It was near Christmas during my first term teaching at a new school. I loved my small special class more than any group I had taught in the past. They were hungry for knowledge and I was enjoying teaching.

? Other teachers had told me that our children were from poor families and not to expect any child to bring a Christmas gift. In fact, I wasn’t expecting any gifts.

? Imagine my surprise when every child brought me a gift on the day before our holiday break. First, I got a much-loved toy monkey from a shy girl. I was told, “He is my favorite, but I love you and I want him to be with you, Miss Taylor.” How thrilled I was!

? Next came a new set of Christmas tree lights that was “missing” from a mother’s cupboard(碗橱).

? Finally, I came to one little boy’s gift which I had never received. It was an old, dirty and broken Christmas storybook. Just when I wanted to show my happiness, I was interrupted(打断) by the giver, “And see, it is new! It still has the price tag（标签）.”

?? When other children laughed at him, I stopped them and said, “Oh, books are good in that way. The story is always new if you have not read it before. Now, Let’s read one together.” Everyone listened quietly as I read the most wonderful Christmas story of my life.

?? I still keep those Christmas gifts. They always remind me of my lovely kids.

1.Miss Taylor loved her small special class so much because______________.

A. this was her first term teaching at a new school

B. these little kids were from rich families

C. the students studied very hard and she enjoyed teaching them

D. she didn’t get any Christmas gifts

2. ____________ brought Miss Taylor a Christmas gift.

A. Every child????????????? B. Most of the children????????????? ? C. Only three children????????????? ? D. No one

3.Miss Taylor felt __________ when she got the gifts from the children.

A. sad????????????? ????????????? ????????????? B. scared????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? C. thrilled????????????? ? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? D. tired

4.Many gifts were mentioned (被提及) in the article except____________.

A. a toy monkey?????????? ????????????? B. an old storybook?????????????

C. a set of Christmas tree lights????????????? D. a Christmas card

There have been many great inventions or things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was the one that is still very important today——the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distance.
For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that as much effect as the wheel . Then in the early 1800s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore much any more. They began to work instead to make life better.
In the second half of the 19^th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the light and the radio. These all play a big part in our daily life today.
The first part of the 20^th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909, movies with sound in 1926, the computer in 1928, jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wore.
The middle part of the 20^th century brought new ways to help people get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and allowed them to live longer. By the 1960s most people could expect to live to be at least 60.
By this time most people in developed countries had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire(渴望) to explore again. The earth was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then United States took a step. Since then other countries , including China and Japan, have made their own steps into space.
In 1969 man took his biggest step away from earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning, though. New inventions will some day allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.
【小题1】This passage talks mainly about         .

Life is like the four seasons. Now I am very old, but when I was young, it was the spring of my life. I was born, I played a lot, and then I started school. I learned many new things. Like a flower, I grew bigger every day. There were happy days and sorrowful days: some days the sun shone, and some days it didn’t.

In my twenties, I had a good job. I was strong and happy. Then I married (结婚) and had a child. In those days, I didn’t have much time to think. Every day I was busy and worked very hard. And so, I started to get some white hairs. The summer of my life passed quickly.

Then the days got shorter. Leaves fell from the trees. My child was a university student, and then an engineer. My home was much quieter. I started walking more slowly. One day I stopped working. I had more time. I understood this was my autumn, a beautiful time when the trees change color and give us nice fruits.

But the days kept getting shorter and colder. Winter has come. I am older and weaker. I know I do not have many days left, but I will enjoy them to the end.

1.The writer started walking more slowly in the          of his life.

A．spring            B．summer           C．autumn           D．winter

2.According to the passage, which of the following ages is during the summer of his life?

A．15.              B．33.               C．62.               D．87.

3.What does the word “sorrowful” mean in this passage?

A．Sad.              B．Exciting.           C．Wonderful.        D．Pleasant.

4.Which of the following is true?

A．The writer was an engineer.

B．The writer had a garden with flowers.

C．The writer was always happy as a child.

D．The writer now is old and weak, but still he enjoys his life.

5.What’s the best title of this passage?

A．Four Seasons.                          B．My Life.

C．Four Seasons in a Year.                   D．Four Seasons in My Life.