If you are human, you can’t help but experience times when everything seems to be going wrong. You must also 36 as if your life is completely out of control at times. It is during those“down times” that words of encouragement from family, friends, co-workers or 37 strangers can boost (增强) your spirits. It is also during those 38 that destructive words can be devastating (毁灭性的) and sink you deeper and deeper into depression.

For example, consider this story about a group of 39 who were travelling through the woods when 40 of them fell into a deep pit (坑). All of the other frogs gathered around the 41 . When they saw how 42 the pit was, they told the two 43frogs they would never get out.

The two frogs didn’t obey what other frogs said and tried to 44out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them not to jump, 　45 it was in vain. Finally, one of the frogs followed what the other frogs were saying and simply 46 . He fell down and 　47 . The other frog continued to jump as 48 as he could. Once again the crowd of frogs shouted at him to 49 the pain. The more they 50 , the harder he jumped and finally he 51 to safety.

When he 52 , the other frogs asked him why he continued to jump when they were all 53 him to simply quit. The frog 54 to them that he was a little bit deaf. He thought they were 55 him all the time.

36. A. think　　　　　　　　　　 B. experience　　　　 C. seem　　　　　　　　　　D. feel

37. A. so　　　　　　　　　　　 B. just　　　　　　　　　　 C. even　　　　　　　　　 D. ever

38. A. processes　　　　　　 B. times　　　　　　　　　C. courses　　　　　　　　D. practices

39. A. frogs　　　　　　　　　　 B. mice　　　　　　　　 C. dogs　　　　　　　　　　 D. cats

40. A. two　　　　　　　　　　　　B. three　　　　　　　　 C. many　　　　　　　　　　 D. few

41. A. hole　　　　　　　　　　　 B. pit　　　　　　　　　　C. water　　　　　　　　　　 D. well

42. A. muddy　　　　　　　　　 B. wide 　　　　　　　 C. deep　　　　　　　　　　 D. long

43. A. uncomfortable　　　　 B. unpleasant　　　 C. unhappy　　　　　　　　 D. unfortunate

44. A. run 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. walk 　　　　　　　 C. climb　　　　　　　　　　 D. jump

45. A. so　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. since 　　　　　　　 C. because　　　　　　　　D. although

46. A. gave out　　　　　　　　　B. gave up　　　　　 C. gave away　　　　　　 D. gave off

47. A. died　　　　　　　　　　　　B. wounded　　　　 C. destroyed　　　　　　　D. damaged

48. A. fast 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. hard　　　　　　　　　C. easily　　　　　　　　　　D. swiftly

49. A. help　　　　　　　　　　　　B. ban　　　　　　　　　 C. stop　　　　　　　　　　　D. forbid

50. A. cried 　　　　　　　　　　 B. spoke　　　　　　　 C. shouted　　　　　　　 D. read

51. A. got it　　　　　　　　　　　 B. forgot it　　　　　　 C. used it　　　　　　　　 D. made it

52. A. turned out　　　　　　　 B. kept out　　　　　　 C. got out　　　　　　　　　D. held out

53. A. talking to　　　　　　　　B. shouting at　　　　　C. throwing at　　　　　 D. speaking to

54. A. explained　　　　　　　 B. announced　　　　　 C. introduced　　　　　　D. told

55. A. encouraging　　　　　 B. helping　　　　　　　　 C. pulling　　　　　　　　　 D. dragging

When Charles Stratton was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P. T. Barnum. Mr. Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled the world together.

He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a name, General Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.

During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall. Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty five.

Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a schoolteacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.

The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about 2000 guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding marriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.

Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored(发起) “Tom Thumb” weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.

1.“Talk of the town” means 　　　.

A. it was in the newspaper

B. people spread bad rumors about it

C. it was the most popular happenings

D. it was discussed in a city meeting

2.What does the author think about Tom’s wedding?

A. It helped people cheer up in a dark time.

B. People gave it too much of their attention.

C. It was funny and ridiculous.

D. Tom and Lavinia were stupid.

3.Tom would dance on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because 　　　.

A. the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom was dancing

B. it made Tom look taller

C. the eight–foot–tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted

D. the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller

4.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A. Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.

B. People are always disappointed during war time.

C. Entertainment can serve an important purpose.

D. People should be married when they are small children.

_______that saw the trade between the two countries reach its highest point.

A. During the 1980s　　 B. That it was in the 1980’s

C. It was the 1980’s　　 D. It was in the 1980’s

八、完形填空

　　James was a famous writer. Once he wrote a play for a television about a family who came to England from Pakistan, and the problem they had was 1 down in England.

　　The play was 2 and it was bought by an American TV company. And James was invited to go to New York to 3 the production. He lived in Oulwich, 4 is an hour’ s journey 5 Heathrow(an air port in London).The flight was to leave at 8:30 a.m., 6 he had to be a the airport about 7:30 in the morning.

　　He ordered a taxi for 6:30, 7 his alarm clock for 5:45 and went to bed. 8 he forgot to wind the clock,and it stopped shortly after midnight. Also the taxi-driver had to work very late that night and overslept.

　　James woke with the terrible feeling that 9 was wrong.He looked at his alarm clock.It. 10 there there silently with the hands 11 to ten past twelve.He turned on the radio and discovered 12 .He swore（咒骂）quietly and switched on the electric kettle（电壶）.

　　He was just 13 the boiling water into the teapot 14 the nine o’clock pips(报时声) sounded on the radio. The announcer began to read the news.“...reports are coming in o a crash（坠毁）near Heathrow Airport. A Boeing 707 left for New York crashed shortly after after taking 15 this morning. Flight number 2234...” James turned pale.

　　“My flight.”he said out loud. “If I hadn’t overslept, I would have been on that plane.”

1.A.settling B. visiting C. getting D. moving

2.A. surprising success B. surprisingly successful

C. successfully surprising D. successful surprise

3.A. carry out B. help out C. bring out D. help with

4.A. that B. which C. it D. as

5.A. out of B. far from C. away from D. away off

6.A. for B. so C. because D. since

7.A. sets B. being set C. set D. setting

8.A. fortunately B. Luckily C. Unfortunately D. Happily

9.A. he B. it C. anything D. something

10.A. went B. stopped C. struck D. looked

11.A. pointing B. going C. set D. raised

12.A. that it was, in fact, ten o’ clock 

　 B. it was in fact that ten o’ clock

   C. hat it was ,in fact ,ten to nine 

   D. in fact ,that was ten to nine

13.A. putting B. sending C. pouring D. entering

14.A. while B. as C. during D. when

15.A. off B. down C. away D. out

Mr. Black and Mr. White were two very famous artists in the city. Their drawings were also very popular in the city. But they tried to see who could draw the best picture.
　 One day they asked an old man to be the judge. Mr. Black drew an apple tree. He put his picture in the field. Soon the birds came and tried to eat the apples. The old man saw it and said, “You have certainly won. Mr. White cannot draw so good a picture as yours. But we will go to see his picture.”
　 They went to Mr. White’s house. There were nothing but red beautiful curtains on the wall. The old man asked, “Where is your picture, Mr. White?” He said, “Lift the curtains, and you will find my picture.” The old man tried to lift the curtains but found that they were drawn there. They were Mr. White’s picture. The old man said, “Birds thought the apples were real. Men thought the curtains were real. So Mr. White won. His picture is the best one.”
56. Mr. Black drew ___ .
A. an apple tree　　　 B. the best picture　　　　
C. curtains　　　　　 D. birds
57. The old man thought Mr. Black’s picture was good because　　　 .
　 A. it was in the field　　　 B. it was an apple tree　　　　　
　 C. the birds liked it　　　　 D. the birds thought it was real
58. Mr. White’s picture was ___ .
　 A. an apple tree　　　 B. curtains　　 C. nothing　　 D. an old man
59. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
　 A. The birds came and ate the apples up.　　
　 B. The old man said Mr. White’s picture was the best one at last.
　 C. The two pictures were not so good.
　 D. The curtains on the wall were real.