Compassion is a desire within us to help others. With effort, we can translate compassion into action. An experience last weekend showed me this is true. I work part-time in a supermarket across from a building for the elderly. These old people are our main customers, and it’s not hard to lose patience over their slowness. But last Sunday, one aged gentleman appeared to teach me a valuable lesson. This untidy man walked up to my register(收款机) with a box of biscuits. He said he was out of cash(现金), had just moved into his room, and had nothing in his cupboards. He asked if we could let him have the food on trust. He promised to repay me the next day.    
Icouldn’t help staring at him. I wondered what kind of person he had been ten or twenty years before, and what he would be like if luck had gone his way. I had a hurt in my heart for this kind of human soul, all alone in the world. I told him that I was sorry, but store rules didn’t allow me to do so. I felt stupid and unkind saying this, but I valued my job.
Just then, another man, standing behind the first, spoke up. If anything, he looked more pitiable. “Charge it to me,” was all he said.
What I had been feeling was pity. Pity is soft and safe and easy. Compassion, on the other hand, is caring in action. I thanked the second man but told him that was not allowed either. Then I reached into my pocket and paid for the biscuits myself. I reached into my pocket because these two men had reached into my heart and taught me compassion.

1. 1.

   The aged gentleman who wanted to buy the biscuits ______.

   1. A.
      promised to obey the store rules
   2. B.
      forgot to take any money with him
   3. C.
      hoped to have the food first and pay later
   4. D.
      could not afford anything more expensive
2. 2.

   Which of the following best describes the old gentleman?

   1. A.
      kind and lucky
   2. B.
      poor and lonely
   3. C.
      friendly and helpful
   4. D.
      hurt and disappointed
3. 3.

   The writer acted upon the store rules because ______.

   1. A.
      he wanted to keep his present job
   2. B.
      he felt no pity for the old gentleman
   3. C.
      he considered the old man dishonest
   4. D.
      he expected someone else to pay for the old man
4. 4.

   What does the writer learn from his experience?

   1. A.
      Wealth is more important than anything else.
   2. B.
      Helping others is easier said than done.
   3. C.
      Experience is better gained through practice.
   4. D.
      Obeying the rules means more than compassion.

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows. The year he died, the roses were still  1to her door.

Each year he sent her roses, and the  2would always say, “I love you even more this year, than last year on this day.” My love for you will always 3, with every passing year. “She knew this was the last time 4the rose would appear. Her loving husband did not know that he would  5. he always liked to do things early. Then, if he got too busy,  6would work out fine.”

A year went by, and it was  7to live without her mate. Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before, the doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door. She brought the roses  8, calling the florist shop. The owner answered, and she asked him , if he would explain, why would someone do this to her,  9her such pain?

“I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,” The owner said, “I knew you’d  10, and you would want to know. “ “ The flowers you received today, were   11in advance.” “Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance.”

She thanked him and  12the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to 13the card. Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note. This is what he wrote: “Hello my love, I know it’s been a year  14I’ve been gone, I hope it hasn’t been too hard for you to overcome.” “I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very 15. for if it was the other way, I know how I would feel. The love we shared  16everything so beautiful in life. I loved you more than words can say.”

“You were my friend and lover, I know it’s only been a year,  17please try not to grieve. I want you to be happy,  18when you shed your tears. That is why the roses will be sent to you for years.”

“ When you get these 19, think of all the  20that we had together, and how both of us were blessed. I have always loved you and I know I always will. My love, you must go on, you have some living still.”

1.A. passed          B. shown        C. presented        D. delivered

2.A. note            B. message      C. line             D. information

3.A. disappear        B. decrease      C. grow            D. keep

4.A. that            B.when          C. which           D. what

5.A. pass by         B. pass away      C. pass down       D. pass on

6.A. everything      B. something      C. nothing          D. anything

7.A. happy          B. meaningful     C. hard            D. impossible

8.A. in             B. out            C. along          D. up

9.A. curing          B. healing        C.causing          D. killing

10.A. ask            B. wonder        C. doubt            D. telephone

11.A. booked         B. grown         C. planted          D. designed

12.A. picked up       B. turned up       C.held up          D. hung up

13.A. buy            B. get            C.read           D. write

14.A. when          B. that            C. before           D. since

15.strong            B. weak          C. true             D. real

16.A made           B. bad            C. let              D. left

17.A. so             B. but            C. though           D. still

18.A. even           B. only           C. merely           D. just

19.A. roses           B. belongings      C. congratulations    D. remarks

20.A. sadness         B. disappointment   C. happiness        D. sufferings

完形填空。阅读下面短文，从自短文后所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。（每小题1.5分，满分30分）
It had been a tiring day and I was looking forward to__31__ evening. My husband__32__ back until late and I had __33___ to sit down in a comfortable armchair in the living room and read a book. I __34__  the children to bed early and __35__ a cold supper and some coffee. Soon I was sitting comfortably with a plate __36___ with food before me and a book at my side.
I was just beginning to eat __37__ the telephone rang. I put down my knife and fork and hurried to answer __38___ . By the time I got back to the living room，my coffee __39__ cold.  After I finished my __40__ I began to drink my coffee __41__ my book open at page one.  Suddenly there was a __42__ at the door. It gave me __43__ surprise that I spilt the __44__ and made an ugly stain（污迹）on my skirt.  Some stranger had got __45__ and wanted me to show him the way. It __46__   ages to get rid of him. At last I __47__ to sit down again __48__ actually read a whole page without __49__ more interruption until the baby woke up. He began crying loudly and I rushed up-stairs. The baby was __50__ awake at eleven o'clock when my husband came home. I should have cried myself when he asked me if I had a pleasant evening！
31. A. a quiet                   B. an exciting           C. a lovely          D. a lonely
32. A. would come                B. had not come        C. came         D. would not come
33. A. decided                   B. started             C. come            D. hurried
34. A. put                      B. made             C. threw            D. allowed
35. A. boiled                     B. heated                     C. cooked           D. prepared
36. A. full                 B. filled                 C. filling               D. to be filled
37. A. as                        B. then               C. when             D. while
38. A. him                       B. her                C. it                 D. them
39. A. was getting          B. had got           C. would get          D. got
40. A. supper            B. drinking               C. reading            D. coffee
41. A. while                      B. when             C. as                D. with
42. A. stranger                 B. loud knock          C. dog               D. man
43. A. such great                B. a so great          C. such a great        D. so great
44. A. food                       B. supper            C. plate              D. coffee
45. A. gone                      B. lost               C. missing             D. away
46. A. cost                      B. spent             C. paid               D. took
47. A. tried                      B. hoped             C. decided             D. managed
48. A. before                    B. after              C. but                D. and
49. A. some                     B. any               C. much              D. no
50. A. already                    B. still               C. possibly            D. almost