If you are just starting to collect stamps, here is some advice for you to follow.

At the beginning, collect as many stamps as you can. The ones which you decide not to keep can be traded with other people. Never throw stamps away.

Don’t keep the envelope, unless it is unusual（与众不同）. However, do keep the envelope if it is the first date when that particular stamp is used. Some people are very interested in these “first day covers”.

Sooner or later you will decide that you want to collect a certain kind of stamps. It may be stamps from a particular country, or stamps of a particular kind, like stamps with a bird design on them, for example. This will make your collecting much more interesting. You can then look for new ones to add to your collection.

Do join group. There is a lot to learn about stamps and others can help you. Also it is great fun. You will soon learn which stamps other people are collecting and they will start to trade stamps with you, too.

Go to stamp sales and buy whatever you can afford. You can often pick up packs of used stamps very cheaply.

Old stamps that have not been used are usually more expensive than used stamps. Perhaps at the beginning you may only afford used stamps.

Sooner or later, you will find something unusual. It may even be valuable（有价值的，贵重的）. Finally, remember that stamp collecting is fun. It can be exciting to get stamps which you do not have yet. Also, many stamps have unusual and beautiful designs, so enjoy them!

1. What’s the first advice for you when you begin to collect stamp?

A. Throw away the ones you don’t need.

B. Only collect the stamps you need to keep.

C. Collect as many stamps as you can.

D. Only collect the stamps you want to trade with other people.

2. What should you do with the envelope?

A. Keep the envelope if it is unusual.

B. Throw away the envelope after you take off the stamp.

C. Keep the envelope every time.

D. Throw away the envelope before you take off the stamp.

3. What kind of stamps are usually more expensive?

A. Old ones.                      B. New ones.

C. Old ones that have not been used.   D. Old ones that have been used.

4. Which one is not the reason to join a group?

A. To enjoy great fun.

B. To learn something about stamps from other members.

C. To trade stamps with other members.

D. To learn how to make stamps from others.

 “BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声). It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I on the other side.

We were both in great anger. “Never set foot in this house again!” stormed father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.The street lights were shining, causing rather sad-feeling. I walked around aimlessly.

A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree.

But now … I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always put his opinions of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits(容许) it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.

I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.

I thought to myself: “Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?”

In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.      

All the lights were off except father’s.

Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any moments of regret. However, after an argument he has the habit of tucking me underneath the covers (掖被子) while I am sleeping.

This was how he always was．He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.

The light was still on. “Am I wrong?” I whispered, maybe… With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my face. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love—it’s second to none!

1.Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.

a. I opened the door and entered the house.

b. Sadly I ran out into the street.

c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.

d. I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.

e. I walked about in the street without any aim.

2.What made the writer think of his childhood?

3.What can we infer about the reason why the father often shouts at his son?

4.What conclusion（结论）can be drawn after reading the passage?

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

Is your schoolbag too heavy to carry? The e-schoolbag will help you. In fact, the e-schoolbag should perhaps be called an e-textbook. It is a small computer for students. Heavy schoolbags have been a serious problem for them for a long time. But the e-schoolbag will change everything.    
It is much lighter than a usual schoolbag. Also, it is as small as a usual textbook, an exercise book and so on. They can be made into chips that are as small as a stamp. The students can read the text page by page on the “screen”, take notes, or even send e-mails to their teachers. All they have to do is to put the right chip into the e-schoolbag and press the button.
It is said that e-schoolbags have been put into use in some Chinese middle schools. In 2012, some students in Shanghai started to use e-schoolbags in the new term. Some say that e-textbooks can be easily broken. Some say it is not good to students’ eyes. But only time will tell us all.
【小题1】An e-schoolbag is _____.

 “BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声). It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I on the other side.
We were both in great anger. “Never set foot in this house again!” stormed father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.The street lights were shining, causing rather sad-feeling. I walked around aimlessly.
A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree.
But now … I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always put his opinions of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits(容许) it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.
I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.
I thought to myself: “Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?”
In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.      
All the lights were off except father’s.
Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any moments of regret. However, after an argument he has the habit of tucking me underneath the covers (掖被子) while I am sleeping.
This was how he always was．He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.
The light was still on. “Am I wrong?” I whispered, maybe… With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my face. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love—it’s second to none!
【小题1】Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.
a. I opened the door and entered the house.
b. Sadly I ran out into the street.
c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.
d. I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.
e. I walked about in the street without any aim.