I will probably remember one June day seven years ago for the rest of my life. My father had been complaining that my brother and I were watching too much TV, but we ignored him. Then one day we came home and the television was gone.
When I asked my father about the missing TV, he said watching television was a waste of time. Without it, we would have time for other things.
I decided he was wrong. Is there life without TV? How can we spend the week without all those shows and soaps? I was sure my life would be boring without TV, I used my best debating skills to argue with him, but he would not give in.
However, I found other ways to spend my time finally, Each day I ran around the street. This reminded me of my love for athletics, which I still enjoy. I joined Volunteers, and I built lasting friendships. Most importantly, I discovered an artistic world I never knew. I started taking art contests, and was shocked when I won. Then I took piano lessons. I began to like listening to AM radio, reading news magazines.
Living without TV has taught me how to manage my time, so that I can do many things in one day. I am proud to have learned I don’t need television.
Looking back, I think my father did the right thing. “You are smart. You could do anything that you put your heart to.” he used to say. He believed in us. His actions showed me a much more colorful side of life without TV and the value of having a goal and sticking to it.
【小題1】My father was angry and took the television away because _______.

The night was dark, though sometimes the moving clouds allowed a star or two to be seen in the sky.The poor men held on to any bit of ____ they could find. They called to the Marie for ? ? ? but she was far ? ? ? the reach of the human voice. At one o’clock in the morning suddenly some ? ? ? were seen in the distance: another ship! The shouts of the ? ? ? were heard on board, and willing hands pulled them out of the water. The ? ? ? of the ship that had arrived at the scene ? ? ? to save their lives was Ellen. What had ? ? ? her to the exact spot ? ? ? the darkness and the pathless sea? Her captain had known ? ? ? of the wreck and had, indeed,? ? ? to sail away from it. But let him speak for himself.

“ ? I was forced by the wind to change my course, a small bird flew across the ship once or twice and then flew at my face. I ? of this until exactly the same thing happened a second time, ? caused me to think it rather ? . While I was this ? , the same bird, for the third time, made its appearance and flew ? in the same way as before. I was then ? to change my course back to the original one. I had not gone far ? I heard a strange voice; and when I tried to ? where they came from, I found I was in the middle of people who had been shipwrecked. I immediately did my best to save them.”

1.A. land????????????? B. grass????????????? C. hope????????????? D. wood

2.A. food????????????? B. help????????????? C. rest????????????? D. stop

3.A. off????????????? B. out????????????? C. beyond????????????? ????????????? D. from

4.A. people????????????? B. lights????????????? C. ships????????????? D. houses

5.A. sailors????????????? B. captains????????????? C. rescuers????????????? ????????????? D. swimmers

6.A. name????????????? B. owner????????????? C. captain????????????? ????????????? D. finder

7.A. ahead of time????????????? B. at times????????????? C. on time????????????? D. in time

8.A. brought????????????? B. carried????????????? C. kept????????????? D. caused

9.A. in ????????????? B. on ????????????? C. through????????????? ????????????? D. around

10.A. everything B. nothing????????????? C. something????????????? D. Anything

11.A. attempted B. managed????????????? C. allowed????????????? ????????????? D. demanded

12.A. Just as????????????? B. In case????????????? C. Only because????????????? D. Even though

13.A. paid no attention? B. took good care??? C. took no notice????????????? D. kept close watch

14.A. which????????????? B. what????????????? C. that????????????? D. this

15.A. Interesting? B. funny????????????? C. friendly????????????? D. unusual

16.A. searching????????????? B. expecting????????????? C. considering????????????? D. studying

17.A. back????????????? B. about????????????? C. up????????????? D. down

18.A. forced????????????? B. decided????????????? C. persuaded????????????? D. forbidden

19.A. when????????????? B. until????????????? C. then????????????? D. while

20.A. listen to ????????????? B. search for????????????? C. make sure????????????? ????????????? D. look out

D
When I walked into the house after school, I found my dad at home.
"What are you doing home already?" I asked casually.
"Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered quietly.
I was sure he was joking. "No, you weren't. Why are you really home?"
Then I noticed his expression and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives. He was home all day, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem (自尊心), though he tried to be optimistic. He asked my brother and me to spend less money. I gave up my allowance（零用錢(qián)）, which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.
After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he devoted to it.
One evening I asked if he needed help. "Only if it doesn't interfere（打擾，妨礙） with school," he said, which sounded like a yes.
I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really influenced me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plans, ask for help, and take risks. 
54．When the father was laid off, he ________.
A．was angry with his boss             B．didn't care about it at all
C．couldn't accept the fact easily         D．was as happy as usual
55．We can know from the passage that ________.
A．it was not easy for the father to find a new job
B．the father asked his sons to give up their allowance
C．the father found a good job when he changed his direction
D．Andrew and his brother helped his father set up his business
56．The underlined word "adversity" in the last paragraph probably means        .
A．poor feelings     B．bad situations     C．low spirits     D．old ideas
57．What has Andrew learned from his father?
A．The spirit of creative problem-solving.    B．The skills of surfing the Internet.
C．The experience of saving money.         D．The rich business skills.

“Mama, when I grow up, I’m going to be one of those!” I said this after seeing the Capital Dancing Company perform when I was three. It was the first time that my dream took on a vivid form and acted as something important to start my training. As I grew older and was exposed to more, my interests in the world of dance certainly varied but that little girl’s dream of someday becoming a dancer in the company never left me. In the summer of 2005 when I was 18, I received the phone call which made that dream a reality: I became a member of the company dating back to 1925.
As I look back on that day now, it surely lacks any sense of reality. I believe I stayed in a state of pleasant disbelief until I was halfway through rehearsals (排練) on my first day. I never actually expect to get the job. After being offered the position, I was completely astonished. I remember shaking with excitement.
Though I was absolutely thrilled with the chance, it did not come without its fair share of challenge. Through the strict rehearsal period of dancing six days a week, I found it vital to pick up the material fast with every last bit of concentration. It is that extreme attention to detail (細(xì)節(jié)) and stress on practice that set us apart. To then follow those high-energy rehearsals with a busy show schedule of up to five performances a day, I discovered a new meaning of the words “hard work.” What I thought were my physical boundaries were pushed much further than I thought possible. I learned to make each performance better than the last.
Today, when I look at the unbelievable company that I have the great honor of being a part of, not only as a member, but as a dance captain, I see a tradition that has inspired not only generations of little girls but a splendid company that continues to develop and grow-and inspires people every day to follow their dreams.
【小題1】 How many years has the Capital Dancing Company existed when the author received the phone call from it?

Mother: You don’t look happy, Cathy.       【小題1】        
Cathy: I didn’t do well in the chemistry test.
Mother: Really? I could hardly believe you were not doing well in chemistry.             【小題2】       What happened this time?
Cathy:    【小題3】      I found all the questions easy and I finished the test in no time.
Mother: Yes. It is one of your weaknesses.
Cathy: Yes.      【小題4】      I made some very stupid mistakes that I shouldn’t have made.
Mother:       【小題5】       
Cathy: Yes, I have certainly learned a lesson.