Mrs. White was a wealthy lady. She lived 　36　 in a large comfortable house where her children and grandchildren came to visit her frequently. However, she was　37　. She spent a lot of time thinking about her  38  and about her dead husband. Her children   39 about her and asked Dr. Green to see her.
Mrs. Green was an experienced doctor. She knew old people became upset in their ways and didn’t like to   40  what to do. She decided to get to know Mrs. White before she said anything. During the visit, Dr. Green asked Mrs White to give her a   41  of the house. Mrs. White was  42   her house and happily agreed. As they walked from room to room, Dr. Green   43  that there were a lot of violets (紫罗兰) in every window. She asked, “__44 _ do you have so many violets?” Mrs White replied, “ I love these   45  and they  46  so fast that I have more and more. When the tour of the house was over, Dr. Green said, “I have one suggestion to make. Whenever you   47 a friend or a neighbor that is   48 in bed or getting married, give 49  one of your violets.”
Mrs White said   50   about the doctor’s advice and for a few months    51 her visit, she didn’t give away any of her violets. Then one day she was invited to the   52  of her neighbor's daughter. She put a ribbon(丝带) on one of her potted plants and took it to the party. Later one of her friends was sick so she took a violet plant and took it to the hospital.  53    she began to give more and more of her potted violets to her neighbors. Over the years she  54 so many that she became known as the “  55  lady”.

【小题1】

A．well B．alone C．quietly D．happily

【小题2】

A．cheerful B．delighted C．unhappy D．disappointed

【小题3】

A．money B．children C．big house D．old age

【小题4】

A．talked B．thought C．worried D．learned

【小题5】

A．be told B．be ordered C．be wanted D．be invited

【小题6】

A．tour B．view C．sight D．picture

【小题7】

A．proud of B．familiar with C．interested in D．anxious about

【小题8】

A．looked B．showed C．noticed D．watched

【小题9】

A．How B．Why C．When D．Where

【小题10】

A．rooms B．windows C．children D．flowers

【小题11】A grow       B. make             C. become          D. produce

【小题12】

A．ask B．get C．hear D．want

【小题13】

A．ill B．sad C．excited D．pleased

【小题14】

A．it B．me C．you D．them

【小题15】

A．nothing B．anything C．something D．everything

【小题16】

A．before B．after C．during D．until

【小题17】

A．lecture B．graduation C．celebration D．wedding

【小题18】

A．Usually B．Continuously C．Gradually D．Regularly

【小题19】

A．sold out B．gave away C．grew D．kept on

【小题20】

A．old B．violet C．rich D．famous

In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last year.

　　As a writer I know about winning contests, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip from the publisher. I also know the pressures of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn’t win the contest again? That’s the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and dashed hopes can surface.

　　A revelation (启示) came last week when I asked her, “Don’t you want to win again?” “No,” she replied, “I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade.”

　　I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously (自发地) told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly “guided” by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it.

　　Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting (借用) my daughter’s experience.

　　While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices.

1.What did the author say about her own writing experience?

A. She was constantly under pressure of writing more.

B. Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers.

C. Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations.

D. She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer.

2.Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest?

A. She wanted to share her stories with readers.

B. She had won a prize in the previous contest.

C. She was sure of winning with her mother’s help.

D. She believed she possessed real talent for writing.

3.The author took great pains to refine her daughter’s stories because ________.

A. she wanted to help Rebecca realize her dream of becoming a writer

B. she believed she had the knowledge and experience to offer guidance

C. she did not want to disappoint Rebecca who needed her help so much

D. she was afraid Rebecca’s imagination might run wild while writing

4.What’s the author’s advice for parents?

A. Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions.

B. Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience.

C. Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in.

D. A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue.

 

Condoleezza Rice is used to standing out. It is not only because she holds the position as U.S. Secretary of State. Her youth, gender and skin color have 　36　 a lot of attention throughout her political career.

Condoleezza Rice,　37　 as Condi to her close friends, was born in 1954 in Birmingham. During 1950s,blacks were not treated as 　38　 citizens in the south. Although slavery was　39　 in 1865,the southern states passed their own laws to continue the 　40　of blacks and whites. Despite the discrimination 　41　 black people, her parents told her she could become? 42　 she wanted. They taught her to believe that great things were 　43　 for her.

Rice was a gifted student with a 　44　 for the piano and she entered college at the age of 15 with the 　45　 of becoming a concert pianist. Along the way she was　46　 by political? scientist Josef Korbel, the father of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Rice 　47　 her plans and studied international politics, and in the 1980s she was teaching at Stanford University,　48　 her career developed quickly. She　49　 on George H. Bush's national security council(顾问) in 1989.Later she 　50　 to Stanford, and became its youngest, first female and first 　51　 provost after two years.

In 2001,Rice re-entered the political world,　52　 George W. Bush's national security advisor. She has drawn international 　53　 in this position, and has been the most powerful national security advisors in American 　54　.

She held this position until 2005,when 　55　 Secretary of State.

36.A. directed B. turned C. paid    D. attracted?

37.A. known   B. Considered C. Seen   D. accepted?

38.A. respectful     B. equal  C. different     D. noble?

39.A. finished B. Stopped     C. Prevented   D. ended?

40.A. difference     B. disagreement     C. separation   D. division?

41.A. against  B. to              C. with    D. towards?

42.A. whoever       B. whomever  C. whatever    D. whichever?

43.A. desiring B. waiting      C. preparing   D. longing?

44.A. talent    B. interest       C. hobby D. favourite?

45.A. purpose B. goal    C. intention    D. attention?

46.A. effected B. affected      C. impressed   D. influenced?

47.A. changed B. postponed   C. cancelled    D. exchanged?

48.A. which    B. where C. when  D. that?

49.A. acted     B. waited C. served D. called?

50.A. paid a visit    B. showed concern C. attended     D. returned?

51.A. black     B. white  C. capable      D. efficient?

52.A. turning  B. holding      C. becoming   D. taking?

53.A. praise    B. approval     C. criticism     D. attention?

54.A. politics  B. history       C. culture              D. government?

55.A. elected  B. invited       C. appointed   D. succeeded??