I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family tried to __1__ an ant farm at home. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we brought some ants from the backyard and placed them into the __2__ home.

Shortly after the new __3__ were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew __4__ what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had particular given jobs. With my mom’s help, I kept a journal of what happened each day and __5__ the ants. My favorite was the biggest, Cinderella. I drew a picture of her in my journal, which I still have.

On day five a disaster __6__ the ant farm. While I was __7__ the ants, I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, __8__ in all the tunnels. Although the ants __9__ their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was __10__ as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of “frustration”—feeling annoyed and impatient as they couldn’t control the situation. They simply could not __11__ the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Cinderella was the last to die; she did so while carrying a dead ant on her back.

Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, __12__ it taught me much more. __13__ the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of __14__. Working together, they were able to create a(n) __15__ world for themselves. I also learned that they should be __16__ for their hard work. Day in and day out, each labored at their task. The ant farm demonstrated that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key __17__ to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not __18__ until recently: Disaster is a natural part of life, and must be __19__. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face __20__. Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.

1.                A．get            B．buy            C．run  D．find

 

2.                A．empty          B．new           C．strange   D．distant

 

3.                A．guests          B．settlers         C．friends   D．members

 

4.                A．probably        B．roughly         C．exactly   D．normally

 

5.                A．named         B．trained         C．compared     D．measured

 

6.                A．affected        B．struck          C．kicked    D．beat

 

7.                A．removing       B．teaching        C．observing D．collecting

 

8.                A．turning         B．rushing         C．filling D．caving

 

9.                A．experienced     B．predicted       C．faced D．survived

 

10.               A．annoyed        B．horrified        C．moved    D．thrilled

 

11.               A．reflect         B．ignore         C．confirm   D．stand

 

12.               A．and           B．but            C．so    D．or

 

13.               A．In             B．For            C．From D．Over

 

14.               A．teamwork       B．devotion        C．responsibility   D．organization

 

15.               A．relaxing        B．amusing        C．moving    D．amazing

 

16.               A．supported      B．inspired        C．admired   D．admitted

 

17.               A．certificates      B．approaches     C．ingredients D．circumstances

 

18.               A．give           B．realize         C．take  D．adopt

 

19.               A．accepted       B．suffered        C．achieved D．managed

 

20.               A．challenges      B．barriers        C．pressure  D．disappointment

 

 

Many people cannot forget the beautiful thousand hand dance performed by disabled people during the 2005 CCTV Spring Festival Gala(晚会). Many of these dancers cannot hear or speak, but their performances are wonderful.

The leading dancer is a beautiful young woman, Tai Lihua, who was born healthy  but lost her hearing when she was two years old because of a fever. Not long after that, she also became mute and, from then on, her world was silent. She did not realize this at first, but when she was five, she played a game about sounds with her school friends and discovered she was different. She felt very sad. Her father went to many places looking for treatments for her disabilities, but nothing worked.

    When she was seven years old, Tai Lihua went to a school for deaf and mute children, where she did very well in her studies. Her teacher said she used her brain more than other children and was very good at expressing her feelings through movements.

Then when she was fifteen, she started learning to dance. At first, she found it difficult but she didn’t give up. She spent a lot of time practicing and became a brilliant dancer. In the last few years, she has performed in many countries and is much admired by foreign audience. Dancing has changed her life and brought her world wide success and fame.

1.Which of the following is expressed in the passage?

A．Where there is life, there is hope.

B．No one is too old to learn.

C．Where there is a will, there is a way.

D．The early bird catches the worm.

2.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ brilliant”?

A．very gentle        B．very beautiful      C．very talkative       D．very successful

3.We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．Tai Lihua was born healthy.

B．Tai Lihua isn't successful now.

C．Tai Lihua’s parents didn’t take good care of her.

D．Tai Lihua had a natural ability to dance very well.

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

A．A disabled girl.

B．A dancer in a silent world.

C．A beautiful dancer.

D．Dance performance in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

 

      One day an ordinary dog appeared in the ticket office at Campiglia, a busy railroad station on Italy's main line. A ticket agent named Elvio greeted the strange dog in a friendly way, so the dog decided to stay. From that day on, the dog became Elvio's shadow and was named Lampo.

      Lampo kept Elvio Company (陪伴) inside the ticket office. When the weather was warm, he would enjoy himself in the sun on the train platform. When it came time for Elvio to return home on the train at night, Lampo ran after the train for a long way and then sadly gave up and went back to the station.

      One night as Elvio was riding home on the train, he noticed that Lampo was lying at his feet. Afraid that the conductor would see the dog on the train and shout at him, Elvio pushed Lampo under a seat. Luckily, the conductor did not notice the dog. Lampo came home with Elvio and met his family. Then, after a short visit, Lampo boarded the last train and went back to the station. Lampo quickly learned all of the train schedules (时刻表). He would ride home from work with Elvio every night and then ride back to the station alone. Every morning, Lampo arrived at Elvio's house in time to walk his young daughter, Mivna, to school. The faithful dog would then take another train to travel again to accompany Mivna home from school at 11:30.

      Soon, Lampo began to take the train all over Italy. Lampo became famous among the men who worked on the railroad, as his journeys became more frequent, complicated and mysterious. No one could explain why he traveled or how he always found the right train back to Campiglia. People decided that Lampo was a unique dog.

     Some of the railroad officials were against Lampo's illegal travels. They were afraid he would bite a passenger or cause some other problems. Finally, the stationmaster threatened to call the dogcatcher if Elvio didn't get rid of the dog.

       Elvio decided to put Lampo on a train going as far away as possible. Months went by and Lampo did not come back. Mivna missed him very much and prayed for his return. Finally one day, a sad, very thin, tired Lampo returned to Elvio's office. Everyone, even the stationmaster, was sorry about what had happened. From then on, Lampo was allowed to ride the trains whenever he wanted. After seven years, Lampo grew old, and he began to need Elvio's help to board the train.

      One day Lampo was seen lying dead on the tracks. A year later, a life sized statue of Lampo was set up at Campiglia station.

66. The first time Lampo took the train, Elvio was ______.

 A. delighted that he was lucky                                

 B. afraid the dog would bite someone

 C. afraid the conductor would see him and be angry

 D. excited that Lampo would soon meet his family

67. Lampo's traveling all over Italy caused people to believe that _______.

 A. he could read the train schedules                             B. he was famous in the country

 C. Elvio secretly helped him                                   D. he was a very special dog

68. The stationmaster threatened that if Elvio didn't get rid of the dog, _______.

 A. Elvio would be fired                                          B. Lampo would be put on the train tracks

 C. the stationmaster would send him away         D. a dogcatcher would be called

69. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the story?

 A. The dog was once sent away by Elvio.

 B. The dog finally won the stationmaster's heart.

 C. The dog was faithful to his master.

 D. The dog died when he was seven years old.

70. The author suggests that a statue of Lampo was set up because _______.   

 A. the stationmaster felt sorry about what had happened

 B. he had been a friend to travelers

 C. it would bring good luck to the town

 D. Elvio offered money to set up the statue

I keep a two dollar bill in my wallet that was given to me by my mother when I was six years old.

The  31  goes with me wherever I go. My mother gave it to me so that  32  would follow me. She looked at me and said, “I want you to carry this two dollar bill for extra good luck.”

“Thanks, mom,” I replied, “I will keep it  33  to me always.”

My mother passed away when I was seven years old. I remember I took out my two dollar bill and held it in my hand for the longest time, knowing that she would  34  me the rest of my life.

Each time I felt I had a crisis, I would  35  for my two dollar bill and set it on the table. I would  36  at it for several hours and could always  37  a solution. When I applied for my first job, I was thirty years old and very shy. The thought of being interviewed for a job was  38  but I had to work. I saw one of the interviewers well dressed with  39  purse and shoes. I also knew the chance of being chosen was  40  when looking at the length of others’ resumes.

“What makes you feel you are  41  for this job?” The well－dressed woman asked. “I really need this job and there is nothing I can not do” I responded. She then asked me a series of questions and the interview was over. As I left, I  42  and said “Please give me a chance. I learn quickly and can be a very  43  member of your team.”

I went home,  44 . That evening I received a phone call. “Gina” she said, “we decided to give you a chance to  45  yourself.” “Thank you, you will not regret this decision.” I  46  the phone and yelled. At that instant, I remember my mom once said to us “You are  47  in my mind. Don’t  48  failure. It is a way to get us to try harder.”

How  49  this gift from Mom! It had built up  50  in me.

1.                A．money         B．check          C．bill  D．paper

 

2.                A．luck           B．happiness       C．wealth   D．wisdom

 

3.                A．close          B．near           C．hard D．firm

 

4.                A．look out for     B．watch over      C．see to    D．come across

 

5.                A．get            B．stretch         C．hold D．reach

 

6.                A．stare           B．glance          C．observe  D．glare

 

7.                A．come up with    B．put forward      C．set up    D．pull through

 

8.                A．exciting        B．amazing         C．nervous  D．scary

 

9.                A．suitable        B．matching        C．fancy D．exaggerating（夸张的）

 

10.               A．slim           B．terrible         C．few  D．abundant

 

11.               A．born           B．qualified        C．stable D．grateful

 

12.               A．turned around   B．turned back     C．put up D．raise up

 

13.               A．productive      B．additional       C．concise（简洁）    D．effective

 

14.               A．terrified        B．exhausted      C．sound D．cautious

 

15.               A．test           B．challenge       C．prove D．strengthen

 

16.               A．hung up        B．got through     C．set aside   D．got off

 

17.               A．brilliant        B．awesome       C．careful    D．unbelievable

 

18.               A．stand          B．bend          C．fear  D．ruin

 

19.               A．rare           B．special         C．relative   D．primary

 

20.               A．confidence      B．perseverance    C．model D．intelligence

 

 

Here is an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV`s Spring Festival Gala. Liu`s magic tricks have made the centuries-old art of magic fashionable (时髦的)once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.

         As a seasoned (老练的) young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.

         Witnessing (目击)something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people`s love for magic.

         Liu is known for his interaction(互动) with his audiences. He has a special understanding of performing skills.

         “It is actually thinking , rather than one`s performing skills, that is more important to achieve a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively，to make them appear more attractive.” Liu said.

         Liu Qian`s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan`s Youth Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.

         Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur (业余的) magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent (体面的) job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.

         To improve his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for passers-by, policemen and farmers.

         “Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough(难对付的) crowds.” Liu said.

63.The story is about _________.

how Liu Qian became China`s hottest magician

why people love magic

what magic tricks are

what fashionable magic is

64. People love to watch magic because __________.

they can`t figure out the secret of magic

it arouses their curiosity

they love watching magicians make the impossible happen

it is a centuries-old art

65. Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?

He was interested in magic when he was little

He had won Taiwan`s Youth Magic Contest

He became an amateur magician in his spare time

He couldn`t find a decent job after graduation

66. From the story, we know that________.

      A. Liu Qian competed in many magic competitions

B. Liu Qian often invites audiences to be in his magic shows

C. Liu Qian performs on streets in order to increase his fame 

D. Liu Qian does street shows to make money