“Happy Birthday!” David awoke to the voice of his mother. “It’s time to get up and drive out to 35  grandfather’s farm.”  
“Why do we have to go there? And how long is the drive?” he asked with a sad look in his eyes.
“About two hours…and don’t worry, we’ ll bring your birthday   36  with us.” His mother walked away and left him to get ready. 
In less than an hour, David and his parents were on their way.   37  of what the colorful birthday packages had inside filled his head. He was   38  that one had the baseball glove he wanted, while others would have amazing things that he had dreamed about. Thinking of his grandfather, David   39  what his birthday present from him might be. 
“Since my grandfather has a large farm, he must have a lot of money, and the bigger his present for me will be,” David said to himself.
Finally they   40 . Hugging his grandfather, David excitedly shouted, “I’ve missed you! You know, today’s my birthday. Did you get me a present?”
“I have missed you, too. And I have a very   41  present for you.”
Placing a small box in David’s hand, he quietly said, “This is a very important gift. I hope you will treasure it as   42  as I have.”  
David looked at the small box, thinking money or jewels might be inside…. When he opened the box, David was   43  to see only a stone. It was a very beautiful stone, but was it valuable?
Grandfather spoke more slowly than before, “David, when your grandma and I were first married, we had very little money. She wanted to give me something special for my birthday, so she found this beautiful rock and polished(打磨)it day and night   44  it shined. It was the greatest gift I ever   45  because it came from your grandma’s heart. Now, I want you to have it because it comes from my heart.” 
David held the stone in his hand and   46  the love of his grandfather. “This is a wonderful gift…thank you, Grandfather.” He knew he had received the best gift ever. 

“Happy Birthday!” David awoke to the voice of his mother. “It’s time to get up and drive out to 35  grandfather’s farm.”  

“Why do we have to go there? And how long is the drive?” he asked with a sad look in his eyes.

“About two hours…and don’t worry, we’ ll bring your birthday   36  with us.” His mother walked away and left him to get ready. 

In less than an hour, David and his parents were on their way.   37  of what the colorful birthday packages had inside filled his head. He was   38  that one had the baseball glove he wanted, while others would have amazing things that he had dreamed about. Thinking of his grandfather, David   39  what his birthday present from him might be. 

“Since my grandfather has a large farm, he must have a lot of money, and the bigger his present for me will be,” David said to himself.

Finally they   40 . Hugging his grandfather, David excitedly shouted, “I’ve missed you! You know, today’s my birthday. Did you get me a present?”

“I have missed you, too. And I have a very   41  present for you.”

Placing a small box in David’s hand, he quietly said, “This is a very important gift. I hope you will treasure it as   42  as I have.”  

David looked at the small box, thinking money or jewels might be inside…. When he opened the box, David was   43  to see only a stone. It was a very beautiful stone, but was it valuable?

Grandfather spoke more slowly than before, “David, when your grandma and I were first married, we had very little money. She wanted to give me something special for my birthday, so she found this beautiful rock and polished(打磨)it day and night   44  it shined. It was the greatest gift I ever   45  because it came from your grandma’s heart. Now, I want you to have it because it comes from my heart.” 

David held the stone in his hand and   46  the love of his grandfather. “This is a wonderful gift…thank you, Grandfather.” He knew he had received the best gift ever. 

“The only thing holding you back is yourself. Never say never”, said a rising 17-year-old singer, Justin Bieber, who was just an ordinary boy in Canada a few years ago.
After the accident of falling from the 18^th floor and lying in the snow for three hours, my hands were frozen and my spinal cord (脊髓)was seriously injured. All the doctors and professors in the famous hospitals in Beijing told me that there was little chance for my hands and my body to recover (康复).
After half a year of medical treatments and recovering exercises, I could not make any more progress for over a year. What was worse , I suffered a lot from depression (绝望). On top of this, I suffered from insomnia, making every minute of the night seem to last forever. Hopelessly, mom and I came back to my hometown, which is small town in Guangdong.
At that time, I thought that I would never be able to walk again. I would never love and be loved. I would never be able to earn even a penny. I would never be able to repay the kindness I got from my parents and many nice people. Life was meaningless.
Now two years has passed. My hands are 80% recovered. I can even type faster than a healthy person! Up to now, I have worked for a law firm as an interpreter for half a year already. Although I don’t earn as much as before, I am able to pay for the food and clothes I need. What’s more, I even have extra money to buy thanksgiving presents for my parents and my boyfriend. Through my blogs (博客) , many people get to know me and like me. I can bring happiness to them. I can help those who are still suffering from depression and the pain of illnesses by chatting with them….You see, I am living a meaningful life and I am happier than ever I could have dreamed.
So, my friends, never say never. As long as you are alive, there is always hope and possibilities. It is never too late to take action to realize your dreams.     (382 words)

1. 1.

   What’s the writer’s present job?

   1. A.
      A singer
   2. B.
      A typist
   3. C.
      A professor
   4. D.
      An interpreter
2. 2.

   What does the underlined word “insomnia” in the third paragraph mean in Chinese?

   1. A.
      失眠
   2. B.
      失忆
   3. C.
      麻木
   4. D.
      低烧
3. 3.

   All of the following words can be used to describe the writer’s present life EXCEPT___________

   1. A.
      helpful
   2. B.
      meaningful
   3. C.
      painful
   4. D.
      hopeful
4. 4.

   According to the passage, which of the following statements about the writer is TRUE?

   1. A.
      She gets a lot of help through her blogs
   2. B.
      She is in love with a young man at present
   3. C.
      She got medical treatment soon after the accident
   4. D.
      She had no job and earned little before the accident