Once there was a girl called Arachne who was very proud of her skill at weaving. Many people came to see her 　 1　 her threads in red, blue, green or yellow that made her 　 2　 　　　　　　　

pictures glow with life. “The goddess Athene 　 3 　 have given you such a gift,” they said. But Arachne tossed her head. “No,” she replied 　 4 　 “I’ve taught myself everything I know. ” 　 5 those words, the goddess Athene decided to teach her a lesson. First she 　　 6　　 herself as an old woman and 　 7 　 Arachne’s door. When she opened it, the goddess warned her, “You shouldn’t compare yourself with the great Athene. You should be more 　 8 　 .” At that Arachne grew very angry. “ Let her come here and have a 　 9　 with me. Then we’ll see who’s better at weaving! ” 　 10　 Athene threw off her disguise and the contest began.

　 All day the two contestants wove bright 　11　 into marvellous pictures. Arachne’s was definitely 　 12　 in skill and design. At that Athene grew 　 13　 angry that she hit Archne. At once the girl became smaller and smaller. Her head disappeared and her body became 　 14　 . Her human arms and legs disappeared to be replaced with twice as many thinner insect-like　 15　 . As Arachne ran to hide, Athene laughed 　 16　 “You may live, Arachne, but you will do your weaving 　 17　 from now on. ” Hearing those words, Archne began to　 18　 a thread and to weave a pattern in the air. She had become the first　 19　 . Since then she has continued to recreate her lost 　 20　 beautiful masterpiece in her webs, and all other　 spiders have followed her.

1. A. color 　　　　　　　 B. do 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. print 　　　　　　　　　　 D. describe

2. A. taken 　　　　　　　 B. woven 　　　　　　　　　 C. drawn 　　　　　　　　　 D. moved

3. A. should 　　　　　　　 B. could 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. must 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. might

4. A. proudly 　　　　　　　　　 B. angrily 　　　　　　　　　 C. kindly 　　　　　　　　　 D. friendly

5. A. Saying　　　　　　　 B. Finishing　　　　　　　　 C. Hearing 　 　　　　　　 D. Listening

6. A. disappointed 　　　　　 B. disguised 　　　　　　　　　　 C. discouraged 　　　　 D. disaffected

7. A. took on 　　　　　　　　　 B. put on 　　　　　　　　　 C. turned on 　　　　　　　　　　 D. knocked on

8. A. careful　　　　　　　 B. humble 　　　　　　　　 C. proud 　　　　　　　　　 D. honest

9. A. conversation 　　　　　 B. fight 　　　　　　　　　　 C. competition 　　　　　 D. meeting

10. A. Immediately 　　 B. Fortunately 　　　　　 C. Hopefully 　　　　　　　　　　 D. Generally

11. A. colors 　　　　　　　　　　 B. threads 　　　　　　　　 C. wool 　　　　　　　　　　 D. feather

12. A. superior 　　　　 B. inferior 　　　　　　　　 C. good 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. excellent

13. A. such 　　　　　　　 B. too 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. very 　　　　　　　　　　 D. so

14. A. longer　　　　　　　 B. prettier　　　　　　　　　 C. bigger　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. rounder

15. A. heads　　　 　　 B. eyes 　　　　　　　　　　 C. legs　　　　　　　　　　　 D. ears

16. A. unhappily 　　　 B. uncertainly 　　　　　 C. untruly 　　　　　　　　 D. unkindly

17. A. on the ground B. in the air 　　　　　　　 C. at home 　　　　　　　 D. on the wall

18. A. preserve 　　　　 B. press 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. prepare 　　　　　　　 D. produce

19. A. mosquito 　　　　 B. fly 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. spider 　　　　　　　　　 D. insect

20. A. and　　　　　　　　　 B. or 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. but　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. so

It has been difficult to sit on the bench the majority of my high school basketball career. To watch my team from the sideline and 　21 ?why I am not good enough to be on the floor. 22 endless hours of work and devotion, pushing myself through drill after drill, the 　23 thing I want is to be a cheerleader. The feeling of being 　24 is sometimes too much and drives me to 25 on the spot. I often feel as though my efforts are wasted and my time is eaten away, devoted to 　26　 .

It is heartbreaking to be a spectator(旁观者) for the game I love, knowing that no one has enough 　27 to give me the chance to 　28 on the floor. Tears well up, but I hold them back. I shouldn’t be so 　29 over something so silly.

Away from the game, it’s easier to put my thoughts together, 　30 letting my emotions drive my reasoning. I consider 　31 I am where I am. I have played basketball my whole life. I have a passion for the 　32 and always have. There is nothing like the excitement of 　33 : the swish of the net, the sweat rolling off my cheeks, even the bruises(青肿) are battle wounds worn 　34 after every game.

Even if I don’t play much, I participate in every 　35 . I am part of a team of girls who

36　 together like a family. I am there for them, 　37 they are for me.

Should I move on? Or should I stay with my team and pursue my passion just a little longer?
The decision isn’t difficult when I consider the 　38　 that being a part of a team brings me— and not just any team, 　39 my team. I love basketball and my teammates. When I think about that, my view from the bench really isn’t so bad 　 40　 .

21. A.consider　 　　　　　　　 B. wonder　 　　　　　　　 C. think　 　　　　　　　　 　　 D. hesitate

22. A. Since　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. During　 　　　　 　　 C. After　 　　　　 　　　　　　 D. Before

23. A. other　　 　　 　　B. next　　 　　　　　　 C. first　　 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. last

24. A. worthless　 　　　　　 B. hopeless　 　　　　　　 C. helpless　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. careless

25. A. fight　 　　　　　　　　　 B. quit　 　　　　　　　　　 C. transform　 　　　　　 　　 D. retire

26. A. something　 　　　　　 B. nothing C. anything D. everything

27. A. sympathy　　 　　　　 B. encouragement　 　 C. permission 　　　　　　　　　 D. faith

28. A. respond　　　　 　　 B. perform C. promote D. practice

29. A. scared　 　　　　　　　 B. nervous　 　　　　　　　 C. upset　　 　　　　　　　　　 D. amazed

30. A. less than　 　　　　　　　 B. more than C. other than D. rather than

31. A. why　 　　　　　 　　 B. how　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. whether　 　　 　　　　　　 D. what

32. A. bench　 　　　　　　　　 B. sport　 　　　　　　　　 C. drill　 　　　　　　　　　 　　D. battle

33. A. waiting　 　　　 　　 B. watching　 　　　　　 C. learning　 　　　 　　　　　　 D. playing

34. A. proudly　 　 　　　　　　 B. bravely　　 　　　　　 C. unfortunately　 　　　　　 D. painfully

35. A. decision　 　　　　　　　 B. plan　 　　　　　　　　 C. game　 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. project

36. A. compete　 　　　 　　 B. stick　 　　　　　　　　 C. live 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. represent

37. A. because　 　　　　 　　 B. if　　　 　　　　　　　　 C. as　 　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 D. though

38. A. joy　　 　　　　　 　　 B. patience　　 　　　　 C. challenge 　　　　　　　　　　 　　D. position

39. A. so　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. as　　　　　 　　C. but　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. like

40. A. above all　　　　　 B. after all　 　　　 C. at all　 　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. all in all

As I entered the already crowded church, my stomach jumped. What if I ___1___ how to play my piece? What if I skipped a note? My parents gave me a look of ___2___ as I sat at my place. I kept looking over at my parents and they would smile back at me ___3___. Dad started to unpack the seen-too-often video camera. How I ___4___ that thing! He pulls it out constantly!

This is my night, I thought to myself as Mrs. Depperman introduced the ___5___. This is the night I could really ___6___ them. I had to play perfectly. I noticed that we were all seated according to our ___7___ to play. I was number fourteen and there were 1, 2, 3...twenty-two students here, which ___8___ I was about in the middle. Well, that wasn’t so bad. I couldn’t ___9___ to hear the last two performers. They were ___10___ to be the best.

I am next! I played the ___11___ of my pieces in my head. I was playing a sonatina and a contemporary piece. I knew them by ___12__, which helped. I can play them with my eyes closed. This should be ___13___, I thought, reassuring myself. It seemed as if I had gone through what seems to be permanent ___14___ this girl finished. Then it was my ___15___ ....

I stood up, walked toward the piano, and placed my fingertips on the ivory keys. By now, the keys were ___16___ from the fingers before mine. I waited a couple of seconds and ___17___ into the deep waters of my piece. With each note my confidence grew. By the end of my piece, I ___18___ myself in Symphony Hall with the crowd roaring! I was completely ___19___ myself in my second piece. When I was finished, I stood up from the bench, smiled confidently, and bowed. I felt ___20___! I was actually proud of myself. My first recital went well.

1. A. mentioned B. forgot　　　　 C. remembered D. neglected

2. A. strength　　　 B. doubt　　　　 C. confidence D. courage

3. A. proudly　 B. sadly　　　　 C. wildly　　　　 D. bravely

4. A. enjoy　　 　 B. appreciate　　 C. admire　　 D. dislike

5. A. schedule　　　 B. plan　　　　　 C. program　 D. calendar

6. A. frighten　　　 B. impress 　 C. please　　 D. strike

7. A. ages　 　 B. grades　　 C. order　　 　 D. ability

8. A. meant　　　　 B reflected　　　 C. explained　　 D. represented

9. A. stay　 　 B. wait　　　　　 C. delay　　　　 D. expect

10. A. arranged 　 B. designed　　　 C. supposed　　　 D. guessed

11. A. record　 　 B. comments　　　 C. remarks　 D. notes

12. A. heart　　 　 B. head 　　　　 C. hand　　　　　 D. mind

13. A. natural　　　　 B. easy　　　　　 C. smooth　　 D. comfortable

14. A. when　　 　 B. after　　　　 C. before　　 D. while

15. A. turn　　 　 B. circle　　　　 C. command　 D. control

16. A. cool　　　　 B. cold　　　　　 C. hot　　　 D. warm

17. A. fell　　 　 B. dove　　　　　 C. dropped　 D. jumped

18. A. introduced 　 B. described　　 C. pictured　　　 D. faced

19. A. involved 　 B. included　　　 C. confused　　　 D. puzzled

20. A. moved　　　　 B. excited　 C. worried　 D. surprised

 

Stranger in the Flames

On the morning of May 29, Donna left unusually early for her 5:30 a.m. work at Noone’s Restaurant. She drove along a rural road,    1    as she often did to admire the old farmhouse she passed each day. But as she looked more    2   , she saw flames on one of the porch’s(门廊) posts. Donna pulled into the driveway and honked her horn(喇叭).

No response. With flames cutting her    3    from the front entrance, she ran to a side door, which was   4   . “Wake up,” she cried, running through the house. “   5   !”

    Just hours earlier Corinne Allin had put 18-month-old Benjamin, Devon, seven, and Amy, nine, to   6   . Now, awakened by the shouts, she stumbled(踉跄) down the steps into a    7    and saw the fire immediately. “My children , my husband ---they’re   8    upstairs,” Corinne said.

    “I’ll get them,” Donna said. “Call 911.”

    Donna    9    her way up the stairs through the    10   . While Hugh Allin went to see if he could put the fire    11    with the hose(水管), Devon dashed into Amy’s room. “Get up,” he cried. Amy lifted Benjamin from his bed. With windows exploding and smoke surrounding them, they made their way out of the    12   door.

In the disorder that followed, Donna slipped away to work. Passing the blackened house that evening, she stopped and left a note. Later that night the Allin family paid a    13   . Corinne explained that the fire began when she pressed out a    14    in a potted plant on the front porch. “But thanks to you,” she said with tears in her eyes, “we’re    15   .”

1. A. speeding B. slowingC. getting off　　  D. going out

2. A. closely    B. quietly　　　　    C. proudly   D. tightly

3. A. up　　　　  B. in　　　　　　　　  C. around　　　　   D. off

4. A. closed    B. open　　　　　　  C. locked　　　　   D. unlocked

5. A. Fire　　    B. Help　　    C. Hello　　　　　　  D. Come on

6. A. bed　　    B. desk　　    C. playground　　 D. school

7.A. room　　   B. heat　　    C. stranger   D. street

8.A. already    B. just　　　　 C. still　　　　　　  D. even

9.A. found　　  B. stepped   C. made　　　　　　 D. moved

10A. flames    B. smoke　　　　    C. rubbish    D. ashes

11.A. out　　    B. down　　　　　　 C. up　　　　   D. over

12.A. room    B. back      C. front　　　　　　  D. side

13.A. bill　　    B. visit　　    C. look　　   　　   D. part

14.A. match    B. wood　　　　　　 C. cigarette  D. oven

15.A. free　　   B. awake　　　　    C. alive　　 &ntbs?

p;  D. successful

Last summer, I travelled to Meixian County with my friends. It is a small county at the foot of Taibai Mountain in Shanxi Province. We stayed there for one week and I__1__ my vacation because of the beautiful scenery at the top of the mountain.

I will__2__ forget the day when we climbed the main peak(山顶). The __3__in that area changes very quickly: it was sunny in the early morning when we set out, __4__ it began to rain heavily when we were only halfway up.

Soon，we were all__5__ and some of us wanted to go home. They said, “There is nothing__6__ here. We came to see the scenery，__7__the pouring rain！” However, the guide__8__， “Since we have got wet already, why not just go on with our journey？”

So we carried on up the mountain and，__9__we even noticed, the rain stopped and the sun was smiling again. When we reached the top of the peak, the view was unique (独特的)．

Up there, it was bright and clear. The sky was__10__and the air was fresh. The gentle wind made us feel cool. All the clouds were just like waves in the ocean, __11__ and falling under our feet. We could only see the peaks of mountains, as if they were __12__ floating sparsely (稀疏的) in the ocean. It was a really magical experience.

While we were enjoying the scene, the guide said __13__，“You see, I knew that there would be no rain above the clouds.”

It is __14__. While it may rain below the clouds, the sun is still there above them.

You will never see the sun __15__ you don't try your best to climb to the top of the mountain. If we had stopped and gone home when the rain was very heavy, we would never have seen the beautiful scenery __16__ the clouds. I think this is also true in __17__.

As the song says, “You won't see the rainbow unless you have gone through the thunder and storm.” I think in the__18__， whenever I have any difficulties in my life, I will remember the__19__from the top of Taibai Mountain and the __20__ which touched my heart deeply: There is no rain above the clouds.

1．A.spent　　　B．killed　　　C．had　　　D．enjoyed

2．A.ever       B．never      C．certainly  D．perhaps

3．A.scenery    B．cloud      C．sky       D．weather

4．A.so        B．while      C．but        D．instead

5．A.tired      B．hungry     C．angry      D．wet

6．A.necessary  B．fun       C．important    D．instructive

7．A.not       B．no         C．never      D．hardly

8．A.suggested  B．ordered     C．asked     D．demanded

9．A.when            B．before  C．while         D．then

10．A.dark          B．green      C．black         D．blue

11．A.jumping   B．dropping  C．going      D．rising

12．A.islands   B．fish       C．animals     D．waves

13．A.excited   B．proudly    C．angrily     D．happily

14．A.false     B．a lie        C．a guess     D．true

15．A.when     B．unless      C．if         D．while

16．A.over     B．on         C．above      D．under

17．A.study      B．rest       C．real world  D．life

18．A.past      B．present      C．future   D．life

19．A.weather   B．change     C．view      D．time

20．A.word    B．phrase       C．speech     D．sentence