“Do you want to come with me?” Sally asked her brother. “I’m going to meet some friends at the bike course（賽道，路線）down the block. We’re going to practice for the race next week.”

“No, thanks,” Mark replied. “Sam’s coming over to play basketball.”

Sally rode off on her bike while Mark waited for his friend. Mark was fast,   35   he usually did well in most sports. He didn’t think it would   36   if he practiced the course. It could be hilly or sandy, and Mark knew he would   37   speed along.

The race day finally arrived. “My stomach feels like I ate some butterflies,” Sally told Mark when she saw so many kids around. Then they   38   the other riders at the start line.

“Sally is always nervous,” Mark thought. “Don’t worry.   39   will do fine,” he said. As soon as the starter shouted “Go!”, Mark’s legs pumped up and down like two machines. He moved   40   to the front.

A few minutes later, there wasn’t anyone ahead of him! Mark raced along the course. He rode past some pine trees. Then the path looped(環(huán)繞)around a pond. Mark was surprised that the course was so   41  .

His tired legs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. All at once, a flash of color caught his eyes. There was a line of bike riders on the course ahead of him! “How could this be?” Mark said to himself. “I must have taken a wrong   42   and made one more loop in the course,” he thought.

Mark pushed his achy muscles(肌肉)harder. He realized his   43   alone wouldn’t be enough this time;   44   the course was just as important. He managed to ride past a couple of bike riders, but he couldn’t   45   the riders who were in the lead.

After the race Mark saw his sister. “Wow, you must have done a good job in the race. What place did you get?” Mark asked.

“Third place!” Sally answered excitedly.

“That’s great! I came in ninth place. But I’ll do better next year because I’ll be     46   enough to practice the course with you,” Mark made a face at his sister and replied.

35. A. but                           B. as                        C. and                      D. or

36. A. help                          B. move                   C. care                     D. come

37. A. just                           B. even                     C. never                   D. still

38. A. joined                       B. passed                  C. visited                  D. invited

39. A. I                              B. You                      C. They                    D. She

40. A. quickly                     B. quietly                  C. clearly                  D. carefully

41. A. hard                         B. wide                    C. long                     D. tidy

42. A. chance                      B. turn                     C. step                     D. ride

43. A. patience                    B. spirit                    C. speed                   D. imagination

44. A. accepting                  B. changing              C. knowing               D. finishing

45. A. leave                         B. touch                   C. face                     D. reach

46. A. honest                      B. smart                   C. brave                   D. confident

Sand, Billy and Sue are in the zoo. They are now standing near the monkeys' cage. "That's a nice monkey," Sandy says. "He's like Billy." "No, he's not!" Billy answers. "He's like you. He's good at running and jumping; "You see he wants some nuts." Sue says, "Give him some nuts, Sandy." Sandy is throwing some nuts into the cage. "Give him some sweets, Billy." "He likes nuts, but he doesn't like sweets," Sue says. "Look:" Sandy says. "The monkey is pointing （指）at Bill's bag. He can see the bananas in it. Give him a banana, Billy. He wants it." "No!" Billy says. "I can't give my bananas to him. I want to eat him," " Please give it to him," Sue says " No!" Billy shouts " He can eat nuts, but he can't eat my bananas:"

1. What are the children doing?

2. Is Sandy good at sports?

3. What is Sandy throwing to the monkeys?

4. What does Billy like eating?

5. Does Billy want to give the monkeys bananas?