I stood outside New York's Madison Square Garden and just stared, almost speechless. I was a farm boy from County Kilkenny, a child who some thought would never walk, let alone go as far as I had in the world.
From the day I was born, there was a problem. The doctors at the Dublin hospital told my parents I had phocomelia, a deformity that affected both legs below the knee, which were outward and shorter than normal and each foot had just three toes.
Life was tough. I couldn't stand, much less walk. I rarely, left the farmhouse---and then only in someone's arms. Mam bundled me up whenever she took me to town, no matter the season.
“The world will see him when he can walk,” she told Dad. “And he will walk.”
Mam devoted herself to helping me. She tried everything to get me on my feet. When I was three, she and Dad took me to a clinic in Dublin.
A few weeks later we returned to Dublin with my artificial limbs (肢). Back home I practiced walking with my new limbs.
“There's nothing anyone can do but you can't,” Mam said. “You and I are going to walk through town.”
The next day Mam dressed me in my finest clothes. She wore a summer dress and fixed her hair and makeup. Dad drove us to the church. We stepped out of the car. Mam took my hand. “Hold your head up high, now, Ronan,” she said.
We walked 300 meters to the post office. It was the farthest I'd walked, and I was sweating from the effort. Then we left the post office and continued down the street, Mam's eyes shining with a mother's pride.
That night, back on our farm, I lay exhausted on my bed. It meant nothing, though, compared to what I'd done on my walk.
Then I began to pursue my dream of singing. And at every step Mam's words came back to me—Ronan, you can do anything anyone else can do—and the faith she had in God, who would help me do it.
I've sung from the grandest stages in Europe, to music played by the world's finest musicians. That night, I stood at the Madison Square Garden, with Mam's words chiming in my ears. Then I began singing. I couldn't feel the pulse of the music in my feet, but I felt it deep in my heart, the same place where Mam's promise lived.
【小题1】What was the problem with the author as a baby?

A．He was expected unable to walk.

B．He was born outward in character.

C．He had a problem with listening.

D．He was shorter than a normal baby.

【小题2】The underlined word “deformity” in the second paragraph most probably means _______.

A．shortcoming

B．disadvantage

C．disability

D．delay

【小题3】Why did Mam dress him and herself in finest clothes?

A．To hide their depressed feeling.

B．To indicate it an unusual day.

C．To show off their clothes.

D．To celebrate his successful operation.

【小题4】From the story we may conclude that his mother was _______.

A．determined

B．stubborn

C．generous

D．distinguished

【小题5】According to the writer, what mattered most in his success?

A．His consistent effort.	B．His talent for music.
C．His countless failures.	D．His mother's promise.

Last year my wife and I spent a most interesting month in Turkey. Before we left, we were reminded of the difficulties of driving in Turkey. We certainly did not find this to be the case and, except for a few places in faraway mountainous areas, the roads were wide, and well-paved (铺). We drove for 12 days along the Western Coast of Turkey and had no problems at all. We found the Turkish drivers very polite and well-educated. We also found that eating lunch in the smaller towns was difficult so we picnicked almost every day.

    The following day after our arrival was Turkey’s Children’s Day, started by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk loved children and he often said, “Children are a new beginning of tomorrow.” He even devoted the day 23rd of April to the children which today is celebrated as Children’s Day as well as the date when the Republic of Turkey was founded.

    On that day certain children are picked to take over the places of the government, and a lucky kid will be the president of Turkey for a whole day. He can decide what’s going to happen and whether or not he is going to have the president next to him. There are a very large number of possibilities of things he can do but some shops aren’t open because they are celebrating the day as well.

    All in all, it was a more enjoyable trip. I would recommend (推荐) a trip to Turkey to anyone with an adventurous spirit!

Before the author and his wife went on a trip to Turkey, they were told that ________.

A. it was difficult to travel in Turkey

B. it was not easy to drive in Turkey

C. the streets in Turkey were dangerous

D. there were many mountain roads

What do we know from the first paragraph?

A. Places in mountainous areas were difficult to reach.

B. It took the couple 12 days to drive to Turkey.

C. The Turkish drivers had good manners.

D. It was difficult to eat meals in Turkey.

The underlined word “He” in paragraph 3 refers to “________”.

A. everyone of us              B. the government

C. the president of Turkey    D. the lucky child

What can be inferred(推断) from the passage?

A. The couple had little difficulty making their way in Turkey.

B. Turkey doesn’t celebrate International Children’s Day.

C. The author joined in celebrating Turkey’s Children’s Day.

D. On Turkey’s Children’s Day, everyone had holidays.

  The whole morning we just checked our own things. We were looking for items to give away. We thought of blankets, food and clothing. Our aim was not to find things we no longer wanted, but things we use every day and would be useful to others.

  We made up boxes with the things and added some small toys. Inside the boxes a simple letter was placed, reading:

  “Please take these items and know that your life is important. Times are difficult but they will pass. We share what we have, believing it will matter. Use the blanket to stay warm. Be safe and know that the human spirit can overcome anything. Don’t hold your head down. Someday please do the same when you can. How you do it and when, your heart will tell you.

  This kind act was not because the phone rang or for any reason. It was simply because it was the right time to do. We have often seen homeless people at the park where we left the belongings. The city would say that it isn’t a problem but I see the lives walking to and from it.

  I noticed that my wife had put her favorite green coat into one of the boxes. I asked if she was sure about it and she simply replied that it had a hood (风帽). She liked the coat but knew the hood could shelter (遮挡)someone from the rain.

  We don’t know where these gifts of compassion（同情）will go. We never go back and see what happens. It’s unimportant. The right things will find the right people and that is all that counts. On the way my wife started to cry. When I asked why, she said because some things felt so right.

What can we learn from the first paragraph about the couple？

A. They had deep feelings of their work

B. They often threw the useless daily items away

C. They liked helping others by sharing their things

D. They often gave away the daily items they didn’t use

The couple placed the letter inside the box mainly to_______________.

A. help the poor go through the difficulties

B. let the poor know who gave away the things

C. tell the poor how to use the items correctly

D. tell the poor to pass on the spirit to others

The couple liked this kind act because _______.

A. they thought it was the right thing to do

B. they had a good habit of saving things

C. they often received telephone calls for help

D. they hated being troubled by homeless people

What’s the best title for this passage?

A. Boxes filled with compassion

B. Good behavior leading to happiness

C. The most important thing in our life

D. Happiness coming from sharing things

 In 1978, I was 18 and was working as a nurse in a small town about 270 km away from Sydney, Australia. I was looking forward to having five fays off from duty. Unfortunately, the only one train a day back to my home in Sydney had already left. So I thought I’d hitch a ride (搭便车).

I waited by the side of the highway for three hours but no one stopped for me. Finally, a man walked over and introduced himself as Gordon. He said that although he couldn’t give me a lift, I should come back to his house for lunch. He noticed me standing for hours in the November heat and thought I must be hungry. I was doubtful as a young girl but he assured （使…放心）me I was safe, and he also offered to help me find a lift home afterwards. When we arrived at his house, he made us sandwiches. After lunch, he helped me find a lift home.

   Twenty-five years later, in 2003, while I was driving to a nearby town one day, I saw an elderly man standing in the glaring heat, trying to hitch a ride. I thought it was another chance to repay someone for the favour I’d been given decades earlier. I pulled over and picked him up. I made him comfortable on the back seat and offered him some water.

    After a few moments of small talk, the man said to me, “You haven’t changed a bit, even your red hair is still the same.” I couldn’t remember where I’d met him. He then told me he was the man who had given me lunch and helped me find a lift all those years ago. It was Gordon.

1.The author had to hitch a ride one day in 1978 because_______.

A. she missed the only train back home

B. she was going home for her holidays

C. the town was far away from Sydney

D. her work delayed her trip to Sydney

2.Which of the following did Gordon do according to Paragraph 2?

A. He gave the girl a ride back home.

B. He helped the girl find a ride.     

C. He bought sandwiches for the girl.

D. He watched the girl for three hours.

3.The reason why the author offered a lift to the elderly man was that_________.

A. she realized he was Gordon

B. she had known him for decades

C. she wanted to repay the favour she once got

D. she was going to the nearby town 

4.What does the author want to tell the readers through the story?

A. Those who give rides will be rapid.

B. Good manners bring about happiness.

C. People should offer free rides to others.

D. Giving sometimes produces nice results.