It was a cold winter's night when I stopped for gas(汽油) on my way home from work. I was tired and had a little　 41.

　　 I worked in a　 42 doctor's office, and during those days many unexpected things happened. It seemed that I was going to be late getting home today. My husband who is a punctual(守時的~) person would be ready to　 43　 .again. Maybe　 44　 I hurried, I could still arrive home earlier.

　　 I was going inside to　 45　 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter(柜臺). I heard them asking for　 46　 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just　 47 a few minutes ago.

　　 At the counter, a young man was quite 48　 . He was trying to 49 how to get there,with two other people. One of them was　 50 .trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, "Would you like to follow me to the　 51 　?"

　　 A look of　 52　 appeared on the woman's face.

　　 "I'm going right by there," I said, and it was a(n) 　53　 since I had just decided to do exactly that.

　　 I got into my car and began the journey back. I was trying to make them be sure they were right　 54 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there. I felt　 55　 than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.

　　 Later, as I arrived home, my husband teased(嘲笑), "So you aren't ever late any more." I said,"Sometimes it's good to be late."

41. A. headache　　　 B. fever　　　　　　 C. cold　　　　　　 D. break

42. A. foreign　　　　 B. busy　　　　　　 C. crucial　　　　　 D. noisy

43. A. relax　　　　　 B. offend　　　　　　 C. complain　　　　 D. appear

44. A. while　　　　 B. since　　　　　　 C. as　　　　　　　 D. if

45. A. wait　　　　　 B. look　　　　　　 C. care　　　　　　 D. search

46. A. money　　　　 B. trouble　　　　　 C. directions　　　　 D. opinions

47. A. risked　　　　 B. provided　　 　　　C. called　　　　　 D. left

48. A. helpful　　　　 B. skilled　　　　　 C. confused　　　　 D. active

49. A. imagine　　　 B. expect　　　　　 C. explain　　　　　 D. urge

50. A. only　　　　　 B. even　　　　　　 C. still　　　　　　　 D. ever

51. A. station　　　　 B. office　　　　　　 C. hospital　　　　　 D. hotel

52. A. panic　　　　 B. pleasure　　　　　 C. sadness　　　　　 D. peace .

53. A. dream　　　　 B. fact　　　　　　 C. reason　　　　　 D. example

54. A. behind　　　　 B. before　　　　　　 C. below　　　　　　 D. beside

55. A. duller　　　　 B. quieter　　　　　 C. worse　　　　　　 D. better

Bobby was sitting out in his back yard in the snow. There were a few holes in his shoes. He thought hard, but he could not come up with an idea for his mother’s Christmas gift.

Ever since his father had died three years ago, his mother worked nights at the hospital, but the small money she made could hardly be enough for their needs.

Although the family lacked in money and material things, they got more love in the family. The children ran the family when their mother was absent. All three of Bobby’s sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother.

It was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Bobby started to walk down to the street. He walked from shop to shop. Everything seemed so beautiful and so far away. It was getting dark. Suddenly he found a shiny dime (一角硬幣) on the ground. Never has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby did at the moment. It was enough to buy a rose with one dime.

He went inside a flower shop. When the owner asked if he could help him, Bobby took out the dime and asked if he could buy one flower. The shop owner looked at Bobby, then said, “You just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.”

The shop owner returned holding a dozen of red roses in his hand. Bobby’s heart sank (下沉) as the owner put them gently into a long white box. “That will be a dime, young man,” said the shop owner, reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime.

Then the shopkeeper’s wife appeared. “Where are the red roses?”

The shop owner said, “A strange thing happened to me this morning. I thought I heard a voice telling me to leave a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was.”

1.The underlined phrase “lacked in” means _____.

     A. had less            B. gave up      C. had more     D. looked down upon

2.Bobby slowly gave the dime to the shop owner because _____.

    A. he wanted to buy other things

    B. he needed to give the dime to his mum

    C. the roses were too expensive

        D. he could hardly believe what had happened

3.From the last two paragraphs we can infer that the shop owner _____.

    A. was moved by the boy’s voice

    B. was ready to help others

    C. knew the boy before

   D. was good at telling stories

It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves dancing in the cool wind. I felt lonely and life is uninteresting. But one day, the sound of a violin came into my ears. I was so surprised that I ran out to see where it was from. A young girl, standing in the wind, was lost in playing her violin.
I had never seen her before. The music was so wonderful that I forgot who I was.
Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the same place and I was the only listener. It seemed that I no longer felt lonely and life became interesting. We didn't know each other, but I thought we were already good friends.
One day, when I was listening, the sound suddenly stopped. The girl came over to me.
"You must like violin." she said.
"Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?" I asked.
Suddenly, a sad expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.
"I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It is your listening every day that has encouraged me." she said.
"In fact, it is your music that has given me those meaningful days." I answered. "Let us be friends."
The girl smiled and I smiled.
I never heard her play again in my life. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the girl. She is like a dream; so short, so bright that it makes life beautiful.
There are many kinds of friends. Some are always with you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but are close to you. I shall always think of those golden days and the girl with the violin. She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.
【小題1】The story happened _________.

It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves dancing in the cool wind. I felt lonely and life is uninteresting. But one day, the sound of a violin came into my ears. I was so surprised that I ran out to see where it was from. A young girl, standing in the wind, was lost in playing her violin.
I had never seen her before. The music was so wonderful that I forgot who I was.
Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the same place and I was the only listener. It seemed that I no longer felt lonely and life became interesting. We didn't know each other, but I thought we were already good friends.
One day, when I was listening, the sound suddenly stopped. The girl came over to me.
"You must like violin." she said.
"Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?" I asked.
Suddenly, a sad expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.
"I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It is your listening every day that has encouraged me." she said.
"In fact, it is your music that has given me those meaningful days." I answered. "Let us be friends."
The girl smiled and I smiled.
I never heard her play again in my life. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the girl. She is like a dream; so short, so bright that it makes life beautiful.
There are many kinds of friends. Some are always with you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but are close to you. I shall always think of those golden days and the girl with the violin. She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend

1. 1.

   The story happened _________

   1. A.
      in a park
   2. B.
      in a lonely place
   3. C.
      in winter
   4. D.
      in autumn
2. 2.

   The writer's life was _________ because of the girl

   1. A.
      boring
   2. B.
      colourful
   3. C.
      unhappy
   4. D.
      sad
3. 3.

   The underlined word "encourage" means _________ in Chinese

   1. A.
      挫敗
   2. B.
      啟發
   3. C.
      鼓勵
   4. D.
      慫恿
4. 4.

   What's the best title for the passage?

   1. A.
      A Musical Girl
   2. B.
      Wonderful Music
   3. C.
      A Special Friend in a Special Autumn
   4. D.
      How to Be Friends