Frank was clever, but he never liked to work hard. He often said to his friends, “If you work hard, you will make a lot of money, but it is not so good. I want easy work and a lot of money. That’s the most interesting thing in the world.”So he could only be a thief. But he still thought it was too much work, so he only told his friends what to do and got money from them.
One day, Frank sent one of his friends to a very large and beautiful house. He told him to get money from that rich family. It was evening, and a man and a girl were in the room. They were playing a duet（二重奏）on a piano. Then the thief came into the house.
When he returned, Frank asked him what he had got. But he said, “I didn’t take anything. That family can’t have much money. You know, two people were playing on the same piano there. They did not have money to buy another piano.”
【小题1】Which is the best title for the passage?

It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves dancing in the cool wind. I felt lonely and life is uninteresting. But one day, the sound of a violin came into my ears. I was so surprised that I ran out to see where it was from. A young girl, standing in the wind, was lost in playing her violin.

I had never seen her before. The music was so wonderful that I forgot who I was.

Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the same place and I was the only listener. It seemed that I no longer felt lonely and life became interesting. We didn't know each other, but I thought we were already good friends.

One day, when I was listening, the sound suddenly stopped. The girl came over to me.

"You must like violin." she said.

"Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?" I asked.

Suddenly, a sad expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.

"I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It is your listening every day that has encouraged me." she said.

"In fact, it is your music that has given me those meaningful days." I answered. "Let us be friends."

The girl smiled and I smiled.

I never heard her play again in my life. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the girl. She is like a dream; so short, so bright that it makes life beautiful.

There are many kinds of friends. Some are always with you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but are close to you. I shall always think of those golden days and the girl with the violin. She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.

1.The story happened _________.

A．in a park          B．in a lonely place     C．in winter          D．in autumn

2.The writer's life was _________ because of the girl.

A．boring            B．colourful          C．unhappy          D．sad

3.The underlined word "encourage" means _________ in Chinese.

A．挫败             B．启发             C．鼓励             D．怂恿

4.What's the best title for the passage?

A．A Musical Girl                          B．Wonderful Music

C．A Special Friend in a Special Autumn         D．How to Be Friends

“I’ve been writing a book, John. Do you think anyone would be interested in   1   it?” said the old lady.
John took over the papers from her shaking hand and seated her in chair. He remembered her rich    2   in the early days of the Old West. He looked through the papers. “It’s good, Grandma,” he said gently. Then realizing that she    3   hear him, he shouted into her ears, “I think it’s very good. I’ll  4   it to a publisher (出版商).”
Ten days later, he reported that the publisher had had time to read only a few    5  . But he was so impressed (给...留下深刻的好印象) that he had sent $ 100 for an option（版权）. More money would be given as an advance (预付款). Every month John    6   $100 for her with a letter from the publisher telling about the progress of the book.
One morning, three months after her 100^th birthday, Grandma didn’t get up. The doctor told her that she couldn’t    7   more than a few days. She was ready to go, but she first wanted her book to be in print. John promised that she could get it very soon.
Grandma held on until the day the book came into her hands with the title and her name on the cover. Though she couldn’t see it, she could touch it. She proudly traced（找到）her name with her fingers(手指), tears(眼泪) in her eyes. Two hours later, she died peacefully,    8   holding her book.
Her granddaughter took up the book and opened it. “Why, it’s just blank pages!” she cried in    9  . John’s face turned    10  . Then the girl understood. There never was a book. Grandma couldn’t hear the little bell when the typewriter came to the middle of the line. She would keep on working, not knowing the whole sentences and sometimes the paragraphs were missing. John did not tell her, for he couldn’t take away her only hope. It was John himself who had written the letters and sold his car to pay the advance.
(   ) 1. A. buying     B. publishing      C. reading         D. lending
(   ) 2. A. sufferings     B. experiences     C. thoughts        D. family
(   ) 3. A. couldn’t    B. needn’t          C. mustn’t             D. doesn’t
(   ) 4. A. throw      B. put             C. send            D. lift
(   ) 5. A. words      B. sentences         C. pages            D. books
(   ) 6. A. brought        B. took              C. gave             D. carried
(   ) 7. A. die            B. stay             C. last               D. sleep
(   ) 8. A. still           B. yet              C. always         D. then
(   ) 9. A. anger          B. joy             C. surprise        D. tears
(   ) 10. A. white         B. red             C. gray             D. pale