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. Then he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal --- the tomb. He had already passed sixty of the stages leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. Now his health was poor, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age short of comforts.
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 where devils and poisonous snakes hissed and crawled.
He looked towards the sky and cried painfully, “O youth, return! O my father, place me once more at the entrance to life, and I’ll choose the better way!” But both his father and the days of his youth had passed away.
He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness. These were the days of his wasted life; he saw a star fall down from the sky and disappeared, and this was the symbol of himself. His regret, which was like a sharp arrow, struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood, who entered on life together with him. But they had made their way to success and were now honored and happy on this New Year’s Night.
The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents’ early love for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose the wrong way. With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his father lived. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort, he burst out a cry: “Come back, my early days! Come back!”
And his youth did return, for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year’s 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 on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain: “O youth, return! Oh give me back my early days!”
【小题1】We can learn from the passage that ____.

It is quite common for a working man to make ______ for his old age by putting aside enough money to live on.

    A.adjustment       B. supply          C.assurance      D. provision

第三节：完形填空（共两部分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项（18分）

Several years ago, I worked in a company as a driver. One day in the company when I was cleaning my   41    which was getting dirty from running outside, I noticed the owner’s elderly father making his   42   to his grandson. The old man was fond of fishing all his life. He usually stayed at home because of his old age, but this time he   43   to ask the kid to take him fishing. The grandson said, ‘I’m not taking you! It’s   44  than taking a kid.’

His answer broke my heart. I stopped working immediately and headed back home. I took everything I needed and then   45  . On the way I stopped at a store and bought a bobber (钓鱼的浮子). When I got to the company, I   46   the old man to go fishing near the river.

When we got there, I put him in the chair at the edge of the   47  , cast the line, and handed him the fishing pole (鱼竿). It wasn’t long before the bobber started to dance; he handed the pole to me. I took the fish off, cast, and   48   handed the pole to him. This went on, one fish after another, for over an hour until he told me he was   49   and needed to go home.

When I got him home, I gave the fish to his daughter-in-law with instructions to make sure he got them for dinner and then I   50  . Two weeks later, the old man died. His family told me later that all he talked about during that time was his last fishing trip.

Whenever you get the   51  , don’t forget to stay with your grandpa. Someday, you may be in the same place and you’ll want your family to   52   you too.

41.  A. chair               B. car                           C. bag                   D. taxi

42.  A. point            B. decision                   C. way                  D. mind

43.  A. went away      B. moved ahead            C. came out           D. stood up

44.  A. safer             B. easier                       C. quicker             D. worse

45.  A. returned           B. worked                    C. rested                D. studied

46.  A. taught                  B. suggested                 C. ordered             D. invited

47.  A. street             B. water                       C. sea                   D. hill

48.  A. suddenly       B. therefore                  C. again                D. lately

49.  A. disappointed     B. excited               C. worried             D. tired

50.  A. played       B. exercised                  C. left                   D. slept

51.  A. chance       B. experience         C. information          D. number

52.  A. look for      B. stare at               C. turn into      D. care about

第三节：完形填空（共两部分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项（18分）
Several years ago, I worked in a company as a driver. One day in the company when I was cleaning my   41    which was getting dirty from running outside, I noticed the owner’s elderly father making his   42   to his grandson. The old man was fond of fishing all his life. He usually stayed at home because of his old age, but this time he   43   to ask the kid to take him fishing. The grandson said, ‘I’m not taking you! It’s   44  than taking a kid.’
His answer broke my heart. I stopped working immediately and headed back home. I took everything I needed and then   45  . On the way I stopped at a store and bought a bobber (钓鱼的浮子). When I got to the company, I   46   the old man to go fishing near the river.
When we got there, I put him in the chair at the edge of the   47  , cast the line, and handed him the fishing pole (鱼竿). It wasn’t long before the bobber started to dance; he handed the pole to me. I took the fish off, cast, and   48   handed the pole to him. This went on, one fish after another, for over an hour until he told me he was   49   and needed to go home.
When I got him home, I gave the fish to his daughter-in-law with instructions to make sure he got them for dinner and then I   50  . Two weeks later, the old man died. His family told me later that all he talked about during that time was his last fishing trip.
Whenever you get the   51  , don’t forget to stay with your grandpa. Someday, you may be in the same place and you’ll want your family to   52   you too.
41.  A. chair               B. car                           C. bag                   D. taxi
42.  A. point            B. decision                   C. way                  D. mind
43.  A. went away      B. moved ahead            C. came out           D. stood up
44.  A. safer             B. easier                       C. quicker             D. worse
45.  A. returned           B. worked                    C. rested                D. studied
46.  A. taught                  B. suggested                 C. ordered             D. invited
47.  A. street             B. water                       C. sea                   D. hill
48.  A. suddenly       B. therefore                  C. again                D. lately
49.  A. disappointed     B. excited               C. worried             D. tired
50.  A. played       B. exercised                  C. left                   D. slept
51.  A. chance       B. experience         C. information          D. number
52.  A. look for      B. stare at               C. turn into      D. care about

Description: Bayer Aspirin (generic name: acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) is often used to relieve minor aches and pains, reduce fever and inflammation. Reducing the risk of death due to a heart attack if taken as soon as a heart attack is suspected. Aspirin taken during a suspected heart attack can also lessen the damaging effects of the heart attack. Aspirin can prevent first heart attack and stroke in individuals with angina.

–Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking Aspirin.

–Do not take it if you are allergic to this medicines.

–Do not take it if there is something wrong with your kidney.

B

Description: SleepWell is a natural herbal medicine which contains ardostchya Jatamanshi and Ferula Narthex raw material. It helps to overcome sleep disorders such as insomnia and restlessness by facilitating the process of falling asleep and providing restful, deep sleep. The benefits of SleepWell include: promotion of good disposition; relief of depression, anxiety and fear; mood swings get less severe; non-drowsy formula without any addictive potential; effective in patients suffering from depression and ailments that cause shaking.

–1 capsule in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening, half hour before going to sleep.

C

Description: Ultracet contains a combination of tramadol and acetaminophen. Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever. Ultracet is used to treat moderate to severe pain. You should not take Ultracet if you are allergic to acetaminophen or tramadol, if you are intoxicated (drunk), or if you have recently used narcotic pain medicine, a sedative or tranquilizer, medicine for depression or mental illness, or any type of drug dealing with stress.

         –Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Ultracet. Alcohol may cause a dangerous decrease in your breathing when used together with Ultracet.

–Do not take it if you have a history of head injury, kidney disease, liver disease.

D

Description: Ibuprofen is used to reduce fever and treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as headache, toothache, back pain, minor injury, especially effective in patient suffering from arthritis. Ibuprofen may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke.

–Do not use ibuprofen you have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding;asthma; kidney disease; or if you smoke.

–You should not use this medication if you are allergic to ibuprofen, aspirin 

E

Description: Vicodin contains a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Vicodin is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

Vicodin may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how Vicodin will affect you.

It may increase your risk of liver damage.

–Do not take it if you have asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders.

–Do not take it if you are having pills dealing with stress; or a history of drug addiction.

F

Description: Tylenol is used for treating minor aches and pains due to headache, muscle aches, backache, the common cold, flu, toothache, menstrual cramps, and immunizations, and for temporarily reducing fever, especially effective in patient suffering from arthritis.

–Do not take it if you are having pills dealing with stress, if you have a history of alcohol abuse or you drink more than 3 alcohol-containing drinks every day.

–Do not take it if you have any lung disease and liver disease.

请阅读以下人物信息，然后匹配人物能够使用的药品：

1.Davidson Hamilton is a college graduate, but he hasn’t found an ideal work yet. He gets nervous easily in the interview and he is always disappointed at his failure. He thinks his life is filled with too much depression. His anxiety and depression lead to his sleep disorder.

2.Johnson, a retired mineworker, was hit by a stone in the head when he was working ten years ago. He has suffered from stroke ever since he was retired. Due to his old age, he has some lung problem and sometimes he finds it hard to breathe. These days, he has been suffering from headache.

3.Williams was heavily addicted to alcohol when his business failed 2 years ago. Now because of intaking too much wine, he suffers from headache every day. Congenital heart disease doesn’t allow him to take any medicine which causes heart problem and he is allergic to aspirin.

4.Miller, with a slight kidney problem, works as a truck driver in International Freighting Corporation. His work is to deliver goods to different parts of the US. Sometimes, he has to go through a long drive without any meal. So he has been suffering from stomachache for a long time. He caught a cold yesterday and is having a fever now.

5.Davis, an excutive of a compamy, is facing a lot of pressure every day. He often takes medicine treating stress disorder. Recently, he has been suffering from arthritis, which brings him a lot of pain. He wants to have some medicine which can ease his pain effectively.