My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau(衣橱) and picked out a wonderful skirt. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion.” Well, I guess this is the occasion.
He took the skirt from me and put it on the bed. His hands touched the soft material for a moment, then he shut the drawer and turned to me, "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."
I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my attitude to life. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to enjoy, not suffer. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and treasure them.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are being lost from my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I' m not sure what my sister would have done if she had known she wouldn't have tomorrow .
I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend her fences for past things. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food.
If I knew that my hours were limited ,those little things left undone would make me angry. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with some day. Angry and sorry because I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath truly, is... a gift from God.
21. Which of the following can best explain the expression underlined “mend her fences for past things” in Paragraph 5?
A. try to be friendly again with someone
B. break her word
C. give up her point of view
D. keep her promise
2. Jan bought the wonderful skirt but didn't wear it because______.
A. she wanted to wear it on special occasionsB. she kept it as a special gift for someone else
C. she saved it until she grew older
D. she wanted to keep it as a sweet memory
23. Which of the following is not the writer’s attitude to life?
A. spending more time staying with family
B. attending social activities as often as possible
C. enjoying life and valuing every day
D. trying to get along well with friends
24. The best title for the passage would be______.
A. Every day is A Gift
B. My Poor Sister
C. Value Friendship Every Day
D. Every day is An Important Occasion
B
There are many superstitions(迷信) in Britain, but one of the most widely-held is that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder - even if it means stepping off the pavement into a busy street!
①Walking under a ladder
If you must walk under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you’ve seen a dog. Alternatively, you must lick your finger and make a cross on the toe of your shoe, and not look again at the shoe until the mark has dried.
② Umbrella
Another common superstition is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house - it will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. The superstition could date from the old time when its purpose was to act as a sunshade. If opened indoors, it might be considered to be an attack on the sun. Anyone opening an umbrella indoors in fine weather is unpopular, as it inevitably brings rain!
③ Number 13
The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some, and when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, anyone wishing to avoid an inauspicious event had better stay indoors.
④ Seven years bad luck
The worst misfortune that can befall you is caused by breaking a mirror, as it brings seven years of bad luck! The superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.
⑤ Black cat
In the UK, Black cats are generally considered lucky in the UK, even though they are connected with witchcraft(巫术). You are said to be lucky if a black cat crosses your path.
25. It can be inferred from the passage that_________.
A. breaking a mirror will cause bad luck because it shows your disrespect (不敬) for the God.
B. crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed can help avoid bad luck brought by walking under a ladder
C. number 13 is always unlucky in any situation
D. opening indoors it might be considered to be an attack on the sun
26. Which of the followings is RIGHT in U.K according to the passage?
A. Opening an umbrella in the rain is not acceptable or unpopular
B. Black cats are generally considered unlucky because they have something to with witchcraft.
C. Bad luck brought by walking under a ladder cannot be avoided using certain ways
D. If you are to open a clothes store on May 13 in Britain, you had better change the date.
27. Which two superstitions are related to history?
A. ①② B.②④ C ④⑤ D. ③④
28. .Which experience is considered to be lucky according to the passage?
A. Walking under a ladder
B. opening an umbrella in the house
C. breaking a mirror
D. a black cat crossing your path.
C
Reading poems is not exactly an everyday activity for most people. In fact, many people never read a poem once they get out of high school.
It is worth reminding ourselves that this has not always been the case in America. In the nineteenth century, a usual American activity was to sit around the fireside in the evening and read poems aloud. It is true that there was no television at the time, nor movie theaters, nor World Wide Web, to provide diversion. However, poems were a source of pleasure, of self-education, of connection to other people or to the world beyond one’s own community. Reading them was a social act as well as an individual one, and perhaps even more social than individual. Writing poems to share with friends and relations was, like reading poems by the fireside, another way in which poetry has a place in everyday life.
How did things change? Why are most Americans no longer comfortable with poetry, and why do most people today think that a poem has nothing to tell them and that they can do well without poems?
There are, I believe, three culprits(肇事者)：poets, teachers, and we ourselves. Of these, the least important is the third: the world surrounding the poem has betrayed us more than we have betrayed the poem. Early in the twentieth century, poetry in English headed into directions unfavorable to the reading of poetry. Readers decided that poems were not for the fireside or the easy chair at night, that they belonged where other difficult-to-read things belonged.
Poets failed the reader, so did teachers. They want their students to know something about the skills of a poem, they want their students to see that poems mean something. Yet what usually occurs when teachers push these concerns on their high school students is that young people decide poems are unpleasant crossword puzzles.
29. Reading poems is thought to be a social act in the nineteenth century because ______________.
A. it built a link among people
B. it helped unite a community
C. it was a source of self-education
D. it was a source of pleasure
30. The underlined word “diversion”(in Paragraph 2) most probably means “_________”.
A. concentration
B. change
C. amusements
D. stories
31. In the last paragraph, the writer questions ____________.
A. the difficulty in studying poems
B. the way poems are taught in school
C. students’ wrong ideas about poetry
D. the techniques used in writing poems
32. According to the passage, what is the main cause of the great gap between readers and poetry?
A. Students are becoming less interested in poetry.
B. Students are poorly educated in high school.
C. TV and the Internet are more attractive than poetry.
D. Poems have become difficult to understand.
D
How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces, They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks(象牙), and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families. They drink only every 3 –4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders – they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Young elephants may even eat the dung(粪便)of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine(尿液)to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.
33.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “ ”.
A.manages to live in desert areas
B.drinks 120 liters of water a day
C .remains in the African countries
D.eats 150 kilograms of food daily
34.Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they _________.
A.rarely ruin trees
B.drink only every 3-4 days
C.search for food in large groups
D.protect food sources for their young
35.What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?
A.Overheating the earth can be stopped.
B. Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants.
C.The planet will become hotter and hotter.
、
D. Not all animal species are so adaptable.
第二节(共5小题;每小题2分，满分10分)
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
How to pass an important test
Whether it's a first grade science test or College Entrance Exam, all tests have one thing in common: you have to pass. 36.________ Stuck in a situation where you don't know what to do? This article can help. Tips ★1. Once you get the study guide, make plans right away to study as soon as possible. No excuses! Killing time with friends isn't worth it，since you can always hang out with them any other day. ★2. Get plenty of rest. 37.________ If you walk into the classroom sleepily, you'll most likely not finish the test because you are so tired. ★3. Eat a good meal for breakfast. 38.________ Some healthy breakfast suggestions are oatmeal (燕麦片), high fibre food, and grapefruit with the fresh fruit salad. ★4. Bring all necessary materials. 39.________ Bring pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, snacks (if allowed)，erasers, the calculator (if allowed) and anything else you'll need for the test. ★5. 40.________ Showing up late cuts back the time you'll have to take for the test if it's already testing hours. You'll probably miss any important information needed in completing the test. In some tests，late comers are not allowed to take the test. A．This test is a challenging one and every year many students are unable to qualify it just because of lack of guidance.
B．Failing the test won't help you in the long run, so it's important to know how to prepare to pass that big test. C．Studies show that if you get enough sleep, your brain will be much more efficient. D．Don't forget to set your alarm clock and show up on the test day on time. E．Showing up without something as simple as a pencil can make a big effect on your test. F. One piece of cheese probably won't last until test time．
G.The exam tests vocabulary, reading and maths skills.
第二部分 英语知识运用(共两节，满分45分)
第一节 完形填空(共20小题;每题1.5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A, B, C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. 41 you are in the habit of rushing through life, being so busy from morning till night, it is hard to 42 down.But relaxation is 43 for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a 44 part of everyday life and there is no way to 45 it.In fact, it is not the bad thing that it is often supposed to be.A 46 amount of stress is important to provide motivation(动机) and give 47 to life.It is only when the stress gets out of control 48 it can lead to poor performance and 49 health.
The amount of stress a person can bear 50 very much on the individual（个人）.Some people are not afraid of stress.and such 51 are obviously important for leaders.Others lose heart at first 52 of unusual difficulties.When faced with
stress, in 53 form, we react both chemically and physically.In fact we make a choice between 54 and fight.And in more ancient days the choices made the 55 between life and death.The crises(危机)we meet today are 56 to be so extreme, but however little the stress is,it requires the same response.It is when such a reaction 57 long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes 58 .Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart diseases have 59 links with stress. 60 we cannot remove stress from our lives we need to find ways to deal with it.It would be unwise to do so even if we could.
So what do you think of stress? What is your way to deal with it?
41.A.When
B.Once
C.While
D.As
42.A.calm
B.slow
C get
D.turn
43.A.unnecessary
B.satisfied
C.necessary
D.useful
44.A.physical
B.hard
C.natural
D.terrible
45.A.tolerate
B.solve
C.avoid
D.accept
46.A.sure
B.large
C.certain
D.great
47.A.purpose
B.resource
C.influence
D.instruction
48.A.when
B.why
C.how
D.that
49.A.ill
B.good
C.strong
D.weak
50.A.depends.
B.insists
C.calls
D.spends
51.A.patterns
B.personalities
C.situations
D.characters
52.A.glance
B.sight
C.view
D.impression
53.A.whichever
B.whatever
C.however
D.whenever
54.A.fright
B.peace
C.pressure
D.heaviness
55.A.decision
B.promise
C.difference
D.choice
56.A.likely
B.unlikely
C.necessary
D.probable
57.A.continues
B.lasts
C.stands
D.lives
58.A.balanced
B.injured
C.endangered
D.changeable
59.A.found
B.achieved
C.established
D.developed
60.A.Unless
B.As
C.Because
D.Since
第二节 语法填空
(共10分;每小题1.5分，满分15分)
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(不多于3个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
Once upon a time, a mother loved his son very much . She worked hard every day, ____61_____ they were always poor.
One day, her son stole his friend’s bag. “Mom, what do you think of this bag?” His mother praised her son instead of scolding him. The next time, he stole ___62____ overcoat. She praised him again. A few years ____63____ (late), he grew up to be a young man. He stole jewelry and brought them to his mother. This time, she ____64_____ did not scold her son. Then, he started to steal more expensive things.
One day, the police caught him. Before he ____65____ (put) in prison, he begged the police to meet his mother. They took him ____66____ his mother. As soon as he saw his mother, he suddenly bit her ear. “Ouch! What is the matter with you?” She finally scolded him. Her son answered, “If you had given me a scolding like ____67____ when I stole the first bag, I could not have become a thief.” ____68____ (look) at her son heading to prison, “If only I ____69____ turn back time, I would scold him severely.” She said ____70____ (regret).
第三部分：写作(共两节，满分35分)
第一节
短文改错(满分10分)
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(Λ)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线()划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
This morning I went to the shoes shop to buy a pair of new shoes. When I got there, I noticed a foreign lady talk to a salesgirl. But the salesgirl didn't understand that the foreigner was saying. They both looked worrying. I went up to help them. The lady is Australian. She wanted to buy a pair of traveling shoes. So I told it to the salesgirl. The lady was very much glad when she took it. She sings high praise for my spoken English. All of them expressed their thanks to me. I felt happy that I expressed myself free in English.
第二节 书面表达 (25分)
假如你是李华，正在一所英国学校学习暑期课程，遇到一些困难，希望得到学校辅导中心（Learning Center）的帮助。根据学校规定，你需要书面预约，请按下面要点写一封信：
本人简介；2.求助内容3.约定时间4.你的联系方式
注意: 1. 词数100左右; 2. 信的开头已为你写好。
Dear Sir,
Yours,
Li Hua
英语参考答案
答案：
This morning I went to the shoesshoe) shop to buy a pair of new shoes. When I got there, I noticed a foreign lady talk(talking) to a salesgirl. But the salesgirl didn't understand that(what) the foreigner was saying. They both looked worrying(worried). I went up to help them. The lady is(an)Australian. She wanted to buy a pair of traveling shoes. So I told it to the salesgirl. The lady was very much（删掉）glad when she took it(them). She sings(sang) high praise for my spoken English. All(Both) of them expressed their thanks to me. I felt happy that I expressed myself free (freely)in English