In 1883, an imaginative engineer named John Roebling decided to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was a pipe dream. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
But Roebling refused to listen to them. He thought about the bridge day and night and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. After much discussion and persuasion he convinced his son Washington, who was a promising engineer himself, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished. With great excitement, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but several months after it began, a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was so seriously injured that he was never able to walk, talk or even move again.
"We told them so", "Crazy men and their crazy dreams", "It's foolish to chase wild visions", the critics said and most thought the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
Washington's wife tried to inspire and pass on her husband's enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay in his hospital room, an idea suddenly hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this finger and tapping it on his wife's arm, he slowly developed a code to communicate with her. Then he used this method to tell his wife what the engineers should do. It seemed crazy but the project was under way again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed.
Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances.
1._ What did most people think about Roebling's idea to build the bridge?
A. It would never become a reality. B. Washington was not experienced enough.
C. It would take a lot of time. D. Finding the money would be impossible.
2._The underlined word `daunted' (para. 6) is closest in meaning to '______'.
A. unpleasant B. scared C. amazed D. determined
3._ Which of the following shows the correct order of the events that happened in the story?
a. Roebling convinced his son.
b. Washington found a new way to communicate.
c. They hired the crew.
d. The bridge was completed.
e. Roebling wanted to build a bridge.
f. There was a tragic accident.
A. e, a, c, f, d, b B. e, a, f, b, c, d C. e, f, a, b, c, d D. e, a, c, f, b, d
4._ What can we learn about Washington's wife?
A. She knew sign language very well.
B. She was devoted to her husband.
C. She developed a code to communicate with her husband.
D. She helped her husband design the plan.
5._ What does the story tell us?
A. Success will come with the passing of time.
B. Struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.
C. Even the most distant dream can be realised with a never-say-die attitude.
D. The people who make a difference in our life should be remembered forever.
语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为46～55的相应位置上。
Americans love pets. In America, there are more families with pets 1. those with children. It is common __2.__ U.S. homes have some sort of pets, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves. But Americans’ all-time favorites are cats and dogs, because dogs can offer protection from thieves and unwelcome visitors and cats can help get rid __3. the home unwanted pests. Beneath keeping pets, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner __4.__ (deliver) to their homes, just like pizza. Pets can even go with 5._owners on vacation. Besides, at least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America which provide care and adoption services for _6.__ (home) and ill-treated animals. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance 7.___ their pets. Pets are _8.___ basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. By now researchers _9.___ (discover) that interacting with animals lowers a person's blood pressure. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide _10._ good topic of conversation.
完形填空 (共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从下列各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
"I am going to have a dance performance tonight." Mary ran towards me with a rare bright smile on her face, saying, “I hope you'll come. ” She left 31 , disappearing in the throngs of people quickly.
I could hardly believe my ears, for Mary was a quite ordinary girl. I had never seen her 32 or wearing attractive clothes, moreover, she always wore her big black-frame glasses.
I arrived at the hall with the ticket, and found my seat. Her performance was the seventh one. I knew I would suffer from a hard time before her 33 , for I had no 34 of art, but her performance was worth 35 , no matter how long I would wait for. Time went slowly, I 36 not to fall asleep.
Finally it came Mary’s turn. I opened my eyes as large as possible, 37 to lose anything. Wearing a golden and shining skirt, Mary appeared on the glorious stage. Her dress went well with the brilliant lights. I could feel all the audience in the hall 38 their eyes on her and it was also 39 for me to remove my sights from her. 40 with a charming smile, she looked like a pretty butterfly flying on the splendid 41 . After all the performances ended, I waited for her at the gate.
"Hi!" She stood in front of me with a bag and her crystal high-heeled shoes in her hands, and dressed as she used to be, but the making-up still could be seen. I expressed 42 to her. "I knew it would be wonderful." She could not hide her 43 , laughing like a child. Her crystal shoes were shinning in the wonderful 44 night. Suddenly I 45 that every girl has a pair of special shoes like the crystal shoes of Cinderella.
1. A. hurriedly B. worriedly C. surprisedly D. contentedly
2. A. taking up B. making up C. coming up D. getting up
3. A. time B. chance C. turn D. occasion
4. A. request B. need C. use D. sense
5. A. watching B. reading C. listening D. looking
6. A. handled B. dealt C. fought D. struggled
7. A. fearing B. wishing C. wondering D. ordering
8. A. attended B. absorbed C. fixed D. pointed
9. A. right B. easy C. wrong D. hard
10. A. Singing B. Practising C. Playing D. Dancing
11.A. stage B. hall C. house D. gate
12. A. thanks B. wishes C. congratulations D. apologies
13. A. sadness B. excitement C. enjoyment D. eagerness
14. A. starry B. rainy C. cloudy D. stormy
15. A. thought B. realized C. expected D. supposed
The food in this restaurant is very good. You can’t find ______ restaurant in this town.
A. the better B. a better C. a best D. the best
Our headmaster felt fairly happy today because ten students were praised at the meeting, ____ three were from our school.
A. for them B. of whom C. of them D. of that
With some books he needed ____, he went into the bookstore quickly.
A. to buy B. bought C. buying D. buy
