The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

56. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　 A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

　 C. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

57. What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

　 A. annoyed　　　 B. got over　　　 C. convinced　　　 D. made less angry

58. What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?

　 A. She felt disappointed with him.　　 B. She was strict with him.

　 C. She was supportive of him.　　　　 D. She was afraid of him.

59. What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.

　 A. how angry she was　　　　　 B. how effective she handled Mr. Carr.

　 C. that she was able to save him　 D. that she didn’t cry

60. From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.

　 A. was no longer a youth.　　　　　 B. felt proud of his mother

　 C. wanted his mother to be happy　　 D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　

It was in the hospital that I first saw Tommy.

He must have been crying a lot __21_  his chest was still heaving（起伏）as I __22_  the bed. I knew he was trying to __23_  his tears. I felt helpless, unable to __24_  the pain from the little boy. Suddenly an idea hit me. I wanted to __25_  him the ancient Hawaiian wisdom. __26_  over, I whispered, “Tommy , did you know our Hawaiian Lizards（蜥蜴）grow their tails back and little boys can grow their  __27_  back too?” Tommy’s eyes grew wide with  __28_  .

“They can?” he asked, obviously  __29_  .

“Yes!” I answered with  __30_ . “Close your eyes,” I said. He nodded with his eyes closed  __31_  .

“Tell your finger every day how much you love it and you need it to  __32_  the phone and to write your homework in school.” I paused, __33_  his little face focused in deep __34_  . “Now say, grow for me, finger. I love you. I need you so much.” __35_  later, Tommy opened his eyes. I told him, “Your finger will be perfectly fine. Let’s __36_  until it completely recovers.”

A year later, Tommy came to say good-bye to me. His broken finger was just the same as any other finger should be. Only a(n) __37_   scar（伤疤）remained.

Tommy remains forever in my heart and  __38_   me of the possibility of miracle（奇迹）. From him, I have learnt to _39_  failure. He inspires me to improve myself and to remember the ancient __40_  : Everything is possible if you truly believe.

1.

A. so                B. but             C. because         D. or

2.

A. left             B. approached       C. touched          D. saw

3.

A. flow out         B. wipe out         C. hold up          D. hold back

4.  

A. remove           B. move             C. stand            D. suffer

5.  

A. amuse            B. teach            C. inspire          D. treat

6.

A. Turning          B. Watching         C. Looking          D. Bending

7..

 A. hands           B. arms             C. fingers          D. feet

8.

 A. ease            B. excitement       C. fright       D. disappointment

9.

 A. tired           B. confident        C. astonished       D. worried

10.

 A. certainty       B. pride            C. honesty          D. pleasure

11.  

A. slightly        B. firmly           C. loosely          D. straight

12.

 A. call            B. answer           C. dial             D. receive

13.

 A. changing   B. noticing             C. washing          D. covering

14.  

A. sadness         B. fantasy          C. regret           D. attention

15.  

A. Years           B. Weeks            C. Minutes          D. Hours

16.  

A. stay            B. stop             C. wait             D. rest

17.

 A. fine            B. ugly             C. terrible         D. big

18.  

A. warns           B. reminds          C. educates         D. shows

19.

A. forget          B. accept           C. refuse           D. challenge

20.

A. game        B. lesson               C. wisdom           D. truth

 

 

It was in the hospital that I first saw Tommy.

He must have been crying a lot __31_  his chest was still heaving（起伏）as I __32_  the bed. I knew he was trying to __33_  his tears. I felt helpless, unable to __34_  the pain from the little boy. Suddenly an idea hit me. I wanted to __35_  him the ancient Hawaiian wisdom. __36_  over, I whispered, “Tommy , did you know our Hawaiian Lizards（蜥蜴）grow their tails back and little boys can grow their  __37_  back too?” Tommy’s eyes grew wide with  __38_  .

“They can?” he asked, obviously  __39_  .

“Yes!” I answered with  __40_ . “Close your eyes,” I said. He nodded with his eyes closed  __41_  .

“Tell your finger every day how much you love it and you need it to  __42_  the phone and to write your homework in school.” I paused, __43_  his little face focused in deep __44_  . “Now say, grow for me, finger. I love you. I need you so much.” __45_  later, Tommy opened his eyes. I told him, “Your finger will be perfectly fine. Let’s __46_  until it completely recovers.”

A year later, Tommy came to say good-bye to me. His broken finger was just the same as any other finger should be. Only a(n) __47_   scar（伤疤）remained.

Tommy remains forever in my heart and  __48_   me of the possibility of miracle（奇迹）. From him, I have learnt to __49_  failure. He inspires me to improve myself and to remember the ancient __50_  : Everything is possible if you truly believe.

31. A. so                   B. but                  C. because                    D. or

32. A. left                     B. approached             C. touched                 D. saw

33. A. flow out           B. wipe out                C. hold up                  D. hold back

34. A. remove             B. move                    C. stand                     D. suffer

35. A. amuse              B. teach                     C. inspire                  D. treat

36. A. Turning            B. Watching               C. Looking                D. Bending

37. A. hands               B. arms                      C. fingers                   D. feet

38. A. ease                        B. excitement             C. fright                     D. disappointment

39. A. tired                 B. confident               C. astonished              D. worried

40. A. certainty   B. pride                     C. honesty                 D. pleasure

41. A. slightly             B. firmly                    C. loosely                   D. straight

42. A. call                  B. answer                   C. dial                       D. receive

43. A. changing          B. noticing                 C. washing                 D. covering

44. A. sadness             B. fantasy                   C. regret                    D. attention

45. A. Years                B. Weeks                    C. Minutes                 D. Hours

46. A. stay                  B. stop                       C. wait                       D. rest

47. A. fine                  B. ugly                      C. terrible                  D. big

48. A. warns               B. reminds                 C. educates                 D. shows

49. A. forget               B. accept                    C. refuse                    D. challenge

50. A. game                B. lesson                    C. wisdom           D. truth

         It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the   36  . The wait seemed   37  .

         At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) coming along the frozen path. Anxiously, he   38   as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one   39  . Then another, and another. Finally, as the   40   rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man   41   the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by  42  .”

         The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to  43   his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.

         As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s   44   caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n)   45   to get a ride. Then I came up and you   46   asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider.   47   I had refused and left you there?”

         The old man replied, “I’ve been   48   here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no   49   for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes,   50   was evident. I knew,   51  , that your gentle spirit would   52   the opportunity to give me help in my time of   53  .”

         Those heartwarming comments   54   the horseman deeply.

         “I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I   55   to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

         With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

A. town                   B. river              C. country                           D. island

A. meaningless       B. useless        C. careless                          D. endless

A. watched   B. asked      C. waved                       D. approached

A. come over           B. get off               C. pass by                            D. take off

A. coming                 B. leaving         C. next                                 D. last

A. missed                  B. caught         C. avoided                           D. saw

A. bus                        B. car                C. foot                                  D. horse

A. feel             B. push                   C. lift                                     D. stand

A. honesty                B. courage       C. enthusiasm          D. curiosity

A. choice                 B. stop          C. effort                               D. scene

A. immediately  B. hurriedly         C. friendly                            D. strangely

A. What about      B. What if              C. How come            D. If only

A. in                         B. out                C. around                            D. beyond

A. concern    B. doubt                C. chance                            D. reason

A. meaning   B. kindness  C. seriousness          D. help

A. then and there                                    B. for a moment  

                      C. all of a sudden                    D. sooner or later

A. offer                    B. create               C. find                                   D. welcome

A. need                   B. danger              C. fortune                            D. happiness

A. influenced         B. excited              C. touched                          D. hit

A. happen               B. try                      C. disagree                         D. fail

         It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the   36  . The wait seemed   37  .

         At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) coming along the frozen path. Anxiously, he   38   as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one   39  . Then another, and another. Finally, as the   40   rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man   41   the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by  42  .”

         The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to  43   his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.

         As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s   44   caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n)   45   to get a ride. Then I came up and you   46   asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider.   47   I had refused and left you there?”

         The old man replied, “I’ve been   48   here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no   49   for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes,   50   was evident. I knew,   51  , that your gentle spirit would   52   the opportunity to give me help in my time of   53  .”

         Those heartwarming comments   54   the horseman deeply.

         “I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I   55   to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

         With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

A. town                   B. river              C. country                           D. island

A. meaningless       B. useless        C. careless                          D. endless

A. watched   B. asked      C. waved                       D. approached

A. come over           B. get off               C. pass by                            D. take off

A. coming                 B. leaving         C. next                                 D. last

A. missed                  B. caught         C. avoided                           D. saw

A. bus                        B. car                C. foot                                  D. horse

A. feel             B. push                   C. lift                                     D. stand

A. honesty                B. courage       C. enthusiasm          D. curiosity

A. choice                 B. stop          C. effort                               D. scene

A. immediately  B. hurriedly         C. friendly                            D. strangely

A. What about      B. What if              C. How come            D. If only

A. in                         B. out                C. around                            D. beyond

A. concern    B. doubt                C. chance                            D. reason

A. meaning   B. kindness  C. seriousness          D. help

A. then and there                                    B. for a moment  

                      C. all of a sudden                    D. sooner or later

A. offer                    B. create               C. find                                   D. welcome

A. need                   B. danger              C. fortune                            D. happiness

A. influenced         B. excited              C. touched                          D. hit

A. happen               B. try                      C. disagree                         D. fail