My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. In this way he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.

One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and asked God for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”

I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up（哽咽）and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands. ” For a moment there was silence on the other and of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.

　　Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he was even on the list of the best students at school. In his fourth year, I attended a parent –– teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were surprised at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”

1.Which of the following has the similar meaning as the underlined word “withdrawn” in the  first paragraph?

2.There was silence on the other end of the line because _ _________.

3.Who was it that telephoned Karl’s mother that day?

4.From the passage we can learn that _____________.

When kids at Archisha Singh’s school in Loudoun County have a birthday, no parents buy them birthday cakes.

Some schools are worried that children might become fat or eat unhealthy food, so they have banned(禁止) cupcakes altogether.

What do kids do? Birthday kids can donate a book. The headmaster of their school will then read it to their class. The headmaster also hands out birthday certificates(证书), special pencils, and makes sure the kids’ names are read out in the school’s morning news.

Parents can send stickers(贴纸), pencils and other things to students. None of the things can be food. If a child donates jump ropes or other sports equipment, that child may get his or her name on a certificate. It will then be displayed at school.

Archisha really misses cupcakes, especially those her mother used to make for her kindergarten class, but her school’s way is fun, too. “I like both ways,” she said.

The headmaster says it’s important that the school should be not only teaching, but offering healthy choices to kids. “There is a better life without cupcakes. If you eat a cupcake, then it’s gone in two seconds, but a book lasts a lifetime. The sports equipment lasts, and the kids can use it day after day.”

1.Some schools have banned cupcakes because ________.

       A. they don’t like them                

B. they are not delicious

       C. they are unhealthy food              

D. they are too expensive

2.What do birthday kids do?

       A. They can borrow a book.              

B. They get birthday certificates.

       C. They get special pens.                   

D. They eat birthday cakes.

3.Which can not be sent to students?

       A. Stickers.     B. Sweets.      C. Pencils.     D. Books.

4.The headmaster thinks the school should ________.

       A. offer healthy choices to kids        

B. offer a better life to kids

       C. teach students how to be healthy         

D. give kids sports equipment

My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. In this way he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and asked God for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”
I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up（哽咽）and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands. ” For a moment there was silence on the other and of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.
　　Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he was even on the list of the best students at school. In his fourth year, I attended a parent –– teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were surprised at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”
【小题1】Which of the following has the similar meaning as the underlined word “withdrawn” in the  first paragraph?

When kids at Archisha Singh’s school in Loudoun County have a birthday, no parents buy them birthday cakes.
Some schools are worried that children might become fat or eat unhealthy food, so they have banned(禁止) cupcakes altogether.
What do kids do? Birthday kids can donate a book. The headmaster of their school will then read it to their class. The headmaster also hands out birthday certificates(证书), special pencils, and makes sure the kids’ names are read out in the school’s morning news.
Parents can send stickers(贴纸), pencils and other things to students. None of the things can be food. If a child donates jump ropes or other sports equipment, that child may get his or her name on a certificate. It will then be displayed at school.
Archisha really misses cupcakes, especially those her mother used to make for her kindergarten class, but her school’s way is fun, too. “I like both ways,” she said.
The headmaster says it’s important that the school should be not only teaching, but offering healthy choices to kids. “There is a better life without cupcakes. If you eat a cupcake, then it’s gone in two seconds, but a book lasts a lifetime. The sports equipment lasts, and the kids can use it day after day.”
【小题1】Some schools have banned cupcakes because ________.