Yesterday was my stepmom’s birthday. I hadn’t been home for a long time so I wanted to stop by the house to see her on this special day.
I have been struggling financially so I was afraid of the long trip. Gas is so expensive nowadays! Anyway, I filled my tank with gas and set off.
I stopped at the shopping mall and found a present. It was the perfect gift and I knew she
would love it. But when I got to the cashier my card was declined! I did not have enough money in my account to pay for the gift!
So I pondered the issue for a few minutes. I could put it back and get something cheaper, but I knew there was nothing else in the store she would like as much. So, I got on my smart-phone and transferred some money from my savings account so I was able to pay for the gift. It took a big chunk of my savings but I wanted her to have something special.
She loved the gift and I felt that even though I had spent almost all my money my stepmom deserved the best and I was glad I gave her the best that I could.
Before leaving my parents’ house, my dad took me to one side and, with our secret hand-shake, he gave me some money. I had not said anything to him about my finances but I guess my dad had just known it. When I got to the car, I saw the amount he gave me was three times what I had spent on the gas and the gift!
It goes to show that doing the right thing always comes with great rewards.
1.Why was the writer unwilling to have a long trip？
A. Because gas was hardly available. B. Because the writer was short of money.
C. Because the writer didn’t like driving. D. Because the road was difficult to drive on.
2.The underlined word “pondered” in Para. 4 means ________.
A. thought about B. tried on
C. depended on D. got through
3.From the passage, we can infer that ________.
A. the writer loves his/her stepmom very much
B. the gift the writer bought was loved by his/her father very much
C. the writer spent all his/her savings buying the gift for his/her stepmom
D. the gift the writer bought was the most expensive one in the shop
4.Why did the writer’s father shake hands with the writer in secret?
A. Because he wanted to ask the writer for something special.
B. Because he wanted to give the writer some money.
C. Because he knew the writer had been struggling financially.
D. Because he didn’t want others to copy their handshake.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1．5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Isabel Powell likes to swim. It’s a（n） 1 thing that she shares with a movie star she’ll
be meeting later this year—a star whose life story is coming to a theater near you this month.
Who’s the star? A dolphin named Winter. And 2 is not the only thing that she and Isabel have in common.
Winter lost her 3 when she was a baby. She got it caught in a trap used to 4__ crabs. Isabel, who had a similar experience to Winter, once had a 5 life. 6 , when she was 2 a tumor（肿瘤）on her foot 7 her leg.
Now, both Winter and Isabel 8 artificial limbs. In Isabel’s case, it’s an artificial leg and foot. In Winter’s case, it’s an artificial tail.
In November, Isabel will travel from her home to Clearwater, Florida, to 9 Winter. Clearwater is the site of the aquarium（水族馆）where Winter has lived since she was 10 from that trap.
According to the Kitsap Sun, the meeting was set up by the man who designed Winter’s artificial tail—Kevin Carroll. Carroll also 11 artificial limbs for people.
He and Isabel 12 met last month in Bremerton, Washington, at the 13 where she got her artificial leg, which freed her of the 14 that had troubled her for years. 15__ Carroll met Isabel and found out she wants to be a veterinarian （兽医）, he decided to set up the meeting.
She 16 people who’ve lost limbs by 17 them they can still do the things they used to do. According to the Kitsap Sun, she plays softball, 18 karate competition and chases after her dog, too. For years, she didn’t know anybody else who had an artificial limb. Now, she’s about to meet a movie star who has one, too.
And she no longer feels so 19 . “I think it’s pretty cool,” Isabel told Kitsap Sun reporter Chris Henry. “Winter has an artificial tail. That makes me think that I’m not the only 20 one. There are thousands more.”
1.A. interesting B. disappointing C. terrifying D. frightening
2.A. playing B. swimming C. sailing D. exploring
3.A. leg B. foot C. tail D. body
4.A. attract B. attack C. hit D. catch
5. A. happy B. miserable C. sad D. dull
6. A. Undoubtedly B. Unfortunately C. Strangely D. Surprisingly
7. A. took over B. cut down C. took away D. cut out
8.A. purchase B. enjoy C. prefer D. wear
9.A. meet B. welcome C. interview D. study
10. A. operated B. rescued C. caught D. killed
11. A. creates B. builds C. designs D. invents
12.A. purposely B. deliberately C. willingly D. reportedly
13.A. studio B. lab C. cinema D. clinic
14.A. pressure B. debt C. pain D. pleasure
15.A. Before B. Until C. After D. While
16. A. puzzles B. inspires C. amuses D. shocks
17. A. showing B. warning C. admiring D. calling
18. A. participates inB. struggles for C. calls on D. turns down
19.A. strange B. common C. usual D. different
20.A. particular B. positive C. unlucky D. enthusiastic
--Don’t smoke any more, Ralph ! It is very bad for your health !
--I know I should give up smoking, but ________.
A. easier said than done B. nothing is easier than fault-finding
C. easy come, easy go D. easy does it
He glances briefly towards her but there is no sign of ________. After all, it’s 15 years since they last met.
A. symptom B. recognition C. reputation D. influence
In the rush hour, hiring ________ taxi for you to do what you are eager to do may be ________ better choice in our city.
A. the; the B. a; the C. a; a D. /; a
You can’t be too careful to drive your car in the city now. Your car ________ missed a cyclist a moment ago.
A. hardly B. merely C. namely D. narrowly
