Statistics show that nearly three-quarters of 30-
year-of Italian males still live at their parents’ home.
The Italian（36） grows up thinking his other is the Virgin Mary, and so （37） he thinks he is Jesus, or God’s gift to the world. It is not （38） that Italian males find it very difficult to （39） home. Their mothers make sure that their（40） are so cosseted（宠爱）that they have no real wish to leave. Even when they are （41）, they continue to behave as if they aren’t, taking their（42） home at least once a week for their mother（43） and iron.
They （44） treating home as a hotel, just like teenagers in northern European countries. Why give up a life of luxury and financial（45） with a woman who treats you as the Son of God for an （46） future with a woman（47） might ask you to do things around the （48） that you have never （49） to do, like making your bed or drying the dishes?
In fact young Italian males (50) no choice. There is little tradition of them(51) away from home during their student years, and it is(52) for them to find decent jobs until they are in their thirties;(53) the absence of suitably priced accommodation makes it practically(54) for them to afford to move out. They find themselves(55) in a trap: wanting to live on their own, but unable to leave the nest and under fire for not doing so.
A．child B．male C．student
A．hopefully B．naturally C．happily D．generally
A．surprising B．exciting C．easy D．convenient
A．go B．come C．leave D．return
A．sons B．sisters C．friends D．children
A．married B．well C．tried D．ill
A．books B．clothes C．cars D．bicycles
A．make B．cook C．wash D．see
A．turn up B．end up C．get up D．pick up
A．difficulty B．problem C．trouble D．security
A．bright B．uncertain C．splendid D．prornising
A．when B．who C．what D．which
A．house B．corner C．place D．school
A．remembered B．forgot C．stopped D．learnt
A．like B．prefer C．hate D．have
A．going B．living C．putting D．getting
A．unusual B．usual C．worried D．nervous
A．but B．when C．while D．where
A．different B．impossible C．important D．casual
A．dressed B．convinced C．determined D．caught
I shall never forget the day when the earthquake took place. It was about 5 o’clock in the afternoon and I was 16 to my daughter’s school. Our plan was to go 17 together. I’d stopped at a 18 to get some fresh fruit. We like to have some fruit to eat 19 our swim. I was driving along a high road on the way. 20 my road was another road which was built like a 21 . I was hungry so I put the bag of apples 22 me and started to eat one. 23 I saw the cars in front of me start to 24 from side to side. Then my car started to shake! I didn’t know what was happening. Perhaps something had 25 wrong with my car. I drove a little more slowly and then I 26 the car and at the same moment the road 27 onto the cars in front of me. I found myself in the __28 . I couldn’t move. My legs and feet were hurting badly and I couldn’t move them. All round me was 29 But above me I could hear shouts and a lot of noise. Then I memorized what had happened. I had been 30 an earthquake. For about two hours nobody came. Luckily I could reach the bag of 31 , so at least I had plenty to eat. Then I heard people 32 towards me. A team of people had come to 33 if anyone was under the 34 road. I called out, “I’m here!” I heard a shout. Soon a stranger climbed to my car. “How are you 35 ?”He asked. “Not too bad,”I said. They didn’t get me out until the next morning.
A．driving B．leading C．walking D．running
A．shopping B．dancing C．swimming D．sightseeing
A．farm B．shop C．park D．school
A．after B．during C．since D．once
A．Under B．Along C．Over D．Beside
A．bridge B．roof C．cover D．top
A．under B．along C．inside D．beside
A．Finally B．Actually C．Suddenly D．Slowly
A．move B．roll C．burst D．jump
A．been B．broken C．gone D．done
A．parked B．started C．moved D．stopped
A．put B．ran C．fell D．jumped
A．dark B．afternoon C．sun D．car
A．noisy B．dusty C．quiet D．blood
A．on B．at C．by D．in
A．food B．sandwiches C．apples D．bread
A．climbing B．shouting C．moving D．driving
A．know B．tell C．understand D．see
A．falling B．broken C．breaking D．dirty
A．sleeping B．feeling C．eating D．going
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always known that my brother was different. At first I thought this was a31 thing. But when I got older I learned the truth. My brother had autism (孤独症) and Attention Deficit Disorder (儿童多动症) — serious32 conditions. At 15, he33 like a 7-year-old child. When he was little, I didn’t34 it as much. But as he got older, it became more obvious. When something didn’t go his35 , he got angry and it took hours to36 him down. He would talk to himself and play with string. We could never37 to give him his medicine, otherwise he’d go wild. I was always38 when we took him anywhere, and I never wanted to bring any of my friends39 with me.
When I was 10, I felt like I couldn’t40 it any more. I’d shout at him for being different and would ask41 he couldn’t be normal. Of course, he had no42 what I was talking about. It became very hard,43 when a friend of mine didn’t want to come over44 her mom had said my brother was dangerous. Our fights45 up until one day he came up to me. He gave me a big46 , like he was saying, “I don’t know what I did47 , but I hope you still love me.” At that moment I realized that I’d better learn to48 him.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how49 I really am. Having him as a brother has made me kinder and more patient. No matter how busy my50 is, he’ll always listen to my problems. I worry about his future, but I know he’ll always be loved.
A．discouraged B．serious C．good D．pitiful
A．mental B．physical C．medical D．normal
A．experienced B．behaved C．impressed D．expressed
A．watch B．see C．observe D．notice
A．road B．way C．path D．side
A．take B．bring C．calm D．set
A．want B．remember C．allow D．forget
A．embarrassed B．grateful C．tiresome D．comfortable
A．here B．home C．out D．away
A．see B．hear C．bear D．believe
A．what B．how C．when D．why
A．mind B．idea C．thought D．principle
A．especially B．probably C．nearly D．partly
A．though B．if C．because D．while
A．gave B．sent C．called D．kept
A．hug B．hit C．shock D．kick
A．right B．perfect C．gentle D．wrong
A．accept B．receive C．persuade D．advise
A．terrible B．bad C．clever D．lucky
A．teacher B．brother C．father D．friend
Patti discovered the meaning of running when she was 23. At that time she was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day and had 36 over 50 pounds. “I decided to 37 ,” she says. She took a clock and started 38 what she did every day, and then she 39 an hour a day as a “be nice to Patti” hour. “I started having bubble（泡沫）baths with a candle 40 , because Cosmopolitan Magazine 41 that this would be good for me. But I got 42 of that soon,” Patti remembers. She wanted to do something really pleasant. She found that the 43 times in her life were times when she was physically active. So she took up 44 .
She decided to start 45 the next day. She ran for an hour, 46a total of 7 miles on her first run. “I couldn’t walk for 2 weeks 47 I felt painful all over!” Patti recalls. “But I felt so wonderful!” Patti wasn’t crazy about running yet, but she was in 48 with the after effects of it.
Within seven months, Patti had run her first marathon, qualified for the Boston Marathon, and placed 25th in the world for 49 distance runners. Over the next years, she 50 records and set standards for women in the sport. She was the first American woman to run a marathon 51 than 2 hours 30 minutes, and then broke another two records 52 an 8-month period.
Patti believes that, if we can 53 standards for ourselves, we can pull ourselves out of the most difficult 54 and come out on top. “Everybody has to be a/an 55 and everybody has that in them.”
A．lost B．gained C．earned D．reduced
A．change B．move C．walk D．cry
A．remembering B．collecting C．sharing D．recording
A．set out B．set up C．set aside D．set about
A．lit B．swung C．surrounded D．burnt
A．spoke B．said C．wrote D．went
A．afraid B．fond C．tired D．ashamed
A．happiest B．saddest C．loneliest D．luckiest
A．smoking B．bathing C．dieting D．running
A．only B．right C．even D．again
A．overcoming B．spreading C．passing D．covering
A．but B．although C．since D．because
A．peace B．line C．love D．touch
A．men B．women C．adult D．children
A．kept B．held C．broke D．cleared
A．faster B．more C．slower D．rather
A．for B．over C．at D．on
A．set B．follow C．require D．seek
A．pleasures B．pities C．challenges D．purposes
A．expert B．runner C．athlete D．champion
I grew up poor — living with six brothers, three sisters and my mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and 36 . I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 37 a dream.
My dream was 38 . By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour baseball and 39 anything that moved on the field. I was also 40 : my high school coach was John, who not only 41 me, but also taught me how to believe in myself. He 42 me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with coach John changed my life forever.
A friend 43 me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — money for a new bike, new clothes and the 44 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 45 up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was as 46 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said, “Your 47 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head 48 , trying to think of the words that would 49 to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 50 in me.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3.5 an hour the 51 of a dream?”
That simple question made 52 to me the difference between 53 something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself in sports that summer and 54 the year I was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and 55 a $ 20,000 contract（合同）. Later, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
A．attention B．time C．patience D．fashion
A．bring B．continue C．make D．afford
A．athletics B．music C．business D．money
A．kick B．play C．hit D．pass
A．right B．popular C．lucky D．confident
A．believed in B．relied on C．called on D．dealt with
A．gave B．taught C．brought D．asked
A．called B．advised C．applied D．recommended
A．aim B．idea C．start D．purpose
A．keep B．end C．give D．pick
A．happy B．mad C．frightened D．excited
A．living B．working C．playing D．dreaming
A．moving B．hanging C．shaking D．nodding
A．express B．announce C．apologise D．explain
A．belief B．pride C．fear D．disappointment
A．length B．price C．power D．spirit
A．clear B．direct C．straight D．attractive
A．wanting B．changing C．dreaming D．enjoying
A．by B．for C．beyond D．within
A．paid B．found C．offered D．presented
When my twin sons, Chad and Brad, were born, I was concerned about everything． Five years later, our little girl, Becky, 21 our family．I wanted everybody to be healthy and happy．I worked hard to see that they 22 ．
As the kids grew older, I worried about headaches, throat infections and many other 23 childhood illnesses．I didn't like it when the boys spent time "warming the bench （板凳）" during Little League football games．I worried about Becky when she 24 the ball while playing softball．Before long, the teen years were upon us．I stayed 25 late t night waiting for the boys to return home．Many times the26 crossed my mind that I would call the police if they weren't home on time．_27_, they always arrived home safe and sound28 I had to take such measures．
"Please don't ever call the police," one of the boys said when I 29 him after a late arrival．The day the boys moved away to college was a 30 day indeed．I worried about their being able to take care of themselves．Would they starve?
A few months after the boys left college, our 31 rang in the middle of the night． It startled （惊醒）us when we looked at the clock．It was 3 o'clock in the morning．" 32 must be wrong," I shouted to my husband, Roy, as we both jumped up．We ran to the door, opened it, and there33a police officer．
"You need to 34 your sons," he seriously announced．I picked up the telephone, but unfortunately, it was 35．A line outside had been accidentally （偶然） cut．Roy and I jumped into the car and 36 to the nearest telephone．My stomach ached．My husband was 37 so badly that he could hardly dial the number．
On the first38 , Chad answered the telephone．"What's wrong?" Roy shouted into the receiver （听筒）．
"We were worried about you," Chad told him．"We've been trying to call you all night, but you didn't 39 We called the police and asked them to go and check on you．"
For the first time in their lives, the boys were worried about us．And they were the ones who 40 had to call the police．
A．completed B．visited C．tested D．appreciated
A．did B．had C．were D．would
A．serious B．common C．unusual D．incurable
A．hit B．threw C．got D．missed
A．down B．up C．out D．in
A．plan B．advice C．worry D．thought
A．Strangely B．Probably C．Luckily D．Exactly
A．after B．when C．before D．since
A．threatened B．told C．surprised D．reminded
A．nice B．embarrassing C．happy D．sad
A．phone B．clock C．alarm D．doorbell
A．Something B．Anything C．Everything D．Nothing
A．stood B．greeted C．turned D．came
A．call B．email C．see D．educate
A．gone B．useless C．dead D．stolen
A．rushed B．headed C．went D．moved
A．looking B．shaking C．suffering D．seeing
A．night B．arrival C．try D．ring
A．talk B．answer C．wake D．care
A．frequently B．suddenly C．actually D．rarely