Andy rode slowly on his way to school, day-dreaming about the fishing trip that his father had promised him. He was so busy dreaming about all the fish he would catch that he was unaware of everything else around him.
He rode along until a strange sound drew him to the present. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the heavens. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and the buzzing mass seemed to be heading angrily towards him.
With no time to waste, Andy sped off in the opposite direction, riding furiously — but without knowing how to escape the swarm. With a rapidly beating heart and his legs pumping furiously, he sped down the rough road. As the bees came closer, his panic increased. Andy knew that he was sensitive to bee stings (蜇). The last sting had landed him in hospital — and that was only one bee sting! He had been forced to stay in bed for two whole days. Suddenly, his father’s words came to him. “When you are in a tight situation, don’t panic. Use your brain and think your way out of it.”
On a nearby hill, he could see smoke waving slowly skywards from the chimney of the Nelson family home. “Bees don’t like smoke,” he thought. “They couldn’t get into the house.” Andy raced towards the Nelson house, but the bees were gaining ground. Andy knew he could not reach the house in time. He estimated that the bees would catch up with him soon.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small dam used by Mr. Nelson to irrigate his vegetable garden. Off his bike and into the cool water he dived, disappearing below the surface and away from the savage insects. After holding his breath for as long as he could, Andy came up for air and noticed the bees had gone. Dragging himself out of the dam, he struggled up the hilly slope and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Nelson took him inside and rang his mother.
“You’ll really need that fishing break to help you recover,” laughed his mother with relief. “Thank goodness you didn’t panic!” But Andy did not hear her. He was dreaming once again of the fish he would catch tomorrow.”
1.Why did Andy fail to notice the swarm of bees earlier?
A. He was lost in the thought of the fishing trip.
B. He was listening to a strange sound.
C. He was going fishing with his father.
D. He was riding to school.
2.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the swarm of bees in the passage?
A. They made Andy stay in hospital for two days.
B. They shocked and terrified Andy.
C. They tried to attack Andy in a mass.
D. They crowded like a black cloud.
3.How did Andy avoid the bees in the end?
A. He rode off in the opposite direction. B. He hid himself under the water.
C. He rushed into the Nelson house. D. He asked Mr. Nelson for help.
4.Which of the following can best describe Andy’s escape from the bees?
A. In time of danger, one’s mind works fast. B. Once bitten, twice shy.
C. Where there is a will, there is a way. D. No pains, no gains.
When Alice started to cycle home from Jenny’s house, she wasn’t nervous. She was certainly not afraid of the dark. 31 , it was only a 15-minute ride home. But halfway there, she began to wish that she hadn’t been so 32 .
As she rounded a sharp bend, it suddenly 33 cold — very cold. Alice’s breath became puffs of white cloud and her legs were so cold that it became hard to ride.
With her heart beating fast, she struggled so hard to move 34 that she didn’t hear the car which suddenly appeared beside her. She stopped by the road. The big black car also 35 . Slowly, the passenger-window began to slide down. Alice held her breath. In the soft light inside the car, something 36 . Then, the light brightened and Alice was staring at a sweet, grey-haired old lady. “Hello, dear,” said the old lady. “I need 37 . I’m afraid I’m lost. I need to find the nearest airport. I must be there in the next five minutes.”
“Airport? You 38 are lost,” Alice said. “You need to go back five kilometers 39 you reach the T-junction. Turn left and 40 for about another 10 kilometers to the main highway. From there, just follow the 41 to the airport. But I’m afraid there’s no 42 you’ll get there in five minutes!”
“Thank you very much, dear,” replied the old lady. “Don’t worry — I’ll 43 in time.”
The 44 moved up and the car started off. A little way ahead, it 45 and with headlights flashing, it drove past Alice. But then, something 46 happened. The car began changing. First, its color 47 from black to silvery-grey. Then, the wheels began disappearing, but the car continued to move forward, 48 just above the ground. As the car 49 into the dark sky, the big red tail-lights grew larger and larger and glowed more and more brightly. With a faint whistling 50 , the car was gone in seconds, leaving Alice shaking her head in disbelief…
1. A. Therefore B. Besides C. However D. Otherwise
2. A. curious B. excited C. brave D. stubborn
3. A. proved B. seemed C. fell D. grew
4. A. forward B. around C. aside D. backward
5. A. stayed B. stopped C. arrived D. started
6. A. gathered B. moved C. dropped D. existed
7. A. help B. water C. rest D. gas
8. A. necessarily B. certainly C. basically D. normally
9. A. if B. as C. unless D. until
10.A. drive B. march C. follow D. walk
11.A. guidance B. signs C. notices D. address
12.A. way B. room C. time D. doubt
13.A. finish it B. get it C. make it D. have it
14.A. wheel B. window C. headlight D. door
15.A. continued B. rushed C. turned D. passed
16.A. sensitive B. strange C. imaginable D. horrible
17.A. appeared B. developed C. spread D. faded
18.A. floating B. rolling C. drawing D. flashing
19.A. returned B. pointed C. broke D. rose
20.A. voice B. tune C. sound D. tone
The study of natural history is not something to be left to biologists. In fact, their capacity _________ the time they can spend away from their offices is very limited.
A. in terms of B. in view of C. in favour of D. in search of
It is reported that the government has _________ the outbreak of violence by sending a large group of soldiers to police the area.
A. gone for B. reacted to C. appealed to D. made for
Despite the fact that all three teams ________ different approaches to the problem, they were all immediate successes.
A. adopted B. acquired C. adapted D. accumulated
After hours of searching, their patience was _________ and they found what they were looking for.
A. calculated B. confirmed C. rewarded D. evaluated
