Back in 2003 I had a pet rabbit named Alaska.Due to the rules the landlord had set，he had to be kept in the basement(地下室).One night I went downstairs to feed him.Keep in mind I’ve always thought the basement was frightening.As I was facing his cage and putting the bowl of water inside，a big shadow appeared behind me，as if a big，tall man were standing behind me.I turned around and nobody was there，but I got the distinct(清晰的)feeling that I was being watched.I basically dropped the water bowl and ran upstairs shouting for my mom.Ever since then I can’t go down there alone.
Once I was trying to get to sleep，and I slept with the lights off.All of sudden I wanted to leave the room eagerly，but I couldn’t get out of my bed，I was too scared.The feeling of someone looking closely at me was so upset，I was physically afraid to move or breathe.I opened my curtains to let the street light in，thinking the light would help me feel better to move.That did nothing.I must have sat there on my bed for about fifteen minutes before I got up.I didn’t sleep in there that night.I’ve never felt anything so upset!
Then there are all the little things，like seeing things in the comer of my eye，hearing doors open or close when I’m home alone，and the feeling of being watched.Once when my sister wasn’t home(we share a room)I heard someone breathing from her bed and heard the sheets rustle(沙沙聲).Last week，I felt someone patting me in the shoulder when I was alone in my room.Sometimes I’ll be looking something and I’ll see one or more contorted(扭曲的)，angry faces.
I realize that when one is looking for something to happen they can make things happen or imagine it.These are the moments in which I know nothing was imagined，so I wanted to share them and get your opinions.Thanks so much.

1. 1.

   The writer to the text seems to        .

   1. A.
      tell us his strange experiences
   2. B.
      tell us what happens in his bedroom
   3. C.
      tell us an interesting story
   4. D.
      tell us what happens in his apartment
2. 2.

   Which of the following may be the reason why the writer is afraid to go to the basement?

   1. A.
      Because his pet is dangerous.
   2. B.
      Because a big shadow may appear behind him.
   3. C.
      Because there is a big，tall man there.
   4. D.
      Because his landlord forbids him to go there.
3. 3.

   We can learn from the third paragraph that        .

   1. A.
      the writer slept with the lights on that night
   2. B.
      the street light helped the writer a lot
   3. C.
      he was too scared to get out of his bed at one time
   4. D.
      he didn’t sleep at all that night
4. 4.

   From the text，we can see the writer believes his experiences are              .

   1. A.
      real
   2. B.
      not real
   3. C.
      creative
   4. D.
      imaginative

In ancient Japan, if you saved someone’s life, they would make it their duty to spend the rest of their life serving you. Nowadays, if you rescue someone’s story, he or she will feel the same kind of gratitude(感激).

It happens all the time. Someone in a group is telling a story and, just before their big point, BOOM! There’s an interruption. Someone new joins the group, a waiter with a plate of biscuits comes over, or a baby starts crying. Suddenly everyone’s attention turns to the new arrival, the food on the plate, or the “charming” little child. Nobody is aware of the interruption — except the speaker. They forget all about the fact that the speaker hasn’t made his or her point.

Or you’re all sitting around the living room and someone is telling a joke. Suddenly, just before his big punch line(妙語(yǔ)), little Johnny drops a dish or the phone rings. After the crash, everyone talks about little Johnny’s carelessness. After the call, the subject turns to the upcoming marriage or medical operation of the caller. Nobody remembers the great punch line got unfinished — except the joke teller. When it’s you entertaining everyone at a restaurant, have you ever noticed how you can almost set your clock by the waiter coming to take everyone’s order just before your funny punch line?

Most joke and story tellers are too shy to say, after the interruption, “Now, as I was saying…” Instead, they’ll spend the rest of the evening feeling bad they didn’t get to finish. Here’s where you come in. Rescue them with the technique I call “Lend a Helping Tongue.”

Watch the gratitude in the storyteller’s eyes as he stabilizes where his story sunk and he sails off again toward the center of attention. His expression and the appreciation of your consideration by the rest of the group are often reward enough. You are even more fortunate if you can rescue the story of someone who can hire you, promote you, buy from you, or otherwise lift your life. Big winners have excellent memories. When you do them subtle favors like Lend a Helping Tongue, they find a way to pay you back.

Very often, a storyteller cannot make his point because ______.

A. people are more interested in food than his story

B. many guests bring their babies to the party

C. his story is easily forgotten by the listeners

D. he is interrupted by something unexpected

From Paragraph 3, we know that when someone is telling a joke, ______.

A. something bad will surely happen just before their punch line

B. the only person really interested in the joke is the joke teller

C. listeners’ attention is often drawn to something else

D. the waiter knows when to take everyone’s order

How can we “Lend a Helping Tongue” to the story tellers, according to the writer?

A. Comfort them to make them happy.            B. Give them a chance to finish.

C. Go on telling the story for them.                    D. Teach them some useful techniques.

What is the text mainly about?

A. People should learn how to take turns in a conversation.

B. Telling jokes will make you the center of attention.

C. We can win someone’s heart by getting him back to his story.

D. It is impolite to cut in on someone’s talk.

On August 26, 1999, New York City was struck by a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets __36___ and the subway system almost came to a stop.

Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were __37__ to go home. Some battled to __38__a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the ___39___ bravely, walking miles to get to work.

I ___40__ to be one of people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most _41__ had stopped. After making my way __42__ crowds of people. I finally found a subway line that was __43___. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to __44__ the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the ___45__. So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switched back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the train __46__ my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I got to my office, I was _47___ through, exhausted and __48__.

My co-workers and I spend most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm, I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer __49__I received an email from Garth, my Director:

I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and __50__ reported to work. It is always reassuring (令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their _51__ _to their jobs. Thank you.

Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that ___52__ message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of __53__ can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic __54___ had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately __55____ me and put a smile back on my face.

36. A. break        B. flood        C. sink          D, crash

37. A. forced       B. refused      C. adjusted      D. gathered

38. A. order        B. pay         C. call          D. search

39. A. climate      B. scenery     C. storm         D. burden

40. A. used        B. promised    C. deserved      D. happened

41. practice        B. routine      C. process       D. service

42. A. to          B. through      C. over          D. for

43. A. operating    B. cycling      C. turning        D. rushing

44. A. check       B. carry        C. find           D. board

45. A. street       B. ground       C. floor          D. platform

46. A. paused      B. crossed      C. reached        D. parked

47. A. wet        B. weak         C. sick            D. hurt

48. A. ashamed    B. discouraged    C. surprised       D. puzzled

49. A, while       B. when         C. where          D. after

50. A. hardly      B. casually       C. absolutely      D. eventually

51. A. devotion    B. donation       C. connection      D. reaction

52. A, accurate     B. urgent        C. brief          D. humorous

53. A. promise     B. appreciate      C. advice        D. guidance

54. A. troubles     B. signals        C. rules          D. signs

55. A. corrected     B. supported      C. amazed        D. refreshed

On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets to __36__ and the subway system almost came to a stop.

    Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were __37__ to go home. Some battled to __38__ a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the __39__ bravely, walking miles to get to work.

    I __40__ to be one of the people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most __41__ had stopped. After making my way __42__ crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was __43__. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to __44__ the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the __45__. So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switch back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like an forever, the train __46__ my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was __47__ through, exhausted and __48__.

     My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm，I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer __49__ I received an email from Garth, my Director:

    I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and __ 50__ reported to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their __51__ to their jobs. Thank you.

Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that __52__ message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of __53__ can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic __54__ had made me tied and upset. But Garth’s words immediately__55__ me and put a smile back on my face.

36. A. break                  B. flood                C. sink                  D. crash

37. A. forced                B. refused              C. adjusted            D. gathered

38. A. order                  B. pay                   C. call                   D. search

39. A. climate               B. scenery             C. storm                D. burden

40. A. used                   B. promised           C. deserved            D. happened

41. A. practice                     B. routine                     C. process              D. service

42. A. to                       B. through             C. over                  D. for

43. A. operating            B. cycling              C. turning              D. rushing

44. A. check                 B. carry                 C. find                  D. board

45. A. street                  B. ground                  C. floor                 D. platform

46. A. paused                B. crossed              C. reached             D. parked

47. A. wet                    B. weak                 C. sick                  D. hurt

48. A. ashamed             B. discouraged              C. surprised           D. puzzled

49. A. while                  B. when                C. where               D. after

50. A. hardly                B. casually             C. absolutely          D. eventually

51. A. devotion             B. donation            C. connection         D. reaction

52. A. accurate                     B. urgent               C. brief                 D. humorous

53. A. promise                     B. appreciation       C. advice               D. guidance

54. A. troubles                     B. signals                     C. rules                 D. signs

55. A. corrected            B. supported          C. amazed             D. refreshed

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