Two things changed my life: my mother and a white, plastic, daisy bike basket. I have thought long and hard about it and it’s true. I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a silly bicycle accessory (配件) into a life lesson I carry with me today.
It was summer and, one day, my mother drove me to the bike shop to get a tire fixed — and there it was in the window. White, shiny, plastic and decorated with daisies, the basket seemed so appealing and I knew I had to have it.
“Mom, please can I please, please get it? I’ll do extra chores for as long as you say. I’ll do anything, but I need that basket. Please, Mom. Please?”
“You know,” she said, gently rubbing my back while we both stared at what I believed was the coolest thing ever, “If you save up, you could buy this yourself.”
“By the time I make enough it’ll be gone!’
“Maybe Roger here could hold it for you,” She smiled at Roger, the bike guy.
“For that long? He can’t hold it for that long, Mom. Someone else will buy it. Please, Mom, please?”
“There might be another choice,” she said. My mother bought the beautiful basket and put it safely out of reach in some hiding place I couldn’t find. Each week I eagerly counted my growing nest egg earned by extra work here and there (washing the car, helping my mother make dinner, delivering milk around the neighborhood). And then, weeks later maybe, I counted, re-counted and jumped for joy. Oh, happy day! I made it! I finally had the exact amount we’d agreed upon.
Days later, the unthinkable happened. A neighborhood girl I’d played with millions of times appeared with the exact same basket fixed to her shiny, new bike that already had all the bells and whistles. I rode my bike fast home to tell my mother about this disaster, this horrible turn of events.
And then came the lesson I’ve taken with me through my life: “Honey, your basket is extra-special,” Mom said, gently wiping away my hot tears. “Your basket is special because you paid for it yourself.”
1.In Paragraph 1, the writer shows a sense of _________.
A.loneliness B.gratitude C.brightness D.regret
2.The writer finally got the basket she desired by _________.
A.waiting and sharing B.crying and begging
C.working and saving D.borrowing and returning
3.What lesson did the mother want to teach her children?
A.The fruit of one’s labor tastes sweeter. B.After rain comes fair weather.
C.Hard work leads to success. D.Tolerance and patience bring happiness.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Why is it difficult for many people to make good coffee in the morning?
A.They have the wrong kind of machine.
B.They are too sleepy.
C.They have little time.
2.What is true about the Morning Miracle?
A.Its coffee is better than Starbucks’.
B.It takes half the time as other machines.
C.It can be controlled with your voice.
3.How much does the Morning Miracle cost including shipping?
A.$114. B.$99. C.$84.
4.Where does the talk take place?
A.On the phone. B.On TV. C.On the radio.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why is the woman frustrated?
A.The man is rude to her.
B.The restaurant is missing many items.
C.The man told her to hold for too long.
2.Which of the following is NOT included in the Greek Salad?
A.Cheese. B.Lettuce. C.Olives.
3.What does the woman order in the end?
A.Pizza. B.Salad. C.None.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Which collisions happened much more often?
A.Those between cyclists and people crossing the street.
B.Those between people crossing the street and motor vehicles.
C.Those between motor vehicles and bicycles.
2.Where were the 15 people on foot killed?
A.On the main roads.
B.At the intersections.
C.On sidewalks and other off-road areas.
3.Who was the main victim of the accidents?
A.People on foot. B.Cyclists. C.Car drivers.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What did the man think of the ending of the play?
A.It was a surprise.
B.It was too good to be true.
C.It was a mixture of happiness and sadness.
2.What did the producers do?
A.They put huge amount of money into the play.
B.They did a good job on a modest investment.
C.They invited the speakers to write reviews.
3.What does the man say about the play’s fate?
A.It might be a hit.
B.It will only be shown in small theaters.
C.It’s good but won’t be reviewed well.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What do we know about the man?
A.He has just arrived in China.
B.He’s applying to a university.
C.He’s a student from China studying abroad.
2.What will he do first?
A.Go to the registration office.
B.Find his academic advisor.
C.Let the woman show him around.
