PART THREE   READING COMPREHENSION (30%)
Directions: Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage
They say a cat has nine lives, and I think that possible since I am now living my third life and I’m not even a cat. My father died when I was 15, and we had a hard struggle to make a living. And my mother, who was seriously ill in her last years, died while still in her 60s. My sister married soon after, and I followed her example within the year.
This was when I began to enjoy my first life. I was very happy, in excellent health. I had a good job in San Jose and a beautiful home up the peninsula (半岛) in San Carlos. Life was a pleasant dream. Then the dream ended. I became afflicted (使苦恼) with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, affecting first my right arm and leg, and then my other side. Thus began my second life...
In spite of my disease I still drove to and from work each day, with the aid of special equipment installed in my car. And I managed to keep my health and optimism (乐观), to a degree, because of 14 steps. Crazy? Not at all. Our home was an affair with 14 steps leading up from the garage to the kitchen door. Those steps were a standard measure of life. They were my yardstick, my challenge to continue living. I felt that if the day arrived when I was unable to lift one foot up one step and then drag the other painfully after it ---repeating the process 14 times, I would be through---I could then admit defeat and lie down and die.
Then on a dark night in August, 1971, I began my third life. It was raining when I started home that night; strong winds and slashing rain beat down on the car as I drove slowly down one of the less-traveled roads. Suddenly the steering wheel jerked (猝然一动). In the same instant I heard the bang of a blowout. It was impossible for me to change that tire! Utterly impossible!
I started the engine and thumped slowly along until I came to the dirt road, where I turned in and where I found lighted windows welcomed me to a house and pulled into the driveway and honked the horn.
The door opened and a little girl stood there. When she knew what happened to me, she went into the house and a moment later came out, followed by a man who called a cheerful greeting. I sat there comfortable and dry, and felt a bit sorry for the man and the little girl working so hard in the storm.
About an hour later, the man’s voice was heard, “This is a bad night for car trouble, but you’re all set now.” “Thanks,” I said. “How much do I owe you?” He shook his head, “Nothing. Cynthia told me you were a cripple. Glad to be of help. I know you’d do the same for me. There’s no charge, friend.” I held out a five-dollar bill, “No! I like to pay my way.” He made no effort to take it and the little girl stepped closer to the window and said quietly, “Grandpa can’t see it.”
56. “A cat has nine lives” here means ___________.
A. a cat can live nine times longer than any other animal  B .a cat can die ninth
C .a lucky man can not die easily                     D the writer will live nine times
57. What do you think of the man who helped change the tire?
A. Old, warm-hearted but pitiable             
B. Blind, but warm-hearted and happy
C. A blind old man that has nothing to do every day.
D. A poor old man that is always ready to help others.
58. How will the story be ended?
A. The writer paid the little girl but the old man did not accept.
B. The writer drove away with tears running down his cheek.
C. The writer stayed there, without knowing what to do and how to do it.
D. In the next few frozen seconds the writer felt the shame and astonishment he had never felt
before.
59. How do you understand the underlined sentence “I followed my sister’s example?”
A.  He listened to his sister carefully.
B  Mother told him that he must get the agreement from his sister for whatever he would do.
C  His sister got married. He, too.
D  His sister was a great woman.. He must learn from her.
60. The best title for this passage perhaps will be _____.
A.The Old Man and His Daughter              B. Heart Leaping Up
C.Never Lose Heart                        D. Good Will Be Rewarded Good

PART THREE   READING COMPREHENSION (30%)

Directions: Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage

They say a cat has nine lives, and I think that possible since I am now living my third life and I’m not even a cat. My father died when I was 15, and we had a hard struggle to make a living. And my mother, who was seriously ill in her last years, died while still in her 60s. My sister married soon after, and I followed her example within the year.

This was when I began to enjoy my first life. I was very happy, in excellent health. I had a good job in San Jose and a beautiful home up the peninsula (半岛) in San Carlos. Life was a pleasant dream. Then the dream ended. I became afflicted (使苦恼) with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, affecting first my right arm and leg, and then my other side. Thus began my second life...

In spite of my disease I still drove to and from work each day, with the aid of special equipment installed in my car. And I managed to keep my health and optimism (乐观), to a degree, because of 14 steps. Crazy? Not at all. Our home was an affair with 14 steps leading up from the garage to the kitchen door. Those steps were a standard measure of life. They were my yardstick, my challenge to continue living. I felt that if the day arrived when I was unable to lift one foot up one step and then drag the other painfully after it ---repeating the process 14 times, I would be through---I could then admit defeat and lie down and die.

Then on a dark night in August, 1971, I began my third life. It was raining when I started home that night; strong winds and slashing rain beat down on the car as I drove slowly down one of the less-traveled roads. Suddenly the steering wheel jerked (猝然一动). In the same instant I heard the bang of a blowout. It was impossible for me to change that tire! Utterly impossible!

I started the engine and thumped slowly along until I came to the dirt road, where I turned in and where I found lighted windows welcomed me to a house and pulled into the driveway and honked the horn.

The door opened and a little girl stood there. When she knew what happened to me, she went into the house and a moment later came out, followed by a man who called a cheerful greeting. I sat there comfortable and dry, and felt a bit sorry for the man and the little girl working so hard in the storm.

About an hour later, the man’s voice was heard, “This is a bad night for car trouble, but you’re all set now.” “Thanks,” I said. “How much do I owe you?” He shook his head, “Nothing. Cynthia told me you were a cripple. Glad to be of help. I know you’d do the same for me. There’s no charge, friend.” I held out a five-dollar bill, “No! I like to pay my way.” He made no effort to take it and the little girl stepped closer to the window and said quietly, “Grandpa can’t see it.”

56. “A cat has nine lives” here means ___________.

A. a cat can live nine times longer than any other animal  B .a cat can die ninth

C .a lucky man can not die easily                     D the writer will live nine times

57. What do you think of the man who helped change the tire?

A. Old, warm-hearted but pitiable             

B. Blind, but warm-hearted and happy

C. A blind old man that has nothing to do every day.

D. A poor old man that is always ready to help others.

58. How will the story be ended?

A. The writer paid the little girl but the old man did not accept.

B. The writer drove away with tears running down his cheek.

C. The writer stayed there, without knowing what to do and how to do it.

D. In the next few frozen seconds the writer felt the shame and astonishment he had never felt

before.

59. How do you understand the underlined sentence “I followed my sister’s example?”

A.  He listened to his sister carefully.

B  Mother told him that he must get the agreement from his sister for whatever he would do.

C  His sister got married. He, too.

D  His sister was a great woman.. He must learn from her.

60. The best title for this passage perhaps will be _____.

A.The Old Man and His Daughter              B. Heart Leaping Up

    C.Never Lose Heart                        D. Good Will Be Rewarded Good

At Denver there was an inflow of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B.&M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in graceful taste. Among the newcomers were two young men, one was handsome with a brave, open features and manner; the other a glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed (上手拷) together.

When they sat down in the only unoccupied seat opposite the girl, her glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile she held out her hand.

“Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don’t you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”

The younger man wakened himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.

“It’s Miss Fairchild,” he said, with a smile, “I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”

He slightly raised his right hand, bound(捆绑) at the wrist(手腕) by the shining “bracelet(手镯)” to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl’s eyes slowly changed to a confused horror. Difficult though it was to explain the present trouble, Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was struggling to speak again when the other stopped him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl’s face with hidden glances from his keen, sharp-sighted eyes.

“You’ll excuse me for speaking, Miss, but, I see you’re familiar with the officer here. If you’ll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the prison, he’ll do it, and it’ll make things easier for me there. He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison. It’s seven years for counterfeiting(伪造罪).”

“Oh!” said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. “So that is what you are doing out here? An officer!”

“My dear Miss Fairchild,” said Easton, appearing quite calm, “I had to do something and...”

“And so,” said the girl, warmly, “now you are one of these fashionable Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That’s different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd.”

The girl’s eyes went back, widening a little, to rest upon the shining handcuffs.

“Don’t worry about them, Miss,” said the other man. “All officers handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business.”

“Will we see you again soon in Washington?” asked the girl.

“Not soon, I think,” said Easton. “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”

“I love the West,” said the girl pointlessly, “Mamma and I spent the summer in Denver….”

“Say, Mr. Officer,” said the glum-faced man in a deep voice. “This isn’t quite fair. I’m needing a drink, and haven’t had a smoke all day. Haven’t you talked long enough? Take me into the smoker now, won’t you? I’m half dead for a tobacco pipe.”

The bound travelers rose to their feet, Easton with the same slow smile on his face.

“I can’t deny a demand for tobacco,” he said, lightly. “It’s the one friend of the unfortunate. Good-bye, Miss Fairchild. Duty calls, you know.” He quickly held out his hand for a farewell.

The two men went down the passage into the smoker.

The two passengers in a seat nearby had heard most of the conversation. One of them said: “That officer’s a good sort of guy. Some of these Western fellows are all right.”

“Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?” asked the other.

“Young!” shouted the first speaker, “why — Oh! Didn’t you catch on? Say — can’t you see who is the real prisoner? did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”　

55. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Mr. Easton felt very delighted to greet the girl.

B. Mr. Easton didn’t recognize old friends in the West.

C. Miss Fairchild met with her old friend in a train going east.

D. The linked couple were two friends going to Leavenworth.

56. Why did the heavily-built man ask the woman to let her friend speak a word for him?

A. To save Easton from embarrassment.

B. To help Easton carry on the conversation.

C. To tell the girl their destination of this trip.　

D. To start a conversation with the pretty girl.

57. The “slow smile” on Mr. Easton’s face reflects _________.

A. he was unwilling to take the man to drink and smoke

B. he was quite sorry to leave his old friend, the pretty girl

C. he was happy to escape and a bit guilty to the other man

D. he was glad to have had a conversation with an old friend

58. The two other passengers’ conversation at the end suggests the heavily-built man is ______.

A. a prisoner　　 　 B. an officer　 　　　　 C. a friend of Easton 　 D. a conductor

59. The short story can be listed as a typical example of stories with ______.

A. arresting openings　　 　　　　　　　 B. various settings

C. strong conflicts 　　　　　　　　　　 D. surprise endings

60. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Woman and Hero　　 　 　　　　　　　 B. Heart and Hands

C. An Unforgettable Trip D. Cold Handcuffs

At Denver there was an inflow of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B.&M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in graceful taste. Among the newcomers were two young men, one was handsome with a brave, open features and manner; the other a glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed (上手拷) together.

When they sat down in the only unoccupied seat opposite the girl, her glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile she held out her hand.

“Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don’t you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”

The younger man wakened himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.

“It’s Miss Fairchild,” he said, with a smile, “I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”

He slightly raised his right hand, bound(捆绑) at the wrist(手腕) by the shining “bracelet(手镯)” to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl’s eyes slowly changed to a confused horror. Difficult though it was to explain the present trouble, Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was struggling to speak again when the other stopped him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl’s face with hidden glances from his keen, sharp-sighted eyes.

“You’ll excuse me for speaking, Miss, but, I see you’re familiar with the officer here. If you’ll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the prison, he’ll do it, and it’ll make things easier for me there. He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison. It’s seven years for counterfeiting(伪造罪).”

“Oh!” said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. “So that is what you are doing out here? An officer!”

“My dear Miss Fairchild,” said Easton, appearing quite calm, “I had to do something and...”

“And so,” said the girl, warmly, “now you are one of these fashionable Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That’s different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd.”

The girl’s eyes went back, widening a little, to rest upon the shining handcuffs.

“Don’t worry about them, Miss,” said the other man. “All officers handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business.”

“Will we see you again soon in Washington?” asked the girl.

“Not soon, I think,” said Easton. “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”

“I love the West,” said the girl pointlessly, “Mamma and I spent the summer in Denver….”

“Say, Mr. Officer,” said the glum-faced man in a deep voice. “This isn’t quite fair. I’m needing a drink, and haven’t had a smoke all day. Haven’t you talked long enough? Take me into the smoker now, won’t you? I’m half dead for a tobacco pipe.”

The bound travelers rose to their feet, Easton with the same slow smile on his face.

“I can’t deny a demand for tobacco,” he said, lightly. “It’s the one friend of the unfortunate. Good-bye, Miss Fairchild. Duty calls, you know.” He quickly held out his hand for a farewell.

The two men went down the passage into the smoker.

The two passengers in a seat nearby had heard most of the conversation. One of them said: “That officer’s a good sort of guy. Some of these Western fellows are all right.”

“Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?” asked the other.

“Young!” shouted the first speaker, “why — Oh! Didn’t you catch on? Say — can’t you see who is the real prisoner? did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”　

55. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Mr. Easton felt very delighted to greet the girl.

B. Mr. Easton didn’t recognize old friends in the West.

C. Miss Fairchild met with her old friend in a train going east.

D. The linked couple were two friends going to Leavenworth.

56. Why did the heavily-built man ask the woman to let her friend speak a word for him?

A. To save Easton from embarrassment.

B. To help Easton carry on the conversation.

C. To tell the girl their destination of this trip.　

D. To start a conversation with the pretty girl.

57. The “slow smile” on Mr. Easton’s face reflects _________.

A. he was unwilling to take the man to drink and smoke

B. he was quite sorry to leave his old friend, the pretty girl

C. he was happy to escape and a bit guilty to the other man

D. he was glad to have had a conversation with an old friend

58. The two other passengers’ conversation at the end suggests the heavily-built man is ______.

A. a prisoner　　 　 B. an officer　 　　　　 C. a friend of Easton 　 D. a conductor

59. The short story can be listed as a typical example of stories with ______.

A. arresting openings　　 　　　　　　　 B. various settings

C. strong conflicts 　　　　　　　　　　 D. surprise endings

60. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Woman and Hero　　 　 　　　　　　　 B. Heart and Hands

C. An Unforgettable Trip D. Cold Handcuffs