The first time I saw Carlos I would never have believed he was going to change my life. I had my arms full of books and I was tearing into the classroom when 1 ran into something solid. It was Carlos.
“My God, you’re tall,” he said.
Of course, the class began to laugh. Angry. I walked to my seat without a word.
I glanced back to see if Reed Harrington was laughing with the rest. That would be the last straw. But Reed was studying chemistry and did not seem to be aware of anything else. I didn’t know why I considered Reed my friend. Maybe just because he was a good two inches taller than I. Anyway, every time I blew out my birthday candles and made a wish, it was for a date with Reed Harrington.
“Take that seat，” Mr. McCarthy told the cocky newcomer Carlos，pointing to the only empty one，in the back of the room.
Carlos grinned,“But I need a couple of dictionaries.”Again the class laughed, but now they were laughing with Carlos，not at him. He had been here only 10 minutes and already he had them on his side.
It was the school elections that made me think of Carlos again. Reed Harrington was voted president and Carlos vice-president. “How come?”I kept asking myself,“How come this shrimp who’s only been in town for a little over a month gets to be so popular?”
So that morning，I stopped Carlos and said，“It doesn’t seem to bother you — being short.”He looked up at me , “Of course I mind being short. But there isn’t anything I can do about it. When I realized I was going to have to spend my life in this undersized skin，I just decided to make the best of it and concentrate on being myself.” “You seem to get along great,”I admitted, “But what about me? Nobody wants to date a girl taller than he is.” “The trouble with you is you’re afraid to be yourself. You’re smart. And you could be pretty. In fact, you might be more than pretty.” I felt myself turning red…
56．The author was angry because ________.
A．the class made fun of her B．Carlos was too rude to her
C．she had to carry many books D．Reed Harrington didn’t date her
57．Which of the following about Carlos is NOT TRUE?
A．He was popular. B．He was new in the school.
C．He was shorter than the author. D．He was chosen president in the school elections.
58．We can infer from the passage that ________.
A．Carlos and the author have become good friends
B．the author will be more confident
C．Carlos always encouraged the author
D．the author was tall
59．What’s the best title of the passage?
A．How to be popular B．A tall girl
C．Be yourself D．Something about Carlos
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
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,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
When Winston Churchill was a young man, his father concluded that Churchill was “unfit for a career in law or politics” because he did so badly in school.
When Charles Darwin was getting ready to 36 on his five-year expedition on The Beagle, his father was extremely 37 . he thought his son was falling into a life of sin and idleness.
George Washington’s mother was a complaining, 38 woman by all accounts. She thought little of Washington’s achievements and didn’t 39 at either of his presidential inaugurations（就职典礼）. She was always complaining that her 40 overlooked her and she was especially angry when her son George ran off to 41 the army for the American Revolution. She 42 believed it was his duty to stay home and take care of her.
In his youth, the 43 Leonard Bernstein, one of the most talented and successful composers in American history, was continually pressured by his father to give up his 44 and do something worthwhile, like help out in his family’s beauty-supply business. After Leonard became 45 , his father was asked about that, and he answered, “Well, how was I supposed to know he was the Leonard Bernstein?”
People may criticize you or make fun of your ideas or actively try to 46 you. Often their efforts are only attempts to protect you from 47 . But obviously failure is only a possibility if you stop. If you keep 48 , a “failure” is just another learning 49 . Besides, giving up on a heartfelt goal is worse than failing. “Many people die”, said Wendell Holmes, “ 50 their music still in them.” That’s true tragedy.
So listen 51 to the worries and criticisms of your friends and family, and do your best to put their 52 at ease, but then carry on. Listen last to your own heart. You 53 yourself better than anyone on earth. Make sure your song is 54 .
Listen to your own heart. Don’t let your music 55 with you.
36．A．set sail B．take charge C．set free D．take off
37．A．excited B．pleased C．disappointed D．affected
38．A．self-centered B．self-confident C．kind-hearted D．cold-blooded
39．A．show off B．show up C．pick out D．pick up
40．A．parents B．neighbors C．students D．children
41．A．fight B．beat C．command D．attend
42．A．foolishly B．secretly C．bravely D．honestly
43．A．late B．latter C．former D．later
44．A．strength B．music C．wealth D．faith
45．A．proud B．steady C．independent D．famous
46．A． advise B．suggest C．stop D．keep
47．A．success B．failure C．poison D．laziness
48．A．stopping B．starting C．going D．coming
49．A．method B．experiment C．schedule D．experience
50．A．with B．beyond C．without D．during
51．A．politely B．rudely C．thoroughly D．roughly
52．A．homes B．minds C．businesses D．efforts
53．A．trust B．believe C．know D．doubt
54．A．finished B．completed C．written D．sung
55．A．live B．die C．sound D．play
If _______, I bet, Milinski will burst into tears.
A. praising B. praised C. being praised D. having praised
He was quick and smart, and his brother ______ silly and clumsy.
A. as well B. as long C. as much D. as many
I wonder _______ there are so many natural disasters across the world in 2010.
A．why is it B．it is why that C．why is it that D．why it is that
Into the dark apartment _______, who was quite surprised when everyone shouted “Happy Birthday”.
A. did David walk B. David walked C. David did walk D. walked David
