She is only 12 years old but lives only with her younger sister. Her parents are far away from home, and she has to take care of her younger sister. She is He Can, a student at Anqing Jiangzhen Middle School in Anhui, one of the “stay-at-home children” in her town. To make money, these kids’ parents go to big cities to find jobs. Their children have to stay at home because they have to go to school.    
He Can’s parents left home when she was only four. They only come back for the Spring Festival every year. Because she had to live with different relatives at different times, He Can went to eight different primary schools.    
“I used to complain,” she said. “But later I understood my parents. They have to go away to make a better life for us.” He Can said her frequently (频繁地) changing life also has a good side.    
“When I went to a new school, I had to try to make friends,” said He Can. “I became outgoing. Now I’m not afraid of talking to people.”    
He Can said her relatives were kind to her. They taught her how to cook and wash clothes.     
When He Can was going to start junior high school, her parents agreed to let her live out with her younger sister. She rents a house near the school. Sometimes their grandmother comes over and helps them.    
Every day, He Can gets up at 6:00 am and cooks breakfast. Then the two girls go to school. They have supper at 6:00 pm. Then He Can does chores and helps her sister take a shower. She usually goes to bed at 9:30 pm.    
Though busy, He Can is still a top student in her class. She said the secret is never to put things off until tomorrow.    
“I think my life is OK,” she said. “But if possible, I would like my parents to settle down (安顿下来) and live with us.”
【小题1】Why does He Can live only with her younger sister?

The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light，I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff（东西） they call “books”。
I was going to have my examination the next day. “When can I go to bed？” I asked myself. I didn’t answer，In fact I dared not.
The clock struck twelve. “ Oh，dear！” I cried. “Ten more books to read before I can go to bed！” We pupils are the most wretched creatures（生物） in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy.
The clock struck one. I was quite desperate（绝望的）now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed，“Oh，God，please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards，Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later，with my head on the desk，I fell asleep.
【小题1】The underlined word “wretched”in Paragraph 3 probably means _______ .

第三部分、阅读理解（共15个小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项。
It was a sunny summer day last year when I got the news that I was admitted by the university.
Soon the news spread all over the village. Hearing the news, my parents were more than(不止) happy: big smiles formed on their faces. But behind their happiness and pride for my success, I noticed my parents worries about the heavy financial burden on their shoulders. I kept being calm.
In order to prepare for my study expenses, my parents worked hard day after day all that summer. And the day finally came when I had to go to school which was far away from my hometown. I still remember it was in the morning that we arrived at the bus station. My parents had helped me get everything ready. It was so hot that day: the scorching sun baked the ground dry. The heated air was filled with the crowds’ noise and all kinds of smells coming from the station. Sweat streamed down my parents’face. I took my seat on the 11 AM bus and looked at my parents through the window, waiting for the bus to start. Two minutes to 11:00！ My heart leapt (强烈跳动). I suddenly recalled all the efforts they made for me, all the energy and all the sweat they spent on me. They were so selfless! I almost burst into tears! While I kept my tears back, I turned around, for I didn’t want them to see me crying…
The last moment came. The bus started and was moving further away from my parents. They waved at me and I turned toward them, watching their shadows disappearing gradually into the sea of people. I, an 18-year-old girl, who had never left my hometown, began my long trip to my school.
I didn’t know what would the future be, but I knew that I would have a long way to go, and I believe I could be brave enough to take up all the challenges in my future life with my family’s love, their wordless and selfless love.
I will be always thankful for this love.
56.From the passage, we can learn that ______.
A.her parents are very rich and generous
B.her parents wouldn’t support the writer to further study
C.her parents think high education is very important for their child
D.her parents have been always happy on hearing the news
57.The writer’s parents have the following feelings except _______ according to the passage.
A. pride     B. happiness     C. worry      D. regret
58.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Her parents worked hard day and night in order to prepare for the study cost.
B. Her parents had helped her get everything ready before she arrived at the station in the morning.
C. It was so hot and windy and they feel comfortable.
D. The writer took her seat on the 11 PM bus and looked at her parents through the window.
59.Which of the following is the closest in the meaning to the underlined word?
A. Provided.  B. Understood.   C. Offered.    D. Remembered.

In early autumn I applied for admission to college. I wanted to go nowhere but to Cornell University, but my mother fought strongly against it. When she saw me studying a photograph of my father on the sports ground of Cornell, she tore it up.
“You can’t say it’s not a great university, just because Papa went there.”
“That’s not it at all. And it is a top university.” She was still holding the pieces in her hand. “But we can’t afford to send you to college.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking you for money. Do you want me to get a job to help support you and Papa? Things aren’t that bad, are they?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t expect you to help support us.”
Father borrowed money form his rich cousins to start a small jewellery shop, His chief customers were his old college friends. To get new customers, my mother had to help. She picked up a long-forgotten membership in the local league of women, so that she could get to know more people. Whether those people would turn into customers was another question. I knew that my Parents had to wait for quite a long time before their small investment (投资) could show returns. What’s more, they had not wanted enough to be rich and successful ；Otherwise they could not possibly have managed their lives so badly.
I was torn between the desire to help them and change their lives, and the determination not to repeat their mistakes. I had a strong belief in my power to go what I wanted. After months of hard study I won a full college scholarship（奖学金）.My father could hardly contain his pride in me, and my mother eventually gave in before my success.
【小题1】The author was not allowed to go to Cornell University mainly because      .