缺词填空先通读下面的短文，然后根据短文内容和所给首字母，在空-优题课

It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning 30. I was afraid that my best years were now behind me. So I asked my neighbor Nicholas, a 79-year-old man:“What was the best time of your life?”
Without hesitation（犹豫）, Nicholas said,“Well, Joe, this is my philosophical（哲学的） answer to your philosophical question:
“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
“When I got my first job and had responsibilities（责任） and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.
“When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.
“When World War II came, my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship to North America, that was the best time of my life.
“When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.
“When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.
“And now, Joe, I am 79 years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”
How old was the writer?

A．15 years old.	B．30 years old.
C．79 years old.	D．45 years old.

Where was the old man brought up when he was a kid?

A．In Austria.	B．In Canada.
C．In Australia.	D．In North America.

From the passage, we can learn that ________.

A．the writer didn’t know how to spend his time

B．the writer was worried about becoming old and sick

C．the old man was not in good condition

D．the old man had a very happy family

What does the writer want to tell us?

A．It’s never too old to learn.

B．Confidence is a key to success.

C．Be thankful for what you have today.

D．Time and tide wait for no man.

The seasons in Australia are not like ours. When it is winter in China, it is summer there. Australia is in the south of the world. June, July and August are the winter months; September., October and November are spring; summer is in December, January and February; and March, April and May are the autumn months. The north of the country is hotter than the south.
A very large part of the country has no rain at all. The east coast (海岸）has rain all the year round. There are no dry months there. The southeast winds bring rain from the sea. There is not much rain on the west side. The southeast part of Australia has summer rain from the southeast winds. They only blow here in summer.
The southwest part of Australia also has winter rain. The west winds blow over the southwest in winter only. In summer, the southwest of the country has no rain. In the north of Australia there is no rain in winter. The rain comes in summer. The northwest winds bring it.
What season is it in Australiawhen it is summer in China ? (No more than 1 word)
________________________________________________.
Which months are autumn in Australia ? (No more than 4 words)
___________________________________________________.
Which part of Australia has the most of rain? (No more than 3 words)
_____________________________________________.
Is there summer rain in the southeast of Australia ? (No more than 3 words)
____________________________________________.
What bring rain to the north of Australia in summer? (No more than 3 words)
_______________________________________________.

Now, it may be difficult to predict the future, but many people believe that we will live on Mars by the year 2100. Our own planet, Earth, is becoming more and more crowed and polluted. Well, what problems will we need to solve before we prepare to go to Mars?
First of all, transport should be much better. At present, humans need to spend months going to Mars by spaceship. However, by 2100, spaceship can travel at half the speed of light. It might take us two or three days to get there!
Secondly, humans need food, water and air to live. Scientists should develop plants that can be grown on Mars. These plants will produce the food, water and air that we need. However, there is no answer for all the problems now.
There is also a problem for us to live on Mars. Mars attracts us much less than the Earth does. This will be dangerous because we could easily jump too high and fly slowly away into space there. We will have to wear special shoes to make ourselves heavier.
In some ways, life on Mars may not be better than that on the earth today. Food will not be the same —meals will probably be in the form of pills and will not be as delicious as they are today. Also, space travel will probably make many people feel very uncomfortable.
So far, how long will it take us from the earth to Mars by spaceship?

A．Two or three days.	B．A few days.
C．A few months.	D．A few years.

According to the passage, which of the following is wrong?

A．A special plant which can produce water, air and food should be needed on Mars.

B．We may go to Mars when transport is much better and faster..

C．We can jump higher than on the earth on Mars.

D．Food on Mars will be much better to eat.

Which looks like life on Mars according to the passage?

A．We can wear the shoes that we like to wear.

B．We can drink easily and conveniently.

C．We can walk faster than on the earth.

D．We can boil food to eat.

Why do we want to live on Mars?

A．Life on Mars is more interesting than that on the earth.

B．The earth is becoming dirty and crowded.

C．The journey to Mars is very interesting.

D．The scientists want us to do that.

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 am. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(临终关怀). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter（计价器）.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I pay for you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
How was the old woman?

A．She was fine, but she wanted to have a family.

B．She missed her hometown very much.

C．She was ill, but not serious.

D．She was ill and she was dying..

The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.

A．show she was familiar with the city

B．see some places for the last time

C．let the driver earn more money

D．reach the destination on time

The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.

A．wanted to do her a favor

B．shut off the meter by mistake

C．had received her payment in advance

D．was in a hurry to take other passengers

What can we learn from the story?

A．Giving is always a pleasure.

B．People should respect each other.

C．An act of kindness can bring people great joy.

D．People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.

I went home one Saturday afternoon in the autumn of 1993 to get some work done in the garden. While sweeping leaves on the ground, my five-year-old son Nick came over and asked me to write something on a piece of paper to make a sign for him.
“What for?” I asked.
“I’m going to sell some of my stones, " he answered.
Nick was fascinated with stones and had collected many stones from all over.“I’m busy todo that for you. Go and ask your mum for help." I said.
A short time later, Nick returned with a sign, reading. " Stones. One Dollar Each”. He took the sign, a small chair and 4 of his best stones and walked to the road in front of our garden. There he put the stones in a line and sat down on the chair.
After half an hour, nobody passed by. I walked to him and asked him to go back, but he didn't.
Another half hour later, a small car came down the road. I watched as Nick stood up, holding his sign up. A woman rolled down a window and read the sign. I couldn't hear their talk, but I saw the woman turn to the driver and the man reach for his pocket.
I sat in the yard, as Nick ran to me. Waving the dollar, he shouted. "I told you I could sell one stone for a dollar — if you believe in yourself, you can do anything."
Why didn't the writer help his son?

A．Because his wife is better at making a sign.

B．Because he didn't know what to write.

C．Because he was busy sweeping leaves.

D．Because he didn’t want his son to sell the stones.

The underlined words "was fascinated with" mean “______”.

A．was far from	B．was afraid of
C．was famous for	D．was interested in

Nick was a boy ______.
A. who was kindB. who had a strong mind
C who was honest D. who had many hobbies
From the passage we know _____.

A．the story happened in spring

B．the car was driven by a woman

C．Nick spent half an hour selling one stone

D．the writer might be moved(感动)by his son