“It’s 8:15 on a Sunday morning,” said the officer, Tidwell, “and this sort of thing seems an unlikely adventure(冒险) at such a time. Would you mind explaining?”

   The man was astonished(吃惊的) at the voice from behind. He turned about and said, “I know what you’re thinking, officer, but it isn’t true. It’s a very funny mistake.”

   “I think you’ve just left this house in a manner rather than the usual one. That may be quite all right, but I’d like to make sure.” Tidwell took out his notebook and a pen. “Name, address and occupation and then, please tell me your story.”

    “Charlie Crane, lorry(卡车) driver, from Nottingham, 51 Brecon Street. My story?”

    “Yes, What were you doing like a fly on that wall, Mr. Crane?”

    “Well, I had a breakdown yesterday and had to stay the night here. The landlady’s name is Mrs. Fern. She gave me breakfast at seven, and I was out of here in the right way and down at the lorry park by half past seven. It was only when I felt around for a cigarette that I realized I’d left $80 under the pillow(枕头) here. It’s a habit I’ve got into. I even do it almost every day.”

    “I see. Why didn’t you miss it when you meant to pay Mrs.? What’s her name?”

    “I paid her last night. You’ve got to pay when you take the room, see? So I came rushing back, but it’s Sunday, and she’d gone back to bed. I rang the bell and banged on the front door for ten minutes before I came round here. Up I went this pipe(管子) and the money was still there. You know the rest, and I hope you believe it because….”

   “Mr. Crane, whatever are you doing here? I thought you’d gone an hour ago.” It was Mrs. Fern.

1. What did Tidwell see?

A. He saw a man going to a park in a hurry 

B. He saw a man bringing a pipe out, through a window.

C. He saw a man leaving a house         

D. He saw a man trying to go up a pipe

2.When Mr. Crane was at home, he         .

A. kept his cigarettes under his pillow at night  

B. always carried his money about him at night

C. tried to give up the habit of smoking       

D. put his money under his pillow at night

3.What do you think happened in the end?

A. Mrs. Fern found the $80 in the house     

B. Tidwell took Mr. Crane to the police station

C. Mrs. Fern said sorry to Mr. Crane        

D. Mr. Crane was let go

It was a hot summer day. My dad and I were getting ready to go out for a ride on the boat. Just then the phone call came, the call changed that sunny and beautiful day into a cold and dark one.

When I saw my father answering the phone, he was crying. I’d never seen my dad cry before. My heart sank. What possibly could happen?

“Max, I’m so sorry,” I heard him say. That’s when it hit me. I knew that Suzie had died.

Max has been my dad’s best friend for years. Suzie, his daughter, had a serious illness. She knew she was different from other kids. Although she couldn’t live a normal life, she was still happy.

When Suzie and I were little girls, we spent quite a bit of time together. When Suzie was ten, she had to live in a hospital. About eight months before she died, we talked at least twice a week on the phone until the end. Suzie was always so excited to talk to me and wanted to know everything I did and every thing I ate.

When Suzie and I first started calling each other, I thought it would be more of a burden on me, but I was completely wrong. I learned so much from her. She gave me more than I could ever give her. I will never forget her or the talks we had. I now know that I must never take anything for granted, especially my health and the gift of life.

1.That phone call on a summer day made the author very _________.

A. sad              B. dark             C. cold              D. disappointed

2.Which of the following is Not true?

A. The author’s day had never cried before.

B. Max was the best friend of the author’s dad.

C. Suzie was in bad health, so she was always unhappy.

D. Suzie enjoyed talking to the author on the phone.

3.The underlined word “it” probably refers to _________.

A. all the talks between Suzie and the author on the phone

B. Suzie’s serious illness

C. Suzie’s death

D. the first talk between Suzie and the author on the phone

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A. The Gift of Life                                                B. A Cold Dark Day

C. Suzie’s Death                                                  D. My Friend Suzie

A true friend is always helpful. I didn’t believe it   36  one thing happened to me when I was in Grade 7.

Li Jie was one of my classmates. He and I were also neighbours. He always listened to his mother   37  I didn’t like listening to my mother. I didn’t think it was necessary for  38  to teach me anything. Li Jie knew all about that but he said   39  to me.

One weekend, Li Jie invited me to watch a film. I liked films very much so I went to the   40  with him happily. The film was about the love between a   41  and her son. After watching it, I began to know how great the love of the mother was. I felt   42  that I didn’t listen to my mother before. I decided to think more about my mother than about   43 . After I told that to him, Li Jie smiled and said, “It’s really necessary for you to watch such a film. That was a good choice (选择) for both you and me.”

Suddenly, I knew   44  he invited me to watch the film. Just at that time, I knew a true friend is always   45 .