For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes (音調(diào)). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.

As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.

Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn’t involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.

Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed. For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say, ‘No thanks, I’m amusic,’” says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”      

68. Which of the following is true of amusics?

A. Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them.

B. They love places where they are likely to hear music.

C. They can easily tell two different songs apart.

D. Their situation is well understood by musicians.

69. According to paragraph 3, a person with “defective hearing” is probably one who ______.

A. dislikes listening to speeches     B. can hear anything nonmusical

C. has a hearing problem          D. lacks a complex hearing system

70. In the last paragraph, Margaret expressed her wish that ______.

A. her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier

B. she were seventeen years old rather than seventy

C. her problem could be easily explained

D. she were able to meet other amusics

71. What is the passage mainly concerned with?

A. Amusics’ strange behaviours. B. Some people’s inability to enjoy music.

C. Musical talent and brain structure. D. Identification and treatment of amusics.

Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fear. Children know this very well. Fred Epstein, in his book If I Make It to Five, tells a story he heard from one of his friends about Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone. He came through several operations and a lot of pain by mastering his imagination.

Tom loved to pretend, and he particularly loved to play superheroes. Dr. Epstein explained that it was actually a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led.

The day before his third trip to the operating room, Tom was terribly afraid. “Maybe I could go as Superman,” he whispered to his mom. Hearing this, the mother hesitated for a while. She had avoided buying the expensive costume (戲裝), but finally she agreed.

The next day Tom appeared as the powerful Superman, showing off through the hospital halls and coolly waving his hand to the people greeting him along the way. And Tom, with the strength of his fantasy, successfully made it through the operation.

The power of imagination need not be reserved for children only. We all have the power to use our fantasies to attempt things we never thought possible, to go through those things that seem impossible, and to achieve what we never believed we could. Just as Dr. Epstein puts it, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

It doesn’t mean that you should dress as a superhero for your next job interview. But, next time you are tested in a way that seems impossible, imagine what it would take to overcome it. Become the person you need to become to win over your challenge (挑戰(zhàn)) and do it in your mind first. So, let your imagination run wild, and dare to dream.

64. What do we know about Tom?

A. He was seriously ill               B. He was a dishonest boy.

C. He was crazy about magic.          D. He was Dr. Epstein’s patient.

65. What can be inferred about Tom’s mother?

A. She was a rich lady.       B. She wanted to get Tom through the pain.

C. She wanted Tom to be a superhero.      D. She refused Tom’s request.

66. In the last paragraph, you are advised ______.

A. to go through some difficult tests B. to wake up from your wild dreams

C. to become a powerful person in your mind  

D. to wear expensive clothes for job interviews

67. What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To tell us an interesting story.       B. To help us make right decisions.

C. To advise us to care about children.      

D. To encourage us to use our imagination.

The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching, and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt：“The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head stubbornly—and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunch time, I got lucky.

“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in.”

I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?

In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.

When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good. ”

“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked impatiently.

“Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said.

“The artwork?” I was puzzled.

The chair went back, suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.

What a relief!

61. Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?

  A. Happy.         B. Nervous.         C. Satisfied.           D. Upset.

62. What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?

A. The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.

B. The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.

C. The surroundings of the dentist’s office.

D. The laughing assistant of the dentist.

63. What did the author learn from her experience most probably?

A. Strike while the iron is hot.      B. Have a good word for one’s friend.

C. Put oneself in other’s shoes.         D. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

A Leap (跳躍) to Honor

Leaping on a narrow balance beam (平衡木) is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.

To perfect her skills, Lola ___41___ for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.

That’s especially impressive, ___42___ she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t ___43___ how far away things are.

When she was little, her mom ___44___ that even though she couldn’t see ___45___, she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the ___46___ right away and gymnastics became her favorite.

Though learning gymnastics has been more ___47___ for her than for some of her teammates, she has never quit (放棄). She doesn’t let her ___48___ stop her from doing anything that she wants to.

She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest ___49___ is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to ___50___ your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go.” says Lola.

To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most ___51___ for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall ___52___ the beam. In fact, she got an 8. 1 out of 10 –– her highest score yet.

Lola doesn’t want to be ___53___ differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision ___54___. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her ___55___ attitude.

Lola never thinks about ___56___. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her ___57___ is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids ___58___ she grew up.

Lola is ___59___ of all her hard work and success. She says it has helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her ___60___ for others is “just believe yourself”.

41. A. runs     B. teaches      C. trains           D. dances

42. A. as       B. unless       C. after                D. though

43. A. tell     B. guess        C. assume           D. predict

44. A. suspected    B remembered    C. imagined         D. noticed

45. A. deeply       B. well         C. ahead            D. closely

46. A. task     B. sport        C. event            D. show

47. A. boring       B. enjoyable        C. difficult        D. unsatisfactory

48. A. talent       B. quality      C. nature       D. condition

49. A. doubt        B. advantage        C. challenge        D. program

50. A. examine  B. express      C. open     D. trust

51. A. fearful      B. harmful      C. unfair       D. inconvenient

52. A. to       B. on           C. off          D. against

53. A. greeted      B. treated      C. served           D. paid

54. A. pains        B. stresses     C. injuries     D. problems

55. A. positive     B. friendly     C. flexible         D. caution

56. A. defending    B. quitting     C. winning      D. bargaining

57. A. standard B. range        C. view         D. goal

58. A. until        B. as           C. when         D. before

59. A. proud        B. tired            C. ashamed      D. confident

60. A. plan     B. advice       C. reward       D. responsibility

 The foreign friends you referred to ______ looking forward to ______ around our school.

A. are; being shown       B. being；being shown  

C. being; showing             D. are; be shown

 I prefer studying English at home ______ the match.

A. to watching        B. than watching    C. rather than watch    D. to watch

 Most children need encouragement in time of failure ______ they can cheer up again.

A. so that            B. in case      C. because      D. if

 –Whose advice do you think I should take?

   –______.

A. You speak           B. That's it       C. It's up to you  D. You got it

 From his ______ look, I could see that he didn't believe what I said.

A. amazing　　　　B. amaze        C. amazed       D. amazement

 The newly-built bridge ______ the beauty of the city.

A. adds up to           B. adds to        C. adds up              D. is added to