A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C．Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended．In a natural reflex (反应), I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her．I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar．But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money．I just need help finding the post office.
In an instant, I realized what I had done．I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be．I hated what I saw in myself．This incident re-awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment．
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant．I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S．at the age of 15．I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother．Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer．
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见)．I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me．I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better．
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going．That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness．She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open．By the way, I helped that lady to the post office．And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson．
1.We can learn from the first two paragraphs that_____________________．
A．the author regretted his act of prejudice
B．the blind woman needed the money badly
C．the author was as poor as the blind woman
D．the author was a native American
2.According to Paragraph 4, hearing the father’s words, the author was probably_______．
A．rather hurt B．very excited C．deeply moved D．greatly inspired
3.According to the passage, the author probably agrees that one should_________．
A．be nice to the elderly and the disabled
B．try to experience different kinds of life
C．treat others equally with love and respect
D．think about one’s past as often as possible
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A．Learn from Your Past B．How My Dream Comes True
C．A Belief That Will Never Change D．A Priceless Lesson in the Street
Running like the wind, roaring （咆哮） like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world．But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China．
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund．
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China．In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country．But due to the destruction of their natural habitat （栖息地） and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species．
Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China．But they are nothing like their wild cousins．They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing．If they were set free they could not look after themselves．
"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species", said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo．
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa．Four of them have already arrived．Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts（本能） and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base．
" South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild．The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in", said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center．" We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain（生物链） and there was a lack of space．"
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready．
1.What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?
A．Because it has lost its natural instincts．
B．Because there is not a complete eco-chain．
C．Because there is no space for it．
D．Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions．
2.How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?
A．Its effect still remains to be seen．
B．Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins．
C．Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills．
D．The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007．
3.By saying " but they are nothing like their wild cousins", the writer means that ______．
A．they are no longer feared by other wild animals
B．they don't know how to hunt or kill
C．a complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding
D．to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task
4.What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?
A．To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild．
B．To provide them with a better environment．
C．To get the tigers to go on a tour．
D．To find a complete eco-chain for them．
5.Which one is not the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?
A．Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base．
B．Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers．
C．Because there is a complete eco-chain and enough space there．
D．Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in．
No one knows yet the accurate number of lives which have been lost in this terrible fire .But reports suggest that it is more than one hundred .
A wall of flames fifty feet high and at least one hundred and fifty miles wide is now racing towards the forests and rich farmlands of southern Victoria . Towns less than one hundred miles from Melbourne will be in danger unless the wind changes . People are rushing excitedly into the streets . The police have warned them not to see the fire but many people are doing so .
The cause of the fire is unknown . No rain has fallen in this part of Australia for three months , and the hot , north-west wind from the great central desert is blowing at more than thirty miles an hour .
The firefighters are travelling to the fire by road , rail and air . But it is not easy to get there . Flames and fallen trees have cut off or blocked roads and railway lines . The thick smoke often prevents them from finding the air strips (飞机跑道).
It is said that the fire has brought the greater danger to the country since the Second World War .
1.By the time the article was written , the fire .
A．had just broken out B．had been put out
C．was spreading violently D．was coming to an end
2.The writer wrote this article mainly to tell people .
A．the fire was terrible and dangerous
B．it was impossible to put out the fire
C．more than one hundred people died of the fire
D．to join in the fight against the fire
3.In the 4th paragraph , the writer suggested that .
A．the fire would soon be controlled by the firefighters
B．it would be very difficult to put out the fire
C．the government was paying great attention to the fire
D．the fire had caused great losses and the airport was in ganger
4.The underlined word “ accurate” in the first sentence has the same meaning as .
A．recent B．whole C．rough D．exact
Life on-line can be a much richer experience when you aren’t restricted to just written words and still pictures. Even if you’re new to the Net, you’ve probably heard about multimedia on-line—listening to audio, watching animations and videos, even playing in three-dimensional space. Sound and movement make information come alive.
To experience it, you’ll need special pieces of software called plug-ins. The term “plug-in” refers to a small, add-on piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser, like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer, turning your computer into a radio or TV.
When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plug-in which you don’t have,you will usually receive a message asking if you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer. Most of the time, the installation will be automatic.
Occasionally, you’ll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or un-zipped before installation. Once installed, plug-ins run automatically, without you having to do anything.
Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically.
Shockwave is a good example of this. All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the ActiveX control. The rest happens automatically. The next time you go to a “Shocked” website, the Shockwave control loads and plays the movie.
Most plug-ins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet, although not all will work with every system. Some of them, for instance, only work with Windows 95.
1.Plug-ins can help us to do all of the following except _________.
A.listening to music
B.watching animations and videos
C.playing three-dimensioned games
D.searching for information on the net
2.The correct explanation about “plug-in” is _________.
A.a radio or TV connected with a computer
B.a small,add-on piece of hardware which improves your web browser
C.a small,add-on piece of software which can turn your computer into a radio or TV
D.a small,add-on piece of software like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer
3.When we go to a “shocked” website a second time,_________.
A.we should go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the Active X control
B.the shockwave control loads itself and plays the movie for us
C.we will be asked whether to download the shockwave control or not
D.we have to buy the shockwave control and load it
4.Most of the time,how can we get a plug-in before automatic installation?
A.We have to buy it from the developer.
B.We have to borrow it from the developer.
C.We have to rent it from the developer.
D.We can obtain from the developer without paying.
After six months of living in New Zealand, I realized one thing. Despite my 1 for greater contact with local students, 2 I initiated(开始) the contact, it wouldn’t happen. Local students are not interested in contacts with the international students, because they regard us as shy, 3 and sometimes snobby （势利的） people. Of course we know that’s not true. I want to change their opinions.
After 4 the problem, I put on my “confidence mask” each morning and walked around with a smile on my face. I chatted with people whenever I had the chance. I showed that I was not afraid to 5 them, and that I was worthy of being a friend.
A side-effect of my 6 confidence was that my emotions occasionally broke down Only in the 7 of my room, where no one could see, would I reveal my real emotions. All the rejections, funny looks, and 8 behind my back calling me a weirdo（古怪的人） melted into tears. Once that was done, I would put on my confidence mask once again and start a new day.
It finally worked My name became known throughout the school as I appeared to be 9 and active. Slowly, I discovered that I no longer needed to put on my confidence mask. I had real friends. Instead of dragging myself to school and 10 to be happy, I was truly happy. I could not believe it when I was elected to the student government as Deputy Head boy----the first international student to receive the title.
From my 11 in New Zealand, I believe one thing will always be true: If you try your best to reach your goals, you’ll achieve your 12 dreams.
1.A. desire B. invitation C. devotion D. effort
2.A. if B. otherwise C. unless D. once
3.A. energetic B. considerate C. free D. dull
4.A. getting B. realizing C. solving D. making
5.A. get up with B. put up with C. open up to D. look forward to
6.A. accepted B. proved C. elected D. forced
7.A. public B. privacy C. possession D. protection
8.A. laughing B. talking C. acting D. walking
9.A. minded B. talented C. humorous D. enthusiastic
10.A. looking B. helping C. pretending D. treating
11.A. experience B. trouble C. travel D. struggle
12.A. great B. impossible C. hopeful D. reasonable
sales of cars up by 30% last year, the traffic in Beijing has become increasingly terrible.
A.With B. Since C. For D. As
