I grew up in a house where the TV was seldom turned on and with one wall in my bedroom entirely lined with bookshelves, most of my childhood was spent on books I could get hold of. In fact, I grew up thinking of reading as natural as breathing and books unbelievably powerful in shaping perspectives (观点) by creating worlds we could step into, take part in, and live in.
With this unshakable belief, I, at fourteen, decided to become a writer. Here too, reading became useful. Every writer starts off knowing that he has something to say, but being unable to find the right ways to say it. He has to find his own voice by reading widely and discovering which parts of the writers he agrees or disagrees with, or agrees with so strongly that it reshapes his own world. He cannot write without loving to read, because only through reading other people’s writing can one discover what works, what doesn’t and, in the end, together with lots of practice, what voice he has.
Now I am in college, and have come to realize how important it is to read fiction (文学作品)．As a law student, my reading is in fact limited to subject matter—the volume (量) of what I have to read for classes every week means there is little time to read anything else. Such reading made it all the clearer to me that I live in a very small part in this great place called life. Reading fiction(小说) reminds me that there is life beyond my own. It allows me to travel across the high seas and along the Silk Road, all from the comfort of my own armchair, to experience, though secondhand, exciting experiences that I wouldn't necessarily be able to have in my lifetime

1. 1.

   What does the underlined word in paragraph 1 mostly probably mean?

   1. A.
      even
   2. B.
      almost
   3. C.
      tiredly
   4. D.
      gradually
2. 2.

   What can be inferred about the author as a child?

   1. A.
      He never watched TV
   2. B.
      He read what he had to
   3. C.
      He found reading unbelievable
   4. D.
      He considered reading part of his life
3. 3.

   The underlined word "voice" in the second paragraph most probably means “________________ ”

   1. A.
      an idea
   2. B.
      a sound quality
   3. C.
      a way of writing
   4. D.
      a world to write about
4. 4.

   What effect does reading have on the author?

   1. A.
      It helps him to realize his dream
   2. B.
      It opens up a wider world for him
   3. C.
      It makes his college life more interesting
   4. D.
      It increases his interest in worldwide travel
5. 5.

   Which of the following can be the best title of this text?

   1. A.
      Why do I read?
   2. B.
      How do I read?
   3. C.
      What do I read?
   4. D.
      When do I read?

The house was quiet at 5 a.m. and Tim’s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He’d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring (轻微颤动声) of the freezer had been the sea.

Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He’d eat after he’d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.

He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches ---but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she’d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table.

Gone to Michael’s Back tonight .Tim.

The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn’t up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.

The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday’s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.

The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched across the sea. The sun was pushing its way over the edge of the world．

Over the first rocks, along to the point, Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.

He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn’t go in all the way …

1.What did Tim do at the beginning of the story?

A.He left the house quietly     B. He had breakfast at home.

C. He left a note on the freezer.  D. He put a sweater in his schoolbag.

2."He settled for some biscuits” ( in Paragraph 3 ) means that Tim_______.

A. left home looking for some biscuits

B.felt like eating  biscuits rather than sandwiches

C. had to take biscuits instead of sandwiches  

D. could only find some biscuits in the kitchen

3.What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?

A. The height of the first rocks

B. The ups and downs of the waves

C. The change in the position of the sun

D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?

A. The sea looked like a piece of gold.

B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.

C. Tim was the only person on the beach.

D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.

5.In the story, Tim’s mood changed from        .

A. loneliness to craziness  B. anxiousness to excitement

C. helplessness to happiness    D. eagerness to nervousness

The house was quiet at 5 a.m. and Tim’s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He’d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring (轻微颤动声) of the freezer had been the sea.

Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He’d eat after he’d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.

He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches ---but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she’d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table.

Gone to Michael’s Back tonight .Tim.

The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn’t up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.

The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday’s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.

The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched across the sea. The sun was pushing its way over the edge of the world．

Over the first rocks, along to the point, Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.

He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious now? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn’t go in all the way …

38. What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?

       A. The height of the first rocks.            B. The ups and downs of the waves.

       C. The change in the position of the sun.     D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach.

39. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?

       A. The sea looked like a piece of gold.

       B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.

       C. Tim was the only person on the beach.

       D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.

40. In the story, Tim’s mood changed from        .

       A. loneliness to craziness                             B. anxiousness to excitement

       C. helplessness to happiness                        D. eagerness to nervousness

New archaeological discovers suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began in some form many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a widening range of scientific and historical research, could add a fascinating new page to the epic of the Silk Road.

    The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.

    The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission(使命) across the western desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome.

    But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.

59. The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by_______ .

A. produced       B. continued

C. doubled        D. combined

60. The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that_______.

A. Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk

B. trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought

C. historical research often achieves fascinating results

D. new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices

61．Historians have always considered Zhang Qian’s mission important because they believe_______.

A. he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor

B. he discovered the Silk Road

C. he helped establish East-West trade

D. he travelled as far as Afghanistan

62. When did the official origin of East-West commerce along the Silk Road get to Persia?

A. About 1000 BC.

B. In the late 2nd century BC.

C. A million years ago.

D. In the 2nd century.