Mo Yan's Nobel Prize in Literature soon aroused public curiosity of the 57-year-old Chinese writer: Why was it he that was favored by the Swedish Academy? Chinese media seemed to be 36 as some journalists were reported to be on their way overnight to Gaomi City, Shandong, Mo's 37  where he stayed with his family.
Born in 1955 into a rural family, Mo 38   out of school and became a farmer when he was a(n) 39. He joined the military and devoted himself to 40 after Chinese literary circles started rethinking deeply the Cultural Revolution. 
Mo's novel "Big Breasts & Wide Hips" tells a story of a mother who struggled and suffered 41  and tangled (缠结的) fates with Chinese people in the 20th century. His more recent work "Frog" more directly 42 China's one-child family policy, which helped 43 the country's population explosion 44 brought tragedies to farmers in the past 60 years.
"I think the reason why I could win  the  45   is that my works present lives with unique Chinese 46 , and they also tell stories from a viewpoint of  47  human beings, which goes beyond differences of nations and races," Mo said to Chinese journalists. Mo also said many 48 arts originated from his hometown, such as clay sculpture, paper cuts, traditional new-year paintings, have 49 and influenced his novels.
Mo's prize may give powerful encouragement to the country's writers as the more 50 of Chinese lives their works are, the more possible they 51 as a world literature.
As the world's fast-developing country with a long history, China will 52 meet conflicts with western civilizations.__53_, the country faces internally a wide gap between the rich and the poor, 54 environment pollution and an aging population. Paying more attention to such 55 , Chinese writers may create more works that record the nation's journey to rejuvenation(复兴).With more Chinese writers like Mo, the world could learn a more real China. Perhaps, this is another reason for the Swedish Academy's choice. (words:338)

When in 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States, there was no permanent capital in which to house the government. During the Revolutionary War several different cities had served as the national capital. In addition, members of congress could not agree as to where this permanent capital should be located. Some officials wanted it in the north, others wanted it in the south. Each of the states hoped that the capital might lie within its own state lines. At last it was decided that the capital should occupy a section by itself, separate from any of the states. The place chosen was situated on the Potomac River. The land belonged originally to the state of Maryland, but Maryland agreed to the national government. The section was named the Washington. Work was begun on the new capital in 1791. in the year 1899 Congress occupied the new capital building at the same time the White House was opened as the home of all future presidents.

Before the year 1800, the capital of America had been located in _______.

A. Maryland   B. Washington

C. New York   D. several cities

Why was it decided that the capital should be separated from any of the states? Because ________.

A. the District of Columbia was on the borders of several states

B. the District of Columbia was in the center of America

C. Maryland insisted that the capital lie in its own state

D. Each of the states wanted the capital might lie within its own state

The capital was named after _______.

A. an explorer, who first found the place

B. the place where it occupied

C. the first president of the United States of America

D. a famous general who fought in the war

Presidents of the United States live in ________.

A. the capital building   B. Maryland

C. New York   D. the White House

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 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 sand hills 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...
【小题1】. What did Tim do at the beginning of the story?

-----Alice looks blue today.

-----Yes, I asked her, but she wouldn’t say _____ troubled her.

A.why was it that      B. that was why        C. it was what        D. what it was that