四、阅读理解（2分×15=30分）阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。
Talk about a real-life hero! Ten-year-old Larry Champagne from St. Louis，Missouri, hit the brake (刹车) on a runaway school bus. He saved himself and 20 other kids on board from disaster.
It all happened in one terrible accident. On the way to school, the bus driver, Ernestine Blackman, suddenly fell ill. Seeing the car was running away, the other kids started to scream, but Larry ran to the front and stopped the bus.
“At first I thought, ‘We’re going to die,’” says Larry, “but after I pressed the brake, I felt safe.”
Larry’s speedy reaction made news all over the country. He appeared on TV shows as a hero. The bus company gave Larry a big gift. His school hung a medal of honor around his neck.
“My grandmother always tells me to do what’s right,” says Larry. He thanked his brother, Jerrick, 9, who “helped me get the bus driver up” during the emergency（紧急情况）. How did he know how to stop the bus? Larry is something of a mechanic（机械师）. He helps his grandfather work on his old truck. “He gets his hands dirty,” says his grandfather. One thing is for certain: Larry knows where to find the brakes.
1. What did Larry do to save the runaway bus?
A. He parked it for the sleeping bus driver. 
B. He helped all the kids climb out through the windows.
C. He dialed 911.              D. he pressed the brake.
2. When did Larry finally feel safe?
A. When the kids finally stopped screaming.        B. When the police officers arrived.
C. Once he pressed the brake, and the bus stopped.   D. When the bus driver started driving again.
3. Larry got the following as praise for his hero action Except            .
A. appearing on TV shows                         B. a scholarship from his school
C. a big gift from the bus company                    D. a medal of honor
4. Larry thanked his brother Jerrick for             .
A. helping him get the bus driver up                  B. helping him work on his old truck
C. teaching him how to find the brake         D. teaching him how to stop the bus
5. The underlined sentence“Larry is something of a mechanic” tells us that               .
A. Larry’s job is a mechanic                       B. Larry knows something about machines
C. Larry is a robot                                     D. Larry knows nothing about machines

St Paul’s Cathedral

Ludgate Hill, EC4

Underground: St Paul’s; Bus: 6,8,11,15,22,25

Open: Daily 8:00—19:00 (17:00 from Oct. to Mar.) . Entrance free

Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul’s Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is crowned by a magnificent dome and its choir (唱诗班) is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981.

Buckingham Palace

South end of the Mall (SW1)

Underground: St. James’s Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park; Bus: 2, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 38, 52, 73, 74, 137

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch (君主) for much of the year. (When the monarch is in residence, a flag flies over the palace.) The Mall is a very impressive wide street, leading from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square.

Note: As the palace is the monarch’s official residence, it is not open to the public.

The Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3

Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78

Open: Mon—Sat.9

Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory, among other things. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels.

Westminster Abbey

Broad Sanctuary, SW1

Underground: Westminster, St James’s Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503

Open: Daily 8:00—18:00 (Mar.—Dec, Tuesday till 20:00)

Entrance free

A Benedictine abbey which already existed on the site was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor and consecrated in 1065. On the way to its present form, the abbey was extended in the 13th—16^th centuries, with the two west towers being added in the 18th. There are many famous tombs in the abbey, including that of the unknown Warrior and those of many poets and writers.

71. These texts are most probably taken from ______.

A. a history book about London

B. a guidebook for visitors to London

C. a book about London’s churches and cathedrals

D. a book describing London’s development

No.11 bus can take you to all three of these places:

A. St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London

B. St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace

C. St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace

D. Westminster Abbey the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace

73. You can see the inside of all the buildings except ______.

A. St Paul’s Cathedral                                 B. The Tower of London

C. Westminster Abbey                               D. Buckingham Palace

74.If you travel by Underground, you can visit two places by getting off at one station. What are the two places?

A. Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey

B. Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral

C. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London

D. The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral

75.Among these four famous buildings, _____ is (are) free of charge.

A. The Tower of London

B. Buckingham Palace

C. Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral

D. The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral

七．阅读理解 (20分)
A
February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
   On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
   But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
   Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
1. Which of the following is not a custom for a boy to do on Valentine’s Day?
   A. to take his girlfriend out to dinner
   B. to buy his girlfriend flowers and chocolates     
   C. to make Valentine’s cards for teachers and friends
   D. to spell out his girlfriend’s name with rose petals
2. Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
   A. Because there were few women in his country at that time.
   B. Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
   C. Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
   D. Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
3. Valentine was put into prison because ______.
   A. he killed one of the soldiers 
   B. he stole a lot of food
   C. he didn’t obey the emperor’s order   
   D. he didn’t want to be a soldier
4. The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
   A. students in China send cards to their teachers
   B. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
   C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
   D. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
5. The best title for this passage should be ______.
   A. Valentine’s Day                  B. A Brave Priest  
   C. Valentine’s Day in China          D. A Romantic Man

D
February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
68. Which of the following is not a custom for a boy to do on Valentine’s Day?
   A. to take his girlfriend out to dinner
   B. to buy his girlfriend flowers and chocolates     
   C. to make Valentine’s cards for teachers and friends
D. to spell out his girlfriend’s name with rose petals
69. Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
A. Because there were few women in his country at that time.
B. Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
C. Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
D. Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
70. Valentine was put into prison because ______.
A. he killed one of the soldiers            B. he stole a lot of food
C. he didn’t obey the emperor’s order       D. he didn’t want to be a soldier
71. The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
A. students in China send cards to their teachers
B. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
D. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now

I got a cancer when I was 18. This was a big deal for someone to 31. I chose to fight. After treatments, I 32 from my illness. Life couldn’t have been any 33. When I became fit years later, I met a wonderful man and got married. 34, I still felt something missing and eager to find my 35.

As my 20-year anniversary (周年纪念) of being a cancer 36 approached, I wanted to do something special and 37. I organized a fundraiser, calling it “A Mission (使命) of Love” and thanks to my 38 family and friends, raised﹩4,000 for St. Jude’s, planning to 39 it myself. Three quarters of the money would be given as a (n) 40 to the hospital, and what was left would go toward buying 41 for the children. I also organized a T-shirt 42 activity for any child who felt well enough.

Thanksgiving Day seemed the most 43 day of the year for the mission, and so it was all arranged. We went to a store and 44 three shopping carts with toys. It was 45 we were celebrities (名人) when the employees and other shoppers knew what we were doing.

On Thanksgiving Day, as we got to St. Jude’s, I became 46 emotional, as my eyes were filled with tears of 47. After dropping the toys off, we arrived where six children were waiting anxiously to begin painting. To me, it was as though they weren’t sick, and to see them smile was the greatest gift I could have ever 48.

Leaving there that day, I knew I had finally found my purpose. All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t 49 why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you 50 in life. It’s what you do for others.