As a boy growing up in India，I had longed to travel abroad. I used to listen to the stories my father would tell me about his stay in Canada and tours to Europe in the 1970s’ with great interest.
My big moment finally came in the summer of 1998 when I was able to accompany my parents to Europe，where my father was to attend a meeting. We planned to travel to Belgium，Netherlands and West Germany.
I have vivid memories even today of going to Mumbai airport at night all excited about finally going abroad. I had heard several great things about Lufthansa till then but now I finally got to experience them first hand during the flight to Frankfurt. We flew business class and even today I can remember the excellent service by the Lufthansa crew. The flight was really smooth and thoroughly enjoyable，even for someone like me，who is otherwise scared of flying.
After spending almost two weeks in Europe，we took the Lufthansa airport express from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt airport for our return flight. What a journey that was! All along the Rhine (莱茵河)，it was simply an unforgettable experience. I was in a sombre mood on the flight back to Mumbai as it marked the end of a wonderful vacation，but the Lufthansa crew members were able to change it into a most enjoyable experience yet again，with the quality of their service.
Being the first airline to take me overseas，Lufthansa will always hold a special place in my heart. Even today，I continue to enjoy flights on Lufthansa and simply cannot dream of choosing any other airline. Flying，in general，for me，has always been an ordeal (terrible and painful experience)．Flying on Lufthansa，however，is something I always have and always will look forward to.
【小题1】Which country does the author live in now?

Four in 10 Chinese complain about the great gap between large investments in education and its returns, a recent nationwide survey has showed.

The Horizon Research Consultancy Group polled 3,355 residents aged 16 to 60 in both urban and rural areas, including Beijing and Shanghai.

The survey found that only 16 percent of respondents believed their investments on education gave good returns.

Those with higher education voiced greater disappointment at the quality of education received, the survey showed.

People in the rural areas generally gave more positive feedback（反馈）on the quality of education than those from the cities, the survey found.

"Our education has been focusing on an examination-oriented system," Huo Qingwen, the deputy director of language education testing service center under the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told China Daily yesterday.

"The survey result doesn't surprise me, as I had heard complaints not only from the students, but also from the teachers who have been asked to focus more about the exam-passing rate," Huo said.

"The job market is still hungry for talented staff, but many graduates are not competent(胜任的) because the posts require more practical experience and creative ability of workers," Huo added.

Most university graduates prefer jobs in large cities, causing an imbalance in human resources between urban and rural areas, Hong said.

The graduates would get better job options if they chose to work at the grassroots (基础的) level because of the government's preferential policies, including the waiving of tuition for those willing to work in the country's rural and western regions, he added.

About 580,000 graduates last year found county- or village-level jobs, and more than 550,000 got jobs in the central and western regions, Ministry of Education figures showed.

"Because many graduates focus only on jobs with high salaries and that are directly relevant to their specialties, they miss other good work opportunities," Kong Xiang, a Beijing graduate who works as an English teacher in a college located at a remote area in Yunnan province, said.

The recent survey showed that education costs form one-quarter of an urban family's income, while it forms one-third of a rural family's income.

46．According to the passage, most people think that _______

A. the investments in education gave them good returns.

B. the investments in education don’t bring them good results.

C. college students are satisfied with their the education received.

D. People in the cities are more satisfied with the quality of education than those in the rural areas.

47．Which of the following is NOT mentioned?

A. China’s education has been focusing on an examination-oriented system .

B. Both the teachers and students are asked to pay more attention to the exam-passing rate.

C. The job market now does not lack university graduates.

D. Most university graduates enjoy hunting jobs in large cities.

48. What would happen to the graduates if they chose to work at the grassroots level?

A. They would get higher salaries.                        B. They would get lower salaries.

C. Their tuition would be free.                           D. They would get better job choices.

49. How much does the education cost according to the survey ?

A. One-third of a family's income.

B. one-quarter of a rural family's income.

C. 25% of an urban family's income.

D. Three in ten a rural family's income.

50. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage.

A. The gap between investments in education and its returns

B. Education and university graduates

C. China’s higher education

D. Education costs

根据各句句意以及所给单词的首字母或汉语提示，写出所缺单词的正确形式。（每空填一个单词，每题1分，共10分）
1．The girl lost her b       _____    and fell off her bike .
2．Pollution is a problem that ___________   (关系到)everybody.
3．I feel a                 of you for your dishonesty.
4．We should take everything into ______________ (考虑) before we carry out the plan .
5.  Anything you say may be taken down and used as e______________ against you.
6．As a young man, you should show r                to the old.
7．The government is  ________________ ( 呼吁) to us to save water.
8．The voice was so f___ _______ to me , but I couldn’t remember where I had heard it .
9．He made an  a______________ to me for coming late .
10．Would you mind    _   _____   (雇佣) two more workers , Mr. Smith ?

John talked with me for about an hour yesterday. Never _______ him talk so much.

The power of encouragement is great. You may draw some inspiration from the following story.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a famous 19th­century poet and artist, was once  26  by an elderly man. The old man had some sketches (素描) and drawings that he  27  　Rossetti to look at them and tell him if they were any good, or  28  they at least showed potential(潜在的)talent.

Rossetti looked them  29  carefully. After the first few, he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a  30  man, and he told the elderly  31  as gently as possible that the pictures were of little value and showed little talent. He was sorry,  32  he could not　33  to the man.

The visitor was  34  , but seemed to expect Rossetti’s  35   .He then apologized for  36  Rossetti’s time, but would he just  37  a few more drawings—these done by a(n)  38  art student？Rossetti looked over the  39  batch (一批) of sketches and immediately became  40  over the talent they revealed(显示；透露) .“These,” he said,“Oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be  41  every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a hopeful future if he will work and stick to it.”

Rossetti could see that the old man was  42  moved.“Who is this fine young   artist？” he asked.“Your son？” “No,” said the old man sadly.“It was I  43  painted the pictures forty years ago.  44  I had heard your praise then！For you see, I got discouraged and 45  drawing—too soon.”

1.                A．expected       B．wished         C．visited    D．requested

2.                A．wanted         B．made          C．had  D．hoped

3.                A．why           B．which          C．that  D．whether

4.                A．up            B．over           C．on   D．down

5.                A．rude           B．talented        C．kind D．creative

6.                A．woman         B．man           C．artist D．poet

7.                A．but            B．and            C．or   D．otherwise

8.                A．speak          B．apologize       C．lie   D．listen

9.                A．annoyed        B．disappointed     C．delighted D．puzzled

10.               A．achievement    B．adjustment      C．judgment  D．statement

11.               A．turning up      B．making up       C．taking up  D．looking up

12.               A．look at         B．glare at         C．aim at D．stare at

13.               A．pretty          B．famouse        C．young D．talented

14.               A．first           B．second         C．third  D．last

15.               A．enthusiastic     B．sad            C．angry D．bad

16.               A．made          B．learnt          C．taught D．given

17.               A．slightly         B．deeply         C．barely D．smoothly

18.               A．what           B．which          C．whom D．who

19.               A．Only if         B．If only          C．If so  D．If any

20.               A．insisted on      B．led to          C．headed to D．gave up