India first, college can wait!

It was an opportunity 19-year-old Jodi Sagorin felt she couldn’t pass up.

The California student had received an admission letter to New York University, but she wanted to follow a calling to volunteer in India. When she got an offer to do just that, she decided there would be no better time to do it.

“It matches everything I’m interested in,” she said. “It’s just one of those things; it was meant to be.”

Last month, Sagorin packed up her belongings and headed over to Uttar Pradesh as an intern(实习生) for Drishtee, an organization that works for the economic and social development for the needy in India.

During her stay in India — for up to seven months — Sagorin will help with programs involving micro-finance, entrepreneurship(创业), healthcare and women’s empowerment.

Since her younger days, Sagorin had read inspiring stories of change makers throughout the world and decided she wanted to get involved somehow.

She decided volunteering would be the path she’d take and NYU could wait. She wanted to make a difference even when others said it wouldn’t be possible.

When Sagorin broke the news about deciding to put off college, her parents felt pride, nervousness, fear and excitement.

“We’re really proud of her of wanting to do this,” said Mike Sagorin, her father. “We’re a little concerned about a 19-year-old girl going out there by herself and hope she’ll be safe.”

Sagorin and her family researched everything they could about the organization and bought more than a dozen books about the country.

Before her trip to India, Sagorin raised $3,500 to pay for her travel and living expenses, along with some to donate to the people she would work with in India.

She has promised to send various levels of gifts — from a personal postcard to a personalized video touring the Taj Mahal — to those who pledge money towards her trip.

(Visit Sagorin’s blog at ifyouneverdid. com for more information.)

56. Sagorin chose to go to India instead of New York University because ____.

A. she decided that going to university would be a waste of time

B. she could put off college but only had one chance to volunteer in India

C. she had long dreamed of going to India to work for the needy there

D. New York University didn’t appeal to her

57. Sagorin became volunteer as a result of ____.

A. her determination to change the world          B. her parents’ encouragement and help

C. the training she’s received at school               D. being inspired by Drishtee volunteers

58. Which statement shows that Sagorin’s parents supported her decision?

A. They were a little worried about her safety in India.

B. They gave money for her travel and living expenses.

C. They helped her to get more information about India.

D. They were proud of her for choosing not to go to university.

59. The underlined word “pledge” probably means ____.

A. help to collect    B. decide to return    C. refuse to donate    D. promise to give

60. What is the main point of the article?

A. To prove helping the needy is a great experience.

B. To call on teenagers to follow Sagorin’s example.

C. To introduce a volunteer named Sagorin and the decision she made.

D. To encourage more volunteers to work for Drishtee.

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入的空白处的最佳选项，并从答题卡上将该选项涂黑。

A man lost his legs in a tragic accident. After the accident, only two fingers  1 on his right hand.

However, he was bright, creative and educated. He had gained much experience while traveling throughout the world. Yet, he became very  2  after the accident. He was afraid he would spend his life 3 and would no longer be able to live a life in a(n)  4  way.

One day, he remembered how he had 5  loved getting letters. He realized that he still had partial  6   of his right hand and could write with difficulty. Then, he had an idea. “Why not write to other people who need  7 ?”

Who to write to? He thought of people in prison. Many of them hoped to 8 their freedom. Others would keep feeling sad and remain locked away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to  9  them.

He wrote to a prison officer about sending letters to prisoners. The prison officer replied that writing to the prisoners would be 10 . However, it would be 11  prison rules for them to write back.

Filled with the 12  of carrying out his idea, the man knew he had to write. He began sending one-way 13  of love, hope, strength and encouragement.

He 14  twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the limit. He poured his heart and soul into his words, 15  his experience and optimism.

It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of a 16 . Frequently, he felt discouraged. He often wondered if anyone 17  read his letters. However,  he determined to 18  as long as he could help others.

One day he received a letter from the prison officer. It was a short note from the officer who monitored  and 19  the prison mails.

The letter said, “Please write on the best paper you can 20 . Your letters are passed from cell (牢房) to cell until they fall to pieces!”

1.                A．appeared       B．remained       C．grew D．developed

 

2.                A．moved         B．depressed       C．interested D．tired

 

3.                A．worrying        B．regretting       C．thinking  D．suffering

 

4.                A．meaningful      B．different        C．new D．attractive

 

5.                A．seldom         B．never          C．always    D．hardly

 

6.                A．muscle         B．energy         C．task  D．function

 

7.                A．money         B．knowledge      C．friendship D．encouragement

 

8.                A．enjoy          B．express         C．regain    D．receive

 

9.                A．educate        B．reach          C．save D．support

 

10.               A．impossible      B．necessary       C．acceptable D．difficult

 

11.               A．against         B．above          C．from  D．within

 

12.               A．plan           B．strength        C．ability D．intention

 

13.               A．messages       B．tickets         C．gifts  D．rules

 

14.               A．played         B．traveled        C．wrote D．studied

 

15.               A．forgetting       B．sharing         C．increasing D．forming

 

16.               A．story          B．reply          C．job   D．reward

 

17.               A．immediately     B．already         C．actually   D．luckily

 

18.               A．wait           B．ask            C．change    D．continue

 

19.               A．checked        B．chose          C．kept  D．sent

 

20.               A．make          B．afford          C．imagine   D．expect

 

 

A man lost his legs in a tragic accident. After the accident, only two fingers  36  on his right hand.

However, he was bright, creative and educated. He had gained much experience while traveling throughout the world. Yet, he became very  37  after the accident. He was afraid he would spend his life 38  and would no longer be able to live a life in a(n)  39  way.

One day, he remembered how he had 40  loved getting letters. He realized that he still had partial  41   of his right hand and could write with difficulty. Then, he had an idea. “Why not write to other people who need  42 ?”

Who to write to? He thought of people in prison. Many of them hoped to  43 their freedom. Others would keep feeling sad and remain locked away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to  44   them.

He wrote to a prison officer about sending letters to prisoners. The prison officer replied that writing to the prisoners would be 45 . However, it would be 46  prison rules for them to write back.

Filled with the 47  of carrying out his idea, the man knew he had to write. He began sending one-way 48  of love, hope, strength and encouragement. 

He 49  twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the limit. He poured his heart and soul into his words, 50  his experience and optimism.

It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of a 51 . Frequently, he felt discouraged. He often wondered if anyone 52  read his letters. However,  he determined to 53  as long as he could help others.

One day he received a letter from the prison officer. It was a short note from the officer who monitored  and 54  the prison mails.

The letter said, “Please write on the best paper you can 55 . Your letters are passed from cell (牢房) to cell until they fall to pieces!”

1.                A．appeared       B．remained       C．grew D．developed

 

2.                A．moved         B．depressed       C．interested D．tired

 

3.                A．worrying        B．regretting       C．thinking  D．suffering

 

4.                A．meaningful      B．different        C．new D．attractive

 

5.                A．seldom         B．never          C．always    D．hardly

 

6.                A．muscle         B．energy         C．task D．function

 

7.                A．money         B．knowledge      C．friendship D．encouragement

 

8.                A．enjoy          B．express         C．regain    D．receive

 

9.                A．educate        B．reach          C．save D．support

 

10.               A．impossible      B．necessary       C．acceptable D．difficult

 

11.               A．against         B．above          C．from D．within

 

12.               A．plan           B．strength        C．ability D．intention

 

13.               A．messages       B．tickets         C．gifts  D．rules

 

14.               A．played         B．traveled        C．wrote D．studied

 

15.               A．forgetting       B．sharing         C．increasing D．forming

 

16.               A．story          B．reply          C．job   D．reward

 

17.               A．immediately     B．already         C．actually   D．luckily

 

18.               A．wait           B．ask            C．change    D．continue

 

19.               A．checked        B．chose          C．kept D．sent

 

20.               A．make          B．afford          C．imagine   D．expect

 

 

I remember my first Christmas party with Grandma．I remember the day when my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she laughed．“Even dummies know that!”

　　I fled to Grandma because I knew she always told me  21 ．After I told her everything, she said “No Santa Claus? Don’t believe it. Now,  22 your coat, and let’s go.”

　　“Go? Go where?” I asked．

　　“Where” 23  to be the General Store．As we walked through its doors, Grandma   24 me ten dollars．That was a lot in those days．“Take this money and buy something for  25 needs it．I’ll wait for you in the car．”

　　The store seemed big and  26 , full of people hurrying to finish their Christmas shopping．For a few moments I just stood there, 27  , holding that bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for．

　　Suddenly I thought of Bobbie who sat right behind me．I remembered he didn’t have a coat．I fingered the bill with growing  28 ．I would buy Bobbie a coat．

　　“Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the   29  asked me kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down

　　“Yes,” I replied shyly．“It’s…for Bobbie.”

　　The nice lady smiled at me．I didn’t get any  30 , but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas．

　　That evening, Grandma helped me  31  the coat and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it．Then she  32 me over to Bobbie’s house．

　　Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie’s house, and she and I crept 33 and hid in the  34 ．Then Grandma gave me a sign．“All right, Santa Claus, get going．”

　　I took a deep 35 , dashed for his front door, threw the present down, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety．Together we  36 breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open．Finally it  37 , and there stood Bobbie．

Forty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those  38 spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie’s bushes． 39 ,  I realized: Santa was alive and well, and we were  40  his team．

1.                A．the reason      B．many things      C．stories   D．the truth

 

2.                A．put on         B．put away        C．put up    D．put down

 

3.                A．used           B．turned out      C．found out D．turned up

 

4.                A．lent           B．took           C．paid D．handed

 

5.                A．anyone         B．whomever       C．someone who  D．those who

 

6.                A．crowded        B．varied          C．noisy D．convenient

 

7.                A．satisfied        B．confused        C．curious   D．amazed

 

8.                A．worry          B．disappointment   C．happiness D．excitement

 

9.                A．counter        B．desk           C．shelf D．goods

 

10.               A．money         B．gifts           C．change    D．encouragement

 

11.               A．make          B．wrap           C．undo D．design

 

12.               A．drove          B．took           C．led   D．asked

 

13.               A．quickly         B．painfully        C．nervously  D．noiselessly

 

14.               A．bushes         B．darkness        C．doorway   D．car

 

15.               A．courage        B．look           C．step D．breath

 

16.               A．waited         B．whispered      C．crept D．stood

 

17.               A．came          B．sounded        C．did   D．appeared

 

18.               A．moments       B．days           C．time D．people

 

19.               A．Today          B．That year       C．That night  D．Since then

 

20.               A．on            B．for            C．at    D．of