It was New Year’s Night. An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surface of a clear calm lake.
He had already passed sixty and brought from his journey nothing but errors and regrets. Now his health was poor, his mind vacant and his heart sorrowful.
The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads- one leading to a peaceful, sunny place, covered with flowers, fruits and filled with soft, sweet songs; the other leading to a deep, dark cave, which was endless, where poison flowed instead of water and devils and poisonous snake hissed ( 發(fā)嘶嘶聲) and crawled (爬, 爬行).
He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness. These were the days of his wasted life; he saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared, and this was the symbol of himself. His regret like a sharp arrow struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood. But they had made their way to success and were now honoured and happy on this night.
The high church clock struck and the sound made him remember his parents’ early love for him. They had taught him and prayed for his good. But he chose the wrong way. With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort, he burst out a cry: “Come back, my early days!”
His youth did return, for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year Night. He was still young though his faults were real; he had not yet entered the deep, dark cave, and he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.
Those who still wander on the entrance of life, hesitating to choose the bright road, remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble (絆腳) on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain（徒勞）: “ Oh youth, return! Oh give me back my early days!”
【小題1】 Why does the author set his story on New Year’s Night?

One day Mrs. Jones went __1__．When her __2__ came home in the evening，she began to tell him __3__ a beautiful cotton dress．“I saw it in a shop this morning．” She said．“And…” “And you were going to buy one．” said Mr. Jones．“How __4__ is it?” “Fifty pounds for a cotton dress? That's too __5__．”

But every evening when Mr. Jones came back from work，his wife began to speak only about the dress，and at last after a week，he said，“Oh，buy the dress．Here is the __6__．” She was very __7__．But the next morning，when Mr. Jones came home and asked，“Have you got the beautiful dress?” She answered，“No．” “Why not?” He asked．“Well，it was __8__ on the window of the shop for a week，so I think nobody __9__ wants this dress．So I don't want it．__10__．”

1．A．swimming               B．shopping               C．working                 D．walking

2．A．son                       B．daughter                C．uncle                     D．husband

3．A．for                        B．of                        C．a(chǎn)bout                     D．a(chǎn)t

4．A．many                    B．much                   C．cheap                    D．expensive

5．A．cheap                 B．expensive              C．short                     D．long

6．A．dress                     B．car                      C．money                   D．shop

7．A．sad                       B．a(chǎn)ngry                   C．happy                    D．interested

8．A．a(chǎn)lready                B．yet                      C．a(chǎn)lso                       D．still

9．A．else                       B．a(chǎn)lso                      C．too                        D．yet

10．A．too                      B．either                   C．a(chǎn)lso                       D．ever

My dad was driving to the city center to shop and I was going along for the ride. At least that was what I had told him—   1  I had an important question to ask—that had been on my mind for a couple of weeks and this was the first time I had been able to   2  with him alone.

“Dad…”I started. And   3 .

“Yes?” he said.

“The kids say there is no Father Christmas. They say I’m   4  to believe in Father Christmas anymore…it’s only for little kids. But I believe what you told me. Father Christmas is __5 . He is, isn’t he, Dad?”

“The real life and spirit of this magical elf (精靈) lives forever in your heart, my heart, Mom’s heart and in the hearts and minds of   6  people who believe in the joy that giving to others brings. The real   7  of Father Christmas becomes what you can give rather what you get. Once you understand this and it becomes   8  of you, Father Christmas becomes even more exciting and more magical because you come to   9  the magic comes from you when Father Christmas lives in your heart. Do you understand what I am   10  to tell you?”

My heart was filled with pride and I’m sure my eyes were shining with   11 .” Of course, Dad. I want him to be in my heart, just like he’s in yours. I love you, Daddy. You’re the best Father Christmas who has   12  been in the whole world.”

When it comes time in my life to   13  the reality of Father Christmas to my children, I hope that I will be as eloquent (有口才) and   14  as my dad was the day I learned that the spirit of Father Christmas doesn’t wear a red   15 . And I hope they will accept me as I did that day. I’m sure they will.

1.                A．clearly         B．a(chǎn)ctually         C．personally D．originally

2.                A．stay           B．fight           C．live  D．a(chǎn)rgue

3.                A．laughed        B．continued       C．stopped  D．cried

4.                A．honest         B．wrong          C．proud    D．foolish

5.                A．real           B．proper         C．kind D．right

6.                A．every          B．some           C．few  D．a(chǎn)ll

7.                A．spirit           B．position         C．character D．life

8.                A．part           B．tool            C．half  D．dream

9.                A．guess          B．realize          C．promise  D．discuss

10.               A．considering     B．expecting       C．planning   D．trying

11.               A．fear           B．excitement      C．panic D．surprise

12.               A．still            B．yet            C．ever  D．a(chǎn)lready

13.               A．explain         B．solve          C．introduce  D．describe

14.               A．strict          B．loving          C．careful    D．gentle

15.               A．beard          B．belt           C．suit   D．stocking

Plants are very important living things.Life could not go on if there were no plants.This is 16　 plants can make food from air,water and sunlight日光.Animals and men 17 make food from air,water and sunlight.Animals get their food by eating plants and animals,　 18 .Therefore(因此),animals and men need plants in order to 19 .This is the reason why we find that there are so many plants around us.

　 If you look carefully at the plants around,you 20 find that there are many kinds of plants. Some plants are large 21 others are small.Most plants are green.

　 Some plants have many small leaves.Others have only 22 large leaves.There are many kinds of leaves.Leaves are of 23 shapes(形狀) and colours.

Leaves are also different in other ways.Some leaves have short leaf stalks(葉莖)while others have long leaf stalks.Still others have 24　 stalks at all.The edges(邊)of leaves are also different. Some leaves have smooth(光滑的)edges.Some have wave(波狀的)edges 25 the teeth of saw(鋸).

( )1.　　　　　　 A.why　　　　　 B.because　　 　 C.how　　　　 D.that

( )2.　　　　　　 A.don’t　　　　 B.not　　　　 　　 C.cannot　　　 D.can

( )3.　　　　　　 A.too　　　　　 B.either　　　 C.also　　　　 D.already

( )4.　　　　　　 A.eat　　　　　 B.live　　　　 C.have 　　　 D.get

( )5.　　　　　　 A.are going to　 B.may　　　　 C.certainly　　 　　　 D.will

( )6.　　　　　　 A.when　　　　 B.yet　　　　　 C.and　　　　 D.while

( )7.　　　　　　 A.a little　　　　 B.a few　　　 C.little　　　　 D.few

( )8.　　　　　　 A.much　　　　 B.different　　 C.same　　　　 D.the same

( )9.　　　　　　 A.not　　　 　　B.none　　　　 C.neither　　　 D.no

( )10. A.like　　　　　 B.as　　　　　 C.as if　　　　 　 D.seem