When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying: “We have to go to work now,” you’re left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools, and that the “work” they go off to is to go on the stage in a theatre.

　　Stage schools often act as agencies（代理机构）to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with a training for the theatre and a general education.

　　A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn’t settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?

　Then of course there are times for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year; those over 13 to 80 days.

　The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don’t make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case.

　People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they’re talking to________.

　　  A. attend a stage school　　　　  B. are going to the theatre

　　  C. have got some work to do 　　  D. love singing and dancing

　　 In the writer’s opinion, a good stage school should ________.

　　  A. produce star performers

　　  B. help pupils improve their study skills

　　  C. train pupils in language and performing arts

　　  D. provide a general education and stage training.

　“Professional work” as used in the text means ________.

　　  A. ordinary school work　　　　　  B. money-making performances

　　  C. stage training at school 　 　  D. acting, singing or dancing after class

　 Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools?

　　  A. He thinks highly of what they have to offer.　　　　

　　  B. He favours an early start in the training of performing arts.

　　  C. He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows.

　　  D. He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached.

第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36～55题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

Two friends visited the zoo together. The zoo was very large and it was 36 to go everywhere. They had to decide where and which animal to visit as their time was 37. So both of them agreed not to 38 after choosing a 39 at every fork (岔路口).

A road sign at the first fork 40 one way to the lion quarters and the other to the tiger hill. They decided on the 41 after a 42 discussion because lions were “the king of the grassland”. The second showed a division (路口) going separately to the panda and peacock. They 43 panda as it was the nation’s treasure and went its way. Thus they made choices all along the way and each choice meant 44  what they couldn’t help regretting. But they had to make it, and  45 , for it brooked(容忍) no delay. If they hesitated they would miss 46  . Only 47 decision could offer more chances for sightseeing and 48  possible regret.

Life is 49 like this—choices often occur that one has to make, for example, between two 50  jobs, two fascinating wooers(追求者). To get one you 51 give up the other——you can get half of it. If you 52 weighing the pros and cons and calculating gains and losses, you will most likely 53 empty-handedness. Don’t be sad about it.  54 you have got half of the desirable things in life——something that is  55 to come by.

36. A. easy               B. eager　　　       C. impossible       D. possible

37. A. enough　　　       B. limited　　 C. tight             D. plentiful

38. A. retrace          B. come　　　       C. go　　　　　    D. go back

39. A. main road　          B. branch　　         C. crossing　　　   D. highway

40. A. showed　　　      B. pointed　　         C. intended　　　  D. made

41. A. former　　　        B. later　　　     C. last                D. the third

42. A. brief　　　           B. long　　　         C. no　　　　　    D. heated

43. A. hoped　　　        B. wanted　　       C. favored             D. got

44. A. getting          B. taking　　          C. grasping           D. giving up

45. A. slowly　　　         B. immediately      C. timely　　      D. easily

46. A. less　　　　         B. more　　　       C. most　　　　  D. least

47. A. high　　　　        B. slow　　　        C. short　　　　  D. rapid

48. A. increase　　             B. rid　　　　         C. reduce　          D. raise

49. A. just exactly        B. more or less         C. hardly           D. most

50. A. unwanted　　      B. rejected　       C. enjoyable          D. desirable

51. A. wish　　　　       B. want　　　       C. must　　　　　 D. have to

52. A. spend time　　    B. kill time            C. have a hard time  D. hope for

53. A. start with　      B. get up　　          C. succeed in　　   D. end up in

54. A. By no means       B. Not in the least   C. At most              D. At least

55. A. stupid　　　         B. delighted　     C. hard               D. supported

Driving Offence Points System

What is Driving Offence Points System?

After the introduction of this system, certain traffic offences will earn the driver points besides other punishment. If a driver makes any of these offences, the points will be recorded. When the driver gets a certain number of points, he will be forbidden to drive for a certain amount of time.   

What are the purposes of this system?

This is a system designed to make road much safer. It can improve standards of driving and reduce the accident rates.

Which traffic offences will result in Driving Offence points?

Of course, not all traffic offences are covered by this system. Only those that have direct effect on road safety are included. There are altogether fourteen items.

What will happen if you have got up to 10 points?

If you have got 10 points or above, but still less 15 points, you will receive a warning letter from the Transport Department. This letter will tell your record of Driving Offence Points and remind you of the result of getting more points. It is hoped that this warning will change your driving behavior for the better.

What will happen if you have got 15 points?

If you have got 15 points or more within two years, a court will take away your driving license. The first time you are found guilty you will not be able to drive for three months, but if you are caught a second time you will not be able to drive for six months.

The underlined word “Offence”（paragraph 1）refers to ________.

       A. a driving habit              B. an official of road safety

       C. bad behavior in the office D. an action against the traffic law

The Driving Offence Points __________.

       A. is a system that helps to improve the driving standards

       B. are points earned because of dangerous driving

       C. shows traffic offences of different kinds

       D. is a guide dealing with traffic offences

What will happen to you if you have got 13 points?

       A. You will be punished for the points.

       B. Your driving license will be taken away.

       C. Your record will be sent to the Transport Department.

       D. You will get a warning letter from the Transport Department.

What will happen to you if you are caught driving dangerously and two months later you are caught driving after drinking?

       A. Your license will be taken away.

       B. You will be taken to the police station.

C. You will not be able to drive for 3 months.

       D. You will not be able to drive for 6 months.　

C
　　Several years ago I worked in an office, which I had a locust tree growing outside the window. It had grown into a tall tree and must have been there for a long time. The tree blocked the view and made the office seem dull, unfortunately this happened to be the room assigned to me and I was depressed by it for quite some time.
　　When the first spring came, everything was green except the locust tree. Secretly, I was very happy because I had thought it had died.
　　One morning when I opened the window for fresh air, I unexpectedly smelt a familiar sweet scent floating into my office but I couldn’t name it. Suddenly, I realized it was the locust tree! The tree that I thought dead was blossoming in full glory.
　　From then on, I usually came to the office very early to see dew forming on the locust tree blossoms and every year was eager to see spring again.
　　During summer, the green leaves provided shade protecting me from the harsh sunlight, but allowing enough light in to make it pleasant. In autumn, the leaves turned into many different colors. Its beauty touched my soul. Many times I thought to take photos but never did. Then I had to leave in a hurry. Later in life it became a great regret that I had not done so.
　　Actually, many times in our lives, we think we own something, therefore we don’t cherish it. We don’t feel regretful until we lose it one day! Moreover, sometimes, we have to accept the things we don’t want and need to discover the hidden beauty to find unexpected joy!
59．The author of the passage employed a writing way ________.
A．of holding and releasing            B．that released first, then held
C．that held first, then released         D．that was not holding or releasing
60．What the author wanted to tell us is that ________.
A．not being delighted for what you have got and not feeling pity on the lost
B．think twice before you leap
C．treat everything calmly
D．cherish what you’ve owned
61．The reason the author came to the office early is ________.
A．to enjoy the dew                 B．to finish her work early
C．to do some cleaning              D．to avoid the burning sun
62．The underlined word “so” in the fifth paragraph perhaps refers to ________.
A．that I couldn’t see the tree any longer    B．that I should have taken some photos
C．that I had to leave                   D．that the tree died

C

　　Several years ago I worked in an office, which I had a locust tree growing outside the window. It had grown into a tall tree and must have been there for a long time. The tree blocked the view and made the office seem dull, unfortunately this happened to be the room assigned to me and I was depressed by it for quite some time.

　　When the first spring came, everything was green except the locust tree. Secretly, I was very happy because I had thought it had died.

　　One morning when I opened the window for fresh air, I unexpectedly smelt a familiar sweet scent floating into my office but I couldn’t name it. Suddenly, I realized it was the locust tree! The tree that I thought dead was blossoming in full glory.

　　From then on, I usually came to the office very early to see dew forming on the locust tree blossoms and every year was eager to see spring again.

　　During summer, the green leaves provided shade protecting me from the harsh sunlight, but allowing enough light in to make it pleasant. In autumn, the leaves turned into many different colors. Its beauty touched my soul. Many times I thought to take photos but never did. Then I had to leave in a hurry. Later in life it became a great regret that I had not done so.

　　Actually, many times in our lives, we think we own something, therefore we don’t cherish it. We don’t feel regretful until we lose it one day! Moreover, sometimes, we have to accept the things we don’t want and need to discover the hidden beauty to find unexpected joy!

59．The author of the passage employed a writing way ________.

A．of holding and releasing            B．that released first, then held

C．that held first, then released         D．that was not holding or releasing

60．What the author wanted to tell us is that ________.

A．not being delighted for what you have got and not feeling pity on the lost

B．think twice before you leap

C．treat everything calmly

D．cherish what you’ve owned

61．The reason the author came to the office early is ________.

A．to enjoy the dew                 B．to finish her work early

C．to do some cleaning              D．to avoid the burning sun

62．The underlined word “so” in the fifth paragraph perhaps refers to ________.

A．that I couldn’t see the tree any longer    B．that I should have taken some photos

C．that I had to leave                   D．that the tree died