The Man was very sad. He knew that the Cat's days were numbered. The doctor had said there wasn’t anything more that could be done, and that he should take the Cat home and make him as comfortable as possible.
A tear rolled down the Man’s cheek and landed on the Cat’s forehead, The Cat gave him a slightly annoyed look. “Why do you cry, Man?” the Cat asked. “Because you can’t bear the thought of losing me? Because you think you can never replace me?” The Man nodded “yes”.
“Pick up that piece of string from the floor~~there, my ‘toy’ The Man reached over and picked up the string. It was about two feet long and the Cat had been able to entertain himself for hours with it. “Now take each end of the string in one hand,” the Cat ordered. The Man did so.
“The end in your left hand is my birth and the end in your right hand is my death. Now bring the two ends together,” the Cat said. The man did so. Then the Cat continued, “You have made a continuous circle. Does any point along the string appear to be different, worse or better than any other part of the string?” The Man inspected the string and then shook his head.
“Close your eyes.” the Cat said. “Now lick your hand.” The Man widened his eyes in surprise. “Just do it，” the Cat said. “Lick your hand, think of me in all my familiar places, and think about all the pieces of string.”
Licking his hand, he discovered what a cat must know, that licking a paw is very calming and allows one to think more clearly. He continued licking and the corners of his mouth turned upward into the first smile he had shown in days. He waited for the Cat to tell him to stop, and when he didn’t, he opened his eyes. The Cat’s eyes were closed. The Man stroked the warm, brown fur, but the Cat was gone.
One day, not long after, there was a new cat on his lap. She was a lovely calico and white.
It is very different from his earlier beloved Cat and very much the same.
1.Why did the Cat give the man a slightly annoyed look?
A.Because the man’s tears made the Cat really anxious.
B.Because the Cat didn’t know what made the man burst into tears.
C.Because the Cat couldn’t go to sleep when the man was in low spirits.
D.Because the man didn’t have to be so sad and concerned.
2.According to the text, which of the following is the reason why a cat licks paws?
A.Licking paws can make a cat remain calm and have a clear mind.
B.Licking paws will make a cat happy and energetic.
C.Licking paws will make a cat find out many unknown secrets.
D.Licking paws can make a cat stay tidy and healthy.
3.What does the underlined word “string” in paragraph 3 stand for?
A. Life. B. Birth. C. Hope. D. Power.
4.What's the main idea of the passage?
A.Pets play an important part in our life.
B.Life has no end and death is just a new beginning.
C.We should take a positive attitude towards life and live life to its fullest.
D.It gives us some suggestions on how to relieve ourselves when a pet passes away.
One day as a boy and his father were taking a walk in the woods, they saw lying beside a half-fallen tree a pair of shoes. An old workman was cooling his feet in a neighboring stream. The son, in a spirit of 36 ____ , picked up some small pebbles (卵石）and said, “I will put these in the old fellow’s shoes, and it’ll be great fun when he tries to put them on.”
“I 37 ____ if you will get much fun out of that,” said the father, “ 38 ____from his clothes, he must be a poor man. And his life is hard. Would there be fun in 39 ____ his troubles? If you were to surprise him in a 40 ____ way, say by putting a coin in each shoe, you would probably enjoy more.”
The boy adopted the 41 ____ of his father and slipped a silver coin into each shoe. Then they hid behind a tree to watch the 42 ____ of their trick. After a while, the old man came back to his work and slipped his right foot into his shoe.
43 ____ something hard in the shoe he 44 ____ his foot to see what was inside. He discovered the coin. A(n) 45 ____look came over his face. He turned the coin over and over in his hand, and gazed at it in astonishment. As he looked at it, he felt with his foot for the other shoe, which also held a coin. Then 46 ____ clasping his hands together, he fell upon his 47 ____ and prayed. The boy and his father 48 ____ from his words that his poor wife was sick and
49 ____ at home, and that his orphaned grandchildren were suffering starvation, while he was struggling to earn a living.
“The kind helper has gone,”cried the old man, “without even waiting to be thanked. But 50____he may go, my blessing shall seek him out and be 51 ____him to the end of life. May God keep him from poverty, 52 ____ him against evil and ever fill his heart with warmth and joy, 53____ he has filled mine today.” The boy and his father listened to the most heart-felt words in the world, eyes 54 ____.
“Now I call this the best kind of fun”，said the father, “So，you see, fun may lead to 55 ____as well as to laughter. Of all the pleasures of life, those that are expressed by tears rather than laughter are the most blessed”.
1.A. mercy B. charity C. help D. fun
2.A. wonder B. doubt C. analyze D. suspect
3.A. ConsideringB. Distinguished C. Judging D. Determined
4.A. adding to B. making up C. bringing out D. adding up to
5.A. confusing B. different C. same D. challenging
6.A. agreement B. plan C. request D. proposal
7.A. output B. outcome C. intention D. production
8.A. Feeling B. Realizing C. Noticing D. Recognizing
9.A. drove B. dropped C. pushed D. withdrew
10.A. excited B. strange C. puzzled D. delighted
11.A.suddenly B. frequently C. finally D. gradually
12.A. hands B. knees C. feet D. head
13.A.thought B. guessed C. sensed D. learned
14.A. useless B. helpless C. worthless D. careless
15.A. however B. whenever C. whatever D. wherever
16.A. after B. against C.with D.onto
17.A. spare B. guard C. help D. prevent
18.A. as B. when C. what D. although
19.A. wet B. wide C. closed D. fixed
20.A. appreciation B. hurt C.tears D.satisfaction
~You have helped me a lot. I can’t thank you enough.
--- ____
A.Think nothing of it. B.That’s right.
C.I don’t think so. D.Be my guest.
The two sides ____a series of compromise suggestions and then signed the contract.
A.made out B.worked out C.put out D.picked out
Let’s call it a day. ____where we’ll get the funds, we’ll talk about that later.
A.In common with B.On behalf of
C.In place of D.As to
What a choice! If only I had ____ the wise man’s advice before I decided.
A. sought B. searched C. acquired D. followed
