Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more anxious waiting for the final school bell. Upon its ____everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.
David was a small boy in ragged(衣衫褴褛的) clothes. I had often wondered what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school____so inappropriately(不适当的) for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David ____. I can still remember he was always ____ a smile and willing to help. He always ____after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He would just smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly_____home.
Weeks passed and most of my students were _____ about the coming Christmas until the last day of school before the holiday break. I smiled in relief as the last of them hurried out the _____. Turning around I saw David ______standing by my desk.
“I have something for you,” he said and pulled a small box from behind his back. _____it to me, he said anxiously “Open it”. I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid. But to my ____, I saw nothing. I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’ s___”
“Oh, no, it isn’t.” said David, “It’s full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”
Tears filled my eyes ______ I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given_____to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning ___ the little empty box set on my desk.
A．warning B．ringing C．calling D．yelling
A．talked B．did C．said D．dressed
A．popular B．upset C．special D．funny
A．expressing B．delivering C．wearing D．sharing
A．practised B．wandered C．studied D．stayed
A．aim at B．turn to C．put off D．head for
A．upset B．excited C．moved D．satisfied
A．classroom B．school C．home D．window
A．weakly B．sadly C．quietly D．helplessly
A．Holding B．Handing C．Sending D．Leaving
A．delight B．expectation C．appreciation D．surprise
A．cheap B．empty C．useless D．improper
A．as B．until C．because D．though
A．advice B．support C．attention D．command
A．from B．behind C．over D．towards
Zigfried, a little mouse, blew his breath on the frosty window of the farmhouse and rubbed it to see the outside. Still nobody came. Maybe today, he thought 31 . It was only a few days before Christmas and he was watching for a miracle (奇迹).
This farmhouse had been 32 too long. It needed a family. Zigfried’s 33 made a noise. He realized that he hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday. He jumped from the windowsill (窗沿), grabbed a 34 from his home, and went next door to Farmer Mike’s.
Farmer Mike’s house had been a great place for the little mouse 35 the farmer married a wife who had a cat. Zigfried 36 when he thought of it. He looked around cautiously as he 37 into the room where grain was stored and was quite 38 as he filled his bag with wheat. He was turning to leave when suddenly he 39 a hot breath about his ear. His heart beat 40 , and without thinking he started to run and luckily 41 the cat’s paws (爪子).
The next afternoon Zigfried heard some good news: a 42 family would be moving into the farmhouse soon. Zigfried’s granny would arrive on Christmas Eve to 43 with him. He hoped that the family would come before his granny came. Before long, a car came 44 the road leading to the house, with butter sandwiches, cheese and chocolate.
Zigfried’s Christmas miracle did arrive!
The house came 45 the next few days. Zigfried 46 every single hour of them. 47 , the day before Christmas when he was drinking hot chocolate with a 48 smile at the door of his home, he heard the 49 of the children of the family about what they might get for Christmas. What? A cat? The 50 froze on his face； his mouth fell wide open. After a long while, he at last found his voice: “Hey! Whose Christmas miracle is this?”
A．carefully B．excitedly C．hopefully D．proudly
A．shabby B．noisy C．messy D．empty
A．mouth B．nose C．stomach D．throat
A．bag B．stick C．bowl D．coat
A．although B．until C．whereas D．unless
A．leapt B．sniffed C．trembled D．withdrew
A．broke B．marched C．paced D．stole
A．curious B．nervous C．pitiful D．sensible
A．took B．released C．felt D．drew
A．strongly B．irregularly C．slowly D．wildly
A．escaped B．seized C．rubbed D．scratched
A．close B．happy C．new D．young
A．celebrate B．communicate C．compete D．compromise
A．across B．from C．off D．up
A．alive B．loose C．open D．still
A．counted B．enjoyed C．missed D．wasted
A．However B．Instead C．Moreover D．Therefore
A．bitter B．forced C．polite D．satisfied
A．introduction B．discussion C．comment D．debate
A．blood B．smile C．tear D．sweat
To celebrate the end of our exams, my friends and I went to a fast food restaurant.We__26__hamburgers and Coca Cola at the counter. When our__27__came,I started walking towards an empty table. By bad luck, my purse strap (带子) got__28__on a chair and the tray (托盘) that I was holding slipped__29___my hands and went flying in the air. The tray, and its contents,__30___on a man who was just about to__31___a bite of his sandwich. I stared,greatly___32__,as the drinks soaked (浸湿) his white shirt.
Then I___33__my eyes and prepared myself for his burst of__34__.Instead,he said “It’s OK” to_ 35__me before he disappeared into the washroom.
Still shaky and unsure___36__to do next, my friends and I went to a table and sat there, trying our best to look___37__.A moment later, the man came out of the washroom and___38__our table, my heart almost stopped
___39__.I thought he was going to ask for my father’s_40 __and call him.
To my surprise, he merely smiled at us, handed us some cash and said,“__41___yourself new hamburgers. ”He then walked_42___without even finishing his food.
He could have made what was already an uncomfortable situation worse,___43__he chose a different way and gave us a reason to believe that there is still__44___in this world. I will never___45__his actions.
A．ordered B．made C．arranged D．demanded
A．food B．turn C．bill D．menu
A．fixed B．caught C．cut D．tied
A．by B．in C．from D．out
A．knocked B．fell C．stood D．hung
A．take B．taste C．swallow D．chew
A．discouraged B．disappointed C．shocked D．annoyed
A．bitterness B．anxiety C．anger D．sorrow
A．rolled B．rubbed C．narrowed D．closed
A．satisfy B．comfort C．encourage D．praise
A．how B．who C．what D．which
A．mild B．honest C．calm D．modest
A．pushed B．approached C．drew D．laid
A．beating B．breaking C．sinking D．trembling
A．help B．position C．number D．job
A．Prepare B．Buy C．Find D．Cook
A．on B．around C．up D．away
A．so B．since C．although D．but
A．kindness B．happiness C．politeness D．brightness
A．forget B．refuse C．oppose D．ignore
Section B (18 marks)
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
When I was 8 years old, I once decided to run away from home. With my suitcase 36 and some sandwiches in a bag, I started for the front door and said to Mom, “I’m leaving.”
“If you want to 37 , that’s all right,” she said. “But you came into this home without anything and you can leave the same way.” I 38 my suitcase and sandwiches on the floor heavily and started for the door again.
“Wait a minute,” Mom said. “I want your 39 back. You didn’t wear anything when you arrived.” This really angered me. I tore my clothes off—shoes, socks, underwear and all—and 40 , “Can I go now?” “Yes,” Mom answered, “but once you close that door, don’t expect to come back.”
I was so 41 that I slammed (砰地关上) the door and stepped out on the front porch. 42 I realized that I was outside, with nothing on. Then I noticed that down the street, two neighbor girls were walking toward our house. I ran to 43 behind a big tree in our yard at once. After a while, I was 44 the girls had passed by. I dashed to the front door and banged on it loudly.
“Who’s there?” I heard.
“It’s Billy! Let me in!”
The voice behind the 45 answered, “Billy doesn’t live here anymore. He ran away from home.” Glancing behind me to see if anyone else was coming, I begged, “Aw, c’mon, Mom! I’m 46 your son. Let me in!”
The door inched open and Mom’s smiling face appeared. “Did you change your 47 about running away?” she asked.
“What’s for supper?” I answered.(277 words)
A．packed B．returned C．cleaned D．repaired
A．drop out B．go by C．move around D．run away
A．pressed B．shook C．threw D．pulled
A．bag B．clothes C．sandwiches D．suitcase
A．explained B．suggested C．continued D．shouted
A．angry B．sorry C．frightened D．ashamed
A．Certainly B．Naturally C．Suddenly D．Possibly
A．play B．bide C．rest D．wave
A．sure B．proud C．eager D．curious
A．house B．tree C．door D．yard
A．also B．still C．even D．already
A．conclusion B．promise C．concern D．decision
Diane Ray was completely self-centered and very spoilt. Her parents gave her 36 she wanted, knowing that she would throw a temper tantrum(耍小孩脾气)if they did not. She would scream and kick and 37 on the floor drumming her heels. Her parents always 38 .
That was why she was alone on the 39 , wearing an expensive swimsuit. It has taken a massive tantrum to 40 her parents to buy it. They were back at the beach-house, 41 from the tantrum she had thrown when they told her that it was too dangerous to go diving 42 . “Dangerous?” she had said. “You just don’t want me to have 43 . I’m going and if you try to stop me, I’ll scream.”
“What are you doing ?” a voice asked. Diane jumped. She did not know that the man was there 44 he spoke .
“I’m going diving, ” she answered.
“You shouldn’t swim that day, ” the man 45 . “There is a storm coming up.”
“You should mind your own 46 !” Diane replied and walked into the gentle waves.
“If you go out there you’ll be 47 ,” the man called after her. She did not bother to reply.
Diane slipped into the water and dived 48 until white caps began rolling in and it became harder to 49 against the current (水流). Saltwater hit against her face, making it 50 to breathe. Oh, why had she not listened to advice.
Panicking, she began to 51 . Then, just as it seemed as if she would slip beneath the surface, she heard a 52 voice. “Hold on ! I’m coming.” With 53 , she saw the old man rowing an ancient-looking boat towards her. “I hope you’ve learned a lesson. You put us both in 54 , ” he shouted angrily, as he dragged her over the side of the 55 . Gratefully, Diane thanked him and ran towards the beach-house.
A．either B．neither C．nothing D．everything
A．jump B．lie C．spin D．sleep
A．set out B．set in C．gave in D．gave out
A．beach B．bed C．floor D．ship
A．allow B．warn C．get D．prefer
A．changing B．recovering C．appearing D．traveling
A．alone B．away C．again D．aside
A．time B．money C．food D．fun
A．when B．until C．after D．once
A．decided B．intended C．advised D．repeated
A．business B．swimsuit C．friends D．parents
A．angry B．sorry C．confused D．excited
A．nervously B．sadly C．shyly D．happily
A．rise B．swim C．stop D．row
A．difficult B．easy C．comfortable D．suitable
A．speak B．sing C．sniff D．scream
A．calm B．frightening C．beautiful D．disgusting
A．regret B．relief C．interest D．ease
A．power B．safety C．danger D．thought
A．house B．wave C．beach D．boat
I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us 36 chasing the same thing.
One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell 37 . I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $ 56. I 38 the countryside for some place I could rent for the 39 possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road 40 the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was 41 , full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and 42a corner to camp in.
The locals knew nothing about me, 43 slowly, they started teaching me the 44 of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began 45 around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a 46 American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of 47 .
What I had believed in, all those things I thought were 48 for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. 49 on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my 50 with my neighbors.
Four years later, I moved back into 51 . I saw many people were having a really hard time, 52 their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to 53a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I’ve had nine people come in and move on to other places. We’d all be in 54 if we hadn’t banded together.
The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It’s not so much about what I can get for myself; it’s about 55 we can all get by together.
A．separately B．equally C．violently D．naturally
A．off B．apart C．over D．out
A．crossed B．left C．toured D．searched
A．fullest B．largest C．fairest D．cheapest
A．at B．through C．over D．round
A．occupied B．abandoned C．emptied D．robbed
A．turned B．approached C．cleared D．cut
A．but B．although C．otherwise D．for
A．benefit B．lesson C．nature D．art
A．sticking B．looking C．swinging D．turning
A．wild B．real C．different D．remote
A．neighborliness B．happiness C．friendliness D．kindness
A．unique B．expensive C．rare D．necessary
A．Up B．Down C．Deep D．Along
A．cooperation B．relationships C．satisfaction D．appointments
A．reality B．society C．town D．life
A．creating B．losing C．quitting D．offering
A．put in B．turn in C．take in D．get in
A．yards B．shelters C．camps D．cottages
A．when B．what C．whether D．how