Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother. Expecting a whole day to relax, he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favorite TV talk show on his first day off in months. “This will be quite easy, just like a walk in the park,” he’d told his wife. “I’ll look after the kids well, and you can go to visit your mom.”

    Things started well, but just after eight o’clock, his three little “good kids”—Mike, Randy, and Alex—came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted “Breakfast, Daddy.” When food had not appeared within thirty seconds, Randy began using his spoon on Alex’s head as if it were a drum (鼓). Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat (节拍). Mike chanted (咏唱) “Where’s my toast, where’s my toast” in the background. Brad realized his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds.

    Life became worse after breakfast. Mike wore Randy’s underwear on his head. Randy locked himself in the bathroom, while Alex shouted again because he was going to wet his pants. Nobody could find clean socks, although they were just before their eyes. Someone named “Not Me” had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes. Brad knew the talk show had already started.

    By ten o’clock, things were out of control. Alex was wondering why the fish in the jar refused his bread and butter. Mike was trying to show off his talent by decorating the kitchen wall with his color pencils. Randy, thankfully, appeared to be reading quietly in the family room, but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands. Brad realized that the talk show was over and reading would be impossible.

    At exactly 11:17, Brad called the daycare centre. “I suddenly have to go into work and my wife is away. Can I bring the boys over in a few minutes?” The answer was obviously “yes” because Brad was smiling.

21. When his wife left home, Brad expected to __________.

A. go out for a walk in the park          B. watch TV talk show with his children

  C. read the newspaper to his children    D. enjoy his first day off work

22. Who spilled orange juice into the basket of clean clothes?

   A. One of the boys.                   B. Brad himself.

   C. Brad’s friend.                     D. Brad’s wife.

23. Why did Brad ask the daycare centre for help?

A. Because he wanted to play with his friends.

B. Because he found it hard to manage his boys home.

C. Because his boss asked him to work.

D. Because he had to take his wife back.

24. This passage is developed __________.

A. by space        B. by result        C. by time    D. by cause

Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone’s life? If yes, don’t care about sex or age! Come and join us, then you’ll make it!

Position: Volunteer Social Care Assistant (No Pay but with Free Meals)

Place:   Manchester

Hours:  Part Time

We are now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left. Don’t miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others!

Role:

You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives. You will help them to develop new skills. You will help them to protect their rights and their safety. But your primary task is to let them know they are valued.

Skills and Experience Required:

You will have the right values and great listening skills. You will be honest and patient. You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you’ll have to help those people with different learning disabilities. Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you.

25. The text is meant to ________.

A. leave a note                     B. present a document  (文件)         

C. carry an advertisement            D. make an apology

26. What does the underlined part (you’ll make it) (Para. 1) mean?

A. You’ll make others’ lives more meaningful with this job.

B. You’ll arrive home just in time from this job.

C. You’ll earn a good salary from this job.

D. You’ll succeed in getting this job.

27. The volunteers’ main task is to help people with learning disabilities ________.

A. to get some financial（经济的） support       

B. to properly protect themselves

C. to realize their own importance    

 D. to learn some new living skills

28. Which of the following can first be chosen as a volunteer?

A. The one who can drive a car.

B. The one who has patience to listen to others.

C. The one who has done similar work before.

D. The one who can use English to communicate.

here was once a lonely girl who longed so much for love. One day while she was walking in the woods she found two starving songbirds. She took them home and put them in a small cage, caring them with love. Luckily, the birds grew strong little by little. Every morning they greeted her with a wonderful song. The girl felt great love for the birds.    One day the girl left the door to the cage open accidentally. The larger and stronger of the two birds flew from the cage. The girl was so frightened that he would fly away. So as he flew close, she grasped him wildly. Her heart felt glad at her success in capturing him. Suddenly, she felt the bird go weak, so she opened her hand and stared in horror at the dead bird. It was her desperate love that had killed him.    She noticed the other bird moving back and forth on the edge of the cage. She could feel his strong desire—needing to fly into the clear, blue sky. Unwillingly, she lifted him from the cage and threw him softly into the air. The lucky bird circled once, twice, three times.    The girl watched delightedly at the bird. Her heart was no longer concerned with her loss. What she wanted to see was that the bird could fly happily. Suddenly the bird flew closer and landed softly on her shoulder. It sang the sweetest tune that she had ever heard.    Remember, the fastest way to lose love is to hold on it too tight; the best way to keep love is to give it wings!   

29. After the girl found the two birds, she ________.      

 A. became frightened at once              B. began to treat them badly      

 C. greeted them happily               D. fed them and raised them  

30.  Why did the girl grasp the stronger bird wildly?       

A. Because the bird was ill .        B. Because the girl loved the bird deeply.       

C. Because the girl disliked the bird any longer         D. Because the bird intended to find some food.   

31. What can we learn from the passage?      

 A. Rome wasn’t built in a day.        B. Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.

C. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.        D. East or west, home is best.

The United States government has decided that food from cloned(克隆) cattle, pigs and goats is safe to eat. The Food and Drug Administration also says it found no risks in meat and milk from cloned animals. 

The F.D.A. looked at studies for several years before it announced its decision in a final report this month. The United States Department of Agriculture supported the findings. But it says time is needed to clear the way for marketing meat and milk from clones.

The F.D.A. will not require any product to be registered(注册) as coming from clones. A producer would need to label (标注) a product “clone-free”. The agency (机构) says that could be misunderstood because the food is not different from other food.

But activists argue that the F.D.A. based its decision on incomplete research into possible risks. The Center for Food Safety criticized the use of studies supplied by cloning companies. Animal rights activists point out that cloning attempts often fail. They say cloning is cruel and can lead to suffering.

Congress (国会) has been trying to get the F.D.A. to do more studies. But the agency noted that experts in New Zealand and the European Union had come to the same findings about the safety of food from clones. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan say they want to study it further before taking action.

Products from cloning may not be widely used for several years. Clones cost much , which is why they are not widely used for feeding. The Agriculture Department says few clones will ever become food. Their traditionally raised animals would enter the food supply instead.

32. What is the best title for this passage?

A. Is Food from Cloned Animals Safe?    B. A New Clone Policy

C. A Big Danger —Cloned Food             D. Cloned Products —A  Terrible Choice

33. All the following are sure of the safety of cloned products EXCEPT _________.

A. New Zealand       B. Japan      C. the USA         D. the European Union

34. Why are products from cloning not widely used for feeding?

     A. Because cloning attempts often fail.    B. Because they are not safe to eat.

    C. Because cloning is cruel.                       D. Because they are expensive. 

35. Where can you probably see the passage?

   A. In a novel.                               B. In a newspaper.   

C. In a travel leaflet.                  D. In a  notice  on the wall.

Dear Seth,

You’re only three years old, and at this point in your life you can’t read, much less understand what I’m going to try to tell you in this letter. But someday, when you’re ready, I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you.

Life can be cruel

   36    They’ll tease you or try to hurt you because you’re different.

There’s not much you can do except learn to deal with them, and learn to choose friends who are kind to you and who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, treasure them, spend time with them and love them.

Be open to life anyway

Yes, you’ll find cruelty and suffering in your journey through life, but don’t let that close you to new things. Don’t step backwards from life, don’t  hide yourself.    37   

Life isn’t a competition

You will meet many people who will try to do better than you, in school , in college, at work. To them, life is a competition.

But here’s the secret: life isn’t a competition.   38    Learn to enjoy the journey and make it a journey of happiness, of constant learning, of continual improvement, of love.

   39            

If there’s a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: love. It might sound corny, I know, but trust me, there’s no better rule in life.

Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors, your co-workers, strangers, your brothers and sisters in humanity. And most of all, love yourself and learn to love yourself for who you are.

    40   You are starting out on an unknown, tiring, scary, but eventually wonderful journey, and always remember I will be there for you when I can.

Love,

Your Dad

A. It’s a journey.

B. Life is full of love

C. Love should be your rule

D. Finally, know that I love you and always will.

E. Last, think that you are a wonderful human being.

F. Be open to new things, new experiences, new people.

G. There will be people in your life who won’t be very nice.