The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light，I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff they call “books”．

I was going to have my examination the next day. “When can I go to bed？”I asked myself. I didn't answer, in fact I dared not.

The clock struck twelve. “Oh, dear！”I cried. “Ten more books to read before I can go to bed！”We pupils are the most wretched creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy.

The clock struck one. I was quite desperate (绝望的) now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, “Oh, God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep.

When the author was going over his lessons, all the others in the house were ________.

A．asleep                      B．working in bed

C．outside                     D．quietly laughing at him

Reviewing his lessons didn't help him because ________.

A．it was too late at night

B．he was very tired

C．his eyes lids were so heavy that he couldn't keep them open

D．he hadn't studied hard before the examination

What do you suppose happened to the author?

A．He went to a church to pray again.

B．He passed the exam by sheer luck.

C．He failed in the exam.

D．He was punished by his teacher.

The best title for the passage would be ________.

A．The Night Before the Examination

B．Working Far into the Night

C．A Slow Student

D．Going Over My Lessons

She sat at the desk and set about _____ a letter to her friend.

On entering the office, I found Mr. Thompson _____ at the desk and _____ something.

　　A. seated； write　B. seated； writing C. seat； write　D. seating； writing

Some names have special meanings in popular American expressions. One day, an average Joe was walking down the street. An average Joe is a common person — either male or female. He did not know where he was going. So average Joe asked John Q. Public for directions to the nearest bank. John Q. Public is also a common person — male or female. “Jeez Louise,” said John Q. Public. This is an expression of surprise. “Don’t you know that all banks are closed today? It is Saturday.”

“For Pete’s sake.” said average Joe. This is also an expression used to show a feeling like surprise or disappointment. “I do not believe you,” said he. At that moment, Joe Blow was walking down the street with a woman. Joe Blow is also an expression for a common person. Now this Joe Blow was not walking next to a plain Jane. A plain Jane is a woman who is neither ugly nor pretty. The woman with Joe Blow was a real Sheila — a beautiful woman.

Average Joe asked the woman if all banks were closed on Saturday. “No way, Jose,” she answered. This is a way of saying “No.” “No way, Jose. Many banks are open on Saturdays.”

Average Joe did not know either of these two people from Adam. That is, he did not know them at all. But he followed their directions to the nearest bank.

When he arrived, he walked to the desk and said: “I am here to withdraw some money so I can pay my taxes to Uncle Sam”. This represents the United States government. The banker produced some papers and told him to sign his John Hancock at the bottom. A John Hancock is a person’s signed name — a signature. Historically, John Hancock was one of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. Hancock had a beautiful signature and signed his name larger than all the others.

The main idea of this text is that ______.

A. some popular American names have special stories

B. some popular American expressions have some special names

C. some popular American names have special meanings

D. some popular American expressions are interesting

Which of the following refers to an ordinary-looking woman?

A. An average Joe         B. John Q. Public         C. Joe Blow           D. A plain Jane

The name “Jeez Louise” is ______.

A. an expression of surprise                    B. a feeling like disappointment

C. an expression for a common man              D. a woman who is neither ugly nor pretty

On hearing the news, he ______ the dictionary lying open on the desk, rushed out and ______ into the distance.

   A. leaving; disappearing                    B. left; disappeared

   C. left; disappearing                       D. leaving; disappeared