Peanuts to This
Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes． Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher． Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had slaved over, hoping to hide myself． “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task． This was the first real talk I received in my new school． It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington． Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before． As I searched the name of this fellow, it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America． I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant． I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; flip （掷） a coin． Heads—the commander, and tails—the peanuts guy． Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver．
Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost． Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong． As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution．” The whole world became quiet! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was awful． Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around． I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade． I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance． Consequently, I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year． Ten months later, that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather, now having an entirely different conversation． I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade． Justice is sweet!
小题1:What did the author’s classmates think about his report?

A．Controversial．

B．Ridiculous．

C．Boring．

D．Puzzling．

小题2:Why was the author confused about the task?

A．He was unfamiliar with American history．

B．He followed the advice and flipped a coin．

C．He forgot his teacher’s instruction．

D．He was new at the school．

小题3:The underlined word “burning” in Para． 3 probably means _______．

A．annoyed

B．ashamed

C．ready

D．eager

小题4:In the end, the author turned things around _______．

A．by redoing his task

B．through his own efforts

C．with the help of his grandfather

D．under the guidance of his headmaster

Marjorie Gestring
Marjorie Gestring was a springboard（跳板） diver from the United States who won the gold medal in 3-meter springboard diving at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany at the age of 13 years．With the cancellation（取消） of the Olympics in 1940 and 1944 because of World War II, Gestring did not get a chance to defend her title, and her comeback attempt for the 1948 Summer Olympics failed．
Bob Mathias
17-year-old American Bob Mathias won the decathlon（十项全能运动） only four months after taking up the sport．He is the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men's track and field event．By the time Mathias retired from decathlon competition in 1952, he had nine victories in nine competitions．He had won two gold medals separately in 1948 and 1952．In 1954 a film about his early life called The Bob Mathias Story was made, in which he and his wife played themselves．
Fu Mingxia
Fu Mingxia was born on August 16, 1978 in Wuhan, Hubei Province．At an early age, her father taught her to swim at a nearby river．She started exercising gymnastics at age 5, soon turning to diving．Fu Mingxia left home at age 9 to train in Beijing．In the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Fu Mingxia became China's youngest Olympic champion ever when she won the 10-meter platform gold at the age of 13．
Ian Thorpe
Ian Thorpe was born on 13 October, 1982．He is a former Australian freestyle swimmer．At the age of 14, he became the youngest male ever to represent Australia．Ian Thorpe, 17 years old, won the gold medal in the 400m freestyle by breaking his own world record in Sydney 2000．He has won five Olympic gold medals．
小题1:How many times has Marjorie Gestring taken part in the Olympic Games?

A．Two．

B．Three．

C．Four．

D．Five．

小题2:Which two athletes took part in the Olympics in the same year ?

A．Marjorie Gestring and Fu Mingxia

B．Bob Mathias and Fu Mingxia

C．Marjorie Gestring and Bob Mathias．

D．Bob Mathias and Ian Thorpe．

小题3:How long had Fu Mingxia practised diving in Beijing before she won the 10-meter platform gold in the 1992 Summer Olympics?

A．About ten years．

B．About nine years．

C．About five years．

D．About three years．

小题4:What is the passage mainly about ?

A．Some young Olympic champions．

B．The history of the Olympic Games．

C．How to train young Olympic athletes．

D．How to prepare for the Olympic Games．

Waller was a liked－by－all fellow full of fun who often went to coffee houses to tell people interesting stories, of which some even brought him some money. One day, asked by an office secretary who told Waller that his boss was a never－seen before serious man and he never even smiled. Waller would tell a most funny story. “Well, sir,” Waller said before he began the story, “What will be given in return of my success?”“＄100,”replied the secretary. “I haven’t seen him have a bright face since I worked in his office.”
“Then let’s make it.” Waller went to the man’s table and whispered to him, “Please tell your boss that the funny man Waller’s hen gave birth to a baby.”
Three days later a letter reached Mr. Waller in which were ＄100 and a piece of yellow paper with the words, “Mr. Waller, you have succeeded—When I repeated your ＄100－worth sentence, my boss burst into frightening laughter, saying that whoever has managed to make him laugh during the business hours will get dismissed!”
小题1:The secretary asked Waller for a most funny story because he ______.

A．was tired of his boss seriousness

B．tried to please his serious boss with it

C．wanted to improve his working conditions

D．wanted to see his boss' laughing face

小题2:Saying "Let's make it," Waller______．

A．was sure of his success

B．thought of nothing but the 100-dollar return

C．knew that his hen had really given a birth to a baby

D．wondered whether he could make the boss smile or not

小题3:Which of the following ends is true according to the passage?

A．The boss was never so strict with the secretary from then on．

B．The secretary lost his job in office．

C．The secretary dare not make his boss laugh any longer．

D．Mr．Waller was dismissed at last．

小题4:Which sentence can describe the theme of the story?

A．Things Went Opposite to Wishes

B．Satisfying Both Sides

C．Killing Two Birds with One Stone

D．Either Is in His Proper Place

Elizabeth Clay decided to go home and spend the holiday with her parents. The next day she drove her old car home along the road.    36    she found she got a flat. The 22-year-old student    37    to stop her car by the side of the road in the winter night and opened the trunk. No    38   tire.
At this time, a car   39   . Paul and Diane told Clay to   40    them to a service station near their    41   . They arrived to see that it had no suitable tires to   42    with her car. “Follow us home,” said Paul.
The couple called around to find a tire. No   43     . They decided to let her use their own car. “Here,” Paul said, handing Clay a    44    of keys, “Take our car. We   45    be using it over the holiday.”
Clay was    46     . “But I’m going all the way to South Carolina, and I’ll be gone for two weeks,” she    47    them.
“We know,” Paul said. “We’ll be    48    when you get back. Here’s our number if you need to    49    us.”
Unable to believe her eyes, Clay watched as the    50     put her luggage into their car and then   51     her off. Two weeks later she    52    to find her old car cleaned inside and out with three new tires and the radio     53  .
“Thank you so much,” she said. “How much do I    54    you?” “Oh, no,” Paul said, “we don’t want any money. It’s our    55    .” Clay realized that while it might have been their pleasure, it was now her duty to pass on their “do unto others” spirit.

小题1:	A．Suddenly B．Finally C．Immediately D．Fortunately

小题2:	A．afforded B．wanted C．allowed D．managed

小题3:	A．spare B．free C．full D．empty

小题4:	A．passed B．stopped C．paused D．started

小题5:	A．help B．push C．take D．follow

小题6:	A．garage B．house C．shop D．hotel

小题7:	A．agree B．match C．go D．deal

小题8:	A．way B．message C．success D．luck

小题9:	A．set B．number C．pair D．chain

小题10:

A．can’t B．shouldn’t C．mustn’t D．won’t

小题11:

A．satisfied B．worried C．astonished D．disturbed

小题12:

A．persuaded B．advised C．reminded D．promised

小题13:

A．happy B．here C．away D．busy

小题14:

A．get in touch with B．keep in touch with C．be in touch with D．put in touch with

小题15:

A．repairmen B．cleaners C．friends D．couple

小题16:

A．sent B．shook C．watched D．drove

小题17:

A．shocked B．happened C．returned D．came

小题18:

A．loaded B．fixed C．tied D．rebuilt

小题19:

A．owe B．lend C．give D．offer

小题20:

A．wish B．job C．duty D．pleasure

When I was a baby, I entertained you and made you laugh. Whenever I was “bad”, you'd shake your finger at me and ask, “How could you?”--but then you'd give up, and roll me over for a belly scratch and I believed that life could not be any more perfect.
My housetraining was a long process, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. We went for long walks, runs in the park and car rides. We stopped for ice cream. I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. Eventually, you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a dog person, but I still welcomed her into our home. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement, I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too. Your wife was afraid I would bite them. But nevertheless, as they began to grow, I became their friend.
Now, you have a new job in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your “family”, but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the dog pound. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said, “I know you will find a good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. The children were in tears as they waved me goodbye. And “How could you?” were the only three words that swept over my mind.
Is it better to live with hope or without hope? At first, whenever anyone passed my pen (围栏), I rushed to the front, hoping it was you, that you had changed your mind and that this was all a bad dream.
My beloved master, I will think of you and wait for you forever. I hope you receive more faithfulness from your family than you showed to me.
小题1:Who tells this story?

A．A dog.

B．A child.

C．A dog's owner.

D．A dog trainer

小题2:Why did the dog's owner take his dog to the pound?

A．He had a newborn baby.	B．His wife did not like the dog.
C．He was moving into a new building.	D．He thought the dog too troublesome.

小题3:Which is true about the dog when it lived at the pound?

A．It hoped to be adopted by another family.	B．It continued to love its former owner.
C．It did not trust humans any more.	D．It was excited about the pound.

小题4:What is the theme of the story?

A．Be ready for changes.	B．Never expect too much.
C．Never complain about your life.	D．Be faithful to those who love you.

I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And   36   assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always   37  to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this   38 after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy  39   because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the  40  to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “  41  for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the   42  of it! When I first started  43   the practice sessions（练习赛）, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much   44 what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get    45  and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid.   46  , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to   47  on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t    48  “just yet”. 
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the   49  and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive   50  in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the   51   — friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my   52  self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from   “53” in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,   54  raising my hand— even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent   55 I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.

小题1:	A．as B．until C．though D．unless

小题2:	A．hoped B．agreed C．chose D．meant

小题3:	A．continued B．changed C．settled D．started

小题4:.

A．idea

B．plan

C．belief

D．saying

小题5:.

A．right

B．chance

C．patience

D．ability

小题6:	A．going B．looking C．cheering D．applying

小题7:.

A．point

B．half

C．rest

D．basis

小题8:	A．enjoying B．preparing C．attending D．watching

小题9:.

A．further

B．later

C．worse

D．less

小题10:.

A．confused

B．motivated

C．embarrassed

D．committed

小题11:.

A．Interestingly

B．Fortunately

C．Obviously

D．hopefully

小题12:

A．try B．act C．focus D．rely

小题13:

A．want B．do C．support D．know

小题14:

A．rules B．orders C．steps D．games

小题15:.

A．roles

B．part

C．mind

D．value

小题16:.

A．movement

B．operation

C．process

D．situation

小题17:.

A．expressed

B．improved

C．preserved

D．recognized

小题18:

A．dreaming B．playing C．relaxing D．hiding

小题19:.

A．to

B．for

C．with

D．by

小题20:

A．lucky B．happy C．sure D．satisfied

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had    1    a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and    2   his father could well    3   it, he told him that was all he wanted.
On the morning of his graduation day his father called him into his own study and told him how    4   he was to have such a fine son. He handed his son a beautiful gift box.   5    but slightly disappointed, the young man    6    the box and found a lovely book.     7   , he raised his voice at his father and said, “with all your money you give me a book?” And rushed out of the house,    8    the book in the study.
He did not contact his father for a whole year until one day he saw in the street an old man who looked like his father, he     9    he had to go back home and see his father.
When he arrived at his father’s house, he was told that his father had been in hospital for a week. The moment he was about to     10    the hospital, he saw on the desk the still new book, just as he had left it one year ago. He opened it and began to     11    the pages. Suddenly, a car key     12    from an envelope taped behind the book. It had a tag(标签) with the dealer’s name, the     13    dealer who had the sports car he had    14   . On the tag was the date of his graduation and the     15    PAID IN FULL.

小题1:	A．expected B．enjoyed C．admired D．owned

小题2:	A．finding B．proving C．deciding D．knowing

小题3:	A．afford B．offer C．keep D．like

小题4:	A．encouraged B．comfortable C．proud D．moved

小题5:	A．Nervous B．Serious C．Careful D．Curious

小题6:	A．packed B．opened C．picked up D．put aside

小题7:	A．Angrily B．Eagerly C．Calmly D．Anxiously

小题8:	A．tearing B．putting C．forgetting D．leaving

小题9:	A．learned B．realized C．recognized D．admitted

小题10:

A．get to B．search for C．turn to D．leave for

小题11:

A．clean B．read C．turn D．count

小题12:.

A．lost

B．came

C．appeared

D．dropped

小题13:.

A．old

B．same

C．special

D．new

小题14:

A．remembered B．desired C．found D．met

小题15:

A．words B．information C．messages D．card

I went to a local post office to send a gift to Florida yesterday afternoon. When I __1  _ the door, there were many people waiting there. A bit   2  , I decided to calmly wait for my turn to place the precious package on the    3  .
Since I didn’t    4  the tape to seal(封住)the box, I went to buy the tape. As I   5 secure the top of the box, a woman in front of me, a similar situation, asked if she could use some    6  . I gave her some and helped her put the gift into her    7  . Then a woman behind me also asked me if she could have some tape, since her envelop had ripped and I gladly    8  it to her.
When the woman  in front of me    9  who I was sending the package to, I explained that my 80-year-old   10  Selma lives in Florida, 1200 miles from my home. She has a(n)   11  
neighbor named Diane who has, on several occasions, accompanied her to the hospital. My mom  12   her “her angel” and had asked me to send her two willow tree angel.
As we spoke, the line moved and she offered me a place in front of her. I was   13  and thanked her. At that moment, the other people in front of her ushered me in front of them by the time
I __14  the counter, we were all smiling and laughing and I thanked them sincerely.
A few inches of tape can seal the world    15  .

小题1:	A．looked for B．ran towards C．walked through D．stood against

小题2:、

A．sad

B．satisfied

C．nervous

D．disappointed

小题3:、

A．counter

B．ground

C．wall

D．window

小题4:、

A．borrow

B．have

C．know

D．accept

小题5:、

A．wanted

B．forgot

C．began

D．continued

小题6:、

A．money

B．tape

C．paper

D．advice

小题7:、

A．had

B．box

C．pocket

D．car

小题8:、

A．brought

B．showed

C．gave

D．bought

小题9:、

A．asked

B．announced

C．said

D．expressed

小题10:、

A．aunt

B．grandma

C．sister

D．mother

小题11:、

A．wonderful

B．careless

C．sick

D．unfortunate

小题12:、

A．makes

B．promises

C．calls

D．teaches

小题13:、

A．afraid

B．regretful

C．delighted

D．unhappy

小题14:、

A．reached

B．left

C．saw

D．moved

小题15:、

A．open

B．together

C．apart

D．enough

阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从41-60各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。）
I was on a bus one March evening. The driver didn’t   41  to start the bus soon because it was not yet   42   . A middle-aged woman got on. Tired and sad, she told her story  43  not to anyone in particular. On her way to the station, half of her   44   was stolen. The other half was hidden under her blouse, so she   45  still had some left. A few minutes later, she stopped crying, but still looked   46  .
When all the seats were taken, the driver started the engine. The conductor began to collect fares(车费). When she came to an old man in worn-out（破旧的）clothes, he   47  that he had spent all his money when he had accidentally got on a wrong bus and now he was trying to go home. On hearing this, she ordered the old man to   48   the bus. The old man was almost in tears as he   49   her to let him take the bus home. The driver took the conductor’s side(站在某人一边) and repeated the conductor’s   50   .
The woman was watching the incident.   51    the driver and the conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered(干预).
“Stop   52  him! Can’t you see he’s only trying to get home?”
“He doesn’t have any money! ” the driver   53  .
“Well, that’s no   54  to throw him off the bus,” she insisted.
Then she reached inside her blouse, look out her   55   money, and handed it to the conductor. “Here’s his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a   56 time.”
All heads turned to the woman. “It’s only money,” she shrugged（耸肩）.
She rode the rest of the way home  57 a happy smile, with the money she’d lost earlier  58  .
On the road of life, the help of strangers can  59 our loads（负担）and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the  60  will be when we make it a little smoother for others!

小题1:	A．try B．care C．decide D．intend（打算）

小题2:	A．empty B．full C．crowded D．ready

小题3:	A．tearfully（流泪的） B．seriously C．carefully D．calmly

小题4:	A．fare B．possession C．money D．wealth

小题5:.

A．strangely

B．happily

C．secretly

D．fortunately

小题6:	A．unsatisfied B．weak C．unhappy D．excited

小题7:.

A．explained

B．declared

C．admitted

D．found

小题8:.

A．get off

B．start

C．get on

D．stop

小题9:.

A．begged（乞求）

B．scolded

C．praised

D．thanked

小题10:.

A．request（要求）

B．action

C．suggestion

D．command(命令)

小题11:.

A．Unless

B．Although

C．Until

D．When

小题12:.

A．attacking（攻击）

B．bothering（为难）

C．blaming

D．wronging

小题13:

A．warned B．whispered C．shouted D．repeated

小题14:

A．problem B．need C．matter D．reason

小题15:.

A．spending

B．collected

C．remaining

D．borrowed

小题16:.

A．busy

B．cold

C．hard

D．fearful

小题17:.

A．giving

B．wearing

C．taking

D．forcing

小题18:.

A．forgotten

B．used

C．earned

D．returned

小题19:

A．move B．increase C．lighten （减轻） D．carry

小题20:

A．world B．journey C．smile D．friendship

Once there was a king who never ate a meal unless there was a dish of fish with it, but one day there was a big storm and the fishermen were not able to go out to catch fish, so the king had no breakfast and no lunch. Then he ordered his servants to tell everybody in his capital that if anyone brought him a fish, he would give him anything that he asked for.
At last, a fisherman caught a big fish late in the afternoon and hurried to the king's palace with it. But the king's Prime Minister would not let him in until he promised to give him half of whatever the king gave him for the fish.
The king was very happy when he saw the fish. He asked the fisherman what he wanted for his fish. To his surprise, the fisherman said, "I want you to beat me two dozen(一打) times with a stick." When the king began to beat him a dozen times, the fisherman jumped away and said, "That is enough for me. I promised the other dozen to your Prime Minister." Then he told the king what had happened between the Prime Minister and himself. The king was very angry. He not only gave the Prime Minister the dozen hits, but also said, "Because you have been dishonest, you will not be my Prime Minister any more. The fisherman will take your place."
小题1:The king didn't have breakfast and lunch because ____.

A．there was a big storm

B．the Prime Minister did not bring him any food

C．there was no fish

D．his servants didn't know how to cook well

小题2:. The fisherman took his fish to the king's palace because ____.

A．the king had promised to give him whatever he wanted

B．the king was dying from hunger

C．he wanted to teach the Prime Minister a lesson

D．he wanted to be the Prime Minister

小题3:. When the fisherman told the king what he wanted, the king ____.

A．was very happy	B．was very surprised
C．was very angry	D．gave him what he wanted at once

小题4:. The king got rid of his Prime Minister because ____.

A．the fisherman was cleverer than his Prime Minister

B．the Prime Minister did not know how to catch fish

C．the Prime Minister was not an honest man

D．the Prime Minister took half of what the king gave the fisherman