(2014 •河北中考) 

Tuesday,1st September

   I had mixed feelings today,nervous,worried,happy,excited. . . My heart went down when Miss Chan,our head teacher,said that Matthew and Beth,two students from England,would spend three months with us!I was worried that I had to speak English so much!But at the end of the school day,I was happier than I thought：the morning with them today was more enjoyable than I expected.

   Today is the most unforgettable first day I have had!Matthew is fantastic!His English is clearer and easier to listen to than I thought. The other English student,Beth,is the most helpful girl I've ever met. There were lots of things to do on the first day. Beth offered to help Miss Chan put up all the notices. Of course,some of the credit (功勞) should also go to ME because I translated some of the notices for her. Miss Chan praised us!

   We finished all the preparations 10 minutes earlier than expected,then Beth and I talked for a while. Matthew sang several English songs and did some stand-up comedy (單人喜劇表演) at the party. We all praised him. When the bell rang to end the first school day,none of us wanted to leave.

   When I went back home,I had a little headache. I have probably spoken more English today than the whole of last year.

   It was really a happy day!I hope our friendship can continue,even after they have gone back to England!

1. The writer felt when he heard the news from Miss Chan.

   A. excited   B. angry

   C. fantastic   D. worried

2. Beth helped Miss Chan with the .

   A. comedy   B. speeches

   C. notices   D. translation

3. Matthew at the party.

   A. had a talk   B. rang the bell

   C. sang several songs   D. made a preparation

4. Matthew and Beth on the first day.

   A. spoke much Chinese

   B. got lots of praise

   C. had a little headache

   D. forgot to leave school

5. From the passage,we know that the writer .

   A. caught a bad cold that day

   B. went back home with Beth

   C. expects to travel to England

   D. likes the two English students

   Recently,I felt like I reached a very low point in life. My relationships weren’t good,I wasn’t enjoying my classes,and I felt like I had nothing to 1 . My life seemed to be full of endless homework,tests and loneliness. Nothing anyone said seemed 2 to me. I wasn’t sure what to do about myself. All I wanted was to be happy again,but I didn't know who or what would 3 that.

   During these days,I had trouble sleeping. I had to take sleeping pills but still woke up in the midnight. I had no 4 but to tell my dad. He 5 the book The Secret. I immediately bought the e-book online and read the whole thing that night. I'm 6 quite a stubborn person,but the effect on my mood after finishing the book was 7 . Suddenly,I felt like life was beautiful again. I had never felt such a deep and quick 8 in my life before.

   In fact,the book's message was very simple— think positively (積極地) .The book had many success stories about how people were able to 9 money,soul mates (心靈伙伴) and old friends back into their lives. I started learning to thank everything in my life like them. Little by little,I realized that The Secret could only work 10 I believed these people's success stories.

   Now I'm sure I can bring myself happiness.

1. A. take care of   B. come up with   C. look down on   D. look forward to

2. A. helpful   B. colourful   C. peaceful   D. powerful

3. A. serve   B. offer   C. answer   D. prevent

4. A. problem   B. idea   C. need   D. doubt

5. A. borrowed   B. collected   C. returned   D. recommended

6. A. normally   B. mainly   C. finally   D. probably

7. A. realistic   B. common   C. obvious   D. serious

8. A. breath   B. notice   C. surprise   D. change

9. A. attract   B. control   C. imagine   D. mention

10. A. until   B. when   C. unless   D. before

14. —My recorder is broken. Could I use yours?

— ,but you have to return it tomorrow.

   A. I’m not sure   B. No problem

   C. I'm sorry   D. I hope so

15. —Hello,is that Sam speaking?

—I'm sorry he isn’t in at the moment.

   A. Who are you?

   B. Can I leave a message?

   C. What are you calling for?

   D. Can I take a message?

13. —Excuse me,could you tell me the way to the bank?

—Sure. Let me you the way.

   A. show   B. make   C. ask   D. find

12. Once in a while he would cry with pain,but usually he remained .

   A. in surprise   B. in trouble

   C. in danger   D. in silence

11. Keep hard, maybe one day you’ll be successful.

   A. study;but   B. studying;but

   C. studying;and   D. study;and

10. —How do you learn English?

— listening to the tapes.

   A. %   B. With   C. Of   D. In

9. He went to New York the age of twenty.

   A. from   B. in   C. on   D. at

8. 一What is that man?

— He seems a driver,but I'm not so sure.

   A. being   B. to being

   C. to be   D. be