Robin asked us to share inspiring favorite words that other people had spoken. As I rolled through ideas in my head, my   1  kept returning to an event from my youth.

       The words spoken were not  2  in their delivery. The person who received them wasn’t me. And, the life-changing event  3  to someone else. But I remember it very well. My friend Evonne was a skinny little girl. We weren’t best friends, but we were  4  . We  5  a classroom every year from 2nd through 8th grade. High school got us into other groups of fellow students and we kept up our friendship  6  . But then the   7  happened during our senior year that changed her life 8  .

       Mrs. Lee was Evonne’s and my senior advisor. I don’t remember one word the woman spoke to me during consulting. However, I do remember what she said to Zevonne. On one particular day, Evonne, the teary-eyed 17-year old girl  9 Mrs. Lee’s office. She cried, “She might as well have told me I was  10  . She told me ‘You are not college material.’ Can you believe she said that?” Evonne  11  . Then the still tiny, but determined young woman made a brave  12 . “I’ll show her!” …and then she  13  !

       Evonne’s head 14  down in her studies the rest of that year. Following graduation she found employment and began  15  her way through college. She finished her 4 years and  16  to graduate school（研究生院）. Not very many years later I heard that she had a PHD and became a professor at a university in Tennessee.

       17  words don’t always make someone decide to invest（投資） in themselves so wisely. Whenever I think of the inspiration and motivation that  18  Evonne, I am also  19  that there are many others who are discouraged by the  20  of our words. My story today is in honor of my old friend, Evonne.

1．A．opinions                B．intentions             C．thoughts              D．dreams

2．A．a(chǎn)ccurate                B．ridiculous            C．moving               D．inspiring

3．A．stuck                    B．belonged              C．turned                 D．a(chǎn)dded

4．A．close                    B．near                    C．casual                 D．unique

5．A．entered                 B．owned                 C．spared                 D．shared

6．A．loosely                  B．cautiously            C．willingly              D．totally

7．A．situation                B．a(chǎn)ccident              C．condition             D．incident

8．A．a(chǎn)lways                  B．forever                C．temporarily          D．rapidly

9．A．escaped                B．locked                 C．shut                    D．left

10．A．stupid                 B．simple                 C．sensitive              D．selfish

11．A．begged                B．a(chǎn)ppealed              C．questioned           D．commanded

12．A．statement            B．comment             C．judgment             D．a(chǎn)rrangement

13．A．nodded                B．tried                    C．would                 D．did

14．A．kept                    B．nosed                  C．bent                    D．turned

15．A．changing             B．finding                C．working              D．coming

16．A．wandered            B．headed                C．immigrated          D．rushed

17．A．Encouraging        B．Negative              C．Appropriate         D．Abstract

18．A．persuaded            B．proved                C．pushed                D．created

19．A．told                     B．informed             C．reminded             D．a(chǎn)dvised

20．A．carelessness       B．seriousness       C．firmness        D．vividness

Picking tomatoes

    For as long as I can remember, Grandma’s plentiful tomato garden has been a sign of summer’s end. Each September, just as the decreased heat of the sun suggests cooler days, Grandma requests my help in her tomato garden. She convinces me she cannot pick tomatoes without my youthful eyes and quick mind. She says we need to examine each tomato and agree on its readiness for picking. While Grandma’s request for my help in the tomato garden is always the same, her desire for my help seems to increase each year.

    Grandma has eyes for finding even the tomatoes hidden by undergrowth and other tomatoes. I, however, just turn circles looking for the ones I think Grandma will like. I spot what looks like a ripe tomato, head in its direction, and then get sidetracked by another that appears to be equally ripe. I usually end up watching Grandma and trying to stay out of her way, which seems the only way my eyes and mind are useful.

   There we are, lost in the tomato vines（藤）. Grandma’s eyes are always knowing, and they are no different in the vegetable garden. From afar she spots what looks like a ripe tomato. As she walks toward the garden, she evaluates the tomato for a second time. but from a different angle. I already know it will end up in the basket with the pile of others Grandma has carefully chosen. However, Grandma acts as if she needs a final look to be sure. She calls me to her side. kneels beside the vine while enjoying the warmth of the fading hand. She turns each round, red ball toward the sunlight before disconnecting it from the vine with a half-hearted smile.

      She then looks at me. I nod my head and smile. Grandma assumes I smile in agreement with her tomato selection. I know I smile, instead, at her.

1．Why does Grandma ask the author to go to the tomato garden with her?

      A．He can help pick more tomatoes.

       B．He can learn the hardship of labor.

       C．She enjoys staying with him while working.

       D．She tries to share the happiness of harvest with him.

2．The second paragraph shows that the author           .

      A．is an inefficient tomato picker

      B．really has youthful eyes and quick mind

      C．has spent a lot of time gardening with Grandma

      D．is a naughty child trying to be out of Grandma’s sight

3．In the last paragraph, the author smiled to Grandma because he            .

    A．realizes her true intentions

    B．feels very happy to pick potatoes for her

    C．confirms that her choice of tomato is great

    D．a(chǎn)ppreciates her skill in finding ripe tomatoes

4．What can we infer from the story?

       A．The grandchild will become more skillful at gardening than Grandma.

       B．Grandma will develop more patience in working with the grandchild.

       C．The grandchild will gradually become more independent of Grandma.

       D．Grandma’s need for the grandchild’s company will grow over time.

Parkour

      The word “parkour” comes from a French phrase roughly translated as “military obstacle course（軍事障礙課程）.” At first glance parkour looks like an extreme sport, and it certainly has many of the same qualities of an extreme sport. However, it is considered by many tracers as more of an art and exercise, which allows for individual expression and also promotes inner strength and personal growth.

      It introduces us to complete freedom from obstacles, and it is this freedom that makes parkour very appealing in strict control of modern society. It is a method that’s available to us at any time to deal with the obstacles facing us, both mental and physical. No obstacle, no barrier can stop the tracer；they continue moving forward in spite of, and in harmony with these.

      While parkour does allow for a great deal of originality, there are certain methods commonly used when practicing it. The tracer chooses his／her own path through the environment to create unique and flowing movement, adapting to and using anything in this path. When many techniques or moves used to overcome obstacles are linked together in an efficient and continuous way, it is known as a “run.” If you see someone that looks like they’re running from the police, but there is no one running after, it’s probably parkour.

      This idea of the chase represents and expresses the movement of parkour quite well. In fact, it is the form of movement that our ancient ancestors may have used to hunt for food, or escape from animals on the plains of Africa. In adapting instantly to whatever comes forth without thinking about it, we naturally flow over and around all obstacles. In practicing parkour, we are reviving and developing that ancient instinct（本能）.

The attitude behind parkour also combines the mentality of a child at play. That unlimited imagination and energy combined with a complete ignoring of social practices epitomizes（成為…的縮影）the tracer. Others look at a rail or wall and see a barrier；we look at it and see a launch pad. And hey, let’s not forget that we do this because it’s fun! The world is our jungle gym, let’s go play！

1．The underlined word in paragraph 1 means

      A．parkour participants                             B．fitness experts

      C．sports psychologists                            D．extreme sports lovers

2．Paragraph 4 is written to          .

A．show the way to develop ancient instinct

B．introduce the evolution of parkour

C．distinguish parkour from ancient instinct

D．explain the origin of parkour

3．What do we know about parkour according to the passage?

      A．It is an activity dating back to ancient times.

      B．People need to go past anything in the way while doing it.

      C．It’s difficult to do without the aid of professional equipment.

      D．People need military training before taking part in it.

4．People may show interest in parkour because                .

    A．they can get freed from routine activities and tasks

    B．it helps them to do their job efficiently in future

    C．they can develop both physically and mentally

D．it has its roots in their childhood experience

All over the net, people discussed about lack of clearness in IIT（印度理工學(xué)院）admission procedures and selection standard. Others were angry that IIT is not the only way to go anymore；they are facing tough competition from engineers graduating from other colleges. Figures, they claimed. were a proof that IIT is losing central on the minds and hearts of the country’s youth. Students are less and less interested in being IITians anymore. According to them, there is no considerable proof to prove their superiority over others.

    If we are talking about a past and present track record of the achievements of IIT and IITians. Wiki（維基百科）offers some good information on successful IITians.

       Well, the trends again turned back in 2008. Around 3.2 lakh（十萬）students appeared for IIT JEE（Joint Entrance Examinations）, showing a dramatic rise in the number of applications since 2007. According to Hindustan Times. 3.95 lakh applications have been received for the academic year 2009-2010, again highlighting a significant increase in the number of IIT JEE applicants. The total number of seats available will be around 7, 000. So. on an average. 56 students will be competing for the same seat. Thus, it is not likely that the popularity of IIT is decreasing.

    IIT has always encouraged free thinking and have offered a support system that allows students to give wings to their dreams. It is this characteristic of IIT educational system that has given a liberating feeling to many promising intelligent people. IITians have made their mark in almost everything—be it technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, writing or politics.

    It is this air of IIT campus that makes IITians so fond of it. It is this unlimited farming of intelligence and excellence that draws so many youngsters to IIT. The numbers may dwindle or increase; it is the determination and attitude that take true IITians to extraordinary heights.

      Ascidians. com offers you free interaction with IITians, who can tell you about their first-hand experiences at one of the IIT campuses they graduated from. They can offer you insight of what makes IIT so special. If you need IIT advisers willing to help you, askiitians. com offer these services for free.

1．Which of the following may the author agree with?

      A．IIT has greater advantage in developing students’ potential.

      B．IIT tries to make its admission procedures easy to understand.

      C．IIT has lost popularity in the minds and hearts of young people.

      D．IIT should shape its future to face the challenges from other colleges.

2．The data in Paragraph 3 shows that         .

      A．a(chǎn)T0und 3.2 lakh students applied for IIT in 2007

      B．the selection standard in IIT is flexible in those years

      C．a(chǎn)n increasing number of students compete in IIT JEE

      D．56％ of the applicants will enter IIT for the academic year 2009-2010

3．According to the passage, what do we know about IITians?

    A．They are assessed on their determination and attitude.

    B．They are promised to gain great achievement in the tuture.

    C．Their success owes much to the educational system in IIT.

    D．They each are excellent in fields ranging from technology to politics.

4．Why does the author mention the website askiitians. com in the last paragraph?

      A．To persuade people to apply for IIT.

      B．To offer access for people to judge his argument.

      C．To explain why IIT stands out among many colleges.

      D．To show true IITians’ successful experiences directly.

Suppose you discovered an unusual animal, one not described in any present zoology book. How would you begin to identify a creature that may一or may not—exist? Or suppose you came upon an animal that scientists thought had died thousands of years ago. These are exactly the kinds of puzzling situations that crypto—zoologists deal with every day.

    Crypto comes from the Greek words kryptos, which means hidden, and zoology, the study of animals. Of course, crypto—zoologists must acquire a thorough and complete knowledge of all kinds of animals, both living and extinct, such as dinosaurs. In addition, they must be able to tell the difference between a real discovery and a case of mistaken identity.

    You may have heard of people who claim they’ve seen the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot. Most crypto-zoologists doubt that proof of either Nessie or Bigfoot will ever be found. But they have many discoveries of 1ess impressive creatures, like the pseudoryx, to investigate（調(diào)查）.

The pseudoryx, from the Vietnamese rain forest, looks like a goat, but it is really more closely related to the ox. The evidence for the pseudoryx was pieced together from the villagers’ collection of bones, and hides. Even though the researchers could not find an actual pseudoryx, a talented Vietnamese taxidermist was able to reconstruct a model from the parts the researchers brought to him. Scientists also analyzed the genetic material from a pseudoryx’s bones. Their analysis confirmed that the pseudoryx was certainly a unique new species, unlike any that had been identified before.

      Other crypto-zoologists are presently working to prove the existence of a small ape called the orang-pen-dek on the island of Sumatra. Still others are looking into sightings of the moa, a flightless bird which was thought to be extinct for hundreds of years.

      New types of animals are continuing to be discovered. The crypto-zoologist is constantly analyzing the facts and trying to solve the mysteries. For every mystery that is solved, a new one is likely to appear.

1．From the second paragraph, we know that          .

      A．crypto-zoology is a science coming from Greece

      B．doing research in crypto-zoology is a demanding task

      C．crypto-zoologists try to determine whether animals really exist

      D．crypto-zoologists are skillful at distinguishing between theory and assumption

2．Which of the following is true about the pseudoryx?

      A．An artificial copy was made from the parts collected.

      B．Evidence from the villagers helped to find a real pseudoryx.

      C．The genetic material is compared with that of a goat and an ox.

      D．It’s doubtful whether pseudoryx is different from the existing animals.

3．What is the best title of the passage?

    A．Uncovered truth in animals

    B．Looking for unknown animals

    C．Crypto-zoology--a new field of science

    D．Crypto—zoologists--the detectives in science

4．The examples of animals in the passage are used to           .

       A．a(chǎn)ppeal readers to solve mysteries

       B．show how crypto—zoologists work

       C．inform people that many animals are in great danger

       D．show the importance of preserving the balance of nature

假設(shè)你叫李華，準(zhǔn)備去英國學(xué)習(xí)語言。在網(wǎng)絡(luò)上你看到the Big Ben School of English 的招生廣告，你很感興趣。請(qǐng)根據(jù)下列提示給該校負(fù)責(zé)人Mr. Williams發(fā)郵件咨詢以下事宜：

       ●班額、師資

       ●住宿條件

       ●課余活動(dòng)

       ●費(fèi)用所涵蓋的項(xiàng)目

       注意：

       1．信的開頭已為你寫好。

       2．詞數(shù)不少于60。

Dear Mr. Williams,

       I saw your advertisement for language courses in London and I am writing to find out more about the courses you offer.

       I’m looking forward to your reply.

       Regards,

                                                                           Li Hua

I can’ t remember when exactly the Robinsons left        city．I only remember it

was          Monday.

A．the; the          B．a(chǎn); the          C．a(chǎn); a         D．the; a

Yesterday , Jane walked away from the discussion．Otherwise, she         something she would rather regret later.

A．had said            B．said         C．might say           D．might have said

It is suggested that our plan for the project       as soon as possible.

A．is changed                    B．be changed 

C．must be changed                D．will be changed

Asked suddenly about the matter, he couldn’t        an answer at once.

A．come up with                 B．look for 

C．put up with                    D．a(chǎn)nswer for