Each year, prizes are presented to adults who make great achievements in art, writing, science, and economics. So why not give awards to kids?
Harry Leibowitz asked himself that question in 1996. As an answer, he and his wife, Kay, created the World of Children organization and began handing out awards to kids and adults whose work has helped kids all over the world. The awards the World of Children presents are nicknamed（給……起綽號）the “ Children’s Nobel Prize”.
“You know, children are so important,” Leibowitz, a retired business manager, told me. “ We should have prizes for children if we’re going to have prizes for everything else.”
Talia Leman, from Iowa, was awarded a Founder’s Youth Award for Leadership this year. She is only 13 years old, but she has completed a lot. In 2005, she founded “ RandomKid”. Since then, it has raised more than$10 million to help kids in 48 states in the U.S. and in 19 other countries.
One place helped by RandomKid was a school built in Cambodia to enable 300 kids to go to school. The organization has also helped fix a school for 200 kids in Louisiana, and provided interactive play centers that serve more than 500 kids in hospitals in Iowa. In faraway places like Africa, RandomKid has provided money to buy water pumps（水泵）.
Talia never thought that the organization she founded would be as successful as it has become. She said, “ My first goal was to raise $1million. That seemed really high, but when you reach a goal, you always wind up reaching higher, and we actually raised $10 million.”
I asked her what advice she would offer to other young people who want to help kids in need. “ Well, I’d say the first thing would be to find an adult and tell them your idea,” Talia said. “ They’re really the people who can help, and from there I think it can just really take off.”
小題1: The purpose of the first two paragraphs is to tell us     .

A．the origin of the Nobe1 Prize

B．the achievements Harry and his wife made

C．how the “ Children’s Nobe1 Prize” was started

D．how Harry and his wife helped kids

小題2:The World of Children presents awards to those who   .

A．help the kids in the U.S	B．realize the importance of education
C．raise a lot of money for the poor	D．do a lot to help kids in need

小題3:Which of the following is TRUE about Talia?

A．She founded a hospital for 500 kids in Iowa.

B．She offered money to buy water pumps for Africans.

C．She helped teach 300 kids in a school in Cambodia.

D．She built a school for 200 kids in Louisiana.

小題4: What advice is given by Talia to those who want to help kids in need?

A．To ask for an idea from adults.	B．To set a higher goal at first.
C．To win help from adults.	D．To make an idea become popular.

After years of study, I have known there are only two types of people in this world: those who get to the airport early and those who arrive when the plane is about to take off.
If there were any justice（公正）in this world, early-airport people would be rewarded for doing the right thing. And late-airport people would be punished. But early-airport people get ulcers（潰瘍）, heart attacks and bite their fingernails to the bone. Late-airport people almost don’t realize they are flying.
A guy of that kind once said, “Don’t hurry. If you miss your flight, it’s because God doesn’t want you to go.” This is clearly a guy who is never going to get an ulcer.
Early-airport people suffer another “name”. They are called exactly what they are -wimps（窩囊廢）. I know. I was an early-airport person for years. “My baggage will get on the plane first,” I told myself. Indeed it would, which made it the last baggage they took off the plane after landing.
Another strange thing: No matter how early I showed up, I was always told that someone had called two or three years ahead of me and asked for the best seat. I thought it was a trick. I thought there was someone in America who called every airline every day and said: “Is that wimp Simon flying somewhere today? If he is , give me his seat.”
After a lifetime arguing with my wife over whether I really have to pack 24 hours in advance and set the alarm clock four hours ahead, I have learned another fact about early-airport people and late –airport people:
They always marry each other.
小題1:We can learn from the passage that     .

A．late-airport persons are often nervous

B．early-airport persons are always at ease during the flight

C．early-airport persons get their baggage first after the landing

D．late-airport persons always take things easy

小題2: Paragraph 5 mainly wants to tell us that      .

A．someone always plays tricks on the writer

B．the airlines usually fool passengers

C．early-airport persons always can’t get good seats

D．the service of airlines is very bad

小題3:This passage is written in order to     .

A．give readers tips about taking a plane

B．offer suggestions about having a good plane trip

C．express the writer’s anxiety about taking a plane

D．show people’s different attitudes toward catching planes

小題4: It could be inferred that the writer’s wife is     .

A．an early-airport woman	B．a late-airport woman
C．a hot-tempered woman	D．a sensitive woman

根據短文內容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。
I worked for a short time as a cashier（出納員）at a restaurant a few months ago. 71  One night, just before Christmas, I found a large black wallet on the floor near one of the tables. I guess I should have checked it to find out who was the owner, but I was busy at the time. Also, I imagined that if the wallet contained anything valuable, the owner would be back.
An hour later a man came up to the counter（柜臺）. 72  I asked him to describe the lost wallet, and after he described it exactly, I gave him the wallet. He expressed his sincere thanks when I handed it to him. He asked me if I had opened it, and when I told him “ No”, he opened it right away and showed that it contained nearly $800 in cash (現金). 73  
“A reward for your honesty,” he said and then turned and walked away.
74  I began wondering whether I would have been so honest if I had known what was in the wallet! I thought that if there had been no way to find the owner and no one had returned to claim（認領）it, I might have kept it. But it also came into my mind that I had in fact saved someone’s Christmas plans by finding and returning the wallet. 75  The good feeling it gave me was worth more than anything money could  buy.

A．He looked quite worried and asked if anyone had found a wallet.

B．Later I thought about it again.

C．To my surprise, he took out a twenty–dollar bill and handed it to me.

D．So I didn’t return the wallet until the owner returned.

E. I wanted to be honest, so I didn’t care much about money.
F. I also helped clear off the tables when it was especially busy.
G. For quite a long time I kept happy whenever I thought about it.

I still remember the day when my mom said, “Let’s get you some new clothes.” You can imagine that to any little girl that would mean the world, but to me it meant the universe, because we were not very rich. After she said that, all I could think about was what kinds of clothes I would choose. To my surprise, my mom allowed me to pick out three dresses: a pink one, a blue one and a yellow one. The yellow one was my favorite.
I had a best friend named Seema, whose family was even poorer than ours. We played and studied together, and spent the best days of our childhood laughing at the silly stories we made up. I was excited to show her my three beautiful new dresses. She loved them all and was happy for me, but tearfully explained to me that her father could only afford to buy her clothes for her birthday. I felt sorry, and then did something that surprised even myself: I asked her to pick out one of my dresses for herself. To my disappointment, she picked up my favorite—the yellow one. Please remember, I was only seven years. My heart almost popped out (跳出) of my chest. But as she held it against her body, and I saw how brightly she smiled, I stopped feeling any hurt. I told her it looked lovely on her.
I’ll always remember Seema’s smile, and how at that moment nothing mattered more. When you value your friendships, nothing else matters! We’re still best friends today.
小題1:Why did the new clothes mean the universe to the author?

A．She loved dressing up more than anything else.

B．She thought they would make her more beautiful.

C．Her family was poor, and new clothes were very rare.

D．Her mother only bought her new clothes for her birthday.

小題2:The author let Seema pick out one of her dresses because she wanted to _______.

A．show her pity for Seema’s family	B．show off her family’s wealth
C．make Seema become her best friend	D．exchange it with Seema’s dress

小題3:When Seema chose the yellow dress, the author was disappointed because ________.

A．she was not generous	B．she didn’t expert to lose her favorite dress
C．Seema chose her favorite dress on purpose	D．Seema was careless about her feelings

小題4:What can we conclude from the passage?

A．Getting a best friend means losing other things.	B．Being generous is not easy.
C．Children like sharing their favorite things.	D．Friendship is precious (珍貴的).

Have you ever noticed advertisements which say “Learn a foreign language in 6 weeks, or your money back! From the first day your pronunciation will be excellent. Just send…” and so on? Of course, it never happens quite like that. The only language that is easy to learn is one’s mother tongue. And think how much practice that gets! Before the Second World War people usually learnt a foreign language in order to read the literature of the country.
Now speaking a foreign language is what most people want. Every year millions of people start learning one. How do they do it? Some people try at home, with books and records of tapes; some use radio or television programs; some use computers and network; others go to evening classes. If they use the language only 2 or 3 times a week, learning it will take a long time, like learning a foreign language at school. A few people try to learn a language fast by studying for 6 or more hours a day. It is clearly easier to learn the language in the country where it is spoken.
However, most people cannot afford this, and for many it is not necessary. They need the language in order to do their work better. For example, scientists and doctors chiefly need to be able to read books and reports in the foreign language. Whether the language is learnt quickly or slowly, it is hard work. Machines and good books will help, but they cannot do the student’s work for him.
小題1:According to some advertisements, you ______ .

A．have to pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks.

B．needn’t pay you money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks

C．must pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks

D．will be paid much money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks

小題2:Now most people try to learn a foreign language in order to ______.

A．read the literature of the country	B．read books and reports
C．do their work better	D．go to foreign countries

小題3:Learning a foreign language is a hard job ______.

A．only for scientists and doctors	B．only for the students at school
C．for those people at home	D．for most people

They crossed in front of me as I was driving out of the store parking lot. My first reaction was anger at being delayed for a whole ten seconds. I quickly became patient when I realised that this was an elderly couple.
The man leaned on his wife who walked in front of him. He not only used her for support but it was obvious that he was blind. The two of them worked as one---each needing the other to function in this fast-changing world.
That little example of true strength changed my whole personal perception(理解) of life that day. Suddenly I wasn’t so mad about having to work a few extra hours on Saturdays. I had my strength, and I was still relatively young.
That picture of those two elderly people walking with dignity and strength stayed with me the entire week. My life wasn’t so bad after all. I had my health and a good job. I had a wonderful, supportive wife. I started to think---not only was I lucky to have it all, but so was that wonderful old couple, who, despite the trials and sufferings of a long life, still had the love and support of each other to carry them through this world.
There are so many people out there just like that couple. My wife and I sometimes picture ourselves in our old age, walking arm-in-arm into the sunset. That image always gives us a warm feeling of comfort. Just remember, none of us would be here if it wasn’t for our elders. We should all have a little extra time and patience when it comes to helping our elder friends.
小題1:When the author was about to drive away, the couple __________________.

A．got in his way

B．hit his car

C． entered the store

D．asked him for help

小題2: After he saw the couple, the author would _________________.

A．drive at a high speed	B．seldom think of his wife
C．be impolite to the blind	D．spend less time complaining

小題3: What did the author think of the couple?

A．They lived a happier life than he.

B．They didn’t live a life without hardships.

C．They were admirable for their lasting love.

D．They won respect by walking together.

小題4: From the passage, we learn _______________________.

A．the author hated working on Saturdays

B．the author was happy with his wife

C．old couples were advised to walk in the sunset

D．many people like that couple are blind

第二節(jié) 完形填空（共20小題，每小題1.5分，共30分）   
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，從每題所給的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。
More good things come from small things
About a year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to me.
I never heard any  36 from the children, but the parents were always shouting at the kids.
We  37 often in the hallways when we were coming or going. I  38 spoke, but the only   39 I ever got was a hello from the four – year – old girl.
I usually go out for breakfast and one day when I  40 they were just coming from their apartment and the little girl was holding the door   41 for the others. I  42 in the car doing unnecessary things because I didn’t like to be snubbed（冷落）. The parents were   43 her to hurry and get in the car, I looked up and saw the little girl was   44 holding the door open,  45 for me.
I hurried as much as I could and   46 her. She was smiling from ear to ear. That afternoon I saw a white toy bear, I   47 the little girl and said to myself, “I   48 she would like that” so I bought it. I wrote a note   49 how much her act of kindness had touched a soft spot in an old man’s   50 .
The next day there was a   51 on the door and   52 was the little girl and her father. She was so proud of her bear and thanked me. Then I   53 her mother and the other children were there in the hall too. The mother and father both thanked me.
Now when we meet in the hall we all speak, and in a   54 manner, I might add.  55 time
passes, I don’t hear that shouting as often. In fact, hardly at all. 
36．A．sound                 B．noise                   C．conversation        D．crying
37．A．met                    B．saw                     C．visited                 D．gathered
38．A．never                  B．sometimes           C．seldom                D．always
39．A．reward                B．action                 C．answer                D．prize
40．A．moved                B．returned              C．started                 D．drove
41．A．open                   B．closed                 C．fit                       D．active
42．A．stopped               B．kept                    C．worked               D．remained
43．A．suggesting           B．telling                 C．forcing                D．making
44．A．ever                    B．even                   C．still                     D．yet
45．A．waiting               B．calling                C．leaving                D．asking
46．A． replaced             B．encouraged          C．ignored               D．thanked
47．A．thought about      B．thought of           C．thought over        D．thought out
48．A．decide                 B．am lucky             C．am sure               D．doubt
49．A．saying                 B．stating                C．reporting             D．writing
50．A．mind                  B．body                   C．thought               D．heart
51．A．hit                      B．knock                 C．drop                   D．beat
52．A．she                     B．it                        C．they                    D．he
53．A．noticed               B．watched              C．recognized           D．felt
54．A．kindly                 B．politely               C．coldly                 D．friendly
55．A．When                 B．Since                  C．As                      D．While

I’d been 16 for six days and was already prepared to deal with failure. I remember when my mum   36  me up that morning, her voice wasn’t as   37  as it usually was.
I stayed in bed for a few minutes. I was   38  to leave its warmth and comfort, and didn’t want to face the problem that I’d let myself   39  for the past six months. Finally, I dragged myself out of    40 .
I finished getting ready and tried to   41 . It didn’t work, so I decided that my   42  should go with me. We had a little time, so I thought we could practice parking. I   43 , with the wheel hitting the fence. After that, the little bit of confidence I’d had was   44 . I tried two more times, but didn’t   45  much. Then we headed to the test site.
I went into a room for some paperwork. And I waited for 20 minutes—just   46  time to make myself believe that I was going to fail. Then, finally, it was my   47 . I just wanted to get it over and make sure that I had to come back next Thursday.
I stepped outside and the sky was the light blue I love. It offered me some   48  and I realized something: something between when I pulled myself off the seat and when I got outside. I had become   49  and confident.
The first thing I had to do was parking, which I did quite   50 . The confidence that came with it hit me like a wave. The rest of the test went well too and I   51  it all. As I drove back, the instructor told me I would not be coming back for a second   52  next Thursday.
Back in the building I didn’t have to say a word. My mum knew just by looking at me. Her    53  made her face softer. And I’m sure it was at least as big as the smile on my face. Her eyes, 54 , looked kind of teary. I knew she was   55  for me.

小題1: A．got　　 B．woke　 C．turned　　 D．brought

小題2: A．loud　　　　 B．weak　　　　 C．noisy　　 D．strong

小題3: A．unable B．unhappy　　　　　 C．unwilling D．unavailable

小題4: A．mention　　　　 B．forget　　　　 C．leave　 D．put

小題5: A．house　　　　 B．kitchen　　　 C．garage　　　 D．bed

小題6: A．set down　 B．take down　　　　　 C．calm down D．put down

小題7: A．mum 　　 B．dad　　　　　 C．instructor　 D．teacher

小題8: A．succeeded　　　　 B．failed　　　　　 C．managed　 D．attempted

小題9: A．missing　　　 B．lost C．disappeared D．gone

小題10: A．work B．improve C．change D．get

小題11: A．enough B．little C．more D．less

小題12: A．ability B．performance C．time D．turn

小題13: A．belief B．advantage C．anxiety D．comfort

小題14: A．calm B．anxious C．excited D．cautious

小題15: A．badly B．well C．unsuccessfully D．hardly

小題16: A．passed B．went C．failed D．tried

小題17: A．practice　　　　　 B．paperwork C．test D．parking

小題18: A．words B．smile C．look D．anger

小題19: A．however B．therefore C．although D．but

小題20: A．sad B．happy C．nervous D．sorry

 

Anne responded on May 20, 2009 Julie, most of us are never going to achieve the heights you did as the CEO of a company. I just want to say that I was so touched by your transparency (坦誠). I haven’t been attacked publicly ever like you, but I’ve suffered from depression—just recently in fact. It helps a lot to hear personal stories, and it helped to read how you might have handled things differently.

 

Nancy responded on May 21, 2009 Something in Julie drew her to artwork during a very dark time in her journey. And later she stated that it’s beauty that keeps her going. Beauty and creativity can be very powerful in our lives. And it doesn’t surprise me that Julie was drawn to these naturally. Anne, maybe the artistic kinds of activities Julie used will support you well as you move beyond the depressive feelings you’re dealing with.

 
 

Julie responded on June 2, 2009 Nancy, thank you for your insights (深刻見解). Warmly, Julie.

 

Chris responded on May 31, 2009 I don’t normally comment on blogs, but this was a very insightful and transparent post (帖子). I could really feel that you were open and honest about everything you wrote about. Thanks for sharing and good luck with everything that you do.

 

Julie responded on June 9, 2009 Thanks, Chris.

 

Wendy responded on May 30, 2009 Julie, everything you shared here is inspiring. Thank you for having the courage to be so open. I love what you’re doing here. Keep it up!

 

Julie responded on May 31, 2009 Thank you, Wendy.

小題1:The above posts center on a blog passage written by ______.

A．Wendy

B．Julie

C．Anne

D．Nancy

小題2: Nancy and Anne share the opinion that______.

A．work can bring joy to people	B．creativity may help reduce depression
C．beauty is the most important in life	D．different people handle things differently

小題3:Which of the following about Julie is NOT true?

A．Julie is the CEO of a company.	B．Julie was once attracted to artwork.
C．Julie has never been attacked publicly.	D．Julie was honest about her past experiences.

完形填空（每小題1.5分，共30分）
It was a normal summer night, humidity（潮濕）hung in the thick air. The only sound was my sister’s heavy __36__ from the bed next to me.
I couldn’t go to _37__, partly because of my cold and partly because of my __38__ for the next day. My mum had said that tomorrow was going to be a __39__ .
Sweat stuck to my aching body. Finally, I gathered enough __40__ to sit up. I looked out of my small window into the night. There was a big bright __41__ hanging in the sky, giving off a magic glow.
My sister turned over as though she was as light as air. Why could she sleep soundly? Why wasn’t she __42__ too? Did she know about tomorrow?
I couldn’t stand the __43__ anymore, so I did what I always do to make myself feel better. I went to the __44__ and picked up my toothbrush and toothpaste. Pouring the red paste onto the brush, I cleaned back and forth, up and down.
Then I walked downstairs to look for some __45__of movement, some life. Gladiator, my cat, __46__ me as he meowed（貓叫）his sad song. He was on the old orange couch （長沙發(fā)）, sitting up on his front legs,   47   something to happen. He looked at me as if to say, “I’m __48__, pet me. I need a good hug.” Even the couch begged me to sit on it.
In one movement I settled down onto the soft   49 . This couch represented my birth, my parents’ marriage, and hundreds of other little __50__.
As I held Gladiator, my heart started beating heavily. My mind was __51__ with questions: What’s life? Am I really alive? Are you listening to me? Every time I moved my hand down Gladiator’s body, I had a __52__ thought; each touch sang a different song.
I forgot all about the __53__ and the next day’s surprise. The __54__ was so full of warmth and silence that I sank into its arms. Falling asleep with the big cat in my arms, I felt all my worries __55__ move away.

小題1:	A．murmuring B．breathing C．crying D．thinking

小題2:	A．sleep B．work C．study D．rest

小題3:	A．interpretations B．plans C．arrangements D．expectations

小題4:	A．surprise B．hope C．success D．failure

小題5:	A．energy B．ideas C．strength D．stamps

小題6:	A．cloud B．star C．sun D．moon

小題7:	A．thrilling B．sweating C．sleeping D．speaking

小題8:	A．silence B．cold C．pressure D．pain

小題9:	A．sitting-room B．kitchen C．bathroom D．waiting-room

小題10:

A．sights B．signs C．signals D．notices

小題11:

A．interested B．pleased C．reminded D．frightened

小題12:

A．begging for B．asking for C．admiring for D．waiting for

小題13:

A．lonely B．shy C．friendly D．lively

小題14:

A．bed B．couch C．cat D．bad

小題15:

A．people B．animals C．events D．pets

小題16:

A．flooded B．applauding C．satisfied D．knocked

小題17:

A．strange B．difficult C．new D．noble

小題18:

A．cold B．mind C．time D．heat

小題19:

A．family B．atmosphere C．heart D．bed

小題20:

A．completely B．slowly C．suddenly D．partly