When I was in college twenty-five years ago, I spent four summers working in 36 at a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago. 37 , I was a maid.
I did not enter the world of housekeeping enthusiastically. My friends had 38 jobs such as making ice cream, selling goods at the mall, or life guarding at the outdoor pool. I had been hoping to get a job as an office lady for a famous company: 39 pay, air-conditioned office, the gold standard for summer jobs, as most of us dreamed of. When that 40 , the only option left was to take a train ride downtown each morning to work as a maid.
It was tiring work, cleaning up to eighteen rooms a day. My 41 attitude reflected my disdain(鄙视) for cleaning toilets, 42 bed sheets, dusting, eight hours a day for the comfort of total strangers who 43 left a tip. I thought it was beneathme. My maid work was average 44  the day I was assigned to the eighteenth floor.
That was Lorena’s regular floor. The only time another maid set foot on it was on Lorena’s day off. If you left any water 45 on the mirror, or a hair on the bed, Lorena would hunt you down when she 46 , as I found out firsthand. She’d ended her lecture to me with “ 47 some pride in your work.”
She did. And so did Rosalie, Helen, Annette, and all the other experienced maids. Their devotion to doing a good job and their belief that their work was a 48 of their character stuck with me throughout my 49 career after graduation. I learned a lot from them during those four summers.
Not a week would go without one of them 50 some firm but friendly advice: “Where’s your commode brush? You don’t have one? How do you expect to get that bowl clean?”
Their pride in a job well done was reflected in how they treated 51 . They left the building at the end of the day in nice dresses and 52 makeup. They looked like they could have been attending an afternoon tea. And, 53 often, they were smiling and laughing, cheerfully greeting their co-workers a good evening. When you work with happiness and 54 , a job will be well done. I believe there is 55 in any job if you work hard and try your best.

小题1:	A．cleaning B．housekeeping C．serving D．managing

小题2:	A．In short B．In brief C．In other words D．On the other hand

小题3:	A．winter B．summer C．awful D．permanent

小题4:	A．extra B．poor C．average D．good

小题5:	A．fell over B．fell through C．fell down D．fell off

小题6:	A．negative B．right C．excellent D．casual

小题7:	A．making B．spreading C．changing D．doing

小题8:	A．frequently B．rarely C．occasionally D．willingly

小题9:	A．when B．after C．until D．before

小题10:

A．drops B．signs C．tracks D．marks

小题11:

A．visited B．arrived C．left D．returned

小题12:

A．take B．obtain C．reject D．make

小题13:

A．reflection B．truth C．gratitude D．award

小题14:

A．special B．general C．different D．professional

小题15:

A．taking B．following C．offering D．refusing

小题16:

A．others B．themselves C．customers D．co-workers

小题17:

A．expensive B．cautious C．cheap D．careful

小题18:

A．more B．least C．most D．less

小题19:

A．frustration B．regret C．prejudice D．satisfaction

小题20:

A．respect B．aspect C．challenge D．failure

Recently, I experienced a wonderful lesson in how little things still mean a lot. My brother, mother and I live in a very rural district on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our farm is at least a dozen miles from the most basic of services. Consequently, we take weekly trips to COSTCO to procure fuel and supplies. About a month ago, we’d finished loading up the SUV and prepared to leave. As I settled into my seat, I glanced down at the roadside, when a piece of paper caught my eye. I picked it up and read it carefully. Instantly, I was grateful I did.
The form turned out to be a receipt from the State Motor Vehicle Division, documenting the owners’ payment of their Vehicle’s Registration fees. Quickly, I put myself in their shoes and figured: no one would throw this out, especially if it was current. I also looked over the form for contact or any personal data, perhaps a license tag or telephone number. But that seemed impractical. Although the form had been born on the wind, where in the busy, crowded parking lot would I find the owners? Had it been lying there for a few minutes or a week? So I checked the date, the fees paid, noted the names of the owners and pocketed the receipt. Recalling the parable of the Good Samaritan, I concluded that the best and easiest step to take was to put the form in an envelope addressed to the couple and send it to them by post. Further, I imagined how crazy I’d be if I had misplaced my receipt. Much easier to attempt returning it than to leave them angry, upset, etc. over the loss.
By the end of the week, I received a beautiful thank-you letter from a very grateful and happy couple containing a hand written message and a gift card to use at any Starbuck’s. In her note, the wife explained how a gust of wind snatched their receipt from a pocket in her car’s passenger door. They had panicked and searched crazily for quite some time before giving up. It felt great to know I’d helped someone avoid a major loss by doing something that at first glance seemed minor or even unimportant.
小题1:What did the author really mean when he said “Instantly, I was grateful I did.”?

A．He was lucky to notice the paper on the roadside.

B．He was happy to do shopping in the district for it was convenient.

C．He was right to pick the paper up because it was important.

D．He was thankful to pick up the paper because he found it for a long time.

小题2:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the short passage?

A．I rode my car to COSTCO to buy supplies a month ago.

B．The receipt was out of date, so the owner threw it away.

C．I waited on the roadside for the receipt owner for half a day.

D．I called up the owner to take back the receipt.

小题3:The author decided to give the paper back to the owner because ______.

A．it was useless for him

B．he knew the owner was upset about losing it

C．the owner asked him to do so

D．he knew the owner would reward him for it

小题4:Which would be the best title for this passage?

A．How I helped the couple	B．The loss of an important receipt
C．The owner of the receipt	D．Little things still mean a lot

I love it at night. It’s peaceful. And when it cools down I sometimes do some ironing. I don’t really care for it. I work full-time and too busy for most housework. I remember the old woman who taught me to iron. I was about 15 and somehow got a live-in job taking care of a woman who had been an able-bodied, healthy woman until the accident that caused her to be paralyzed（瘫痪）.
The woman had an electric wheelchair. She could move her head and arms but not her hands or fingers. She had this clamp（夹子）attached to her arm and I’d have to open it and put a cup or a pencil in it and then she could move it. She would tell me how to do things. She would instruct me in great detail on the correct way to do things. Her home was perfect and beautiful. She would follow me around in her electric wheelchair to make sure I did everything exactly right. I’m sure she had been a perfect homemaker. She would have me fold everything, including socks and pillow cases. I would complain silently and wish terrible things on her. She taught me the right way to make the bed and tuck （塞）the corners. I know sometimes she’d get frustrated and impatient with me. I knew she wanted to grab it and do it herself. But she never yelled or scolded. Only insisted I do it right. I didn’t like it much, but I did it.
Today I can iron pretty well. I know where to start on a shirt, the right way to do the collar and sleeves. Now that I think about it, I don’t think she is an old lady. I think she might have been about my age now. Anyway, when I iron, I think of her and silently thank her for all the things I learned.
小题1:From the passage we can infer that the writer of the passage now is ________.

A．a housewife	B．a full-time worker
C．a clothes maker	D．a college student

小题2:The writer used to take care of the lady because ______.

A．she wanted to learn how to do housework

B．she was a relative of the disabled woman

C．she wanted to earn some money while sleeping and eating there

D．she had to do something in return to the lady for her kindness

小题3:When the lady taught the writer how to do housework, the little girl was ______.

A．eager to learn	B．unwilling to learn
C．forced to learn	D．careful to learn

小题4:What’s the writer’s attitude towards the lady now?

A．Sympathetic

B．Fearful

C．Hateful

D．Grateful

Ever since I was little, my favorite season was winter. I loved to play in the snow and enjoy the hot chocolate.
____36_____, winter never gave me the special gift of snow on my birthday. I would ask my grandmother ____37____ it didn’t snow on my birthday. She would laugh and tell me I asked too many questions. ___38____one day, she promised that she would make it snow on my next birthday.
That year, ____39____ my birthday, my grandmother died.  I was sad but angry because she had promised to make it snow. The day of my sixth birthday, I woke up and ran to the window, hoping to see just one snowflake. But there was no snow. I felt mad at my grandmother. She had broken a promise.
But my sixteenth birthday, I had lost all hope of getting my snow, even though I still wished for ___40____. During my party, I stayed with my friends and family and was truly happy. I ___41___ the best time ever! Then I saw the white snow ____42___down all around. I was so excited that I ran around screaming and laughing. My friends all laughed ____43___me, but I didn’t care.
When I ___44____home, my grandpa said he had a gift for me. I was ___45___ because he had given me a gift. It was a small white box, which looked old. I opened it. There was a crystal snowflake(水晶雪花) with a card that said, “Happy Birthday.”
How could this be? My grandpa said it was my grandmother’s final ___46____ on my “sweet sixteenth”. I cried.
I was ___47_____ that my smiling grandmother angel was and had been watching over me.

小题1:	A．Certainly B．Unfortunately C．Importantly D．Luckily

小题2:	A．when B．how C．whether D．why

小题3:	A．But B．Or C．Then D．So

小题4:	A．on B．after C．before D．in

小题5:	A．it B．her C．him D．me

小题6:	A．had B．was C．played D．feared

小题7:	A．fell B．to fall C．fallen D．falling

小题8:	A．with B．at C．from D．off

小题9:	A．arrived at B．remained C．got D．entered

小题10:

A．excited B．confused C．pleased D．frustrated

小题11:

A．order B．mistake C．wish D．decision

小题12:

A．certain B．angry C．sad D．anxious

Barack Obama became US President in January, 2009. Since then, the world has been watching him closely to see whether he keeps his promises about the economy(经济), foreign policy and health care.
But at home, he has also been under pressure from his two daughters to keep his promise: to give them a new dog as a gift for helping him with his election campaign(竞选活动).
On Tuesday the nation’s first dog, named Bo, came out. It is a six-month-old water dog which is black with a white chest and white paws(爪).
“Bo’s got star quality,” said President Obama as he and his family took a walk with the dog on the White House lawn(草坪) in front of reporters.
He then joked, “ I finally got a friend. It took some time,” mentioning a famous saying, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”
小题1:Barack Obama is ______ President now.

A．French

B．British

C．Russian

D．American

小题2:Which of the following is NOT true?

A．The dog is called Bo.	B．The dog is six month old.
C．The dog is black and white.	D．The dog is all white.

小题3:The dog is Obama’s gift to ______.

A．the reporters

B．his wife

C．his daughters

D．his sons

小题4:What might the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A．It’s not easy to find a dog in Washington.

B．It’s not easy to find a friend in Washington.

C．Dogs aren’t friendly to man.

D．Man isn’t friendly to dogs.

Mackenzie Hughes had just returned from school and was waiting for her older brothers to arrive home. She was home alone  1  a man started knocking on the front door, turning the handle and trying to  2 .
She’s 12 years old and she was  3 . So she dialed 9-1-1 and reached the operator Rachelle Berry. After a brief talk, Berry  4  what was happening. “OK, hang on, OK? Can you get in a  5 ?” Berry asked. Mackenzie told Berry that her phone --- it wasn’t cordless (无绳的) --- wouldn’t reach into the cupboard. “Will the phone reach under your bed?” Berry asked  6  . “No,” Mackenzie said.
“Can you hide under a  7  and pull your bedspread over you?” That’s  8  what Mackenzie did. She hid under her blanket, holding the phone and listening to Berry’s voice.
Berry talked quietly, which  9  Mackenzie. It helped, too, when Berry told her to think of something  10  . “Try not to cry,” Berry told Mackenzie during the call. “ I know it’s  11  . Do you have something you can hold onto?” Mackenzie struggled to  12  tears. She couldn’t  13  anything without showing her hiding spot. “ It’s OK,” Berry said. “You’ve got me here with you.”
“He’s in my room,” Mackenzie  14  . “Now be quiet, OK? Just don’t talk,” Berry said. For much of the call, Berry dropped her voice to a whisper,  15  the intruder (闯入者) might hear her voice over the phone.  16 , the man came into her room, then left.
Berry told Mackenzie that the  17  were on their way. Minutes later, they arrived and  18  one man in the backyard and another man in a getaway car.
On Thursday morning, the Emergency Communications Bureau gave Mackenzie its Hero Award for her  19  . Berry also received high praise. And then it was off to school for Mackenzie. But first Berry had something to  20  to the middle-schooler: a cordless phone.

小题1:	A．until B．before C．because D．when

小题2:	A．get in B．get away C．get around D．get through

小题3:	A．annoyed B．scared C．curious D．surprised

小题4:	A．remembered B．realized C．reviewed D．recalled

小题5:	A．bedroom B．kitchen C．cupboard D．bathroom

小题6:	A．anxiously B．calmly C．carefully D．happily

小题7:	A．sofa B．bed C．table D．blanket

小题8:	A．ever B．never C．just D．still

小题9:	A．worried B．helped C．moved D．upset

小题10:

A．interesting B．strange C．wrong D．valuable

小题11:

A．hard B．important C．useful D．possible

小题12:

A．hold onto B．hold down C．hold back D．hold up

小题13:

A．discover B．imagine C．reach D．invent

小题14:

A．cried B．shouted C．whispered D．replied

小题15:

A．assuming B．believing C．fearing D．confirming

小题16:

A．Obviously B．Fortunately C．Probably D．Certainly

小题17:

A．parents B．brothers C．police D．neighbors

小题18:

A．met B．killed C．arrested D．found

小题19:

A．contribution B．success C．kindness D．bravery

小题20:

A．lend B．present C．show D．mail

I was on the shoulder of a busy highway in Chicago, looking at my tool-box and spare tire (备用轮胎). I had   31  tires before—that was not a big deal—but I was   32  about being approached by another person while stuck on the side of the road, or being   33  by a passing car.
As I bent into the trunk (后备箱), I heard a man’s   34  from behind and to my left. I had no idea what he said,   35  when I heard his voice I screamed and ran toward the   36  building. After a moment I realized he wasn’t  37  me, so I turned to see what he was doing.
38 , I saw a minibus full of boy scouts (童子军队员). They then   39  in front of my car. And I heard the man tell the boys to remove the spare tire from my trunk to   40  my flat! As I timidly (胆怯地) walked back, I could hear him speaking to the   41 .
“See, boys,” he said to them, “this young lady is terrified, and for good   42 . Thousands of young women are   43  every year. She did the right thing   44  like that.” He then told the boys how they, as men, are   45  not only for   46  and protecting them. After he made that  47 , he gave step-to-step instructions on changing a flat on the side of the road   48 .
The boys learned a lot that day, and so did I. I’m so grateful there are   49  men in the world. I saw one,   50  our youth to be honorable, making the world a safer place for women, for everyone.

小题1:	A．lost B．changed C．bought D．cleaned

小题2:	A．certain B．disappointed C．curious D．worried

小题3:	A．stopped B．pulled C．hit D．ignored

小题4:	A．voice B．cry C．shout D．laughter

小题5:	A．if B．because C．although D．unless

小题6:	A．nearest B．oldest C．same D．last

小题7:	A．asking B．upsetting C．following D．hurting

小题8:	A．Confidently B．Calmly C．Gladly D．Surprisingly

小题9:	A．rested B．gathered C．played D．ate

小题10:

A．fix B．choose C．make D．reach

小题11:

A．policeman B．ladies C．boys D．passengers

小题12:

A．measure B．behavior C．reason D．health

小题13:

A．injured B．charged C．blamed D．attacked

小题14:

A．singing B．running C．jumping D．trying

小题15:

A．responsible B．grateful C．anxious D．famous

小题16:

A．appealing to B．aiming at C．bringing up D．watching over

小题17:

A．decision B．point C．mistake D．promise

小题18:

A．naturally B．frequently C．safely D．easily

小题19:

A．strong B．happy C．brave D．honorable

小题20:

A．allowing B．warning C．ordering D．teaching

I studied engineering after enjoying top marks, as high school came relatively easy. Then university life came!
I thought that I must have some learning disorder, as it seemed that everyone else was absorbing the material and making progress while to me it was an insurmountable(不能克服的) struggle. There were never enough hours in the day and weekend to attend the lectures, study the lessons and then do the assignment.
During my darkest hour I called home to speak to my father: “Dad, I don’t think I can handle this.” My father then said something, which cut through me like a knife: “There is no returning home. If you quit, then you are on your own.”
I hung up thinking what a terrible heartless thing to say. Then, I determined to somehow gut it out(坚持到底). There seemed to be no other choices available! Soon afterwards, I noticed a sigh posted in a campus common area stating: “Studying Skills” with a place & time to meet. It said that “there is help available”. I attended that meeting! I soon discovered there were several others in a similar situation and that everyone wanted to help each other get through this challenging first term. I soon found a study partner, who helped me a lot, and I was grateful to him for his kind help.
Yes, it was still a very challenging first year, but I found the needed strength and support to get through it. In fact my father has been helping me since then, but he has done it in another way. I know now in my heart that he did the very best help he could to help me fly. Thanks Dad for the push!
小题1:The story happened when the author _____.

A．just came to the new high school

B．was in his first term in university

C．was in the last year of high school

D．had been in the university for one year

小题2:What was the author’s problem?

A．His father refused his request of returning home.

B．His father said some terrible words to him.

C．He found the course difficult to understand.

D．He could not understand his teachers.

小题3:How did the author get through his challenge successfully?

A．He got help from his father in another way.

B．He changed the place and time for study.

C．He joined those who helped each other.

D．He paid more attention to study.

小题4:Which of the following is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Differences between high school and university

B．My time in university

C．The importance of being strict with children

D．Push from my father

During my review for the medical boards, I gained 101 pounds in four months and promised to exercise when all of this was over. I successfully passed the medical boards and now I have to face the music.
One morning, I woke up and decided to go to a park to start working out. I got out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth and put on my sports shoes. Then I headed for the park. While going there, I decided to set a goal for myself, that, I had to finish 10 rounds before I went home.
Upon reaching the park, I joined the people in walking around the park. I was enjoying every step, breathing in fresh air, appreciating the green grass and looking at the dried leaves falling from the trees while listening to my iPod.
On my 5th round, I felt tired, hungry and thirsty. I thought of giving it up, going home and sleeping again. As the idea battled in my mind, I was reminded about the goal I had set just a while ago. I kept on walking and as I looked around, I saw myself in the midst of men and women much older than me who continued to move on. Some even suffered from a stroke(中风) that had difficulty walking, some took on small steps with a cane on hand and some took on pauses before they continued their walk but still they kept on walking.
Suddenly I realized that each of us has set our own goals in our lives, such as reaching a dream, building up a career, correcting a past mistake or starting a business. The process won’t be easy. We may encounter(遇到) a lot of difficulties and obstacles that may push us to just give up.
Amazed by the men and women whom I walked with that morning, I finished my goal in the end.
Let us be inspired with the people around us who experience the same or even a greater amount of difficulty but still don’t give up and continue until they reach their goals and now are savoring(享受) their success.
小题1:What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．Now I don’t feel like listening to my iPod.

B．Now I have to care more about my health.

C．Now I have to take physical exercise.

D．Now it is time for me to listen to music.

小题2:What did the author do on his way to the park?

A．He worked out a plan for his future.

B．He reflected on the causes of his overweight.

C．He decided to finish 10 rounds that morning.

D．He planned to take exercises every day.

小题3:When the author was walking the 5th round _____.

A．he didn’t want to continue walking

B．he found it easy to keep his promise

C．he was enjoying walking in the park

D．he was too tired to keep up with others

小题4:What inspired the author to finish 10 rounds that morning?

A．The goal he kept in mind.	B．His strong will to keep fit.
C．The good figure he wanted.	D．The people exercising in the park.

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s came to the hospital. I heard him saying to the nurse that he was in a hurry for all appointment(约会)at 9:30.
The nurse had him take a  31 in the waiting area,  32 him it would be at least 40 minutes  33  someone would be able to see him. I saw him  34 his watch and decided, since I was   35 busy—my patient didn’t  36 at the appointed hour, I would examine his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment.
The gentleman said no and told me that he  37 to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his  38 . He told me that she had been   39  for a while and that she had a special disease. I asked if she would be   40 if he was a bit late. He replied that she   41 knew who he was; that she had not been able to  42  him for five years now. I was  43 , and asked him, “And you  44 go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”
He smiled and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I know who she is.” I had to hold back   45  as he left.
Now I  46 that in marriages, true love is  47 of all that is. The happiest people don’t  48 have the best of everything; they just  49 the best of everything they have.   50  isn’t about how to live through the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

小题1:	A．breathe B．test C．seat D．break

小题2:	A．persuading B．promising C．understanding D．telling

小题3:	A．if B．before C．since D．after

小题4:	A．taking off B．fixing C．looking at D．winding

小题5:	A．very B．also C．seldom D．not

小题6:	A．turn up B．show off C．come on D．go away

小题7:	A．needed B．forgot C．agreed D．happened

小题8:	A．daughter B．wife C．mother D．sister

小题9:	A．late B．well C．around D．there

小题10:

A．lonely B．worried C．doubtful D．hungry

小题11:

A．so far B．neither C．no longer D．already

小题12:

A．recognize B．answer C．believe D．expect

小题13:

A．moved B．disappointed C．surprised D．satisfied

小题14:

A．only B．then C．thus D．still

小题15:

A．curiosity B．tears C．words D．judgment

小题16:

A．realize B．suggest C．hope D．prove

小题17:

A．agreement B．expression C．acceptance D．exhibition

小题18:

A．necessarily B．completely C．naturally D．frequently

小题19:

A．learn B．make C．favor D．try

小题20:

A．Adventure B．Beauty C．Trust D．Life