It was not yet eleven o’clock when a boat crossed the river with a single passenger who had obtained his transportation at that unusual hour by promising an extra fare.

While the youth stood on the landing-place searching in his pockets for money, the ferryman lifted a lantern, by the aid of which, together with the newly risen moon, he took a very accurate survey of the stranger’s figure. He was a young man of barely eighteen years, evidently country bred（长大的）, and now, as it seemed, on his first visit to town. He was wearing a rough gray coat, which was in good shape, but which had seen many winters before this one. The garments under his coat were well constructed of leather, and fitted tightly to a pair of muscular legs; his stockings of blue yarn must have been the work of a mother or sister, and on his head was a three-cornered hat, which in its better days had sheltered the grayer head of the lad’s father. In his left hand was a walking stick, and his equipment was completed by a leather bag not so abundantly stocked as to inconvenience the strong shoulders on which it hung. Brown, curly hair, well-shaped-features, bright, cheerful eyes were nature’s gifts, and worth all that art could have done for his adornment(装饰).

The youth, whose name was Robin, paid the boatman, and then walked forward into the town with a light step, as if he had not already traveled more than thirty miles that day. As he walked, he surveyed his surroundings as eagerly as if he were entering London or Madrid, instead of the little metropolis（都市）of a New England colony.

What time of the year was it in this story?

A. Winter.           B. Fall.       C. Summer.    D. Spring.

The boatman was willing to take Robin across the river because ________.

A. he was going to row across the river anyway

B. he saw that Robin was young and rich

C. he would give extra money

D. he felt sorry for him because Robin looked poor

The stockings that Robin wore were obviously _________.

A. well worn         B. very expensive       C. handmade         D. much too big

From the text we can learn that Robin had traveled __________.

A. from London              B. from Madrid

C. from a nearby city                D. over thirty miles

At what time of day did Robin cross the river?

A. Night.      B. Late afternoon    C. Midday.          D. Morning.    

Kleptomania is an illness of the mind that gives a person the desire to steal. Such a person is not really a thief. They are sick and cannot help themselves. All small children act naturally and as they grow up they normally learn to control their actions. People with Kleptomania for certain medical reasons have failed to develop control over their desire to take things that do not belong to them. With medical help they may become normal citizens again. The things that a Kleptomaniac steals are seldom of great value. They often give away what they have stolen or collect things without using them.

1.What is the topic of the text?

A. Young thieves.                        B. An unusual illness       

C. Reasons for stealing     D. A normal child's actions

2.From the text we learn that small children _______.

A. have little control over themselves              B. usually steal things but grow up honest    

C. are usually Kleptomaniacs            D. like to give things away

3.Which of the following word can best replace the word "desire" in the first sentence?

A. chance                   B. power          C. right             D. wish

4.Kleptomaniacs usually steal things that

A. are valuable                   B. are unimportant

C. their friends like          D. they themselves need

 

One day I heard that one of my dear friends had lost his mother. This made me sad, for my friend was very close to his mother. He had been by her side as she traveled through her long and hard journey with cancer. At this time, many memories about my loved ones that had passed away came flooding to me. Finally these memories passed, but it was really sad to think that my friend would have to go through the pain.
Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am a person who is not often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up I could hardly wait for my computer to work, the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent an email.
Everything in this universe is balanced and indeed it is. Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he’d been admitted to (录取) Cambridge University. It served as a gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on.
Everything in life is balanced; the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, the sunshine is always there and just waiting for the opportunity to shine through.
【小题1】 When the author learnt her friend had lost his mother, she ______.

A．gave him some money

B．wrote an email to him

C．went to visit him

D．went for a journey with him

【小题2】What good news did the author’s friend receive?

A．He received the author’s email.

B．He was told that life would go on.

C．He would go to Cambridge University.

D．His life would go back to normal again

【小题3】 Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．The author wrote four emails to her friend.

B．The mother of the author’s friend died from cancer.

C．The author’s friend is a teacher in Cambridge University.

D．The author felt relaxed after sending the email.

【小题4】 From the text, we can learn that the author is ______.

A．sincere and warm-hearted

B．proud and confident

C．serious and friendly

D．funny and responsible

【小题5】 The author aims to tell us that ______.

A．life is not fair to everybody

B．time waits for no man

C．everyone has good and bad times in life

D．where there is a will, there is a way

第三部分阅读理解（共20小题, 56-70题，每小题2分；71-75题，每小题1分，满分35分）

第一节阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项。

If you’re looking for the place that has everything, there’s only one place to visit, and that’s New York. It’s a whole world in a city.

The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit shows in one place? Only in New York!

The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Center. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance sports found anywhere.

The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you’ll find it in New York.

The World of Fine Dining: Whether it’s a roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, lasagna in Little Italy, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there’s a world of great taste waiting for you in New York.

The World of Sights: What other city has a Statue of Liberty（自由女神像）? A Rockefeller Center? Or a Bronx Zoo? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park? Only in New York!

1. Which of the following programmes can a visitor have only in New York?

A. To enjoy roast Beijing duck.         B. To taste the finest French coq au vin.

C. To spend an evening with Beethoven. D. To see the Statue of Liberty.

2. From the text we know that “Rembrandt” is most likely the name of a famous ________.

A. singer        B. painting       C. play            D. painter

3. What the writer really wanted to do is to ________.

A. try to persuade readers to pay a visit to New York

B. give readers some information about New York

C. supply readers with some wonderful programmes in New York

D. help readers to get a better understanding of New York

 

A new study has found that the best way to make yourself feel happier is to think of something good that happened to you the day before.

Volunteers who were asked to remember a pleasant event from past 24 hours began to feel happier right away. Other activities such as saying “Thank you” and smiling also made volunteers feel happier, but not as much.

Professor Richard Wiseman of Hertfordshire University planned the study. He got 26,000 people to go online to try out a few different activities to make them feel happier. They were told to be nice, remember a pleasant event from the day before, give thanks or smile for 15 seconds twice a day. The volunteers did these activities for one week.

The result showed that thinking about one good thing that had happened the day before worked the best for making people happier.

1. The text may probably be taken from _____.

A. a personal anecdote(轶事)   B. sports news   

C. a history novel              D. brief news

2. Volunteers who _____ began to feel happier right away.

A. thought of something good that happened the day before

B. were asked to remember a pleasant event from the past 24 hours

C. did other activities like saying “thank you” and smiling

D. went online to try out a few different activities

3. From the text we know that Richard Wiseman is a(an) _____.

A. worker           B. artist           C. professor        D. director

4. The volunteers gave thanks or smile _____ a week.

A. 15 seconds       B. 3.5 seconds  C. 15 minutes   D. 3.5 minutes