60.What can we learn from the text?

A. The community of Alto was poor 　　B. The summer camp was attractive to the parents

C. Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy form the Hatches

D. The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example

B

Parents and kids today dress alike, listen to the same music, and are friends. Is this a good thing? Sometimes, when Mr. Ballmer and his 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, listen to rock music together and talk about interests both enjoy, such as pop culture, he remembers his more distant relationship with his parents when he was a teenager.

“I would never have said to my mom, ‘Hey, the new Weezer album is really great. How do you like it?’” says Ballmer. “There was just a complete gap in taste.”

Music was not the only gulf. From clothing and hairstyles to activities and expectations, earlier generations of parents and children often appeared to move in separate orbits.

Today, the generation gap has not disappeared, but it is getting narrow in many families. Conversations on subjects such as sex and drugs would not have taken place a generation ago. Now they are comfortable and common. And parent-child activities, from shopping to sports, involve a feeling of trust and friendship that can continue into adulthood.

No wonder greeting cards today carry the message, “To my mother, my best friend.”

But family experts warn that the new equality can also result in less respect for parents.

“There’s still a lot of strictness and authority on the part of parents out there, but there is a change happening,” says Kerrie, a psychology professor at Lebanon Valley College. “In the middle of that change, there is a lot of confusion among parents.”

Family researchers offer a variety of reasons for these evolving roles and attitudes. They see the 1960s as a turining point. Great cultural changes led to more open communication and a more democratic process that encourages everyone to have a say.

“My parents were on the ‘before’ side of that change, but today’s parents, the 40-year-olds, were on the　 ‘after’ side,” explains Mr. Ballmer. “It’s not something easily accomplished by parents these days, because life is more difficult to understand or deal with, but sharing interests does make it more fun to be a parent now.”

59.According to Sand Van Weelden, the Hatches were___________.

A. understanding　 　B. optimistic　 C. childlike　 　　　D. curious

58. Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?

A. They decided to open a store　　　　　 B. They wanted to save money

C. They couldn’t afford expensive things　 D. They wanted to buy gifts for local kids

57. Which of the following isTRUEof the Hatches?

　A. They had their children during the Great Depression

　B. They left the family farm to live in an old house

　C. They gave away their possessions to their neighbors

　D. They helped their neighbors to find jobs　

56. According to the text, the Fusses________________.

　A. were employed by a truck company　　 B. were in financial difficulty

C. worked in a school cafeteria　　　　　 D. lost their home　

47. A. Refuse　　　　 B. Try　　　　　　 C. Fear　　　　 D. Prepare

Section C ( 12 scores)

Directions: Complete the following passage by using ONE word that best fits the context.

I wrote my first Christmas card on Sunday, 28th September!Believe me, it’s not like me. I usually put these things　 48　 to the last minute. But, after church on Sunday, one of the ladies from the Mother’s Union handed around some cards which they were planning to send to　 49　 of the nearest prison.

She asked that we each put　 50　 personal message inside, but I didn’t know what I could write　 51　 the only thing I knew about　 52　 was that they had committed a crime.Oh, it was hard! I tapped the pen on the table for a long time searching for inspiration.　 53　 the end I had to look past the prison walls and the crime to the heart of the man.I wrote, “Each day bring the hope of a new life. Have a Merry Christmas.”

It wasn’t exactly inspiring,　 54　 new life is what Christmas is all about and each day we have a fresh chance to make a new beginning.I can’t take credit for the idea, but wouldn’t it be wonderful　 55　 we each shared a little love with someone who needs is?

PART THREE: READING COMPREHENSION (30 scores)

Directions: Reading the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.

A

A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift-＄7,000，a legacy (遗产) form their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.　

But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars ; in others, it was more than ＄100,000.　

It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than ＄3 million-they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm .　

Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving, They thrived own (喜欢) comparison shopping and　 would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase .　

Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.　

Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy-a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cent -should enrich the whole community(社区)and last for generations to come.

Neighbors helping neighbors --that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story.　

46. A. hard　　　　　 B. certain　　　　　 C. impossible　 D. funny

45. A. shape　　　　　 B. disturb　　　　　 C. order　　　 D. remark

44. A. unacceptable　　 B. unfortunate　　　 C. unnecessary　 D. unimportant

43. A. As　　　　　　 B. Although　　　　 C. Once　　　　 D. Whether