The first time I saw Carlos I would never have believed he was going to change my life. I had my arms full of books and I was tearing into the classroom when I ran into something solid. It was Carlos. “My God, you’re tall,” he said. Of course, the class began to laugh. Angry, I walked to my seat without a word.

I glanced back to see if Reed Harrington was laughing with the rest. That would be the last straw. But Reed was studying chemistry and did not seem to be aware of anything else. I didn’t know why I considered Reed my friend. Maybe just because he was a good two inches taller than I. Anyway, every time I blew out my birthday candles and made a wish, it was for a date with Reed Harrington.

“Take that seat,” Mr. McCarthy told the cocky newcomer Carlos, pointing to the only empty one, in the back of the room. Carlos grinned, “But I need a couple of dictionaries.” Again the class laughed, but now they were laughing with Carlos, not at him. He had been here only 10 minutes and already he had them on his side.

The bell rang for classes. As I stood up to go I saw Carlos coming toward me. “I’m sorry I  embarrassed you,” he said. I look straight ahead over the top of his black hair. “That’s all right.” “I ought to know better.” He was still blocking my way. “What’s your name?” “Karen Forbes.” “You probably heard me say; I’m Carlos Herrear.” He held out his hand. Unwillingly, I shook hands with him. He looked up at me seriously with his brown eyes. “I don’t see why you’re so touchy.” I brushed by him and said sharply, “You wouldn’t understand.” He followed me a few steps. “I’m just the one who should, Karen,” he said. “You and I have a lot in common.”

It was the school elections that made me think of Carlos again. Reed Harrington was voted president and Carlos vice-president. “How come?” I kept asking myself, “How come this shrimp who’s only been in town for a little over a month gets to be so popular?”

So on that morning, I stopped Carlos and said, “It doesn’t seem to bother you—being short.” He looked up at me. “Of course I mind being short. But there isn’t anything I can do about it. When I realized I was going to have to spend my life in this undersized skin, I just decided to make the best of it and concentrate on being myself.” “You seem to get along great,” I admitted. “But what about me? Nobody wants to date a girl taller than he is.” “The trouble with you is you’re afraid to be yourself. You’re smart. And you could be pretty. In fact, you might be more than pretty.” I felt myself turning red...

56. It is a story about a short boy who ________.

A. won the school election            B. is ashamed of his height

C. has learned to accept his size        D. is embarrassed by his class

57. What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?

A. The author cared much about Reed’s attitude.

B. The author was relieved to find Reed focused on his studies

C. The author thought Reed was the same as the others.

D. The author couldn’t stand Carlos playing tricks on her.

58. What does the underlined word “touchy” in Paragraph 4 most probably mean?

A. Moved.         B. Cheerful.       C. Curious.          D. Annoyed.

59. From the text, we can see Carlos is _________.

A. handsome and proud            B. humorous and confident

C. diligent but shy                  D. honest but sensitive

60. According to the text, which is the most likely ending of the story?

A. Reed and Carlos became very good friends.

B. Carlos and the author argued with each other.

C. The author changed her attitude to Carlos.

D. Carlos was elected president of the student committee.

The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be 　 36 . Solitude can be hard to discover 　37 it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have 　38 our culture.

The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) 　39 as we’ve known it. People have become so 　40 in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted 　41 they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our 　42 , but from our mobile phones as well.

Most developed nations have become 　43 on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not 　44 it would make them an outsider. 　45 , many jobs and careers require people to be 　46 . From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a 　47 to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.

I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who 　48 wants it. Computers can be shut 　49 and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected” and “on” has many 　50 , as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up 　51 on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel　 52　 and forced to answer unwanted calls or 　53 to unwanted texts.

Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society 　54 across generations, Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like 　55 daily advancements in technology.

36. A. updated　　 B. received　 　　 C. shared　　 　 D. collected

37. A. though　　 B. until　 　　　　 C. once　　　　 D. before

38. A. respected　 B. shaped　　　 C. ignored　　 　 D. preserved

39. A. edge　　　 　 B. stage　　　 　 C. end　　　　 　 D. balance

40. A. sensitive　　 B. intelligent　　 C. considerate　 D. reachable

41. A. even if　 　 B. only if　　　 C. as if　　　 　 D. if only

42. A. media　　 　 B. computers　 C. databases　　 D. monitors

43. A. bent　　　 B. hard　　　　 C. keen　　　 　 D. dependent

44. A. finding　　 B. using　　　 　 C. protecting　　 D. changing

45. A. Also　　　 B. Instead　　 　 C. Otherwise　 D. Somehow

46. A. connected　 B. trained　　　 C. recommended 　　　 D. interested

47. A. pleasure　 　　 B. benefit　　　 C. burden　　　 D. disappointment

48. A. slightly　　 　 B. hardly　　　 　 C. merely　　　 D. really

49. A. out　　　　 B. down　　　 C. up 　　　　　　　　　 D. in

50. A. aspects　　 B. weaknesses　 C. advantages　 　 D. exceptions

51. A. hidden　　 B. lost　　　　 C. relaxed　　　 D. deserted

52. A. trapped　　 B. excited　　　 C. confused　　 D. amused

53. A. turn　　　 B. submit　　　 C. object　　 　　 D. reply

54. A. vary　　　 B. arise　　　　 C. spread　　 　 D. exist

55. A. beyond　　 　 B. within　　　 C. despite　　 　 D. without

 —I am so annoyed at what he has said about me.

—________. He was just kidding.

A. What a nonsense                 B. It’s a pleasure

C. Don’t take it too seriously        D. I couldn’t agree more

 ________ there are a large number of chemical factories, the air is likely to be polluted.

A. Where         B. That           C. Though        D. As

 It is necessary that parents should ________ the responsibility of helping their children develop legal awareness.

A. take on       B. carry on        C. look on         D. keep on

 The Voice of China has set up a big stage for young people with a talent for music, ________ some of them have stood out among others.

A. which          B. when         C. who                 D. where

 Listening to music can be very enjoyable, but ________ can be appreciated unless you like it.

A. nothing         B. something     C. everything       D. anything

 Our lines ________ get very busy, but keep trying and you will soon get through.

A. shall           B. can             C. would          D. should

 Some of my workmates prefer to send to our QQ group ________ news they’ve got.

A. however      B. whenever       C. whichever            D. whatever

 Over the weekend, my friend asked me for help. Her temperature was 39.7C and she was ________ a fever.

A. catching      B. running         C. having         D. leading