He took the shirt and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral. Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.”

I’m thinking about his words, and they’ve changed the way I live my life. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer. “Someday ”and “one of these days ”are losing their importance on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and color to our lives. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift. So cherish every day and find the true meaning of your life.

1．Why did Jan buy the beautiful skirt but didn’t wear it?

A．She waited for a special occasion to wear it.

B．She wanted to keep it for someone else.

C．She saved it till she grew up.

D．She would give it to herself as a gift some day.

2．What does the underlined word “cherish” mean?

A．Treasure. B．Waste. C．Own. D．Save

3．What’s the best title for this passage?

A．Every Day IS a Gift B．My Sister Jan

C．What Is the Meaningful Life like D．The Most Important Time in Your Life

B

The other day I came across an article called “ Three Words That Guarantee Failure”, and I can’t agree with it more.

It made me think of my old days of preparing applications to schools in the United States. I was working hard to translate my personal statement from Chinese to English at that time, and asked help from Steve, one of the international teachers in my college. I grabbed him a few minutes before his class and asked him to go over my draft, and after scanning he simply said: “You need to rework.” But did not give me much indication on how to make it better.

“Send an email to me as soon as you’ve done with your rework.” He said.

“Ah…” I said. “I will try my best.”

“What?” he looked angry, “you should NEVER EVER say that.” At the moment, the class bell rang. Floods of students passed the building entrance, right where we stood. I felt every single person who passed by looking at me and the old angry man who was shouting in English. My face felt like burning.

“If you say you try something, you’ll NEVER get it done. Do you know that?” he pointed to my draft, “and I’m not interested in spending my time on it.”

“I will make it!” I said loudly, “I will make it.”

His face lit up a bit. “That will work. Send an email to me then.” Before then turning around to the direction of his class, he added, “Remember that.”

I remembered it. And here I am in the United States.

It is true. And I recall it every time when I want to say “I will try”. Do, or do not. There is no “try” if you want to get things done.

4. We learn from the passage that the author comes from_______.

A. the Great Britain B. the United States

C. China D. Australia

5. What are the three words that guarantee failure?

A. I’ll make it. B. I will try.

C. Do remember it. D. Never say that.

6. The teacher got angry because_______.

A. the author took too much of his time.

B. so many students were looking at him.

C. he didn’t like to be bothered by others.

D. the author seemed not to be determined.

7. Where is the author now?

A. In the US B. In Australia

C. In Canada D. In China

C

Now, it’s time for some brief news items.

Teens Go Online

Some 13 million European children under 18 use the Internet for schoolwork, games and music according to research done by Nielsen’s “Net-rating”. The study covered Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Experts advised parents to limit the time their kids on line and keep them away from chat rooms.

Chat to the magic Mum

British author J.K.Rowling, mother of magic boy Harry Potter, will do an Internet interview about her new book “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” on June 26. Before the event, children are invited to send their questions about Harry to the website. The book will hit stores in the US and UK on June 21 and will arrive in China in August.

School Soldiers

Russian school students will have to do basic military training in their final year of school, the government has decided.The lesson will include learning to fire guns, marching drills and how to deal with a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. The activity is seen as part of a drive toward the education of their love for their country.

The state’s only online school

Is it hard for you to get up early and get ready for classes? Some students at Winter Park High School just roll out of bed in their pajamas(睡衣) and go to class in their own bedrooms. Of course, their teachers and classmates do not see them because all their class work is on the computer. The Florida High School, the state’s only online school, has 250 students who are taking classes at home by computer. Students in this first online program take classes in algebra(代数)，American government , chemistry, computer, economics, and web-page design. They also have to go to regular school to attend other classes.

8．In the first news item, which country is NOT covered in the research?

A．Britain. B．France. C．Sweden. D．Spain.

9．Why will Russian school students have basic military training?

A．To get ready for a milirary parade. B. To learn to protect themselves.

C．To gain some military knowledge. D．To develop their love for the country.

10．About Florida High School, which of these facts is true?

A．Some of the students have to attend classes at home instead of in the school.

B．There are altogether 250 students who take classes in the classrooms.

C．As the state’s only online school, it has 250 students who take classes by computer.

D．Students can’t take classes in algebra, American government, chemistry, computer and so on.

11．What is the second news item mainly about?

A．J.K.Rowling will have an Internet interview.

B．Children will meet Harry Potter’s mother.

C．The Harry Potter book will be available on the Internet.

D．The Harry Potter book will arrive in China in early June.

D

All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep them healthy, happy and help them to live longer.

Sports change with the season. People play different games in winter and summer. Games and sports often grow out of people’s work and everyday activities. The Arabs use horses or camels in much of their everyday life; they use them in their sports, too.

Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with rivers.

Some sports or games go back to thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese boxing, for example, has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. Neither one is a hundred years old yet. People are inventing new sports or games all the time.

People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game they often become good friends. Sports help to train a person’s character(性格). One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace(体面).

12. According to this passage we know that ________.

A. people began to play about 100 years ago

B. about 100 years ago people ran or jump when they played

C. basketball has a longer history than volleyball

D. not all games have a long history

13. Which of the following is not true according to this passage?

A. Sports help to train a person’s character.

B. People swim only because there are a lot of rivers in their country.

C. People from different countries may not be able to understand each other before a game.

D. Sports and games can develop the friendship between people all over the world.

14. The writer didn’t tell us in this passage that ________.

A. basketball was invented in America.

B. sports change with the season.

C. games and sports often have a close relationship with people’s work and everyday activities.

D. football is played all over the world.

15. People enjoy sports because______.

A. sports are interesting

B. sports help to keep people healthy, happy and to live longer

C. sports help to train one’s character

D. all of the above

第二节（共5小题 ；每小题2分，共10分）

根据短文内容，从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

My mother is a diligent and kind woman. She is very busy from morning till night. As a teacher, she works hard.? 16 ?Both my brother and I love her dearly as she loves us.

My mother has been teaching maths at a middle school in my hometown. She goes to work early in the morning and does not return home until late in the afternoon. ?? 17 ?? ?She treats them with patience and teaches them well. For her excellent quality and very good teaching results, she has been elected as a model teacher several times.

? 18 ?? ?Every day, when she comes back home from work, she sets about doing housework, sweeping the living room and bedrooms or cleaning the furniture, and putting everything in good order. She seems to be busy all the time. As she has been very busy working every day, she looks older than her age. But she looks as cheerful and happy as ever. Mother never buys expensive dresses for herself, but she often buys some inexpensive but high quality clothes for us.?? 19? ? ?She just eats a plain meal outside when she is too busy to cook herself. She lives a busy yet simple life, without any complaints.

Often she says to us, “work while you work, and play while you play. That is the way to be happy and gay. If you do not work, you will become lazy and be of no use to society”. What a piece of good advice this is! ??? 20 ?? ?This advice of hers will always serve as a guide to my behavior. My mother is great indeed, a