47. A. sadly　　　　　　　　 B. hardly　　　　　　 C. secretly　　　　　 D. really

SECTION C (12 marks)

Directions: Complete the following passage by filling in each blank with ONE word that best fits the context.

With the widespread use of the computer, many middle school and primary school students can type very fast.48 ____, their handwriting is becoming worse 49 ____ before. Wrongly written characters and untidy writing are the common problems. The biggest problem is 50　　 they don’t think it is necessary to practice handwriting any more since typing can take the place of 　51　 . To me, I always prefer handwriting 52 ______ typing. I think handwriting is 53 ______ better way to express my feeling. 54 ____, Chinese characters are the important part of Chinese culture and typing can never take the place of it. Therefore as a Chinese, we should 55　　 stop practicing writing them to avoid the wrongly written character and the untidy writing.

PART THREE　 READING COMPREHENSION (30 marks)

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, D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 A

I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.

Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth.”

I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.

They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional(易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface”.

As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.

I posted the letter and waited for her answer, none came.

My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace. It seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.

Now the present of her desk told me that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work though she’d never been able to. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside - a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded(折叠) and refolded many times.

Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.

46. A. habit　　　　　　　　 B. end　　　　　　　　 C. eyes　　　　　　　　 D. corners

45. A. wonderful　　　　 B. cheap　　　　　　　　　　 C. strange　　　　　　 D. foreign

44. A. praise　　　　　　　 B. move　　　　　　　 C. call　　　　　　　　　 D. thank

43. A. helping　　　　　　 B. saving　　　　　　 C. troubling　　　　 D. guiding

42. A. driving　　　　　　 B. showing　　　　　 C. turning　　　　　　 D. sending

41. A. continued　　　　 B. forgot　　　　　　 C. had　　　　　　　　 D. decided

40. A. suitable　　　　　　 B. expensive　　　　 C. useful　　　　　　　 D. dangerous

39. A. throw away　　 B. hand out　　　　 C. add up　　　　　　 D. pick out

38. A. handsome　　　　 B. young　　　　　　 C. poor　　　　　　　　 D. healthy