Walking around the corner and into the hall at three in the morning, lost in thought and dragging a mop bucket, I raised my eyes to the front counter in indifference. A man, looking to be in his mid 40’s, stood in a pink dress. A wide-edged hat stuck out over his massive frame resembling an umbrella that was a little too shabby and worn-out, making him look like a woman. The shock at seeing such a strong proud man in a cheap disgusting dress broke my heart, as well as frightened me.
Dropping my mop on the floor in surprise and picking up my face that had temporarily fallen off, I confidently walked over to the desk.
“I’m sorry,” I began to say but was confused on whether sir or madam was appropriate. “Can I help you?”
“I need a room,” he said in a gruff (粗哑的) powerful voice.
“Sure thing,” I said bringing up the registry. “Can I get your last name?”
“Hurgan,” he said briefly.
“And your first name?”
“Amanda.”
Suddenly I had to direct all of my concentration on holding back a smile. A ten second pause of silence passed while I tried to stay calm.
“Okay,” I said getting back to the job, “can I get your phone number, Amanda?”
All of the information was acquired and stored and Amanda received her room key for the night. All was well as I returned to the neglected mop bucket. Suddenly a low throaty cough drew me out of my temporary mental disorder. Looking over at the desk where Amanda stood touching her thick biceps (二头肌) I once again dropped the mop in shock.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said coming around to the desk. Amanda stared with unease twisting her sleeve with her right index finger.
“I have a cat,” she said in a low voice.
“I’m sorry you what?” I asked leaning in closer. She drew back a bit as if I was some kind of threat.
“I have a cat.”
Looking up into her tall frame, I replied, “That’s fine. We just need to add an extra $10 fee.” She handed me her credit card once again. I swiped it, returned it, and grabbed the printing receipt.
“You just need to sign here,” I said handing over the pen. She hesitantly grabbed it from my hand and signed. As she began to return it, my hand came a bit too close to connecting with hers. Scared and possibly a little disgusted she dropped the pen, causing it to bounce off the counter and onto the floor.
“Sorry,” she said, looking down. “I have to go get my cat.”
While Amanda was getting her cat, an unpleasant thought was circling around my head. Here I was just doing my job and this, this WO-MAN was acting as if I was the monster! He was wearing a pink dress! And I was the monster? Was he even still a man? The sliding doors opened and in came Amanda passing the front desk without even giving me a polite nod.
1. The story most probably happened at a ________.
A. pub B. hotel C. hospital D. shop
2.We can conclude that the author’s attitude towards the man is _______.
A. objective B. indifferent C. critical D. considerate
3. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. The author was on the edge of smiling when he heard the man’s first name.
B. When the man checked in, he tipped the author $10.
C. After signing, the man grasped the author’s hand and thanked him.
D. The man gave the author a friendly nod while going toward his room.
4. What might be the best title of this passage?
A. A disgusting cat B. A considerate waiter
C. A fierce monster D. A strange-looking WO-MAN
完型填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
"Hey, Tahlia! How's the model?"
I had just taken a bite of my hot dog __21__ I heard a familiar voice yelling at me from across the crowded school yard. I saw a group of popular girls who were all __22__.
"What kind of __23_ are you going to do? An ad for a Frankenstein movie?" More laughter. My stomach twisted into a tight knot. How could they humiliate (羞辱) me like this, __24__ the entire school? As I walked into the cafeteria, I __25__ the dark scars on my right hand.
At 9 months old, I knocked over a tea pot and dumped boiling water allover my hands and stomach. My parents __26__ me to the hospital, but I had to have skin graft (移植) operation. I was in so much pain! But what __27__ me most were the cruel things people said about how I looked, __28__ that day at lunch.
The girls were being supermean to me because they'd heard I was considering doing some modeling. A close friend had suggested that I shouldn't let my scars limit me and that I might __29__ a good model.
But after that __30__ at school, I was sure I'd made a huge mistake. Upon arriving home, I covered the mirror with a blanket, fell on my bed and sobbed.
The next day, I __31__ myself to go to school. At lunch my best friend Jesse tried to encourage me: "You can't __32_ forever, Tahlia. So what if you have a few scars? Just go outside and show them that you're just as good as they are." Although I knew he was right, I couldn’t __33__ standing up for myself like that.
However, that night as I sat on the bed, my friend's words replayed in my mind. I'm __34__ hiding from myself, I thought. How stupid! Slowly, I stood up, walked over to the __35__, and tossed the blanket aside. There, in the mirror I saw a slim, dark-haired, blue-eyed girl, looking just fine, __36__ with a few scars.
The next day I wore a comfortable T-shirt to school. What's more, I had lunch outside the cafeteria, __37__ beside those mean girls. They were shocked that I should dare to walk into their territory. I felt __38_ too—free and happy.
Sometimes people still look at me strangely. They __39_ and stare, but I don't let it get to me. I have applied to several modeling companies, and at least one company is considering me for jobs. Maybe I'll never __40_ posing on the runway, but I do know one thing: I'm done.
1. A. as B. when C. while D. before
2.A. applauding B. cheering C. laughing D. quarreling
3. A. modeling B. writing C. drilling D. acting
4. A. in spite of B. in view of C. in terms of D. in front of
5.A. looked into B. searched for C. wondered about D. glanced at
6.A. presented B. sent C. rushed D. handed
7. A. hurt B. beat C. disappointed D. puzzled
8. A. for B. like C. on D. after
9.A. impress B. make C. consult D. defeat
10.A. effect B. phenomenon C. challenge D. scene
11. A. forced B. expected C. reminded D. preferred
12. A. apologize B. beg C. hide D. complain
13.A. consider B. imagine C. appreciate D. resist
14. A. hardly B. ever C. even D. gradually
15. A. blanket B. bed C. chair D. mirror
16. A. while B. though C. but D. because
17. A. right B. still C. therefore D. anyhow
18.A. sensitive B. uncomfortable C. different D. tense
19.A. compare B. associate C. wave D. whisper
20.A. give up B. end up C. put up D. set up
Yellow Mountain is such an attractive place of interest everyone likes to visit.
A. as B. that C. which D. what
blood if you can and many lives will be saved.
A. Giving B. Give C. Given D. To give
Our bedrooms are all on the sixth floor, with its own bathroom.
A. all B. every C. either D. each
Your letter will get attention! They know you're expecting the answer.
A. careful B. common C. instant D. general
