There was a boy in India who was sent by his parents to a boarding school. Before being sent away this boy was the brightest student in his class. He was at the top in every competition. He was a champion.
But the boy changed after leaving home and attending the boarding school. His grades started dropping. He hated being in a group. He was lonely all the time. And there were especially dark times when he felt like killing himself. All of this was because he felt worthless and that no one loved him.
His parents started worrying about the boy. But even they did not know what was wrong with him. So his dad decided to travel to the boarding school and talk with him.
They sat on the bank of the lake near the school. The father started asking him casual questions about his classes, teachers and sports. After some time his dad said, “Do you know son, why I am here today?”
The boy answered back, “to check my grades?”
“No, no” his dad replied, “I am here to tell you that you are the most important person for me. I want to see you happy. I don’t care about grades. I care about you. I care about your happiness. YOU ARE MY LIFE.”
These words caused the boy’s eyes to fill with tears. He hugged his dad. They didn’t say anything to each other for a long time.
Now the boy had everything he wanted. He knew there was someone on this earth who cared for him deeply. He meant the world to someone. And today this young man is in college at the top of his class and no one has ever seen him sad!
Thanks a lot, dad. YOU ARE MY LIFE.
【小题1】The boy changed after he went to the boarding school because________.

Aria Ricardo was a beautiful, slim young woman with dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin．She used to work as a model and earn as much as $ 2 000 in one day in front of the camera．She modeled for top magazines in Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and throughout the United States．
Aria’s father, now retired because of a disability, was a police officer who really loved his work．Aria would rather follow in her father’s footsteps than pursue her modeling career．She remembered listening to her father tell stories when he came home after a day on the beat．The excitement, tensions and risks of police work appealed to her．
Aria got started in the modeling business quite by accident．She accompanied a friend to an interview at a modeling agency．Her friend wanted the job, while Aria didn’t．The people at the agency were impressed with Aria’s appearance and poise．They knew she’d be brilliant in front of the camera．So they sent her on her first modeling job—for Seventeen Magazine—right away．
Despite her success as a model, Aria never gave up her dream of being a police officer．She passed the written exam for the New York Police Department．She planned to enter the Police Academy as quickly as possible．Her family and friends thought she was out of her mind even to consider such a thing．Police work was dangerous and the pay couldn’t compare to a top model’s income．But Aria knew what she wanted, and she went for it．She had never really intended to be a model anyway．Finally she hooked her fish．
56．Aria’s success as a model resulted from ________．
A．her desire to succeed in it                                               B．her looks and shape
C．the help of her father                                             D．the competition with her friend
57．Aria went into modeling because ________．
A．she wanted to earn more money                         B．she wanted to accompany her friend
C．she was given an unexpected opportunity        D．she was very beautiful
58．Aria’s family would like her to ________．
A．remain a model                                                         B．do whatever she liked
C．find something challenging                                    D．follow her father’s footsteps
59．Aria Ricardo probably is a ________ now．
A．photographer working for a magazine               B．student of the Police Academy
C．top model of a world company                             D．woman police officer

In the morning, Slim got up and prepared breakfast for his wife as usual. Nicole, his wife was listening to music in the bedroom. __【小题1】_, he felt that his body was shaking. Slim had the __【小题2】__ response that there was an earthquake! He __【小题3】__ quickly: “Dear, earthquake! Go to the toilet！” Nicole heard the shouting, 【小题4】 the first aid box quickly and ran into the toilet. The house was 【小题5】 even more dramatically (剧烈地)．
Bathroom was the next door to the kitchen. Slim picked up a kitchen __【小题6】__ and two pieces of bread outside the kitchen. Slim tried to __【小题7】__ along the wall to help Nicole.__【小题8】__, it got dark suddenly with an explosion. The house __【小题9】_____down and many things fell from above. Nicole was quickly buried in 【小题10】 .She felt breathing very difficult. She tried to stand up, but  【小题11】  .
A few minutes later, the land was __【小题12】.Nicole heard the sound of short __【小题13】_ and thought it was Slim! She shouted to him but no __【小题14】__！ He probably fainted. Nicole kept saying his name and she finally heard a response, two people encouraged and __【小题15】__ each other. They knew that there must be a way to   【小题16】 .
Slim found that they were close and were   【小题17】  by the fallen stones and some powder. He started to dig with the kitchen knife. He felt __【小题18】__ from his fingers. Finally, he removed the last piece of larger stones. Slim touched Nicole's one hand, then dug the __【小题19】__ stones of her body. Finally, Nicole had a __【小题20】__ breathing slowly. Two people sat on the ground and hugged together.

Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there’s a big difference between “being a writer” and writing. In most cases these people are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone as a typewriter. “You’ve got to want to write,” I say to them, “not want to be a writer.”
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose wish is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S, Coast Guard to become a freelance writer(自由撰稿者), I had no hope at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a real writer.
After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t got a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if? I would keep putting my dream to the test even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the shadow land of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.
【小题1】The writer wrote the passage to ________.

When you visit America, you will see the word Motel on signs and notice boards. It is made up of “motor” and “hotel” and it is really a hotel for people who arrive by car (how-ever, you don’t need a car to stay at one). You have to pay when you arrive for your room, which usually has a bath. Meals are not provided, but there will certainly be a cafeteria (自助餐馆). Americans eat a lot of salads and sandwiches. Along the main roads there are a lot of motels. Each tries to offer more than next. Some provide television in every bedroom; others have swimming pools; and so on. Motels are especially useful when you are in the country, far from a town or city. You will also find them in the big National Parks.
In these great National Parks, you may meet guests you don’t expect to see. An American friend told me a little story. In the middle of a moonless night she heard strange noises outside her motel window in the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Thinking it might be a thief, she jumped out of bed, opened the door and crept towards a dark shadow. As she got close, she saw the thief. She was dreadfully frightened: it wasn’t a human thief — it was a big black bear. The bear was turning over some empty tins with its paw, looking for tasty bits of food. My friend decided to leave that particular thief alone!
There are also, of course, places called “rooming houses”,  where they receive lodgers (房客). You will see such signs as Tourists or Rooms Rent, and you could try one of these. A word of warning — looking for a room in New York during the tourist season is like looking for gold on the moon!　
【小题1】Which of the following is TRUE about motels?