For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.
　 She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.

Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
　 Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鷗) are far less agile (靈活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”

56. From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.
A. knew her son was not bright enough
B. saw the negative effects of the ranking system

C. decided to help with her son’s school work

D. was troubled by her son’s low rankings

57. The mom was glad she didn’t give an answer at first because ______.
　 A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon
　 B. she felt intelligence doesn’t mean everything
　 C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth
　 D. she wanted to avoid another blow to her son’s self-respect
58. The story conveys the message that ______.
　 a. only rankings show intelligence
　 b. hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings
　 c. parents should see children’s strengths and encourage them
　 d. competition between students is good for society
　 A. bc 　　　　　　 B. cd 　　　　　

C. abc 　　　　　 D. bcd
59. Which of the following would be the best title for the story?
　 A. How important are rankings?
　 B. Little birds and seagulls
　 C. The answer Mom gave
　 D. Hard work pays off!

Last weekends, my kids along with few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of 　36 other people’s cars as well. It was pretty 　37 outside and I had no plans to 　38 to be in the bright sun. She 　39 wanted to give lemonade（檸檬汽水）to passersby for free. I had seen little kids 40 and sell fresh lemonade for a small cost but not free. Although I felt 　41 , I decided to help her. 42 she asked me, “What if we 　43 this a smile car wash?” I couldn’t hold back my tears and 　44 her and the other kids to go outside the house and come up with 　45 ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the gang walked up to me with a(n) 　46 with beautiful images of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the 　47 of their exercise was “smile”. It was pretty neat to see a team of kids ranging 5－11 years with the 　48 to do something for others.

All that seemed 　49 and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to 　50 to them: their playtime, the heat outside—they just wanted to 　51 others and do something nice in the community!

I helped them make some fresh lemonade and brought out some additional 　52 to help clean cars. The passersby were 　53 and one even shouted back to them saying “God Bless You, my kids…” One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. A pretty heartwarming 　54 ! I feel blessed by being 　55 by such wonderful and loving souls.

36. A. decorating B. repairing C. washing D. drying

37. A. dirty　　　　 　　　　　　 B. hot　　　　　　　　 　　　 C. different　　　 　 　　　　　　 D. quiet　　

38. A. practice 　　　　　　　　　 B. avoid　　　　　　 　　　　 C. continue　　　 　　 D. suggest　　　

39. A. hardly　　　 　　　　　　　 B. therefore　　　　 　　　 C. already　　　 　　　 　　 D. further

40. A　serve　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. enjoy　　　　　　 　　　　 C. buy　　　　　 　　　 　　 D. choose

41. A. difficult　　 　　　　　　　 B. popular　　　　　 　　　　 C. confused　　　　 　 　 D. worried

42. A. Luckily　　　 　　　　　　 B. Simply　　　　　 　　　　 C. Then　　　　　 　 　　 D. Finally

43. A. order　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 B. leave　　　　　　 　　　　 C. make　　　　 　　　 　 D. show

44. A. encouraged B. expected C. invited D. challenged　　

45. A. familiar　　　 　　　　　　 B. ready　　　　　 　　　　　 C. changed　　 　　　 　 D. creative

46. A. board　　　　　 　　　　　 B. picture　　　　　 　　　　 C. idea　　　　　 　　　 　 D. car

47. A. purpose　　　　 　　　　 B. trouble　　　　　 　　　　 C. secret　　　　 　　 　 D. theme

48. A. need　　　　　　 　　　　 B. duty　　　　　　 　　　　　 C. imagination　　　 　　　 D. skill

49. A. important　　　　 　　　　 B. disappointing　　 　　 C. hopeful　　　 　　　　　　 D natural

50. A. matter　　　　　 　　　　　 B. object　　　　　　 　　　　 C. belong　　　 　　　 　 D. refer

51. A. relax　　　　　　 　　　　　 B. try　　　　　　　 　　　　 C. help　　　　 　　　　 D. smile

52. A. friends　　　　 　　　　　　 B. rags　　　　　　　 　　　 C. children　　　 　　 　 D. Fruit

53. A. interesting B. amazed C. bored D. frightened

54. A. scene　　　　　 　　　　　 B. gift　　　　　　 　　　　　 C. story　　　 　　　　 D. explanation

55. A. known　　　 　　　 　　B. understood　　　　 　　 C. refused　　　 　　 　　　 D. surrounded

Nuclear science should be developed to benefit the people ____ harm them.

A. more than 　　　　　　　 B. other than

C. better than D. rather than

 —Dad, when shall we go to visit my grandpa?

—Grandpa is very busy at present. We'll go to see him whenever _______.

A. he is convenient             B. he will be convenient

C. it is convenient to him        D. it will be convenient to him

— Can I look at the menu for a few more minutes before I decided?

—Of course. _________ , sir.

　　　 A. Take your time　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Enjoy yourself

　　　 C. Take it easy D. Make yourself at home

 — Elisabeth had a birthday party yesterday. Did you go to her party?

— No. I ____. Did you have a good time? 

A. was not invited             B. have not been invited

C. hadn’t been invited          D. didn’t invite

Because the environment is getting worse and worse, a large ______of desert _____covered the farmland.

A. number; has　 　　　　　　　B. quantity; has

C. number; have　 　　　　　　 D. quantity; have

She thought I was talking about her daughter，______，in fact，I was talking about my daughter.

A．whom                 B．where

C．which                    D．while

 China is a _____ country _____ to the third world.

A. developed; belongs            B. developing; belonging

C. developing; belonged          D. developed; belonged

Hardly had the game began ______ it started to rain.

A. as　　　　 　　 　　　　　　B. since

C. when 　　 　　　　　　　　D. while