D
A lot of us lose life’s tough battles by starting a frontal(正面的)attack—when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who hit a traffic jam on his way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about being late on the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam’s a being late—serious illness at home—he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn’t work any longer. His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech.
Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work. Sam’s supervisor came up to him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand. “How do you do!” he said. “I’m Sam Maynard. I’m applying for a job. Which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?”
The room exploded in laughter. The supervisor clamped off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job—with the only tool that could win, a laugh.
Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying “no”, criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it’s the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance(忍受力) than people in any other forum.
67．Why was Sam late for his job?
A．Because he was ill.                     B．Because he got up late.
C．Because he was caught in a traffic jam.      D．He was busy applying for a new job.
68.the main idea of this passage is         
A．They have no doubts about them.       B．They have doubts about them.
C．They approve of them.                D．They avoid talking about them.
69．the phrase “clamped off “in paragraph 3 probably means trying to    
A．hold back            B．set off                C．leave behind         D．gave out
70．Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?
A．Many lose life’s battles for they start a frontal attack.
B．It wasn’t the first time that Sam came late for his work
C．Sam was supposed to come to his office at 8:30.
D．Humor is a very effective way of dealing with difficult situations.

I am a strong believer that if a child is raised with approval (准允), he learns to love himself and will be successful in his own way. Several weeks ago, I was doing homework with my son in the third grade and he kept standing up from his chair to go over the math lines. I kept asking him to sit down, telling him that he would concentrate better. He sat but seconds later, as if he didn’t even notice he was doing it, he got up again. I was getting frustrated (受挫), but then it hit me. I started noticing his answers were much quicker and accurate when he stood up. Could he be more absorbed while standing up?

This made me start questioning myself and what I had been raised to believe. I was raised to believe that a quiet, calm child was a sure way to success. This child would have the willpower to study hard, get good grades and become someone important in life.

    Now those same people perhaps come to realize that their kids are born with their own sets of DNA and personality qualities, and all you can do is loving and accepting them. As parents, throughout their growing years and beyond that, we need to be our kids’ best cheerleaders, guiding them and helping them find their way.

I have stopped asking my son to sit down and concentrate. Obviously, he is concentrating just in his own way and not mine. We need to learn to accept our kids’ ways of doing things. Some way may have worked for me but doesn’t mean we need to carry it through generations. There is nothing sweeter than being personal and unique (独特的). It makes us free and happy and that’s just the way I want my kids to live their own life. 

1.Time and again the author got his son seated in order to make him ______.

A. work fast                          B. go polite                     C. stay relaxed                    D. keep attentive

2.The underlined “it” (in the first paragraph) probably refers to ______.

A. his son’s doing better while standing up

B. his failure in keeping his son under control

C. his own experience as a school boy

D. his disappointment with his active child

3.By this passage, the author attempts to tell other parents to ______.

A. correct their kids’ manners from the early ages

B. respect and trust their kids’ ways of behaviors

C. develop a good relationship with their children

D. guarantee their children’s freedom at home

4.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

A. Parental help with teens’ study

B. Adult influence on teen growth

C. Kids’ success in their own styles

D. Friendship between generations

The dirty, homeless man sat on the pavement, staring at the stones. He thought back more than twenty years to when he was a boy living in a small red brick house on this very street. He recalled the flower garden, the swing his dad made, and the bike he had saved up for months to buy.

The man shrugged impatiently, for the brightness of those pictures hurt him, and his memory traveled on another ten years. He had a job by then, plenty of friends and started to come home less. He did not really want to remember those years, nor the day when, because of debts, he had gone home planning to ask for money. He felt embarrassed, but he knew exactly where his dad kept the money. When his parents stepped out of the room, he took what he wanted and left.

That was the last time he had seen them. Ashamed, he went abroad, and his parents knew nothing about the years of wandering or time in prison. But locked in his cell he often thought of home. Once free, he would love to see his parents again, if they were still alive, and still wanted to see him.

When his prison time was up, he found a job, but couldn’t settle. Something was drawing him home. He did not want to arrive penniless, so he hitchhiked most of the long journey back. But less than a mile from his destination he started to feel sick with doubt. Could they ever accept this man who had so bitterly disappointed them?

He spent most of that day sitting under a tree. That evening he posted a letter which, although short, had taken him hours to write. It ended with:

I know it is unreasonable of me to suppose you want to see me ... so it’s up to you. I’ll come early Thursday morning. If you want me home, hang a white handkerchief in the window of my old bedroom. If it’s there, I’ll come in; if not, I’ll wave good-bye and go.

And now it was Thursday morning and he was sitting on the pavement at the end of the street. Finally he got up and walked slowly toward the old house. He drew a long breath and looked.

His parents were taking no risks. ________________________________________

The man threw his head back, gave a cry of relief and ran straight through the open front door.

1.Why did the man shrug impatiently (paragraph 2) while he was thinking of his childhood?

A. The thoughts made him angry.

B. He felt he had wasted time.

C. He was anxious to go home.

D. The sweet memory caused him much pain.

2.Why did it take him hours to write the letter?

A. He doubted if his parents still lived in that house.

B. He had much news to tell his parents.

C. He felt ashamed to ask for forgiveness.

D. He was longing to return home and felt excited.

3.In what order did the following events take place?

a. He took the money from his parents.

b. He bought a bicycle with his savings.

c. He was sentenced to prison.

d. He wrote the letter home.

e. He sat on the pavement.

f. He hitchhiked back home.

A. b, a, c, d, e, f                                                        B. b, a, c, f, d, e

C. a, c, b, d, f, a                                                         D. a, d, b, c, e, f

4.Which of the following best fits into paragraph 8?

A. Every inch of the house was covered in white. Sheets, pillowcases and table clothes had been placed on every window and door, making it look like a snow house.

B. The house before him was just as he remembered: the red bricks, the brown door and nothing else.

C. A colorful blanket was over the front door. On it, in large letters, was written, “Welcome home, son”.

D. A police car was parked in the drive way, and two officers stood at the front door.

5.The best title of the passage is _______.

A. Sweet Memory                                                   B. White Handkerchief

C. Abandoned Son                            D. Leaving Home

29. Was it at half past five when we were still sound asleep    he got up?

The reason why he was late is ______ he got up too late.