Leo was a little boy．He was very frightened of ghosts．One morning，when he was having

breakfast，his elder brother Sammy said to him，“Leo，last night I saw a ghost boy in our house!”

Hearing this，Leo began to cry．

★“What is the matter?” asked Leo’s mother．“I’m scared!” cried Leo．“I don’t want to share our house with a ghost! I’m staying awake all night tonight!” “He’s not scaly，really，”explained Sammy．“He is very kind and helpful．You don’t have to worry．”

★At 9 o’clock that night，Leo’s mother told him to get ready for bed．“Good night．Leo．”she said．Sleep well!” Leo lay there in the darkness．wide awake．

★  Sleep was impossible．Suddenly，Leo felt as if someone was watching him．He looked around，but he couldn’t see anything．He lay back down．Then he heard a boy’s nice voice．“Go to sleep．Close your eyes，please．”Leo closed his eyes and began to relax．“There，there，”said the voice again．“It is time for sleep now．Sweet dreams，Leo．”Within a few minutes，Leo was fast asleep．At this time．Leo's mother saw Sammy walk secretly out of Leo’s bedroom．

根据短文内容，选择正确答案。

（  ）1．Which word has the same meaning as the underlined word “frightened”?

A．Excited．        B．Happy．            C．Sad．             D．Afraid．

（  ）2．When did Leo fall asleep that night?

A．At 9 o’clock．                              B．Before 9 o’clock．

C．After 9 o’clock．                           D．At 9：30．

（  ）3．Why did Leo fall asleep quickly?

A．Because he was too tired．                B．Because he liked sleeping．

C．Because a voice made him comfortable．                                      D．Because his bed was comfortable．

（  ）4．Who do you think may be the ghost”?

A．Nobody．          B．Sammy．          C．Leo’s mother．     D．Leo，s father．

（  ）5．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Leo was a brave little boy and he Wash’t scared of anything．

B．Leo told his mother he wouldn’t sleep that night．

C．Sammy told a lie and there wasn’t a ghost at a11．

D．Leo’s mother knew the fact at last．

    I was going home at five yesterday. I got on a bus. A mother with her little boy was sitting nearby. Suddenly the boy cried. His mother tried her best to make the boy stop crying. But the boy would not do so. At last a man sitting next to her said angrily, “Oh, how that boy cries. Why don't you give him what he wants?”“I would if I could.” answered the mother quietly. “But he wants your cap.”

(1)I went home by bike yesterday.

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(2)A mother with a boy was sitting nearby.

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(3)The boy cried suddenly.

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(4)The mother made the boy cry.

(　　)

(5)A man nearby got angry.

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(6)The boy wanted the man's cap.

(　　    )

  It was New Year’s Night. An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surface of a clear calm lake.
He had already passed sixty and brought from his journey nothing but errors and regrets. Now his health was poor, his mind vacant and his heart sorrowful.
The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads- one leading to a peaceful, sunny place, covered with flowers, fruits and filled with soft, sweet songs; the other leading to a deep, dark cave, which was endless, where poison flowed instead of water and devils and poisonous snake hissed ( 发嘶嘶声) and crawled (爬, 爬行).
He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness. These were the days of his wasted life; he saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared, and this was the symbol of himself. His regret like a sharp arrow struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood. But they had made their way to success and were now honoured and happy on this night.
The high church clock struck and the sound made him remember his parents’ early love for him. They had taught him and prayed for his good. But he chose the wrong way. With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort, he burst out a cry: “Come back, my early days!”
His youth did return, for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year Night. He was still young though his faults were real; he had not yet entered the deep, dark cave, and he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.
Those who still wander on the entrance of life, hesitating to choose the bright road, remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble (绊脚) on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain（徒劳）: “ Oh youth, return! Oh give me back my early days!”
【小题1】 Why does the author set his story on New Year’s Night?