It was the last day of the final examination in a large eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering students were talking about the exam that was going to begin in a few  36 . On their faces was confidence . This was their last exam — then on to 37 and jobs.

Some talked of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they 38 get. With the certainty of four years of college, they felt ready and able to take 39 of the world.

The coming exam, they knew, would be a(n)  40 task. The professor had said they could bring  41 books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not 42 each other, during the test.

 43 they entered the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles 44 on the students’ faces as they noted(注意到) there were only five essay-type questions.

Three hours had passed 45 the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. Papers in hand, no one spoke as the professor faced the class.

He looked at the 46 faces before him, and then asked, “How many completed all five questions?” 47 a hand was raised.

“How many answered four?” Still no hands.

“Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly （不安地,慌張地）in their seats.

“One, then? Certainly somebody finished 48 .”But the class remained silent.

The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I 49 ,” he said. “I just want to impress upon you that,   50 you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the   51 you don’t know. These questions you couldn’t answer are relatively(相對地,相當(dāng)?shù)?  52 in everyday practice. ” Then smiling, he added, “You will all  53 this course, but remember — even though you are now college graduates, your education has just  54 .”

The years have 55  the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

I break off a piece of candy and take pleasure in its sweet outside and the bitter, dark chocolate inside, thinking of my own life. Being raised by a single parent was a bitter-sweet 36 , which gave me motivation and ambition.

There were several years that have left a(n)  37   bitter taste in my mouth —those when my mother married a man and moved my sister, Emily, and me several states away from our hometown. The first few months were  38  : baseball games, family trips to the mall, dinners and movies together. Then things changed. Baseball became too expensive, and trips to the mall were  39  by days Emily and I spent isolated (孤立的) in our rooms under our stepfather’s    40   . Moreover, screaming matches between him and our mother always  41  dinner. We spent five years living in a family that had  42  a war zone. Emily and I almost grew used to this situation . Then one evening, after another argument had erupted , we left home. I was 14, my sister 11, and we were  43  .A friend of my mother let us stay with her.

Instead of focusing on our economic instability, my mother selflessly pushed me to struggle for success. She wanted me to lead a more  44  life than hers. She worked long hours every night to pay her bills.  45   , she would find time to read and play with Emily and me. Mom taught me the  46  of perseverance (堅持不懈) and education. We finally settled in Texas. And now, writing this essay with my favorite candy close at hand, I realize my family and I are at the best points of our lives. I haven’t let the trying times stop me from making  47   , both academically and personally. I know that a bitter environment can provide good learning experiences, and that success, even more than candy, is the sweetest treat of all.

1.A. behavior                B. habit                    C. activity                  D. experience

2.A. hardly                        B. extremely      C. potentially           D. Gently

3.A. sweet                    B. bitter                     C. boring                  D. terrible

4.A. concerned           B. associated    C. accompanied       D. replaced

5.A. sympathy              B. reminder    C. orders                  D. requests

6.A. separated             B. interrupted           C. harmed                 D. Adjusted

7.A. turned into           B. turned up     C. turned down        D. turned on

8.A. homeless             B. lucky                      C. educated              D. wealthy

9.A. interesting      B. comfortable    C. simple                  D. typical

10.A. Instead              B. Otherwise      C. Meanwhile          D. Therefore

11.A. value                 B. cost                C. price                               D. theme

12.A. emotions                    B. expectations           C. fortunes                        D. achievements

I truly hope that at the end of this short essay(短文) you will know how to learn English.
I was born in Somalia, and Italian is my mother tongue. 31 enough, soon after I arrived in London when I was 17, I was admitted to a sixth-form college. I found caring (體貼的) teachers there, who 32  taught me English. This, I think, was a(n) 33 factor(因素) that encouraged me to learn the language. The most important thing, 34, is to work hard. So those of you who don’t have such good teachers should not 35. When I was in London, I 36 myself to English learning as I 37 to go to university very much. Mastering the language was the only 38 to achieve my goal.
Now I have 39 my master’s degree from Oxford University. Looking back, I 40 I was quite innocent (天真的),for I never imagined learning English was going to be so much 41. The more fluent I become, the 42 the language became. One can master it only 43 years of tireless efforts(努力).
Some basic 44 which I would give to people who are interested in learning the language are:
1. Buy a good dictionary. 45 English learners use their dictionaries all the time.
2.46 English newspapers. Don’t forget to 47 the new words in your dictionary.
3. Listen to the radio 48 watching TV as listening to the radio helps you more.
4. Talk, talk and talk to 49 at anytime and anywhere.
And even though at times it may be embarrassing(尷尬的) to make 50，you will finally correct them and remember them. Soon you will start to become fluent.

I truly hope that at the end of this short essay(短文) you will know how to learn English.

I was born in Somalia, and Italian is my mother tongue. 31 enough, soon after I arrived in London when I was 17, I was admitted to a sixth-form college. I found caring (體貼的) teachers there, who 32  taught me English. This, I think, was a(n) 33 factor(因素) that encouraged me to learn the language. The most important thing, 34, is to work hard. So those of you who don’t have such good teachers should not 35. When I was in London, I 36 myself to English learning as I 37 to go to university very much. Mastering the language was the only 38 to achieve my goal.

Now I have 39 my master’s degree from Oxford University. Looking back, I 40 I was quite innocent (天真的),for I never imagined learning English was going to be so much 41. The more fluent I become, the 42 the language became. One can master it only 43 years of tireless efforts(努力).

Some basic 44 which I would give to people who are interested in learning the language are:

1. Buy a good dictionary. 45 English learners use their dictionaries all the time.

2.46 English newspapers. Don’t forget to 47 the new words in your dictionary.

3. Listen to the radio 48 watching TV as listening to the radio helps you more.

4. Talk, talk and talk to 49 at anytime and anywhere.

And even though at times it may be embarrassing(尷尬的) to make 50，you will finally correct them and remember them. Soon you will start to become fluent.

I truly hope that at the end of this short essay(短文) you will know how to learn English.

     I was born in Somalia, and Italian is my mother tongue. 31 enough, soon after I arrived in London when I was 17, I was admitted to a sixth-form college. I found caring (體貼的) teachers there, who 32   taught me English. This, I think, was a(n) 33 factor(因素) that encouraged me to learn the language. The most important thing, 34, is to work hard. So those of you who don’t have such good teachers should not 35. When I was in London, I 36 myself to English learning as I 37 to go to university very much. Mastering the language was the only 38 to achieve my goal.

    Now I have 39 my master’s degree from Oxford University. Looking back, I 40 I was quite innocent (天真的),for I never imagined learning English was going to be so much 41. The more fluent I become, the 42 the language became. One can master it only 43 years of tireless efforts(努力).

    Some basic 44 which I would give to people who are interested in learning the language are:

1. Buy a good dictionary. 45 English learners use their dictionaries all the time.

2.46 English newspapers. Don’t forget to 47 the new words in your dictionary.

3. Listen to the radio 48 watching TV as listening to the radio helps you more.

4. Talk, talk and talk to 49 at anytime and anywhere.

    And even though at times it may be embarrassing(尷尬的) to make 50 ，you will finally correct them and remember them. Soon you will start to become fluent.