Years ago, there lived a wealthy man named Mr. Cooper who, with his dearest young son John, loved art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, collecting the finest art treasures.

One winter, war came to the nation, and John left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram reading that John had died while saving a fellow soldier. Filled with sadness, the old man cried. On the coming Christmas morning, a soldier called on him and gave him a picture of John.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. According to his will, all of his works of art would be auctioned (拍卖) on Christmas Day, when he had received the greatest gift of his life. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to buy some of the world’s greatest paintings. The auction began with a painting of the old man’s son. “Who will open the bidding (出价) with $100?” the auctioneer (拍卖人) asked. Minutes passed, but no one spoke. Finally, a neighbor of the old man’s spoke. “Can I take the painting for ten dollars? It is all I have, and he is a good man.”

“Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice, gone.” The gavel(槌) fell. “Now we can get on to the real treasures,” someone shouted angrily. But the auctioneer said that the auction was over. Someone asked,“It’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. There are millions of dollars worth of art here!”The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son ... gets all.”

Why did they travel around the world?

A. They wanted to visit some well-known artists.

B. They had their own companies around the world.

C. They wanted to visit all kinds of places of interest.

D. They wanted to collect the world’s finest art.

When did the old man die?

A. The morning when the solider visited him.

B. Several months after John died.

C. A few days after John served in the army.

D. The day he received the news of John’s death.

The underlined words “the greatest gift” in Paragraph 3 refer to ________.

A. a picture of John                                     B. the painting John collected

C. the finest work of art                               D. the telegram about his son

A neighbor of the old man’s bought the painting of John ________.

A. because he knew the will of the old man

B. to pick up the world’s greatest paintings

C. in honor of John, who was worth respecting

D. because no one else was willing to buy it

It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. the old man and the auctioneer were good friends

B. no art collectors wanted to buy Mr. Cooper’s collection of art

C. John was a successful art collector and an excellent artist

D. the old man, Mr. Cooper, loved his son very much

B

The Harp Seal is one of nature’s most beautiful and appealing (吸引人的) creatures. Many years ago it was hunted for its fur. Hunting Harp Seals is now illegal.

The seals spend the summer months migrating (迁徙) in large groups. Harp Seals close their nostrils (鼻孔) and earholes when diving in water, but have to surface frequently to breathe. Their favourite place to rest is on the top of icebergs.

The female Harp Seal gives birth in February or March and feeds her pups for 14-18 days. Baby Harp Seals begin to lose their white fur at around six to eight weeks of age. As an adult, the Harp Seal has brown skin. At birth, Harp Seals weigh 12kg but can weigh up to 130kg as adults. Harp Seals eat small fish, shrimps and krill. However, they are able to switch from one food to another depending on what they can get as food. Males have a lifespan of 29 years while females usually live for longer than 30 years.

Since the Canadian Government introduced laws to protect the seal pups from hunters, their numbers have increased to more than one million. Now every year, thousands of tourists flock to the pack ice to witness the wonderful sight of new pups born in spring.

55. What is the passage mainly about?    

A. Hunting Harp Seals is illegal.

B. Protecting Harp Seals.

C. Harp Seals.    

D. Lifespan of Harp Seals.

56. An adult Harp Seal could be described as being ___________.    

A. brown in colour and weighing 12kg

B. brown in colour and weighing 130kg

C. white in colour and weighing 12kg    

D. white in colour and weighing 130kg

57. According to the passage which of the following statements is TRUE?    

A. Adult Harp Seals only eat shrimp.

B. Adult Harp Seals eat different food at different times.

C. Adult Harp Seals prefer to eat krill. 

D. Adult Harp Seals catch small fish to feed their young.

 

                                B

The Harp Seal is one of nature’s most beautiful and appealing (吸引人的) creatures. Many years ago it was hunted for its fur. Hunting Harp Seals is now illegal.

The seals spend the summer months migrating (迁徙) in large groups. Harp Seals close their nostrils (鼻孔) and earholes when diving in water, but have to surface frequently to breathe. Their favourite place to rest is on the top of icebergs.

The female Harp Seal gives birth in February or March and feeds her pups for 14-18 days. Baby Harp Seals begin to lose their white fur at around six to eight weeks of age. As an adult, the Harp Seal has brown skin. At birth, Harp Seals weigh 12kg but can weigh up to 130kg as adults. Harp Seals eat small fish, shrimps and krill. However, they are able to switch from one food to another depending on what they can get as food. Males have a lifespan of 29 years while females usually live for longer than 30 years.

Since the Canadian Government introduced laws to protect the seal pups from hunters, their numbers have increased to more than one million. Now every year, thousands of tourists flock to the pack ice to witness the wonderful sight of new pups born in spring.

55. What is the passage mainly about?    

A. Hunting Harp Seals is illegal.

B. Protecting Harp Seals.

C. Harp Seals.    

D. Lifespan of Harp Seals.

56. An adult Harp Seal could be described as being ___________.    

A. brown in colour and weighing 12kg

B. brown in colour and weighing 130kg

C. white in colour and weighing 12kg    

D. white in colour and weighing 130kg

57. According to the passage which of the following statements is TRUE?    

A. Adult Harp Seals only eat shrimp.

B. Adult Harp Seals eat different food at different times.

C. Adult Harp Seals prefer to eat krill. 

D. Adult Harp Seals catch small fish to feed their young.

D

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had an experience which occurred merely two feet away from me.

       Trying to locate my friend among the passengers coming through the jet way, I noticed a man walking toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.

       First he kissed his three children one by one and said, “It’s nice to see you. I missed you so much!” Then he hugged his wife, “I’ve saved the best for last!” giving her the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. They stared at each other’s eyes, smiling at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds（新婚夫妇）, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t possibly be.

       Full of admiration, I asked, “Wow! How long have you two been married?” “Being together for fourteen years total, married twelve of those.” He replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife’s face. “Well, then, how long have you been away?” I asked. “Two whole days!” “Two days?” I was astonished. By the intensity (热烈) of the greeting, I had assumed he’d been gone for at least several weeks --- if not months. I knew my expression betrayed me, so I turned away my eyes and said quietly, “I hope my marriage is still that passionate after so long!”

The man suddenly stopped smiling and looked me straight in the eye. With forcefulness he told me something that left me a different person. “Don’t hope, friend…decide!” Then he smiled again, shook my hand and said, “God bless!”

With that, he and his family turned and walked away together.

I was still watching that man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, “What are you looking at?” Without hesitation, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “My future!”

74. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

   A. The man replied to the author, with his eyes still fixed on his wife’s face.

   B. After being away for several weeks, the man missed his family very much.

   C. It was fourteen years since the couple had got married.

   D. Their three kids reminded the author of newlyweds.

75. By saying “my expression betrayed me” (in Paragraph 4), the author means that _________.

    A. he failed to express his ideas to the man 

B. the man sensed his real feelings from his expression

C. he didn’t believe in his expression any more  

D. his expression was not faithful to him

76. From the passage, we can infer that __________.

    A. the experience may be easily forgotten by the author

B. the author will live a passionate life from now on

C. the author will be away from his family and hug them passionately upon his return

D. Americans prefer to save the best for last  

Many years ago in a small village, an old man was hired to clear the spring (泉水) up on the mountain. He patrolled (巡逻) the spring every day, and swept away all the leaves and other things that would dirty the fresh flow of water. Soon, beautiful swans (天鹅) came to the clear spring, and the village became a popular attraction for visitors.
Years passed. One evening the town leaders held a meeting. As they looked at the salary list, one of them said, “Why do we keep this old man on year after year? I don’t think we need him or his work.” Later, the old man was asked to leave.
For several weeks, nothing changed. By early autumn, the leaves began to fall off the trees, and the spring was covered with leaves. A few days later, the water was much darker. Only a few months after the old man left, all the swans left, as did the tourists. Disease reached deeply into the village.
Quickly, the leaders held a special meeting. Realizing their mistake, they rehired the old man. Then within a few weeks, the spring began to clear up. Soon new life returned to the village.
So, my friends, do you see? No matter how small your work or your life seems to be, never overlook it. Anything we can do will make a difference.
【小题1】The leaders decided to ask the old man to leave because they thought ______.

A．his work was unnecessary	B．he did his work carelessly
C．he was too old to do the job	D．he could do other better jobs

【小题2】How did the leaders feel a few months after the old man left?

A．Regretful.

B．Moved.

C．Excited.

D．Calm.

【小题3】What does the underlined word “overlook” mean in the last paragraph?

A．Believe.

B．Ignore(忽略).

C．Praise.

D．Punish.

【小题4】With this story, the writer wants to tell us that ______.

A．even a small job can be important	B．work can bring old people happiness
C．everyone should always respect others	D．everyone can be his own master