“Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton（骨骼）in the closet（衣橱）?” Jessica asked. “A skeleton in the closet?” her mother paused thoughtfully. “Well, it’s something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad’s family had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be ‘a skeleton in his family’s closet’. He really wouldn’t want any neighbor to know about it.”
“Why pick on my family?” Jessica’s father said with anger. “Your family history isn’t so good, you know. Wasn’t your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?” “Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners.” “Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now,” Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica’s parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica’s closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica’s mother sank in a faint（晕倒）, waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter.
“What happened? Where am I?” she asked. “You just destroyed the school’s skeleton, Mum,” explained Jessica. “I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad.” Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. “They’re both crazy,” she thought.
1.According to Jessica’s mother, “a skeleton in the closet” means ______.
A. a family honor B. a family secret
C. a family story D. a family treasure
2.What can we learn about some Australians’ ancestors form Paragraph 2?
A. They were brought to Australia as prisoners.
B. They were the earliest people living in Australia.
C. They were involved in some crimes in Australia.
D. They were not regarded as criminals in their days.
3.Why did Jessica bring a skeleton home?
A. She was curious about it. B. She planned to keep it for fun.
C. She needed it for her school task. D. She intended to scare her parents.
4. Jessica’s parents laughed madly at the end of the story probably because ______.
A. they were crazy
B. they were over excited
C. they realized their misunderstanding
D. they both thought they had won the quarrel
There is a fine line between a parent who is active and open-minded and one that doesn’t know when to let go (放手). As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m discovering how hard it is to stay on the 36 side of this line. When I hold 37 the apron strings (围裙带) connecting us, Nicole, eager to 38 independence, tries to loosen my grasp. What results is a (an) 39 mother-daughter, push-me, pull-you kind of tango.
For the past two years, it’s gone like this:
My question: “Have you thought of taking an advanced placement class (高阶课程) so that you can earn college credit?”
Nicole’s 40 : “No, I’m not interested in that.” ………
Two months ago, she was 41 to a great university. However, I was still the mother having a 42 time letting go. The night before the introductory meeting of the university, I had read the course catalog carefully and 43 courses which I thought looked good. We met on the campus the next afternoon, and Nicole’s face 44 with excitement. “I have had my entire schedule figured out,” she said. “Already?” I was astonished, 45 she should have discussed it with me. I examined the schedule. Nicole hadn’t taken a (an) 46 one of the courses I had suggested. Every course she had chosen 47 suited her interests. Just then I saw a mature, capable young woman with a 48 mind and the ability to shape her future. She no longer needed her mother’s 49 every decision she made. I felt proud, though still a bit 50 .
I 51 the lessons carefully. Nicole has struggled to learn over the past 18 years: 52 , sympathy, and hard work. There have been a few holes along the way. 53 , she is well-equipped and eager to 54 the future. The next step, I recognized, was mine to take: giving my daughter and myself the 55 we both needed.
1. A. left B. right C. either D. each
2.A. onto B. up C. back D. out
3. A. keep B. refuse C. taste D. bear
4. A. embarrassing B. relaxing C. lively D. beautiful
5.A. comment B. word C. concept D. response
6.A. received B. invited C. treated D. accepted
7. A. good B. great C. hard D. easy
8.A. taken B. underlined C. offered D. emphasized
9.A. lit up B. built up C. turned up D. made up
10.A. imagining B. thinking C. hoping D. adding
11.A. only B. just C. even D. single
12. A. mostly B. hardly C. exactly D. slightly
13. A. sharp B. normal C. different D. typical
14.A. encouraging B. evaluating C. disagreeing D. agreeing
15.A. anxious B. excited C. sad D. tense
16. A. reviewed B. observed C. checked D. studied
17.A. ability B. honesty C. responsibility D. punctuality
18. A. Therefore B. Instead C. Still D. Besides
19. A. embrace B. discover C. determine D. lead
20.A. character B. strength C. relief D. independence
When _______ to F1, I have little knowledge to if.
A. I come B. they come C. we come D. it comes
I feel like _________ a long walk. Would you like _______ with me?
A. taking; going B. taking; to go C. to take; to go D. to take; going
You will succeed in the end ________ you give up halfway.
A. even if B. as though C. as long as D. unless
Paul is good, kind, hard-working and intelligent; _____, I can’t speak too highly of him.
A. as a result B. in a word C. by the way D. on the contrary
