Amy returned to her small apartment at midnight, exhausted. Pushing the key into the lock, she quietly opened the door so as not to wake her younger brothers. She stepped into the front room and froze. The apartment was a mess: plates of half-eaten food were scattered in front of the TV; toys littered the floor; clothes, shoes and homework were strewn everywhere. Amy’s eyes welled with tears. This is just way too much for me, she thought. Her worst fears began to race through her mind. Would the court（法院）tell her she couldn’t care for her family anymore? Would the kids go through the bitterness once more of being split up and sent away? She was so young, almost a child herself, and yet Amy knew everything depended on her. At that moment, she wondered if she would ever find the strength to see it through
Amy had been born dead. Doctors fought and saved this smaller twin of a drug-taking mother, and she’d had to fight for everything in life ever since. From earliest childhood, Amy took care of her younger brothers. Jan, their mother, only added to the family disorder and confusion. Sometimes they lived in apartments, sometimes in shelters.
One afternoon Amy was called to the high school, where a social worker was waiting for her. “We know your mother has been staying with you,” the social worker said. “We’re going to have to put you guys in foster （收养)）care.” “No! Don’t split us up!” the girl cried out. “Can’t you just leave it the way it is?” The social worker shook his head. Amy’s voice then rose like the howl of a lioness protecting her babies: “Why can’t I take them? I take care of them all the time anyway.” The social worker hesitated, and then said, “Maybe. Once you’re 18, you could apply to become their relative caretaker. Then you’d be their foster mother until we find a home where all of you can be together.” “I’ll do it,” Amy said.
One month later, Amy was named guardian（监护人）of her brothers for a six-month trial period. It was a remarkable victory for an 18-year-old girl. Her brothers didn’t make her task any easier in the months ahead. However，Amy’s efforts were rewarded when the court allowed her to continue as guardian. Amy’s relief at remaining the kids’ guardian was at risk of being taken away by the pressure she always felt to measure up. Social workers still looked regularly over her shoulder and asked the boys shameful questions: “Does she feed you? Does she ever try to harm you?” Then one day a visiting social worker came over. “We’d like to get the boys out of foster care and adopted into homes,” she said. Sensing that the family was about to be split apart yet again, Amy replied, “Fine, then. Call it adoption if you want, but they’re not going anywhere.” To her surprise, the social worker took her remark seriously. She explained that if Amy were to adopt the boys, they would become like any other family.
That night at dinner Amy told the boys about the idea. “Cool!” Joey said. He threw a piece of corn at Adam. His brother flicked it back, and pretty soon corn was flying. Amy rolled her eyes. They didn’t have far to go to be like any other family. As the proceedings（程序）ended, Amy thanked everyone. “No,” the judge responded, “thank you. You saved three kids. Not many family members would do what you’re doing, especially for this many children. I’m very proud of you.” 
On a lazy spring day, in a modest suburban neighborhood, Amy stood in front of a neatly kept one-story house. She watched her brothers playing basketball, and heard the playful bark of their dog, Tahoe. The young lady had made good on her promise: they had rented a home, a real home, and the boys had gotten their dog. Amy continues to raise her family alone, but has begun taking courses in business management at a nearby community college. Eventually, she hopes to become a child psychologist.
【小题1】Which of the following best describes Amy?

第三部分阅读理解(共15小题；每小题2分，满分40分)

第一节{共15小题；每小题2分．满分30分)

    阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填人空白处的最佳

项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。   

  Benjamin Banneker was a farmer，inventor，astronomer writer and antislavery supporter．He created the first American—built striking clock．

    That fall，as usual，Benjamin rode to the nearby town for supplies．He couldn’t wait to get to the end of the road and buy the things his mother wanted．Then he could have a good talk with the folks in town．The truth was，as much as Benjamin loved his mother and father and three sisters，what he really enjoyed was talking about books or math problems or what was happening in other parts of the colonies(殖民地)．

    It was about l0 o’clock by the sun when Benjamin arrived at a store．He ordered a bolt(一卷)of white cloth for his mother and looked around for someone to taik to．Benjamin’s heart jumped like a rabbit when he saw a friend holding a gold watch．Benjamin had always wanted to figure out how clocks and watches worked．The friend saw Benjamin and let him sit down for a good talk．

    Late that afternoon，Benjamin rode home，slowly．He didn’t want to harm the watch that his friend had let him borrow．That nigh after supper，Benjamin carefully laid the watch on the table and pulled the candle closer．“This is a watch，”he said．“A man in fown lent it to me，and now I’m going to take it apart and draw the pieces．Then 1’11 put it back together again．Benjamin held his breath and gently took the back off the watch．

    Every evening for a week，Benjamin sat at the table with the watch．He copied eaeh tiny

wheel and pin．When the week was up，he put the pieces back togelher and returned the watch to its owner．Then Benjamin got a good night’s sleep．

    The next day when the farm work was done，Benjamin went into the woods to 1ook for just the right pieces of wood．Not too old，not too dry，not too green，not too soft．

    For two years，Benjamin farmed all day and worked on his wood pieces at night．In1753，two years after he had borrowed the watch，Benjamin put all the pieces together．Benjamin had made his own clock．

1．The most likely reason the author wrote the passage was to__________．

  A．show the influence Benjamin Banneker’s family had on him

  B．present reasons for Benjamin Banneker’s fascination with clocks

  C．explain Benjamin Banneker’s reason for becoming an inventor

  D．give an example of Benjamin Banneker’s strong will and intelligence

2.Benjamin especially looked forward to going to the store to __________.

 A．avoid work on the farm    B．purchase white cloth

 C．meet interesring people    D．show his new clock to others

3．Why did Benjamin most likely hold his breath when he took the back off the watch?

  A．He feared his friend might want to get the watch back．

  B．He was very nervous about taking apart a precious object.

  C．He wanted to time how long it would take to finish the job．

  D．He was afraid that broken watch parts would fly into his face．

 One night, as Diaz stepped off the train and onto a nearly empty platform, a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.

    “He wanted my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, ‘Here you go ’” Diaz says.

    As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, “Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you’re going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm.”

    The robber looked at him puzzled, saying, “Why are you doing this?”

    Diaz replied, “If you’re willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me…..”

    Diaz says he and the teen went into a diner and sat in a booth.

    “The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi,” Diaz says.

    The kid said, “You know everybody here. Do you own this place?”

    “No, I just eat here a lot,” Dias said. “But you’re even nice to the dishwasher,” he said.

    Diaz replied, “Well, haven’t you been taught you should be nice to everybody?”

    “Yeah, but I didn’t think people actually behaved that way,” the teen said.

    When the bill arrived, Diaz said, “You’re going to have to pay for this bill because you have my money and I can’t pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I’ll gladly treat you.”

    The teen returned it immediately. “I gave him $20…. I figure maybe it’ll help him.” Diaz says he asked for something in return--- the teen’s knife--- “and he gave it to me.”

    Afterwards, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, “You’re the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch.”

    “I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It’s as simple as it gets in this complicated world.”

1.What did Diaz do to the teen?

    A. He gave the teen a new wallet        B. He treated the teen to dinner

    C. He gave his coat to the teen         D. He bought the teen’s knife

2.From the passage we can infer that the boy _______.

    A. expressed his gratitude for Diaz’s kindness

    B. gave up the idea of robbing in the end

    C. wasn’t taught how to be nice to everybody

    D. gave the knife to Diaz in return for his forgiveness

3.As for what Diaz did, his mother showed an attitude of _______.

    A. anger          B. concern           C. criticism            D. praise

4.By telling the story of Diaz, the author intends to tell us ______.

    A. to keep calm in danger               B. not to go out alone at night

    C. to treat others kindly                   D. not to harm others on purpose

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

     You probably heard those lines in grammar school, but do you really agree that harsh (严厉的) or negative words do not harm us? Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said.

     We may not say words to hurt others, but the way we interpret (解释) them and how we say them may cause great harm. Here’s an example:

     An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him: the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone!

     The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said, "Congratulations! King! You will live many more years. In fact, you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King!"

     Both interpreters gave the same interpretation, but there was a huge difference in the way they said it.

     Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words, but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive?

     People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm, but have you ever known anyone who is a naysayer? They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person? Remember words have power. Use them wisely.

1.The author mentions the story of the ancient king to show that _____.

A. one dream sometimes has different explanations

B. good words can bring good luck to people

C. people should be careful when talking to a king

D. different ways of saying things have different effects

2.The underlined word "naysayer" in the last paragraph refers to a person who always _____.

A.has a negative attitude                B. likes to be praised

C.talks big                           D. likes to repeat what others say

3.According to the text, how can people understand each other better?

A. By sharing different life experiences

B. By accepting different habits.

C. By properly using words

D. By recognizing different values.

4.The author wrote the last paragraph to ______.

A. show how the dark sides of things affect people

B. advise people to see and say things positively

C. show how harsh and negative words hurt people

D. advise people to stay away from negative people

5.The passage mainly talks about ______.

A. the power of words                  B. the cruelty of the king

C. how to understand others              D. how to build good relationships

A month went by in this manner , but a month was all I could bear .

The memory of Marguerite accompanied me wherever I went . I had loved that woman --- still loved her --- too much for her suddenly to mean nothing to me . Whatever feelings I might have for her now , I had to see her again . At once .

…

I knew Marguerite . Meeting me so unexpectedly must have thrown her into a state of great confusion . Probably , she had heard of my departure which had set her mind at rest as to the consequences of our sudden parting . But , seeing me back and coming face to face with me , pale as I was , she had sensed that my return had a purpose , and must have wondered what was going to happen .

If , when I saw her again , Marguerite had been unhappy ; if , in taking my revenge （复仇）, there had also been some way of helping her , then I might well have forgiven her , and would certainly never have dreamed of doing her any harm . But when I saw her again , she was happy , at least on the surface . Another man had ensured her the luxury （奢侈）in which I had been unable to keep her . She brought shame both to my pride and my love ; she was going to have to pay for what I had suffered .

I could not remain indifferent （冷漠）to what she did now . It followed that the thing that would hurt her most would be exactly for me to show indifference . Indifference , therefore , was the feeling which I now needed to pretend , not only in her presence but in the eyes of others .

I tried to put a smile on my face , and I went to call on Prudence with whom Marguerite was staying .

Prudence saw me to the door , and I returned to my apartment with tears of anger in my eyes and thirst for revenge in my heart and thought only of finding a way to make the poor creature suffer .

1.This passage is most probably _______________ of a love story .

A. the beginning????? B. the introduction?????? C. a summary?????? D. a chapter

2.According to the passage , the hero（男主角）wanted to _____________ .

A. forgive Marguerite because he found her unhappy

B. stop the relationship with Marguerite because he couldn’t keep her in the luxury

C. make up the relationship with Marguerite because he still loved her

D. give Marguerite sufferings because his pride and his love were hurt

3.What kind of feelings did the hero most probably have ?

A. Indifference and love .???????????

B. Indifference and hate .

C. Love and hate .?????????????????

D. Hate and sadness .

4.What would the author most probably write about next ?

A. Why he changed his mind suddenly .

B. How he made up his relationship with Marguerite .

C. How he made Marguerite suffer.

D. Why he wanted Marguerite to pay for what he had suffered .