As Christmas approac答案解析

It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas, and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating—a dozen long-stemmed red roses.
As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband—a prisoner in a nearby prison—was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.
A short time later, her husband arrived—with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.
At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas—a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact that he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.
I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy—the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.
67.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
A. The writer was a newcomer to her office. 
B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.
C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.
D. She was at work with a light heart.
68. The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of         .
A. having her baby examined      
B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape
C. having her husband examined  
D. getting a chance for her family to get together
69.The underlined part in Paragraph 3 most probably means          . 
A. to be sent to hospital            B. to be separated from his family
C. to be comfortable                   D. to become a prisoner
70. What does the writer learn from the story?
A. The wife experienced the most joy in receiving. 
B. An act of kindness can mean a lot.
C. The prisoner was treated with mercy.      
D. Whoever breaks the law should be punished.

Barcelona December 22,2007.

Spain’s “El Gordo,” the word’s biggest lottery (彩票), gave out 2.2 billion euros (歐元) (1.6 billion pounds) in Christmas prizes on Saturday.

El Gordo, Spanish for "The Fat One", is designed so that as many people as possible across Spain get a festive windfall. The top prize this year was 3 million euros -- going to the series of tickets with the magic number 06381.

Because the tickets are sold in a series of 10, only those who paid 200 euros for the whole strip get the full prize.

The biggest share of winning tickets was bought by people in the town of Nava, in the north-western Asturias region.

The draw lasts three-and-a-half hours and is carried live on national television with children from the San Ildefonso school, a former orphanage in Madrid, in turn chanting the winning numbers and the amount won.

Lotteries have two centuries of history in Spain. The country spent 2.87 billion euros on the lottery -- 5.7 percent more than last year. Seventy percent is paid out in prizes. Most of the rest goes in costs. Eight out of ten Spaniards bought tickets for the lottery, spending on average 64 euros. Spaniards often choose lottery numbers matching significant dates although there was no particular favourite in 2007. In 2006, one of the most sought-after series was 22105, the date on which Fernando Alonso became Formula 1 world champion for the second year running.

1.The underlined word “windfall” in paragraph two probably means         .

       A．fat gift                                               B．unexpected fortune

       C．big feast                                             D．wind and snow

2.Who is likely to win the full prize in El Gordo?

       A．People who paid 200 euros for the wole group of series.

       B．People who bough tickets with the magic number 06381.

       C．People who lived in a town in the northwestern Asturias.

       D．People who chose lottery numbers matching Alonso’s date.

3.According to the text, children from the San Ildefonso School in Madrid will         .

       A．host the draw of lottery live on TV

       B．offer a show of three – and – a – half hours

       C．perform with the lottery draw as Christmas celebration

       D．help make some declarations for the draw as invited guests

4.What can we learn about the history of lotteries in Spain?

       A．Most of the money people spent on lotteries goes in the cost.

       B．The majority of Spaniards have the experience of buying lotteries.

       C．Lottery numbers matching significant dates help people win every year.

       D．As the biggest in the world, Spanish lotteries have a history of two centuries.

.

第三部分：閱讀理解（共20小題；每小題2分，滿分40分）

閱讀下面文章，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas, and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating(約會)—a dozen long-stemmed red roses. 

As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband—a prisoner in a nearby prison—was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment（約見）. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve. 

A short time later, her husband arrived—with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas—a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact that he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.

I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy—the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.

51.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A. The writer was a newcomer to her office. 

B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.

C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.

D. She was at work with a light heart.

52. The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of         .

A. having her baby examined      

B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape

C. having her husband examined  

D. getting a chance for her family to get together

53.The underlined part in Paragraph 3 most probably means “         ”. 

A. to be sent to hospital      B. to be separated from his family

C. to be comfortable             D. to become a prisoner

54. What does the writer learn from the story?

A. The wife experienced the most joy in receiving. 

B. An act of kindness can mean a lot.

C. The prisoner was treated with mercy.      

D. Whoever breaks the law should be punished.

Sydney—Mobile phone has become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have banned（禁止）students from carrying mobile phones during school hours.

Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the school this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas gifts, and more students want them.

Mary Bluett, an official, said mobile phone use is a distraction（分心）to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat during exams.

She said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.

Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school: they were easy to lose and were a distraction from studies.

Many people say that they understand why parents would want their children to have phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.

Some middle schools in Australia have banned students from carrying mobile phones ____________.

   A. because they are students         B. when they are at school

   C. because they are young            D. when they are free

We know from the passage that some children get mobile phones from ____________.

   A. the makers and sellers           B. some other strangers

   C. their parents and friends             D. some mobile phone users

Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t        during school hours.

   A. get in touch with their children      B. leave their mobile phones

   C. help the teachers with their work     D. use their mobile phones                 

The underlined word “they” in the fifth paragraph refers to ____________.

   A. many teachers                 B. some messages

   C. mobile phones                     D. some students

The topic mainly talked about in the text is ____________.

   A. why the students should not use mobile phones in some Australian schools

   B. when the students of some Australian schools can use their mobile phones

   C. whether the Australian students can have mobile phones at school

   D. how some parents feel when their children should not carry mobile phones

When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I would make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have the three-day holiday posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers. It was Christmas Eve when I arrived home, and a little snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (飾品) shining against the green of a pine.

"Where did it come from?" I asked.

"I asked the Gates boy to cut it," my mother said. "I wouldn't have had one just for myself, but when in great need... such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon."

The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Crystal（水晶） Star was in its place. A few green branches reached out a little awkwardly（難看） at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with the pleasant smell of Christmas.

"It's not like the one you used to find," my mother went on. "Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn't know where to look for a better one. But I couldn't be fussy(挑剔的)."

"Don't worry," I told her. "It's perfect."

It wasn't, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: All Christmas trees are perfect.

1.What did his mother's Christmas tree look like?

2.From the passage we can infer (推斷) that______.

A. all the soldiers had the three-day holiday

B. the writer could not go home for Christmas

C. the writer spent his first Christmas during the war

D. not all the soldiers went home for Christmas during the war

3.From the passage, we can conclude that ______ .

A. his mother didn't like Christmas trees

B. the writer didn't like the tree cut by someone else

C. the writer used to cut very beautiful Christmas trees

D. his mother didn't want to have a Christmas tree during wartime

4.The best title for this passage would be ______.

A. The Perfect Christmas Tree

B. How to Choose a Christmas Tree

C. How Soldiers Spent Their Christmas

D. A Christmas with an Ugly Christmas Tree

5.What does the writer mean by saying “All Christmas trees are perfect”?

A. Nothing is as perfect as Christmas.

B. Once at home, everything is so nice.

C. During the war, trees are hard to find.

D. All Christmas trees are the most beautiful.

As Christmas drew near, Ursula was faced with just that problem. She had come to live in an American home and learn English.  31 , she would mind the children and do anything she was asked.
One of her tasks was to keep track of arriving Christmas presents. Ursula did this faithfully, but she became increasingly worried. What could she buy for her   32  with the little money she had that would compare with the gifts she was recording daily?   33  , even without any of the gifts , her employer seems to have everything.
Ursula  34  long and hard. On Christmas Eve, she went to a store. She moved slowly through crowds of shoppers,  35  things in her mind. Finally she bought a baby dress. She immediately called a taxi.  “Excuse me, please, can you help me find a poor family with a baby?”  “A poor family?” said the  36  driver. “Yes, a very poor family.” Ursula told the man what she was trying to do. He listened in silence, and then said, “I know a family who needs just about everything.”
When they reached a building, the driver said, “They live on the third floor.” Ursula shook her head, “Would you take this dress to them and tell them it’s from someone …someone who has everything.”
Early the next day, Ursula   37  everyone for the presents she received. Then, she began to   38  why there seemed to be none from her. She told about what she did the night before. When she finished, there was a long   39  . “You see,” she added, “I try to do a kindness in your   40  .  And this is my Christmas present to you.”

An evergreen tree is a Christmas tradition in many American homes. The tree is usually a pine or fir（冷杉） dressed with lights and other colorful decorations.

Families might buy a cut tree or go to a tree farm and cut one down themselves. Some people bring a live tree in a pot into their home for the holidays and then put it back outdoors. Some people rent a Christmas tree. Companies might bring the same live tree to the same family year after year. Or the tree might get planted in a park or someplace else where it could help the environment.

There are some trees that can be reused year after year because they are made of plastic or metal. Or, instead of a tree, some people have a small, sweet-smelling rosemary（迷迭香） plant, cut to look like a little Christmas tree.

Another popular evergreen this time of year is the mistletoe（槲寄生） plant. It has small white berries and leaves that feel like leather. The traditional Christmas mistletoe is native to Europe. Ancient Druids believed mistletoe had magical powers. Mistletoe is a parasitic（寄生的） plant. It connects itself to a tree and steals nutrients and water.

And the poinsettia（一品紅）is also one of the plants that many people connect with Christmas. Poinsettias __________   Mexico. They can be white or pink, but most are bright red. They are named after the first American ambassador to Mexico. Joel Poinsett liked them enough to send some back to the United States. Babies or pets that chew on poinsettias might get sick. But experts say the plant is not as poisonous as some people think.

1.What is the main idea of the text? (no more than 8 words)

_______________________________________________________________________

2.Please list at least three kinds of color that Christmas trees may have? (no more than 4 words)

_______________________________________________________________________

3.Fill in the blank in Paragraph 5 with proper words. (no more than 4 words)

_______________________________________________________________________

4.What can be used as Christmas trees according to the passage?(no more than 10 words)

_______________________________________________________________________

5.What does the word “it” (Line 2, Paragraph 2) probably refer to? (no more than 3 words)

_______________________________________________________________________

I spent my last Christmas Day working the whole day!

Due to the nature of my job, I had to go back to my __41___ and spent my whole Christmas Day there. Of course, It __42___ no good! Surely you will get ___43__ when almost all of your friends are either resting at home, watching TV, listening to music, __44___ watching movies in the cinema, and you are the only one that is not __45___. The feeling is really bad. And I really did not feel like __46___ and going to work in the morning. But I __47___ went to work. I am a responsible guy. Since the arrangement was like that, I __48___.

Of course, there is something __49___ about working on Christmas Day and most public __50___. First of all, since I had no plan to go out, or do any __51___ activities on that day, I most likely would __52___ the day at home playing computer games, so why not go to work and ___53__ some extra money? It makes sense to me. Besides, it is a holiday for __54___ the whole world. It __55___ most of my company’s offices in other __56___ would probably not be working, __57___ those in China, Japan and Thailand as Christmas is not a holiday for people there. Less users, less problems, meaning? Less __58___ for us to do. And the best part is, the office is ours! I can __59___ my laptop to the office, watch movies, play games, and at the same time, get my extra __60___! Well, what do you think of working on holidays?

第三部分閱讀理解（共20小題；每小題2分，滿分40分）
第一節(jié)：（共15小題；每小題2分，滿分30分）
閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
A
As Christmas approaches, towns and cities around the UK are preparing for a very British celebration．
The switching on of a town' s Christmas lights has become an increasingly competitive event over the years, with some councils （會議） spending lots of money to attract A-list famous persons to do the honors．
The American singer Mariah Carey flew to London in November to switch on the lights at one of the city's biggest shopping centers, while Jim Carrey lighted Oxford Street and promoted his new film at the same time．
Traffic in the historic English city of Bath was brought to a halt as thousands of fans crowded to see the Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage conducted the switching-on ceremony．
Some celebrations do not go according to the plan, as was seen in Birmingham when dozens of people were injured as the famous British boy band JLS took the stage．
Not all towns can afford to bring in an internationally-known star, so many switchon ceremonies are handled by ex-TV talent show competitors．
Pantomime （圣誕童話?。?stars are also much in demand at this time of year, as they aim to promote their Christmas shows．
But if your council hasn't got the budget to bring in a famous face, what are the cheaper alternatives?
A town in the west of England chose to let the public decide by giving their suggestions online．The result: a 21-year-old DIY store worker was given the honor．
"I was amazed and delighted to be asked," said Scott Parker, "it's just a special gift and not something I'd, ever thought about before．"
56．According to the passage, what kind of special celebration can you see at Christmas in UK?
A．People meeting their favorite stars and getting special gifts．
B．Well-known persons invited to make a performance in public．
C．A-list persons lighting Oxford Street and promoting their films．
D．Switching-on ceremonies that are conducted by honored persons．
57．The underlined word "halt" in Paragraph 4 probably means "______" ．
A．start  B．stop              C．ban       D．run
58．Which of the followings can be learned from the passage?
A．Mariah Carey is invited to Bath to switch on the lights．
B．Pantomime stars rarely appear at events like this．
C．Not all those who switch on the Christmas lights can make lots of money．
D．Average persons can not get a chance to switch on the Christmas lights．
59．The following are famous persons EXCEPT _____．
A．Scott Parker      B．Mariah Carey         C．Nicolas Cage       D．Jim Carrey

It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas; and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating — a dozen long-stemmed red roses.

    As I was cleaning my office,  I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband — a prisoner in a nearby prison — was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.

    A short time later, her husband arrived — with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

    At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas-a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.

    I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy — the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.

1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A. The writer was a newcomer to her office.

B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.

C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.

D. She was at work with a light heart.

2.The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of         .

A. having her baby examined

B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape

C. having her husband examined

D. getting a chance for her family to get together

3.The underlined part in paragraph 3 most probably means “         ”

A.to be sent to hospital B.to be separated from his family

C.to be comfortable D.to become a prisoner

4.What does the writer learn from the story?

A.The wife experienced the most joy in receiving

B.An act of kindness can mean a lot

C.The prisoner was treated with mercy

D.Whoever breaks the law should be punished

It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas; and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating — a dozen long-stemmed red roses.

    As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband — a prisoner in a nearby prison — was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.

    A short time later, her husband arrived — with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

    At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas----a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.

    I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy — the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.

1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A. The writer was a newcomer to her office.

B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.

C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.

D. She was at work with a light heart.

2.The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of __________.

A. having her baby examined   

B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape

C. having her husband examined

D. getting a chance for her family to get together

3.The underlined part in paragraph 3 most probably means “__________”.

A. to be sent to hospital                       B. to be separated from his family

C. to be comfortable                             D. to become a prisoner

4.What does the writer learn from the story?

A. The wife experienced the most joy in receiving.

B. An act of kindness can mean a lot.

C. The prisoner was treated with mercy.

D. Whoever breaks the law should be punished.

The Best Holiday

I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter, Emily.  36  to buy a mountain bike, she’d been saving her pocket money all year, as well as doing small jobs to earn extra money.

By Thanksgiving , she had collected only $49. I said, “ You  37 have your pick from my bicycle  38  ”. “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old. ” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950s models, not the kind a kid today would   39 choose.

As Christmas  40 near, Emily and I went bike shopping . As we left one store, she  41 a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot. “Can we give something, Daddy?” She asked. “Sorry, Em, I’m out of   42    . ”

Throughout December, Emily continued to work hard. Then one day, she made a  43 announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $58 to a volunteer who was really very  44   .

45  by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute  46 of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children.  47 I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow. Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t  48  the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later  49 the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very  50  , sir . Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re   51  away one chance to win a girl’s mountain bike. ”

Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the 52   ? I like to think it was God’s way of  53  a little girl for a sacrifice  54  her year--while giving her dad a lesson in the  55  .

He wishes the holiday season would end already. His back aches, his red suit feels like a spacesuit, his cheeks have gone tight from smiling for 12 hours — and still the kids keep coming and coming, like ants at a picnic. As Christmas becomes more commercialized (商業(yè)化) across the U. S. and Canada, so must Santas. As the holiday begins earlier each year, so must its spokesmen .

The questions from children these days are harder than ever. Now, with thousands of children expecting a father or mother serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, the questions are as heart-breaking as they are unanswerable. For example, “Can you please bring Daddy home from the war in time for Christmas morning?”

Santas also have a pretty good chance of getting sued (指控). A professional Santa Claus in Canada told a story: A Santa had a girl on his knee, and he commented, “You have nice eyes and nice hair.” The girl later said it was sexual harassment (騷擾). When a Santa feels anxious, he often shows it in the same ways ordinary people do: The Santas were always seen to hang around at the dinner table when the show ended. Many of them just sleep in bed for several days and don’t see other children again.

56．In the first paragraph, “spokesmen” refers to       .

       A．businessmen                    B．political leaders

       C．organisers of the activities       D．Santa Clauses

57．The passage implies that the job of Santa Claus is       .

       A．well-paid        B．very hard        C．worth doing    D．dangerous

58．According to the third paragraph, Santas may sometimes be blamed for       .

       A．doing something against the law        B．hanging around the dinner table

       C．being lazy and sleeping in bed for days        D．not playing their roles as expected

59．What would be the best title for the passage?

       A．Christmas: Not a Good Festival for Santas

       B．Is Santa Claus Really Alive?

       C．A Christmas Story

       D．What Does Santa Claus Do for Children?

As Christmas is coming, there are presents to be bought, cards to be sent, rooms to be cleaned. Parents are  with difficult jobs of hiding presents from curious young children. If the gifts are large, this is sometimes a real . On Christmas Eve, young children find the  almost unbearable（難以忍受的）. They are  between the wish to go to bed early so that Father Christmas will bring their presents quickly and the wish to  up late so that they will not  the fun. The wish for gifts usually proves stronger. But though children go to bed early, they often lie  for a long time, hoping to get a short look at Father Christmas.
　　Last Christmas, my wife and I  managed to hide a few large presents in the storeroom. I feared the moment when my son, Jimmy, would  me where that new bike had come from, but  he did not see it.
　　On Christmas Eve, it took the children hours to go to sleep. It must have been nearly  when my wife and I went quietly into their room and began  stockings. Then I pushed in the  I bought for Jimmy and left it beside the Christmas tree. We knew we would not get  sleep that night, for the children were  to get up early. At about five o'clock the next morning, we were woken by loud sounds coming from the children's room － they were shouting excitedly!  I had time to get out of bed, young Jimmy came  into the room on his new bike, and his sister, Mary,  close behind pushing her new baby carriage. Even the baby arrived, he moved  the hands and knees into the room dragging a large balloon behind him. Suddenly it burst. That woke  up completely. The day had really begun with a bang（巨響）.

單詞拼寫 （ 每題1分，滿分10 分）

1.When i_____________ to the strangers, I felt a bit shy.

2.Many of us know the famous saying “F________ is the mother of success.”

3.On National Day the Summer Palace is c_________ with people every year.

4.People t________ the world celebrate New Year in various ways.

5.People don’t like children who b__________ badly in their daily life.

6.I have made great progress this term so my parents are s___________ with me.

7.With the boy leading the way, we had no d____________ in finding his house.

8.Everything taken into c_______________, he has done a good job this time.

9.As Christmas is a___________, we are getting ready to celebrate it.

10.T__________ to your help, we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.

The Best Holiday

 I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter. Emily   41   to buy a mountain bike. She’d been saving her pocket money all year,   42   doing small jobs to earn extra money.

 By Thanksgiving, she had collected only $49. I said, “You   43   have your pick from my bicycle   44  .” “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old.” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950’s models, not the kind a kid today would   45   choose.

As Christmas   46   near, Emily and I went bike shopping. As we left one store, she   __47   a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot. “Can we give something, Daddy?” she asked. “Sorry, I’m out of   48  .”

  Throughout December, Emily continued to   49   hard. Then one day, she made a   __50   announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $ 58 to a volunteer who was really very   51  .

  52   by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute   53   of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children.    54   I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow (發(fā)光). Should I   contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t   55   the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later   56   the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very __57  , sir. Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re   58   away one chance to win a girls’ mountain bike.”

Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the   59  ? I like to think it was God’s way of   60   a little girl for a sacrifice beyond her years－while giving her dad a lesson in the process.

Mobile phones have become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have prevented students from carrying mobile phone during school hours.

  Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the school this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas gifts, and more students will want them.

  Mary Bluett, an official, said mobile phone use is a distraction(傷心的事) to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat during exams.

  She said some schools had tried not to let students use mobile phones at school. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.

  Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school. They were easy to lose and were a distraction from studies.

  Many people say that they understood why parents would want their children to have mobile phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.

Middle schools are prevented from carrying mobile phones      .

A. because they often talk with their friends   B. when they are free from homework

C. when they are at school                 D. because they cheat in exams

Some children get mobile phones      .

A. by telling lies to their parents            B. by making trouble in class

C. from their parents and friends            D. from some mobile phone users

Which of the following statements is true?

A. No school in Australia has done anything about the mobile phone use among students.

B. Teachers don’t allow the students to leave their mobile phones at school offices.

C. Some students had their mobile phones stolen at school.

D. Parents give their children mobile phones for no good reason.

It is implied（暗含） in the passage that      .

A. students shouldn’t have mobile phones at school except for some special reasons

B. it is impossible to stop students from using mobile phone at school

C. some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t use their phones at school

D. parents should teach their children how to use mobile phones during school hours

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注意：請在答題卡上作答。            

When I was a small child my parents didn’t have many money     1.______________

and I had a very few Christmas gifts. My cousin was 10 and he     2._______________

had gone out singing Christmas carols and made quite a bit         3.______________

money. With telling anyone he went to the shop and spent almost4.______________

every penny of his money on a teddy bear; then he using the         5.______________

change to buy a little necklace with a glass charming on them. He 6._______________

came to my house and told my parents what he had bought these 7._______________

things for me as Christmas gifts. Twenty-five years late the         8._____________

moth-eaten teddy bear has long since been thrown away, but I even 9.____________

have the little rusty necklace in my jewelry box to remind of my cousin’s kindness.

         10.______________

When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I would make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have the three-day holiday posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers. It was Christmas Eve when I arrived home, and a little snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (飾品) shining against the green of a pine.

"Where did it come from?" I asked.

"I asked the Gates boy to cut it," my mother said. "I wouldn't have had one just for myself, but when in great need... such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon."

The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Crystal（水晶） Star was in its place. A few green branches reached out a little awkwardly（難看） at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with the pleasant smell of Christmas.

"It's not like the one you used to find," my mother went on. "Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn't know where to look for a better one. But I couldn't be fussy(挑剔的)."

"Don't worry," I told her. "It's perfect."

It wasn't, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: All Christmas trees are perfect.

What did his mother's Christmas tree look like?

From the passage we can infer (推斷) that______.

A. all the soldiers had the three-day holiday

B. the writer could not go home for Christmas

C. the writer spent his first Christmas during the war

D. not all the soldiers went home for Christmas during the war

From the passage, we can conclude that ______ .

A. his mother didn't like Christmas trees

B. the writer didn't like the tree cut by someone else

C. the writer used to cut very beautiful Christmas trees

D. his mother didn't want to have a Christmas tree during wartime

The best title for this passage would be ______.

A. The Perfect Christmas Tree

B. How to Choose a Christmas Tree

C. How Soldiers Spent Their Christmas

D. A Christmas with an Ugly Christmas Tree

What does the writer mean by saying “All Christmas trees are perfect”?

A. Nothing is as perfect as Christmas.

B. Once at home, everything is so nice.

C. During the war, trees are hard to find.

D. All Christmas trees are the most beautiful.

The slogan “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” has been going strong for 27 years now. Dogs and cats have been popular Christmas gifts in the gifts in the UK and Europe for many years. But some people still haven’t quite got the message.
The slogan still holds good. Some 105,000 dogs were rounded up by local government last year because they had been abandoned, many of them shortly after the festival season.
The main reason given by owners for handing their dogs over to the Dogs Trust is that the dogs need more attention than they can give; behavioral problems and moving home are also reasons given.
But Eleanor Silk, the Trust’s communications director, says, “It’s often four or five months after Christmas, in early summer, when owners find that the dog has got too big and too active, or it hasn’t been trained properly and has caused damage around the home.”
In any case, some organizations that help pets are quick to point out that if you are serious about getting a puppy(小狗) as a pet, Christmas is not the time to do it. Puppies need to get used to their new surroundings, to be introduced to a routine, and to be looked after like small children. It’s hard to meet any of these needs at Christmas. What’s more, pulling a puppy out of a Christmas stocking in itself sends the wrong message to children. It encourages children to think of the puppy as a toy, rather than a responsibility.
Appreciating what you’re taking on with a dog can be a sobering (清醒的) realization. “For life” means thinking about the effect they’ll have on your life. It also infers you will need to care for the dog for its whole life.
【小題1】What would be the best title for the passage?