A lot of us lose life's tough battles by starting a frontal attack--when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who was on his trapped way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam's being late--serious illness at home--he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn't work any longer. His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech.
Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work. Sam's supervisor came up to him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand. "How do you do!" he said. "I'm Sam Maynard. I'm applying for a job, which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?"
The room exploded in laughter, except that the supervisor had to clamp off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job--with the only tool that could win, a laugh.
Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying "no", criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it's the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than people in any other forum.
1. Why was Sam late for his job?
A. Because he was seriously ill at home.    B. Because he received an ultimatum.
C. Because he was caught in a traffic jam.   D. Because he was busy applying for a new job.
2. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Sam Maynard saved his job with humor     B. Humor is important in our lives
C. Early bird can get the worm               D. Humor can solve racial discriminations
3. The phrase "clamp off" in Paragraph 3 means__________.
A. try to hold back    B. pretend to set      C. send off         D. give out
4. Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?
A. Many lose life's battles for they are lacking in a sense of humor.
B. It wasn't the first time that Sam came late for his work.
C. Sam was supposed to come to his office at 8:30.
D. Humor is the most effective way of solving problems.

【小题1】The boss seems __________（有偏见）against the female employees wearing jewelry at work.
【小题2】 The sky was high and soft and light outside with the leaves moving ________（轻柔）in the breeze.
【小题3】 Aware of a thunderstorm on the way, the farmers made the valuable things ________（转移）to safe places.
【小题4】 The dictionary is edited in the order of ________（字母表）.
【小题5】Kent is a constant reminder of Pip’s shabby beginnings, so he made a decision to move from it to the bright lights of London without any             （同伴）.
【小题6】The two numbers sound so alike on the phone that it’s hard to d___________ one from the other.
【小题7】My husband has been a_______ to smoking for several years. It is really hard for him to stop now.
【小题8】 This boy is very g___________ --- he often buys things for other people.
【小题9】 After months of overworking, Jack was suffering from physical and m         exhaustion.
【小题10】 The ability to use a language can be a_________ only by the practice of using the language.

根据所给汉语提示或首字母填写词的适当形式，完成下列句子
（共15小题；每空1分，满分15分）
1. The boss needed many employees, so he decided to h      some.
2. The farmer had only twenty   (牛) left after the serious snowstorm on the farm.
3. The editor said that the book would be improved by     (插入) another chapter.
4. From 1842 to 1940 Angel Island was a famous immigration station where many
Chinese people a        for right to live in USA.
5. I’m sorry to b     you, but can you show me the way to the railway station?
6. Cloning is a way of making an e     copy of another animal or plant.
7.When we describe something very light, we say "as light as a        (羽毛)". 
8. His opinion d       entirely from mine, so I had to change mine.
9. In case of fire, please d     119.
10. The doctor felt the child’s f     and found the fever was gone.
11. He kept         ( 轻敲) his fingers on the table.
12. P      experience is better than theoretical knowledge
13. He works in a small firm and lives on his wages（工资）. How can he makeaf ?
14. Could you lend me 20 yuan? I left my w      at home.
15. The police worked out a plan to catch        (小偷) in the whole city.

.

Al had been working in this factory only eleven months, but he excelled at everything he did. He looked for new tasks-as an opportunity to gain experience. To him, mistakes were not to be denied but considered an opportunity to learn. He was, by far, the most capable man among his workmates, One day, when he was finishing his work of the day, he heard Jack calling him.

“What are you going to do about…?” asked Jack.

“I’ll come off the end rail,” interrupted Al.

“No, I mean about Joe’s promotion?”

“I’m going back to school,” Al said.

“Excuse me!”

“I’m going back to school,” Al repeated.

“You mean you’re quitting!”

Was it that simple? Is this why there was so much misery in men’s lives? “I’m going back to school” was just an excuse, and Al knew it, thought Jack, or Al would not be drunk. It seemed that Al would rather get drunk than fight for his happiness. But why? Jack had no answer.

“Yes, and I’m going back to school. I don’t know what else to do. I can’t believe that this kind of thing can happen. Maybe if I get more education and a better job, it will be different.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Well, what do you want we to do?” Al was getting angry: “I can’t stay here! I can’t work where the most incapable get the biggest reward! I can’t kill Joe and the boss like…”

Al stopped. They both knew what this meant.

“Like I did?”

Al did not answer.

“Yes, I killed two men with my bare hands; yes, I got punished and lost my job-but I kept my soul!”

Al undertood the hidden statement. Al did not know whether it was his anger, or the beer, or both that made him less cautious in the face. He held his hands firmly. Then be heard Jack: “You’ve got the right idea, Al. You’ve got to fight.”

Al needed to think. Instead of taking the subway, he walked five miles back home. By the time he entered his bedroom, he climbed into bed. Turned off his mind, and fell asleed.

67．Choose from the following a right word to describe Jack.

A．Tough.     B．Incapable. C．Lazy. D．Talkative.

68．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Jack was not happy about Joe’s promotion.

B．Al and jack were workmates.

C．The conversation between Al and Jack happened in their workplace.

D．The conversation between Al and Jack happened during the working hours.

69．What can we infer from the underlined part?

A．Jack thinks Al has lost his soul.

B．Jack used to be a killer.

C．Al would be a killer.

D．Don’t be a killer like Jack.

70．Which of the following is true about Al at the end of the story?

A．Al felt so tired from the long walk home and couldn’t help falling asleep.

B．Al and made up his mind and knew what to do.

C．Al forgot all that had happened.

D．Al was too confused to think further.

补全句子（共1小题；满分20分）

1.听这样乏味的故事是不愉快的。

_________ __________ _____________ _____________ to such a boring story.

2.政府应该关心年轻人的成长。

The government should _________ _______________ __________ the growth of young people.

3. 这是我第一次来到中国。

_______ ________ the first time _________ _________ __________ _________ to China.

4.他非常感谢我们让他加入我们的活动.

He felt very _____________ ________ us ___________ _________ letting him _________ _________ the game.

5.每个人都要在保护环境中起作用.

 Everybody has ________ __________ to play __________ _______________our environment.

6.我在那家饭店的菜单上找到合适的事物费了很大的劲。

I __________ ___________ ____________ __________ the suitable food on the menu in that restaurant

7.他问我他怎样才能按时完成作业。

He asked me __________ ___________ ___________ __________ his homework on time.

8.老板命令他的员工下午5点之前不准离开办公室。

The boss ______________ that his men ___________ ___________ their office before 5p.m.

9.目前在中国学习英语的人数正在迅速增长。

Today __________ ______________ ________ people learning English in China _____ ______________ ______________.