Dick was a twenty-year-old man. His father was a teacher and taught chemistry in a middle school and his mother worked in a shop. They lived a happy life until his parents died one night when suddenly an earthquake broke out. All that happened on his sixth birthday. Luckily his sister who was two years senior to him took him to see their aunt in the city and they did not stay at home. Everything was destroyed in the earthquake and the two children got into trouble. Thanks to their aunt who was not rich enough, they grew up but they lived a hard life. His sister was so sad that she became a nun(修女). After he finished middle school, he was introduced to an owner of a hotel and began to work there.

　 One day the young man fell to the ground while he was cleaning a window on the second floor. He was sent to the hospital and the doctor looked him over. One of his legs was broken and he had to be in hospital. He said to the nurse, “I’m a poor man, madam. Arrange a third-class ward(病房) for me, please.”

“Can’t anybody help you?”

“No, madam,” answered Dick. “I have only a sister. She’s a nun and she’s poor, too.”

“I don’t think so,” the nurse said angrily. “Nuns usually marry God. And God is the richest in the world, you know!”

“Well, then, ” Dick said with a smile. “Please arrange a first-class ward for me and post the bill to my brother-in-law.”

1.How old was Dick’s sister when the earthquake happened?

A. 6          B. 8           C.10            D.12

2. The sister and brother lived a hard life because ____________.

　 A. they lost all as a result of the earthquake   B. they were too young

　 C. they were hurt in the earthquake 　　　  D. they had to look after themselves

3. Which of the following is true?

A. The nurse would arrange a third-class ward for Dick.

B. The nurse would arrange a first-class ward for Dick.

C. The nurse would post Dick’s bill to God.

D. Dick had a rich brother-in-law.

4. From the story, we know that the boy is very           .

A. silly         B. kind        C. humorous        D. lucky

One day, a tramp (流浪汉) was sleeping on a park bench, ___61___ (satisfy) with the afternoon sunshine. A couple walked by. The man stopped, woke the tramp up, and asked him, “Excuse me. ___62___ you have the time?” the tramp replied, “I’m sorry---I don’t have a watch, so I don’t know the time.” The man apologized and walked away with his wife.

The tramp lay down and went back to sleep. Just then, a woman, ___63___ was out walking her dog, shook the tramp’s shoulder until he woke up, ___64___ said, “I’m sorry to trouble you, but do you happen ___65___ (know) the time?” The tramp was a little annoyed at ___66___ (wake) up again, but he politely told the woman he didn’t have a watch and had no idea ___67___ the time. After the woman left, an idea ___68___ (occur) to the tramp. He opened his bag and took out a pen and a piece of paper. He wrote down with all his ___69___ (strong), “I do not have a watch. I do not know the time.” He then hung the paper round his neck thinking that nobody would hold him back in his sleep. Fifteen minutes ___70___, a policeman noticed the tramp and the sign around his neck. Out of a sense of responsibility, he woke the tramp up and said, “It’s 2:30 p.m.”

Today I’d like to share one of my unforgettable experience with everyone present. My parents had arranged a party for my 18th birthday at a hotel. It was raining heavy outside, so we had to stay inside all night. The room was packed with guests dancing together while we saw smoke. All begin to panic because there were so many of us that we couldn’t get out quickly. Thankfully, we managed open a window and get out of the burning building. To my sorrow, some of them had to go to hospital because of breathing problems and the room which the party took place was completely destroyed. Afterwards, I was told that a building had been struck by lightning and the firefighters had spent about 3 hours putting off the fire.