Where do most writers get their ideas? For Yoshiko Uchida, it all began with Brownie, a five-month-old puppy. So excited was Yoshiko by Brownie’s arrival that she started keeping a journal, writing about all the wonderful things Brownie did and the progress he made.

Soon she was writing about other memorable events in her life, too, like the day her family got their first refrigerator. She also began writing stories, thanks to one of her teachers. Yoshiko wrote stories about animal characters such as Jimmy Chipmunk and Willie the Squirrel. She kept on writing, sharing the kitchen table with her mother, who wrote poems on scraps of paper and the backs of envelopes.

Yoshiko grew up in the 1930s in Berkeley, California. Her parents, both of whom had been born in Japan, provided a loving and happy home for Yoshiko and her sister. They also provided a stream of visitors to their home who later found their way into Yoshiko’s stories. One visitor who later appeared in several of Yoshiko’s stories was the bad-tempered Mr. Toga, who lived above the church that her family attended. Mr. Toga would scold anyone who displeased him. The children all feared him and loved to tell stories about how mean he was and how his false teeth rattled (咯咯响) when he talked.

Yoshiko also included in her stories some of the places she visited and the experiences she had. One of her favorite places was a farm her parents took her to one summer. The owners of the farm, showed Yoshiko and her sister how to pump water from the well and how to gather eggs in the henhouse. They fed the mules that later pulled a wagon loaded with hay while Yoshiko and the others rode in the back, staring up at the stars shining in the night sky. Yoshiko, who lived in the city, had never seen such a sight. As Yoshiko gazed up at the stars, she was filled with hope and excitement about her life. The images of that hayride stayed with her long after the summer visit ended, and she used them in several of her stories.

The experiences Yoshiko had and the parade of people who marched through her young life became a part of the world she created in over twenty books for young people, such as The Best Bad Thing and A Jar of Dreams. Because of such books, we can all share just a little bit of the world and the times in which this great writer grew up.

1.The author tells about Mr. Toga’s false teeth in Paragraph 3 in order to ____________.

A. show health care was not good enough in Berkeley during the 1930s

B. provide an interesting detail in Yoshiko’s life and stories

C. show Yoshiko’s young life was difficult and frightening

D. tell about a beloved relative who helped Yoshiko learn how to write

2.In Paragraph 4 “the stars” probably refer to ____________.

A. family relationships                                          B. terrors in the night

C. limitless possibilities                                        D. sacrifices to benefit others

3. What does the underlined part in the last paragraph mean?

A. Yoshiko loved to write about parades.

B. Yoshiko met many interesting people.

C. Yoshiko liked to go for long walks with others.

D. Yoshiko preferred to talk to her pets instead of to people.

4.What is the main idea of this story?

A. People who live in the city should spend as much time as they can in the country.

B. Writers like Yoshiko Uchida must communicate with as many writers as possible.

C. Those who move to the United States often miss their homelands for many years.

D. Writers like Yoshiko Uchida look to the richness of their lives for material.

三、完形填空。（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36-55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
My friend Jessie and I have known each other since we were very young. After we both got married we seldom had time to get together    36    I always promised myself that I would meet her whenever I was free.
Friendships get more    37    as we get older. When we reached our forties, we    38    to do something to keep our    39    strong, healthy and growing. We picked out one Saturday a month and    40    to do something together that day. Sometimes we had a long lunch out, and other times we went to see a movie or went shopping. We also promised to have a(n)    41    every few days.
In some adventures we drove to our favorite places and    42    a night there. Other times we just    43  , stopping wherever we wanted. One of our adventures    44    us to a very small town in south Georgia. The people there were    45    a special festival. We were    46    to buy the handmade gifts and eating the   47    food. There was also a parade. Everyone in the parade    48    and waved to us! It was so great! We    49      had a great time that day!
Fun is always on the menu, whether it’s a weekend trip or a couple of hours    50    lunch. We are so happy and have a great    51    on each other’s lives. We share our sorrow and    52    and we ask for and receive advice. We always laugh, too!
Don’t keep promising yourself that “someday” you’ll    53    your friends. Do it now. Pick up your phone and make a    54    for THIS weekend. You’ll be a happier,    55    person for it! You need it and your friends need it, too.
36. A. as                   B. unless                         C. though                        D. since
37. A. precious              B. difficult                          C. boring                  D. interesting
38. A. refused           B. decided                           C. remembered             D. regretted
39. A. friendship           B. connection                   C. marriage                  D. life
40. A. forgot                 B. promised                         C. learned                     D. pretended
41. A. racing                 B. adventure                        C. hiking                  D. appointment
42. A. offered           B. took                                C. cost                         D. spent
43. A. looked            B. left                                 C. drove                       D. ran
44. A. gave                   B. took                                C. pushed                     D. forced
45. A. obtaining            B. enjoying                          C. preparing                 D. representing
46. A. unwilling            B. eager                              C. delighted                  D. neat
47. A. delicious             B. terrible                            C. awful                       D. valuable
48. A. wiped                 B. appealed                          C. smiled                  D. announced
49. A. hardly                B. nearly                         C. really                       D. probably
50. A. over                   B. on                                  C. at                               D. with
51. A. regret                 B. influence                         C. discussion             D. impression
52. A. weakness            B. benefits                           C. problems                  D. happiness
53. A. meet                   B. advise                         C. support                    D. grasp
54. A. design            B. plan                                C. speech                  D. record
55. A. busier                 B. prettier                            C. healthier                   D. cleaner

On Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, which honors Patron Saint (or main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.
This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million spectators and more than 150,000 participants filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest.
Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye, into the water.
Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit "A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland," at his official library.
Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday.
55. What’s the best title of the passage?
A．History of Saint Patrick’s Day   B．An Official Holiday in US
C．The Largest Parade in the World  D．Celebrations across the Country
56. What do you think is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day?
A．Green  B．Red.  C．Black.  D．Yellow.
57. The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
A．the cruel slave trade.     B．Saint Patrick’s contribution.
C．activities during Saint Patrick’s Day  D．Ireland’s Patron Saint
58. Which of the following is not correct according to the passage?
A．Parade is a most important event to observe Saint Patrick’s Day.
B．Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday.
C．Saluting the former president has become a main event on the occasion.
D．The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over two centuries.

TOURNAMENT OF ROSES
-- 5 Days Los Angeles

The parade went_______ the streets to celebrate the traditional festival.

A. across       B. by              C. through       D. towards