Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers, whistling and clapping.
It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement.
Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown(方帽長袍).
Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(對美國的忠孝宣誓).
Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. Then came the core (核心) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.
To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.
A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.
小題1:What’s the article mainly about?

A．An American high school’s graduation ceremony.

B．The opening ceremony of a sports meeting.

C．A presentation of college diplomas.

D．A US college’s farewell party.

小題2:Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?

A．She was one of the graduates.

B．She was a foreign exchange student.

C．She was excited to receive her diploma.

D．She felt it great to be at the ceremony.

小題3:The right order of the following events is________.
a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.
b. Students gave farewell speeches.
c. The US national anthem was played.
d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.
e. Seniors went into the stadium.

A．b-c-a-d-e

B．c-d-b-e-a

C．d-b-e-a-c

D．e-d-c-b-a

小題4:From the text, we can conclude that_______.

A．a diploma ensures a good job

B．a diploma guarantees a bright future

C．the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life

D．everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma

Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there’s a big difference between “ being a writer” and “ writing”. In most cases these individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a computer. “You’ve got to want to write,” I say to them, “not want to be a writer.”
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the US Coast Guard to become a free writer, I had no promise at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used computer and felt a real writer.
After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t gotten a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I know I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if?  I would keep putting my dream to the test--- even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the Shadowland of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.
小題1:The passage is meant to _______.

A．warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience

B．advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer

C．show young people it’s unrealistic for a writer to be after wealth and fame

D．encourage young people to be after a writer career

小題2:What can be concluded from the passage?

A．Real writers often find their work interesting and rewarding

B．Writer’s success depends on luck rather than on effort

C．Famous writers usually live in poverty and isolation（隔離）

D．The chances for a writer to become successful are small

小題3:Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?

A．He wasn’t able to produce a single book

B．He hadn’t seen a change for the better

C．He wasn’t able to have a rest for a whole year

D．He found his dream would never come true

小題4: “Shadowland” in the last sentence refers to _____. 

A．thewonderlandonoftendreamsabout

B．thebrightfuturethatoneislookingforwardto

C．thestateofuncertaintybeforeone’sfinalgoalisreached

D．aworldthatexistsonlyinone’simagination

Most glasses help people see better, but a new invention from Japan may soon improve language skills and   language barriers instead.
High-tech Company NEC has   a device that it says will   users to communicate with people of different   .
Shaped like a pair of eyeglasses   without the lenses(鏡片), the computer-assisted Tele Scouter would   a picture-forming device to present almost real-time translations directly onto the   retina（視網膜）. The text, provided instantly      voice recognition and   programs, would effectively provide movie-like “subtitles” （字幕） during a conversation between two people   the glasses.
“You can keep the   flowing,” NEC market development official Takayuki Omino told reporters at Tokyo exposition (展覽會)   the device was on display. “This could also be used for talks     with secret information,” says Omino, stating that there would be no      for translators.
Each user’s   words would be   by microphone, translated, and be instantly   for conversation partners in   visual text and as audio delivered through headphones.
Users can still see their conversation partner’s face because the text is   onto only part of the retina—the first time such technology is used in a commercial product, according to NEC.
The company plans to put the Tele Scouter in Japan in November next year,    at the beginning without the translation mode.

小題1:	A．cut off B．cut down C．cut in D．cut up

小題2:	A．come up with B．come across C．come through D．come down

小題3:	A．force B．promise C．allow D．leave

小題4:	A．backgrounds B．cultures C．customs D．languages

小題5:	A．so B．but C．or D．while

小題6:	A．adopt B．admit C．agree D．adapt

小題7:	A．designer’s B．translator’s C．user’s D．producer’s

小題8:	A．through B．during C．within D．beyond

小題9:	A．inventiong B．invitation C．preparation D．translation

小題10:

A．bearing B．wearing C．carrying D．taking

小題11:

A．discussion B．argument C．conversation D．translation

小題12:

A．which B．where C．why D．how

小題13:

A．connected B．satisfied C．joined D．covered

小題14:

A．hope B．doubt C．need D．wonder

小題15:

A．expected B．imagined C．written D．spoken

小題16:

A．picked up B．made up C．turned up D．brought up

小題17:

A．agreeable B．acceptable C．believable D．available

小題18:

A．either B．neither C．both D．none

小題19:

A．placed B．passed C．got D．knocked

小題20:

A．therefore B．while C．however D．although

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She was      of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one appeared.
Her father, a cook, took her to the     . He filled three pots with      and placed each on a high fire. In one he placed carrots, in the second     , and in the last ground(磨碎的) coffee beans.
The daughter      waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he      the fire. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He      the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he poured the      out and placed it in a cup.      to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee." she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to      the carrots. She did and said that they were     . He then asked her to take an egg and      it. After pulling off the     , she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to drink the coffee. She smiled, as she      its rich aroma(芳香).
"What does it     , Father?" she asked.
He explained that each of them had      the same adversity(逆境), boiling water, but each reacted     . The carrot went in strong and hard but then it turned softened and weak. The egg had been fragile(易碎的), but at last its inside became     . The ground coffee beans were unique, however, after they were in the boiling water, they had      the water.
"Which are you?" he asked his daughter.
When adversity knocks on your door, how do you     ? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

小題1:	A．tired B．ashamed C．fond D．proud

小題2:	A．hall B．kitchen C．living room D．bathroom

小題3:	A．milk B．sugar C．water D．powder

小題4:	A．rice B．eggs C．apples D．potatoes

小題5:	A．impolitely B．carelessly C．vengefully D．impatiently

小題6:	A．put on B．put off C．turned on D．turned off

小題7:	A．wiped B．pulled C．cleaned D．washed

小題8:	A．wine B．pot C．beans D．coffee

小題9:	A．Lying B．Talking C．Turning D．Devoting

小題10:

A．cut B．buy C．feel D．cook

小題11:

A．soft B．hard C．cold D．dirty

小題12:

A．sell B．boil C．hold D．break

小題13:

A．plug B．shell C．road D．program

小題14:

A．made B．tasted C．served D．observed

小題15:

A．mean B．cost C．matter D．contain

小題16:

A．faced B．studied C．provided D．recognized

小題17:

A．finally B．equally C．differently D．successfully

小題18:

A．upset B．hardened C．effective D．accustomed

小題19:

A．wasted B．skimmed C．polluted D．changed

小題20:

A．find B．know C．respond D．practise

“I’ve changed my mind．I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my dad back．” Lucien Lawrence’s letter to Father Christmas, written after his father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched everyone’s heart．Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn’t see the stars in the sky．When those we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while．
But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again．And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father there too, either in your mind or heart．I find that my parents, who died years ago, still linger （留連） in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive．I still live to please them and I’m still surprised by their reactions．I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself that I couldn’t wait to cable my parents．The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all my mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!” I haven’t forgotten．The values of my parents still live on．
It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care．Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence has been to face the aggressors（入侵者）, and to lay down my life for those in my care? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It’s a serious thought, which gives me pause．
I pray silently, sometimes, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword and my darling from the power of the God．” Yet I know death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly．We must therefore plan to live together, but live as if we will die tomorrow．We live on, I’m sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure．If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today．
小題1:According to the whole text we can see that the first paragraph ________.

A．puts forward the subject of the text

B．shows the author’s pity on the kid

C．serves as an introduction to the discussion

D．makes a clear statement of the author’s views

小題2:In the second paragraph the author mainly wants to explain to us ________.

A．how much he misses his parents now

B．why his parents often appear in his dream

C．when Lucien will get over all his sadness

D．how proud he was when he succeeded in life

小題3:In the author’s opinion, the value of a person’s life is ________.

A．to leave a precious memory to the people related

B．to have a high sense of duty to the whole society

C．to care what others will remember and treasure

D．to share happiness and sadness with his family

小題4:What does the writer mean by the sentence taken from an old poem?

A．Call on criminals and murderers to lay down their guns.

B．Advise parents to stay with their children safely at home.

C．Spend every day meaningfully in memory of death.

D．Try to keep violence and murder far away from society.

A
This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.
It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend(超越) it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.
Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that difficulties represent a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation.
What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a painful one.  Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness, or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet, it is in this whole process of solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems, just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, those things that hurt, instruct. It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems.
小題1:From the passage, it can be inferred that ______.

A．everybody has problems

B．we become stronger by meeting and solving the problems of life

C．life is difficult because our problems bring us pain

D．people like to complain about their problems

小題2: The writer probably used just one short sentence in the first paragraph to ______.

A．save space	B．persuade readers
C．make readers laugh	D．get readers’ attention

小題3:The main idea of Paragraph 3 is that ______.

A．most people feel life is easy

B．the writer feels life is easy

C．the writer likes to complain about his problems

D．most people complain about how hard their lives are

小題4: According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to______.

A．encourage them to learn

B．teach them to fear the pain of solving the problem

C．help them learn to deal with pain

D．teach them how to respect from problems

小題5:The saying from Benjamin Franklin “Those things that hurt, instruct” suggests that ______.

A．we do not learn from experience

B．we do not learn when we are in pain

C．pain teaches us important lessons

D．pain cannot be avoided

There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external(外部的) result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language--- all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts (路標)or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they go through new experiences and unexpected obstacles(阻礙). In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to be faced with the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential(基本的) to our ability to grow.
These feelings of insecurity and self – doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not face and overcome these internal(內部的) fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease（停止) to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
小題1:．A person is generally believed to achieve personal growth when______..

A．he has given up his smoking habit

B．he has made great efforts in his work

C．he is interested in making anything new

D．he has tried to determine where he is on his journey

小題2:．In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would______.

A．judge his ability to grow from his own achievements

B．succeed in climbing up the social ladder

C．face difficulties and take up challenges

D．aim high and reach his goal each time

小題3:．When the author says “a new way of being” (para. 3), he is referring to _____.

A．a new way of taking risks

B．a new approach to experiencing the world

C．a new system of adapting to change

D．a new method of finding ourselves

小題4:．For personal growth, the author may not support __________.       .

A．curiosity and more chances

B．being quick in self – adaptation

C．open – minded to new experiences

D．avoidance of internal fears and doubts

I once had a teacher whose husband died suddenly of heart attack．About a week after his death, she    some of her thoughts with a classroom of students．As the late afternoon sunlight shone    the classroom windows, and when the class was nearly over, she    a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down.
With a    look on her face，she paused and said，“  class is over，I’d like to share with all of you a deep    which I feel is very important．Each of us is put here on    to learn，share，love，appreciate and give of ourselves．  of us knows when this fantastic experience will   ．It can be taken away at any moment．Perhaps this is the God’s    of telling us that we must make the     of every single day.”
Her eyes were beginning to   ，but she went on，“So I would like you all to make me a   ：From now on，on your way to school，or on your way home，find something beautiful to   ．It doesn't have to be something you see．It could be a    of freshly baked  bread  floating  out  of  someone’s house，  or  it  could  be  the  sound  of  the soft    rustling(沙沙作響)the leaves in the trees…．Please look for these things， and     them，for at anytime it can all be taken away．’’
The class was completely   ．We all picked up our books and went out of the room silently．That   ，I observed many more beautiful things on my way home from school than usual．
Remember：Life is not    by the number of breaths we take，but by the moments that take our breath away．

小題1:	A．learned B．shared C．argued D．discussed

小題2:	A．onto B．into C．across D．through

小題3:	A．moved B．brushed C．swept D．pulled

小題4:	A．surprised B．worried C．gentle D．strange

小題5:	A．After B．Unless C．Before D．If

小題6:	A．feeling B．understanding C．love D．memory

小題7:	A．business B．time C．duty D．earth

小題8:	A．None B．All C．Each D．Neither

小題9:	A．happen B．begin C．end D．gain

小題10:

A．way B．signal C．plan D．joke

小題11:

A．least B．worst C．lowest D．most

小題12:

A．ache B．water C．shine D．dry

小題13:

A．promise B．choice C．wish D．rule

小題14:

A．buy B．enjoy C．take D．learn

小題15:

A．smell B．gift C．taste D．sight

小題16:

A．wind B．hand C．light D．color

小題17:

A．get B．appreciate C．hide D．follow’

小題18:

A．puzzled B．excited C．quiet D．anxious

小題19:

A．morning B．night C．noon D．afternoon

小題20:

A．wasted B．measured C．saved D．lost

On a trip to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man, with a     beard and dirty hair, jumped up from a bench outside the restaurant and opened the door for us．Regardless of his     , he greeted us in a friendly way.
Once inside, my daughters whispered, "Mom, he    . " After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look     the dirt. We then watched other customers approach the restaurant but many     him. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me. The day I became a mother, I had determined to set a good     to my children. Yet sometimes when things didn't go right, being a good example was     . When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck．With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so I  myself from the meal and went to get them.
Just then, the "doorman" was opening the door for a couple. They rushed past him without even acknowledging his    . Letting them in first, I said a loud "thank you" to him as I     .When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside     he purchased food . I went back and told my family his    .Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich.
The kids looked     as we had already eaten, but when I said the order was for the "doorman" , they smiled. When it was time to     our trip, I found the "doorman" enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then   out his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly    the tears in his eyes—tears of gratitude (感激) .What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the " doorman" a    _ . He pulled away, with tears     down his face.
Back in truck, I fell into deep thought．While we can't choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude．I said thanks to a man who had     held open a door for me, and also said thanks for that     to teach my children by example.

小題1:	A．messy B．clean C．pretty D．bright

小題2:	A．service B．state C．appearance D．attitude

小題3:	A．smokes B．smells C．sighs D．smiles

小題4:	A．around B．over C．beyond D．into

小題5:	A．ignored B．hated C．missed D．refused

小題6:	A．target B．rule C．record D．example

小題7:	A．stressful B．accessible C．awkward D．tough

小題8:	A．excused B．refreshed C．prevented D．forgave

小題9:	A．company B．presence C．challenge D．attack

小題10:

A．quitted B．marched C．exited D．approached

小題11:

A．before B．unless C．though D．since

小題12:

A．story B．deed C．desire D．demand

小題13:

A．concerned B．puzzled C．excited D．bored

小題14:

A．make B．start C．continue D．take

小題15:

A．waved B．washed C．raised D．reached

小題16:

A．watched B．inspected C．witnessed D．noticed

小題17:

A．hug B．nod C．lift D．strike

小題18:

A．slipping B．rushing C．rolling D．breaking

小題19:

A．firmly B．simply C．constantly D．politely

小題20:

A．journey B．wisdom C．community D．opportunity

My father got his first job at eleven years old. cleaning up the garbage outside of the bowlingalley（保齡球場）． Two years later his dad died. and my fatber worked odd jobs to help put food onthe table during the Depression. Ten years after that. Dad fell in love. married Mom and had ababy girl. Eight more children followed. During those years, Dad slipped into a routine he neverbroke He woke up before six. took the train to work and wouldn't get home until after five thirly.After supper, Dad spent the rest of the evening in the basement making dental parts for extra    
Two years ago, at the age of sixty-four, Dad retired. When I was young, Mom and Dad did well to hide the fact that we were poor. All nine of us attended Catholic schools and we always had plenty of school supplies. We slept in wooden beds, shared one bathroom and watched television from a tiny black-and-white set in the living room. Mom and Dad never bought anything for themselves. They clipped coupons, wore the same pair of sneakers for twenty years and sewed wom clothing together every Saturday afternoon.
At his retirement party. I wanted to thank Dad for all his hard work and sacrifice by buying him the best present I could think of. As I shopped though. l realized there was nothing I could buy for Dad. Dad taught me through his own faith that the greatest gifis come from the heart Finally. I left my present on the kitchen table for Dad to find before he Ieft for his frnal day at work.
小題1:How did Dad get extra money besides his daytime routine work?

A．Collecting garbage outside the alley.

B．Making dental parts in the basement.

C．Putting food on the table in a hotel.

D．Working oddjobs on the train.

小題2:What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．Dad retired after sixty-four years of hard work.

B．Dad and Mom could afford their children good education.

C．Parents made every effort to save for chcir children

D．The family was once poor but became well off later.

小題3:After reading the text. what would be the author's present for his Dad?

A．A big-screen television.

B．A vacation schedule.

C．A letter of grateful words.

D．A great retirement party.

小題4:What can be the best title for the text?

A．Thank You. Dad.	B．Dad's Expenence.
C．A Hardworking Dad.	D．Dad. a Breadwinner.