I’d been 16 for six days and was already prepared to deal with failure. I remember when my mum woke me up that morning; her voice wasn’t as scratchy as it usually was.

    I stayed in bed for a few minutes. I was reluctant (不愿) to leave its warmth and comfort, and reluctant to face the problem that I’d let myself forget for the past six months. Finally, I dragged myself out of bed.

I finished getting ready and tried to settle down. It didn’t work, so I decided that my mum and I should go. We had a little time, so I thought we could practice parking. I failed, with the wheel hitting the pavement. After that, the little bit of confidence I’d had was gone. I tried two more times, but didn’t improve much. Then we headed to the test site.

I went into a room for some paperwork. And I waited for 20 minutes―just enough time to make myself believe that I was going to fail. Then, finally, it was my turn. I just wanted to get it over and make sure that I had to come back next Thursday.

I stepped outside and the sky was the light blue I love. It offered me some comfort and I realized something: sometime between when I pulled myself off the seat and when I got outside, I had become calmer.

The first thing I had to do was parking, which I did quite well. The confidence that came with it hit me like a wave. The rest of the test went well and I passed it all. As I drove back, the instructor told me I would not be coming back for a second test next Thursday.

Back in the building I didn’t have to say a word. My mum knew just by looking at me. Her smile made her face softer. And I’m sure it was at least as big as mine. But, her eyes looked kind of teary, so, I knew she was happy for me.

56. We can infer ______.

       A. the writer’s mother might often wakes him up rudely

       B. the writer’s mother is always kind to him

       C. the writer’s mother hates him

       D. never wakes him up in the morning

57. What has the author done probably in the past six months?

       A. He has been ill in bed.                                  B. He has been learning to drive.

       C. He has prepared to deal with failure.             D. He has been looking after his mother.

58. Which is TRUE according to the passage?

       A. As he did well at the beginning of the text, his confidence grew.

       B. He didn’t doubt that he could pass the driving test.

       C. As soon as he got to the test site, he calmed down.

       D. He was happy that he had to come back next Thursday.

59. Which word can be used to describe the writer’s character?

       A. Uneasy.              B. Unhappy.              C. Unconfident.             D. Unlucky.

I’d been 16 for six days and was already prepared to deal with failure. I remember when my mum woke me up that morning, her voice wasn’t as scratchy as it usually was.

    I stayed in bed for a few minutes. I was reluctant （不愿） to leave its warmth and comfort, and reluctant to face the problem that I’d let myself forget for the past six months. Finally, I dragged myself out of bed.

I finished getting ready and tried to settle down. It didn’t’ work, so I decided that my mum and I should go. We had a little time, so I thought we could practice parking. I failed, with the wheel hitting the pavement. After that, the little bit of confidence I’d had was gone. I tried two more times, but didn’t improve much. Then we headed to the test site.

I went into a room for some paperwork. And I waited for 20 minutes—just enough time to make myself believe that I was going to fail. Then, finally, it was my turn. I just wanted to get it over and make sure that I had to come back next Thursday.

I stepped outside and the sky was the light blue I love. It offered me some comfort and I realized something: sometime between when I pulled myself off the seat and when I got outside, I had become calmer.

The first thing I had to do was parking, which I did quite well. The confidence that came with it hit me like a wave. The rest of the test went well and I passed it all. As I drove back, the instructor told me I would not be coming back for a second test next Thursday.

Back in the building I didn’t have to say a word. My mum knew just by looking at me. Her smile made her face softer. And I’m sure it was at least as big as mine. But, her eyes looked kind of teary, so, I knew she was happy for me.

1．We can infer ______.

       A．the writer’s mother might often wakes him up rudely

       B．the writer’s mother is always kind to him

       C．the writer’s mother hates him

       D．never wakes him up in the morning

2．What has the author done probably in the past six months?

       A．He has been ill in bed.                 B．He has been learning to drive.

       C．He has prepared to deal with failure.      D．He has been looking after his mother.

3．Which is TRUE according to the passage?

       A．As he did well at the beginning of the text, his confidence grew.

       B．He didn’t’ doubt that he could pass the driving test.

       C．As soon as he got to the test site, he calmed down.

       D．He was happy that he had to come back next Thursday.

4．Which work can be used to describe the writer’s character?

       A．Uneasy.                                         B．Unhappy.

       C．Unconfident.                          D．Unlucky.

Tony Burke, Australia’s environment minister, says he won’t decide until next year whether the koala should be protected as an endangered species. He was expected to make his decision by the end of October. But that decision has been put off. Burke said he needed more time to go over the latest information about the koala’s population.
In September, an Australian Senate committee reported that there was no question the koala’s population is on the decrease. “But they may not yet be eligible (符合条件) for listing as a threatened species,” said Senator Doug Cameron. “To have such a significant Australian icon(偶像) included on the threatened species list would be a national shame.”
The koala is found only in the eucalyptus (桉树) forests of Australia. And its population is reported to have fallen sharply for many reasons, including the cutting down of forests to make way for human beings’ development, their own illness, climate change and killings by other animals such as wild dogs. And every year many koalas are hit by cars as they are trying to cross the busy roads.
Putting off the decision on protection for the koala “is really bad news,” said Debbie Pointing, the president of the Koala Action Group. “We’ve worked tirelessly for many years to gather data on the populations,” Pointing said. “That data should be enough to make a decision.”
However, Burke pointed out that the Australian government had spent at least $6.3 million on koala conservation efforts since 1996. senators listed efforts that are already underway in Queensland – the construction of special koala bridges as well as fences along roads, to keep the animals out of harm’s way.
Some people say that is not enough. “What we’re doing at the moment is likely to drive this species to extinction,” Queensland University zoologist Bill Ellis said.
“Koalas are an iconic Australian animal,” Burke told Australians. “They hold a special place in the hearts of Australians.”
But it is a fact that if more isn’t done to protect the koala, they might soon hold a place only in Australians’ memories.
【小题1】Tony Burke put off announcing the koala as an endangered species because        .

Tony Burke, Australia’s environment minister, says he won’t decide until next year whether the koala should be protected as an endangered species. He was expected to make his decision by the end of October. But that decision has been put off. Burke said he needed more time to go over the latest information about the koala’s population.

In September, an Australian Senate committee reported that there was no question the koala’s population is on the decrease. “But they may not yet be eligible (符合条件) for listing as a threatened species,” said Senator Doug Cameron. “To have such a significant Australian icon(偶像) included on the threatened species list would be a national shame.”

The koala is found only in the eucalyptus (桉树) forests of Australia. And its population is reported to have fallen sharply for many reasons, including the cutting down of forests to make way for human beings’ development, their own illness, climate change and killings by other animals such as wild dogs. And every year many koalas are hit by cars as they are trying to cross the busy roads.

Putting off the decision on protection for the koala “is really bad news,” said Debbie Pointing, the president of the Koala Action Group. “We’ve worked tirelessly for many years to gather data on the populations,” Pointing said. “That data should be enough to make a decision.”

However, Burke pointed out that the Australian government had spent at least $6.3 million on koala conservation efforts since 1996. senators listed efforts that are already underway in Queensland – the construction of special koala bridges as well as fences along roads, to keep the animals out of harm’s way.

Some people say that is not enough. “What we’re doing at the moment is likely to drive this species to extinction,” Queensland University zoologist Bill Ellis said.

“Koalas are an iconic Australian animal,” Burke told Australians. “They hold a special place in the hearts of Australians.”

But it is a fact that if more isn’t done to protect the koala, they might soon hold a place only in Australians’ memories.

1.Tony Burke put off announcing the koala as an endangered species because        .

2.What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

3.According to the text, Debbie Pointing thinks that        .

4.It can be learned from the text that Tony Burke        .

5.What is the main idea of the text?