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 short of money, living in a small apartment with her daughter. 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 has now sold more than 30 million books around the world and has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. In 1997, she earned ?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.

56. Rowling’s dream was 　　　.

　 A. to be a book seller B. to make a movie

　 C. to have her books published　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. to be an English teacher

57. Which sentence is TRUE about the first Harry Potter book?

　 A. Four publishers bought it. B. It took the writer many years to finish it.

　 C. It was first published in Portugal.　　　　　　 D. Rowling got the idea from her daughter.

58. Harry Potter has been translated into 　　　 languages.

　 A. about 50 B. more than 35　　　　　 C. about 70　　　　　　　　　 D. more than 150

59. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Rowling?

　 A. Not many writers are as successful as she is.

　 B. She spent seven years finishing writing her first book.

C. She lived a poor life before her books were published.

　 D. Her books were made into movies and she directed them.

60. This reading is about 　　　 .

　 A. the writer’s life B. Harry Potter’s life

　 C. how the book became a movie　　　　　　　　 D. why Harry Potter is popular

Look at the girl. She is   51  good friend. She is   52 English girl.   53  name is Kate.  54  twelve. My  55  is Fangfang.   56  a Chinese girl. I'm eleven.

Kate  57  a small sports collection. She has   58   tennis racket, three basketballs, and five baseballs, but I only  59  a soccer ball. Kate and I both    60  sports every day.

1.A. his        B. her         C. your          D. my

2.A. a          B. an         C. the            D. \

3. A. His        B. She        C. Her           D. She's

4. A. She        B. She's       C. Her           D. Her's

5. A. name       B. book       C. friend         D. bag

6. A. I           B. I'm        C. She           D. She's

7. A. have        B. has        C. doesn't have    D. don't have

8. A. one         B. two        C. three          D. four

9.A. has         B. have       C. doesn't have     D. don't have

10.A. plays       B. play        C. playing         D. to play

     Mary is an American girl. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith find work in China. So Mary is living in China now with her parents. Mr. Smith works in a big shop. Mrs. Smith teaches English in a middle school. Mary goes to school from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays she goes to the library with her mother. She likes reading newspapers there very much. Then she eats dinner at a restaurant with her parents. On Sundays, Mary helps her mother do the housework. Mary is a good girl.

56. Mary comes from ________.

   A. America       B. England          C. Australia         D. China

57. The Smith family are living in _______ now.

    A. America       B. China            C. Japan             D. France

58. What does Mary's mother do?

    A. A shop worker.     B. A bank clerk.    C. An English teacher.  D. A shop assistant.

59. Where does Mary eat dinner on Saturdays?

    A. At home.      B. At school.     C. At a restaurant.     D. In a library.

60. Which one is RIGHT (正确的) ?

    A. Mary goes to school from Monday to Saturday.

    B. Mary goes to the library with her father.

    C. Mary likes reading newspapers in the library.

    D. Mary's father doesn't want to work in China.

Teddy' s Bear

The story of how the teddy bear was invented is an interesting one. In 1902, American president Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was hunting (打猎) in the forest with several of his friends. Almost everyone had successfully shot (射中) an animal, but the president 　56 not. Nobody wanted to make the president look 　57 , so they tied an American black bear to a 　58　 . They wanted the president to shoot (射中) it.

The president was very surprised to see the bear tied to a tree. He felt it was 　59 to shoot the bear, because it couldn't run away. He 　60 to shoot it, and the story of his decision went all over the country. Everybody was moved by the president's beliefs (信念). There was 　61 a cartoon showing the president refusing to shoot a cute bear.

It was this cartoon and the story behind the president's hunting trip that gave Morris an idea to make a new 　62 . He made a small, soft bear and showed it in his shop window. Next to the bear he made a sign that read, "Teddy's Bear". The new toy was a big success and it 　63 Morris with the money to create a toy company.

Teddy bears have been 　64 since they were first made. A teddy bear would be the first choice when people think about children's toys. Theodore Roosevelt's famous 　65 on a hunting trip in 1902 brought millions of soft, stuffed (填满填充物的) bears. They are being loved by people across the world.

56. A. did　　　　 B. should　　　　　 C. would　　　 　D. had

57. A. sad　　　　 B. happy　　　　　 C. friendly　　 　D. fine

58. A. wall　　　　 B. chair　　　　　 C. rock　　　 　 D. tree

59. A. difficult　　 B. unfair　　　　　 C. dangerous　 　　D. exciting

60. A. wanted　　　 B. decided　　　　 C. refused　　 　 D. went

61. A. only　　　　 B. hardly　　　　　 C. even　　　 　　D. still

62. A. company　　 B. toy　　　　　　 C. shop　　　 　 D. present

63. A. gave　　　　 B. filled　　　　　 C. met　 　　　 D. provided

64. A. colorful　　 B. expensive　　　 C. popular　　 　　D. boring

65. A. decision　 　B. speech　　　　 C. sign　　　　 　 D. skill

　 It was the last day of the final examination in a college. On the steps of building, a group of engineering students were waiting for the last exam. On their faces was confidence.

　 They knew the exam would be easy. The professor had said they could bring any books or notes during the test.

　 Right after they came into the classroom. The professor handed out the papers. There were only five questions on it.

　 Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was nervous expression. The professor watched the worried faces before him, and then asked. “How many of you have completed all five questions?” No hand was raised. “How many of you have answered four?” Still no hands. “Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly in their seats. “One, then? Certainly somebody has finished one.” But the class kept silent(沉默). The professor said, “That is exactly what I expected. I just want to make you know clearly that even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. These questions you could not answer are common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added, “You will all pass this course, your education has just begun.”

The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

(　 )56. Why did the students think the exam was easy at first?

A.Because it was their last exam in the college.

B.Because they knew there were only five questions.

C.Because they thought they were clever and talented.

D.Because they wee allowed to bring any books and notes during the test.

(　 )57. How many students have finished all the five questions?

A.All of them. B. Some of them C. None of them . D. Only one of them.

(　 )58. What does the underlines word “obscured” mean in the last paragraph?

A.模糊 B回忆　Ｃ提醒　　Ｄ改变

(　 )59. What could the students learn from the last exam?

A. He laughs best who laughs last.

B. A good beginning is half done.

C. One is never too old to learn.

D. The early bird catches the worm.

(　 )60. What’s the best title for the article?

A. Some Confident Students.

B. An Engineering Professor.

C. An interesting Professor.

D. An Unforgettable Lesson.