Dear Alice,
I just received your letter. And I was very surprised to know that you decided to drop out of school and wanted to be a model（模特）.
Being a model for a living is not easy. In fact, a famous person like me has a lot of problems that you couldn’t see. I can’t eat what I like, even though I’m very hungry. Keeping thin makes me look more beautiful on the stage because no one would like to see a heavy model.
Besides, I have to wear a heavy coat in the hot sun, in a swimming suit in the cold air. And practicing walking nicely every day is tiring for me.
You might say I made much money from modeling. But my dear niece （侄女）, you have to know that money is nothing, knowledge is everything. School is important and everyone should go to school for a certain period of time. The longer they stay at school, the better they will be. Very often, I hope I can give up my job and continue my studies at school. But it is very difficult for me to go back to school again. I am too old to go back to school now.
You are a pretty young girl with a bright future. You only have one year to finish your studies in high school. A year is really short. Please do consider my words carefully before you decide. Of course, there is only one thing I care about, and that is your happiness.
Love,
Emma
【小題1】What was Emma surprised about?

A．Alice wanted to keep thin.

B．Alice decided not to do modeling.

C．Alice ate too much and became a heavy girl.

D．Alice decided not to finish her studies at school.

【小題2】Emma can’t go back to school again, because _______________.

A．she is tired of being a student

B．she wants to make more money from modeling

C．she is so old that she has missed the best time in school

D．she has done a good job and makes a lot of money as a model

【小題3】How long does Alice still have to study in high school?

A．One year.

B．Two years.

C．Three years.

D．The longer, the better.

【小題4】Emma only cares about________________.

A．Alice’s beauty	B．Alice’s happiness
C．Alice’s age	D．Alice’s swimming suit

【小題5】From the letter we know that __________________.

A．Emma is a famous model

B．Emma likes being a model for a living

C．Alice will go on her studies in high school

D．Emma can eat what she likes when she is very hungry

Nick is a 14-year-old school boy. His life is full of exams and studies on weekdays. He has little free time. He thinks playing computer games is the best way to make him relax. When he has free time, he sits in front of the computer. Just like that way, he neither eats nor drinks for several hours.
Last weekend, he played games on the computer again. He was too excited and didn’t want to move. He didn’t have anything for six hours. When he had to go to the bathroom, he found he could not move. He was taken to the hospital. The doctor told him he should do some more different kinds of activities. In other words, he needs more exercise and outdoor activities to make him have a healthy body.
After coming back from the hospital, Nick follows the doctor’s advice. He often plays
soccer with his friends. Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends, but he never does it for long. Now, he lives a happy and healthy life.
【小題1】How old is Nick?

A．13.

B．14.

C．15.

D．16.

【小題2】Nick likes _____________ in his free time.

A．riding a bike	B．playing the guitar
C．playing computer games	D．having a school trip

【小題3】Who took Nick to the hospital?

A．His dad.

B．His mom.

C．His neighbor.

D．We are not sure.

【小題4】Why was Nick taken to the hospital?

A．Because he was too excited.

B．Because he had a cold in the morning.

C．Because he was too nervous of his studies.

D．Because he couldn’t move after playing computer games so long.

【小題5】Nick should ______________ to follow the doctor's advice.

A．go to a movie	B．listen to music
C．take more exercise	D．play computer games

Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses (吻). So, I really doubt (懷疑) whether (是否) there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to make money to pay the schooling for me. They don’t act in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV, and sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even impossible.
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt (被子). I asked her if there was love between them. She stopped her work and looked up with surprise. Then she bowed (彎下) her head and continued sewing the quilt. I was very worried because I thought I hurt her. But after a few minutes she said, “Look at this thread (線). Sometimes it appears, but most of the time it disappears in the quilt. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly (幾乎不) be seen anywhere or anytime, but it’s really there, and makes the quilt long-lasting.” I listened carefully but I couldn’t understand her until the next spring.
My mother suddenly got sick seriously and had to stay in the hospital for a one-month treatment. Every morning and dusk (黃昏) after she returned from the hospital, my father helped my mother walk slowly on the country road. There were many beautiful flowers, green grass and trees, and the sun gently shone them through the leaves. All of these made up the most beautiful picture in the world. Reading their eyes, I knew they loved each other deeply. From this experience, I realized that love was just a thread in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.
【小題1】The writer thought his parents’ life was not          .

A．romantic

B．great

C．meaningful

D．true

【小題2】Valentine’s Day may be a day for          .

A．parents

B．lovers

C．classmates

D．friends

【小題3】What do the sentences in the third paragraph show?

A．There is beautiful scenery (風景) everywhere in the world.

B．There is true life anywhere in the world.

C．There is no love without beautiful flowers.

D．There is really love between the writer’s parents.

【小題4】What is the best title of this passage?

A．Love should appear every day.

B．Love means flowers.

C．Love is just the thread of a quilt.

D．True love.

【小題5】The writer did not understand their parents’ love until________.

A．the next summer

B．his mother was dead

C．his mother was seriously ill

D．he himself grew up

One day, many years ago, when I was working as a psychologist(心理學家) in England, David was brought into my office. His face was pale（蒼白的）and he looked at his own feet.
David lost his father when he was two years old and lived with his mother and grandfather ever since. But the year before he turned 13, his grandfather died and his mother was killed in a car accident. His teacher told me that he refused to talk to others from then on.
How could I help him?
David didn't say a word. As he was leaving, I put my hand on his shoulder."Come back next week if you like. "I said.
He came and I suggested we play a game of chess. He agreed. After that we played chess every Wednesday afternoon--in complete silence. Usually, he arrived earlier than agreed.   It seemed  that he liked to be with me. But why didn't he ever look at me?
"Perhaps he simply needs someone to share his pain （痛苦）with," I thought.
Months later, when I was looking at his head, he suddenly looked up at me. "It's your turn," he said. After that day, David started talking. He finally got friends in school and he even joined a bicycle club. He wrote to me a few times. Now he had re ally started to live his life.
Maybe I gave David something. But I learned a lot from him. I learned how time makes it possible to get over what seems to be painful. David showed me how to help people like him. All they need is a shoulder to cry on, a friendly touch and an ear that listens.
【小題1】When David was brought into the writer's office, ___________.

A．he said hello to the writer

B．he seemed happy

C．he looked at his own feet

D．he smiled at the writer

【小題2】David's father died when he was  ________ years old.

A．13

B．2

C．5

D．6

【小題3】To help David, the writer __________every Wednesday afternoon.

A．played chess with him	B．told stories to him
C．wrote letters to him	D．played soccer with him

【小題4】What club did David join?

A．A chess club.

B．An art club.

C．An English club.

D．A bicycle club.

【小題5】Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．David finally got friends in school.

B．After his father died, David refused to talk to others.

C．David didn't say anything to the Writer at first.

D．At last the writer learned a lot from David.

It was the end-of-year party. I had asked my mother to make us cookies. Mom’s chocolate chips were the best.
But two o’clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had come and gone, dropping off their cakes and chips. The party went on, but I wouldn’t leave the window. The three o’clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts（思緒）. I took my bag and walked out for home.
The house was empty when I arrived. My heart was filled with anger(氣憤). For the first time in my life, my mother had let me down. I was lying on my bed when I heard her coming. “Robbie,” she called out. “Where are you?” She was looking for me from room to room, but I kept silent.
When she came into my room, I didn’t move, “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I got busy and forgot.” She began to laugh. I couldn’t believe it. I turned over and found that she wasn’t laughing but crying. “I’m so sorry. I let my boy down.” she cried like a little girl. I had never seen my mother cry.
“It’s OK, Mom,” I said, “We didn’t need those cookies. There was plenty of food to eat. Don’t cry. It’s all right.” We held each other in a long hug(擁抱).
【小題1】The story happened __________.

A．on my birthday	B．during Christmas
C．before Christmas	D．before the New Year’s Day

【小題2】I didn’t leave the window because I want __________.

A．to see my mother coming

B．to enjoy the party

C．to get some cookies

D．to go to the party

【小題3】What does the underlined phrase “l(fā)et me down ” mean in Chinese?

A．讓我下來

B．讓我平靜

C．讓我失望

D．讓我討厭

【小題4】I lay down on my bed and kept silent because I was __________.

A．tired

B．a(chǎn)ngry

C．hungry

D．excited

【小題5】Why did my mother cry and say that she was sorry?

A．Because she was too busy.

B．Because she couldn’t find me.

C．Because she didn’t support me.

D．Because she needed those cookies.

You may know the English letters A, B and C. But do you know there are people called ABC? You may like eating bananas. But do you know there is such a thing a “banana person”? How strange! Are these people from “another earth”? No, they are just Chinese people like you and me.
ABC means American-born Chinese. An ABC is a Chinese, but was born in the United States. Sometimes, people call an ABC a “banana person”. A banana is yellow outside and white inside. So, when a person is a banana, he or she is white inside-thinking like a Westerner and yellow outside-looking like a Chinese.
Do you know why? Usually, ABCs know little about China or the Chinese language. Some of them don’t speak Chinese. Also, they are not interested in Chinese politics.
But if ABCs can not speak Chinese, can we still call them Chinese people? Yes, of course. They are Chinese. They are overseas Chinese. These people may be citizens (公民) of another country like the US, Canada or Singapore. But they have Chinese blood. Their parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents were from China. They all have black eyes and black hair. But they are not Chinese citizens. They are not people of the People’s Republic of China. For example, we all know the famous scientist, C.N.Yang(楊振寧). He got the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1957. Chinese people love him. But he is an American citizen.
【小題1】“ABC” in this passage means “     ”.

A．three English letters	B．a(chǎn) kind of banana
C．Chinese born in America	D．Americans born in China

【小題2】Chinese in Western countries are called “banana persons” because       .

A．their bodies are white inside but yellow outside

B．they think like Westerners but look like Chinese

C．they were born in China but got to study in America

D．they like to eat bananas

【小題3】The underlined word “blood” may probably mean       .

A．國籍

B．血統(tǒng)

C．愛心

D．皮膚

【小題4】This passage mainly talks about ______.
A. different kind of bananas                B. the life story of C.N.Yang
C. the Noble Prize                      D. overseas Chinese

A good reader is very much like a driver. He must change his reading speed to fit(適應(yīng))what he is reading and what he is reading for, just as a driver does to fit the road situation.
A good reader may read at 1,000 WPM(每分鐘…詞 )when he looks for something for a report in the library. But once he finds what he needs, he may slow down to 100 WPM. A good reader may read newspapers and story books at 600 WPM. But he may read his science or maths books at 150 WPM. Just as a driver has a wide change of driving speed, so a good reader has a wide change of reading speed.
【小題1】The writer thinks that a good reader can____.

A．read at 1,000 WPM	B．read as fast as he can
C．change the reading speeds as he needs	D．spend more time reading

【小題2】A good reader may read fastest____.

A．when he reads newspapers and story books

B．when he reads something most useful to him

C．when he is trying to work out a maths problem

D．when he is trying to find something for his report

【小題3】Which is the best title for this passage?

A．The Importance of Having Fast Reading Speed

B．A Good Reader and His Reading Speed.

C．The Best Way of Fast Reading

D．The Difference Between Driving and Reading

I am an adult. I’m not a kid. I’m a grown-up. I need some money. I have no food. I am hungry. I am not thirsty, because water is everywhere. But water has no taste. I want to drink a soda. I want to drink milk. I want to drink coffee. I want to work. Nobody will hire（雇傭 ）me. Nobody is hiring anybody. Companies are firing（解雇） people. Everyone is looking for a job. I cannot pay my rent（付房租）. I will have to live in my car. I don’t want to live in my car. My car has no bed. Everyone should live in a house or a flat. Many people don’t have a car. They live on the street. A street has no bed. Nobody should live on the street. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to go. Maybe I will go to church（教堂）. Maybe I will find help there.
【小題1】I need some money because I  _______.

A．need water to drink	B．need food to eat
C．don’t need water to drink	D．don’t need food to eat

【小題2】I don’t want to buy  _______to drink.

A．soda

B．milk

C．water

D．coffee

【小題3】I want to live __________.

A．in a house

B．in my car

C．on the street

D．in the church

【小題4】I am looking for ________

A．water

B．a(chǎn) job

C．a(chǎn) house

D．the church

【小題5】Which is wrong?

A．Companies are firing people.	B．I can pay my rent .
C．I will go to church for help.	D．Nobody should live on the street.

Mary has a lot of hobbies. She usually gets up early so she can run before work. She doesn't often have time to skate, but she sometimes goes on Saturdays during the winter. Mary often rides a horse near here home. She sometimes goes after work, but she usually goes horseback riding on Sundays. She loves music. She always goes to choir practice(合唱團訓練) on Wednesday evenings and sings in church(教堂) on Sundays. She doesn't have much money, so she seldom(很少) goes to concerts（音樂會） in the city. She seldom watches TV because she likes doing things outside. She usually goes to the gym（體育館） if it's raining outside. She isn't often alone（獨自的） because she has a lot of friends. She sometimes does something alone, but she usually does her hobbies with one of her friends. She's a happy woman!
【小題1】Mary often gets up early because she wants to _______.

A．have breakfast

B．clean her room

C．run

D．skate

【小題2】Mary usually goes horseback riding on _______.

A．Wednesday

B．Sunday

C．Saturday

D．workday

【小題3】Mary seldom ________ because she likes doing things outside.

A．goes to concerts

B．goes to the gym

C．goes to church

D．watches TV

【小題4】Mary seldom goes to concerts because she ______

A．isn’t rich(富有的)

B．is busy

C．doesn’t like music

D．has many friends

【小題5】Which of the following is not true?

A．Mary is often alone.	B．Mary likes running.
C．Mary has lots of friends.	D．Mary is a happy woman.

0ur village carpenter(木匠)，John Hill, came one day and made a dining table for my wife.  He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two window.  When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill( 賬單) for his job.
My wife said to me quietly, “That’s his ninth cup of tea today. ”But she said in a loud voice, “It’s a beautiful table, dear, isn’t it?” “I’ll decide about that when I see the bill,” I said.  John laughed and gave me his bill for the work.  I read:
One dining table                 10^th November, 2011
Cost of wood                    $ 17:00
Paint                           $1. 50
Work, 8 hours($1 an hour)          $8. 00
Total                           $36. 50
When I was looking at the bill, John said,” It’s been a fine day, hasn’t it? Quite sunny. ”
“Yes,” I said.  “I’m glad it’s only the 10^th of November. ”
“Me, too,” said John, “you wait—it will be a lot colder by the end of the month. ”
“Yes, colder—and more expensive! Dining table will be $20 more expensive on November 30^th, won’t they, John?”
John looked hard at me for half a minute.  Was there a little smile in his two blue eyes? I gave his bill back to him.
“If it’s not too much trouble, John,” I said,“Please add(加) it up again, You can forget the date-------”
I paid him $26. 50 and he was happy to get it.
【小題1】Why did John talk about the weather when the writer was looking at the bill?

A． Because he didn’t want the writer to check the bill carefully.

B． Because he wanted to show that he was really polite.

C．Because it’s a good way to communicate with each other.

D．Because he wanted to confirm what the weather was like.

【小題2】How much would John ask for if he made a dining table on the last day of December according to his bill?

A．$ 26. 50

B．$36. 50

C．$56. 50

D．$57. 50

【小題3】When John got the money, he was happy because__________________________.

A． he felt lucky to get the money for his work

B． he got paid a lot more than usual for his work

C． he got as much money as he had expected

D． he didn’t have to add up the costs any more

【小題4】Which word can best describe John?

A． Clever

B． Silly

C． Dishonest

D． Humorous(幽默的)

【小題5】What can we learn about John from the passage?

A． He made a mistake carelessly in the bill

B． He tried to get more money for his work.

C． He had written the bill before the writer got home

D． He had talked about the bill with the writer’s wife.