I want to go to Beijing to see my sick sister but I cannot  ________ the time.

A. take　　　　　　　              B. devote

C. contribute                      D. spare

The take­off time for Flight A310 is only forty minutes away. Let's________.

A. check in        B. push in

C. take in         D. turn in

The worker agreed to   ________ the strike if their demand was immediately satisfied.

A. call for       B. call out

C. call up       D. call off

There are some mistakes in the papers. Do you mind me ________？

A. pointing them out                    B. turning them out

C. working them out      D. sending them out

________  around our new dormitory, the foreigners were taken to visit our canteen, which lies behind.

A. Showing          B. Having shown

C. Being shown     D. Having been shown

________  flowers, the pupils sent their teacher a nice greeting card for her birthday.

A. Beside       B. Except for

C. Besides      D. Except

— Mr. White didn't come last night, did he?

— No, we  ________   for him. A whole night was wasted.

A. had waited                 B. have been waiting

C. were waiting                           D. had been waiting

Usually twins have a lot   ________， especially their physical appearance.

A. in difference                 B. in character

C. in figure      D. in common

He     ________   a plan for the committee to consider.

A. put away            B. put off

C. put forward        D. put out

— Could I speak to someone in________please?

— Turn to Mr. White. He is an expert in this area.

A. practice                B. anecdote

C. harmony                D. authority

— The Houston rocket lost the match yesterday. What's worse, Yao Ming had his foot injured and needs an operation.

— ________

A. Please be careful!                B. It's out of order.

C. How awful!                D. I just can't believe it.

By________me that no good could come of staying, he persuaded me to leave.

A. clarifying                B. scolding

C. convincing  D. acknowledging

— I want to buy a used car for I can save much money.

— Just a word of________ — the cheaper one probably isn't worth buying.

A. response                B. caution

C. sympathy                D. fantasy

— Was the driving pleasant when you went to Mexico last summer?

— No, it________for five days when we arrived, so the roads were very muddy.

A. was raining                B. would be raining

C. rained                    D. had been raining

I'd like a job which pays more, but ________I enjoy the work I'm doing at the moment.

A. as a result                B. on the other hand

C. for example                D. by the way

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

A little boy was wondering why his next­desk­pal could rank number 1 in the class, while he himself failed to: He only __36__ 21st.

At home，he asked his Mom, “Mom, I feel I am as diligent as him,  __37__ how come I always fall behind？” Staring at him, Mother   __38__ wordless, not knowing how to explain.

In   __39__ test, the son ranked 17th, while his pal  __40__ number 1. Back home, he raised the same  __41__. Mom really wanted to inform her son that intelligence differs,  __42__  means that students ranking number 1 are supposed to be   __43__  than normal ones. Thank goodness she did not open her mouth, for she   __44__ her son was suffering from the pains of grades and rankings, and thought it, cruel to put any additional burden on her son. She was trying to find out a perfect   __45__.

Mom decided to take him to the sea.   __46__  the trip, she managed to give out an answer ...

Now, the son no longer worries about his  __47__， and there are no longer boring guys who would inquire his rankings in __48__   school, because, with the 1st ranking, he was  __49__   by Tsinghua University.

Back home in winter vacation, he was invited to give a speech in his high school. In the speech, he __50__  that valuable experience. When his mother and he were lying on the   __51__， she pointed to the front and said, “Do you see the seabirds  __52__ for food over there? When the  __53__  come near, little birds can rise quickly __54__   ‘clumsy (笨拙的)’ seagulls(海鸥)would take more time to complete the process. However, have you noticed birds that finally  __55__  across the endless ocean are none other than  ‘clumsy’ seagulls？”

36. A. ranked         B. became       C. stood             D. took

37. A. and                      B. but          C. however          D. then

38. A. seemed                      B. become      C. kept              D. went

39. A. another                      B. other         C. next             D. the other

40. A. is still          B. lasted         C. remained          D. remaining

41. A. hand                     B. voice         C. question           D. book

42. A. which          B. it            C. that                             D. what

43. A. stupid          B. cleverer       C. better­looking      D. taller

44. A. believe         B. understand     C. think             D. knew

45. A. key            B. excuse         C. answer           D. explanation

46. A. Across          B. During         C. Among           D. After

47. A. rankings        B. studies         C. homework                     D. exams

48. A. primary        B. old            C. high              D. present

49. A. received       B. sold            C. taken             D. accepted

50. A. was asked      B. mentioned      C. read              D. thought of

51. A. road          B. bed            C. beach             D. ground

52. A. to fight        B. fighting         C. fought                          D. fight

53. A. water         B. clouds          C. winds             D. waves

54. A. yet           B. though         C. because           D. while

55. A. go            B. run           C. fly                D. jump

I stand on a sandy beach, the very place my grandpa and his best friend stood fifty years ago as  they stopped over during a plane trip to Florida. I never knew my grandpa, but I have seen the photograph many times that caught them smiling.

Both have passed away, and the land has changed much in half a century. My aunts, uncles,  and my grandpa's best friend's son have come together in the same place. They lift their drinks  high to toast to what was, and to what will never be again. After that, they turn to my siblings (兄妹) and me and ask, “In fifty years, will your kids come back here and have a toast for us？”

My mind cannot hold on life without these color1ful characters of my youth, who have had a part in shaping and forming so much of who I am.

Aunt Janet

I have the fondest memories of playing in her basement. My cousins, siblings, and I'd spend hours perfecting our “dance routine”. It was her balanced life and her creativity that helped me to understand what quality time really costs.

Uncle Denny

Denny followed his father's love for flying. I cannot see a single­engine plane in the sky without remembering all the times he surprised us by flying low over our house. Most times it was our only notice that he was coming for a visit!

Uncle Gary

Gary may not even realize all the roles he played and the way he influenced my life. Where would I be today if I hadn't had my Uncle Gary to read me books?

Fifty more years has now passed. Come with me cousins, brothers and sisters. We raise our toast high in the air and remember those who made us the way we're.

56．According to the passage, the author knew his grandpa's appearance________.

A. through his father's description   

B. through his grandpa's pictures

C. through his uncles' appearance    

D. through his own guess

57．Why did the author refer to his uncles and aunts?

A. They were more important than his parents.

B.  He was completely raised by them.

C. They had a great effect on his life.

D. He often danced with them.

58．As a child, the author had the best time________.

A. with his father around    

B. when Uncle Gary read him books

C. in Aunt Janet's house      

D. when seeing Uncle Denny's plane

59. What is the main purpose of the text?

A. To look forward to his future.      

B. To be in honor of his uncles and aunts.

C. To get help from them.     

D. To carry out his promise to toast to them.

This passage looks at the future and makes predictions about the future. It is best not to take them too seriously.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering will allow us to create the perfect human. It will be hard to get used to. Patents will order a baby who will have a Barbie doll appearance. But after the 2082 Winter Olympics, some babies will sail like ski jumpers. Soon powerful little motors will be added in order that they can fly. Also genetic engineering will allow us to mix plants and animals together. Should we allow a female researcher to combine a man with a tree? She would then put something much more stable and dependable so that the man wouldn't run around. But who would want to be the tree? If that was allowed, then what would male researchers come up with?

Thinking of a website as a shadow

Websites in the future will be made more interesting by making them more personal. Some people may want to use a private website address to help protect their personal information. The real information will be added to a site and it mirrors the person who creates it. A website that reflects the creator could be thought of as a “shadow”. The term “shadow” fits because today's technology allows you to get your website from anywhere.  When the sun shines, your real shadow will be with you. Similarly, in the future, as long as your computer runs, your cyber shadow will be on your side, no matter where you go, rainy or shiny.

In the future, people will choose to create a personal site that represents themselves. Just like a shadow, it will be an important part of them. Before you meet a distant friend or  do business with some strangers, it will be safer and a lot more efficient if you can click  through their websites.

60．According the passage the website will be thought to be a shadow because________.

A. there is sunshine        

B. it is made more personal

C. you can get the website wherever you go  

D. it mirrors the person who creates it

61．What is the author's opinion about mixing the plants and animals together?

A. It is good idea. 

B. It should be considered carefully.

C. It is forbidden.    

D. It is impossible.

62．What does the author want to tell us in the passage?

A. He introduces some new technology.

B. He tells us the real life in the future.

C. He helps us learn the life of the future.

D. He makes predictions about the future.

New Year's Eve is a time to celebrate and enter the new year with a smile on your face.This year, there're plenty of local activities for all ages and interests, so the smiles will come easily.

BLUE CONCERT

Blues band the Coyotes is playing at the Dance Barn, at 8 Barn View in Sudden Valley. The show will start at 9 p．m. and benefit the charity Bikers Fighting Cancer. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15  at the door. Call 224­2308 for more information.

NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS

Ring in the new year and laugh out the old one at the Upfront Theatre. Comic improvisers will hit on all the highlights of the year with The Last Laugh of 2007. The 9 p．m. show will cost $15 and is open to all ages. The 11 p．m. show is to 21 and older and costs $18, which includes a champagne (香槟酒) toast. Call 733­8855 for more information.

MAZE

For a fun activity earlier in the evening, walk the labyrinth (迷宫) at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom. Wander through the maze,  based on the French Chartres Cathedral, for free from 4 to 9 p．m. Call 752­0048 for more information.

COUNTRY DANCING

At the Bellingham Eagles Hall, live local music will help get the dance started at 8 p．m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for kids 12 and younger. For more information, call 676­1554.

63．In what way do these activities have a lot in common?

A. They're all about the dancing and music.

B. They're all held by the same organization.

C. They're all organized for children.

D. They're all held in the same day.

64．Which of the following activities may be free for Tom aged 16?

A. COUNTRY DANCING.    

B. NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS.

C. BLUE CONCERT.                 

D. MAZE.

65．If you want to know something about the Coyotes at 8 Barn View, you'd better call________.

A. 676­1554                            B. 224­2308

C. 752­0048                           D. 733­8855

66．Which of the followings will be the highlights of NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS?

A. Wander through the maze.  

B. The champagne toast.

C. The Last Laugh of 2007.        

D. Its live music.

67．It can be inferred from the text that________.

A. $10 is enough to book a ticket to Blue Concert

B. you can read the text on a telephone book

C. all these activities are international ones

D. New Year's Laughs will hold shows three times

What makes a house a home?

Not size, of course. I've been in some of the grandest houses in America  and it's readily apparent (明显的) no one lives there. Earlier this year, I had dinner in a mud hut in Ethiopia, where we  sat on chairs next to the hostess's bed — a home that had more warmth than any house I've been in  since.

Now John Edwards is exploring what makes a house a home in his just­released Home. The  Blueprints of Our Lives. There Edwards writes, “This is a book about homes, the values they rest on, the dreams they are filled with, and the people they have shaped. The houses and circumstances  (环境) are different, but much of what you find inside will be familiar.”

Whether you're sitting in an airport right now, waiting to fly to your childhood home for Thanksgiving,  or in your own home waiting for the s to arrive, you know what he's talking about.

We've lived in our townhouse for 21 years. The loose windows that make noise in the wind. The fireplace so shallow it holds only one log. The kitchen window that offers a view of the world passing by. It's where friends sit on the kitchen counter drinking wine while dinner is being fixed. I lived there for only 18, but it will always be my true home. Even the lamp in the west living room window, which I could see far down the road when driving home late at night, still shines.

While all this talk about childhood memories can be warm and comforting, home is whom you're with, not where you are. As Edwards writes, “Home is family. Home is safety. Home is faith.”

68．What would be the best title for the text?

A. Home Means Everything    

B. What's Inside Makes Us Feel at Home

C. Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives 

D. The Importance of Houses

69．The purpose of the second paragraph is to________.

A. mean the author likes living in grandest houses

B. prove the author got along with the hostess

C. mean the feeling of a home isn't related to the size

D. show the author's different feelings about houses

70．We know that The Blueprints of Our Lives________.

A. is the description of Edwards's houses 

B. is mainly about houses

C. helps us understand the concept of home

D. is written by the author of the text

71．According to the text, which of the following can make a house a home?

A. The atmosphere you feel.   

B. The color1 of the walls.

C. The number of family members. 

D. The position of the home.

Almost all foreign teachers in China teach Spoken English (which the Chinese  frequently call “Oral English”). For the most part, the Chinese feel that they have a good handle on grammar and vocabulary, it's just the real­time auditory usage that shuts them down. The actual speaking is hard for them. So the reason for hiring a foreigner is two­fold: (1) only a foreigner can provide the much­needed perfect model of spoken English for the students, and (2) many Chinese English teachers also suffer from the same malady as the students — their spoken English isn't too hot.

OK, so you're here to teach Spoken English. But what does that mean? To some Chinese students, it means in class you should watch movies, sing songs, and play games. Make no mistakes. Many Chinese students have extremely clear (and equally ridiculous) ideas on what should take place in a foreign teacher's classroom. And more than a few foreign teachers in China have gone that route. But those activities, at least initially, stemmed (滋生) from an original goal. This goal is to improve Chinese students' spoken English.

Get that? As a spoken English teacher, your goal is to improve your students' spoken English.

Even now, having taught spoken English in China for close to three years, I find it necessary at times to remind myself of this most fundamental (基本的) fact. It's very important to keep in mind, because everything you do in the classroom should stem from this purpose.

Don't worry, though — it doesn't have to be as serious and boring as it sounds.

72．This passage is written for________.

A. general readers 

B. Chinese English teachers

C. foreign English teachers in China

D. Chinese students in English major

73．The underlined word in the first paragragh can be replaced by________.

A. illness                          B. shortcoming  

C. disorder            D. confusion

74．Many schools seem to hire foreigners to teach________.

A. grammar              B. vocabulary

C. spoken English                        D. written English

75．Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Watching movies, singing songs, and playing games are by no means enough to teach oral English.

B. Many foreign teachers in China have kept away the original goal at the beginning.

C. What the foreign teachers do in the class is just to improve the students' oral English.

D. The writer can insist on the initial goal    all the      time.

Mr. Smith是一个旅行者。一天早上他在路上行走，看见路边一个警示牌(road sign)写着“此路不通(No Through­Fare)，请改道而行(Please take another way)”。Mr. Smith认为是一个玩笑，继续前行，最终一座断桥挡住了去路。返回时才发现警示牌背面写着“欢迎碰壁折回(Welcome back)，你这个蠢货(You fool)!

请根据以上内容写一篇英文幽默小故事，将Mr. Smith的遭遇写出来。