Canadian short story writer Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Eighty-two-year-old Munro is only the 13th woman to win the 112-year-old prize.
Munro didn’t publish her first collection of short stories until she was 37 years old, but her stories have always been well-received. Lots of her stories share similar themes and characters, but each story has its own twists and turns.
Even though she’s won Canada’s most famous literary award, the Giller Prize, twice, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature is the cherry on top of Munro’s career. “It brings this incredible recognition, both of her and her career, and of the dedication to the short story,” said one person.
Along with the well-respected title comes 1.3 million dollars. Munro said everything was “so surprising and wonderful” and that she was “dazed by all the attention and affection that has been coming my way.”
Munro knew she was in the running——she was named the second-most likely person to win this year’s prize, after Haruki Murakami (村上春树）of Japan——but she never thought that she would win.
Munro’s win also represents the long way Canadian writers have come. “When I began writing there was a very small community of Canadian writers and little attention was paid by the world. Now Canadian writers are read, admired and respected around the globe,” Munro said on Thursday.
She is technically not the first Canadian to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, but many like to think that she is. In 1976 Saul Bellow, who was born in Quebec but moved to Chicago when he was still a child, won the prize. Even though he was born in Canada, he is mostly considered to be an American writer.
“This is a win for us all. Canadians, by our very nature, are not very nationalistic,” said Geoffrey Taylor. “But things like this suddenly make you want to find a flag.”
She wasn’t sure if she would keep writing if she won the prize, saying that it would be “nice to go out with a bang. But this may change my mind.”
小题1:What is the feature of Munro’s stories?

A．They have their own complicated (复杂的)contents.

B．They have similar story backgrounds.

C．They have specific themes for children.

D．They have the same characters in each book.

小题2:For Munro, the Nobel Prize is an award for______.

A．her love for Canadian culture

B．her devotion to the short story

C．her special form of writing

D．her career of editing short stories

小题3:What is implied in the sixth paragraph?

A．Canadian writers paid little attention to the prize.

B．Canadian writers are just a small community.

C．Canadian writers have long been ignored.

D．Canadians have a long way to win the prize.

小题4:What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．How Alice Munro wins the Nobel Prize

B．An introduction to the Nobel Prize in Literature

C．Alice Munro wins the Nobel Prize in Literature

D．A world famous writer, Alice Munro

I often read of incidents of misunderstanding or conflict. I'm left     . Why do these people create mistrust and problems, especially with those from other     ?
I was growing up in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1960s,      children from different races and religions played and studied      in harmony. At that time my family lived a stone's      from Ismail's. And no one was bothered that Ismail was a Malay Muslim and I was an Indian Hindu—we just      our differences. Perhaps，our elders had not filled our heads with unnecessary advice, well      or otherwise.
We were nine when we became friends. During the school holidays, we 'd      the countryside on our bicycles，hoping to      the unexpected. At times Ismail would accompany my family as we made a rare shopping trip to town. We would be glad of his     .
When I was twelve, my family moved to Johor. Ismail's family later returned to their village, and I      touch with him.
One spring afternoon in 1983, I stopped a taxi in Kuala Lumpur. I     my destination. The driver acknowledged my      but did not move off. Instead, he looked      at me. “Raddar?" he said, using my childhood nickname (绰号).I was astonished at being so      addressed (称呼).Unexpectedly! It was Ismail! Even after two      we still recognized each other. Grasping his shoulder, I felt a true affection, something      to describe.
If we can allow our children to be      without prejudice, they'll build friendships with people，regardless of race or religion, who will be      their side through thick and thin. On such friendships are societies built and      we can truly be, as William Shakespeare once wrote, “We happy few, We band of brothers".

小题1:	A．interested B． pleased C． puzzled D．excited

小题2:	A．parties B． cities C． villages D．races

小题3:	A．why B． which C． how D．when

小题4:	A．together B． around C． alone D．apart

小题5:	A．drop B． throw C． move D．roll

小题6:	A．refused B． made C． sought D．accepted

小题7:	A．paid B． meant C． Preserved(保存) D．treated

小题8:	A．explore B． search C． Discover D．desert

小题9:	A．get through B． deal with C． come across D．take away

小题10:

A．arrival B． choice C． effort D．company

小题11:

A．lost B． gained C． developed D．missed

小题12:

A．stated B． ordered C． decided D．chose

小题13:

A．attempts B． instructions C． opinions D．arrangements

小题14:

A．anxiously B． carelessly C．disappointedly D．fixedly

小题15:

A．familiarly B． strangely C． fully D．coldly

小题16:

A．departures B． months C． years D．decades

小题17:

A．possible B． funny C． hard D．clear

小题18:

A．them B． themselves C． us D．ourselves

小题19:

A．from B． by C．with D．against

小题20:

A．still B． otherwise C． then D．instead

Yousuf Karsh，the Canadian portrait artist who photographed many of the most influential figures of the 20^th century，died in a Boston hospital on July l3 ^th，2002．He was 93．
Working from a studio in Ottawa，Karsh produced famous portraits of such subjects as Winston Churchill，John F．Kennedy，Ernest Hemingway and Albert Einstein．Actually he has become almost as famous as his legendary subjects．In the latest edition of Who’s Who，which listed the most notable people of the last century，Karsh was the only Canadian of the 100 famous people listed——51 0f whom Karsh had photographed．
As a master portraitist，often working in black and white．Karsh was famous for talking to his subjects as he was getting the shot’s composition just right，asking them questions and putting them at ease．In preparation，he read as much as he could about the sitters，but avoided having the idea beforehand of how he would photograph them．He sought, as he wrote in Karsh Portfolio in 1967，to capture the “essential element which has made them great，” explaining，“All I know is that within every mall a secret is hidden，and as a photographer, it is my task to reveal it if I can．”
Karsh was born in America in 1908，and his uncle，George Nakash，brought him to John Garo，all outstanding photographer，to teach him in 1928．Four years later，Karsh set up his own studio in Ottawa．
In December of 1941，his memorable portrait of Winston Churchill brought Karsh into international fame．Canada’s Prime Minister Mackenzie King arranged for him to photograph Churchill following Churchill’s speech in the House of Commons．Not told，Churchill lit up a cigar, “Why was I not told of this?’’ Karsh asked him to remove the cigar and，when he didn’t，stepped forward and gently removed it with the comment，“Forgive me，Sir．”Churchill glowered (怒目而视) as the shot was taken，then permitted Karsh to take still another,；jokingly commenting，“You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed．” The Churchill portrait has since appeared in publications all over the world．
Karsh traveled to London in 1943 with his portable studio —— an 8-by-10 view camera and many studio lamps to photograph such notables as George Bernard Shaw and the royal family．All these portraits fully illustrate Karsh’s ability．
小题1:What did Karsh seek to do most in working?

A．Capture the essence and greatness of the character．

B．Present the true and vivid expression of the subject．

C．Make the photograph more colorful and expressive．

D．Reveal the idea he has got in preparing for the shot．

小题2:The underlined word “sitters”in Para 3 probably means __________ ．

A．characters seated	B．subjects questioned
C．models photographed	D．photographs taken

小题3:The last three paragraphs are mainly developed by __________ ．

A．following time order	B．providing examples
C．making comparisons	D．giving causes and effects

小题4:From the passage，we can learn that __________ ．

A．Churchill was asked to stand still when Karsh took a photograph of him

B．Churchill’s portrait hanging in the House of Commons gave Karsh great fame

C．Karsh was listed as one of the 100 notables by Who’s Who in the last century

D．Karsh could skilfully adjust the subjects’ mood when photographing them

The idea for the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone came to Joanne Kathleen Rowling in 1990. It took her seven years to finish writing it. During those seven years she had a number of jobs, including one job as an English teacher in Portugal.
Rowling sent the book to four publishers before one of them bought it. She was very happy to sell her book because it was her life's dream to be a published writer. Before she sold her book, Rowling was living in a small apartment with her daughter and was so poor that she could not afford heat in the winter.
Harry Potter became very successful with children and adults in England. The book also really took off in the United States. After her second and third books were published, the three Harry Potter books filled the top three places on many newspapers' lists of best-sellers. Then the books were made into popular movies. Without question, Rowling's life had completely changed, in just three years.
Harry Potter books have now sold more than 30 million books around the world and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. In 1997, Rowling was earning ￡70 (about US$110) a week. By the end of 2001, she had earned over ￡150 million ($250 million), making her one of the most successful female writers of all time. 
小题1:This reading is about _________.

A．Harry Potter's life	B．the writer's life
C．how the book became a movie	D．why Harry Potter is popular

小题2:Which sentence is true about the first Harry Potter book?

A．Four publishers bought it.

B．It took the writer several years to finish it.

C．It was first published in Portugal.

D．Rowling got the idea from her daughter.

小题3:Rowling's dream was _________.

A．to be a magician	B．to make a movie
C．to have her books published	D．to be an English teacher

小题4:How many languages has Harry Potter been translated into?

A．more than 35

B．about 135

C．about 90

D．more than 150

If you think you are sick, you are       no matter what anyone else says. On the other hand, if you believe in your       , and if he tells that you are going to feel better, you probably will. The effect of the mind upon the body       and sometimes can be powerful. It exists       one is aware of it or not.
Take the case of Mrs. Green, for example. She       get to sleep at night and was too tired during the day to do some       things that she used to enjoy doing. She had headaches more often which prevented her from reading or watching TV. The more she thought about conditions,       she felt. At last she went to see her doctor, whom she had known       . The doctor listened to her and gave her a very       . Then he said to her. “There is       wrong with you physically,       I accept the fact that you don’t feel well. I’m going to give you some       that should help. I want you to       one after dinner and one half an hour       going to bed tonight. Call me tomorrow and tell me       you feel.”
The next day Mrs. Green      , “Doctor, I had the first       night’s sleep in two months night.       is in this pills?” The doctor said, “It’s an old formula (配方) I have       for years. Just keep on taking them for a week.” Turning to the nurse, he said, “It’s       what a little baking soda (苏打) can do!”

小题1:	A．healthy B．well C．sick D．pleasant

小题2:	A．doctor B．physician C．nurse D．surgeon

小题3:	A．exist B．doesn’t exist C．does exist D．never exist

小题4:	A．neither B．whether C．either D．no matter

小题5:	A．was uncapable B．was able to C．could D．was unable to

小题6:	A．uneasy B．unsuccessful C．trouble D．simple

小题7:	A．the more B．the worse C．the less D．the better

小题8:	A．for years B．since years C．years ago D．before long

小题9:	A．thorough study B．careful examination C．clear check D．general examination

小题10:

A．nothing serious B．serious nothing C．seriously nothing D．nothing seriously

小题11:

A．or B．instead C．and D．but

小题12:

A．advice B．pills C．suggestions D．drinks

小题13:

A．take B．eat C．use D．drink

小题14:

A．when B．since C．before D．after

小题15:

A．what B．whether C．why D．how

小题16:

A．wrote B．telephoned C．said D．complained

小题17:

A．bad B．terrible C．right D．good

小题18:

A．Whoever B．Whichever C．Whatever D．However

小题19:

A．sold B．written C．used D．read

小题20:

A．wonderful B．terrible C．serious D．curious

She once said: "When people ask me if writing has been a hard or easy road I always answer with the famous saying, "the end is nothing; the road is all.'” That is what I mean when I say writing has been a pleasure. I have never faced the type-writer (打字机) with the thought that one more task had to be done."
Like most writers, Willa Cather did not write books for the money that they brought her, but rather for the pleasure that came in their writing. Her works were, like her, simple and full of the vigor (活力) of her days in Nebraska, where she grew from childhood to young womanhood and where she developed a deep love for the treeless land of the Great Plains with its wild flowers, wheat fields and rivers.
"It's a rather strange thing about the flat country," she wrote later. "It takes hold of you, or it leaves you perfectly cold. A great many people find it very dull; they like a church tower, an old factory, a waterfall country all made to look like a German, Christmas card... But when I come to the open plains, something happens. I'm home. I breathe differently."
小题1:What did Cather mean by "the end is nothing; the road is all"?

A．Writing is the only path to success.

B．I feel happy when I finish writing a book.

C．I enjoy writing whether it is hard or easy.

D．Writing itself, not its result, is important.

小题2:What was the place like where Cather grew up?

A．It was cold, plain and without a church.

B．It was a colorful world of wild flowers.

C．It was like a German Christmas card

D．It was vast, open, flat and wild.

小题3:When she said "It takes hold of you, or it leaves you perfectly cold", Willa Gather meant ______.

A．you either love the place or hate it

B．you decide either to stay or to leave

C．some find the place warm; others find it cold

D．some find the place peaceful; others find it wild

小题4:What happens when Cather comes to the open plains?

A．She breathes differently from others:

B．She wants to make the place her home.

C．She finds the place similar to her home.

D．She feels completely comfortable

Not long ago, few little girls imagined they could grow up to become astronauts. For years in the United States, on1y men had that opportunity . In 1983, that changed. Sally Ride made history by becoming the first American woman to travel to space.
On Monday, Ride died at the age of 61, ‘‘Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model,”President Barack Obama said in a statement. “She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars.”
Ride became interested in space when she was a kid. “If you asked me when I was 12 whether I wanted to be an astronaut ,I’m sure I wou1d have said yes,” she said in a 2010 interview . “ But I didn’t even think about that as a possible career.”
After studying physics in college and graduate school, Ride got her chance. She was accepted into NASA’s astronaut training program in 1978, and then chosen to be the first American female in space. In 1983, she blasted into space aboard the Challenger shuttle.“There is no amusement park ride on the Earth that even comes so close,” she said.
Ride returned to space on the Challenger a second time in1984 . Between the two missions, she spent a total of 343 hours in orbit. After that, she remained involved with the space program and also worked to share her passion for science with kids. She co-authored six science books for children , and started her own science education company.
Ride knew that she he1d a unique place in history . “ I realized how important it was for a woman to break that barrier and open the door for other women to be able to do the same exciting things that the men had been doing,” she said.
Since Ride’s historic trip, more than 40 other American women have traveled to space. They all had Ride to thank for opening the door to the final frontier.
小题1:Sally Ride was regarded as a national hero because she___________ .

A．was the first American to travel to space

B．opened a door for women to find jobs suitable for them

C．became the first American female in space

D．was the first to travel on the Challenger

小题2:By saying ‘‘There is no amusement park ride on the Earth that even comes so close”, Ride really meant____________ .

A．she preferred a ride in an amusement park on the Earth

B．the trip to space was like that in an amusement park

C．she came close to an amusement park on the Earth

D．the trip to space was far more interesting than any ride on the Earth

小题3: The correct order of the following events that happened to Sally Ride is_____________
a. accepted into an astronaut training program
b. spent a total of 343 hours in orbit
c. co-authored six science books for children
d. traveled to space aboard the Challenger
e. studied physics in co11ege and graduate school

A．e-a-b-c-d

B．a-d-b-c-e

C．e-a-d-b-c

D．e-a-b-d-c

小题4:The passage is most probably taken out of _________________ .

A．a novel

B．a report

C．a diary

D．an essay

A month went by in this manner , but a month was all I could bear .
The memory of Marguerite accompanied me wherever I went . I had loved that woman --- still loved her --- too much for her suddenly to mean nothing to me . Whatever feelings I might have for her now , I had to see her again . At once .
…
I knew Marguerite . Meeting me so unexpectedly must have thrown her into a state of great confusion . Probably , she had heard of my departure which had set her mind at rest as to the consequences of our sudden parting . But , seeing me back and coming face to face with me , pale as I was , she had sensed that my return had a purpose , and must have wondered what was going to happen .
If , when I saw her again , Marguerite had been unhappy ; if , in taking my revenge （复仇）, there had also been some way of helping her , then I might well have forgiven her , and would certainly never have dreamed of doing her any harm . But when I saw her again , she was happy , at least on the surface . Another man had ensured her the luxury （奢侈）in which I had been unable to keep her . She brought shame both to my pride and my love ; she was going to have to pay for what I had suffered .
I could not remain indifferent （冷漠）to what she did now . It followed that the thing that would hurt her most would be exactly for me to show indifference . Indifference , therefore , was the feeling which I now needed to pretend , not only in her presence but in the eyes of others .
I tried to put a smile on my face , and I went to call on Prudence with whom Marguerite was staying .
Prudence saw me to the door , and I returned to my apartment with tears of anger in my eyes and thirst for revenge in my heart and thought only of finding a way to make the poor creature suffer .
小题1:This passage is most probably _______________ of a love story .

A．the beginning

B．the introduction

C．a summary

D．a chapter

小题2:According to the passage , the hero（男主角）wanted to _____________ .

A．forgive Marguerite because he found her unhappy

B．stop the relationship with Marguerite because he couldn’t keep her in the luxury

C．make up the relationship with Marguerite because he still loved her

D．give Marguerite sufferings because his pride and his love were hurt

小题3:What kind of feelings did the hero most probably have ?

A．Indifference and love .

B．Indifference and hate .

C．Love and hate .

D．Hate and sadness .

小题4:What would the author most probably write about next ?

A．Why he changed his mind suddenly .

B．How he made up his relationship with Marguerite .

C．How he made Marguerite suffer.

D．Why he wanted Marguerite to pay for what he had suffered .

I wanted to be just like those big kids I saw wearing their medals and carrying their ribbons(绶带). So I____the cross­country team at my school.
However, I was very slow in the team. In races, I would finish almost____. I'd always have to____in the longer races.The__ __races and at least 100 people competing in it made me really____. Every time I stopped, 10 people would__ __me. But I still couldn't push myself to keep going, even though I____watching them go by me. After every race, I'd go home and burst into tears.
Then one of my friends joined the cross­country team, too. She never got tired and didn't get cramp(抽筋) in her legs. I just didn't understand how that was____! I'd been running much longer than she had, but she could run__ __while I had to suffer. She even came 8th in a big race with over 200 people in it! My____was lower than ever and I wanted to quit badly.
I didn't, ____. Even a whole month before a race, I'd get so nervous that I felt like I might give up. Still, I____to quit. I still had that____appearing in my mind and I hung on to it.
Finally, I realized the reason why the bigger races made me so nervous was that I was always worried that I wasn't____for them. I started to practice at home almost every day. I____a plan that had me running almost three kilometers every day, which helped me build up a steady____.
When the time came for the big race, all the practice really____. I stopped only once and my pace was much better.
I was____of myself for sticking with it even though it was really hard and I'd even wanted to quit. I showed myself that I was____enough to keep going. That was what made me feel good about myself and gave me confidence.
The next time I'm faced with a tough____, I will know that I can take it up. None of this would ever have happened if I had quitted!

小题1:	A．liked B．admired C．supported D．joined

小题2:	A．best B．first C．last D．least

小题3:	A．stop B．rest C．breathe D．suffer

小题4:	A．exciting B．tiring C．interesting D．disturbing

小题5:	A．nervous B．frightened C．sad D．angry

小题6:	A．help B．encourage C．leave D．pass

小题7:	A．missed B．hated C．avoided D．escaped

小题8:	A．equal B．reasonable C．fair D．tolerable

小题9:	A．quickly B．easily C．happily D．hopefully

小题10:

A．strength B．demand C．goal D．confidence

小题11:

A．yet B．either C．though D．still

小题12:

A．refused B．decided C．failed D．wanted

小题13:

A．lesson B．faith C．future D．picture

小题14:

A．suitable B．active C．ready D．well

小题15:

A．took out B．mapped out C．figured out D．let out

小题16:

A．pace B．race C．will D．level

小题17:

A．set off B．paid off C．got off D．took off

小题18:

A．sure B．aware C．proud D．afraid

小题19:

A．strong B．patient C．steady D．devoted

小题20:

A．job B．sport C．competition D．challenge

I have been applying, interviewing, etc since July with no prospects(前景). I have been told mostly that I am overqualified, or they need fulltime etc. I had been getting pretty down and discouraged. I was actually asking myself why can’t someone be kind enough to take me on as an       .
This past Tuesday evening it was       outside and going to be 9 pm as I was waiting at a bus stop. Just as the bus      a young woman approached me. She had a T-shirt, Capri pants, and slippers on. She also was wearing several hospital bracelets.
I       my purse and took out $5.00 so she could get something to eat. I then took off my jacket and       and gave them to her. I said, “These are a little big but they should keep       warm.” She looked at me and said “Aren’t you going to be cold?” I told her my being cold for 15 minutes      I got to my place was worth it if I knew she would be a little warmer. She sobbed and thanked me with a hug. I just told her to       .
Then after I got on the bus that’s       the miracle of spreading       happened. I stepped up to pay the       and the bus driver said, “Mam, I saw what you just did and your fare is       me, even though technically we aren’t supposed to let you get on the bus without shoes.” he said with a wink.
A lady who was dressed in a very      business suit called me over to her seat. She said, “I want to know the        of the person who just did the most       thing I have ever seen.” I told her my name and she said , “What can I do for you to       what I just witnessed?” I       said a paying job would be nice.
The next day she called me and said that she had a       administrative assistant position       in her company and wanted me to meet with the manager. It        that the lady was the head Human Resources person.
I start Monday morning at 9am! Thank you all for inspiring me to keep passing the kindness on! I never expected to get so much back in return!

小题1:	A．engineer B．entertainer C．employee D．employer

小题2:	A．burning hot B．pouring C．snowing D．freezing cold

小题3:	A．pulled up B．picked up C．broke down D．dropped off

小题4:	A．brought out B．cut in C．dug in D．reached

小题5:	A．gloves B．sweater C．blouse D．tennis shoes

小题6:	A．her B．him C．you D．me

小题7:	A．until B．before C．after D．since

小题8:	A．pass it on B．go ahead C．cheer up D．come on

小题9:	A．where B．why C．when D．how

小题10:

A．luck B．kindness C．generosity D．mercy

小题11:

A．ticket B．fare C．money D．check

小题12:

A．to B．for C．on D．with

小题13:

A．informal B．casual C．professional D．practical

小题14:

A．job B．address C．religion D．name

小题15:

A．inspiring B．courageous C．amazing D．grateful

小题16:

A．praise B．repay C．appreciate D．admire

小题17:

A．seriously B．eagerly C．hopefully D．jokingly

小题18:

A．part-time B．tough C．simple D．novel

小题19:

A．empty B．open C．offer D．opportunity

小题20:

A．came about B．occurred to me C．turned out D．worked out