From the moment that an animal is born it has to make decisions. It has to decide which of the things around it are for eating, and which are to be avoided ; when to attack and when to run away. The animal is, in fact, playing a  complicated and potentially dangerous game with its environment, discomfort or destruction.

 This is a difficult and unpleasant business and few animals would survive if they had to start from the beginning and learn about the world wholly by trial and error ,for there are too many possible decisions which would prove fatal .So we find ,in practice ,that the game is always arranged in favor of the young animal in one way or another .Either the animal is protected during the early stages of its learning about the world around it ,or the knowledge of which way to respond is built into its nervous system from the start.

   The fact that animals behave sensibly can be attributed partly to what we might call genetic learning ,to distinguish it from individual learning that an animal does in the cause of its own life time.Genetic learning is learning by a species as a whole , and it is achieved by selection of those members of each generation that happen to behave in the right way .However , genetic learning depends upon a prediction that the future will more or less exactly resemble the past .The more variable individual experience is likely to be , the less efficient is genetic learning as a means os getting over the problems of the survival game .It is not surprising to find that very few species indeed depend wholly upon genetic learning .In the great majority of animals ,behavior is a compound of individual experience and genetic learning to behave in particular ways

25. The survival game is considered complicated and potentially very dangerous because________.

A decisions made by animals may prove fatal

B animals are often in danger of being attacked

C.animals make decisions entirely by trial

D. environment is not fit for animals to survive

26.Most animals survive because they can make right decisions by __________________.

A. a series of trials and errors

B. knowledge obtained in their life time

C.the nervous system

D.genetic learning and individual experience

27.Concerning the relationship between genetic learning and individual experience ,which of the following is right ?

A.They develop side by side

B.They are contradictory , but individual experience is the dominant

C.Genetic learning is likely to function more if individual experience doesn’t vary much

D. Genetic learning is more efficient than individual experience

28“Genetic learning”refers to ________________.

A.learning after an animal is born

B. learning obtained by some members of each generation who happen to behave properly

C.learning gained by all the members in a species

D learning gained by young animals from their experience

29 What cannot be inferred from the article ?

A The majority of animals depend thoroughly upon genetic learning

B Animal behave in particular ways as a result of both individual experience and genetic learning

C If animal depended wholly upon individual experience ,its chance of survival would be little

D. Genetic learning depends on the assumption of resemblance between the future and the past .

    I lived in a poor family. Half of nay father's salary as a clerk went towards medical expen­ses of ill relatives. Mother often comforted the family by saying, " If you have character, you Have the better part of wealth. ”   

   But I was eager to Own a  car. Having.no car was  shameful for me.  

    Suddenly a moment changed my life.

    For weeks a new Buick Road Master had stood in the window of the biggest store on Main Street. Now it was to be raffled (抽奖）off. Waiting for the winning ticket lo be drawn t the crowd held its breath as the mayor reached for the lucky ticket.

     Unbelievable! The loudspeaker called my father's name! The mayor had presented Dad with the key.sand he had driven it home.

     I ran home in record time. I touched the car's  smooth smooth，opened the door and got in­-side. The tuxurious inside had that wonderful  new — car smell.

     I saw  my father pacing the sidewalk. I rushed over to him.     

    “Leave me alone! ” he shouted.   

     Mother said，“Your father is struggling with an ethical (道德的）problem. The car may not be ours.

    I shouted,“It was announced over the loudspeaker!”

    She explained that my father had asked his boss Jim Kendrick if he wanted to buy a ticket. Jim had mumbled (咕咕）"Why not?” and turned back to what he was doing. It may never have crossed his mind again. Dad then bought two tickets 348 and 349 in his own name with his own money , marking 348 for Kendrick. The winning number was 348.

     I could not understand, Jim was a multimillionaire. He owned a dozen  cars. Another  car    meant little to him.

     At last we heard Dad's step. He went   straight    to  Ihe phone   and dialed.

    The next afternoon Jim's two drivers arrived    and they presented  Dad with a box of cigars  before driving the Quick away. We didn't get a car until I was grown： After that my mother's words took on a new mean- ing. Looking back over the years，I know now we were never richer than we were at the mo­ment when Dad made that telephone call.

24. What made the writer feel shameful?

A. Having no car.       B. The poor family.

C. The ill relatives.   D. The mothers saying.

25.What do you think of the writer's  paients?

A. lucky.   B. honest.  C.  determined. D.  diligent.

23. Why did the father pace the sidewalk?

A. He was thinking how Iq own the car.

B. He was worried about his ill relatives.

C. He hesitated whether to keep the car.

D. He wanted to sell the car for money.

26. What meaning does the text convey?

A. Love of money is the root of all evil.

B. Chance favors the prepared mind.  

C. Honesty dear bought is worthwhile.

D. Opportunity seldom knocks twice.

When I was 13 my only purpose was to become the star on our football team. That meant   41   Miller King, who was the best   42   at our school.

Football season started in September and all summer long I worked out. I carried my football everywhere for   43  .

Just before September, Miller was struck by a car and lost his right arm. I went to see him after he came back from   44  . He looked very   45  , but he didn^’t cry.

That season, I   46   all of Miller’s records while he   47   the home games from the bench. We went 10-1 and I was named most valuable player,   48   I often had crazy dreams in which I was to blame for Miller’s   49  .

One afternoon, I was crossing the field to go home and saw Miller   50   going over a fence—which wasn’t   51   to climb if you had both arms. I’m sure I was the last person in the world he wanted to accept   52   from. But even that challenge he accepted. I   53   him move slowly over the fence. When we were finally   54   on the other side, he said to me, “You know, I didn’t tell you this during the season, but you did   55  . Thank you for filling in for   56  .”

His words freed me from my bad   57  . I thought to myself, how even without an arm he was more of a leader. Damaged but not defeated, he was   58   ahead of me. I was right to have   59   him. From that day on，I grew   60   and a little more real.

41. A. cheering for   B. beating out         C. relying on           D. staying with

42. A. coach          B. student            C. teacher             D. player

43. A. practice        B. show               C. comfort                     D. pleasure

44. A. school          B. vacation            C. hospital            D. training

45. A. pale            B. calm               C. relaxed                 D. ashamed

46. A. held            B. broke              C. set                 D. tried

47. A. reported        B. judged             C. organized          D. watched

48. A. and            B. then                C. but                 D. thus

49. A. decision                B. mistake            C. accident           D. sacrifice

50. A. stuck            B. hurt                C. tired               D. lost

51. A. steady          B. hard               C. fun                D. fit

52. A. praise               B. advice             C. assistance               D. apology

53. A. let               B. helped             C. had               D. noticed

54. A. dropped         B. ready              C. trapped          D. safe

55. A. fine             B. wrong              C. quickly            D. normally

56. A. us              B. yourself            C. me                D. them

57. A. memories       B. ideas               C. attitudes                 D. dreams

58. A. still             B. also                C. yet              D. just

59. A. challenged      B. cured              C. invited             D. admired

60. A. healthier        B. bigger             C. cleverer                 D. cooler

  While driving home after work, Jane Hodgson noticed a car pulled over at the side of the road and a crowd beginning to gather around someone who was lying on the ground.

    Jane, who had completed a first aid at work course, pulled over to see if she could offer any help --- and it turned out to be lucky for the young injured girl that she did.

    Describing the scene she came across, Jane says: "The onlookers were ashen-faced and looking lost. They were so shocked that they hadn't even thought to call for an ambulance yet."

    After speaking to the emergency services, Jane started finding out what had happened and what injuries the young girl called Jenny had. The girl had been hit by a car and gone over the handlebars of her bike, landing on her head and shoulder. Her shoulder and arm were twisted（扭曲）underneath her.

    "She hadn't been wearing a helmet when she got knocked won, and I thought that she should not be moved as I couldn't be sure about the spinal injury, but after looking her over and checking the circulation in her injured arm I did feel fairly confident that she had escaped relatively unhurt.

    "As we were waiting for an ambulance, the amount of pain the girl was in was increasing. To distract her and minimize the risk of her going into shock I kept her talking. She held my hand tightly when the pain got too much and this helped. I told her I cold handle it --- we laughed about that," describes Jane.

    Later, a doctor from the local hospital's ICU stopped at the scene too. The ICU doctor decided that Jenny should lie on her back, making her much more comfortable until the emergency services arrived.

    Thinking back, Jane says: "For me, knowing that in a small way I helped that girl through what was a frightening experience is all the reward I need. I felt great to know I'd made a difference and I'd do it again."

21. What can we learn about Jane Hodgson from the text?

  A. She is an ICU doctor.             B. She is a first-aid trainer.

  C. She works in a local hospital.    D. She has learned some first aid.

22. What did Jane find after looking over the injured girl?

  A. Jenny had a spinal injury.       

  B. Jenny didn't have serious injuries.

  C. Jenny couldn't remember what had happened.

  D. Jenny lost her helmet when she was knocked down.

23. What did Jane do while waiting for an ambulance?

  A. Jane asked Jenny not to talk.     B. Jane let Jenny lie on her back.

  C. Jane was a little impatient.      D. Jane kept giving Jenny confidence.

You probably laugh at something you find funny, but how much do you really know about jokes and humor? Reader’s Digest (RD) questioned several experts to give us some facts about them.

RD: What’s the oldest joke in the world?

   “We can’t know the oldest joke in the world because it would have existed earlier than writing.” says Christie Davies, professor of sociology at the University of Reading in the UK. The oldest joke book that’s been found so far is the Greek Philogelos. It dates from the 4^th century AD, although the jokes date from an earlier time. According to psychologist Steve Wilson, director of National Humor Month (April in the US), it contains 265 jokes.

RD: Do some people fail to develop a sense of humor?

    Rod Martin, professor of psychology at the Western University in Canada, believes that while everyone is born without a sense of humor, as we develop, humor and laughter begin to appear. “Of course, some children are more serious, quiet, and less likely to laugh frequently, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have a sense of humor.” And according to Steve Wilson, there are no adults who don’t have a sense of humor. “Almost everyone is able to develop a sense of humor, and I teach people how.” he says.

RD: Do people share a sense of humor unique to their own nation?

   Sense of humor does differ a lot by country, according to an author named Scott Weems. British humor is thought to be absurd in nature, while American humor has an aggressive quality. According to a study, Germans are found to find everything funny.

21.  What do we know about the oldest joke book?

A.      It remains unknown.                          B. It was written in Greek.

C.It was found in the UK.                  D. It contains the oldest joke.

22.  What does Rod Martin agree with about people’s sense of humor?

a)        Nobody is born with a sense of humor.

b)        Some adults lose it when they grow up.

c)        Childhood is the best time to develop such ability.

d)        Children have a poorer sense of humor than adults.

23.  What kind of humor has an aggressive feature?

A. British humor   B. German humor  C. Canadian humor     D. American humor

"Everybody is a genius.But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree,it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."—Albert Einstein

If you have a kid with special needs in the school system,chances are you have come across that saying hanging on a classroom wall.My five-year-old daughter Syona has cerebral palsy（脑瘫）and it means,combined with her communication and sight problems,that normal standard isn't always an accurate measure of her abilities.

By now you have probably heard about Chris Ulmer,the 26-yearold teacher in Jacksonville,Florida,who starts his special education class by calling up each student individually to give them much admiration and a high-five.I couldn't help but be reminded of Syona's teacher and how she supports each kid in a very similar way.Ulmer recently shared a video of his teaching experience."I have seen their confidence increase rapidly."he said.All I could think was: how lucky these students are to have such good teachers.

Syona's teacher has an attitude that can best be summarized in one word: awesome.Her teacher doesn't focus on what can't be done—she focuses on what can be done.Over the past several months,my husband Dilip and I have seen Syona's confidence increase tenfold.She uses words she wouldn't have thought of using before.She recently told me about her classmate's trip to Ecuador and was very proud when I understood her on the first try.

I actually wonder what the influence would be if we did something similar to what Ulmer does with his students in our home.We've recently started our day by reminding each other of the good qualities we all possess.If we are reminded of our strengths on a regular basis,we will become increasingly confident about progress and success.

24.What does the author think of Albert Einstein's saying?

A.Funny.                            B.True.                        C.Strange.                         D.Confusing.

25.What can we learn about Syona's teacher?

A.She is Syona's favorite teacher.                              B.She puts Einstein's quote on the wall.

C.She uses videos to teach her students.                  D.She helps increase her students' confidence.

26.Why did Syona feel proud in the third paragraph?                                   .

A.Her mother knew what she expressed.                   B.Her progress was appreciated by her parents.

C.She had developed a positive attitude.                   D.She had been to Ecuador with her classmate.

27.What change has taken place in the author's family?

A.They've invited Ulmer's students to their home.       B.They visit Ulmer's classroom regularly.

C.They give each other praise every day.                  D.They feel grateful to people in their lives.

When I opened the door, I found my son sitting in his chair, completely                                      

a magazine.

A. absorbing in               B. absorbed in                C. absorbing to               D. absorbed on

I was desperately nervous about becoming car-free. But eight months ago our car was hit by a passing vehicle and it was destroyed. No problem, I thought: we’ll buy another. But the insurance payout didn’t even begin to cover the costs of buying a new car—I worked out that, with the loan (贷款) we’d need plus petrol, insurance, parking permits and tax, we would make a payment as much as £600 a month.

And that’s when I had my fancy idea. Why not just give up having a car at all? I live in London. We have a railway station behind our house, a tube station 10 minutes’ walk away, and a bus stop at the end of the street. A new car club had just opened in our area, and one of its shiny little red Peugeots was parked nearby. If any family in Britain could live without a car, I reasoned, then surely we were that family.

But my new car-free idea, sadly, wasn’t shared by my family. My teenage daughters were horrified. What would their friends think about our family being “too poor to afford a car”? (I wasn’t that bothered what they thought, and I suggested the girls should take the same approach.)

My friends, too, were astonished at our plan. What would happen if someone got seriously ill overnight and needed to go to hospital? (an ambulance) How would the children get to and from their many events? (buses and trains) People smiled as though this was another of my mad ideas, before saying they were sure I’d soon realize that a car was a necessity.

Eight months on, I wonder whether we’ll ever own a car again. The idea that you “have to” own a car, especially if you live in a city, is all in the mind. I live—and many other citizens do too—in a place that has never been better served by public transport, and yet car ownership has never been higher. We worry about rising car costs, but we’d be better off asking something much more basic: do I really need a car? Certainly the answer is no, and I’m a lot richer because I dared to ask the question.

28. The author decided to live a car-free life partly because ______.

A. most families chose to go car-free          B. he was hurt in a terrible car accident

C. the cost of a new car was too much         D. the traffic jam was unbearable for him

29. What is the attitude of the author’s family toward his plan?

A. Supportive.      B. Disapproving.        C. Optimistic.      D. Unconcerned.

30. What did the author suggest his daughters do about their friends’ opinion?

A. Argue against it.  B. Take their advice.     C. Think it over.    D. Leave it alone.

31. What conclusion did the author draw after the eight-month car-free life?

   A. Life cannot go without a car.              B. Life without a car is a little bit hard. 

   C. His life gets improved without a car.        D. A car-free life does not suit everyone.      

The job interview is an important part of your job search because it's an opportunity for the employer to figure out if you're right for the job. The following tips may help you prepare for your job interview.

●Dress for success. Professional business clothes are always appropriate, regardless of the type of job you are applying for.

●Be there on time. Try to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to be safe. Find out ahead of time where you're going and how long it will take you to get there. Drive or travel the route a day or two ahead, at the same time of day as you will on the day of the interview.   36   Have a backup（备用）plan.

●Let your personality shine. If you're excited about the job, don't be afraid to show it. Employers want passionate employees, so be yourself.

●Be confident.   37   But just don't let your nerves overpower your interview. Eye contact and a calm, clear speaking voice are excellent ways to show your confidence.

●Watch your body language. During your interview, relax and sit naturally, but don't slouch（没精打采地坐）in your chair or lean on the interviewer’s desk.

●Be polite.    38    Remember, this is your first introduction to the organization, so be polite to everyone you meet and turn off your cell phone.

●Listen and ask for clarification（阐明）, if you need it. Remember to listen carefully to the interview questions so that you can actually answer the questions, and never interrupt.   39 

●Let them know what you have to offer. When answering the questions, let the employer see what you have to offer to his organization. Talk about your past. experiences and achievements honestly, and tie those experiences to how they can help you contribute to his organization.

●  40   Although you want to be open and honest in your interview, avoid talking about your personal or financial problems.

   A. Think before you speak.

   B. Confirm how often the buses run.

   C. This begins with a smile and a firm handshake.

   D. If you believe in yourself, you will surely succeed.

   E. Feeling nervous in an interview is perfectly normal.

   F. Make sure you have enough to answer the questions.

   G. If you don't understand something, just ask for explanation.

   My color television has given me nothing but a headache. I was able to buy it a little over a year ago  because I had my relatives give me money for my birthday instead of a lot of clothes that wouldn’t fit. I let a salesclerk fool me into buying a discontinued model, I realized this a day late, when I saw newspaper advertisements for the set at seventy-five dollars less than I had paid, The set worked so beautifully when I first got it home that I would keep it on until stations signed off  for the night, Fortunately, I didn’t got any channels showing all-night movies or I would never have gotten to bed.

Then I started developing a problem with the set that involved static (静电) noise. For some reason, when certain shows switched into a commercial, a loud noise would sound for a few seconds. Gradually ,this noise began to appear during a show, and to get rid of it, I had to change to another channel and then change it back. Sometimes this technique would not work, and I had to pick up the set and shake it to remove the sound. I actually began to build up my arm muscles(肌肉) shaking my set.

When neither of these methods removed the static noise ,I would sit helplessly and wait for the noise to go away. At last I ended up hitting the set with my fist, and it stopped working altogether .My trip to the repair shop cost me $62, and the set is working well now, but I keep expecting more trouble.

41.Why did the author say he was fooled into buying the TV set?

A. He couldn’t return it when it was broken

B. He got an older model than he had expected

C. He failed to find any movie shows on it.

D He could have bought it at a lower price

42.Which of the following can best replace the phrase“signed off”in Paragraph 1?

A. changed to commercials            B. provided fewer channels

C. ended all their programs             D. showed all-night movies

43.How did the author finally get his TV set working again?

A. By shaking and hitting it.           B. By having it repaired

C  By switching channels.             D. By turning it on and off.

44. How does the author sound when telling the story ?

A. Humorous     B. Anxious      C. Cautious    D.  Curious 

 The girl has a(n) ___ for singing and dancing.

A. framework    B. skill

C. expert    D. talent

 Online shopkeepers are supposed to provide goods which _________the quality of their description.

   A. catch up on        B. keep pace with         C. live up to          D. hold on to

I advised he _______ for a holiday．（　　）

A．went      B．go   C．going    D．to go

The worst time to look for a job is when you must have a new one immediately. Job Searching under pressure often results in nervous interviewing and decision-making from rela-tively few options. If you are not in need of an immediate career change, here are ways you can improve your long-term career prospects （前景） today:

Identify at least two different roles. You do not have to be qualified for these positions today, nor do they have to exist in your company. However, these roles should be related to your current skill set. They are career options that look interesting. Once you have a couple of targets, think about why and what interests you. Pay close attention to what appeals to you, and write it down. This will give insight into your motivations and targets.

Subscribe to a career specific magazine. Knowledge is power in the workplace. All busi-nesses must stay relevant to their customers in order to win the competitions and increase revenue（收益）.Reading about industry trends, advancements and success stories keeps you in touch with market conditions. This information allows you to see which companies and professionals are leading the peck. You can follow their examples in your own workplace. If you associate with those that stand out from the rest, you are likely to find yourself with better opportunities.

Do exceptional work. In any role, there is a way to perform at your best. Look for ways to deliver a top performance. Show up early, be flexible to new assignments, have a positive attitude, cooperate with other departments, pay attention to the little details.

Be professionally curious. Talk to people about their careers. Learn more about how success is measured in other roles, departments and companies. Ask people their thoughts on different industries. Challenge yourself to expand your business knowledge through interactions with people at regular time. People hire people. You never know what connections may be relevant when you start your next job search, so develop a habit of making good connections no matter where you go. Take the time to learn about others, and be helpful when you can.

As in all things in life, getting in front of a difficult task early is always less stressful than reacting to a career surprise. Changing jobs is to be expected. No matter how secure you feel today, the time will come when either you or your employer decide it is time to change.

  With a population of about 18 million, the Zhuang ethnic group is the largest minority group in China with a long history and splendid culture. Over 90 percent of the population   41 (live) in Guangxi.

  The people eat all  42   (kind) of meat, including beef, mutton, pork and chicken, etc. they usually plant rice and corn  43  to the mild climate and enough rainfall. They are so friendly  44  any guest is honoured by the whole village. People there even would like to offer to put the guests up in  45  houses. Wine is a must when treating the guests. Guests are shown a unique way of   46  (drink) each other’s wine in the spoon by crossing each other’s arms.

   The Singing Festival is a  47 (tradition) occasion which was held before 1940 to visit graves of the ancestors. Now it has become a grand occasion using songs for their expression. On that day ,after offering sacrifices to Sanjie Liu (a Zhuang minority girl good at singing), they will sing to each other to challenge each other not only the song itself  48  wisdom. Lyrics are usually improvisational and humorous that makes every one   49  (burst) into laughter.  50  (regard) as the Valentine’s Day of the Zhuang ethnic minority, the Singing Festival is also a perfect day for the young men to express their love to the girls by singing.

71. This is a new invention that will have a wide range of ___________（应用） in industry.

72. It is said that our college is to make a            for the meeting. 

73. S          show that 50% of new businesses fail in their first year.

74. They make the a           that children spend too much time chatting and playing games instead of focusing on their school work.

75. What is more, people who are disabled and must stay in their homes can c            and communicate with others around the globe who have similar interests.

76. Unfortunately, the number of vehicles on the road caused u            traffic jams, and the roads became so busy that no one could travel anywhere.

77. Nowadays, many people find some social ____________（现象）are difficult to understand.

78. Doctors were fighting a d             battle to save the little girl’s life.

79. Typical of the Scotch, Burns had a r            for being funny and charming.

80. He has r           ideas of what it means to be civil and to be a gentleman, and is embarrassed by Joe because he does not fit these.

随着科学技术的发展，人类对环境的污染越来越严重，全球气候变暖已经成为人们关注的重要问题之一。请结合课本内容，围绕节能、降耗和减排等措施，写一篇短文，号召人们行动起来，保护我们的美好家园 — 地球。

注意：1. 文章开头已给出，不计入总词数；

      2. 词数120左右。

With the development of science and technology, the climate has been getting warmer and warmer in recent years. _______________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Simple ways to get happy

We are not suggesting that you can reach a permanent state called “happiness” and remain there. But there are many ways to turn the path of anxiety, anger, and sadness into a state of happiness. Here are four ideas to get you started.  36 

● Laugh out loud

Just expecting a happy, funny event can raise levels of pleasure-causing hormones (荷尔蒙) and lower production of stress hormones. Researchers at the University of California tested 16 men who all agreed they thought a certain videotape was funny. Half were told three days in advance they would watch it.  37   When they actually watched the video, their levels of stress hormones dropped greatly, while their levels of pleasure-causing hormones rose 27 percent.

● Do one thing at a time

Edward Suarez, professor of medical psychology at Duck, found that people who do several things at the same time are more likely to have high blood pressure.   38   Instead of talking on the phone while cleaning the kitchen, sit down in a comfortable chair and turn your entire attention over to the conversation.

●  39 

Although relationships help take away stress, sometimes you need time to recharge and reflect on your own. Take yourself out to lunch or to a movie, or simply spend an afternoon reading at home, or looking through books in a bookstore.

● Practice mindfulness

  40   Instead of worrying about your check-up tomorrow while having dinner with your family, focus on the here and now — food, the company, and the conversation.

In creating A.J. Fikry’s ordinary-yet-extraordinary life, the author Gabielle Zevin has thrown every clichés(老生常谈) into the mix. The hero, A.J. Fikry, lost his beloved wife Nic in a road accident. The sales of his bookstore have been decreasing. The enthusiastic new sales representative Amelia won’t stop annoying him with new books. His rare and very valuable first edition has gone missing. But the unexpected arrival of Maya left in his care brings about a series of events with love and hope to his life.

There are few real surprises in the plot and attentive readers will be able to tell where the story is headed. But that is not the point; the clichés and the predictable plot take nothing away from Zevin’s work The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry because it’s how she tells the story that first charms the readers, then holds their attention, making them read the whole book in a single sitting and finally give the book a long hug when they are finished. This book is a love letter to the joys of reading.

Each chapter begins with the title of a short story or a book and a note from A.J. Fikry describing what he likes about it, essentially introducing each character by what they read. The characters are so realistic that it’s hard not to fall in love with all of them: Maya, “the fantastic book-worm,” Amelia, “the giantess” with questionable taste in fashion, Lambiase, the adorable police chief, and A.J. Fikry, the reluctant hero who hates electronic reading devices that will “send centuries of a lively culture into what will surely be a rapid decline.”

The passage of time, race issues, and the bureaucratic argument of children’s services are all put aside in the telling of this story, not because there’s anything to hide or because reality is not allowed to interfere, but because the author chooses to focus on the important stuff. For example, it focuses on Lambiase who organizes a reading club for policemen at the book store. His original intention is to help promote business, but over the years he becomes a genuine book-lover, one who tends to always have simple advice for his cynical(愤世嫉俗的) friend, A.J. Fikry. “Bad timing,” Lambiase claims, “I’ve been a police officer for twenty years now and I’ll tell you pretty much every bad thing in life is a result of bad timing, and every good thing is the result of good timing.”

More than anything else, this novel is not only about the selling of them or the reading of them, but how books and stories become part of our lives, how we find ourselves within what we read and how we carry books with us. It is also about the power of unexpected happiness and always believing that something wonderful is just around the corner. The Late Bloomer is the book within a book which brings together A.J. Fikry and Amelia. It reminds them that life doesn’t follow a set script, things happen when they are meant to happen, and there is no such thing as “too late” for anything. Life is the big picture. Always look at the big picture. Enjoy it. Don’t get too concentrated on the details, because it will all be over before you know it. In the long run nobody, not even you, will remember the ordinary details because they are, in the end, quite irrelevant.

A.J. Fikry’s final words of wisdom to teen-aged Maya convey the same feelings in literary terms: “We are not quite novels. We are not quite short stories. In the end, we are collected works. We have read enough to know there are no collections where each story is perfect. Some of us hit. Some miss.”

28. The author’s attitude towards Zevin’s book is _________.

A. supportive            B. critical         C. objective        D. indifferent

29. How many characters of the novel are mentioned in the passage?

A. Four.             B. Five.            C. Six.         D. Seven.

30. The police chief organizing a reading club is mentioned to prove _________ in the novel.

A. there is really nothing to hide           B. reality is not allowed to interfere

C. important stuff has been focused on       D. everything is a result of timing

31. What can be implied in Paragraph 5?

A. The novel underlines happiness will always be around.

B. The novel mainly talks about the marketing of the book.

C. It is The Late Bloomer that brings A.J and Amelia together.

D. It is important to do things on the basis of overall situation.

I believe I’ve gotten this more than once. One lady told me she thought I was 12 and even told her 14-year-old daughter the same. I saw lots of surprised faces because people were told I was actually 19 years old.

I’m actually 19 years old, which isn’t much of a problem. I’m like the oldest of my friends and the shortest, which is pretty funny. That’s probably one of the reasons I fit in so well with them.

I volunteered at a weekend school teaching young children. Parents always looked me up and down like “why is this 13-year-old girl teaching my child?!??!?” I guessed it was because I’m also petite(娇小)，and I didn’t know whether I had a childish face…??? Sometimes I found it funny, sometimes I found it annoying(令人气恼). But I just shrugged(耸肩)it off at last. You know, soon enough people got to know me and then realized I was not actually a 13-year-old girl.

This short thing used to be a problem for me, though. I was very very small when I was younger, so kids would pick on me. When I was 12, 8-year-old girls would look down at me like “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ’RE TWELVE!” I had always wanted to be tall．But now that I'm older, I got used to it, and I actually love it．You know, I'm fun sized!

28．How old is the writer now?_______.

        A．12                      B．13                        C．14                         D．19

29．Many people felt surprised when told the writer’s age because they thought she ________．

        A．was certainly over 19                           B．should be only 12

        C.  was 13                                                  D. was over 14

30．Which of the following words can’t be used to describe（描绘） the writer?_______.

        A．short                  B．petite                   C．childish                D．tall

31．The underlined phrase “pick on” means _______.

        A．like very much        B．help friendlily                          

C．behave to unkindly    D．enjoy very much

32．How does the writer feel when others say she is 12?_______.

        A．Not surprised    B．Annoying         C．Angry           D．Sad