B
“It was all his own idea, ” says Pat Peters, the 38-year-old wife of Palo Alto, California high school football coach Bob Peters, 39. Bob had just drawn up a “motherhood contract” --a document stating that for 70 days this summer he would take over the care and feeding of the couple’s four children, plus all household chores. Although he didn’t even know how to make coffee when he signed, he was quite confident.(He thought the experience would make a nice book.)
After 40 of the 70 days, he was ready to give up. “I was beaten down, completely humbled（挫败的）,”  admits Peters. Three weeks later he spoke to the local press, stating, “Not only is motherhood a difficult task, not only is it never-ending, it is an impossible job for any normal human being.”
Bob and Pat were high school sweethearts. After they were married in 1960, she worked as a secretary to help put him through university. Since then Bob has been the football and wrestling coach at Palo Alto’s Cubberley High while Pat raised the kids. Then two years ago Pat went back to work as a secretary at Cubberley. “I had been around children so much,” she sighs, “I couldn’t talk to a grown-up.” She continued to run the household, however----until Bob signed the contract, therefore, she decided to relax and enjoy it. 
Although Peters had consulted(咨询) with his school’s home economics teachers and the head of the cafeteria, his meals were sometimes a disaster. “I tried to slip the butter I’d forgotten under the eggs after they were frying, ” he says. For the last three weeks, the family ate out a lot—sometimes having Macdonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner.
As for housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean if the bed is made. “I found an easier way-I shut the doors, ” he says. Soon the kids were wearing the same clothes for a week. “I made them wear their shirts inside out, and when we went to pick up Pat at work they turned them right side out so they would look clean.”
Now that Bob has publicly admitted he was wrong, he is routinely sharing the child-raising and household tasks with Pat. The tentative（暂时的） title of his book about the summer is taken from something he shouted at the kids one day.
45. The couple signed the contract because _______.
A. Pat complained a lot about her doing the housework all by herself
B. Bob loved taking care of children and wanted his wife to have a good rest
C. they agreed that husband and wife should share household tasks
D. Bob thought it easy to take care of the family and wanted the experience for a book
46. It was agreed that if Bob failed to keep to the contract, he would have to _______.
A. pay a certain amount of money
B.  admit publicly he was wrong about motherhood 
C. say sorry to his wife         D. do all the housework for years
47. What can we learn about Pat Peters?
A. She was hard-working and selfless.   B. She was pretty and kind-hearted.
C. She was tired of the child-raising and household tasks.
D. She did not love Bob any longer.
48. Which of the following can best end the news story?
A. “Wait till your mother gets home!”    B. “My experience of being a mother.”
C. “I’m proud of you all, my dear!”     D. “Motherhood: an impossible job for anyone.”

A seven-year-old girl who had only just learnt to swim saved a four-year-old boy from drowning in the sea. Because of this she has been 36 as a hero.

Brave Amber Horton sprang into action after 37 her friend Kieran Martin slipping __38 rocks and falling into the water. Little Kieran couldn’t swim and 39 to keep his head above the water.　 40 every bit of her strengh, Amber swam over to the sticken child and 41 him to the surface. Then she dragged him back to the shore at Lee-on-the-Solent, Hants.

Amber said, “I had to Kieran to be very __42 but he just slipped. He can’t swim and his feet couldn’t touch the 43 of the sea. I swam over and grabbed him from the water.” Kieran was 44 shaken but suffered only cuts on his legs from the rocks. “I was very scared. I was 45 for a long time and hurt my legs on the rocks. Then Amber saved me,” siad Kieran.

The pair were at the seaside for an outing with their 46 . Amber, Kieran, his cousin Max, five, and his brother Dorminic, seven, had all wandered over to the water’s edge while their 47 family members were in a nearby playpark. Amber’s mum Dee Horton said, “The first I knew about 48 was when Kieran’s brother Dorminic ran over and said Amber had just saved Kieran’s life.”

“It was 49. Kieran was frightened and distressed. He couldn’t move and was crying his eyes out… I think Amber’s phenomenal（了不起的）. She’s just learned to swim herself and she’s had no 50 . I can’t believe she did it 51 . She’s a very brave little girl and we are all very proud of her.”

Drowning is the third most 52 cause of accidental death among children 53 the age of 16 . According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, learning to 54 __may help children who find themselves in difficulties in the water,　 55 it does not mean they will be safe. Latest figures show more than half of the children who drown can swim.

36. A. realized　　　　 B. recognized　 C. celebrated　　　 D. convinced

37. A. watching　　　 B. viewing　　　 C. considering　　 D. spotting

38. A. off　　　　　　 B. on　　　　　 C. at　　　　　　 D. of

39. A. managed　　　 　B. pretended　　 C. struggled　　　 D. succeeded

40. A. Using　　　　　 B. Picking　　　 C. Catching　　　　 D. Giving

41. A. drew　　　　　 B. transported　　 C. held　　　　　 D. pulled

42. A. devoted　　　　 B. frightened　　 C. brave　　　　　 D. careful

43. A. base　　　　　 B. foot　　　　　 C. bottom　　　　 D. root

44. A. exactly　　　　 B. specially　　 C. extremely　　　 D. happily

45. A. under the water　 B. on the water　 C. on the shore　　 D. on the rock

46. A. classmates　　　 B. families　　　 C. friends　　　　 D. fellows

47. A. another　　　　 B. other　　　　 C. different　　　　 D. extra

48. A. them　　　　　 B. her　　　　　 C. it　　　　　　　 D. him

49. A. terrifying　　　　 B. interesting　 C. exciting　　　　 D. satisfying

50. A. chances　　　　 B. reasons　　　 C. lessons　　　　　 D. possiblilities

51. A. Anyway　　　　 B. Otherwise　　 C. Besides　　　　 D. Furthermore

52. A. usual　　　　　 B. ordinary　　　 C. general　　　　 D. common

53. A. at　　　　 　　　B. beneath　　　 C. under　　　　　 D. over

54. A. calm　　　　　　 B. play　　　　 C. save　　　　　　 D. swim

55. A. but　　　　　　 B. and　　　　 C. or　　　　　　　 D. though

A. accidentally

B. accommodation

C. admiring

D. armed

E. constant

F. cyclist

G. financially

H. inspired

I. memories

J. wander

Like many other young people, Lin Chi-ying (Vicky) and Chiang Chiu-ping (Pinky) dreamed of traveling the world. What makes them special is that they actually did it; what’s more, they did it on bicycles.

At 18, Vicky read the famous Cycling Diary of Hu Rong-hua and was __41__ to take a bike tour of southern China by herself. In 1991, while riding along the island’s east coast, she met a Japanese __42__, who invited her to join him on a world cycling tour.

In July 1998, they began their trip in Alaska. Vicky soon realized, however, that their travel philosophies were quite different. Her partner seemed intent on testing his endurance, while she preferred __43__ the fantastic scenery and meeting the locals. They parted after a month. Vicky cycled alone through the Rocky Mountains down to the western United States. By this time, her __44__ efforts to persuade her college friend, Pinky, to join her had succeeded.

Once, in California, Vicky and Pinky were unable to find any cheap __45__, so they camped in a park. They were woken up by __46__ police officers, who told them camping there was illegal. In cities, they would __47__ through colleges and libraries, “in need of air-conditioning,” Pinky joked.

Vicky and Pinky praise friends back in China who supported them __48__, as well as people who assisted them along the way. They have fond __49__ of the wonderful friendliness of the people in a Turkish village, where Vicky and Pinky farmed, cooked, and danced with the locals.

B

“It was all his own idea, ” says Pat Peters, the 38-year-old wife of Palo Alto, California high school football coach Bob Peters, 39. Bob had just drawn up a “motherhood contract” --a document stating that for 70 days this summer he would take over the care and feeding of the couple’s four children, plus all household chores. Although he didn’t even know how to make coffee when he signed, he was quite confident.(He thought the experience would make a nice book.)

     After 40 of the 70 days, he was ready to give up. “I was beaten down, completely humbled（挫败的）,”  admits Peters. Three weeks later he spoke to the local press, stating, “Not only is motherhood a difficult task, not only is it never-ending, it is an impossible job for any normal human being.”

     Bob and Pat were high school sweethearts. After they were married in 1960, she worked as a secretary to help put him through university. Since then Bob has been the football and wrestling coach at Palo Alto’s Cubberley High while Pat raised the kids. Then two years ago Pat went back to work as a secretary at Cubberley. “I had been around children so much,” she sighs, “I couldn’t talk to a grown-up.” She continued to run the household, however----until Bob signed the contract, therefore, she decided to relax and enjoy it. 

Although Peters had consulted(咨询) with his school’s home economics teachers and the head of the cafeteria, his meals were sometimes a disaster. “I tried to slip the butter I’d forgotten under the eggs after they were frying, ” he says. For the last three weeks, the family ate out a lot—sometimes having Macdonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner.

     As for housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean if the bed is made. “I found an easier way-I shut the doors, ” he says. Soon the kids were wearing the same clothes for a week. “I made them wear their shirts inside out, and when we went to pick up Pat at work they turned them right side out so they would look clean.”

     Now that Bob has publicly admitted he was wrong, he is routinely sharing the child-raising and household tasks with Pat. The tentative（暂时的） title of his book about the summer is taken from something he shouted at the kids one day.

45. The couple signed the contract because _______.

    A. Pat complained a lot about her doing the housework all by herself

    B. Bob loved taking care of children and wanted his wife to have a good rest

    C. they agreed that husband and wife should share household tasks

    D. Bob thought it easy to take care of the family and wanted the experience for a book

46. It was agreed that if Bob failed to keep to the contract, he would have to _______.

    A. pay a certain amount of money

B.  admit publicly he was wrong about motherhood 

  C. say sorry to his wife         D. do all the housework for years

47. What can we learn about Pat Peters?

    A. She was hard-working and selfless.   B. She was pretty and kind-hearted.

    C. She was tired of the child-raising and household tasks.

    D. She did not love Bob any longer.

48. Which of the following can best end the news story?

 A. “Wait till your mother gets home!”    B. “My experience of being a mother.”

 C. “I’m proud of you all, my dear!”      D. “Motherhood: an impossible job for anyone.”

Her frozen fingers touched the flame trying to feel alive. She could feel the warmth but it was a cold heat, as if the candle was rejecting her.

Her arms turned red because of the cold, her short sleeved shirt not giving her enough warmth. The winter air grabbed(抓住) at her arms, causing her pain, but she didn’t mind. She knew she should put her jacket on, it was winter in Connecticut, but that would be giving up. Up here, in this tree she felt safe.

She looked at the candle, surrounded by hardening wax(蜡). She placed her fingers gently on the warm green wax. This candle was a reminder of her life inside that house, a life she would have to return to eventually.

As a child, she had gotten this candle. She spent all she had on it. The beautiful crystal box （水晶盒）had caught her eye. Five whole nickels（五分币） had brought her that candle.

She gave it to her mother for Mother’s Day. Her mother had managed a smile and put it on a shelf. “It’s very pretty, honey! I will put it right here.” Since then that candle had never been moved, never been lighted, sitting dusty on a cluttered shelf that no one could see. Later on, her parents got divorced.

By now the candle was colder than the air and the darkness was complete. The snow on the ground made the night lighter and less satisfying than it had been before the first snowfall. She liked the darkness because she felt safe in it. From the glances of her friends who liked the girl she used to be. From the boys who could never figure out who she was. From her guidance counselor(顾问) whose endless worried looks never made her feel any better.

No one was outside at this time of night. She was alone in the world, just how she liked it. Just as she was about to lean back against the branch, she heard a sound.

She heard footsteps breaking the ice in the snow, heading toward her. He was making his way toward the white fence at the edge of the building, right against the road. Normally she would have ignored this person and stayed on her branch faraway from human contact, but this figure had something with him. He trudged(吃力地走) toward the white fence carrying a case. The figure reached the fence, opened the case and took out a shiny object.

She took her eyes off this figure only long enough to climb down the tree to get a better view of him. She reached the bottom and saw that the person had turned to face the street, sitting on the white fence that she and her friends once sat on. She stepped carefully on the ice, making her way toward him.

And then a beautiful sound of music came from the shiny object. She stopped and listened to it. She started walking towards the guy again. Just as she was about to step onto the snow banks, she slipped on the ice crashing to the ground. The figure turned around in surprise and a sudden recognition fell upon them both.

47. The girl was hiding in the tree at deep night to ______.

A. keep herself from the cold                     B. wait for the boy to come

C. want to be left alone                           D. seek safety from any hurt

48. From the story, we can learn that ______.

A. the girl suffered a lot in her life

B. the girl’s parents divorced because of her

C. teachers and friends treated the girl badly

D. the girl used to stay in the tree when feeling sad

49. The underlined word “it” in the story refers to ______.

A. leaning back against the branch        B. being alone in the world

C. not being disturbed at night               D. it being dark with snow around

50. From the end of the story, it can be known that the girl _______.

A. knew the person                           B. knew what the object was

C. realized her wishes                     D. would never feel alone any more