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       Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination（開啟號(hào)碼鎖的號(hào)碼組合）. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the local hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with small pieces of the bullets still in his body.

       I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins.” “Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked. Jerry replied, “As I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices―I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live. The nurses were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read―He’s a dead man!”

       “What did you do ?” I asked. “Well, there was a big, strong nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic（過敏的）to anything.” .“Yes,” I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply,. I took a deep breath and yelled, “Bullets!”

       Over their laughter, I told them. “I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead!” Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

       Attitude, after all, is everything.

49．It can be inferred from the passage that            .

       A．you should never leave the back door open in a restaurant business.

       B．Jerry’s nervousness led to the shot accident.

       C．it’s not safe in the morning for the restaurant business.

       D．Jerry was badly wounded during the robbery.

50．The underlined part “If I were any better, I’d be twins.” probably means          .

       A．I’m as fine as before                       B．I’m as fine as my twin brother

       C．I’m not any better                                                         D．I’m even worse

51．What would Jerry probably do if he lost his car?

       A．He would always complain about the public safety.

       B．He would hate himself for being too careless.

       C．He would think it’s a good time for him to buy a new one.

       D．He would feel sad about the lost car for a long time.

52．The writer thinks Jerry a（an）         person.

       A．careless            B．brave                C．optimistic         D．generous

       “Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked. When the wrapped baby was laid in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she was shocked. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.

       Time proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was problem. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be filled with heartbreaks. He spoke out the tragedy. “A boy, a big boy...called me a monster.”

       He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. The boy’s father had a talk with the family physician. “Could nothing be done?” “I believe I could transplant a pair of outer ears, if they could be available,” the doctor decided. Then the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, “You’re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret.” The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person appeared. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of successes. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.（外交工作）.

       One day, he asked his father, “Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet.” The years kept their great secret, but the day did come. One of the darkest days that ever pass through a son, he stood with his father over his mother’s coffin. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears. “Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” his father whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?”

53．What’s the problem with the baby?        

       A．It was unhealthy.                                                           B．It had a bad hearing.

       C．It had been born without ears.    D．It had a bad appearance.

54．Which is true about the passage?

       A．The boy became successful because of the ear operation.

       B．The boy was given the ear operation when he was born.

       C．The boy’s father was unwilling to donate his outer ears.

       D．The boy learned the truth after his mother died.

55．In order to enter the diplomatic service, a person should          .

       A．have talent for literature and music                            B．be a genius

       C．have a good appearance           D．be perfect both inside and outside

56．Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?        .

       A．Mother             B．Ears                   C．A secret           D．Love

       Foreign media have paid close attention to the developments of the earthquake happened on May 12^th. Many of them have praised the Chinese government and people’s rescue efforts after the deadly earthquake in Sichuan province.

       The Wall Street Journal Asia Edition（U.S.）,the Globe and Mail（Canada）Guardian（U.K.）,among other foreign news agencies, have recently published articles on China’s earthquake relief. They all have spoken highly of the earthquake relief efforts made by the Chinese government.

       The Wall Street Journal Asia Edition published an article on May 21 saying that on the eighth day of the most serious natural disaster to hit China in decades, rescuing survivors from the ruins had been quickly replaced by the great challenge of helping them. The article said that people overseas have been deeply impressed by earthquake relief efforts by the Chinese government.

       The Associated French Press（AFP）reported on May 21 that China has become more open among the campaign.

       Aircraft loaded with relief supplies from Ukraine, Russia, the United States, Singapore and other countries have arrived in disaster areas in southwestern China.

       The Associated Press（AP）published an article on May 21 reporting the China is making great efforts to deal with a very difficult task caused by the earthquake: how to provide temporary shelter for so many people. The article said that many tents have been built; and food and medical care are provided to the people whose lives have been completely disrupted by the earthquake.

       The Global and Mail of Canada published an article on May 20 that said the rapid earthquake relief work in Sichuan demonstrates China’s powerful economic strength.

       An article carried in the British Guardian said that one week after the Sichuan earthquake, China began a three-day national mourning period at 14:28 on May19, and all Chinese people stood in silence for three minutes in memory of the victims.

       The ongoing search and rescue action is encouraged by one miraculous（奇跡）survivor after another. Chinese officials said that, so far, no disease had spread in the area after the earthquake.

57．How many press media are mentioned in the article?

       A．3                       B．4                        C．5                       D．6

58．         reported that China has become more open among the campaign.

       A．The Associated French Press         B．The Associated Press

       C．The Global and Mail of Canada D．The British Guardian

59．What can we infer from the passage?

       A．Only the Chinese government made great efforts to rescue the victims.

       B．The most difficult task is providing temporary shelter and food for the victims.

       C．Foreigners spoke highly of our rescue efforts after the deadly earthquake.

       D．The Chinese government did a lot to prevent diseases spreading in the area.

60．What is the best title of the passage?

       A．Foreign media praise China’s earthquake relief.

       B．The rapid earthquake relief work demonstrates China’s powerful economic strength.