Several months ago I decided it would be wise to investigate（投资）the possibilities of buying a life insurance policy（保险）. I got the name of an insurance agent（代理人） from a friend and called the agent for some information. From the questions-I asked him, he could tell I knew nothing about insurance, so he kindly offered to help me determine the kind of policy I ought to be considering.

    That night he appeared at my door at 7:30; without wasting time he spread his papers out on the kitchen table and began a long explanation. I listened attentively as he felt I ought to. After three or four hours of talking, he kindly helped me fill out an form for a $ 50,000policy ,and then he asked if 1 could go to a Dr. Luther's office on Friday for a physical examination.

    I don't know why, but it was not until the mention of the doctor's appointment（约定）that I realized fully what was happening. I was about to sign lifetime contract（合同）, yet I had not really made a decision about whether I wanted to buy the policy or not. As a matter of fact, the question of a need for a decision from me one way or the other had not even come up. Suddenly I felt sure that I really did not want to buy the policy. However, since he had spent 80 much time with me, I didn't want to make him feel that he had wasted his time. So I invented an excuse about things I had to do on Friday, and I assured I would call him in a few days. Actually, I had no intention of going to see Dr. Luther or of calling the agent again.

I wanted to forget the whole thing -- it's been over three months now since our meeting, and my friendly insurance agent still calls at my office faithfully two or three times a week. My secretary knows that I don't want to talk to him, so when he calls she tells him that I'm in a meeting or that out of the office or that I'm away on a business trip. I realize now that it was a mistake not to tell him that first night that I didn't want the policy. Since! still can't bring myself to tell him directly that I'm not interested, and please not to bother me anymore, all I can do is avoid his calls and hope I don't run into him some place.

1．The writer phoned the insurance agent because         .

    A． he wanted to fill out a form for a life insurance policy

B． he had decided to buy a life insurance policy

    C． he took great interest in the insurance company

  D． he was eager to explore the possibilities of buying a life insurance policy

2．After several hours of talking, the writer        .

    A． decided to buy the policy

    B． decided to think over the matter

    C． made an appointment with Dr. Luther

D． decided not to buy the policy

3．The underlined word "assured" in the massage most probably means      .

    A． suggested          B． promised            C． insisted         D． decided

4．Which of the following is TRUE?

    A． The writer has tried many ways to get rid of the agent.

B． The agent is easily put off.

    C． The writer intends to call the agent in a few days.

D． The agent phones every day.

Several months ago I decided it would be wise to look into the possibilities of buying a life insurance policy(保险单), because I understood it might be a good investment. I got the name of an insurance agent from a friend and called the agent to get some information. From the kinds of questions I put to him the agent could tell that I knew nothing about insurance, so he kindly offered to explore the matter with me in more detail---to help me determine the kind of policy I ought to be considering.

That evening he appeared at my door promptly(准时地) at 7:30; without wasting time on pleasantness, he spread his papers out on the kitchen table and launched into a lengthy explanation. I listened attentively as he talked about the difference between various types of policies, and he explained the kind of coverage he felt I ought to have. Toward the end of the evening (after three or four hours of talking), he kindly helped me fill out an application for a $50,000 policy, and then he asked if I could go to a Dr. Luther’s office on Friday for a physical examination.

I don’t know why, but it was not until the mention of the doctor’s appointment that I realized fully what was happening. I was about to sign a lifetime contract, yet I had not really made a decision about whether I wanted to buy the policy. However, since he had spent so much time with me, I didn’t want to make him feel that he had wasted his time. So I invented an excuse about things I had to do on Friday, and I assured him I would call him in a few days. Actually, I had no intention of going to see Dr. Luther or of calling the agent again. I wanted to forget the whole thing.

It’s been over three months now since our meeting, and my friendly insurance agent still calls at my office faithfully two or three times a week. My secretary knows that I don’t want to talk to him, so when he calls she tells him that I’m in a meeting or that I’m out of the office or that I’m away on a business trip. I realize now that it was a mistake not to tell him that first night that I didn’t want the policy. Since I still can’t bring myself to tell him clearly that I’m not interested, and please not to bother me anymore, all I can do is avoid his calls and hope I don’t run into him some place.

 41.The writer phoned the insurance agent because_____.   

   A. he wanted to fill out an application

   B. he had decided to buy a life insurance policy

   C. he took great interest in the insurance company

   D. he was eager to explore the possibilities of buying a policy

 42. After several hours of talking, the writer _____.

A. decided to buy the policy

B. decided to put off making a decision

C. made an appointment with Dr. Luther’s

D. decided not to buy the policy

 43. The writer didn’t tell the agent the truth because ____.

A. he was afraid of him

B. he felt embarrassed to do so

C. he thought it none of the agent’s business

D. he did not wish to lose the agent’s friendship

 44. The writer realized that _____.

A. he should have told the truth to the agent earlier

B. he should buy the policy

C. the agent is a real friend

D. insurance is but a cheat 

It's certain:for twins,life really does imitate art.My twin brother,Kirk,and I grew up being constantly mistaken for each （处理这个问题） other.Classmates,friends,teachers,even relatives couldn't tell us apart. As a result,we were often unfairly punished or rewarded.

Eventually,we learned how to use the Mistaken Identity Syndrome (MIS) to our advantage.For example,we would play tricks on our friends and classmates,pretending to be the other twin.Nor were teachers immune(不受某事物影响) to our tricks.On at least one occasion,when Kirk was sick,I covered for (替代) him by taking his tests.We also tried our little game out on Mom,but she always knew who was who.Once we grew up，we even covered for each other at work.We didn't mean any harm;we simply started this as an experiment to see whether our bosses and co-workers could tell the difference.

As a bank manager, I meet with dozens of clients(顾客) on a daily basis, while my brother manages a staffing service for local employers. As a result, Kirk is constantly approached by people who want to discuss their various money accounts, while I'm frequently thanked on the street as a department store customer service representative.

 However, the MIS took a truly embarrassing turn when Kirk and I found ourselves unable to tell each other apart. Once, my brother and I were traveling in a car with several friends. My brother's hair must always be in place. Kirk was driving when he noticed in the rearview mirror (后视镜) that his hair was a bit messy.

  He lifted his right hand to brush his hair back into place and was disturbed when his hand didn't appear in the mirror. Several times he repeated this action. Finally, he started laughing.

According to the first paragraph, we know that         .

    A. few people can tell the author from Kirk

    B. the author was punished more than Kirk

    C. the author was always rewarded though he was wrong

    D. being twins is really a good thing for both twins

According to the passage, the Mistaken Identity Syndrome is         .

    A. a kind of disease difficult to cure

    B. the situation of mistaking identities

    C. the tricks that children like to play

    D. the way to separate two similar things

It can be inferred that when the author covers for his brother at work，         .

    A. he is often successful

    B. he means to harm his boss

    C. his brother is seriously ill

    D. he often behaves strangely

Why did Kirk laugh at last?

    A. He felt embarrassed about his hair.

    B. His brother's hair was really messy.

    C. His brother was doing the same thing.

    D. He became the victim of the MIS.

第二节短文改错（共10小题，每题1分，满分10分）
假如英语课上老师要求同学们交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写得一下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，要求你在错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。
增加：在缺词处加上一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该次下面写上修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从11处起）不计分。
I have made a new friends recently. His name is Jackson, and he is from the America. How did we get to know each other? You may think we are pen-friends, and you are wrong. We actually have never written to each other before we met. Here is the story. A week before, there was a summer camp in our school. Some American students came to join in us. I was very good on English, especially spoken English, so I was chosen to take part this camp. Jackson was very interesting in Peking Opera, and I liked it, too. When I told Jackson that, he felt very excitedly. We talked a lot about Peking Opera. He said he had a very good time and hoped he would come again quite soon.

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum (乞丐). “I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money,” I thought.
He didn’t. He came and sat on the curb (路边) in front of the bus stop but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke,“That’s a very pretty car.” He was ragged (衣衫褴褛的) but he had an air of dignity.
I said “Thanks” and continued wiping off my car. He sat there quietly as I worked. “Do you need any help?” I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.
“Don’t we all?” he said.
I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a shotgun.
Don’t we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable with himself.
Don’t we all? Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. And you never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting for you to give them what they don’t have.
1. What was the writer doing when he met the homeless person?
A. Shopping.       B. Cleaning his car.       C. Admiring his car.      D. Parking his car.
2. What does the underlined phrase “high and mighty” mean?
A. Tall.   B. On top of the world.C. Strong and powerful.  D. Filled with false pride.
3. Which of the following can best describe the writer’s feelings about himself after the encounter?
A. He felt a new sense of pride.                  B. Inspired and humble.
C. Great and wise.                            D. Successful and important.
4. What does the article tell us?
A. We should help those less fortunate than ourselves.
B. Helping a person indirectly is preferable to direct, obvious help.
C. All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need help from others and should offer help ourselves.
D. Money is all important in life.