"Can I see my baby?" asked the happy new mother. When the baby was in her arms, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The baby was born without ears.
Time proved(證明) that the baby’s hearing was very good though he had no ears. He got on well with his classmates. But one day, he said to his mother, tears in his eyes, "A big boy called me a freak (畸形的)."
　　The boy’s father asked the family doctor. "Could nothing be done?"
　　"I believe I could graft (植入) on a pair of outer ears if they could be got," the doctor said. They tried to find a person who was helpful for the young man.
　　One day, his father said to the son, "You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But we must keep it a secret who the person is."
　　The operation(手術(shù)) was a great success, and a new person appeared. His cleverness and hard work made him a very successful person. He married and lived a happy life.
　　He once asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? I could do enough for him or her."
　　"I do not believe you could, "said the father." The agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."
　　For years they kept it a secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother’s body. Slowly, the father raised the thick, brown hair. To his surprise, the son found his mother had no outer ears.
　　"Mother said she was glad she never needed to cut her hair," his father said in a low voice, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?”
【小題1】The mother was surprised to see her baby for the first time because the baby__.

Although English is not as old as Chinese, it is spoken by many people around the world every day. English speakers are always making up new words, and we are often able to know where most come from.
Sometimes, however, no one may really know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers are called “hamburgers”, especially when they are not made with ham(火腿)? About a hundred years ago, some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They didn’t speak good English, but they ate good food. When some Americans saw them eating round pieces of beef, they asked the Germans what they were. The Germans didn’t understand the question and answered, “We come from Hamburg.” One of these Americans owned a restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round pieces of bread with beef in them and started selling them. Such bread came to be called “hamburgers”. Today, “Hamburgers” are sold in many countries around the world.
Whether this story is true or not, it certainly is interesting. Knowing why any word has a certain meaning is interesting, too. This reason, for most English words, can be found in any large English dictionary.
【小題1】English is spoken by many people around the world every day, but English is ______.

Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with excitement.
I followed her to the bush and found a wolf! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up suddenly! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was unbelievable!
I rushed to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have killed the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was kind to Becky. So we called the vet(獸醫(yī)) finally.
Becky named the wolf Ralph and she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he disappeared but came back several days later.
On Becky's first day of school, we could see Ralph’s sadness. After Becky left school, Ralph lay by the side of the road and waited. When Becky returned, he got happy again. This continued throughout Becky’s school years.
Twelve years passed.
One day we heard that a wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were worried about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound. Becky held his head kindly and comforted him. We hoped he could come through. However, he died.
Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush—two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s child! Before he died, Ralph brought his child to us! He knew he would be safe here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph, I was moved.
“Don’t be afraid, little…little Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”
【小題1】The phrase “felt dry” in the second paragraph probably means “______.”

"Can I see my baby?" asked the happy new mother. When the baby was in her arms, she couldn't believe her eyes. The baby was born without ears.

Time proved(證明) that the baby's hearing was very good though he had no ears. He got on well with his classmates. But one day, he said to his mother, tears in his eyes, "A big boy called me a freak (畸形的)."

　　The boy's father asked the family doctor. "Could nothing be done?"

　　"I believe I could graft (植入) on a pair of outer ears if they could be got," the doctor said. They tried to find a person who was helpful for the young man.

　　One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But we must keep it a secret who the person is."

　　The operation(手術(shù)) was a great success, and a new person appeared. His cleverness and hard work made him a very successful person. He married and lived a happy life.

　　He once asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? I could do enough for him or her."

　　"I do not believe you could, "said the father." The agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."

　　For years they kept it a secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother's body. Slowly, the father raised the thick, brown hair. To his surprise, the son found his mother had no outer ears.

　　"Mother said she was glad she never needed to cut her hair," his father said in a low voice, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?”

1.The mother was surprised to see her baby for the first time because the baby__.

2.The sentence"...a new person appeared." means"______."

3.Why did the boy's mother never cut her hair?

4.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

5.Which is the best title for the passage?

Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with excitement.
I followed her to the bush and found a wolf! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up suddenly! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was unbelievable!
I rushed to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have killed the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was kind to Becky. So we called the vet(獸醫(yī)) finally.
Becky named the wolf Ralph and she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he disappeared but came back several days later.
On Becky's first day of school, we could see Ralph’s sadness. After Becky left school, Ralph lay by the side of the road and waited. When Becky returned, he got happy again. This continued throughout Becky’s school years.
Twelve years passed.
One day we heard that a wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were worried about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound. Becky held his head kindly and comforted him. We hoped he could come through. However, he died.
Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush—two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s child! Before he died, Ralph brought his child to us! He knew he would be safe here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph, I was moved.
“Don’t be afraid, little…little Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”

1. 1.

   The phrase “felt dry” in the second paragraph probably means “______.”

   1. A.
      felt thirsty
   2. B.
      felt happy
   3. C.
      felt nervous
   4. D.
      felt sad
2. 2.

   When the wolf Ralph died, Becky was _____ years old.

   1. A.
      three
   2. B.
      nine
   3. C.
      twelve
   4. D.
      fifteen
3. 3.

   Ralph brought his child to Becky because______.

   1. A.
      his child had to be cared for at once.
   2. B.
      he thought Becky was sure to treat his child well.
   3. C.
      his child was also hurt badly.
   4. D.
      he had to leave some time to look for food.
4. 4.

   The best title for this passage is______.

   1. A.
      The best pet of children
   2. B.
      A kind animal
   3. C.
      A kind child
   4. D.
      Becky’s good friend