Please excuse me if I’m a little sad today because Mark is leaving．You probably don’t know Mark，but you might be lucky enough to know someone just like him．He’s been the heart and soul of the office for a couple of years combining professional skills with a sweet and gentle nature．He’s never been all that interested in getting credit for the terrific work he does．He just wants to do his job，and to do it extremely well．

??? And now he’s moving on to an exciting new professional opportunity．It sounds like it could be the chance of a lifetime，and we’re sincerely pleased for him．But that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to a dear friend and trusted colleague．

??? Life has a way of throwing these curve balls at us．Just when we start to get comfortable with a person，a place or a situation，something comes along to change the recipe．A terrific neighbor moves away．Someone in the family graduates．A child finds new love and loyalties through marriage．The family’s bread-winner is laid off．Our ability to cope with change and disruption determines our peace，happiness and contentment in life．

But how do we do that? According to the author of Ecclesiaste，comfort can be found in remembering that “to everything there is a season，and a time to every purpose under heaven．Let today embrace the past with remembrance，and the future with longing．’’

“Change，indeed，is painful，yet ever needful，”said philosopher Thomas Carlyle．“And if memory has its force and worth，so also has hope．”

??? We’re going to miss Mark．But rather than lose ourselves in the sadness of our parting，we’ll focus on our hopes for a brighter future——for him，and for us．And then we’ll go out and do everything we can to make that future happen．Until our plans change——again．

1.What will happen to Mark soon?

A．He will pass away．????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? B．He will leave for a new job．

C．He will get married．????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? D．He will stay with us forever．

2.The underlined word “credit” in Para．1 probably means __________ ．

A．praise????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? B．criticism

C．opportunity ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? D．job

3.From the passage，we can learn that __________ ．

A．any change will make us upset any time

B．it is easy to say goodbye to a dear friend and trusted colleague

C．our happiness depends on our ability to deal with change

D．comfort can be found in remembering the sadness

4.The best title of the passage may be __________ ．

A．My Friend Mark????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? B．Focusing on Future

C．Always Changing????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? D．A Sad Story

It's very common for students' marks to fall. Sometimes it is because of situations outside of school, such as problems at home. Sometimes it is simply because the tests get harder as you get older.

If you can think about what was happening when your marks started to fall, you may be able to solve this problem.

Stop comparing yourself with other people. It does not matter if other students get higher test marks than you. What is important is that you do your best.

Try talking to a friendly teacher. He or she will be able to help you with the subjects you find difficult.

Before each test, you should go through your notes from class. You should remember the most important things you have written in a shorter form.

Pictures can also be helpful. Write the subject in the centre of a page, and then surround it with main related points.

Look through your shorter notes and pictures again just before the test. You will be surprised when you find you remember so much.

It may take hard work. And your marks may not improve straight away. But let your confidence rise by every mark. Soon they should begin to climb again.

41. What does the writer think of the marks to fall?

A. It's very hard to believe it's a common thing.

B. It's not possible for the hard working students' marks to fall.

C. It's sometimes because of the problems outside the school and the more difficult tests.

D. When the students get older, it’s very common for their marks to fall.

42. If you want to stop your marks from falling, you should ________ before the tests.

A. remember the most important points you have written in a shorter form

B. draw pictures in the centre of a page in and after class

C. write down all the important points you have learned

D. be surprised that how much you will remember

43 After you do your best and work hard, ________.

A. you'll find your marks may be straight improved

B. you'll find your confidence rising by every mark

C. you'll begin to climb trees again when you are free

D. you'll soon catch up with the others by getting high marks

44. This passage is maybe the most helpful for ________.

A. a good student to win the first place in his tests

B. all the students in trouble to pick up their confidence and good marks

C. only a few poor students in study to catch up with the others

D. few students to find better ways to do well in the tests

Little Mark is only 6, but he has an IQ of 200, a genius among geniuses. But his intelligence comes at a cost. His parents must keep him intellectually simulated（启发）while making sure he is like any other little boy.
Mark has been attracted by the way how the world works since he was a baby. When he was 3, Mark was reading fluently, mostly self-taught. His parents haven't been able to keep him away from books since.
"I tried many times to stop him reading. We worry about his crazy fond of reading because he constantly wants to read every-thing whatever it is.”
A psychologist at the Centre for gifted children tested Mark and gave him an IQ of 200. The average child of Mark's age has an IQ of 100. At 200, Mark is a genius-even compared with other child geniuses.
"With children like Mark you can tell that's a bright child as soon as they walk in. They just have this sort of intensity, and maybe they're not so good at communicating with people," the psychologist said. "He will never fit perfectly into a class where he's with children of his age.”But Mark's mother worries about the "socially isolated" labels. "Nobody wants their child to grow up with that image. I want him to communicate with others freely, but not to be frustrated academically, so it's really hard to find a balance," she says.
Helen Dudeney from the Talented and Gifted Children Association says Mark is one in a million with such a high IQ. She points out that geniuses are still rare and difficult for the public education system to handle. "The lack of coping comes because teachers aren't trained in teaching gifted children," says Dudeney.
Helen believes it's also extremely important for them to be recognized and supported in their talents. Mark's parents are trying to figure out how best to help Mark. At the moment, there are few options. Mark finds first year work boring and simple, but he must learn to complete the work. His mother says, "We just want to be happy. Just to have a happy childhood and want to go to school every day.”
【小题1】By saying "But his intelligence comes at a cost. ",the author means that        

The old shopkeeper led me through to the back of the shop. The room was filled with boxes and photographs of people dressed in old-fashioned clothes, holding packages in their hands.
“Who are these people?” I asked.
“Satisfied customers,” answered young Mr. Hopkins. “We have a very wide choice of items for sale. Whenever I serve a new customer, I always take their picture.” Mr. Hopkins pointed to an ancient camera standing next to one wall. “Now, how can I serve you?” he added.
By this time, I had started to trust Mr. Hopkins and had begun to appreciate the lovely items on sale. I needed to buy Christmas presents for my family and friends, and this seemed to be the perfect place to purchase them. I spent a very pleasant hour being shown the commodities in Mr. Hopkins’shop. No matter what I asked for, Mr. Hopkins found it for me. Finally, I bought an antique jewelry box, a pair of riding boots, a leather-bound edition of the Complete Works of Mark Twain, and a sewing machine.
I was very excited that I had found such a good little shop. I promised Mr. Hopkins that I would come back soon. “I will tell all my friends about your lovely place,” I told the shopkeeper.
“Please do not do that, sir”, said Mr. Hopkins. “This is a special place for special people. You must keep this shop a secret.” Then he took my photograph, and handed me the picture straight away.
“That was quick!” I exclaimed. I looked at the photograph. In the picture I looked proud and excited holding the presents I had bought in Mr. Hopkins’ dusty shop.
On Christmas Day, my friends and relatives were delighted with the presents I had bought for them. For weeks, my brother begged me to show him where to find this wonderful little shop. I finally agreed to take him to London to show him.
When we arrived in London, we walked along Oxford Street, past the department store and found...nothing. The little shop was no longer there. In its place was an empty space being used as a car park. I checked the area again. There was the music shop, and there was the department store. In between should have been Hopkins and Son, but it wasn’t there.
As I was staring at the place where the shop should have been, an old policeman came along. “Are you looking for something sir?” he asked.
I turned and said “I am looking for a little shop called Hopkins and Son. I thought it was here.”
“Oh yes,” said the policeman. “There was a shop here once called Hopkins and Son. It sold all sorts of things, but it was knocked down over 30 years ago.”
I looked again at the place where the shop had been. Then I reached into my pocket and took out the photograph that Mr. Hopkins had taken of me holding my presents in the little shop.
“How strange” I exclaimed.
【小题1】How did the writer like the shop?

Why do I volunteer with Big brothers / Big sisters of America? I have many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason is that people once volunteered to help me.
Years ago, I was on the other side of the table. I was lonely and I felt lost. It’s a little embarrassing to talk about it now, but whatever the right direction in life was, I was going the opposite way. More than once, I found myself on the wrong path. If someone hadn’t stepped in when he did, I probably wouldn’t even be here now. I’d rather be in a prison or somewhere a lot smaller and deeper.
I’ve seen the work that big brothers / sisters have been doing all over the country and I’m pleased to be part of it. I’ve never done anything that made me prouder than my volunteer work. Big brothers and sisters helped me get over sadness and depression as soon as possible. Then, if I can help anyone like they helped me, I am willing to serve for as long as they will have me serve them. There are no words to describe the joy I get from helping somebody turn their life around. Every time I think that that’s me now, I’m proud and happy.
Volunteering is how I want to leave my mark on the world. I recommend volunteering work to everybody, especially to somebody who isn’t sure where they are going in life. Helping someone find their path is often the best way to find yours. Be a volunteer, and you will find your purpose in life.
【小题1】What’s the main reason why the writer volunteers?