Anne Battle's "Do We Over-educate Our Children" reminded me that the German author Gunter Grass once said that failing his school leaving exams was a blessing （福气） without which he would never have achieved the position he now holds． I wonder how many other great men and women owe their success to having failed in their academic careers．

I was a college student in the 1960s the time when it was believed that the future wealth of the country depended on the education of the young: money was plentiful, new universities sprang up and great myths evolved to attract young people into the academic life．

Three years later, I got a first-class degree in mathematics． For some months there had been pressure to try for a further degree-the more post-graduate students there are, the mere financial benefits exist for us． My fellow postgraduates and I knew nothing of the outside world, and happily believed that academic life for another three years would uplift us in the eyes of future employers: and so I went to London and began work for a doctor's degree．

Here, for the first time, I came across  "mature students" -people who had left school at 16 and, years later, taken A-levels at technical colleges and come to university． Having chosen their subject with great care, and being more mature, they found a joy in their courses unknown to most of us．

I have been working now for several years: life has been very different from what I had been led to expect． However, it is too late Lo change: the state of understanding will not pay to reeducate people  completely． As I think back, I regret that I did not fail my A-levels．

47．What can we infer from Gunter Grass' words?

       A． He's ashamed of failing school leaving exams．

       B． He's satisfied with his present position．

       C． He's regarded as a great man.

       D． He's achieved a lot in career.

48．When the author was at college in the 1960s, the youth             .

       A． were linked up with the society

       B． were attracted by school

      C． were hopeless about life

       D． were quite wealthy

49．What makes the author feel regretful?

       A． Post-graduate students increased fast．

       B． She had had a hard time in academic life．

       C． The reality was different from what expected．

       D． She missed being a "mature student" in academe．

50．Which agrees with the author's idea?

       A． The society couldn't provide enough jobs for the youth

       B． Universities have done a lot for the society today．

       C． The youth shouldn't be at school for so long．

    D． Many great persons failed exams at school．

第二节：完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand (农场工人). At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he __31    to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social   32   with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was   33   because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied with his   34  . In his words, he   35   thought of changing his job.

At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came   36   into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt   37  . She told Dad that they must make a   38  .

My mother had   39   of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and   40  . And she   41   that I would some day become a great leader   42   men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she   43   Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and   44   a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for   45   education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother’s hope, Dad and I   46   what we have today. Dad runs a big international   47   and I am a successful lawyer   48   great fame in my country,   49   not a leader as my mother expected.

Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn’t be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.   50   he got a lesson of life —sometimes we really need drive from outside.

31．A．rode                B．walked                 C．ran                              D．drove

32．A．conversations  B．games                C．relationships      D．activities

33．A．cold         B．crowded        C．quiet                        D．dirty

34．A．horse                  B．entertainment  C．life                               D．beer

35．A．often             B．ever                C．never                           D．sometimes

36．A．laughing     B．singing                   C．sleeping                        D．crying

37．A．unimportant     B．busy                     C．unsatisfied             D．tired

38．A．living              B．change                C．decision                        D．house

39．A．dreamed             B．heard                            C．thought                        D．spoken

40．A．honesty               B．money                 C．fame                              D．energy

41．A．cared                   B．knew                    C．forgot                            D．hoped

42．A．training               B．ruling                  C．helping                        D．protecting

43．A．warned                B．wanted                C．allowed                         D．persuaded

44．A．start                             B．find                       C．design                          D．sell

45．A．farther               B．higher                  C．easier                                D．closer

46．A．showed              B．kept                      C．lost                              D．achieved

47．A．company            B．school                  C．farm                         D．café

48．A．suffering             B．sharing                C．enjoying                      D．following

49．A．though              B．if                            C．and                           D．since

50．A．So                          B．However             C．Or                            D．Because

第二节：完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand (农场工人). At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he __31    to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social   32   with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was   33   because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied with his   34  . In his words, he   35   thought of changing his job.

At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came   36   into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt   37  . She told Dad that they must make a   38  .

My mother had   39   of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and   40  . And she   41   that I would some day become a great leader   42   men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she   43   Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and   44   a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for   45   education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother’s hope, Dad and I   46   what we have today. Dad runs a big international   47   and I am a successful lawyer   48   great fame in my country,   49   not a leader as my mother expected.

Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn’t be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.   50   he got a lesson of life —sometimes we really need drive from outside.

31．A．rode             B．walked            C．ran                       D．drove

32．A．conversations  B．games             C．relationships      D．activities

33．A．cold                B．crowded       C．quiet                   D．dirty

34．A．horse              B．entertainment  C．life                        D．beer

35．A．often           B．ever             C．never                     D．sometimes

36．A．laughing     B．singing             C．sleeping                  D．crying

37．A．unimportant    B．busy                C．unsatisfied            D．tired

38．A．living          B．change             C．decision                  D．house

39．A．dreamed          B．heard               C．thought                   D．spoken

40．A．honesty           B．money             C．fame                      D．energy

41．A．cared               B．knew               C．forgot                     D．hoped

42．A．training           B．ruling             C．helping                  D．protecting

43．A．warned            B．wanted            C．allowed                  D．persuaded

44．A．start                      B．find                 C．design                    D．sell

45．A．farther            B．higher             C．easier                         D．closer

46．A．showed           B．kept                C．lost                       D．achieved

47．A．company         B．school             C．farm                    D．café

48．A．suffering         B．sharing            C．enjoying                D．following

49．A．though           B．if                    C．and                     D．since

50．A．So                  B．However          C．Or                      D．Because

第二节：完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand (农场工人). At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he __31    to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social   32   with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was   33   because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied with his   34  . In his words, he   35   thought of changing his job.
At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came   36   into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt   37  . She told Dad that they must make a   38  .
My mother had   39   of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and   40  . And she   41   that I would some day become a great leader   42   men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she   43   Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and   44   a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for   45   education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother’s hope, Dad and I  46   what we have today. Dad runs a big international   47   and I am a successful lawyer   48   great fame in my country,   49   not a leader as my mother expected.
Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn’t be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.   50   he got a lesson of life —sometimes we really need drive from outside.
31．A．rode            B．walked            C．ran                      D．drove
32．A．conversations  B．games             C．relationships      D．activities
33．A．cold               B．crowded      C．quiet                  D．dirty
34．A．horse              B．entertainment  C．life                        D．beer
35．A．often          B．ever            C．never                     D．sometimes
36．A．laughing     B．singing             C．sleeping                  D．crying
37．A．unimportant    B．busy                C．unsatisfied           D．tired
38．A．living         B．change             C．decision                  D．house
39．A．dreamed          B．heard               C．thought                   D．spoken
40．A．honesty           B．money             C．fame                      D．energy
41．A．cared               B．knew               C．forgot                     D．hoped
42．A．training           B．ruling             C．helping                  D．protecting
43．A．warned            B．wanted            C．allowed                  D．persuaded
44．A．start                      B．find                 C．design                    D．sell
45．A．farther            B．higher             C．easier                        D．closer
46．A．showed           B．kept                C．lost                      D．achieved
47．A．company         B．school             C．farm                   D．café
48．A．suffering         B．sharing            C．enjoying                D．following
49．A．though          B．if                    C．and                    D．since
50．A．So                  B．However          C．Or                     D．Because

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand (农场工人). At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he __31    to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social   32   with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was   33   because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied with his   34  . In his words, he   35   thought of changing his job.

At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came   36   into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt   37  . She told Dad that they must make a   38  .

My mother had   39   of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and   40  . And she   41   that I would some day become a great leader   42   men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she   43   Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and   44   a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for   45   education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother’s hope, Dad and I   46   what we have today. Dad runs a big international   47   and I am a successful lawyer   48   great fame in my country,   49   not a leader as my mother expected.

Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn’t be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.   50   he got a lesson of life —sometimes we really need drive from outside.

A．rode                 B．walked            C．ran                       D．drove

A．conversations    B．games              C．relationships      D．activities

A．cold              B．crowded       C．quiet                   D．dirty

A．horse               B．entertainment  C．life                        D．beer

A．often             B．ever             C．never                     D．sometimes

A．laughing        B．singing            C．sleeping                  D．crying

A．unimportant     B．busy                C．unsatisfied            D．tired

A．living            B．change             C．decision                  D．house

A．dreamed            B．heard               C．thought                   D．spoken

A．honesty              B．money             C．fame                      D．energy

A．cared                  B．knew               C．forgot                     D．hoped

A．training              B．ruling             C．helping                  D．protecting

A．warned            B．wanted            C．allowed                  D．persuaded

A．start                  B．find                 C．design                    D．sell

A．farther               B．higher             C．easier                         D．closer

A．showed              B．kept                C．lost                       D．achieved

A．company           B．school             C．farm                    D．café

A．suffering            B．sharing            C．enjoying                D．following

A．though              B．if                    C．and                     D．since

A．So                     B．However          C．Or                      D．Because