下面短文中有10处语言错误。请在有错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。

增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧), 并在其下面写上该加的词。

删除:把多余的词用斜线(划掉。

修改:在错的词下划一横线, 并在该词下面写上修改后的词。

注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;   2. 只允许修改10处, 第11处起不计分。

Dear Editor，

I'm sorry to occupy your precious time, and I really want to tell you anything about the problem of some people keeping too many pets nowadays. I take the problem more and more seriously for a following reasons. First of all, as it is known to people, pets make so much noise that it troubled residents a lot. What's more, it is widely accepted that animal waste pollutes the environment, where makes people quite uncomfortable. Many owners like taking their pets to public place where they may frighten children or even bite people. The mostly important is that pets can spread some diseases and this has attracted much attention.

Take all these factors into consideration, I sincerely hope that I can get help from you and expect the media do something for this.

                                                               Yours,

Wang Lin

假如英语课上老师要求同学们交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，要求你在错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写上该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;2. 只允许修改10处, 多者(从第11处起)不计分。

  One afternoon, I was sitting at my desk, sad, because I got a low mark in the exam. Then, Jim, one of my best friend, told me what it was my turn to clean the classroom. After heard that, I was very angry that I lost my temper. A few seconds late, I realized that I am wrong. When I went to say sorry for him after class, to my surprise, Jim gave me big smile. She said, “We are good friends all the time, aren’t we? I should have offered to you a few words of comfort.”

 The star football was out of____with the aggressive reports

A. patience           B. habit           C. practice          D. envy

Yesterday I started the Year of Giving, my first day of a year-long journey into exploring the act of giving and the meaning of charity. I chose December 15 as the starting date, which marked three years since my mother died from heart disease. She was one of the most generous people that I have ever known. She always thought of others first and certainly serves as an inspiration to me.

I had a rather busy day yesterday, ironic (具有讽刺意义的) for someone who is unemployed right now. In the morning I went to the gym, and unsuccessfully got the phone call from the unemployment office for some job searching. Before I knew it, it was noon. I grabbed a quick lunch and rushed down to a meeting. On my way to Connecticut, I wondered if I would see someone that I would feel forced to give my first $ 10 to. I was running late and decided to do it afterwards.

After the meeting I had about half an hour to find the first person of my Year of Giving! I decided to check out DuPont Circle. I had met a guy there named Jerry once and thought he would willingly accept my $ 10. He wasn’t there, but I did see a man sitting by himself who looked really lonely, so I approached him. Now I had to figure out what I was going to say. I think I said something like, “Hi, can I sit down here?” “I would like to know if I could give you $ 10?” He asked me to repeat what I had said, I did; then he looked at me funny, got up and left.

I then started walking south where I spotted a man standing by the bus stop on Connecticut Ave. He appeared to be in his 60s. I don’t know what drew me to him, but I thought I would make my second attempt. I was a bit nervous and asked him which bus came by that stop. Then I explained that I was starting a year-long project to give $ 10 to someone every day and that I wanted to give my $ 10 for today to him. The gentleman, I later found out that his name was Ed, responded without hesitation that he could not accept my offer and that there were many people more deserving the money than him. This was exactly one of the things that I hoped would happen. People would think of others before themselves.

4. The author set the starting date on December 15 to ____.

A. help the charity                                B. honor his mother

C. make an exploration                         D. fulfill a wish for his mum

5. In the author’s first attempt to give away the money, ____.

A. he was considered ridiculous             B. he hesitated for a long time

C. he was forced to donate the money    D. he had no time to take action

6. In the author’s second attempt, the gentleman refused his offer because ____.

A. he didn’t need other’s help                B. he thought more for others

C. he didn’t care about money               D. he wanted to get more money

7. We can refer that the author was inspired by ____.

A. true friendship                                        B. his own kindness

C. generous donations　                           D. human’s good nature

When asked what she wanted to do before her 50th birthday, racing across America was not the first thing that came to mind — that is, until Lisa Priestly’s doctor asked her to be a part of her team.

On June 12, eight cyclists on Lisa’s team, including an athletic trainer, a yoga teacher, an underwear model, a Parisian hairdresser, will compete in the Race Across America(RAAM) to raise funds for Charlie’s Champions Foundation(CCF).

This race is also significant for Lisa as she recovers from a back injury in her early 40s, not knowing at that point if she could take on a serious endurance event again. But, as she worked to heal her body through yoga and qigong, she eventually began cycling, riding in the LiveStrong Challenge and teaching indoor spinning classes. Now, feeling better than ever, Lisa’s sights are set on her biggest challenge yet: the Race Across America — a 3,000 mile cycling event from Oceanside, Calif. to Annapolis, MD.

RAAM is considered the toughest endurance event in the world as over 250 international cyclists race 24 hours a day for eight days straight through winds, heat, darkness and altitudes of 10,000 feet hoping to win the title. “Mt. Everest is more dangerous, but RAAM is much harder,” Mt. Everest climber and three-time solo RAAM winner, Wolfgang Fasching, said in a statement.

Supported by eight crew members, this eight-person team will take shifts with each person cycling an average of four hours a day around the clock in an effort to raise funds for Charlie’s Champions, a foundation named in honor of a young boy who has battled leukemia for much of his life. The funds raised will support the Winthrop University Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids in Mineola, N.Y., which offers medical programs that assist children like Charlie to live to their fullest potential while fighting for their lives.

24. Why did Lisa decide to take part in the Race Across America?

    A. To fulfill her lifelong dream.           B. To celebrate her 50th birthday.

    C. To raise money for a foundation.       D. To show her recovery from injury.  

25. It can be inferred that the members of Lisa’s team _____.

     A. were friends for many years         B. were patients of her doctor

    C. got training from Fasching                 D. came from all walks of life

26. After getting a back injury, Lisa _____.

     A. quit her job and gave up exercise        B. worked as a volunteer at a hospital

    C. set up an eight-person cycling team    D. wondered if she could fully recover 

27. What can we learn about RAAM?

    A. It is organized by CCF.          

     B. It covers as far as Mt. Everest.

     C. It will last for more than a week. 

     D. It is an event organized by the US government.

   Once there was a very poor and devoted woman who always prayed to God, asking very little, if anything for herself. But she would love to prepare a special 41._______ and have God share at her table. And God 42._______ her invitation.

   She prepared a banquet and waited 43.________. Soon there was a 44._______ on the door, and when she opened it, there stood an old beggar asking for something to eat. She invited him in. He 45.______ all the food, thanked his hostess and left.

   Though slightly 46._______, she prepared another meal, awaiting the arrival of God. A few hours later, an old Gypsy woman with no teeth knocked at the door, insisting that any true believer in God would not 47._______ her something to eat. Though lack of money, she let the woman in. The Gypsy ate everything, did not even 48._______ the woman and left without closing the door.

   Now without 49._______, she hurried to town with a little silver cup that had been in her family for several generations, but she was willing to 50._______ with it to share a meal with God.

   Late in the night she 51.______ home to prepare yet a third meal. She waited and waited until, once more, there was a knock on the door. Holding her 52._______, she slowly opened the door to find a wandering monk, 53._______ a meal.

   Again, she received him 54._______. This man also ate all that was set on the table and left after 55._______the woman for her kindness.

   Now it was too 56._______, with no way to buy any more food and no more money with which to buy it. She went 57._______ on her knees, weeping such heart-broken tears. She asked God 58.______ she had done wrong and why had he not come to share at the table as he had promised. And God, lifted the woman off her 59.______, held her close to his heart, and said, “ My child, I 60._______ your hospitality so much that I came three times!”

41. A. meal             B. gift                   C. seat              D. promise

42. A. accepted       B. refused            C. checked       D. received

43. A. urgently        B. patiently           C. desperately  D. officially

44. A. noise            B. beat                 C. knock           D. note

45. A. finished         B. cooked            C. completed      D. wasted

46. A. amused        B. disappointed    C. amazed        D. alarmed

47. A. offer              B. send                C. deny             D. show

48. A. notice           B. recognize        C. thank            D. criticize

49. A. money          B. luck                  C. courage        D. strength

50. A. meet             B. break               C. fill                  D. part

51. A. rushed          B. went                C. came            D. approached

52. A arms              B. breath              C. anger           D. tears

53. A. in search of    B. in face of         C. in charge of   D. in front of

54. A. coldly            B. differently        C. slightly          D. warmly

55. A. blaming         B. blessing           C. accusing       D. complaining

56. A. cold              B. hot                   C. late               D. quiet

57. A .up                 B. in                     C. down             D. through

58. A. why               B. how                 C. that              D. what

59. A .knees            B. hands              C. feet              D. legs

60. A. disliked          B. observed         C. experienced   D. enjoyed

　    Scientists who try to predict earthquakes have gotten some new helpers recently—animals.

　　That’s right, animals. Scientists have begun to understand what farmers have known for thousands of years. Animals often seem to know in advance that an earthquake is coming, and they show their fear by acting in strange ways. Before a Chinese quake in 1975, snakes awoke from their winter sleep early only to freeze to death in the cold air. Cows broke their halters (缰绳) and tried to escape. Chickens refused to enter their cage. All of this unusual behavior, as well as physical changes in the earth, warned Chinese scientists of the coming quake. They moved people away from the danger zone and saved thousands of lives.

　　One task for scientists today is to learn exactly which types of animal behavior predict quakes. It’s not an easy job. First of all not every animal reacts to the danger of an earthquake. Just before a California quake in 1977, for example, an Arabian horse became very nervous and tried to break out of his enclosure. The Australian horse next to him, however, remained perfectly calm. It’s also difficult at times to tell the difference between normal animal restlessness and “earthquake nerves”. A zoo keeper once called earthquake researchers to say that his cougar (美洲狮) had been acting strangely. It turned out that the cat had an upset stomach.

　　A second task for scientists is to find out exactly what kind of warnings the animals receive. They know that animals sense far more of the world than humans do. Many animals can see, hear, and smell things that people do not even notice. Some can sense tiny changes in air pressure, gravity, or the magnetism of Earth. This extra sense probably helps animals predict quakes.

　　A good example of this occurred with a group of dogs. They were shut in an area that was being shaken by a series of tiny earthquakes. (Several small quakes often come before or after a large one.) Before each quake a low booming sound was heard. Each boom caused the dogs to bark wildly. Then the dogs began to bark during a silent period. A scientist who was recording quakes looked at his machine. It was acting as though there were a loud noise too. The scientist realized that the dogs had reacted to a booming noise. They also sensed the tiny quake that followed it. The machine recorded both, though humans felt and heard nothing.

In this case there was a machine to monitor what the dogs were sensing. Many times, however, our machines record nothing extraordinary, even though animals know a quake is coming. The animals might be sensing something we measure but do not recognize as a warning. Discovering what animals sense, and learning how they know it is a danger signal, is a job for future scientists.

59. Through the passage the writer hopes to explore __________.

A. why animals send a danger signal before an earthquake

B. how animals know when an earthquake is coming

C. why animals have good sense of danger

D. how much animals know about an earthquake

60. During an earthquake in China in 1975, _________.

A. chickens refused to go out of their cage

B. snakes were frozen to death in their caves

C. snakes awoke from their winter sleep earlier

D. cows broke their halters and escaped from their sheds

61. Which of the following is one of earthquake nerves according to the passage?

A. An Arabian horse tried to escape from his enclosure.

B. A cougar had an upset stomach unexpectedly.

C. An Australian horse was perfectly calm.

D. A cat acted very strangely in a zoo.

62. The scientists did an experiment with a group of dogs to _________.

A. find out that the machine could record unusual happenings

B. compare the reactions of animals and those of humans

C. prove that animals could sense more than humans

D. find out what exact warnings animals sent

 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。  

 Methods To Help You Learn French

   The French language, without doubt, is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic languages

in the world. There are thousands of people who would love to be fluent in this popular language and be

able to communicate fluently in it. ___71____

1.       Learn it on line

Until a while ago, the only way to learn French was to go to regular classes at a training institute. But now, one of the easiest ways to learn French is to learn it on line! There are many websites on the Internet today that offer various courses in the French language for all kinds of people, right from the beginner level to the more advanced stages. ___72____ These websites will serve as a good introduction to the language. You also can choose a good-paid program to ensure that you are able to gain enough mastery of the language.

2.       Try to put French into practical use

It is not enough to attend a French language course and devote a little time each day to learning the

language. ____73___ Consciously making an effort to think and talk to ourselves in French in our heads gives us the flexibility to exercise our French muscles anywhere and at any time.

3.       Do your homework diligently, read French books and learn French songs

Most online courses will have daily activities or homework assigned to the learner each day.__74__

Also, make it a habit to buy and read French newspapers and simple books that will help you to improve your vocabulary and sentence formation skills. ___75___ Learning the words of the songs and singing along is a great way to learn French.

A.      Try to find a French teacher online.

B.      There are some websites that offer free French courses.

C.      Some people want to learn French just to be able to sing beautiful songs.

D.     There are also lots of simple and interesting French songs that you can listen to.

E.      Do them diligently, as they are a sure and fun way to learn the language.

F.      Learners should also put their new-found knowledge to practical use.

G.     There are many techniques that can be followed to learn this romantic language.

--Was Mr. Smith alone at home last nigh?

--.Yes. His children as well as his wife _______ invited to the party.

A. Was   B. were    C. has been    D. have been

The earth provides us with almost everything that we need to eat, sleep, work and entertain. To do all this, we use the earth’s resources. Because some of us have more buying power, they end up using more resources than they usually need. At the same time, we also create a great deal of waste and pollution. So we also need to think about how much land we use to deal with that waste. Then two things happen: first, large numbers of the world’s population get much less resources than they need to live; second, the earth is damaged.

The amounts of resources we consumed are like footprints. They show whose lifestyles are a burden on the earth and whose lifestyles are not. Because a few people eat up most of the earth’s resources, the majority have to bear the consequences—like pollution. This is the ecological footprints that the earth keeps in its memory.

Some years ago, a famous expert, called William Rees, developed this idea of the ecological footprints. Today, this idea has become like a magnifying glass (放大镜). It allows us to see whether we are living lives in a way that keeps the earth in a reasonably good shape. Once the earth goes out of shape, there is no hope for human beings.

Countries like the United States and Canada have big ecological footprints. Rees calculated that the average amount of energy and materials consumed by a Canadian is what a land of 4.3 hectares can produce. India has a footprint of 0.4. This means that the energy and materials consumed by an Indian is what 0.4 hectares of land can produce. But if we look more carefully, we will find that even within India, the footprints of the city Indian are much larger than the rural Indian.

32.Which of the following is the best title for this text?

A.Footprints on the earth

B.How to protect the earth

C.Footprints of wild animals

D.How to reduce pollution on the earth

33.Our footprints on the earth refer to 　　　　. 

A.the cities we build

B.the cultures we create

 C.the marks we leave on roads behind us

 D.the resources we use and the waste we produce

34.According to the text, rich people 　　　　. 

 A.should give more money to the poor

 B.are using too many resources

 C.are helping the poor to live better lives

 D.should live in rural areas with the poor

35.We learn from the text that Rees 　　　　. 

 A.put forward the idea of the ecological footprints

 B.thought highly of the United States and Canada

 C.thought India was an extremely poor country

 D.thought rich people made great contributions to society

 — Andrew won’t like it, you know.

— ______ — I don’t care what Andrew thinks!

A. Why not?              B. What for?                 C. How come?                     D. So what?

Three Japanese tourists taking a holiday in Australia got stuck when their GPS told them they could drive from the mainland to an island, failing to mention the 15 kilometres of water and mud in between.

As they drove their hired car from Moreton Bay to nearby North Stradbroke Island, they started to notice the firm surface they were driving on giving way to the well-known bay mud. However, being confident that their GPS would direct them to a road soon, they decided to drive on, managing to travel around 500 metres before their car was up to its tires in mud. To make matters worse, the tide(潮汐) started to come in and soon forced them to seek help and abandon the vehicle. Just four hours later the car was trapped in two metres of water — to the great amusement of onlookers on the shore and passengers on passing boats and ferries.

Yuzu Noda, 21, said she was listening to the GPS and “it told us we could drive down there. It kept saying it would navigate(导航) us to a road. But we got stuck…there’s lots of mud.” She and her travel companions Tomonari Saeki, 22, and Keita Osada, 21, instead had to give up their plans for a day trip to the island and headed back to the Gold Coast of a lift from the RACQ tow truck(吊车) driver who was called to the trapped car. No such luck for the hired car though – after assessing the situation, no attempt was made to recover it. The students from Tokyo, who are due to return home tomorrow, said the experience would not put them off returning to Australia for another visit. Mr. Tomonari said, “It has rained every day on our six day holiday. Hopefully next time we come back it will be sunny.”

The car was covered by insurance, but the tourists will have to pay up to about $1500 in extra charges.

60. The three Japanese tourists got stuck because          .

A. there was no way to the island                       B. their GPS was broken during their journey

C. their GPS had given the wrong information     D. their car was not made in Japan

61. They didn’t abandon their car until          .

A. some onlookers went to save them           B. they got stuck in the mud

C. there came the tide                               D. they managed to travel around 500 metres

62. How did these Japanese students get back?

A. They had to walk back to their living place.     B. They had to take a lift from the tow truck driver.

C. They had to repair their GPS and drove back.    D. They had to turn to passengers on boats and ferries.

63. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. The passengers saved these students in the end.   B. Mr. Tomonari got very down after the journey.

C. No money has to be paid thanks to insurance.     D. The car was left where it was trapped.

______ how close she was standing to the railway tracks, the girl was hit by the train and died on the spot.

A. Having not realized          B. Not having realized

C. Not realizing                D. Not to realize

Being less than perfectly well-dressed in a business setting can result in a feeling of great discomfort that may well require treatment to eliminate. And the sad truth is that “clothing mismatches” on the job can ruin the day of the person who is wearing the inappropriate attire(着装)—and the people with whom he or she comes in contact.

   Offices vary when it comes to dress codes. Some businesses have very high standards for their employees and set strict guidelines for office attire, while others maintain a more relaxed attitude. However, it is always important to remember that no matter what your company’s attitude is regarding what you wear, you are working in a business environment and you should dress properly. Certain items may be more appropriate for evening wear than for a business meeting, just as shorts and a T-shirt are better suited for the beach than for an office environment. Your attire should reflect both your environment and your position. A senior vice president has a different image to maintain than that of a secretary or sales assistant. Like it or not, you will be judged by your personal appearance.

   This is never more apparent than on “dress-down days”, when what you wear can say more about you than any business suit ever could. In fact, people will pay more attention to what you wear on dress-down days than on “business professional ” days. Thus, when dressing in “business casual” clothes, try to put some good taste into your wardrobe choices, recognize that the “real” definition of business casual is to dress just one notch(等级) down from what you would normally wear of business-professional attire days.

   Remember, there are borders between your career and our social life. You should dress one way for play and another way when you mean business. Always ask yourself where you are going and how other people will be dressed when you get there. Is the final destination the opera, the beach, or the office? Dress properly and you will discover the truth in the principle that clothes make the man—and the woman. When in doubt, always misjudge on the side of dressing slightly more traditionally than the situation demands.

58. What is the passage mainly about?

 A. How to dress properly in a business setting.

B. A president of a company should dress differently from a secretary or sales assistant.

  C. The differences between professional and casual dress.

  D. Improper dress will make a person feel uncomfortable.

59. Which of the following statements is true?

  A. Every company has strict rules regarding office dress.

  B. You can wear whatever you like if your company doesn’t have standards for dressing.

  C. You should dress according to the business setting even when there are no fixed rules.

 D. In companies with relaxed rules on office dress, you can’t spot a manager among others.

60. Which statement best describes “dress-down days”?

 A. We can’t judge a person’s taste by his clothes on dress-down days.

 B. People’s clothes on dress-down days don’t receive much attention.

C. On dress-down days, you can wear whatever you like.

D. People are usually more careful about what they wear on dress-down days than on other occasions.

61. Which of the following is NOT the rule in the passage with regard to business dress?

  A. For a business meeting and a concert, you should dress differently.

  B. Remember to ask others for advice when you are not sure about what to dress.

  C. Think about how other guests will wear if you are invited to a dinner.

  D. Dress a bit traditionally if you are not sure about proper dress for a certain occasion.

   I was living a life in my screen and hardly noticed what 61(be)around me．I was always checking the time and thinking of future 62 (plan)．My thought was：“Who’s going to text me now? What will I do next?” My bedtime routine was usually centered 63  one thing：my phone．64  I went to sleep，I browsed through news websites and checked my emails．When I woke up in the middle of the night．I did the same thing．The problem with this was that I felt anxious every night．

So when my friends invited me  65  (go)for a long weekend camping without the cell service，I thought this was 66(exact)what I needed．Here’s how 67 (keep)away from my phone for 48 hours changed me and my way of life．

Without my phone，I 68  (fall)asleep listening to the songs of frogs and crickets．In the  morning，I woke up energetically．Sitting by the river，riding a bike，or singing the old songs，I 69  (true)enjoyed what I was doing．

I felt free without my phone at weekend camp，70 changed me completely．I listened to what my body wanted instead of what my phone was telling me to do．

    The Puritans (清教徒) get a bad reputation in America—especially when it comes to alcohol.

     Mayflower, the first ship that came over from England to Massachusetts Bay, actually carried more beer than water. In fact the Founding Fathers of America liked a drink—Samuel Adams was a partner in his father’s brewery, and Thomas Jefferson was famous for importing European wines.

     Early Americans took a healthful small drink for breakfast, whiskey was a typical lunchtime drink, ale (麦芽酒) accompanied supper and the day ended with another drink called nightcap. Most Americans in 1790 consumed an average of 5. 8 gallons of pure alcohol a year. In 1830, consumption reached 7. 1 gallons a year and alcoholism was starting to have a serious influence on communities. Women and children might be in physical danger if the man of the house began drinking. If he became ill or lost his job through drinking, there was no social safety net to support or protect his family. Eventually, alcoholism was being treated as a disease.

     By the late 19th Century, support for Prohibition, banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol, was powerful. The first arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol was in 1897. On 16 January 1919, Prohibition was set into law. However, by the 1930s when American economy was experiencing a hard time it was widely believed that making alcohol legal again would provide badly-needed jobs and taxes. So in February of 1933, Prohibition was ended. Still, Prohibition had a great influence on alcohol drinking in this country. In 1955, Americans drank an average of 2.3 gallons of pure alcohol a year. The Prohibition movement was still quite strong after Prohibition ended and it led to a lot of local prohibition on alcohol.

     The American presidency has done a lot to rehabilitate alcohol and make it respectable again. Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama can all be seen on film drinking socially and making official toasts with international celebrities.

32. Which is TRUE about the Puritans according to the passage?

    A. Their ancestors came to America to sell alcohol.

    B. They founded the breweries in European countries.

    C. They had a habit of alcohol drinking.

    D. They were the major importer of alcohol.

33. In what way was an alcoholic’s family affected by alcoholism?

A. His family couldn’t afford the drink.    

B. His family might suffer financially.

C. His wife and children might become ill.     

D. His family ought not be treated equally.

34. What can be learned about Prohibition in America?

A. It came into law in the 19th century.                  B. It discouraged alcohol drinking.

C. Its effect disappeared after its removal.           D. It failed to forbid drunk driving.

35. The passage mainly talks about__________.      

    A. the brief history of alcohol drinking in America

    B. American presidents’ affection for alcohol drinking

    C. the Puritans’ bad reputation in America

    D. the reasons why Prohibition came into law

When I look back at my decision to be a working mom, I realize that I didn’t think I had any other choice. Hubby and I had been a two-income family   36  the time we were married. It didn’t occur to me that we would be anything else though it’s hardly news that the choice has its   37  .

Hubby traveled a lot when our kids were young, and I often was a weekday single mom. I had an understanding boss，who allowed me to work a(n)   38   schedule for about 12 years. My 32-hour work week provided the chance to   39   in my kids’ kindergarten classrooms.

The woman who cared for the kids in our   40   was truly a gift from God. Nan and I   41   values and parenting styles.

Never underestimate (低估) the value of   42  . When Dad was away, the kids knew the drill. Though sports activities and piano lessons   43   interrupted our schedules, generally we got up, fed and out without much commotion (混乱) and back in, fed and  44  with a little time left over for a game or a favorite TV show. Mom got a few minutes of   45   before crashing herself (睡觉).

Looking back on the past, I realize we could have made other   46  . We could have been vegetable gardeners. Lots of families   47   on one income. But I think we would have lost something just as important as my   48  .

My work at the News Sentinel has been   49   and exciting. I’ve worked with people I never would have met had I been at home. I’ve spent my career   50   sentences and stories and learning and passing along information about our community. My coworkers are my Tennessee family.

My work has been   51   to me in important ways, and I think it has made me a more interesting and satisfied   52   and parent. And our family has learned to   53   the time we do have together.

  54  , if I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t change my decision to be a working mom. And I wouldn’t change a single thing about the kids who   55   it.

36. A. from                       B. before                    C. at                             D. by

37. A. benefits                      B. challenges                  C. shortcomings             D. privileges

38. A. extended                    B. packed                      C. reduced                     D. regulated

39. A. interfere                    B. volunteer                   C. study                       D. compete

40. A. separation                  B. conflict                     C. adjustment                 D. absence

41. A. influenced                  B. suspected               C. shared                       D. ignored

42. A. routine                       B. independence             C. cooperation               D. schedule

43. A. systematically            B. effectively                 C. occasionally               D. adequately

44. A. entertained                 B. bathed                       C. exercised                   D. worked

45. A. peace                         B. excitement                 C. panic                        D. silence

46. A. mistakes                    B. fortunes              C. achievements        D. choices

47. A. fail                            B. manage                     C. squeeze                     D. part

48. A. income                      B. children                     C. passion                     D. life

49. A. fun                            B. tiring                        C. dull                           D. demanding

50. A. reading                      B. shaping                     C. reciting                     D. digesting

51. A. original                      B. optional             C. meaningful                D. stressful

52. A. employer                    B. breadwinner               C. partner                      D. learner

53. A. kill                             B. value                         C. spend                        D. save

54. A. Therefore                   B. Meanwhile                 C. However                   D. Otherwise

55. A. pushed for                 B. centered around         C. catered to               D.lived through

 Once made out, the plan must be carried out ______any difficulty.

    A. regardless of    B. instead of    C. because of    D. in need of

       Like many new graduates, I left university full of hope for the future but with no real idea of what I wanted to do. My degree, with honors, in English literature had not really prepared me for anything practical. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world somehow, but I had no idea how to do that. That’s when I learned about the Lighthouse Project.

       I started my journey as a Lighthouse Project volunteer by reading as much as I could about the experiences of previous volunteers. I knew it would be a lot of hard work, and that I would be away from my family and friends for a very long time. In short, I did not take my decision to apply for the Lighthouse Project lightly. Neither did my family.

       Eventually, however, I won the support of my family, and I sent in all the paperwork needed for the application. After countless interviews and presentations, I managed to stand out among the candidates and survive the test alone. Several months later, I finally received a call asking me to report for the duty. I would be going to a small village near Abuja, Nigeria. Where? What? Nigeria? I had no idea. But I was about to find out.

       After completing my training, I was sent to the village that was small and desperately in need of proper accommodation. Though the local villagers were poor, they offered their homes, hearts, and food as if I were their own family. I was asked to lead a small team of local people in building a new schoolhouse. For the next year or so, I taught in that same schoolhouse. But I sometimes think I learned more from my students than they did from me. Sometime during that period, I realized that all those things that had seemed so strange or unusual to me no longer did, though I did not get anywhere with the local language, and returned to the United States a different man. The Lighthouse Project had changed my life forever.

24. What do we know about the author?

  A. His university education focused on the theoretical knowledge.

  B. His dream at university was to become a volunteer.

  C. He took pride in having contributed to the world.

  D. He felt honored to study English literature.

25. According to Paragraph 2, it is most likely that the author __________.

  A. discussed his decision with his family

  B. asked previous volunteers about voluntary work

  C. attended special training to perform difficult tasks

  D. felt frightened about having to leave his family and friends

26. In his application for the volunteer job, the author ___________.

  A. participated in many discussions

  B. went through challenging survival tests

  C. wrote quite a few papers on voluntary work

  D. faced strong competition from other candidates

27. What can we infer from the author’s experiences in Nigeria?

  A. He found some difficulty adapting to the local culture.

  B. He had learned to communicate in the local language.

  C. He had overcome all his weaknesses before he left for home.

  D. He was chosen as the most respectable teacher by his students.