Do you know why there is a little angel on the top of the Christmas tree?
One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was ______ his usual trip. But there were _____ everywhere. Four of his elves(小精灵) got _____, and the trainee(学徒工) elves did not produce the toys as fast as the ______ ones, so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind _____. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her mom was coming to visit; this _____ Santa even more.
When he went to ride the deer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and that two had ______ the fence and were out—heaven knows where.
Then when he began to load the sled(雪橇), one of the boards _____ and the toy bag fell to the ground and the toys were everywhere. So, _____, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a little wine. When he went to the ______, he discovered that the elves had ______ the wine and there was nothing to_______.
In his frustration, he ______ dropped the coffeepot and it broke into thousands of little pieces all over the kitchen _____. He went to get the broom and found that mice had _____ the straw which it was made of. Just then the doorbell _____ and Santa cursed(咒骂) on his way to the door. He _____ the door and there was a little angel with a big Christmas ______.
Smiling, the angel said, very _____,”Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn’t it just a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to put it?” This cheered Santa up.
_____ began the tradition of the little angel on the top of the tree.
A．paying attention to B．getting ready for C．coming up with D．taking part in
A．wealth B．danger C．presents D．problems
A．old B．rich C．sick D．well
A．regular B．devoted C．lazy D．clever
A．travel B．schedule C．preparation D．work
A．encouraged B．worried C．interested D．frightened
A．jumped B．made C．cleaned D．fixed
A．crossed B．stopped C．cracked D．disappeared
A．moved B．tired C．pleased D．frustrated
A．bed B．boards C．toys D．cupboard
A．hidden B．found C．bought D．polluted
A．wash B．drink C．watch D．add
A．angrily B．luckily C．carelessly D．slowly
A．door B．wall C．table D．floor
A．eaten B．covered C．cut D．thrown
A．failed B．rose C．rang D．fell
A．repaired B．felt C．painted D．opened
A．light B．bag C．tree D．cake
A．cheerfully B．exactly C．hungrily D．sadly
A．And B．So C．If D．But
My partner and I were staying in Beruwela on the Southwest coast of Sri Lanka when the tsunami(海啸) hit. We 1 from the first floor of our hotel. At that time, a wall of water swept in and tore the ground floor apart underneath us. 2 to be moved out to Colombo was very frightening because everyone was afraid that another and possibly bigger 3 would come. At one stage we heard that another wave was coming and there was 4 . Surprisingly, a fleet of small vehicles driven by local people arrived outside the hotel and we just 5 a minibus.
We were taken up a hill to a place of 6 where we were welcomed by a family who told us that we could stay as 7 as we needed to. Among all this death and 8 , these people were trying to help us! We were shown to the local Mosque where hundreds of locals were cooking, collecting and distributing food and supplies for those less 9 . In the three days we were waiting to leave, we saw many examples of ordinary Sri Lankans, many of whom had lost friends, 10 and livelihoods（生计，谋生方式）, trying to help others who were worse off. It was a very moving experience.
We have since been 11 the family who took us in and they are saying that what their country needs most urgently is practical help, doctors, nurses and medicines, helping to 12 roads and rebuilding electricity and water supplies. These people would have done anything to help us, it is time for the British Government to do more to help them.
A．heard B．watched C．learnt D．moved
A．Telling B．Forcing C．Waiting D．Ordering
A．wave B．flood C．hurricane D．water
A．panic B．peace C．silence D．violence
A．looked into B．turned to C．jumped into D．broke into
A．safety B．warmth C．goodness D．dreams
A．well B．far C．soon D．long
A．kindness B．happiness C．love D．destruction
A．careful B．fortunate C．dependent D．energetic
A．children B．experts C．family D．relatives
A．in honor of B．by way of C．in contact with D．on behalf of
A．make B．clear C．clean D．build
This was my grandmother’s first Christmas without grandfather. When we reached her house, it did seem a little 36 without grandfather.
Grandfather had always said the Christmas 37 was the most important. So we set to work assembling（组装）the beautiful 38 tree that was stored in grandfather’s closet（储藏室）. After we finished, we stepped back to 39 our work. It looked wonderful. But something was 40 .
“Where’s the star?” I asked. It was my grandmother’s 41 . As we emptied box after box and found no star, my grandmother’s eyes 42 with tears. Grandfather had given it to Grandmother fifty years ago. Now, on her first Christmas without 43 , the star was gone, too.
“Let’s 44 in the closet where the tree was,” my sister Donna said. We 45 under beds and over shelves, inside and outside 46 we had exhausted every possibility. We could see Grandmother was 47 , although she tried not to show it. By now, it was 48 outside, and time for bed, as Santa would soon be here.
The next morning, my sisters and I 49 early to see what Santa had left under the tree. After breakfast, the family sat together to 50 presents. “The last gift is to Grandmother from Grandfather.” Father said, in a puzzled voice.
“From who?” There was 51 in my grandmother’s voice.
“I found that 52 in the closet when we got the tree down,” Mother explained.
My grandmother opened it. Her face lit up when she pulled out a(n) 53 golden star. There was a note attached. Her voice trembled（颤抖）as she read it:
Don’t be 54 with me, dear. I broke your star while putting away the tree. Thought it was time for a new one, I hope it brings you as much 55 as the first one. Merry Christmas.
A．empty B．cold C．slow D．absent
A．wish B．tree C．spirit D．work
A．unique B．artificial C．widespread D．alive
A．follow B．show C．judge D．admire
A．losing B．happening C．missing D．falling
A．doubt B．reward C．honour D．treasure
A．filled B．covered C．put D．removed
A．them B．it C．her D．him
A．stop B．move C．start D．stay
A．hid B．searched C．lay D．found
A．as B．until C．because D．though
A．disappointed B．amazed C．excited D．shocked
A．snowing B．raining C．blowing D．darkening
A．cheered up B．picked up C．woke up D．took up
A．pack B．open C．pick D．exchange
A．happiness B．fright C．surprise D．hope
A．gift B．book C．note D．letter
A．big B．old C．shining D．broken
A．generous B．angry C．strict D．important
A．sadness B．concern C．peace D．joy
An old man once had an argument with his only son. He tried to __16__ many times, but the young man would not __17__. The father never__18__ because he loved his son with all his heart, but the son would not give in, __19__ he was too blinded by his pride.
Years passed and as the man lay in his deathbed, he made a __20__ attempt to reconcile (和解) with his son, but __21__ he would not listen and so the father died with a heart full of __22__.
During this time the son too had a child who had now __23__ into a young adult. To this child he never __24__ his father and when the young man asked about his grandfather he __25__ tell him never to mention him again.
One day, they two were involved in a hot __26__ and his son fled away as he did many years ago. This made the man extremely__27__ and this time he had no __28__, but felt completely isolated. (孤立的)
He was afraid that he would__29__ his son forever and for the first time after many years he realized how his father must have__30__ many years back.
He remembered how he had __31__ his old man and only at that point he realized the extent of the hurt he had caused. The __32__ he thought the more he understood how unjust he was with his old father, the man who gave him everything __33__ his life.
With these sad thoughts he felt __34__ on the couch. The next morning when he opened his eyes he found __35__ lying in his bed and in front of him stood his son. The man could not believe his eyes, and the two hugged each other while they cried together.
A．bend B．predict C．apologize D．seek
A．stop B．listen C．chose D．come
A．brought about B．gave up C．got in D．made up
A．if B．when C．thought D．because
A．final B．big C．latest D．useless
A．still B．ever C．once D．just
A．anger B．curiosity C．sorrow D．gratitude
A．left out B．grown up C．put aside D．turned up
A．mentioned B．hid C．praised D．forgave
A．would B．need C．must D．might
A．imagination B．room C．argument D．discussion
A．sad B．confused C．annoyed D．afraid
A．thought B．pride C．laugh D．guess
A．throw B．change C．return D．lose
A．felt B．done C．watched D．regretted
A．hurt B．abandoned C．disappointed D．scolded
A．better B．higher C．more D．older
A．before B．throughout C．into D．against
A．painful B．frightened C．relaxed D．asleep
A．his father B．his son C．someone D．himself
完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)
The town I live in is about to put cameras at all traffic lights to catch people who run red lights. It 1 me of how many people I’ve seen who take the yellow light as a 2 to go faster. I also can’t understand why people don’t move when the traffic light has turned green. Above all, there are those 3 situations in which someone doesn’t even 4 that the light turns red, and just keeps going. That is why so many 5 happen! All these situations make me 6 the purpose of traffic lights.
7 ,it’s even more frightening to imagine letting people make their own decisions at 8 crossroads. Do the biggest cars get to go first? Who decides who goes next? So I guess I do like the idea of a system to 9 traffic. And I’ll do my best to 10 the traffic rules: to go, to be cautious, and to stop when I’m 11 to.
It occurs to me that my 12 have done much the same for me 13 teaching me how to live. They have given me many 14 lights: to get along well with others, to listen and talk to them, to help others, and to 15 with joy and purpose. They have also given me some red lights 16 my life goes astray(误入歧途): not to be greedy, to keep my temper, and to control my desires. And there 17 have been some yellow caution lights: to watch how much I drink, to keep control of my behavior, and to 18 school regularly and work hard.
If I obey these rules, my life will be as 19 as it can be. Just as I’m wise to pay attention to the traffic lights when I’m walking across the street, I’m wise to pay attention to the“ 20 signals”given to me by my parents.
A．suggests B．robs C．reminds D．warns
A．sight B．signal C．message D．switch
A．instant B．exciting C．dangerous D．cautious
A．notice B．sense C．remember D．feel
A．events B．problems C．situations D．accidents
A．think of B．wonder about C．care for D．worry about
A．Besides B．Anyway C．Instead D．However
A．noisy B．narrow C．crowded D．key
A．control B．direct C．improve D．serve
A．learn B．obey C．protect D．carry
A．supposed B．used C．addicted D．delighted
A．teachers B．friends C．leaders D．parents
A．in charge of B．in face of C．in terms of D．in danger of
A．safe B．green C．beneficial D．helpful
A．live B．share C．work D．communicate
A．unless B．when C．before D．till
A．still B．even C．only D．also
A．start B．attend C．leave D．miss
A．good B．colorful C．meaningful D．healthy
A．traffic B．light C．life D．confidence
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
I have decided to test myself every day in a different way. Today’s test: practice the art of 41 . It is something so simple, but so 42 to those who need a kind heart and a good listener. Sometimes, we all need someone to listen to us with no 43 . We just want to be heard. 44 , I really made sure that I listened to everyone who spoke to me throughout the day, 45 I was busy.
As I was 46 in the break room today, I had a conversation with a colleague I 47 talked to. She always looked like a(n) 48 lady, but today she seemed very troubled. So I sat down with my lunch and jut listened. She told me about her unlucky 49 who was killed in a car crash last year, and her 50 daughter who struggled with pain every day. I listened and made her 51 much better. At the end of the 52 , I gave the single mother a big warm hug and told her how 53 she was. Of course, we 54 friends after our first talk.
What an inspiration she is! 55 with so many difficulties and frustrations, she still comes to work with a positive attitude, a 56 to succeed and a big smile every day.
I believe everyone 57 a ray of sunshine in their life, someone that will give them a big warm 58 and say, “You’re amazing!” I hope I can always get need like this met.
I am a dreamer, but I move forward while I dream. My dream is to 59 happiness. Tomorrow, I will write “You are beautiful! :)” on small cards, hide them everywhere, and make those I work with 60 them by chance and with joy.
A．listening B．speaking C．reading D．writing
A．complex B．funny C．common D．important
A．doubt B．concern C．opinions D．answers
A．However B．Therefore C．Besides D．Afterwards
A．if B．while C．because D．even though
A．drinking B．kidding C．sitting D．lying
A．never B．seldom C．always D．sometimes
A．lucky B．positive C．humorous D．outgoing
A．mother B．father C．husband D．son
A．sick B．lazy C．careless D．naughty
A．eat B．feel C．behave D．recover
A．day B．test C．lunch D．conversation
A．kind B．beautiful C．amazing D．hard-working
A．helped B．became C．encouraged D．comforted
A．Faced B．Shocked C．Confused D．Defeated
A．way B．will C．duty D．chance
A．has B．deserves C．appreciates D．needs
A．hand B．welcome C．hug D．home
A．share B．seek C．enjoy D．spread
A．find B．open C．receive D．read