When I was ten, my mother worked all day so I had to take care of my younger brother. At that time my little brother was about four years old and he missed mum all the time.
One day, after I had given him his dinner, he started crying for mum.He was so young and really needed mum. So I dressed him, put on his shoes, carried him on my back and walked out. Soon he fell asleep. About half an hour later, I found that he had lost a shoe while sleeping. I took him off my back and put him down. I knew we needed to find that shoe, for our mother couldn’t afford new shoes. We had to go back to find it, so I told my brother to wait right there. A man heard it and stopped me just before I walked off. He asked me, “You are leaving your brother here to find the shoe? What would you do if he is not here when you return?” I did not know how to answer that question. He continued, “It’s OK if you can’t find the shoe, but it is not OK to lose your brother.” Then he sent us to mum’s workplace by taxi.
My whole life I have depended on the kindness of many strangers, I feel regretful that I cannot find them and say thank you. I do not even remember what the man’s face looked like, but he taught me a lesson—people are more important than things.
【小題1】 Why did the younger brother cry for his mother?

A．Because he was hungry.	B．Because he missed his mother.
C．Because he wanted to sleep.	D．Because he wanted to play outside.

【小題2】What does the underlined word “regretful” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Sorry.

B．Happy.

C．Excited.

D．Angry.

【小題3】What did the man mean by saying “It’s OK if you can’t find the shoe, but it is not OK to lose your brother.”?

A．People are more important than things.

B．Things are more important than people.

C．Both the shoe and your brother are important.

D．The shoe is more important than your brother.

【小題4】According to the passage, which word can best describe the man?

A．Rude.

B．Funny.

C．Silly.

D．Kind.

When I was a girl of 10, I joined the school cross-country team and practiced twice a week, on the 1,8-km course I'd never really run before and I thought the course would be easy. It was a real shock I ran out of breathe(喘氣)within the first few minutes. I never realized how tiring running could be but I didn’t t think about give up.
Over time,I did get a little bit faster. However, I was really slow. In races, I would finish close to last. I'd always have to stop more than once, especially in the longer races, which were 2. 5 to 2. 8 km. After every race, I'd go home and cry. But 1 still didn't stop running, holding onto that picture of crossing the finishingline and finally doing well.  
Then one of my friends joined the team, too. She could run easily and even came in the 18^th in a big race! I felt so slow and my confidence(自信) was lower than ever. I became so nervous when I thought of the races that I wanted to give up badly.
Still. I refund to. Finally. 1 realized that the reason I was to nervous was that I was always worried that I wasn't ready for them. So a few weeks before the next 2. 8-km race. I practiced running almost 3 km every day. which helped me improve my pace(步伐).
When the time came for the big race, all that practicing really paid off. I stopped only once and my pace was so much better.
I realized that I’d finally gotten happiness with running. But the funny thing was. It didn't come from doing better, Instead, it came from the fact that I hid tried harder and never given up.
【小題1】 Before she took the 1.8-km course, the writer________.

A．knew a lot about it	B．wanted to be a great runner
C．practiced running every day	D．never thought running so tired

【小題2】The writer was nervous about the race because she_______.

A．had to stop to drink water	B．was worried she wasn’t ready
C．run slower than anyone else	D．could find no coach to help her

【小題3】The underlined phrase "paid off" probably mean “______”.

A．brought good results

B．coat a lot

C．saved much time

D．came to fail

【小題4】It can be inferred(推斷) from the passage that the writer______.

A．got angry with her friend	B．wasn't pleased with herself
C．was a person with a strong mind	D．had no Interest In running

When my son, Mark, was in the third grade, he saved all his pocket money for over three months to buy holiday presents. The third Saturday in December Mark said he had made his list and had twenty dollars in his pocket.
I drove him to a nearby supermarket. Mark picked up a hand basket and went in while I wailed and watched in the car. It took Mark over 45 minutes to choose his presents. Finally he came to the checkout counter (交款處) and reached into his pocket for his money. It was not there! There was a hole in his pocket, but no money. Mark stood there holding his basket, tears falling down his face.
Then a surprising thing happened. A woman came up to Mark and took him in her arms. "You would help me a lot if you let me pay for you," said the woman. "It would be the most wonderful gift you could give me. I only ask that one day you will pass it on. When you grow up, I would like you to find someone you can help. When you help others, I know you will feel as good about it as I do no."
Mark took the money, dried his tears and ran back to the checkout counter as fast as he could. That year we all enjoyed our gifts almost as much as Mm-k enjoyed giving them to us.
I would like to say "thank you" to that very kind woman, and tell her that four years later, Mark went house to house collecting blankets (毯子) and clothes for the homeless people in the fire. And I want to promise her that Mark will never forget to keep passing it on.
【小題1】When did the story probably happen?

A．On Christmas Day.	B．Before Christmas Day.
C．On New Year’s Day.	D．After New Year’s Day.

【小題2】When they got to the supermarket, Mark went in     .

A．with the writer	B．by himself
C．with the woman	D．with his friends

【小題3】 What happened to Mark in the supermarket?

A．His gifts were stolen.	B．He broke his basket.
C．He lost his money.	D．He lost his way.

【小題4】 Why did the writer want to say "thank you" to the woman?

A．Because she bought Mark a nice present.

B．Because she always paid money for others.

C．Because she collected clothes for the homeless.

D．Because she taught Mark to help people in need.

【小題5】 What’s the best title for this passage?

A．A big supermarket	B．A kind woman
C．A happy family	D．A wonderful gift

Because earthquakes happen without warning, it’s important to take steps now to prepare. Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake happens, prepare some supplies for your home, workplace, and car.
1. Water.
A person needs at least 1/2 gallon of water daily just for drinking. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. It is suggested that you buy bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it. Also, do check the “use by” date.
2. Food.
It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable(不易腐爛的) food on hand. Have an enough supply of canned food, powdered milk, dried fruits, non-salted nuts and canned juices for at least 72 hours.
3. Flashlights(手電筒) and spare batteries.
Keep a flashlight beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are sure that no gas leaks.
Prepare a battery-powered radio and spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order, so radios will be your best source of information.
4. Clothes.
If you live in a cold place, you must think about warmth. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies.
【小題1】 Why should people prepare themselves for an earthquake?

A．Because earthquakes can be known before they happen.

B．Because earthquakes take place without warning.

C．Because earthquakes usually take place in the neighborhood.

D．Because it’s people’s daily work to prepare the earthquakes.

【小題2】 About the prepared water, which description is RIGHT?

A．A person should prepare 0.5 gallon of water for one day.

B．You’d better use your own containers to keep water.

C．You’d better open the bottled water when you buy it.

D．You shouldn’t open the bottled water until you need it.

【小題3】 You should prepare all of the following except ______.

A．powdered milk	B．fresh vegetables
C．dried fruits	D．canned juices

【小題4】According to the article we know that ______.

A．we need to prepare some supplies only at home

B．a(chǎn) telephone is the most important prepared thing

C．flashlights but not matches are first used after earthquakes

D．clothes are used to protect your head

【小題5】 If you live in a cold place, you should prepare _______.

A．some warm clothes and bedding supplies	B．some hot water
C．some batteries	D．some flashlights