I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts. I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days, like (36) and straightforward. And it's still what （37）a man a good citizen. This is my secret, and I try to live by.

 I've been in the taxi business for thirty-five years, (38) there is a lot about it that is not so good. Taxi drivers have to be rough and tumble(乱作一团) fellows to be able to take it in New York. You've got to be (39) to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day.

Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the (40) impression that they are bad. Taxi drivers are just like other people. Most of them will act as (41) fellows. You read in the papers almost every week (42) a taxi driver turns in money or jewels or like that people leave in their (43). If they weren't honest, you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers. One time, I found an emerald（翡翠的） ring in my car. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of suitcases that day, so I went back to where I had (44). It took me almost two days to wait for her in order to return her (45) to her. I didn't get as much as “thank you.” (46), I felt good because I had done what was right. I think I felt better than she (47).

I was born and raised in Ireland until I was nineteen years old. I came to this country in 1913 where I (48) several jobs to earn a few dollars before joining the army in World War I. After being discharged(退伍), I bought my own car and have owned one ever since. It hasn't been too easy (49), but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit (50) for a rainy day(一时之需). In all my years of driving a taxi, I have never had (51) with the public, not even with drunks. Even if they get a little headstrong(顽固的) once in a while, I just agree with them and then they behave themselves.

People ask me about tips. As far as I know, (52) everyone will give you something, because most Americans are (53) generous. I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they (54) or not. I believe in God and try to be a good member of my parish（教区）. I try to act toward others like I think God wants me to act. I have been trying this for a long time, and the (55) I try, the easier it gets.

36.A.dishonor          B. dishonesty        C. upright       D. faithful

37. A. takes            B. becomes          C. makes         D. has

38. A. know            B. known           C. knew         D. knowing

39. A. generous         B. tough            C. mild          D. warm-hearted

40. A. right             B. proper           C. bad           D. wrong

41. A. rude             B. honest           C. good          D. tough

42. A. when            B. what             C. which         D. where

43. A. houses           B. cars              C. pockets       D. rooms

44. A. picked her up     B. dropped her off     C. dropped her down D. pull her down

45. A. ring             B. suitcase           C.car            D. emerald

46. A. So               B. Still              C. But          D. Though

47. A. was              B. did               C .has          D. is

48. A. made             B. put               C. held          D. took

49. A. at one time        B. some time          C. in no time     D. at times

50. A. put off            B. put up             C. put on        D. put away

51. A. trouble            B. difficult           C. word          D. anything

52. A. especially         B. specially          C. particularly     D. practically

53. A. never             B. seldom           C. rather          D. fairly

54. A.tip                B. advised          C. suggested      D. ask

55. A. longer             B. harder           C .better         D. shorter

 We will have to work ________faster in order to complete our task on time.

A．a great deal of   B．a great deal  C．a great many of   D．a great many

The Dos and Don’ts of Learning a New Language

    People decide to learn another language for many different reasons．Some learn another language because they would like to live in another country． 36  Some people have to study a language at school and others might decide to learn a language just for fun!

    I’ve been learning French for just over two years．I decided to learn it because I wanted to learn something new and I love French culture．Learning French has been a fun and exciting journey but it’s also been challenging. I’ve learnt a lot about the challenges while learning a new language and have put together some‘dos’and‘don’ts’to help other language learners．

· 37

Learning a new language can be a hard process that requires a lot of motivation．Try  different activities to make your language learning more enjoyable．Why not try watching your favourite TV series in that language or listening to music in that language?

·Do write down your mistakes

 38  I like to write the mistakes that I make in a small pocket book．

·Don’t set unrealistic expectations。

If you have recently started learning another language，it may be unrealistic to expect to be fluent within a couple of months．Be aware that it could take a while． 39  It’s very difficult to have a native accent．The most important thing is that you’re clear and people can understand you．

·Don’t be scared

 40  I worried about my accent，pronunciation，grammar and didn’t make the most of speaking opportunities．Looking back，it seems silly and now I’m more than happy to speak  French．Don’t be afraid or overthink it，just be confident and speak．

A．Be confident

B．Do enjoy it

C．The same thing goes for accents．

D．Others decide to learn a language because of their job．

E．I wasn't confident when I first started speaking French．

F．Take your time and celebrate the progress that you’ve made so far．

G．A person correcting you is a good thing and it will help you improve．

改错：We would as well stay where we are, because the outside is unsafe.

________________________________________________________________________

____ gets well prepared will pass the exam easily. 

 A. Who  B. Anyone    C. Whoever    D. Those who

It’s often interesting to take a look at some of the lists that arrive toward the end of the year such as top devices, best gadgets, most desirable high-tech gift and more. Apart from cell phones and tablets, and Apple and Samsung products, this year many other gadgets made it on the most wanted list from Yahoo Tech and the most searched list from Bing. com. Read on to find out what they are.

Wireless headphone

Portable Bluetooth headphones represent the next evolution in headphone technology. If you have a compatible smartphone with Bluetooth, the obvious benefit is that you can get rid of the wires snaking from your backpack or pocket. Many of the wireless headphones in the market also have a built-in microphone for taking calls hands-free.

Product to buy: Beats Studio Wireless

Features:      Signature look, and powerful audio performance with intense bass and high-mid boosting, plus plenty of accessories.

Price:         1898 yuan

Smartwatch

The primary advantage of a smartwatch over traditional watches is that they reduce how often you have to pull your phone out of your pocket. With it, the information on your smartphone goes straight to your wrist, and you can decide first if they are worth dealing with.

Product to buy:   Pebble smartwatch

Features:        Understated design, with easy setup and instant information, and customizable watch faces, plus synes（同步）with Android or IOS.

Price:            $99 (about 612 yuan)

Portable Bluetooth speaker

Bluetooth speakers are steadily growing in popularity because they let you take the party anywhere. They can be paired with your music device, and they are able to withstand incidental bumps. Though small in size, Bluetooth speakers provide a steady soundtrack for even the lengthiest bacchanalia (狂欢)。

Product to buy:   Logitech UE Boom

Features:        Water and stain resistant, 360-degree sound, 15 hour battery life, with a variety of color patterns.

Price:           1499 yuan

Fitness band

Basically, fitness bands are smartwatches without the watch. They keep track of your exercise progress and, at the same time, allow you to monitor vitals such as your heart rate, calories burned and amount of time spent exercising. Some even monitor your sleep patterns.

Product to buy:   Fitbit Flex

Features:        Long battery life (five days), with silent vibrating alarm, and wireless syncing to smartphones.

Price:           898 yuan

56. How much money is he likely to spend on some of the products if a man is an enthusiastic musical fan?

A. 2510 yuan         B. 3397 yuan              C. 2397 yuan         D. 1510 yuan

57. Which of the following statements is Not True according to the passage?

A. Tablets are on the most wanted list of high-tech products of this year

B. Beats Studio Wireless features plenty of accessories.

C. Smartwatch and Fitness band are similar products to some extent.

D. All the products can sync with Android or IOS

 When Jackie came to his first piano lesson in his mother's car, he was already 11 years old．I __41  students begin at an earlier age, but owing to his insistence, I took him as a student．_42___as Jackie tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm．At the end of each lesson he'd say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day．" But it seemed   43 ．I only knew his mother from a(n） _44   as she waited in her aged car but never stopped in．

Then one day Jackie stopped coming to our lessons．I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to ___45__．I was also glad that he stopped coming-he was a bad   46   for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the students' homes a letter on the   47   concert．Surprisingly, Jackie received and asked me if he could be in the concert. I told him that the concert was not for dropouts, but for   48  pupils．He said that his mom had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing．I don't know what led me to agree _49____．

The night for the concert came．The high school gymnasium was packed with parents and friends．I   50___   Jackie last in the program．I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and the negative effect would reduce to the   51 ．

The concert went off smoothly. Then Jackie came up on stage. His clothes were  52   and his hair looked messy. “Why didn’t his mother  53__  make him comb his hair for this special night?” I thought.

I was surprised when Jackie chose Mozart’s Concerto #21 in C Major and not  54__  for what I heard next.  55  , after six and a half minutes he ended up very well. Everyone  56  with excitement. I ran up on stage and put my arms around Jackie in joy. “I’ve never heard you play like that! How’d you do it?” “Well…remember I told you my mom was sick?” he explained, “Actually she had cancer and  57  this morning. And…she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play in heaven. I wanted to make it special.” There wasn’t a  58  eye in the house that evening.

I  59  how much richer my life had been for taking Jackie as my pupil. He was the teacher and I was the pupil, for it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and maybe even taking a(n)  60  in someone.

41．A．approve                                    B．favour                       C．support           D．prefer

42．A．Long               B．Far                     C．Much              D．Well

43．A．hopeless                                     B．worthless                   C．priceless          D．effortless

44．A．access                                       B．distance                  C．imagination             D．channel

45．A．quit                B．play               C．attend             D．come

46．A．effect                                       B．consequence          C．candidate         D．advertisement

47．A．upcoming       B．easygoing       C．outstanding                              D．outgoing

48．A．former                                      B．temporary              C．formal                  D．current

49．A．practically       B．eventually       C．properly           D．entirely

50．A．set off                                       B．break in                 C．put up            D．leave out

51．A．perfection                                   B．most            C．least               D．fullest

52．A．neat                                        B．folded                  C．fancy            D．wrinkled

53．A．on the whole                                B．at least                C．in the meanwhile D．as well

54．A．prepared            B．expected                                 C．imagined            D．supposed

55．A．Thus                                        B．However                 C．Therefore               D．Indeed

56．A．became conscious                           B．got annoyed            C．went wild        D．grew impatient

57．A．passed away                                B．went out                C．picked up               D．took off

58．A．swelled                                      B．dry                     C．widened         D．damp

59．A．suspected                                   B．wondered               C．reflected                D．evaluated

60．A．chance                                      B．action                  C．measure          D．effect

 --- Why do you look so upset?

  --- There are so many troublesome problems __________.

A remaining to settle   B remained settled  C remaining to be settled  D remained to be settled