My grandfather came from Hungary and was the only one in his family who settled down in the United States. The rest of his family remained in Europe. When World War I broke out, he seemed to have become another man, downhearted. Such obvious change was not born out of concern for his welfare, but out of fear: if his only son, my uncle, had to go to war, it would be cousin fighting against cousin.  

One day in 1918, my Uncle Milton received his draft notice. My grandparents were very upset. But my mother, at the age of 10, felt on top of the world about her soldier brother going off to war. Realizing how he was regarded by his little sister and all of her friends, my uncle bought them all service pins, which meant that they had a loved one in the service. All the little girls were delighted.  

The moment came when my uncle and the other soldiers, without any training but all in uniforms, boarded the train. The band played and the crowd cheered. Although no one noticed. I’m sure my grandmother had a tear in her eye for the only son. The train slowly pulled out, but not about a thousand yards when it suddenly paused. Everyone stared in wonder as the train slowly returned to the station. There was a dead silence before the doors opened and the men started to step out. Someone shouted, “The war is over!” For a moment, nobody moved, but then the people heard someone bark orders at the soldiers. The men lined up in two lines, walked down the steps, and with the band playing, marched down the street, as returning heroes, to be welcomed home. My mother said it was a great day, but she was just a little disappointed that it didn’t last a tiny bit longer.  

51. What the grandfather was most worried about was ______.  

A. the spread of the world war                       B. the safety of his two cousins  

C. a drop in his living standards                      D. his relatives killing each other  

52. The underlined phrase “draft notice” means “______”.  

A. order for army service                               B. train ticket for Europe  

C. letter of rejection                                       D. note of warning  

53. What did the “service pins” （in Para. 2） stand for in the eyes of the little girls?  

A. Strength.               B. Courage.               C. Victory.                  D. Honor.  

54. Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?  

A. Disappointing.       B. Unexpected.           C. Uncertain.             D. Inspiring.  

While eating lunch with my 4-year-old daughter this afternoon at a fast food restaurant, I noticed an old man walking to the table with a stick. The manager kindly carried the food for him. During the meal I    36   the man tell a woman it was his    37  . So I    38   what I heard to my daughter. She loves it when people have birthdays. I told her it was OK for her to wish him a happy birthday. He    39   was spending this special day alone.
At first she was    40   and decided against it. As I was    41   our plates into the dustbin she turned to him and quietly    42   him a Happy  Birthday. I  could  tell  he  was    43   by the way he looked at her. I    44   behind her and gave him my own wishes. He was grateful.
   45   we walked away he called my daughter back and    46   her a brand-new gold $1 coin. She thanked him. But that wasn't enough for him. He    47   his pocket and at that I kindly told him that wasn't    48  . He ignored me and    49   out an envelope with about a dozen of a different kind of gold coins. He continued to give her another one  and  tell  her  how    50   it was and that  one  day  it  would  be  worth    51  .  He  then    52   me in the eye and wished me a good day.
What a kind man. I'm sure my  daughter    53   his  day. On  such  a  special  day,    54   can I take away his glory and    55   his offering of thanks?
Happy Birthday!

My grandfather came from Hungary and was the only one in his family who settled down in the United States. The rest of his family remained in Europe. When World War I broke out, he seemed to have become another man, downhearted. Such obvious change was not born out of concern for his welfare, but out of fear: if his only son, my uncle, had to go to war, it would be cousin fighting against cousin.

One day in 1918, my Uncle Milton received his draft notice. My grandparents were very upset. But my mother, at the age of 10, felt on top of the world about her soldier brother going off to war. Realizing how he was regarded by his little sister and all of her friends, my uncle bought them all service pins, which meant that they had a loved one in the service. All the little girls were delighted.

The moment came when my uncle and the other soldiers, without any training but all in uniforms, boarded the train. The band played and the crowd cheered. Although no one noticed, I’m sure my grandmother had a tear in her eye for the only son. The train slowly pulled out, but not about a thousand yards when it suddenly paused. Everyone stared in wonder as the train slowly returned to the station. There was a dead silence before the doors opened and the men started to step out. Someone shouted, “The war is over!” For a moment, nobody moved, but then the people heard someone bark orders at the soldiers. The men lined up in two lines, walked down the steps, and with the band playing, marched down the street, as returning heroes, to be welcomed home. My mother said it was a great day, but she was just a little disappointed that it didn’t last a tiny bit longer.

1.What the grandfather was most worried about was           .

   A. the spread of the world war           B. the safety of his two cousins

   C. a drop in his living standards          D. his relatives killing each other

2. The underlined phrase “draft notice” means “         “

   A. order for army service                B. train ticket for Europe

   C. letter of rejection                D. note of warning

3.What did the “service pins” (in Para.2) stand for in the eyes of the little girls?

   A. Strength.       B. Courage.        C. Victory.         D. Honor.

4.Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?

A. Disappointing.   B. Unexpected.      C. Uncertain.       D. Inspiring.

When I was growing up, I always gave my mom an apron （围裙）on her birthday．I wanted my own mom —   21  that apron I'd just given her, of course —to   22  me at the end of each afternoon bearing a plate of home-baked   23  as she waited breathlessly to hear about my   24  day at school．
Mom loved her family without question, but as an elementary-school teacher she had her own exciting days to   25   .She had hardly any extra time and   26 , and home-baked treats were rare in our house except   27  very special occasions．Since Mom didn't make cookies very often, the   28  of her baking were not always the same．Sometimes the cookies were browned a little more than planned or   29  together and other times the cookies weren't smooth．  30 , none of that bothered anyone in the family．All we   31  was swallowing whatever we were having for dinner that night so we could get to the cookies   32  us on the kitchen counter．
Now that I'm a mom myself, I can   33  all too well why my mother didn't always have the time to wear the apron．As was true with my mother, the list of things I need to do is often   34 than the day itself．But I also understand the desire to   35  the same yellow mixing bowl my mother used and make something special for my family every so often．Whatever I bake is met with approval, appreciation and good   36  by my husband and children．At some level, I believe they're   37  that I was thinking about them as I   38  the brown sugar into the butter or frosted the cake with their favorite kind of icing．They always know I love them．I  39  they know it a little better when I'm in a baking mood．
I'm sure my mother felt   40  the same way whenever she made cookies for us．Those cookies will always, in my mind, be the best treat．

完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

When I was 14, I was hired for an after-school job selling subscriptions (征订，订阅) to my hometown paper, the Houston Post. I was sent to some of the city’s worst neighborhoods to “beg” door-to-door. Even though I was often moving around after dark in bad areas __36__ for garage apartments, I was __37__ for the work.

It was a __38__ because people didn’t like a stranger knocking on their door, __39__ a kid trying to get them to buy something. On one ___40__, a man shut his door heavily in my face and __41__, “I don’t want your damn paper.” I __42__ myself to knock again and was able to tell him how great the paper was. I __43__ selling him a subscription. I was soon among the __44__ subscription sellers and, like other successful __45__, was given responsibility for training newcomers.

__46__ this time I started playing the harmonica and guitar. Before long I was playing in a __47__ at barbecues and other events. When I __48__ 18, I focused my __49__ on becoming a professional musician. I never lost ___50___ of this dream. I’m sure my determination came from what I __51___ knocking on strangers’ doors.

That ___52___ helped me in many ways. Early in my music career I was locked in a legal disagreement with a former manager. He ___53__ me to back off, but I refused.

Having all those doors shut in my face as a kid gave me the ___54___to stand up to this frightening figure. Except this time there was one ___55___: I was the one saying no. And I won.

1.A. leaving         B. searching       C. reaching       D. asking

2. A. sorry          B. ready           C. doubtful       D. thankful

3. A. challenge      B. puzzle          C. surprise      D. failure

4.A. certainly       B. obviously       C. especially     D. usually

5. A. time           B. occasion        C. day            D. place

6. A. screamed       B. whispered       C. begged         D. announced

7.A. allowed         B. forced          C. wished         D. reminded

8.A. ended up        B. gave up         C. picked up      D. kept up

9. A. rich           B. large           C. fast           D. top

10.A. reporters      B. managers        C. salesmen       D. secretaries

11. A. For           B. Since           C. Around         D. Until

12. A. concert       B. band            C. kitchen       D. party

13. A. seemed        B. grew            C. appeared       D. turned

14.A. attention      B. attraction      C. service        D. trust

15. A. sight         B. use             C. ability       D. fortune

16. A. accepted      B. decided         C. expected       D. learned

17. A. experience    B. problem         C. story          D. introduction

18. A. invited       B. pressured       C. excused        D. charged

19. A. pain          B. right           C. strength      D. imagination

20. A. conclusion    B. difference      C. chance         D. decision