He decided to _____ a new life if he could be set free from prison.

[　　]

A．lead　　　B．leading

C．had　　　 D．having

How I Turned to Be Optimistic

I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt's house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.

I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see-—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.

The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather (继父)and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to "the hard times."

My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.

From my experiences I have learned one important rule: almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.

51．How did the author get to know America?

　 A. From her relatives.　　　　　　　　 B. From her mother.

　 C. From books and pictures.　　　　　　 D. From radio programs.

52．Upon leaving for America the author felt_______.

　 A. confused　　　　 B. excited　　 　 C. worried　　　　 D. amazed

53．For the first two years in New York, the author _________.

　 A. often lost her way　　　　　　　　　　 B. did not think about her future

　 C. studied in three different schools　　　　 D. got on well with her stepfather

54．What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4?

A. She worked as a translator.　　　　　　　　 B. She attended a lot of job interviews.

　 C. She paid telephone bills for her family.　　 　D. She helped her family with her English.

55．The author believes that______.

A. her future will be free from troubles　　　　　　　

B. it is difficult to learn to become patient

C. there are more good things than bad things　　

D. good things will happen if one keeps trying

At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible site for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.

　 The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the additional dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.

　 The real attraction of the Hollowell farm to me was its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition of the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apple trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.

　 I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t think I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (无牵挂的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.

56. What do we know about the author?

　 A. He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he lived.

　 B. He made a study of many farms before buying.

　 C. He made money by buying and selling farms.

　 D. He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.

57. Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?

　 A. It was of good market value.　　 B. It was next to the highway.

　 C. It was in a good position.　　　 D. It was behind a nice garden.

58. Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?

　 A. He was afraid the owner might changes his mind.

　 B. He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.

　 C. He wanted to keep the farm as it was.

　 D. He was eager to become a farm owner.

59. The underlined words “the loss” in the last paragraph refer to ___.

A. the money the author lost in buying the farm

B. the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place

C. the removal of the trees around the house

D. the failure to possess the Hollowell place

60. What does the author believe as important in life?

A. To own a farm　　　　　　 B. To satisfy his needs

C. To be free from worries 　　 D. To live in the countryside

At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible sites(地点) for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.
   The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the additional dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.
   The real attractiong of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded(相邻) on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition of the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apples trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.
   I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t think I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (无牵挂的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.
1. What do we know about the author?
   A. He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he lived.
   B. He made a study of many farms before buying.
   C. He made money by buying and selling farms.
   D. He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.
2. Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?
   A. It was of good market value.   B. It was next to the highway.
   C. It was in a good position.    D. It was behind a nice garden.
3. Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?
   A. He was afraid the owner might changes his mind.
   B. He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.
   C. He wanted to keep the farm as it was.   D. He was eager to become a farm owner.
4. The underlined words “the loss” in the last paragraph refer to ___.
A. the money the author lost in buying the farm
B. the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place
C. the removal of the trees around the house

D. the failure to possess the Hollowell place
5. What does the author believe as important in life?
　 A. To own a farm　　　　　　　 B. To satisfy his needs
　 C. To be free from worries　　 D. To live in the countryside