Once there was a piano player in a bar (酒吧). People came just to hear him play. But one night, a lady asked him to sing a song.
“I don’t sing,” said the man.
But the lady told the waiter, “I’m tired of listening to the piano. I want the player to sing!”
The waiter shouted across the room, “Hey, friend! If you want to get paid, sing a song!”
So he did. He had never sung in public before. Now he was singing for the very first time! Nobody had ever heard the song Mona Lisa sung so beautifully!
He had talent(天賦) he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar. But once he found, by accident, that he could sing well, he went on working hard and became one of the best-known singers in the US. His name was Nat King Cole.
You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel that your talent is great, but it may be better than you think. With hard work, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may have no success at all if you just sit on your talent.
【小題1】The lady asked the player to sing a song because ________.

A．she had paid him for this

B．she knew him very well

C．she was tired of listening to the piano.

D．she enjoyed his singing

【小題2】Nat King Cole succeeded because ________.

A．the lady helped him a lot

B．he caught the chance(機會)

C．he continued to play in the bar

D．he played the piano well

【小題3】The words “sit on” in the passage probably mean “________”.

A．fail to realize	B．forget to use
C．try to develop	D．manage to show

【小題4】From the story we know if you have some talent, you should __________.

A．hide it and wait

B．a(chǎn)sk others for help

C．pay no attention to it

D．work hard to improve yourself

【小題5】Which could be the best title(標(biāo)題) for the passage?

A．Sing in the Bar

B．Achieve Success in Life

C．Never Lose Heart

D．Find Your Hidden（隱藏的） Talent

An old woman walked into a clothes shop. She asked the salesgirl to let her have a look at a new dress on display, but the girl stood still behind the counter, taking no notice of the request.
The old woman spoke to the girl again, raising her voice a bit, but still received no answer. The old woman looked closely at the girl and nodded to her, "I am too old to see well." I can't even tell a plastic (塑料的) model from a real girl."
On hearing this, the salesgirl shouted at the old woman, " What? Did you call me a plastic model?"
The old woman was greatly surprised. "On, dear me," she said. "The model can speak. Then it must be a robot of a new type."
【小題1】The old woman wanted ______in the clothes shop.

A．to buy something

B．to play a joke on someone

C．to look for someone

D．to talk to the girl

【小題2】The assistant was a ________.

A．woman

B．model

C．robot

D．man

【小題3】The assistant took no notice of the old woman because _______.

A．she was a plastic model

B．she was a robot

C．she was not a good assistant

D．she had bad hearing

In the jungle of Africa, there lives a family of monkeys. There is a Mama Monkey and a Papa Monkey, and they have a young daughter named Hananh. The monkey family lives very happily，swinging and playing in the trees. But it isn’t all play. Papa Monkey has to make sure their home is warm and safe. Mama is responsible for the sewing and cooking of the family’s meals. Hannah helps with the cleaning ,but her main job is to collect all the bananas and other fruit for the monkey family’s meals
【小題1】There are ____monkeys in the family .

A．two

B．three

C．four

D．five

【小題2】Who must keep their home warm and safe?

A．Mama monkey	B．Papa monkey
C．Hannah	D．the son

【小題3】The daughter does the cleaning and collects ____

A．a(chǎn)pples	B．bananas
C．other fruit	D．B and C

【小題4】Where do they live?---They live___________.

A．in the jungle	B．near the beach
C．in the lake	D．under the sea

Mary is an French girl. She is now in Beijing with her parents. Mary doesn’t know much Chinese. But she is trying to learn and speak it. She often speaks Chinese to her Chinese friends, but they don’t understand her because she can’t speak Chinese very well.
It’s Sunday morning. Mary is going to the zoo to see the elephants and monkeys, but she doesn’t know how to get there. She asks a Chinese boy the way. The boy can’t understand her. Then she finds a way to express(表達(dá))what she wants to say. She takes out a pen and some paper. She draws an elephant on it and shows the picture to the boy. The boy understands,and shows Mary the way to the zoo.
【小題1】Mary is from______

A．China

B．England

C．Japan

D．France

【小題2】Mary is in _________with her parents now.

A．England

B．China

C．New York

D．London

【小題3】Mary doesn’t know how to get to_________

A．the zoo

B．the park

C．her home

D．her school

【小題4】Mary can’t speaks________very well.

A．English

B．England

C．China

D．Chinese

【小題5】At last the boy_________

A．can understand Mary’s Chinese.

B．takes her to the zoo

C．shows her the way to the zoo

D．draws a picture for Mary ,too.

Once there was a rich man who lived with his wife and child.He loved the child so much that he sent him to Oxford university for two or three years.At the end of the first year at the university, this young student came home.He wanted a change.And he also wanted to tell his parents about Oxford.
It happened one night that the father, the mother and the young student were sitting at supper.They had in front of them only two chickens.Just as they were about to begin eating, the father said, "My boy, I have spent a lot of money on you to send you to Oxford.Now I want to know what you have learned."The son smiled and said, "Father, I have studied a science which can prove(證明) that these two chickens on the plate are really three chickens.""Well," said the father, "This is something I would like very much to know.""There are two chickens on the plate, "said the student.He took one of the chickens in his hand and said, "Here is one more ; and one and two makes three.So here are three chickens."Then the father took one of the chickens to himself, gave the other to his wife, and said, "I will have one of the chickens myself, your mother shall have another, and you can have the third for your supper and nothing else."The father kept his word and so the student went without his supper.
閱讀短文選擇正確答案(5分)
【小題1】The rich man loved his son very much ,  so he __________.

A．senthimtoworkatOxfordfortwoorthreeyears

B．wantedhimtoliveatOxfordfortwoorthreeyears

C．senthimtoOxfordtostudy

D．gavehimalotofmoney

【小題2】The father asked his son _______.

A．howmuchmoneyhehadspentattheuniversity

B．howhelikedOxford

C．whathehadlearnedbytheendofthefirstyearattheuniversity

D．howhissongotalongwithhisclassmates

【小題3】The student said that _________.

A．hecouldmakethreechickens

B．hecouldchangethetwochickensontheplateintothree

C．hecouldprovethetwochickensontheplatewerereallythree

D．hewasgoodatmaths

【小題4】Who was cleverer, the father or the son?

A．Neither.	B．Both
C．Theson	D．Thefather

【小題5】In the end _________.

A．thestudenthadnothingtoeatforhissupper

B．eachofthemhadachickenfortheirsupper

C．thefathergavehissonthethirdchickentoeat

D．bothoftheparentshadnochickenstoeat

We were going to play against a team from a country school.They didn’t come until the last minute. They looked worse than we had thought. They were wearing dirty blue trousers and looked like farm boys.We sat down for a rest. We felt that we didn’t need any practice against a team like that.
The game began. One of us got the ball and he shot a long pass to our forward （前鋒）. From out of nowhere a boy in an old T-shirt stopped the ball and with beautiful style, he shot and got two points. Then another two points in a minute. Soon the game was all over. We were beaten by the country team.  
After that, we thought a lot. We certainly learned that even though your team is very good, you can’t look down upon the others and still need to do you best. And the most important lesson we learned was: One can’t judge (判斷) a person or a team only by their clothes.
【小題1】 The team from the country were in old clothes so the writer’s team _______.

A．looked down upon them

B．couldn’t win

C．didn’t like the city boy

D．were afraid of them

【小題2】The country team arrived so late that _________.

A．nobody saw them

B．the writer’s team were angry

C．they had no time to warm up（熱身）

D．they looked worse

【小題3】 The team from the country won because _________.

A．they were in old clothes

B．they didn’t practice before the game

C．they practiced before the game

D．the team was better than the writer’s

【小題4】From the text, we can guess the writer’s team is _________.

A．a(chǎn) basketball from a country school

B．a(chǎn) football team from a school in the city

C．a(chǎn) basketball team from a school in the city

D．a(chǎn) football team from the country

【小題5】 The writer’s team learned a lot from the game. They got to know how to ______.

A．do better from then on

B．fight against the country boys

C．play against a weak team

D．judge a man or a team by clothes

I never wanted a dog, but now I'm so glad I have one. About two years ago, my wife, Cathy, got a little dog with a face only a mother could love. We named her Gertie.
Gertie is the kind of dog that has to grow on you. So I dicided that the dog would be trained. This didn't quite go as planned. At 15 weeks old, she was nearly made to leave the Petsmart Training School. She spent every night lying in our bed-snoring (打鼾)so loudly that I hardly got a good night's sleep.
Then, about six months after she arrived, I felt that something in my heart was taking place, and I was unable to stop it. My behaviour(行為方式)began to change. I began to smile at people when passing them in a street. I returned(招手)from neighbours. I started calling my kids, and to my surprise, they started calling me. I even tried to speak to my grandchildren over the phone once. I even was glad to listen to laughter from a 10-month-old granddaughter. The point is that I was changing.
My wife and I both agree that it is Gertie who has changed my behaviour. Gertie is now nearly two years old and almost fully grown.I have come to like the pet little by little, though she is my wife's dog.
【小題1】What did the man think of the dog at the beginning?

A．It looked very beautiful.

B．It wasn't very lovely.

C．It wasn't necessary to be trained.

D．It could change his life.

【小題2】When did the man's behaviour begin to change?

A．About two years ago.

B．When Gertie was nearly two years old.

C．When Gertie was 15 weeks old.

D．About six months after Gertie arrived.

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the man's change?

A．He began to smile at people

B．He liked helping his neighbours.

C．He started calling his kids.

D．He spoke to his grandchildren over the phone.

【小題4】What can we learn from this passage?

A．The dog has been trained very well.

B．The man has become more confident.

C．The man has become more friendly.

D．The man likes the dog better than his wife.

A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. She told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes. Thirty minutes later, when the passenger’s ring for service sounded, the air hostess flew busily. She was kept so busy that she forgot to give him the water. As a result, the passenger was held up to take his medicine. She hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused it.
In the following hours on the flight, each time the airline hostess passed the passenger she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. But the passenger never paid attention to her. When he was going to get off the plane, the passenger asked the airline hostess to hand him the passengers’ brochure（小冊子）. She was very sad. She knew that he would write down sharp words, but with a smile she handed it to him. Off the plane, she opened the booklet, and broke a smile, for the passenger put it, “On the flight, you asked me whether I need help or not for twelve times in all. How can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?” That’s right! Who can refuse your twelve sincere smiles from a person?
【小題1】What did the passenger need when the plane just took off?

A．A booklet to write something.

B．A cup of water to take his medicine.

C．The stewardess to make an apologize.

D．To get off the plane at once.

【小題2】Why did the air hostess forget to give him the water?

A．Because the passenger was angry.

B．Because the passenger was very cruel.

C．Because she was very busy.

D．Because she was not friendly to the passenger.

【小題3】The Chinese meaning of the underlined word “sincere” is ________.

A．自豪的

B．婉轉(zhuǎn)的

C．真誠的

D．委屈的

【小題4】Why was the air hostess very sad?

A．She thought the passenger would write down bad words.

B．She thought she couldn’t give the passenger any help.

C．She thought the passenger would tell her manager.

D．She thought she should say sorry to the passenger again.

Jay Chou was born on January 18, 1979, in Taiwan, China. He grew up with his mother, and was a quiet and shy kid. He didn’t do well in study, so people thought he would never be successful in life.
As a small child, Jay took a great interest in music. His mother sent him to learn the piano when he was only three years old. He loved it and kept on practicing. When he was in high school, he could play the piano quite well. At the same time, he showed his talent for writing songs.
Before Jay became a singer, he worked as a songwriter. For two years, he spent most of his time writing for singers. Some of them were very famous, like Coco Less and Jacky Cheung. Jay released(發(fā)行) his first album(專輯) in 2000 and soon he got quite popular.
Now Jay is one of the most famous singers in Asia. However, he is still shy and doesn’t speak clearly when he sings or talks, but he has a lot of fans. Most of his fans like him because he is really good at music and never follows(仿效) others.
【小題1】When Jay Chou was a small kid,        .
①he was quiet and shy
②he lived with his parents
③he didn’t study well
④he loved music

A．①③

B．①④

C．①③④

D．②③④

【小題2】Jay Chou’s mother sent him to learn the piano         .

A．in 1982

B．when he was in primary school

C．when he was five

D．when he was in high school

【小題3】Jay Chou wrote songs          for two years.

A．for himself

B．for his friends

C．for his mother

D．for Coco Lee, Jacky Cheung and some other singers

【小題4】Which of the following about Jay Chou is NOT true .

A．He is a good-looking singer.

B．He has a lot of fans

C．He doesn’t speak clearly

D．His songs are different from others

For years I wanted a garden. I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.
Money was not enough. Neither was time. Often when my children were little,one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about a garden.
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard. There were things blowing around on it. Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw.
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There were dollar bills*, one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree. There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom. We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. A new page started in my life.
That was three years ago. My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted. When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they’re right there with me. Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden. I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time.
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!
【小題1】How many children did the writer have?

A．Three

B．Four

C．Five

D．Six

【小題2】 What did the mother mean when she said “Money doesn’t grow on trees”?

A．She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time.

B．She had to save money so that she could have a garden.

C．It wasn’t easy for her to make money to raise all the children.

D．They didn’t have much money because the mother lost her job.

【小題3】 The “money tree” appeared in the writer’s yard _________.

A．before her children were born

B．one spring morning when the children were little

C．a(chǎn)fter the children went to school

D．on a Mother’s Day after the children left her

【小題4】 The children planted a money tree in their mother’s yard because _________.

A．their mother needed money badly

B．they wanted to show their love to their mother

C．it was time for them to give the money back to her

D．they wanted to live together with their mother forever