A Big Ben is not the name of a man. It is the name of a big clock in London. London is the capital of England. This clock has four faces. So, no matter (无论) where you stand, you can read the time on the face of Big Ben. Each face is the size of a bus. The hands are about four meters long. It is about the size of two people standing on top of each other. If you go to London, you may want to visit the Houses of Parliament (国会大厦). In that place you will find Big Ben sits at the top of the clock tower in the Houses of Parliament. You will probably hear it and see it. The big clock makes such a loud noise. ‘Ding dong, ding dong.’ It goes every quarter (四分之一) of an hour. The name of Big Ben comes from a big builder.

（　 ）46. Big Ben is ____________.

　 A. a bus　　　 B. a clock　　　 C. the name of Ben　　 D. a house

（　 ）47. Big Ben is in ____________.

　 A. China　　　　　 B. the USA　　　　　 C. Japan　　　　　 D. the UK

（　 ）48. The clock strikes (敲) every ________ minutes of an hour.

A. ten　　　　　　 B. fifteen　　　　　 C. thirty　　　　　 D. forty-five

（　 ）49. You can read the time of Big Ben ____________.

A. at the top of the clock tower B. in the Houses of Parliament

C. on the hands of the huge clock　　 D. on the four faces of the clock

（　 ）50. The underlined (划线部分) word ‘hands’ means ________ in Chinese.

A. 手　　　　 B. 标志　　　　 C. 指针　　　　 D. 发条

My life is always full of sadness and little joy. However, no matter(无论) what happens, I can always face it bravely.
Last year,  I couldn’t believe the   1   that I could enter the only key high school in my hometown.  Then I rushed to my home and told my parents.  But my father didn’t  seem as    2        as I was. He just kept smoking without saying a word and my mother put her head down and couldn’t help   3  .
I knew very well what my family was   4___ . My mum had been ill in bed for 2 years. We lived a hard life and I couldn’t continue my schooling. I felt so upset(心烦意乱) but I could say   5    to my parents. I decided to help my father with his work   6   my family.
To my surprise, things completely changed   7     the beginning of the new term. My head teacher came to my family with some money, which was   8     by my schoolmates. He encouraged me, “Always have a dream.” With tears in my eyes, I stepped into the key high school.
I have been studying hard since I entered the high school. No matter when I meet difficulties, I always   9     my teacher and schoolmates. I have a college dream and I must work hard for it, no matter how  10    life is. Just as a great man says, “When one door shuts, another opens in life.”

My life is always full of sadness and little joy. However, no matter(无论) what happens, I can always face it bravely.

Last year,  I couldn’t believe the   1   that I could enter the only key high school in my hometown.  Then I rushed to my home and told my parents.  But my father didn’t  seem as    2        as I was. He just kept smoking without saying a word and my mother put her head down and couldn’t help   3  .

I knew very well what my family was   4___ . My mum had been ill in bed for 2 years. We lived a hard life and I couldn’t continue my schooling. I felt so upset(心烦意乱) but I could say   5    to my parents. I decided to help my father with his work   6   my family.

To my surprise, things completely changed   7     the beginning of the new term. My head teacher came to my family with some money, which was   8     by my schoolmates. He encouraged me, “Always have a dream.” With tears in my eyes, I stepped into the key high school.

I have been studying hard since I entered the high school. No matter when I meet difficulties, I always   9     my teacher and schoolmates. I have a college dream and I must work hard for it, no matter how  10    life is. Just as a great man says, “When one door shuts, another opens in life.”

根据短文内容和所给中文提示，写出短文空白处各单词的正确形式。每空限填一词。
US President Obama gave a TV speech to his country’s students on the day of school. He made it from a   【小题1】  (教室) in a high school. He told them to study as    【小题2】 (努力) as they could.
“NO matter(无论) what you want to do with your life, you will need an education, ” he said.
“This isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. It will  【小题3】 (决定) the future of this country.”
Obama also said that school is not always   【小题4】 (容易). The  【小题5】 (挑战) of life make school a difficult time.
“Maybe you can’t get your parents’   【小题6】  (帮助). Maybe someone   【小题7】  (要求) you to go something wrong. But there is no excuse for not doing your homework or for not  【小题8】 (尝试). Your attitude(态度) toward yourselves and your education is the 【小题9】 (最) important.”
Students   【小题10】（摇动）hands with Obama at the end of the class.