He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.

He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人質(zhì)）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.

After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（綁架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（聯(lián)軍）in the Iraq war.

Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.

The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.

But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（談判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.

The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

A. they were too poor to pay anything

B. kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese

C. China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition

D. kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese

Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostage？

A. To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.

B. To tell the world they would fear nothing.

C. To make foreign armies leave their country.

D. To resist the American troops.

The author mentioned Dan Senor to show the US ______.

A. wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers

B. had enough power to station in Iraq

C. wouldn’t give up unless it could get something

D. had no plan to bring its troops home

The passage mainly tells us ______.

A. the hostage crises in Iraq

B. foreigners were not welcome in Iraq

C. the Chinese hostages were set free

D. keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.
He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人質(zhì)）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.
After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（綁架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（聯(lián)軍）in the Iraq war.
Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.
The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.
But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（談判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.
【小題1】The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.

He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人質(zhì)）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.

After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（綁架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（聯(lián)軍）in the Iraq war.

Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.

The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.

But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（談判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.

1.The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

A. they were too poor to pay anything

B. kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese

C. China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition

D. kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese

2.Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostage？

A. To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.

B. To tell the world they would fear nothing.

C. To make foreign armies leave their country.

D. To resist the American troops.

3.The author mentioned Dan Senor to show the US ______.

A. wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers

B. had enough power to station in Iraq

C. wouldn’t give up unless it could get something

D. had no plan to bring its troops home

4.The passage mainly tells us ______.

A. the hostage crises in Iraq

B. foreigners were not welcome in Iraq

C. the Chinese hostages were set free

D. keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money, but 18-year old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.

He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages(人質(zhì)). But luckily, they were set free last Tuesday morning, unharmed by the people who had taken them hostages.

After hard work by Chinese diplomats(外交官) in the region, the Iraqi kidnappers(綁架者) agreed to hand them over to a local religious group. “The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi people have played a key role in the release（釋放） of the hostages,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition(聯(lián)軍) in the Iraqi war.

Since April 4, over 60 hostages from 12 countries, including America, Italy and Japan, have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.

The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostages in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result, many foreigners have left, fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.

But Dan Senor, spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad, said that it would not negotiate(談判) with “terrorists(恐怖分子) or kidnappers” to get hostages released.

59. The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because _________________.

  A. they were too poor to pay anything

  B. kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese

  C. China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition

  D. kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese

60. Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostages?

  A. To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.

  B. To tell the world they would fear nothing.

  C. To make foreign armies leave their country.

  D. To resist the American troops.

61. The author talks about Dan Senor to show the US ______________.

  A. wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers

  B. had enough power to station in Iraq

  C. wouldn’t give up unless it could get something

  D. had no plan to bring its troops home

62. The passage mainly tells us _____________________.

  A. the hostage crisis(危機(jī)) in Iraq

  B. foreigners were not welcome in Iraq

  C. the Chinese hostages were set free

  D. keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice

He had travelled thousands of miles in the hope of earning some money，but 18-year-old Lin Kongming never knew danger was waiting for him.
He and six other migrant workers from Fujian Province spent 36 hours in Iraq as international hostages（人質(zhì)）. But luckily，they were set free last Tuesday morning，unharmed by the people who had taken them hostage.
After hard work by Chinese diplomats（外交官）in the region the Iraqi kidnappers（綁架者）agreed to hand them over to a local religious group.“The friendly relations between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples have played a key role in the release of the hostages,”said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan. China refused to join the US-led coalition（聯(lián)軍）in the Iraq war.
Since April 4，over 60 hostages from 12 countries，including America，Italy and Japan，have been taken in Iraq. Some have been released, others were killed.
The Iraqi resistance groups have started taking foreigners hostage in an attempt to force the US-led troops out of their country. As a result，many foreigners have left，fearing the situation will get worse. Some nations are also considering removing their troops from Iraq. Thailand has ordered its forces not to leave their camp and may bring them home before September as originally planned. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is considering similar action.
But Dan Senor，spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad，said that it would not negotiate（談判）with “terrorists or kidnappers” to get hostages released.

1. 1.

   The seven workers from Fujian were set free mainly because ______.

   1. A.
      they were too poor to pay anything
   2. B.
      kidnappers didn’t know they were Chinese
   3. C.
      China didn’t take sides with the US-led coalition
   4. D.
      kidnappers were friendly to the Chinese
2. 2.

   Why did the Iraqi resistance groups start to take foreigners hostage？

   1. A.
      To show their anger towards the occupation of foreign troops.
   2. B.
      To tell the world they would fear nothing.
   3. C.
      To make foreign armies leave their country.
   4. D.
      To resist the American troops.
3. 3.

   The author mentioned Dan Senor to show the US ______.

   1. A.
      wouldn’t give in to Iraqi terrorists or kidnappers
   2. B.
      had enough power to station in Iraq
   3. C.
      wouldn’t give up unless it could get something
   4. D.
      had no plan to bring its troops home
4. 4.

   The passage mainly tells us ______.

   1. A.
      the hostage crises in Iraq
   2. B.
      foreigners were not welcome in Iraq
   3. C.
      the Chinese hostages were set free
   4. D.
      keeping away from Iraq is a wise choice

There was once a blind man, who did a lot of traveling alone. He was making his first trip to Texas and happened to be seated next to a Texan on the flight.

The Texan spent a lot of time telling him how everything was bigger and better in Texas. After the blind man reached his destination, a large resort (度假) hotel, he was very excited about being in Texas.

The long trip had worn him out a little so he decided to stop at the bar for a small soda and a light snack before going up to his room to sleep.

When the waitress set down his drink, it was in a huge cup. “Wow, I had heard everything in Texas is bigger,” he told her.

“That’s right,” she replied. The blind man ate his snack and finished his drink. After drinking such a large amount, it was natural that his next stop was to be the restroom. He asked the waitress for directions. She told him to turn left at the corner, and then take the second door on the right.

He reached the first door and continued. A few steps later he stumbled (絆倒) slightly and missed the second door and ended up going through the third door instead. Not realizing he had entered the swimming area he walked forward and immediately fell into the swimming pool.

Remembering that everything was bigger in Texas, he had his head above water and started shouting “Don’t flush(沖洗)! Don’t flush!”

1.Why was the blind man excited about being in Texas?

2. Why did the blind man enter the swimming area?

3. Why did the blind man go to the bar?

4. Why did the blind man shout out “Don’t flush! Don’t flush!”?

5.If the passage is taken from a website, which part of the website does it belong to?

There was once a blind man, who did a lot of traveling alone. He was making his first trip to Texas and happened to be seated next to a Texan on the flight.
The Texan spent a lot of time telling him how everything was bigger and better in Texas. After the blind man reached his destination, a large resort (度假) hotel, he was very excited about being in Texas.
The long trip had worn him out a little so he decided to stop at the bar for a small soda and a light snack before going up to his room to sleep.
When the waitress set down his drink, it was in a huge cup. “Wow, I had heard everything in Texas is bigger,” he told her.
“That’s right,” she replied. The blind man ate his snack and finished his drink. After drinking such a large amount, it was natural that his next stop was to be the restroom. He asked the waitress for directions. She told him to turn left at the corner, and then take the second door on the right.
He reached the first door and continued. A few steps later he stumbled (絆倒) slightly and missed the second door and ended up going through the third door instead. Not realizing he had entered the swimming area he walked forward and immediately fell into the swimming pool.
Remembering that everything was bigger in Texas, he had his head above water and started shouting “Don’t flush(沖洗)! Don’t flush!”
【小題1】Why was the blind man excited about being in Texas?

If there is something that appears most frequently on Chinese dining tables, it is doufu—bean curd. Bean curd looks like soft cakes and it's made from dried soybeans. Bean curd used to be considered a favourite of the poor because of its low cost. Beans have high yields(產(chǎn)量) every year with their short growing period and suitability for various(各種各樣) soil both dry and wet.

Historical records show bean curd was invented by Liu An, Prince of Huainan and uncle of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty(206BC—220AD). He had a dream of finding the pill for longevity(長(zhǎng)壽). He travelled all over the country and found soybeans, which looked much the same as gold in terms of colour. He collected soybeans, put them in the water and crushed them into pulp(漿). It got solidified and became known as doufu. Although it's not able to keep longevity, it's really good for one's health with high protein and low fat.

With a long history, bean curd is rooted deep in Chinese culture. People eat more meat and fish than bean curd. But they are encouraged to have bean curd every once in a while for it's really good for health. Most Chinese people still keep bean curd as one of their favourite dishes.

1．Why was bean curd considered to be liked by the poor?

 A. It's easy to make.       B. It's easy to cook.

 C. It's cheap.            D. It's good for health.

2．Where can beans grow well?

 A. Only in wet soil.     B. In dry soil.

 C. In soft soil.         D. In any soil.

3．What appears more often on the dining table in poor areas?

 A. Meat.        B. Fish.        C. Eggs.      D. Bean curd.

4．Why did Liu An travel all over the country?

 A．He had a dream.

 B．He wanted to find something that could make people live longer.

 C．He wanted to invent bean curd.

 D．He wanted to find gold.

5．How long has bean curd been invented?

 A. It's about 1,700 years.

 B. It's less than 2,000 years.

 C. It's 500 years.

 D. It's more than 2,000 years.

Phil White has just returned from an 18,000-mile, around-the-world bicycle trip. White had two reasons for making this epic journey. First of all, he wanted to use the trip to raise money for charity, which he did. He raised ￡70,000 for the British charity, Oxfam. White's second reason for making the trip was to break the world record and become the fastest person to cycle around the world. He is still waiting to find out if he has broken the record or not.

White set off from Trafalgar Square, in London, on 19th June 2004 and was back 299 days later. He spent more than l,300 hours in the saddle（車座） and destroyed four sets of tyres and three bike chains. He had the adventure of his life crossing Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. Amazingly, he did all of this with absolutely no support team. No jeep carrying food, water and medicine. No doctor. Nothing! Just a bike and a very, very long road.  The journey was lonely and desperate at times. He also had to fight his way across deserts, through jungles and over mountains. He cycled through heavy rains and temperatures of up to 45 degrees, all to help people in need. There were other dangers along the road. In Iran, he was chased by armed robbers and was lucky to escape with his life and the little money he had. The worst thing that happened to him was having to cycle into a headwind on a road that crosses the south of Australia. For l,000 kilometres he battled against the wind that was constantly pushing him. This part of the trip was slow, hard work and depressing, but he made it in the end. Now Mr. White is back and intends to write a book about his adventures.

36. When Phil White returned from his trip, he __________.

A. broke the world record    B. collected money for Oxfam

C. destroyed several bikes    D. travelled about l,300 hours

37. What does the underlined word "epic" in Paragraph l most probably mean?

A. Very slow but exciting.    B. Very long and difficult.

C. Very smooth but tiring.    D. Very lonely and depressing.

38. During his journey around the world, Phil White __________.

A. fought heroically against robbers in Iran

B. experienced the extremes of heat and cold

C. managed to ride against the wind in Australia

D. had a team of people who travelled with him

39. Which of the following words can best describe Phil White?

A. Imaginative.    B. Patriotic.      C. Modest.       D. Determined.

40. What actually inspired Phil White to overcome all the difficulties?

      A. To help people in need.      B. To test his new bicycle.

      C. To prove his potential.       D. To show off his ability.

Phil White has just returned from an 18,000-mile, around-the-world bicycle trip. White had two reasons for making this epic journey. First of all, he wanted to use the trip to raise money for charity which he did. He raised $70,000 for the British charity, Oxfam. White's second reason for making the trip was to break the world record and become the fastest person to cycle around the world. He is still waiting to find out if he has broken the record or not.

White set off from Trafalgar Square, in London, on 19th June 2004 and was back 299 days later. He spent more than l,300 hours in the saddle（車座）and destroyed four sets of tyres and three bike chains. He had the adventure of his life crossing Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. Amazingly, he did all of this with absolutely no support team. No jeep carrying food, water and medicine. No doctor. Nothing! Just a bike and a very, very long road.

The journey was lonely and desperate at times. He also had to fight his way across deserts, through jungles and over mountains. He cycled through heavy rains and temperatures of up to 45 degrees, all to help people in need. There were other dangers along the road. In Iran, he was chased by armed robbers and was lucky to escape with his life and the little money he had. The worst thing that happened to him was having to cycle into a headwind on a road that crosses the south of Australia. For 1,000 kilometres he battled against the wind that was constantly pushing him. This part of the trip was slow, hard work and depressing, but he made it in the end. Now Mr. White is back and intends to write a book about his adventures.

56 When Phil White returned from his trip, he________.

A. collected some money for Oxfam                  B. broke the world record related

C. ruined several bikes                                      D. travelled around 1,300 hours

57. What does the word "epic" underlined in Paragraph l most probably mean________.

A. slow but exciting                                    B. lonely but exciting

C. interesting but tiring                                  D. difficult but admiring

58. During his journey around the world, Phil White _______.

A. fought against robbers in Iran                              B. struggled against the wind in Australia

C. experienced the extremes of heat and cold                D. had a team of helpful people

59. Which of the following words can best describe Phil White?

A. Imaginative.              B. Determined .               C. Modest.                     D. Creative.

When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not．He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work．

After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself．He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote．But Alex determined to put his dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadowland（虛幻世界）of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．

One day Alex got a call,“We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year．” $ 6,000 was real money in 1960．It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more．Besides, he could write in his spare time．As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses．He had dreamed of being a writer? Full time．“Thanks, but no,” Alex said firmly and swiftly, “I'm going to stick it out and write．”

After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents．Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself, “There's everything you've made of yourself so far．I'm not sure I ever felt so low.”

Finally his work was published in 1970．Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experienced．The shadows had turned into focus of attention．

Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before．Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents．Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room．It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence it takes to stay the course in the shadowland．

1.Why did Alex give up his job?

2.What did Alex express when he answered the call?

3.What kind of person is Alex?

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

When Boris left school, he could not find a job. He tried hard and pestered (糾纏) his relatives, but they had problems of their own. He answered advertisements until he could not afford to buy any more stamps. Boris grew annoyed, then depressed, then a little hardened. Still he went on trying and still he failed. He began to think that he had no future at all.
“Why don't you start your own business?” one of his uncles told him. “The world is a money-locker. You'd better find a way of opening it.”
“But what can I do?”
“Get out and have a look round.” advised his uncle in a vague sort of way. “See what people want; then give it to them, and they will pay for it.”
Boris began to cycle around the town and found a suitable piece of a waste ground in the end. Then he set up his business as a cycle repairer. He worked hard, made friends with his customers and gradually managed to build up his goodwill and profit. A few months later, he found that he had more work than he could deal with by himself. He found a number of empty shops but they were all no good: in the wrong position, too expensive or with some other snag(障礙). But at long last, he managed to find an empty shop on a new estate where there were plenty of customers but no competition.
Boris and his assistant taught themselves how to repair scooters and motor-cycles. Slowly but surely the profits increased and the business developed. At last, Boris had managed to open the money-locker and found bank notes and gold coins inside.
【小題1】Which of the following best describes Boris' job hunting experience?

DIY sailor Owen Warboys has finally launched his homemade boat — after spending nearly 30 years building it in his mum’s garden.

Owen, 66, a retired engineer from Hordle, New Milton, Hants, first started work on the 40ft—long boat in 1982 because he could not afford to buy his own. He told mum Edith that it would only take five years but after suffering “a few problems” it lasted nearly three decades.

When he finally finished, he was left with the head-scratching task of getting the 18-tonne boat out of the back garden. After some time he found a way. A huge crane (起重機(jī)) was brought in to carefully raise it 40ft in the air over his mother’s house and onto a lorry. It was then driven to the seaside and, to Owen’s delight, it floated and showed no signs of leaking when lowered into the water.

Now, 28 years after he first started, Owen is at last preparing to set sail in his beloved boat, Wight Dolphin, with his long-suffering wife Anne. Owen said, “I am so relieved that it’s finished. There were times when I thought it would never end but I’m the sort of person who likes to finish something once I’ve started.”

At first he persuaded his mum to let him do it in her garden and started taking in sheets of steel and pieces of wood. “My mother was happy for me to build it at her house but only bacause I told her it would only take five years.”

1.Why did Owen decide to make his own boat by himself?

2.What problem did Owen face when he finished his boat?

3.Which of the following is TRUE about the boat ?

4.We can infer from the passage that _____.

I know I should have told the headmaster at the time. That was my real    21 .
He had gone out of the study for some   22  , leaving me alone. In his absence I looked to see what was on his    23  . In the   24  was a small piece of paper on which were written the    25  “English Writing Prize 1949. History Is a Serious of Biographies (人物傳記)”.
A(n)   26  boy would have avoided looking at the title as soon as he saw the  27   . I did not. The subject of the English Writing Prize was kept a    28   until the start of the exam so I could not  29   reading it.
When the headmaster     30  , I was looking out of the window.
I should have told him what had    31  then. It would have been so  32  to say: “I’m sorry, but I  33  the title for the English Writing Prize on your desk. You’ll have to   34   it.”
The chance passed and I did not take it. I sat for the exam the next day and I won. I didn’t mean to cheat, but it was still    35   anyhow.
That was thirty-eight years ago when I was fifteen. I have never told anyone about it before, nor have I tried to explain to myself why not.

Several times on my way to work, I passed a gentleman who I supposed homeless. He had a lot of his possessions 36 down to his bike and held a cardboard sign that said he was a 37 who doesn’t drink or do drugs, but would 38 anything that could be given. He usually has 39 on and is listening to the radio. He is always 40 his own business, often reading 41 . I’ve never seen him  42 “begging”.
Several times, while I was 43 him, I realized I had some food with me, so I turned 44 and offered him that food. He took off his headphones, and said, “Umm, blueberry muffins are my 45 !” with a big smile and a gleam in his 46 . He thanked me so 47 .
The graciousness(有禮貌) and humbleness（謙遜） of his  48  makes me want to continue to stop by with “ 49 ” of food, money or other gifts. In the past, I’ve met 50 folks who 51 the food I was offering, saying that they wanted only money instead.
So this wonderful gentleman being so open to receiving has been a 52 .
It also makes me think how 53 I am to receiving in my life --- am I humble and grateful when I am 54 with something? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but 55 as gracious, humble and sincere as this wonderful man has been in receiving.

For many writers, writing stories or plays is a part-time job: to support themselves they take on other jobs, such as teaching. It is one sign of August Wilson’s success that for many years he has been able to make a living only by writing plays.

Wilson was born in Pittsburgh and dropped out of school in the ninth grade. He was a good reader, however, and continued his education by reading library books, learning about black nationalist movements of the time, and closely observing(觀察) the lives of the poor people.

In the late 1960’s Wilson set up a theater company called Black Horizons and began to think of ways to describe African-American life on the stage. He had the idea of a cycle of plays, each of which was set in a different decade(十年) of the 20^th century, showing how African-American life has developed.

The first successful play of this series was Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom about black musicians in Chicago in the 1920s, who are not accepted by white society. Other plays in the series include Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, about blacks in the 1910s who had moved north to Pittsburgh in search of a new identity; Fences, which focuses on a father–son conflict(沖突) in the1950s; and The Piano Lesson, about a 1930s family that was uncertain about whether to sell the family’s treasure. For the last two of these plays Wilson was awarded Pulitzer Prizes.

Wilson has written eight plays in his cycle, the most recent being King Hedley the Second, a play set in the 1980s. His plays are enjoyed by both the blacks and the whites and engage anyone who is interested in African-American experience.

1.Wilson won Pulitzer Prizes for ________.

A．The Piano Lesson & Fences

B． Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom & Fences

C．The Piano Lesson & King Hedley the Second

D．King Hedley the Second & Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

2. It is possible that in his series of the 20^th –century plays, Wilson plans to write ________.

A．no more          B．two more          C．three more        D．four more

3.The underlined word “engage” in the last paragraph means ________.

A．a(chǎn)ward            B．benefit           C．please            D．a(chǎn)ttract

4.What’s the passage mainly about?

A．The life of August Wilson.                 B．The growth of August Wilson.

C．A cycle of plays of August Wilson.           D．August Wilson’s theater company.