Mark was walking home from school one day when he saw a boy in front of him. He had dropped all of the books he was   16 , along with two sweaters, a basketball and a walkman (随身听).
Mark stopped and helped the boy pick the things up.   17  they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of his things. As they walked, Mark   18  that the boy’s name was Bill. He loved computer games, basketball, music and history,   19  he was having trouble with some of his   20  in school.
They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was   21  in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed   22  with a few laughs and some small talk, then Mark went home.
They continued to   23  each other at school, had lunch together once or twice a week, and then they   24  finished middle school. Three weeks before they left school, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
Bill reminded Mark of the day years ago when they had first   25 . “Did you ever wonder   26  I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.
“You see, I cleaned out my locker (锁柜) because I didn’t want to leave   27  for anyone else. I was going home to kill myself. But after we   28  some time together talking and laughing, I   29  that if I killed myself, I would have missed many good times. So you see, Mark, when you   30  those books that day, you actually saved my life.”

Simon is reading his e-friend’s views on the net. Let’s have a look!

1.Whose topic was read by the most students?

A. Mike’s.     B. Nick’s.        C. Kitty’s.        D. Jim’s.

2.Why does Kitty begin to hate playing the piano?

A. Because she has no time to play it.

B. Because she can’t watch matches.

C. Because she has to play it for a long time every day.

D. Because she can’t keep up with others.

3.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Mike has training class at weekends.

B. Kitty doesn’t like playing the piano at all.

C. Nick is a fan of the England team.

D. Jim is not pleased with the striker.

Linda Evans was my best friend—like the sister I never had. We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, horseback riding.

　　When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special time—like my wedding (婚礼) and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back, stamped “Address (地址) Unknown. ” I had no idea how to find Linda.

　　Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share (分享) happiness of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.

　　One day I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman — Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans,” I thought, but J still wrote to her.

　　She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs Tobin!” she said excitedly, “Linda Evans Wagman is my mother. ”

　　Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much, even after 40 years, laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: We won’t lose each other again!

根据以上短文内容，然后从每题所给的四个选项中选择最佳选项。

1. The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans _______.

A. at the age of 13                 

B. before she got married

C. after they moved to new homes   

D. before the writer’s family moved away

2.They didn’t often write to each other because they _______.

A. got married                   

B. had little time to do so

C. didn’t like writing letters        

D. could see each other on special time

3.There was an empty place in the writer’s heart be­cause she _______.

A. was in trouble               

B. didn’t know Linda’s address

C. received the card that she sent  

D. didn’t have a friend like Linda to share her happi­ness or sadness

4.The writer was happy when she _______.

A. read the newspaper         

B. heard Linda’s voice on the phone

C. met a young woman who looked a lot like Linda

D. wrote to the woman whose last name was Wagman

5.They haven’t kept in touch _______.

A. for about 40 years          

B. for about 27 years

C. since they got married      

D. since the writer’s family moved away

Sam lived in a small village. His mother was often ill and he had to spend much money on medicine. And when he was twenty-eight, he borrowed some money from his friends and married. His wife was beautiful but came from a poor family. So she could not help him. She had to tell her husband to find work in the town. She hoped he would get much money to pay for his debt(债). They young man thought she was right and had to say goodbye to her and left.

The young man could neither read nor write. Of course nobody would employ (雇用) such a man like him in the town. He had to go to an island and planted trees for a farmer there. The island was small and there were only three men on it. They lived a hard life and Sam missed his mother and wife very much. He wanted to write to them, but he couldn’t. Luckily, Charlie, who was in school for five years, helped him. Sam asked the farmer to post the letter for him. From then on he waited for the answer every day. About two months later the farmer brought his wife’s letter to the island. He was very happy but he didn’t read it. He had to ask Charlie to help him again.

The farmer came out of the house and found Sam was stopping Charlie’s ears while he was listening to the young man reading it. It surprised the farmer and he asked, “What are you doing it for, Sam?”

“I can’t let him hear my wife’s letter!”

1.Sam’s wife was a _____________ woman.

A. nice and rich????? ????????????? ????????????? B. beautiful but poor??? ????????????? C. kind and strong

2.Sam had to go to the town to find work because _________.

A. the town was a good place????????????? B. he could read and write??? C. he had to pay for his debt

3.The life on the island was ______________.

A. difficult??????????? ????????????? B. easy?????????????? ????????????? C. relaxing

4.Who posted the letter for Sam?

A. Charlie.???????????? ????????????? B. The farmer.??????? ????????????? ????????????? C. Sam himself.

5.From the story we know Sam was a ___________.

A. rude man???????? ????????????? ????????????? B. kind and hard-working man?????? C. cruel husband