A.left
B.leave
C.to leave
D.leaving

A. left
B. leave
C. to leave
D. leaving

     For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk classmate was always the first in the class,
while he could only rank (排名) the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, " Am I more stupid than other
kids? How come I always fall behind?I can't come up with an answer. " Mom knew that her son's
self-respect (自尊心) had been hurt by the ranking system, but she didn't know what to say to help.
    She had really wanted to say that intelligence (智力) differs and that yes, her son's friend was really
a smarter boy. But that would make her son lose heart. So she didn't say it.
    Her son and his friend went on to a high school that year. Although her son tried as hard as he could,
his friend still left him behind. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work. It was around this time
she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn't have to, for he himself is now at the top of the
class in a university. When invited to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience:
Once on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to
me: Do you see seabirds fighting for food out there?When a wave (海浪) comes near, the little birds
rise quickly. The "clumsy"  seagulls (海鷗) are far less quick and have to tried hard to get away from the
wave. But they prove to have the biggest, strongest wings,which open the widest and allow the bird to
travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind.
Son, I have feeling that you are one of those seagulls. "

1. From the first paragraph (段), we know that the mother _____.   

 A. knew her son was not bright enough     
B. decided to help with her son's school work.     
C. was worried about her son's low rankings
D. saw the negative effects (負(fù)面影響) of the ranking system

2. The mom was glad she didn't give an answer at first because _____.     

A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon     
B. she felt intelligence doesn't mean everything     
C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth
D. she wanted to avoid another blow (打擊) to her son's self-respect

3. What does the underlined word " clumsy" mean here?

A. 靈巧的         
B. 笨拙的         
C. 聰明的      
D. 勇敢的

4. Which is true according to the passage?     

A. Ranking system had no effect on him.     
B. Her son's rankings have always been low.     
C. Only rankings show intelligence.
D. Hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings.

5. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. How important rankings are                   
B. Little birds and seagulls 
C. The answer Mom gave                       
D. Hard work leads to good results

       When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We
lived on a farm, in the winter especially, we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left
school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that my life has its
problems too.
       One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and
housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma(哮喘), and at times the air is so bad that
I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom
use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
       Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever you tastes in culture or entertainment(娛樂(lè)活動(dòng)). Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more
important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising-and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
       Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens(十幾歲)or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem
preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.

1. What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?

A. Staying on the farm.
B. Moving to the countryside.
C. Leaving home for the city.
D. Running away from the school.

2. Which of the following is true about the writer?

A. He is very old now.
B. He is in good health.
C. He prefers driving a car.
D. He lives in the city now.

3. In the passage, the writer tries to __________.

A. express his opinions about way of life
B. describe his life in the countryside
C. show an interest in the outside world
D. persuade the reader to live in the city

4. How is the passage mainly developed?

A. By inferring.
B. By comparing.
C. By listing examples.
D. By giving explanations.