After my husband died, my world crashed around me. My six children were 10, nine, eight, six, three and 18 months, and I was overwhelmed(压垮) with the responsibilities(责任) of earning a living, caring for the children and simply keeping my head above water.
I was lucky to find a wonderful housekeeper to care for the children during the week, but from Friday nights to Monday mornings, the children and I were alone, and frankly(坦诚地) I was uneasy. Every unusual noise or any late-night phone call filled me with fear. I felt really lonely.
One Friday evening I came home from work to find a big beautiful German shepherd(牧羊犬) on our doorstep. It was obvious he wanted to make the house his home. The children took an instant（紧迫的） liking to "German" and begged me to let him in. I agreed to let him sleep in the basement(地下室) until the next day. That night I slept peacefully for the first time in many weeks. The following morning we made phone calls and checked lost-and-found ads for German’s owner, but with no results. Saturday night he was still with us.
On Sunday I had planned to take the children on a picnic. Since I thought it best to leave German behind in case his owner came by, we drove off without him. When we stopped to get gas at a local station, we were amazed to see German racing to the gas station after us. He stayed again Sunday night.
Monday morning I let him out for a run while the children got ready for school. He didn’t come back. We thought we’d never see him again. On Friday evening, German was back again. We took him in, and again he stayed until Monday morning, when our housekeeper arrived. It went like this for almost 10 months. We looked forward to his coming each Monday morning he left home.
Each week, between German's visits, I grew a little braver, but every weekend I enjoyed his company. Then one Monday morning we patted his head and let him out for what turned out to be the last time. He never came back.
【小题1】How long did the German shepherd stay with the family every week?

Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with excitement.
I followed her to the bush and found a wolf! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up suddenly! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was unbelievable!
I rushed to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have killed the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was kind to Becky. So we called the vet(兽医) finally.
Becky named the wolf Ralph and she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he disappeared but came back several days later.
On Becky's first day of school, we could see Ralph’s sadness. After Becky left school, Ralph lay by the side of the road and waited. When Becky returned, he got happy again. This continued throughout Becky’s school years.
Twelve years passed.
One day we heard that a wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were worried about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound. Becky held his head kindly and comforted him. We hoped he could come through. However, he died.
Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush—two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s child! Before he died, Ralph brought his child to us! He knew he would be safe here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph, I was moved.
“Don’t be afraid, little…little Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”

1. 1.

   The phrase “felt dry” in the second paragraph probably means “______.”

   1. A.
      felt thirsty
   2. B.
      felt happy
   3. C.
      felt nervous
   4. D.
      felt sad
2. 2.

   When the wolf Ralph died, Becky was _____ years old.

   1. A.
      three
   2. B.
      nine
   3. C.
      twelve
   4. D.
      fifteen
3. 3.

   Ralph brought his child to Becky because______.

   1. A.
      his child had to be cared for at once.
   2. B.
      he thought Becky was sure to treat his child well.
   3. C.
      his child was also hurt badly.
   4. D.
      he had to leave some time to look for food.
4. 4.

   The best title for this passage is______.

   1. A.
      The best pet of children
   2. B.
      A kind animal
   3. C.
      A kind child
   4. D.
      Becky’s good friend

阅读下列短文，从每小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
Mr Black works in a hospital (医院). As a good  1 , the people in the town like him. He’s often  2 to the patients (病人) and looks them over    carefully.  3  he’s always busy and has little time to rest.
One morning Mr Black got to the hospital and saw there was a fat woman in the  4 . He called her into his office and asked, “  5 , madam ?”
“It was my birthday yesterday, sir”, said the woman. “My husband gave me a  6 . But I couldn’t push my way in (挤进) it.”
“  7 , madam,” said Mr Black, “You must lose some weight (减肥). You’ll be able to  8 your coat, if you do all that I say.”
“You’re  9 , sir,” said the rich woman. “He bought me not a coat, but an expensive  10 .”

For many years I had a good life. My illness was reasonably (适度的) under control, I had a nice relationship with my husband, I did work, I didn't hate. It was, as I said, a good life.

   But there's a saying that the good is the enemy of the best. I finally realized this one day, and began making my best life. I changed doctors and tried a new way that could relieve(减轻) my symptoms (症状) , rather than just making them easier to deal with. I started talking more with my husband and listening to what he had to say. And I quit(辞掉) my job and started working for myself.

I have the best life I've ever had. I'd call it great. It is possible there's a better life for me, which would then be my "best life" , but for now I don't think so. I've started a business I love. My husband and kids are wonderful. I have a good friend and I'm close to my older sister who lives in town. Could it get better? I suppose so. But for me I think this is the best life I can have right now.

Think more about your life. Where are you living? Are you in a job you just don't mind? What makes your life "good" ? Why isn't it great? What's the enemy of the best and what can you do about it?

Enjoy your best life. We're only here for a short while, and we all need to have the best possible time we can. It's like going to Disney World. If you spend too much time standing in line waiting for the ride, pretty soon your time's up. Get out of the "good" line and have your best life.

1.Which of the following is NOT included in the writer's "good life" ?

 A. Having a job.                      B. Having no hate.

C. Getting on well with her husband.       D. Living close to her good friend.

2.The writer quit her job because she________.

A. was ill                     B. didn't like working

C. wanted to go for her best life   D. wanted to enjoy her good life

3.What did the writer do to make her best life?

①She visited other doctors.

②She started a business she loved.

③She played more with her kids.

④She talked more with her husband.

⑤She spent much time in Disney World.

A. ①②④  B.②③④    C.①③⑤     D.①②⑤

4. What's the enemy of the best?

A. Illness.     B. A good job.     C. Being proud.      D. Being satisfied.

5.What is the best title for the article?

A. Attitude to Life                B. Making Your Best Life

C. What Makes Your Life "Good"     D. A New Way to Treat the Illness

Dear sir,

I read your story (of the 4^th February) about the cost of living in the country rather than in the town, and I agree with most of your opinions.My husband and I lived in the middle of Horlton until two years ago a seaside (海边) town of nearly five hundred thousand people.When my husband stopped working, we moved to our present house in a small village at the foot of Roland Hill, and there is no doubt (疑问) that our costs are higher now.

I have to do my shopping in small shops, where the food is more expensive than in city supermarkets; it costs more to travel by bus; and because the men who come to mend the television or the washing-machine, have to come further, we have to pay them more.

But it does not cost us much to enjoy what is beautiful in the country; and peace and quiet are cheap.It takes many people a lot of time and money to drive into the country to enjoy the simple things of life; yet we can enjoy them just by going out of the front door.It costs more to live here than it did in Horlton, but now life really is worth (值得) living.

Yours faithfully,

Edith Randall (Mrs)

1.Horlton was __________.

A．a very big city

B．a small village beside the sea

C．a town of nearly 500,000 people

D．a small village at the foot of Roland Hill

2.It costs more to live in the country because __________.

A．the men who mend the television have to come by bus

B．food costs more in small shops

C．the television goes wrong more often in the country

D．Mrs Randall has to travel by bus to the city supermarket

3.Although it costs less to live in a town, __________.

A．life is more worth living in the country

B．we can’t enjoy the beautiful view

C．it costs more to live in Horlton

D．life is worth living only when you live in a small village