We always want to prepare ourselves to the changes we may face when we go to a different country. Well, I have to say that for me, even after living in the US for one year and a half, I am still not used to the changes of weather, or how to manage my money well. There are many things that can give us culture shocks, but it is up to us whether to make it a big shock or a small one.
I know that changing schools was a big thing for me. It helped me to be stronger and open towards meeting new people.  Sometimes it feels like everybody is already in a group. This makes it harder for someone else to go in. But, it is not that hard. Actually many people know that you are from another country. They feel curious about your “history”, and would often think you are a different man.
Another thing that can produce a shock to me is the sudden change of weather. During the last couple of days, there was an ice-snow storm. It was the biggest in 15 years in the state of Missouri. It was raining ice, really, and you could hear sounds outside the window like little pieces of rocks hitting it, of course it was the ice. It started accumulating so heavily that the University had to close down for two days, and it got worse when it started snowing after the ice storm.
As international students, you may at times find something very difficult, but hey, anyone can beat and overcome it to make studying aboard an unforgettable experience.
【小题1】The author has been in the US for          .

完形填空（共12分，每小题1分）
阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选项。
Haircuts from the Heart

Even though Rebecca didn't enjoy having long hair, still, month after month for two and a half years, Rebecca let her hair grow until it nearly reached her waist. At the right time,  1   would donate（捐献）her beautiful hair to a group in Palm Springs, Florida called Locks of Love.
Locks of Love is a special   2  called a charity(慈善机构). The members of this group work to help others in need.   3  the healthy cut hair that Rebecca sends them, they will have a wig(假发) made for a child who needs it. Children who need wigs are those who   4   all their hair because of illness or as a side effect from certain medicines they have to   5  . Rebecca's hair will be used to help replace the   6   that another child has lost. It will also replace some of the bad feelings that child may have from not having hair.
The day finally came to cut her long hair. Rebecca had chosen a beauty  7   in her city that gave to the Locks of Love program. The hairstylist who worked there took the time to make sure Rebecca's hair was cut and packaged properly .
First the hairstylist made sure that Rebecca's hair was clean, dry, and not damaged by chemicals. The hairstylist also made sure that the cut hair would be at least ten inches long. Then he cut Rebecca's hair. Rebecca had   8   to have her cut hair bundled into a ponytail（绑成马尾辫）. She took great   9   in placing the cut ponytail into a plastic bag and then an envelope to be mailed to Locks of Love. Finally as her reward, Rebecca's   10   hair was styled.
Now with short hair, Rebecca made another important decision. She decided to let it grow long again. 11   she will give it to Locks of Love. Judging from last time, she   12  it will take about three years. Even though Rebecca no longer has long hair, she certainly has a big heart.

Wang Yani was born in 1975. Even as a baby she loved to draw. Her father was an  1 .Yani wanted to be like him. So she tried to stand like her father as she painted, which made him laugh.
One day, Yani painted lines on her faher’s painting. He got  2 . At the time she was only two and a half years old. She cried and said, “I want to    like you!” Her father looked at her without saying anything. He   4  remembered his childhood(童年). He also wanted to draw and paint, but his parents didn’t understand. They just got angry. He didn’t want to see the same thing happen to his daughter. So he decided to    5  her.
With her father’s help, Yani soon   6  . Her lines became flowers, trees, and animals. Her father took her to parks and zoos to get   7  for her paintings. By the end of six, Yani had made over 4,000 works. Her paintings were very special. People  8  her works. When she was eight, one of her paintings was made into a Chinese postage stamp.
Yani became famous when she was young. Her works were 9  in different countries in Asia, Europe and North America,  10  her parents never sold her paintings. She is well-known in the world, and art is still a great joy in her life..

完形填空（共12分，每小题1分）

阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选项。

Haircuts from the Heart

Even though Rebecca didn't enjoy having long hair, still, month after month for two and a half years, Rebecca let her hair grow until it nearly reached her waist. At the right time,  1   would donate（捐献）her beautiful hair to a group in Palm Springs, Florida called Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a special   2  called a charity(慈善机构). The members of this group work to help others in need.   3  the healthy cut hair that Rebecca sends them, they will have a wig(假发) made for a child who needs it. Children who need wigs are those who   4   all their hair because of illness or as a side effect from certain medicines they have to   5  . Rebecca's hair will be used to help replace the   6   that another child has lost. It will also replace some of the bad feelings that child may have from not having hair.

The day finally came to cut her long hair. Rebecca had chosen a beauty  7   in her city that gave to the Locks of Love program. The hairstylist who worked there took the time to make sure Rebecca's hair was cut and packaged properly .

First the hairstylist made sure that Rebecca's hair was clean, dry, and not damaged by chemicals. The hairstylist also made sure that the cut hair would be at least ten inches long. Then he cut Rebecca's hair. Rebecca had   8   to have her cut hair bundled into a ponytail（绑成马尾辫）. She took great   9   in placing the cut ponytail into a plastic bag and then an envelope to be mailed to Locks of Love. Finally as her reward, Rebecca's   10   hair was styled.

Now with short hair, Rebecca made another important decision. She decided to let it grow long again. 11   she will give it to Locks of Love. Judging from last time, she   12  it will take about three years. Even though Rebecca no longer has long hair, she certainly has a big heart.

1.                A．it             B．she            C．he   D．you

2.                                  A．organization B．invitation

C．discussion                        D．conversation

3.                A．Keeping        B．Buying          C．Using D．Holding

4.                A．cut            B．mail            C．style D．lose

5.                A．take           B．meet           C．drink D．show

6.                A．medicine       B．time           C．chance   D．hair

7.                A．shop           B．bank           C．office    D．school

8.                A．forgotten       B．prepared       C．chosen   D．accepted

9.                A．care           B．pride           C．interest   D．effort

10.               A．long           B．clean          C．short D．dry

11.               A．Again          B．Never          C．Perhaps   D．Clearly

12.               A．expected       B．realized        C．reminded  D．p redicted

Victor worked in this city for             .

         A. two year and a half            B. two and a half year 

C. two years and half             D. two and a half years