In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. A father rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.
After the shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: “No matter what happened, I’ll always be there for you!” And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his promise to his son.
Remembering his son’s classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging.
Other parents tried to pull him off the ruins, saying: “It’s too late! They’re all dead! You can’t help!” He replied, “Are you going to help me now?” The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school’s ruins saying, “Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You’re in danger. We’ll take care of it. Go home.” This loving, caring American father asked, “Are you going to help me now?”
The police came and said, “You’re, anxious and it’s over. Go home. We’ll handle it!” He replied, “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped.
Courageously he went on alone. He dug for eight hours...12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...then, in the 38th hour, he heard his son’s voice. He screamed his son’s name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad! It’s me, Dad! You promised no matter what happened, you would always be there for me! You did it, Dad!” “What’s going on in there? How is it?” the father asked.
“There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. ”
“Come out, boy!”
“No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, because I know you’ll get me! No matter what happens, I know you’ll always be there for me!”
【小题1】Why did the father keep digging?

A．Because he promised his wife he would take care of their son.

B．Because others persuaded him to do so.

C．Because he promised his son that he would be with him whatever happened.

D．Because his son was his only child.

【小题2】Many people came up and tried to persuade the father to stop digging except ______.

A．the police	B．the fire chief
C．some kind parents	D．the medical officer

【小题3】Which of the following best describes the son?

A．Calm, hopeful and strong-minded.

B．Careful, helpful and absent-minded.

C．Frightened, hopeless and thankful.

D．Cold-hearted, honest and faithful.

【小题4】What does the underlined word “they” in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A．those parents	B． the students
C．the teachers	D．The fire officers

【小题5】We can learn from the passage that ______.

A．sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand

B．you cannot go on well in life until you forget your past failures

C．love can set us free from all fear and overcome the difficulties

D．we have enough happiness to make us sweet and enough sorrow to keep us human

— The young man is good at a lot of things but you can’t say he is ________ .

　　　　— I agree with you. Actually no one is.

　　A. wonderful　　　　　　　　　　 B. splendid

　　C. perfect　　　　　　　　　　　　D. complete

Little Robby, our neighbour’s nephew, carefully drew some water into a bowl and started for the door. How I hated this water rationing (定量供应). We were forced to bathe in the deep little pond we shared with Jessie, our cow. Wells were dry, and crops transformed to dust.

I watched Robby sitting down onto the steps to my house. Bees buzzed circling his hair, and he buzzed with them. I remembered his aunt’s words: I don’t know what I was thinking when I took him in. The crash killed my sister, and he wasn’t hurt, but he can’t talk. He’s in a world of all his own.

Why couldn’t she see the wonderful gifts this boy possessed? He was blessed with a loving nature and a deep admiration for all living things, and I knew he could talk to animals. My heart ached for Robby, who was to stay with us for the summer, and had already been the dearest part of our world, eagerly tending the garden with me and my husband, Tom.

On a string around Robby’s neck hung a whistle, in case he was ever lost or in danger. After all, he could not call out for help. But he knew perfectly well that the whistle was not a toy. Blowing on it would bring us both running. I had told him the story of the boy who cried wolf, and I knew he understood me.

I sighed as I cleared up the last supper dish. Every ounce of recycled water was saved for a tiny vegetable garden Robby had planted. Tom turned to me. “You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about...”

Before he could continue, a scream from the yard made us jump. My God! It’s Robby’s whistle! When we reached him, he was pointing excitedly to the sky. Looking up, we saw the most magnificent sight: Rain Clouds! “Robby! Quick! We need all the pots and pans!”

Robby raced with me to the house. A drop of water fell on my pot and then another. Soon the yard was enveloped in soaking, glorious rain. We all stood with faces held upward to feel the comfort of it. Tom picked up Robby and danced about the pots, shouting and whooping, “Rain for Robby!” Tom swung about to show me Robby’s face: he was laughing right out loud, “W-W-Wobby’s!” “Wobby’s … wain … Mom,” giggling（咯咯地笑）, and stretching out one tiny hand in the shape of a cup to catch the rain.

I hugged them both, tears of joy mixing with the rain.

1.The underlined phrase “the wonderful gifts” in the 3rd paragraph refers to Robby’s ______.

A．love for nature and all living things

B．kindness to help others around

C．independence since his childhood

D．readiness to accept what happened to him

2.It was because ______ that the author and her husband would run on hearing the whistle.

A．it was going to rain

B．Robby often surprised us with his whistle

C．something bad might happen to Robby.

D．Robby might find something special

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A．Robby was old enough, but still couldn’t speak.

B．Robby’s aunt regretted bringing Robby home.

C．Robby didn’t accept the author and Tom as his parents.

D．Robby happened to find the rain cloud and was terrified.

4.It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

A．we should show mercy for the disabled children

B．every child has his own talent however young he is

C．children from poor families take responsibilities earlier

D．children’s sensitive hearts are worthy to be taken care of

 

--- Have you heard that George quit his job?

---Yeah, but I can't             why he did so．

A．put out

B．figure out

C．carry out

D．send out

 

— The young man is good at a lot of things but you can’t say he is ________ .

　　　　— I agree with you. Actually no one is.

　　A. wonderful　　　　　　　　　　 B. splendid

　　C. perfect　　　　　　　　　　　　D. complete