Whatever we may need to buy，we can use our credit cards．This is a change from the older days when we had to first check whether cards were accepted．Today，everybody, from retailers（零售商) to lenders，accepts credit cards．Attitudes towards credit cards have also changed a lot．People used to be

very careful of using their cards；but this is no longer the case. People today prefer to take out their cards as soon as they get to the cash counter．A swipe (刷卡) and a sign are all it takes，and you can walk home with the bill and all the things you buy．

   The credit card is much easier to carry than cash and it is not at all surprising that the former becomes the most preferred way of payment．A credit card takes up very little space in our wallets，and yet，it holds the power of a large sum of cash．Paying by credit cards is also a good way of keeping bills on where all of our money goes．  

   Moreover，it has become much easier to get credit cards these days．I constantly have cold callers calling up to offer me “great new credit card deals”．Salesmen occasionally walk into our office offering discounts if a group of people decide to sign up a certain kind of credit card plan at the same time．However，this can also cause a problem．Nowadays，we always run the

risk of getting some kinds of wastes．When the terms seem too good to be true，we should make sure that we always read the printed items carefully．Before signing for a credit card，it is necessary to know its advantages and disadvantages．The only way to deal with this is to do our homework, before we go credit card hunting．   

1.We learn from Paragraph 1 that      ．   

A．people can use credit cards anytime，anywhere   

B．people used to have to check up on credit cards   

C．people are more careful using credit cards nowadays  

D．people can take their goods home just by swiping their cards 

2.One of the main advantages of credit cards is that    ．

 A．they occupy less space compared with other modes of payment 

 B．they are more powerful than cash   

 C．they are easy to get，and save money   

 D．they help users keep track of what they spend on  

3.When signing for a credit card，people should     .

 A．ask for a discount  

 B．understand the dangers   

 C．read every word of the contract carefully  

 D．understand that the salesman is most likely to offer false information   

4.In the last sentence the writer tells us that      ．  

A．we should know the advantages and disadvantages of credit cards before using them  

B．we should finish work before going shopping with a credit card   

C．we should check which credit cards are accepted before using them 

D．we should make sure that our credit cards are real before using them

“Welcome, Mary,” I said. She raised her head and looked into my eyes. The smile on my face 36 . Dear God, I thought, what 　37 has entered the life of this little girl?

After settling Mary into her new desk and 　38 her, I went to the headmaster. She said, “Sit down and I’ll 　39 you in. Mary’s mother who loved her very much was shot and killed in her 　40 one night at their house. Mary, screaming, escaped to a neighbor’s. Then the child went into 　41 . She hadn’t cried or 　42 her mother since.”

I returned only to discover that the children were already avoiding this “ 43 ” child. “Mary’s been hurt badly, but we can do a lot to help her,” I explained gently. Bless all children. How loving they can be 　44 they understand.

In spite of our 45 , we seemed to be getting no closer to Mary and even my faith was wearing 　46 . My heart ached so badly, wanting this child to come alive, to be aware of the beauty, the wonder, the fun, and even the 　47 of living.

Spring approaching, children 　48 to make flower baskets for room decoration. During the lunch time, a girl came hurrying to me. “Come to see Mary’s basket,” she said 　49 . “You’ll never believe it!” I 　50 my breath at its beauty, for it couldn’t have been the work from a child that 　51 .

“Mary,” I said. “This is beautiful. How did you ever 　52 ?” She looked at me with the shining eyes of any 　53 little girl, saying, “My mother loved flowers.”

Thank you, God, You’ve 　54 us the miracle . I knelt and put my arms around the child. Then the tears came, slowly at first, but soon she was 　55 her heart out against my shoulder. The other children had tears in their eyes, too, but theirs—like mine—were tears of joy.

36. A. formed　　　　　　　 B. broadened 　　　 C. spread 　　　　　　 D. froze

37. A. wonder 　　　　　　 B. problem 　　　　　 C. horror 　　　　　 D. amazement

38. A. introducing 　　　 B. comforting 　　　 C. praising 　　　　　 D. touching

39. A. come 　　　　　　　 B. fill 　　　　　　　　　 C. push 　　　　　　　 D. let

40. A. home　　　　　 　 B. presence　　　　　 C. company 　　　 D. eyes

41. A. shock 　　　　　　 B. anger 　　　　　　 C. hunger 　　　　　 D. action

42. A. missed 　　　　　 B. mentioned 　　　 C. seen　 　　 　　D. heard

43. A. sweet 　　　　　　 　　B. sad 　　　　　　　　 C. lonely 　　　　　 D. different

44. A. before 　　　　　　 B. though 　　　　　　 C. once 　　　　　　 D. unless

45. A. lessons 　　　　　 B. talks　　 　　C. words　 　　　 D. efforts

46. A. strong 　　　　　　 B. thick　　　 　　 C. thin 　　　　　　　 D. heavy

47. A. cost　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. pain　　　　 　 C. course 　　　　　 D. pleasure

48. A. decided　 　　　 B. waited　　 　　 C. preferred 　　　　　　 D. wished

49. A. worriedly　　 B. excitedly　　 　 C. softly　 　 　　D. secretly

50. A. caught 　　　　　　　　　　 B. stopped　 　　　 C. counted 　　　　 D. took

51. A. old 　　　　　　　　 B. weak　 　　　　　 C. young 　　　　　 D. clever

52. A. arrange 　　　　　　 B. prepare　　　　　　 C. handle 　 　　D. manage

53. A. unusual　　 　　 B. careful 　　　　　 C. normal 　　　　　 D. friendly

54. A. told　 　　　　　　 B. taught　　 　　　 C. paid 　　　　 　　D. given

55. A. crying 　　　　　　　 B. shouting 　　　　 C. drawing 　　　　　 D. knocking