It was about midday. I’d left work early in the morning to cash a cheque. I walked along to the bank, and found that there weren’t too many people about ten or eleven customers in there, which was pretty unusual for those central city banks.
I waited until it was my turn and just went up to the desk and started to talk to the bank clerk. He had a really strange expression on his face -- just sort of blank stare at least I thought he was looking at me and then I realized he was staring over my shoulder.
I began to turn round to see what he was looking at. At the same moment the outside bank guard came flying through the door and lay face down on the floor and following him through the door were three frightening masked men. They were carrying guns; at least I think the one in front was carrying a gun. Whether or not they said anything at that point I can’t remember to this day, or whether people just automatically put their hands up I’ve just no idea.
For a few moments there was just total silence, suddenly broken by the telephone ringing and I remember thinking and wondering who was on the other end of the telephone. Nobody went to answer the telephone, so this thing just kept on ringing and ringing. Then two of the masked men went to the counter, jumped over it and got the cashiers and the bank clerks to start filling the bags with cash. While the two were getting the money, the one at the door who was covering us with the gun was a bit frightened. He started swearing at them, and telling them to hurry up, to get a move on. They jumped back over the counter. One of them slipped as he landed on the floor and fell over and the other two swore at him again. They left through the door. Warning us, “Don’t move, stay like that with your hands up for ten minutes.” And then they just disappeared. Again back to total silence. People put their hands down, I put my hands down but I just stayed exactly where I was.
小題1:What does the writer mean by saying “…a pretty unusual number for those central banks” in the first paragraph?

A．More customers than usual were staying in the bank.

B．Less bank clerks than expected were in the bank.

C．There were often more than a dozen customers in the bank.

D．More banks should be open to serve customers in the city center.

小題2: The bank clerk wore a blank expression on his face probably because ________.

A．he was feeling upset at that moment

B．he felt puzzled and sensed something terrible

C．he was required to keep silence

D．he was threatened with a gun by robbers

小題3:Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．The customers didn’t wait in line but jumped the queue because of the confusion.

B．All the people in the bank except the writer put their hands up automatically.

C．Nobody answered the phone because all the clerks were busy with work.

D．the bank workers were forced to fill the robbers’ bags with cash.

小題4: What’s the best title of this passage?

A．A Street Gang	B．A Strange Bank
C．A Bank Robbery	D．A Horrible Adventure

Two Chinese farmers who became an overnight sensation(轟動)when their heart-rendingversion of a famous pop song appeared on the Internet took to the stage in front of thousands offans in Shanghai last Saturday.
Wang Xu, 44，and Liu Gang, 29, sang “In the Spring" alongside the song's star composerWang Feng, in front of about 80,000 people at the Shanghai Stadium.
The audience buzzed with excitement and let out deafening cheers, the moment as theywere introduced on the stage and then when Liu started the first sentence of their parts of thesong.
The two migrant workers became stars after singing the tearjerker(催人淚下的）songduring an evening drinking session in a 6-square-meter rented room in a late August evening. Afriend recorded the performance on a cell phone and posted it on the Internet.
“If someday I am dead, please bury me in the spring," they sing. Wang's penetrating chorus,delivered with his eyes closed, has moved thousands to tears.
Wang and Liu consider the song a true portrait of lower-class groups like themselves."With no credit card, no girlfriend, or a home with hot water, but only a guitar, I am singinghappily, on streets, under bridges or in wild country, though nobody pays attention to themusic," they sing.
To support his wife and two sons, Wang came to Beijing in 2000 from the countryside andhas worked as a boiler man, and street peddler, before becoming a medical warehouse keeper,with a monthly pay of around 1,500 yuan. Little is left after he pays 600 yuan for rent and buysfood.
Liu came to Beijing in 2002. “I wanted to try my luck in the big city，，，he said. He hadworked as a guard, roadside peddler, and porter, but never had a stable job. Street performingwas his main income, even after he married and became a father three years ago.
Wang and Liu are still uncertain where their fame will lead. Wang has started learning touse a computer. They even have a microblog(微博）account to communicate with fans.
小題1:Wang Xu and Liu Gang first became nationally known after______.

A．they sang the song “In the Spring" with a star composer Wang Feng

B．the video of them singing “In the Spring" was posted on the Internet

C．they sang on streets and under bridges

D．they started their microblog

小題2:People like Wang and Liu's version of “In the Spring" because ______ .

A．they sang the song better than other singers

B．they were introduced to the public by the song writer himself

C．it was specially composed for them two

D．it is a heartfelt expression of the two singers as migrant workers

小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that   ______.

A．migrant workers' conditions will be improved soon

B．they will learn to write songs on computers

C．a(chǎn) song showing people's real life and feelings is more likely to be accepted

D．singers for migrant workers are more likely to become popular

小題4:The best possible title for the passage is______.

A．Internet Farmer Stars Make Stage Appearance

B．“In the Spring"—A Touching Song

C．A Successful Internet Performance

D．No Pains, No Gains

Chuck was thirteen when he came home from the hospital. He came home not because he was getting better but because he wanted to be with people he knew and loved when he died. I came by the house to visit him and his family several times a week during his treatment. On most of my visits, Chuck was very weak. But the last time I saw him alive, he was awake. “I have got something for you.” He pulled out a piece of crumpled (弄皺的) paper from under his pillow. “I want you to give this to my mom and dad after I die. You’ll know when it’s right, I guess, won’t you?”
“What is it?” I asked. “It’s a list of all the fun we had, and all the happy time when we laughed.” I almost gasped in great surprise.
“Like what?” I asked quietly, trying to regain my calmness.
“Like the time when Mom, Dad, Chrissie, Linda and me were dressed up as fruits and Dad was driving us to a costume party. Dad was a bunch of grapes and I was an apple, and the others were different things like bananas and pears.”
And a policewoman pulled Dad over for speeding. When the policewoman came up to the car, she looked and started laughing so hard that she could hardly stand up. And we all started laughing and she said, “Where are you all heading — a salad bar?” Dad said he was sorry to be speeding, but his kids were getting so ripe（成熟的） that they were starting to draw flies. And she laughed till she had to take off her dark glasses and wiped tears from her eyes.”
Chuck laughed and so did I. The list was full of laughing and fun. What a wonderful gift, I thought.
小題1:Why did Chuck go home from the hospital?

A．He had been cured by the doctors.

B．He got better and better.

C．He missed his friends and teachers.

D．He wanted to be with people who he knew and loved when he died.

小題2:What did Chuck write on the list?

A．What to do after his death.	B．His thoughts about fear, anger and disappointment.
C．What to do before his death.	D．All the happy time he had with his family.

小題3: Why did the policewoman laugh when she looked into the car?

A．Because she mistook the children for fruits.

B．Because she saw some flies around the children.

C．Because she was frightened.

D．Because the children were dressed in a funny way.

小題4: The underlined expression “pulled Dad over” probably here means “________”.

A．stopped Dad	B．punished Dad
C．put Dad into prison	D．knocked Dad down

On numerous drives throughout my childhood, my mother would suddenly pull over the car to examine a flower by the side of the road or rescue a beetle (甲蟲) from certain tragedy while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.
Though Mother’s Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related. My mom has been “green” since she became concerned about the environment. Part of this habit was born of thrift (節(jié)儉). Like her mother and her grandmother before her, Mom saves glass jars, empty cheese containers and re-uses her plastic bags.
Mom creates a kind of give-and-take relationship with wildlife in her yard. She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to fend off the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders out at night, it’s likely they’ll be knocked down by a family of raccoons (浣熊). Spiders that make their way into the house are captured (捕獲) in a juice glass and set loose in the garden.
I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for spent (開敗的) dandelions (蒲公英) to parachute; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn’t need to lecture; she didn’t need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came compassion and an instinct (本能) for preservation.
I am slowing down and it isn’t because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself. I’ve begun to save glass jars and re-use packing envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other through the palm (棕櫚樹) leaves above my porch (門廊).
Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands. Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with a sweetness I immediately wanted to share with my mom.
小題1:Why does the author say Earth Day is connected with Mother’s Day?

A．Because Mother’s Day falls shortly after Earth Day.

B．To stress that all the older women in her family are environmentalists.

C．To stress how much her mother cares about the environment.

D．Because on Mother’s Day her mother shows her how to be friend to nature.

小題2: According to the fourth paragraph, which of the following is the author’s mother NOT likely to do?

A．When she came across a lost dog, she helped it to find its shelter.

B．In spring, she spent some time watching the plants growing in the garden.

C．She joined in the campaign to encourage the public to contribute actively towards a better environment.

D．She walked to a nearby shop which was within ten minutes’ walk rather than drove there.

小題3:What can we conclude from the article?

A．The author’s mother is very patient with her children.

B．The author’s mother knows how to live in harmony with nature.

C．The author’s mother always took care of the wildlife that came into her yard.

D．The author’s mother used to remind her to slow down to protect the environment.

小題4: We can infer from the article that ______.

A．the author thinks that too many people now label themselves environmentalists

B．the author’s mother knows how to get rid of the wildlife in her yard

C．the author believes that only by learning to slow down, can we enjoy life

D．the author realizes that she should teach her children by example as well

小題5:What is the main idea of the last three paragraphs?

A．How the author taught her children to protect the environment.

B．How the author’s mother influenced the author.

C．What inspired the author to slow down and enjoy life.

D．How the author spent her time with her children.

Several years ago， a television reporter was talking to three of the most important people in America. One was a very rich banker， another owned one of the largest companies in the world， and the third owned many buildings in the center of New York.
The reporter was talking to them about being important.
“How do we know if someone is really important？” the reporter asked the banker.
The banker thought for a few moments and then said， “I think anybody who is invited to the White House to meet the President of the United States is really important.”
The reporter then turned to the owner of the very large company. “Do you agree with that？” she asked.
The man shook his head， “No. I think the President invites a lot of people to the White House. You‘d only be important if while you were visiting the President， there was a telephone call from the president of another country， and the President of the US said he was too busy to answer it.”
The reporter turned to the third man. “Do you think so？”
“No， I don‘t，” he said. “I don’t think that makes the visitor important. That makes the President important.”
“Then what would make the visitor important？” the reporter and the other two men asked.
“Oh， I think if the visitor to the White House was talking to the President and the phone rang， and the President picked up the receiver， listened and then said， ‘It’s for you.‘ ”
小題1: There are _______ in this passage.

A．two men and two women	B．three men and one woman
C．three women and one man	D．four women

小題2: The banker thought _______.

A．he was really important because he was a rich banker	B．the visitor to the White House was really important
C．the visitor who met the President of the United States
D．the reporter was really important

小題3: The owner of the very large company thought _______.

A．she was really important because she owned one of the largest companies

B．the banker was really important

C．the owner of many buildings in the center of New York was really important

D．the visitor would be really important if while he was visiting the President， the President would not answer any telephone call

小題4: The owner of many buildings thought _______.

A．he was really important because he owned many buildings in the center of New York

B．the owner of the very large company was really important

C．the visitor was really important if he talking to the President and the President received a telephone call for the visitor

D．the person who worked in the White House was really important

A TAXI driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Inspiring speakers charge thousands of dollars to give his kind of training to corporate directors and staff.  It cost me only a ＄12 taxi ride.
I had flown into Dallas just for the purpose of calling on a client. Time was important and my plan included a quick turn – around trip from and back to the airport. A clean taxi pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As be got in the driver’s seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for a “Candid Camera!” Wouldn’t you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, “Obviously you take great pride in you work. You must have a story to tell.”
“You bet,” he replied, “I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my right position in life, somewhere I could feel proud of being the best I could be.
I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day’s work and done it well. I evaluated my personal property and, I became a taxi driver!
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I jus have to meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXEED the customer’s expectations! I like the sound of being ‘great’ better than just being ‘a(chǎn)verage’. ”
Did I tip him big time? You bet!
The taxi driver taught me a great life lesson: Go an extra mile when providing any service to others. And there is no good or bad job you can make any job good.
小題1:What lesson did the author learn from the taxi driver?

A．How to make the best use of time.

B．How to do better in the service business.

C．How to turn an interest into your career.

D．How to become a motivational speaker.

小題2:Why did the author look around for a “Candid Camera”?

A．Because he was afraid he would be photographed in the cab.

B．Because he was worried what the driver could be up to.

C．Because he was amazed by the way the driver was treating him.

D．Because he wasn’t interested in the tapes offered by the driver

小題3:It can be inferred from the story that          .

A．the taxi driver couldn’t accept just being average

B．the author was anxious to get back to meet a client

C．when the author waited for a taxi at the airport, he was not in a rush

D．the taxi driver loved to play his favorite music during rides

小題4:According to the story, the taxi driver        .

A．was dissatisfied wit his present job

B．was once often rewarded for being a model worker

C．enjoyed offering his customers more than they expected

D．was forced to become a taxi driver to support his family

The famous director of a big and expensive movie planned to film a beautiful sunset over the ocean, so that the audiences could see his hero and heroine in front of it at the end of the film as they said goodbye to each other forever. He sent his camera crew out one evening to film the sunset for him.
The next morning he said to the men, “Have you provided me with that sunset?”
“No, sir,” the men answered.
The director was angry. “Why not?”  he asked.
“Well, sir,” one of the men answered, “we’re on the east coast here, and the sun sets in the west. We can get you a sunrise over the sea, if necessary, but not a sunset.”
“But I want a sunset!” the director shouted. “Go to the airport, take the next flight to the west coast, and get one.”
But then a young secretary had an idea. “Why don’t you photograph a sunrise,” she suggested, “and then play it backwards? Then it’ll look like a sunset.”
“That’s a very good idea!” the director said. Then he turned to the camera crew and said, “Tomorrow morning I want you to get me a beautiful sunrise over the sea.”
The camera crew went out early the next morning and filmed a bright sunrise over the beach in the middle of a beautiful bay. Then at nine o’clock they took it to the director. “Here it is, sir,” they said, and gave it to him. He was very pleased.
They all went into the studio. “All right,” the director explained, “now our hero and heroine are going to say goodbye. Run the film backwards so that we can see the ‘sunset’ behind them.”
The “sunset” began, but after a quarter of a minute, the director suddenly put his face in his hands and shouted to the camera crew to stop.
The birds in the film were flying backwards, and the waves on the sea were going away from the beach.
小題1:One evening, the director sent his camera crew out _________.

A．to film a scene on the sea	B．to find an actor and an actress
C．to watch a beautiful sunset	D．to meet the audience

小題2: Why did the director want to send his crew to the west coast?

A．Because he changed his mind about getting a sunset.

B．Because he was angry with his crew.

C．Because he wanted to get a scene of sunset.

D．Because it was his secretary’s suggestion.

小題3: The director wanted to film a sunset over the ocean because ______.

A．it went well with the separation of the hero and heroine

B．when they arrived at the beach it was already in the evening

C．it was more moving than a sunrise

D．the ocean looked more beautiful at sunset

小題4: After the “sunset” began, the director suddenly put his face in his hands ______.

A．because he was moved to tears

B．a(chǎn)s he saw everything in the film moving backwards

C．a(chǎn)s the sunrise did not look as beautiful as he had imagined

D．because he was disappointed with the performance of the hero and heroine

小題5: Which of the following is NOT true?

A．The crew had to follow the secretary’s advice.

B．If you want to see a sunrise, the east coat is the place to go.

C．The camera crew wasn’t able to film the scene the first day.

D．The director ordered his crew to stop filming the “sunset”.

Dear Abby,
This is my first letter to you, although I have been reading your column for many years. I need an outside opinion.
I am a grandmother in my 70s and have just returned from visiting my daughter, her husband and their three dearly loved children--all under the age of 5--and I'm upset with some of their parenting ways.
For example: They lock the doors to their children's bedrooms at night because the children might get out of their beds and wander around the house, and we may not hear them."
If one child should get punishment, all three are punished, and if one child says a naughty
word, all three are given hot sauce (辣醬汁) in the mouth. I know these parents love their children very much, but are these ways of disciplining them wise? Please understand, it is not my aim to interfere (干涉).
--- Gram
Dear Gram,
Children's bedroom doors should not be locked. Should a flash fire break out, it would be a nightmare (噩夢).Punishing all the children when only one has earned the punishment is a good way to make them grow up to hate each other. Children who use "naughty" words should not be punished with hot sauce in the mouth-they should be taught the proper and acceptable word to use instead of the "naughty" word. 
小題1:Gram's daughter _____________.

A．is very strict with her children	B．does not love her three children
C．a(chǎn)lways punishes her children at night	D．often gives her children hot sauce

小題2: Gram writes the letter in order to ____________.

A．disclose her daughter's ways as a mother

B．criticize her daughter's ways as a mother

C．express her anger about her daughter s ways as a mom

D．get others' opinion about her daughter's ways as a mom

小題3: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Gram seems to care for her grand children very much.

B．Gram is against some of her daughter's ways as a mom.

C．Abby is for only one of Gram's daughter's ways as a mom.

D．Abby agrees with Gram about her daughter's ways as a mom.

完形填空(共20小題; 每小題1.5分，滿分30分)
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從所給的 A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
Time is the easiest thing in the world to waste—the most difficult to control. When you look ahead, it may appear you have 36        you need. Yet it has a way of slipping 37        your fingers like quicksand. You may suddenly find that there is no way to stretch the little time you have 38        to cover all your obligations. For example, 39           a beginning student looking ahead to a full term you may feel that you have an oversupply of time on your hands.40      toward the end of the term you may be 41         because you are running out of time. How can you do? —Control!
Time is 42        . If you don't control it, it will control you. If you don't make it work for you, it will 43        you. You must become the master of time, not the servant. “Study hard and play hard” is an old saying, but it still 44       . You have plenty of time for classes, study, work, and play if you use your time 45        . It is not how much time you allocate for study that 46          but how much you learn when you do study.
Too much wasted time is 47         medicine. The more time you waste, the easier it is to continue wasting time.  Soon, doing nothing becomes a habit you can't 48        . You  will be       49       to wasting time. When this happens, you 50      your feeling of accomplishment and you fall by the wayside. A full schedule is a good schedule. Some students 51          to hear the time message. They refuse to 52        the fact that college life demands some53         of time control. There is no escape. So what's the next step? If you seriously want to get the time message, the next passage will give it to you. 54      — it will not only improve your grades but also free you to 55           college life more.

小題1:	A．less than B．more than C．rather than D．other than

小題2:	A．by B．between C．through D．on

小題3:	A．saved B．left C．remained D．wasted

小題4:	A．since B．because C．for D．a(chǎn)s

小題5:	A．Although B．But C．Therefore D．Otherwise

小題6:	A．a(chǎn)ngry B．brave C．worried D．eager

小題7:	A．money B．friendly C．enough D．dangerous

小題8:	A．work out B．work on C．work at D．work against

小題9:	A．makes sense B．makes no use C．makes up D．makes it

小題10:

A．immediately B．properly C．a(chǎn)pparently D．shortly

小題11:

A．counts B．a(chǎn)ccounts C．a(chǎn)pproves D．collects

小題12:

A．bad B．good C．useful D．a(chǎn)lternative

小題13:

A．get along with B．get close to C．get rid of D．get down to

小題14:

A．crazy B．determined C．a(chǎn)ddicted D．devoted

小題15:

A．a(chǎn)chieve B．a(chǎn)ppreciate C．loss D．lose

小題16:

A．hesitate B．refuse C．like D．want

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)ccept B．receive C．ignore D．imagine

小題18:

A．disagreement B．a(chǎn)greement C．degree D．standard

小題19:

A．Forget B．Remind C．Think D．Remember

小題20:

A．hate B．enjoy C．dislike D．a(chǎn)ssess

Many of us already know about several American superstitions（迷信）. Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits —if you believe in such things —and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.” This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americas will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
小題1:The passage is most probably entitled        .

A．American’s Bad Luck	B．Cross-culture and Superstitions
C．American Superstitions	D．Daily Life in Superstitions

小題2:The underlined sentence in the second paragraph “It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.” means        .

A．when you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows.

B．you will make people surprised when you try this trick

C．only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work

D．you will believe in the trick after you try it

小題3: In American’s view, the number three is a(n)         number.

A．lucky

B．unlucky

C．special

D．ordinary

小題4: On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to          .

A．save some money for the wedding

B．bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride

C．give the good luck to the bride herself

D．pass the bad luck to others

小題5: After reading the passage, we may feel it is written in a         tone.

A．formal

B．serious

C．humorous

D．critical