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       I didn't always feel this way．Father's Day and I actually got off to a good start．Even though my parents divorced when I was four, I could spend Father's Day with my dad．I'd make my dad a card and then go to the mall to buy him a book or a CD.

       The first change started when I got a new father, Jim．He was a short guy with a big belly．Something about him suggested ease （自在） a marked contrast to my dad, who'd go crazy at the drop of a Coke．I began to look forward to Jim's visits．When my mom said they were getting married, I didn't care.

       Some men are meant to be fathers, but not necessarily fathers to children of any age．When I was still young enough to be bribed （收買） with a gift, Dad was great．My dad was the kind of guy who is easily annoyed and prefers volume （音量） to reason．Gradually, I found Jim was more comfortable to be around．He soon became the dad I would go to for help with homework, to fix toys and to talk to teachers．He offered great comfort.

       It took a few years for me to call Jim "Dad"．I'd never used the cold word "stepfather" with Jim．I just called him Jim．I guess I believe a father is a man who performs the duties a father should．Jim has done everything I imagine a "real" dad is supposed to do．So come next Father's Day, he'll also be the one I'll hug, and say "I love you" to.

60．What kind of person was the author's birth father?

       A．He was hot-tempered．                     B．He was generous.

       C．He was easy-going．                      D．He was reasonable.

61．What can be said about the author when he was still young?

       A．He was very close to his father．          B．He thought his father was great.

       C．He couldn't tolerate his father．         D．He didn't like his father.

62．The author liked Jim because ______.

       A．Jim married his mother                      B．Jim was helpful and responsible

       C．Jim lived with his family                   D．Jim often bought him gifts

63．It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ______.

       A．the author never called Jim Dad

       B．the author doesn't respect his father

       C．the author regards Jim as his father as well

       D．the author will ignore next Father's Day

       The National Gallery now has a fine still life by the 18th century Dutch painter Jan van Os．This large picture （89.1 cm x 71cm） of flowers and fruit is painted in light bright colours on wood．It is one of the first pictures of this type in the Gallery．The picture is signed and dated 1777 and 1778．It is not unusual for a picture to be dated two years: the artist waited for particular flowers to come out in their different seasons in order to paint them．This picture was given to the Gallery by Miss Violet Churchman in memory of her sister Ida Nancy. It is now on show in Room 25.

       The exhibition "Painting in Spain During the Late 18th Century" opened in the Sunley Room on 15 March．Recently the Gallery has bought works by three Spanish painters of this period―Paret, Melendez and Francisco Bayeu, who are the focus of the exhibition．These three artists are also joined by Francisco's brother Ramon, by Antonio Gonzalez and two Italians who worked in Spain during these years―Corrado Giaquinto and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo．The exhibition runs until 31 May.

       Lectures will be given along with the special exhibition every Wednesday．On 8 April, Lizzie Barker will discuss the work of Melendez, while on 15 April, Sarah Symmons will lecture on Luis Patter．On 22 and 29 April, Juliet Wilson will talk about Francisco Bayeu．On 25 April, a Saturday, Erika Langmuir will explain how artists often "tell a story" through their pictures.

64．What does "still life" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

       A．A painting of unmoving objects．      B．A picture of a country scene.

       C．A drawing done in pencil．             D．A portrait shown in a public place.

65．How many artists' paintings are on show at the special exhibition?

       A．Three．              B．Five．                C．Seven．            D．Eight.

66．Which speaker will lecture on a general topic rather than on particular artists?

       A．Juliet Wilson．                                  B．Lizzie Barker.

       C．Sarah Symmons．                        D．Erika Langmuir.

67．Where will this passage most probably be found?

       A．In the booklet of a gallery．              B．In a textbook.

       C．In an academic journal．               D．In a picture album.

       Many visitors find the fast pace at which American people move very troubling．One's first impression is likely to be that everyone is in a rush．City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a brief moment.

       At first, this may seem unfriendly to you．But drivers will rush you; storekeepers will be in a hurry as they serve you; people will push past you as they walk along the street．You will miss smiles and conversations with people as you shop or dine away from home．Do not think that because Americans are in such a hurry they are unfriendly．Often, life is much slower outside the big cities, as is true in other countries as well.

       Americans who live in cities such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, often think that everyone is equally in a hurry to get things done; they expect others to "push back", just as city people do in Tokyo, Singapore or Paris, for example．But when they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kindly and will take great care to help you．Many of them once came to the city as strangers and they remember how frightening a new city can be．If you need help or want to ask a question, choose a friendly-looking person and say, "I am a stranger here．Can you help me?"

       Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger．Most people will stop, smile at you, and help you find your way or answer your questions．But you must let them know that you need help．Otherwise they are likely to pass you by, not noticing that you are new to the city and in need of help.

68．Many people who first visit the United States will find that ______.

       A．the country is developing very fast

       B．American people always seem to be in a rush

       C．the fast pace in American life often causes trouble

       D．Americans are impatient and unreasonable people

69．"You will miss smiles" in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.

       A．you will notice that Americans are pleasant people

       B．you will think that Americans don't live a happy life

       C．you will feel that Americans do not seem very friendly

       D．you will find that Americans have little sense of humor

70．The last two paragraphs seem to suggest that ______.

       A．life in New York is faster than that in any other city

       B．people living outside big cities are lazy and slow

       C．most American people enjoy living in big cities

       D．the busy city people are not as unfriendly as they appear

71．The author mentions Tokyo, Singapore and Paris because ______.

       A．they are different from American cities 

       B．they are among the world's biggest cities

       C．city people worldwide have much in common

       D．they are as well-known as New York City

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