rice. She   37   disliked rice.
“Sindu, why don’t you take a few   38   of this? Just for  Dad’s sake. If you don’t, your mom will shout at me. ” Sindu softened a bit and   39   her tears with the back of her hands.  "OK. Dad. I will eat. But, you should…" Sindu hesitated. " Dad, if I eat the rice, will you give me  40  I ask for?" " Oh, sure. " She  41   eating the whole quantity. After the ordeal was  through, Sindu came to me, " Dad, I want to have my   42  shaved off this Sunday!"
" Darling, we will be sad   43   you with a clean - shaven  head." "Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat the  rice. " Sindu was in tears. "   44   you promised to give me  whatever I ask for. " It was   45   for me to call the shots . "Our promise must be  46 . "
With her head clean - shaven, Sindu had a round face. On  Monday morning, I dropped her at her   47    Just then, a boy  shouted, "Sindu, please wait for me!" 48   struck me was the  hairless head of that boy.
"Sir, your daughter Sindu is great   49 !" a lady said to  me. ."That boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son  Harish. He is   50   from leukemia(白血病)?He lost all his  hair due to the side   51   of the chemotherapy ( 化疗). He refused to  52   to school for fear of being laughed at. Sindu visited him last week'" But, I   53   imagined she would sacrifice  her lovely hair for the sake of  54  "My little angel, you are teaching me 55 selfless real love is!" I wept.

Each time I see a balloon, my mind flies back to a memory of when I was a six-year-old girl. It was a rainy Sunday and my father had recently died. I asked my mom if Dad had gone to heaven. "Yes, honey. Of course." she said.
"Can we write him a letter?"
She paused, the longest pause of my short life, and answered, "Yes."
My heart jumped. "How? Does the mailman go there?" I asked.
"No, but I have an idea." Mom drove to a party store and returned with a red balloon. I asked her what it was for.
"Just wait, honey. You'll see." Mom told me to write my letter. Eagerly, I got my favorite pen, and poured out my six-year-old heart in the form of blue ink. I wrote about my day, what I learned at school, how Mom was doing, and even about what happened in a story I had read. For a few minutes it was as if Dad were still alive. I gave the letter to Mom. She read it over, and a smile crossed her face.
She made a hole in the corner of the letter where she looped (缠绕) the balloon string. We went outside and she gave me the balloon. It was still raining.
"Okay, on the count of three, let go. One, two, three."
The balloon, carrying my letter, darted upward against the rain. We watched until it was swallowed by the mass of clouds.
Later I realized, like the balloon, that Dad had never let his sickness get him down. He was strong. No matter what he suffered, he'd persevere, dart up, and finally transcend (超越) this cold world and his sick body. He rose into sky and became something beautiful. I watched until the balloon disappeared into the gray and white and I prayed that his strength was hereditar. I prayed to be a balloon.
【小题1】When the girl asked her mother if they could write to her father, her mother _________.

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A. PhD. student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile----warm and reassuring—and I retuned her gift by smiling back.

 “Must be a special lady,” whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.

 “Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one.’ ”Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”

 “Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week-even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; be was very romantic and---of course---- I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased(bought). “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her-that was the night that I won her heart .

Why was the writer in a hurry that day ? 

A. He was to meet his girlfriend.           B. He had to go back to school soon.

C. He was delayed by an elderly lady.       D. He had to pick up some groceries.

What does the underlined phrase “her gift” （Paragraph 2 ） refer to ?  

A. Her words.     B. Her smile.     C. Her flowers.     D. Her politeness.

Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady ?

A. She told him a nice story.           B. She allowed him to pay first.

C. She gave him encouragement.        D. She liked flowers very much.

What is the message conveyed in the story ?

A. Flowers are important for a date.        B. Small talk is helpful.

C. Love and kindness are rewarding.       D. Elderly people deserve respecting.

Just recently I had been wondering if there was much point in doing little acts of kindness. So often they get   36 , and occasionally they come back to bite you!
Then, just last week, after a long travel, I found myself   37   at a bus station. The bus was four hours late! So, I guess I wasn’t in a good   38 .
That’s when a woman asked me if I had any spare   39   to help her get a bus ticket.
“Oh, sure,” I said sarcastically (挖苦地). “How much would you like?”
As I spoke, I mentally kicked myself for my  40   and reached into my bag for some money. As I handed her five dollars, I heard low sounds from her stomach because of real    41 .
I reached back into my bag and brought out a   42   I had bought earlier. I handed it to her with a(n)   43   that I hoped would make up for my earlier tone of voice. Getting a   44   look at her now, I realized she was extremely tired, like she had had several months of   45   days!
As she took the food, a look of   46   washed over her. In return, she tried to give me a Milwaukee bus ticket! I don’t live in Milwaukee and the ticket will probably   47   be used, but I took it.
A few minutes later she came back over, apologized, and told me she was still  48   of five dollars. I took some singles out of my bag and slipped a twenty in there as well.   49 , the voice in my head told me I was being a fool.
Five minutes later she came back again and tried to   50   my twenty. When I said it was for her so she could get something else to   51 , and that I was completely serious and I wasn’t taking it   52  , she started crying and hugged me.
From now on, when I wonder if it is   53   trying to help someone, I will remember that woman. Maybe I am really making a   54   for someone. So, sure, sometimes my efforts might not be noticed, and sometimes they might come back to bite me, but they might actually   55   another human being!

【小题9】

A．quick B．gentle C．good D．cold