My mind went blank when I saw the gun pointing against the car window as we pulled out of the garage. This can’t be happening to me. Then I felt the gun, cold, against my head, and I heard my friend Jeremy saying, “What do you want? Take my wallet,” but at the time I thought of nothing.

I remember being a little annoyed when the gunman pulled me from the car by the hair. I remember the walk to the house --- Jeremy, me, the two men with two guns. I remember the fear and anger in the gunmen’s voices because Jeremy was being slow, and I remember wondering why he was being slow. I did not realize that Jeremy had thrown the keys into the bush. But I remember that sound of the gun hitting Jeremy’s head and the feeling as the man who had hold of my hair released me. And I remember the split second when I realized he was looking at Jeremy, and I remember wondering how far I could run before he pulled the trigger. But I was already running, and upon reaching the car across the street, I didn’t crouch(蹲伏) behind it but screamed instead.

I remember thinking there was something ridiculous and illogical about screaming “Help, help!” at eight o’clock on a Tuesday evening in December and changing my plea(恳求) to the more specific “Help, let me in, please let me in!” But the houses were cold, closed, unfriendly, and I ran on until I heard Jeremy’s screams behind me announcing that our attackers had fled.

The neighbors who had not opened their doors to us came out with baseball bats and helped Jeremy find his glasses and keys. In a group they were very brave. We waited for the police to come until someone said to someone else that the noodles were getting cold, and I said politely, “Please go and eat. We’re O.K.”

I was happy to see them go. They had been talking of stricter sentences for criminals, of bringing back the death penalty(处罚) and how the President is going to clean up the country. I was thinking, they could be saying all of this over my dead body, and I still feel that stiffer sentences wouldn’t change a thing. In a rush all the anger I should have felt for my attackers was directed against these contented people standing in front of their warm, comfortable homes talking about all the guns they were going to buy. What good would guns have been to Jeremy and me?

People all over the neighborhood had called to report our screams, and the police turned out in force twenty minutes later. They were ill-tempered about what was, to them, much trouble about nothing. After all, Jeremy was hardly hurt, and we were hopeless when it came to describing the gunmen. “Typical,” said one policeman when we couldn’t even agree on how tall the men were. Both of us were able to describe the guns in horrifying detail, but the two policemen who stayed to make the report didn’t think that would be much help.

The policemen were matter-of-fact about the whole thing. The thin one said, “That was a stupid thing to do, throwing away the keys. When a man has a gun against your head you do what you’re told.” Jeremy looked properly embarrassed.

Then the fat policeman came up and the thin one went to look around the outside of the house. “That was the best thing you could have done, throwing away the keys,” he said. “If you had gone into the house with them…” His voice became weaker. “They would have hurt her” --- he twisted his head toward me – “and killed you both.” Jeremy looked happier. “Look,” said the fat policeman kindly, “there’s no right or wrong in the situation. There’s just luck.”

All that sleepless night I replayed the moment those black gloves came up to the car window. How long did the whole thing last? Three minutes, five, eight? No matter how many hours of my life I may spend reliving it, I know there is no way to prepare for the next time --- no intelligent response to a gun. The fat cop was right. There’s only luck. The next time I might end up dead.

And I’m sure there will be a next time. It can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. Security is an illusion(幻觉); there is no safety in locks or in guns. Guns make some people feel safe and some people feel strong, but they’re fooling themselves.

1. When the writer saw the gun pointing against the car window, ______.

A. she felt very annoyed              B. she lost consciousness

C. she felt very much nervous          D. she lost the power of thinking

2.What most possibly drove the two gunmen away?

A. Jeremy’s fighting                B. The author’s screaming

C. Their neighbour’s brave action      D. The police’s arrival

3.When the author called for help, the neighbors didn’t come out immediately because ______

A. they were much too frightened

B. they were busy preparing dinners

C. they needed time to find baseball bats

D. they thought someone was playing a trick

4.The author was happy to see the neighbors go because ______.

A. she hated to listen to their empty talk

B. she did not want to become an object of pity

C. she was angered by their being late to come to her help

D. she wanted to be left alone with Jeremy to get over the shock

5.The police were rather angry because ______.

A. the author was not hurt and gave a false alarm

B. they thought it was a case of little importance

C. the author and Jeremy could not tell the police anything

D. the gunmen had already fled when they arrived on the scene

6.What the author wants to tell us is that______.

A. neighbors are not helpful in moments of difficulty

B. the police are not reliable when one is in trouble

C. security is impossible as long as people can have guns

D. preventing robbers entering your house is the best choice

Not long before, my daughter's shoes were scratched with a knife．She burst into   36 ．I took them to the shoemaker to get them   37 ．

The young apprentice （学徒） glanced at the opening and said, " 38  I can do except replace the upper．" His master looked at them and said to me, "If you   39  me, I will add more scratches on both of the shoes．" _K^S*5U.C#O%

I was   40  and asked why．

He explained, "As if the openings were made   41  for the sake of special style and reuse．"

Two days later I found there were indeed more scratches on   42  shoe, but all the openings were patched （打补丁） by soft red leather with edges sewed by thick thread,   43 more unique and interesting than ever．I couldn't help but   44  the master's skill．

Another time, my wife's sister's white blouse had been torn, leaving a large opening on the back．My wife   45  the blouse carefully, and then said, "Let me take it   46 _ and mend it．"

Seeing the blouse again, I was shocked: all the torn parts had been sewed up by thin and   47  thread and they   48  a look of ice crystal （冰晶） hanging from a winter's branch． 49  , she had attached a snowman and a cabin made of flowery cotton rags onto the shirt．I 50  with praise, "It's just as beautiful as a piece of   51  !"

"I was inspired by that craftsman．Patches are supposed to be   52 , but a skillful craftsman can make it take on a kind of perfection," replied my wife．

Her words inspired me even more: Perfection is   53  to achieve in everything; Patches are unavoidable, so is human's life．Since you can't   54  the existence of wound, you should not expect people's   55  by exposing the wound, which reveals nothing meaningful．

“Good morning!” said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years.
“See that cafeteria（自助餐厅）over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while.”
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. “Jack, do you remember me?” Old Jack thought hard and said, “I think so--I mean you do look familiar.”
“I was thin and hungry,” she said. “Maybe I’ve filled out now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger.”
Jack lit up with a smile. “Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company’s policy.”
The woman continued, “Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register.”
“So you started your own business?” old Jack said. “I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.” She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. “When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He’ll find something for you to do around the office.” She smiled, “If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.”
There were tears in the old man’s eyes, “How can I ever thank you?” he said. “Don’t thank me;” the woman answered, “thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you.”
【小题1】Why did the woman invite the beggar to dinner?

Lost a German Dog
Address: Stoneywood Circle, Mableton, GA, 30126
Please help up find our missing boy. He escaped through the backyard fence this morning. Weighing pounds, he is black and wearing a blue collar. He was last seen beside the Cooper Lake. If anyone finds it, please call us. Thanks.
Meghan: 678-458-2045
Dave: 678-350-6959
Found an Orange Cat
Address: Marietta, GA
I found an orange cat with medium—length hair in the Indian Hills neighborhood. He is an adult cat, and may even be an elderly cat. He is extremely thin, and has probably been missing from his home for a while. His legs, which give him a little bit of trouble, have some old mjuris. Call me and he prepared to answer questions to de termine if this is truly your cat.
Dog Found
Address: Tujunga, CA
The dog has been wandering the streets of Tujunga. She is very sweet. Please let me know if you are looking for this wonderful girl. Be prepared to answer questions.
Julia: 834-600-2316
Lost Camera
Address: Uvalde, Tx, 78801
I lost my camera yesterday. I believe it was left in a car at about 2:30 p.m. on my way to the St. Louis Airport or at the Airport. I would love the camera back. It has every picture that I have taken since Jan. 1, 2009. It is a Kodak EasyShare Z612 camera in a black case. Please contact me if you have found it.
Cindy: 689-346-2389
1．The purpose of the text is to____________.
A．tell people to be careful with their things
B．show how many things are lost or found
C．help people find the things they have lost
D．list the information about the lost things
2．All the four pieces of information include___________ .
A．the exact and detailed addresses of the four people
B．the places where the things were lost or found
C．the colors and sizes of the lost or found things
D．the ways in which the things were lost or found
3．If you find a black dog with a blue collar beside the Cooper Lake, you may call__________.
A．Meghan at 718-322-5809       B．Julia at 834-600-2316
C．Cindy at 678-458-2045   D．Dave at 678-350-6959
4．Why do John and Julia ask callers to answer questions?
A．To make sure whether they are the real owners.
B．To test whether they can raise the animals well.
C．To write an essay with the detailed information.
D．To make an appointment with the real owners.

“Good morning!” said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years.

“See that cafeteria（自助餐厅）over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while.”

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. “Jack, do you remember me?” Old Jack thought hard and said, “I think so--I mean you do look familiar.”

“I was thin and hungry,” she said. “Maybe I’ve filled out now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger.”

Jack lit up with a smile. “Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company’s policy.”

The woman continued, “Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register.”

“So you started your own business?” old Jack said. “I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.” She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. “When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He’ll find something for you to do around the office.” She smiled, “If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.”

There were tears in the old man’s eyes, “How can I ever thank you?” he said. “Don’t thank me;” the woman answered, “thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you.”

1.Why did the woman invite the beggar to dinner?

A．The beggar was once her friend.

B．She felt very pity for the beggar.

C．The beggar once offered her a free meal.

D．She once worked with the beggar.

2.What does the underlined phrase “fill out” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．wear a beautiful dress.                   B．change one’s features.

C．have a very high position.                 D．become larger or fatter.

3.Years ago the woman walked into the place she caught sight of to __________.

A．find a job there                         B．get herself out of cold

C．get something to eat                     D．meet with the man

4.What conclusion can you draw from this passage?

A．Kindness is an investment that never fails.

B．Nothing is difficult for the man who will try.

C．Don’t judge a person from his/her appearance.

D．God helps those who help themselves.