16．　　Summer vacation is coming. The Parkers are taking a trip to Sanya. How will they (1)       the place?
　　The son Dale says, "Let's take the (2)      . Taking a journey by train is really relaxing. We can enjoy the beautiful scenery (风景) from the (3)      ."
　　The daughter Alice says, "But the train station is far from our home. If we go there by train, we have to (4)       early. So let's drive a car."
"Why?" asks Dale.
　　"Because we can stop at any time we (5)      ," answers Alice.
　　"But I think taking a journey by car is (6)      . Sometimes, we may even (7)      . What about taking a bus?" asks Dale.
　　"Oh, I don't like that. There are always (8)       people on the bus. And it (9)       a long time." Alice (10)       no interest in the bus trip.
　　Then they go to ask for their parents' (11)      . But they like (12)       ways. Mr. Parker wants to take the plane because it's the fastest (最快的) way. He says that they shouldn't spend too much time (13)      , because they won't have enough time to visit the city. But Mrs. Parker wants to go by ship, because it is cheap and they can save some (14)      .
　　Everyone thinks (15)      . Which do you think is the best way?

18．　　Little Tommy was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything — tutors (家庭教师), cards, special learning centers — in short, everything they could think of. Finally they took Tommy to a catholic(天主教的) school.
　　After the first day, little Tommy came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying. Books and papers were spread (铺开) out all over the room and little Tommy was hard at work. His mother was surprised. She called him down to dinner and as soon as he finished eating, he went back to his room, without a word. In no time he was back hitting the books as hard as before. This went on for some time, day after day while the mother tried to understand what was happening.
　　Finally, little Tommy brought home his report card. He quietly put it on the table and went up to his room and hit the books. His mom looked at it and to her surprise, little Tommy got an A in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity(好奇心). She went to his room and asked, "Son, what was it? Was it the nuns(修女)?"
　　Little Tommy looked at her and shook his head, "No."
　　"Well then," she asked again. "What was it?"
　　Little Tommy looked at her and said, "Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that man nailed (钉) to the plus sign (加号), I knew they weren't joking."

19．　　Do you want to be successful in everything you do? If so, then how? Here is an example.
　　Once there's a farmer in the village. He grows corn (玉米) all his life. Each year, he takes his corn to the market. Then each time, his corn is the best. Therefore, he often wins the first prize.
　　One year, a newspaper reporter interviews him about how he grows it. His answer makes all very surprised. He says, "I give my corn seed (种子) to my neighbors."
　　"How can you share your best corn seed with your neighbors?" the reporter asks, "You know they are taking part in the competition with you each year."
　　"Why not, Sir?" says the farmer, "Don't you know the wind picks up pollen(花粉) from corn and moves it quickly from field to field? If my neighbors grow bad corn, then cross-pollination (异花传粉) will affect (影响) the quality (品质) of mine. So if I want to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors to grow good one."
　　The farmer knows much about the life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbors' corn improves.
　　A meaningful life is not decided by how much we can get, but by how much we can give to others. Giving, instead of taking, makes us different from others.
　　So those who choose to live well must help others to live well and those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness in their lives.

21．　　China is a country with many colorful days and festivals. The Dragon Head Raising Day (Longtaitou) is one of (1)t            .
　　This special day is on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar (阴历). It stands for the start of spring and farming. This year, the day is on (2)F             24th.
　　The dragon is (3)i             in Chinese culture. We Chinese people (4)c             ourselves the "descendants (传人) of the dragon". So, there are many customs (传统) about dragons on the day.
　　In ancient times (古代), people put ashes (灰) in the kitchen to "let the dragon go into the house". People (5)b             that with the help of the dragon, they can have a good harvest (收成) in autumn.
　　Also, people eat special (6)f            . They have names about "dragon", like "dragon whisker (龙须)" noodles and dumplings called "dragon teeth".
　　In some places, parents teach their kids to write. They think when a kid (7)l             to write on this day, he can be (8)s             and lucky in the future.
　　Today, many customs disappear (消退). But one remains (保留). It is the (9)c             of hair. It is said that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to the (10)u             of a family — mother's brothers. So many people have their hair cut on the Dragon Head Raising Day.

22．假设你是李华，老师要求你以 My Mother 为题写一篇短文介绍自己的妈妈，要求 70 词左右。内容要点如下：
人民医院医生，武汉人，中等身高，留黑色短卷发；
1. 每天 7:00 乘地铁上班，要花半个小时；
2. 多才多艺，会弹钢琴，拉小提琴，是音乐俱乐部的会员；
3. 工作中严格要求自己，对病人照顾周到；深受病人喜爱。
参考词汇：人民医院 People's Hospital；病人 patient；受喜爱的 be popular with…
注意：(1)文中不得出现真实的人名、校名。 (2)可适当发挥。
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