閱读下面短文， 从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

1

Many years ago， Dad worked as a farmhand （农场工人）. At that time， he had a horse. Every Saturday he to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social with other farmhands， such as drinking， chatting， and playing cards in the cafe. On Saturday evenings， the cafe was because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse， quite satisfied with his . In his words， he thought of changing his job.

At the age of 31， Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came into the world. Life became hard， so my mother felt . She told Dad that they must make a .

My mother had of how some famous persons， especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family， against fate and achieved greatness and fame. And she that I would some day become a great leader men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she persuaded Dad to his job as a farmhand， sell his horse and a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mothers hope， Dad and I what we have today. Dad runs a big international and I am a successful lawyer great fame in my country， though not a as my mother expected.

Dad said， without my mother， we wouldnt be what we are today. So he got a（n） of life—sometimes we really need drive from outside.

1. A. rode B. walked C. ran D. drove

2. A. conversations B. games C. relationships D. activities

3. A. small B. crowded C. terrible D. dirty

4. A. horse B. entertainment C. life D. beer

5. A. often B. ever C. never D. sometimes

6. A. laughing B. singing C. sleeping D. crying

7. A. weak B. scared C. unsatisfied D. tired

8. A. living B. change C. decision D. promise

9. A. dreamed B. heard C. thought D. spoken

10. A. argued B. shouted C. fought D. competed

11. A. cared B. knew C. forgot D. hoped

12. A. training B. ruling C. helping D. protecting

13. A. prepare for B. talk about C. return to D. give up

14. A. start B. find C. design D. provide

15. A. farther B. higher C. harder D. deeper

16. A. showed B. kept C. offered D. achieved

17. A. company B. school C. farm D. cafe

18. A. suffering B. sharing C. enjoying D. following

19. A. leader B. boss C. businessman D. teacher

20. A. lesson B. experience C. gift D. fact

2

Not every girl who goes to work with a parent ends up inventing something. But thats just what when 10-year-old Caroline Baxter went to work with her .

On the day of her ， a meeting was held to discuss ideas for products. Carolines father asked her to go with him to the meeting. After listening to the ， she thought， “Wouldnt it be cool if I made a product too？”

Caroline is a（n） lover with a houseful of pets but no cats. “My sister and I are allergic （過敏的） to cats so we can never one，” says Caroline. “But I them.”

So she shed invent something for cats to use. She thought for a few minutes， “What if I made a for cats？” The inventor sketched out （描绘出） her idea on paper and it to her father. Back at home， Caroline and her dad a model of the playhouse out of a big cardboard box.

The Kitty Play Zone—an easy-to-build playhouse—is now very and sells well. ， the playhouse can be made into a cottage or a castle and the outside can be decorated any way you like. It even water and food bowls in case kitty gets hungry or thirsty！

But cats arent the only animals Caroline . “I cant explain in words how much I love chickens，” says Caroline. “I wanted to chickens as pets.” But it is a that its not allowed in her city， so Caroline wrote to the city council to the rule.

1. A. lasted B. appeared C. happened D. continued

2. A. dad B. mom C. uncle D. aunt

3. A. celebration B. visit C. graduation D. return

4. A. new B. food C. beauty D. natural

5. A. business B. argument C. conversation D. discussion

6. A. art B. music C. animal D. sports

7. A. expect B. get C. imagine D. consider

8. A. love B. need C. miss D. help

9. A. noticed B. advised C. decided D. recognized

10. A. toy B. meal C. coat D. playhouse

11. A. shy B. young C. proud D. strange

12. A. lent B. sent C. sold D. showed

13. A. built B. bought C. found D. discovered

14. A. powerful B. necessary C. expensive D. popular

15. A. Gradually B. Luckily C. Amazingly D. Certainly

16. A. produces B. includes C. develops D. creates

17. A. cares about B. looks after C. knows about D. laughs at

18. A. take B. make C. train D. keep

19. A. joke B. question C. pity D. mistake

20. A. explain B. change C. examine D. complete

3

My 4-year-old son now enjoys posting letters. He has formed the of drawing pictures， writing his name on them， and then the artwork in an envelope. He then keeps his handwork to the neighbors， and a mail box he belongs to the elderly couple who live next door. To be ， I didnt think much of it， but I had to warn my neighbors of the drawings appearing in their letterboxes—I just didnt have the to do so， because I was a little busy recently.

On Tuesday last week， I was walking down to school to collect my son when I Mary， my elderly neighbor， at her mail box. She said， “Jodie， is it your little son that has been posting items to me？” I was at once ， “Oh yes， Mary. Im sorry. I meant to tell you…” She cut me off， “Jodie， I just love his mail. Ive every item he has sent. You dont know how much the letters has made my day. I just love them.” While I was walking down to school after our ， many thoughts came to me. Mary doesnt have a lot to fill her days， she was a mother to a number of children herself. The small of getting some mails—pictures drawn by a young child—has brought to her days， just as my visit to my grandparents does.

I have decided that my son should this practice. He should also start sending some items to his grandparents in Perth as well. It will most make their day.

Its doing the little， simple things that can often make a big in someones life.

1. A. habit B. attitude C. style D. way

2. A. hiding B. protecting C. filling D. putting

3. A. handing B. holding C. posting D. writing

4. A. opened B. chose C. set D. saw

5. A. kind B. surprised C. careful D. honest

6. A. meant B. asked C. hated D. refused

7. A. actually B. suddenly C. finally D. partly

8. A. ability B. courage C. money D. time

9. A. met B. visited C. dated D. called

10. A. shouting B. knocking C. laughing D. standing

11. A. worried B. embarrassed C. shocked D. scared

12. A. copied B. bought C. kept D. examined

13. A. receiving B. sending C. finding D. exchanging

14. A. report B. expression C. talk D. discussion

15. A. unless B. but C. so D. although

16. A. promise B. offer C. act D. help

17. A. worth B. happiness C. value D. future

18. A. add B. know C. continue D. judge

19. A. certainly B. fortunately C. accidentally D. hopefully

20. A. point B. difference C. sense D. living

4

A few months ago I took my camera and drove out to a lake near my home in Arizona to try and get a picture of a meteor （流星）. It was a night and at about 2：15 am. I saw a star across the northern sky just at the time my camera was taking its timed picture. I knew that it was going to be a picture.

When I posted the picture online for friends to see， I got about how gifted I was. I am really thankful to them. But words like that sometimes make me ， because I know the actual story the picture.

The is that this wasnt the first time Id to get a picture of meteors. I had been out to see stars three times earlier and hadnt a single one on camera. In those other three I had gathered over 1，500 completely pictures.

This picture was just 1 of 782 pictures I that night. How do the other 781 ？ Boring. I was out there for 4 hours and my were almost completely numb （麻木的） because I forgot to bring gloves. So it took me 4 nights and 15 hours of lost in the middle of the night to get this picture.

Of course it felt good to have people told me that I was a photographer. But it felt better to know that my persistence （毅力） had .

I hope you can hard to turn your potential into talents. You will not the time or energy that you put into it. Make a goal to start today and another goal to it.

1. A. cloudy B. beautiful C. warm D. snowy

2. A. coming B. walking C. wondering D. shooting

3. A. great B. funny C. similar D. clear

4. A. praise B. advice C. ideas D. thanks

5. A. uncommon B. uncomfortable C. patient D. excited

6. A. for B. with C. behind D. in

7. A. truth B. reason C. surprise D. doubt

8. A. refused B. failed C. planned D. tried

9. A. left B. caught C. seen D. met

10. A. challenges B. successes C. journeys D. experiences

11. A. colorful B. personal C. ordinary D. valuable

12. A. found B. took C. made D. brought

13. A. view B. think C. look D. remain

14. A. fingers B. legs C. ears D. eyes

15. A. strength B. sense C. direction D. sleep

16. A. serious B. powerful C. energetic D. talented

17. A. gone away B. run out C. paid off D. put up

18. A. train B. work C. break D. observe

19. A. regret B. waste C. save D. reduce

20. A. bring back B. use to C. make sure D. stick to

5

It was a hot day in Bangkok. I was walking out of the busy Grand Palace， and some Thai teens started asking me questions. Noticing that I was ， they were interested and wanted to know more.

“Oh， so lonely！” they said to me when they learned I was， indeed， solo for the long journey. I smiled and shrugged. They didnt know Ive been alone.

Im surprised by how much more outgoing Ive become. Instead of putting my down and ignoring （忽視） the person who may be me on the sidewalk， now I smile and say hello.

The only bad thing is the fleeting （短暂的） nature of the relationship one builds on the . Ive felt sad more than a couple of times over parting ways a fellow traveler. But there are always friends and possibilities just the next town over.

Part of the of taking this trip was the knowledge that Id be doing this alone. At first， I tried to get friends to with me for various legs of the journey. I asked close friends， then even not-so-close ， then slowly realized that I might never travel if I around for a time when a friend of mine would be free to me.

If I was really going to do this， it would have to be alone.

As it turns out， traveling alone is the best I could have made. You always have to make considerations for others when you travel with others. Sometimes， you have to do things you dont feel like doing.

Solo travel is amazing. And really， I truly want and seek out ， I am never alone. I always have a group. I never feel . Sometimes， being alone forces you to reach out to people you might not otherwise have ever .

So dont fear traveling alone. Its the best thing there is.

1. A. poor B. wise C. active D. curious

2. A. alone B. sick C. serious D. polite

3. A. riding B. traveling C. flying D. walking

4. A. truly B. totally C. hardly D. completely

5. A. voice B. journey C. mind D. head

6. A. passing B. following C. watching D. calling

7. A. delight B. road C. result D. possibility

8. A. for B. on C. with D. to

9. A. careful B. generous C. strange D. new

10. A. fear B. excitement C. expectation D. wish

11. A. help B. stay C. offer D. respect

12. A. neighbors B. relatives C. friends D. partners

13. A. turned B. moved C. looked D. waited

14. A. join B. support C. treat D. care

15. A. difference B. choice C. promise D. sense

16. A. special B. difficult C. simple D. useless

17. A. because B. when C. though D. unless

18. A. beauty B. happiness C. loneliness D. secret

19. A. tired of B. left out C. taken out D. close to

20. A. touched B. remembered C. caught D. met

6

Some years ago， a young man came to me for advice. He told me that reading a whole paragraph made him tired. His was that he was working at a dead-end job for two years. All his friends， none of whom enjoy reading， were in the same . They were all working at low-level jobs with no .

I told him he had to learn to read well. However， he said he wanted to be successful at something that didnt reading. I told him that this was not a matter of . The only jobs that have nothing to do with reading were the jobs they were doing. And they would even soon be by younger people with better education. He finally accepted the that he had to become a good reader. He began taking courses in reading. He a technical institute （技術学院）. Because of his education， it took him almost three years to a two-year program in biomedical engineering.

A small company employed him at $22，000 per year. It was not much， but he it. He to read and studied. In his third year， he was by a company with $40，000 per year. Two years later， an international company his success and employed him at more than $50，000 per year， with other .

In eight years， he a lot， from a low-paid worker to a high-paid one. He led a life. The interesting thing was that as he went around his old friends， he found they were still working as before. Eight years seems like a time in life， but it passes quickly when you are busying doing something and getting continually better at it.

1. A. rarely B. hopefully C. hardly D. actually

2. A. duty B. danger C. problem D. hobby

3. A. part B. situation C. way D. place

4. A. pay B. fun C. future D. luck

5. A. need B. prevent C. offer D. affect

6. A. chance B. choice C. attitude D. thought

7. A. forgotten B. replaced C. changed D. doubled

8. A. saying B. belief C. fact D. warning

9. A. founded B. knew C. asked D. joined

10. A. final B. common C. simple D. poor

11. A. complete B. plan C. design D. prepare

12. A. understood B. believed C. stopped D. accepted

13. A. continued B. started C. tried D. decided

14. A. found B. trained C. received D. employed

15. A. learned from B. listed out C. heard about D. looked up

16. A. benefits B. services C. results D. tips

17. A. dreamt B. changed C. corrected D. requested

18. A. busier B. better C. quieter D. wiser

19. A. treating B. guiding C. visiting D. telling

20. A. long B. certain C. free D. valuable

7

A few summers ago my daughter and I were swimming in our pool. This had been like most others， so I had no way of knowing that this one would go down in our family history as a memory we and still talk about from time to time.

The sun was and the night was approaching. From the shallow end of our pool， my daughter it first.Right about eye level， a spider was spinning her by the pool. It me that my daughter noticed this， and it surprised me even more that she wasnt the spider.

Instead， she delightfully as the spider busied herself in the cycle of life. As we both gazed at this of nature， a very simple thought me. I had lost track of time. I honestly didnt how long we had been just standing there and staring at that spider her web. But， regardless of whatever amount of time had passed， the was that we were simply having fun. We were having fun without really doing anything really big or ， I thought. However， in contrast， I believe that by sharing this of the spider building her web we were just as fulfilled as if we had done something very important.

Remember that the things are the best things in life. Spend time together the simple things in life， and even more importantly， spend time together talking about life. Do this and youll have special moments and special memories that will a life time.

1. A. moment B. morning C. time D. day

2. A. deserve B. remind C. treasure D. exhibit

3. A. rising B. shining C. setting D. disappearing

4. A. eventually B. frequently C. carefully D. quickly

5. A. invented B. noticed C. informed D. ruined

6. A. cloth B. line C. silk D. web

7. A. surprised B. interested C. frightened D. excited

8. A. afraid of B. worried about C. happy with D. angry at

9. A. noted B. watched C. followed D. changed

10. A. sight B. signal C. wonder D. advertisement

11. A. caught B. occurred C. knocked D. hit

12. A. suppose B. believe C. know D. expect

13. A. removing B. building C. painting D. sending

14. A. truth B. message C. advice D. information

15. A. small B. special C. normal D. new

16. A. ability B. knowledge C. happiness D. experience

17. A. all B. both C. either D. neither

18. A. simple B. easy C. busy D. funny

19. A. seeing B. catching C. appreciating D. expressing

20. A. change B. affect C. lead D. last

8

I was surprised when I received a short message from my father wishing me a happy birthday.

I had to hear from my mother， my grandmother and my other relatives—but never from my father. Lying in bed， of my father flooded back.

When I was a little boy， I regarded my father as a（n） able to do anything. ， things slowly began to . The more I learned， the more I what he said. The gap between us grew and， at last， I didnt even like with him.

My father， in my mind， had no in talking with me. Dinner was the only time we were together. He would tell me to ask my mother if I something. He even refused to answer my when I phoned from school. I got to the changes. I thought that perhaps my father no longer me.

Over time， however， I began to wonder whether my was right. One day， my mother told me that each time I called， father was always beside her. Suddenly， I hated myself for my behavior towards him.

I planned thousands of times to to my father. In the end， however， I was always too embarrassed about what I had done.

But that Saturday， I was so by his short message. I decided to send a ： “Thank you， my dear father.”

Two days later， when I returned home， my mother told me that my father had been so when he received my reply.She said he had from morning till night. At that moment， I felt truly happy.

1. A. expected B. intended C. planned D. wanted

2. A. opinions B. memories C. thoughts D. responses

3. A. angel B. teacher C. hero D. friend

4. A. However B. Otherwise C. Therefore D. Besides

5. A. improve B. change C. develop D. appear

6. A. believed B. doubted C. accepted D. avoided

7. A. discussing B. singing C. running D. communicating

8. A. interest B. time C. chance D. courage

9. A. found B. needed C. bought D. decided

10. A. letters B. e?mails C. questions D. calls

11. A. devoted B. known C. familiar D. used

12. A. helped B. supported C. loved D. missed

13. A. behavior B. attitude C. manner D. action

14. A. laughing B. listening C. dancing D. thinking

15. A. casual B. rude C. cold D. cruel

16. A. apologize B. write C. talk D. turn

17. A. excited B. confused C. touched D. pleased

18. A. letter B. card C. gift D. reply

19. A. upset B. happy C. sad D. nervous

20. A. waited B. sighed C. hesitated D. smiled

9

Dont let Auroras small stature （身材） fool you—her spirit is strong. She is one of 140 chickens from a farm. When we saved her， she was tiny and sick and it seemed that she would survive. Having never got the right ， many of the chickens were sick and some died.

At a young age， Aurora and her sisters and brothers were by their mom. Luckily， another mother their care. Aurora seemed the last to food and attention. She grew at a much slower than her brothers and sisters. Everything seemed against her.

At the young age of seven months， Aurora had lost two moms and was to find a place with the other chickens.

Aurora found comfort with an old chicken named Margaret， staying under her during the cold nights， but Margaret was so old that a few months later she . Aurora， in her own way， mourned （哀悼） Margaret. Every evening， you would find her in the spot where she kept Margaret company. Even when the other chickens tried to her away， Aurora came back.

As Aurora grew， we became at her love to simply live. Nothing her.

So remember， when life seems so that you cant take it， think of Aurora. She has lost two moms， her sisters and brothers die， and from serious illnesses. Yet she enjoys the small， sweet life has offered—safety， food， warmth and good friendships.

1. A. raised B. purchased C. rescued D. collected

2. A. hopeful B. proper C. possible D. unlikely

3. A. touch B. care C. gift D. partner

4. A. sadly B. angrily C. coldly D. calmly

5. A. punished B. refused C. abandoned D. forgotten

6. A. took on B. put forward C. looked after D. brought about

7. A. get B. eat C. draw D. offer

8. A. cost B. rate C. standard D. value

9. A. arranging B. choosing C. struggling D. affording

10. A. lately B. eventually C. constantly D. frequently

11. A. feet B. wings C. head D. legs

12. A. left B. fell C. disappeared D. died

13. A. same B. relevant C. similar D. normal

14. A. clear B. put C. turn D. push

15. A. nervous B. amazed C. excited D. disappointed

16. A. helped B. attracted C. impressed D. stopped

17. A. tough B. different C. smooth D. boring

18. A. made B. caught C. found D. watched

19. A. waked B. changed C. recovered D. learned

20. A. chances B. pleasures C. dreams D. services

10

A taxi driver taught me a lesson in customer satisfaction and expectations. Inspiring speakers thousands of dollars to give his kind of training to corporate directors and staff. It cost me only a $12 ride.

I had into Dallas just for the purpose of calling on a client （委托人）. Time was precious and my included a quick round?trip from and back to the airport. A taxi pulled up. The driver rushed to the passenger door for me and made sure I was seated before he closed the door. As he got in the drivers seat， he that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.

I could not believe the I was receiving！ I took the opportunity to say， “ you take great pride in your work. You must have a to share.”

“You bet，” he . “I used to be in Corporate America. But I was tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I to find my right position in life， where I could feel of being the best. I love driving cars and feeling like I have done a full days work and done it . So I chose to become a . One thing I know for sure is that to be good in my business， I just have to meet the expectations of my passengers. ， to be great in my business， I have to go the customers expectations！”

The taxi driver taught me a great life ： Go an extra mile when providing any service to others.

1. A. offer B. charge C. pay D. afford

2. A. taxi B. bus C. bike D. train

3. A. driven B. flown C. ran D. cycled

4. A. hope B. purpose C. plan D. choice

5. A. private B. rough C. slow D. clean

6. A. open B. lock C. push D. shut

7. A. silently B. comfortably C. tightly D. casually

8. A. announced B. concluded C. found D. mentioned

9. A. pictures B. maps C. CDs D. books

10. A. service B. gift C. invitation D. advice

11. A. Actually B. Obviously C. Gradually D. Suddenly

12. A. chance B. secret C. story D. ride

13. A. whispered B. argued C. sighed D. replied

14. A. decided B. promised C. happened D. hesitated

15. A. careful B. proud C. afraid D. curious

16. A. early B. rapidly C. carefully D. well

17. A. driver B. director C. client D. speaker

18. A. Besides B. Therefore C. However D. Perhaps

19. A. against B. within C. over D. beyond

20. A. method B. experience C. lesson D. standard

11

Life is so full of beautiful moments. All you have to do is open your eyes and your heart to them. I saw one just the other day.

The school I worked for had just ended and I found myself behind a school bus as I was home. The bus stopped by a house sitting on top of a（n） . A little girl no more than 7 years old the bus steps and started running up the driveway the house. I looked up the hill to see she was going and saw her dad for her. As she got closer and closer， her dad smiled and knelt down to her. The second she got to him he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug.

My eyes watered a bit as I watched this scene and all the times my own children had run into my with smiling faces and loving hearts. My lovely was interrupted when I heard the car behind me sound its horn （喇叭）. I saw the school bus pulling away and started to it again. I did so， however， with a fuller heart and a better than I had before. I took that beautiful moment and it safely in my soul where I knew it would remain forever.

One day we all will leave this school of learning and and finally get to go home. I know that when it is my time I will run quickly from that and right into my Heavenly Fathers arms. Enjoy your day here then. Teach， love， and ， but know that one day you will be going home where the love never ends.

1. A. see B. start C. solve D. save

2. A. walking B. cycling C. driving D. running

3. A. valley B. hill C. island D. building

4. A. set down B. sat on C. got on D. got down

5. A. upon B. against C. toward D. under

6. A. where B. how C. when D. why

7. A. cooking B. waiting C. caring D. looking

8. A. avoid B. recognize C. welcome D. push

9. A. clean B. frightening C. shocking D. strong

10. A. funny B. friendly C. big D. useless

11. A. remembered B. judged C. requested D. kept

12. A. shelter B. arms C. car D. rooms

13. A. memory B. program C. trip D. ride

14. A. frequently B. exactly C. extremely D. quickly

15. A. take B. hold C. follow D. meet

16. A. pace B. foot C. hand D. mood

17. A. changed B. checked C. stored D. destroyed

18. A. love B. transport C. friendship D. expression

19. A. house B. bus C. home D. school

20. A. sit B. bend C. suffer D. learn

12

When one hitchhikes—travelling by getting lifts from passing vehicles without paying， one long hours either waiting at a likely intersection （岔路口） or heavily down the road， and when I was so engaged， I found in singing songs or in reciting the many poems I had memorized， or the latest postcards I had added to my art collection.

I was in many ways the boy on the road， in other ways the richest， and I was always happy to be on the road meeting new people， new stories and seeing new landscapes. I have been clever enough to analyze the motivation or drive for my hitchhiking， but I doubt that it was related to any weakness. I have never been out of mind. Home was not exciting enough to keep me to it. I had no material of any kind to hold my interest for long periods of time staying at home. I was not unhappy with my family， my school and my friends.

When I was ， hiking with very little money and a thousand miles from home， I was convinced that I would my journey safely， for I was quite optimistic as a boy then with life before me. So it was with me when I was at sixty—I was still optimistic with so many behind me. It seems that I was born to at the world， and such men do not write tragedies.

The simple fact seems that whenever I saw that road outside my house， I was to explore what it was like. What Walt Whitman once said would always push me to go on， “Afoot and light-hearted， I take to the open ， healthy， free， the world before me， the long brown path before me leading wherever I .” That makes a difference to my life.

1. A. saves B. spends C. enjoys D. kills

2. A. walking B. running C. driving D. riding

3. A. comfort B. boredom C. adventure D. pain

4. A. sending B. recalling C. designing D. buying

5. A. dullest B. busiest C. poorest D. laziest

6. A. writing B. reciting C. hearing D. telling

7. A. always B. sometimes C. often D. never

8. A. economical B. moral C. physical D. mental

9. A. tied B. adjusted C. opposed D. added

10. A. conditions B. possessions C. preparations D. occasions

11. A. Otherwise B. Therefore C. Besides D. Yet

12. A. lonely B. young C. free D. sad

13. A. continue B. complete C. combine D. control

14. A. experienced B. untested C. expected D. fantastic

15. A. blessings B. achievements C. differences D. challenges

16. A. smile B. cry C. shout D. sigh

17. A. beautiful B. rough C. mysterious D. dangerous

18. A. frightened B. determined C. worried D. surprised

19. A. road B. door C. window D. air

20. A. start B. choose C. know D. change

13

Terror attacked the heart of the World War Ⅰ soldier， as he saw his lifelong friend falling in the battle. Caught in a trench （戰壕） with gunfire whizzing （飕飕地移动） over his head， the soldier asked his if he might go out into the “No Mans Land” between the trenches to bring his partner back.

“You can go，” said the officer， “but I dont think it will be worth it. Your friend is dead and you may your own life away. ”

The officers words didnt to him， and the soldier went anyway. Surprisingly， he to reach his friend， lift him onto his ， and bring him back to their own trench. As the two of them in together to the bottom of the trench， the officer the wounded soldier， and then looked kindly at his friend.

“I told you it wouldnt be worth it，” he said. “Your friend is dead， and you are terribly wounded.”

“It was worth it， ， sir， ” the soldier said.

“What do you mean by ‘worth it？” the officer. “Your friend is dead！” “Yes， sir，” the soldier answered. “But it was worth it because when I got to him， he was still ， and I had the of hearing him say， ‘Jim， I knew youd come. ”

Many a time in ， whether a thing is worth doing or not really depends on you look at it. Take up all your and do something your tells you to do so that you may not doing it later in life. May each and every one of you be blessed with the company of friends.

1. A. bright B. dusty C. continuous D. free

2. A. partner B. officer C. reporter D. brother

3. A. grateful B. forgetful C. selfless D. helpless

4. A. probably B. personally C. exactly D. wholly

5. A. get B. throw C. put D. blow

6. A. matter B. agree C. escape D. succeed

7. A. tried B. decided C. planned D. managed

8. A. hands B. head C. shoulder D. legs

9. A. ran B. fell C. jumped D. competed

10. A. checked B. recovered C. asked D. transported

11. A. although B. then C. while D. anyhow

12. A. advised B. warned C. responded D. ordered

13. A. alive B. afraid C. affected D. amazed

14. A. reality B. satisfaction C. responsibility D. experience

15. A. life B. battles C. nature D. society

16. A. what B. how C. when D. why

17. A. attention B. fear C. courage D. money

18. A. expression B. friend C. character D. heart

19. A. stop B. remember C. regret D. determine

20. A. true B. straight C. generous D. native

14

Douglas was my cousin. I first met him when he came to stay with my family for a ， because his parents were going to teach in Africa.

He and his family all the way on the other side of the country， so we had never had a chance to visit them. ， when we arrived at the airport， it was not hard to find which person was my . He was the one standing all alone， looking around for someone to him. He looked a little scared to meet us， started to smile shyly after my mom hugged him.

When we got back home and Douglas putting his things away， I could not believe it. All of his were the same， all white shirts and dark blue shorts. He had a dark blue jacket with a tie！

“How come you only one kind of clothes？” I asked him.

“Thats the way my school has been，” he said. “We have to wear uniforms.”

“I would hate having to wear the thing every day，” I said.

“I dont ，” Douglas said. “I like it. It time. I dont have to think about what I am going to wear.”

“Well， we dont wear uniforms at our . Youre going to look pretty if you come to school in a jacket and tie.”

Douglas looked worried. ， I felt bad. I had not meant to his feelings. After all， it was not easy to come all this way to live with some family for a year. Then and there I decided that I was going to look after my cousin and try to make this as a year as possible for him.

1. A. day B. week C. month D. year