At an auction (拍卖会) last Thursday, Kevin Lipton paid $2,585,000 for the Birch Cent, a made in 1792 that is its engraver (刻版师), Robert Birch. It’s the most money paid for a one-cent piece. And yes, he said, the purchase made . “It’s like our very first penny,” Lipton, 55, told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. “It’s such a(n) coin. It’s so important, so rare.”
The coin is 10 similar coins known to exist that were produced after the founding of the U.S. Mint (美国造币厂), said Jim Halperin, co-chairman of Heritage Auctions. It features a profile face Miss Liberty, framed by a motto that was later abandoned, “Liberty Parent of Science & Industry.”
Lipton, who owns a coin wholesaling business (批发业务) in Beverly Hills, had been eyeing the Birch Cent he saw it in 1981 at a New York auction house. That year, Johns Hopkins University consigned (拍卖、寄售) the penny for auction, and it was by New York City developer Donald G. Patrick $200,000. Patrick consigned the coin to Texas-based Heritage Auctions. At the Orlando auction where Lipton the Birch Cent, he bought a quarter dollar from 1792 for $2,232,500. , he paid about $4.8 million for 26 cents.
Lipton has coins since he was 12 years old, and his full-time coin business _ when he was just 17. He that he was nervous about spending so much money, but now he’s his million-dollar coins will mature. “They are a great store value, and will only be worth more ,” Lipton said. ‘‘They are Mona Lisas of our coinage.’’
A．dollar B．note C．coin D．quarter
A．designed for B．sold by C．based on D．named after
A．ever B．even C．still D．yet
A．money B．sense C．changes D．adjustments
A．special B．magical C．artificial D．beneficial
A．between B．within C．among D．of
A．experimentally B．definitely C．finally D．perfectly
A．predicting B．indicating C．representing D．suggesting
A．until B．when C．after D．since
A．sold B．purchased C．borrowed D．lent
A．by B．on C．for D．in
A．set up B．picked up C．made up D．put up
A．also B．thus C．already D．just
A．Altogether B．Anyway C．However D．Besides
A．made B．issued C．displayed D．collected
A．started B．decreased C．failed D．progressed
A．concluded B．declared C．admitted D．swore
A．cautious B．confused C．committed D．confident
A．in the past B．in the future C．for the moment D．at the time
A．merely B．actually C．temporarily D．probably
完型填空 （共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
I sat in my seat as my new grade six classmates found theirs. At the front of the class our new math teacher stood ____ us. The bell rang.
“Welcome to a new school year. I’m Mr. Stevens and I’m sure I’ll learn all your names in no time.” He walked around the class____ math books. When he was done, he ____ to the front of the class and looked at us. “What are you waiting for? Get started?” he said.
We looked at him, ____. Wasn’t he going to teach us?
“Is there something wrong with your ____? You’re not all deaf, are you?”
A ____ boy at the back of the class asked what we all wanted to know. “Mr. Stevens, aren’t you going to teach us?”
Mr. Stevens____, “You’re smart kids. Open your books and get down to it. If you have any ____ or any questions, raise your hand, and I’ll help you.”
We opened our books. Mr. Stevens helped anyone ____ had questions. He would stop to teach all the students _____ when we all had the same question. It was a ____ method of teaching, but it was very useful.
It was a____ point in my life. Mr. Stevens made me____ I was good at math and also able to reach the____ of any class I attended. I studied with his help until I graduated from middle school.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus was a popular television show back then. The actors____ the best British humour (幽默) into our Canadian lives. Mr. Stevens would often act out one of their funny scenes (场景) in front of the class. Some thought he was strange, and I guess he was, ____ he knew how to make a math lesson interesting.
I’ve carried his ____ with me all my life. Whenever I am faced with a new ____, I think of my first day in grade six math. ____ sitting and staring at the challenge, I just get ____ . Before I know it, the challenge has been settled.
A．waiting B．watching C．looking D．revising
A．picking up B．picking out C．handing in D．handing out
A．returned B．waved C．exchanged D．jumped
A．frightened B．bored C．puzzled D．relaxed
A．ears B．hearts C．eyes D．body
A．clever B．exhausted C．lucky D．brave
A．doubted B．replied C．explained D．agreed
A．secret B．trouble C．promise D．event
A．which B．when C．where D．who
A．even B．still C．only D．since
A．popular B．strange C．disappointing D．scientific
A．turning B．similar C．moving D．embarrassing
A．decide B．realize C．wonder D．remember
A．top B．bottom C．strongest D．busiest
A．reported B．impressed C．brought D．admitted
A．but B．however C．so D．and
A．dream B．lesson C．interest D．discipline
A．chance B．challenge C．survey D．job
A．Besides B．in other words C．as a result of D．instead of
A．amazed B．encouraged C．started D．organised
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。
Mrs. Hammond was old and blind, but she was determined to do everything for herself. She even used to go for walks by herself once a day for , and found her way by things with her white stick. She learned where everything was, so she never lost her way.
One day, some men came and cut down some of the familiar trees at the side of one of the paths which she . When she reached that place that evening, she did not the trees with her stick, so she was in .
She for a while and listened, but did not any other people, so she went for a kilometer or two, and then she heard beneath her. “Am I ? I suppose so,” she said, “I must be on a , and there must be a river under me. I've been told that there's a river in this part of the country, but I don't know its exact . How am I going to get to my house from here?”
All at once she heard a man's friendly near her. “Excuse me, can I help you?”“How kind of you!” Mrs. Hammond answered. “Yes, please. Some of the trees which I follow have been today, and if I hadn't been enough to meet you, I don't know I'd have done. Can you please me to get home?”
“Certainly,” the man answered. “Where do you live?”
Mrs. Hammond told him, and the man took her to her house. She told the man how pleased she was that she had met him. But the man said. “I want to you.”
Mrs. Hammond asked, “Whatever for?”
“Well,” the man said quietly, “I was balanced (悬在) on the edge of that bridge for ages in the , because I was trying to make up my mind to myself into the river and drown myself. But I'm not going to do it now.”
A．health B．exercise C．sport D．training
A．seeing B．looking at C．hearing D．touching
A．followed B．led C．walked D．headed
A．know B．feel C．smell D．climb
A．need B．danger C．dark D．difficulty
A．waited B．rested C．stopped D．walked
A．see B．find C．meet D．hear
A．noise B．water C．boat D．train
A．lost B．all right C．wrong D．alone
A．boat B．plane C．bridge D．highway
A．size B．length C．position D．name
A．far B．near C．away D．back
A．touch B．voice C．sound D．noise
A．lost B．destroyed C．removed D．planted
A．lucky B．kind C．good D．foolish
A．how B．what C．why D．which
A．tell B．direct C．help D．lead
A．help B．know C．thank D．meet
A．worry B．sorry C．hurry D．dark
A．put B．throw C．jump D．take
完形填空(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
When I was 15, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. All the students nearly fell out of their chairs, me. “Don’t be . Only geniuses (天才) can become writers,” the English teacher said sarcastically（讽刺地）. “And you are getting a D this term.” I was deeply and I burst into tears.
That night I wrote a short, sad poem about unusual dreams and mailed it to the Capper’s Weekly newspaper. To my , they published it, and sent me two dollars. I was a paid writer! I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed again. “Just plain dumb luck,（纯属侥幸）” the teacher said. However, I’d tasted . I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written.
By the time I graduated from high school（with a C-minus average）, I had scrapbooks filled with my published works. I never talked about my writing to my , friends or my family again. They were killers, and if people must choose between their friends and their dreams, they must always choose their dreams.
Later, I wrote a book about what I understood and felt about life. It took me nine months, just like a(an) . I chose a publisher and wrote a letter, which : “I wrote this book myself, I you like it. Chapters(章节) 6 and 12 are my favourites. Thank you.” I mailed it without an envelope.
A month later, I a letter, and a request to start working on book. Crying Wind became a bestseller, and was translated into 15 languages. People ask what college I attended, what degrees I have, and what qualifications(品质) I have to be a writer. The answer is . I just write. I’m not a genius, and I’m not gifted. I just write. To all those who dream of , I’m shouting at you, “Yes, you ! Don’t listen to them!” Writing is easy. It’s fun, and anyone can do it.
A．listening to B．talking about C．laughing at D．looking at
A．silly B．discouraged C．shy D．pride
A．hurt B．cheated C．struck D．hit
A．regret B．surprise C．joy D．disappointment
A．success B．failure C．luck D．pain
A．parents B．headmasters C．publishers D．teachers
A．time B．hobby C．thought D．dream
A．baby B．plant C．animal D．boy
A．wrote B．read C．showed D．told
A．demand B．think C．hope D．suggest
A．accepted B．received C．signed D．kept
A．others B．the other C．other D．another
A．many B．none C．some D．few
A．success B．being famous C．writing D．being rich
A．must B．can C．need D．should
完形填空（共20小题，每小题1分，满分20分）
My family fled from Cuba and settled in Miami, USA when I was only one year old. We lived together with other Cubans speaking Spanish.
I’d been looking forward to school. However, the first day was a complete . I came home and told my mum I’d learned my first English word: . It was the nickname a boy had given me. In every way possible, I was from my classmates. I was the only student who couldn’t communicate in English.
, one person made that year bearable for me—my teacher, Mrs. Collins. She was a young African American. , she understood how I felt as the only nonwhite kid and helped me a lot.
Still, the teasing . The boy who called me stupid always laughed at my accent. He was the proud of our class’s reading award. It was a(n) given to a student, based on excellence in schoolwork. I wanted that award.
As Mrs. Collins cheered me on, I gained and language skills. By midyear, I was well to speaking English fluently and had a good grasp on reading. the approach of the award ceremony, I worked as hard as I could. The day came, and I was so nervous.
When Mrs. Collins me as the winner, it was my proudest moment. My winning caused a mini uproar(骚动). The mother of the boy who teased me that the only non-native English speaker had taken the prize from her son. But in her , gentle way, Mrs. Collins stood her ground. It was an excellent lesson in fairness and never .
From then on, I worked even harder in school, earning “A”s. As I began enjoying as a singer years later, I always Mrs. Collins in interviews when asked about people who had me. I can’t tell you how many times the spirit has guided me through in my life.
A．shock B．puzzle C．mistake D．pleasure
A．slow B．weak C．honest D．stupid
A．set apart B．set off C．set down D．set about
A．Surprisingly B．Happily C．Fortunately D．Wonderfully
A．However B．Therefore C．Otherwise D．Anyhow
A．appeared B．continued C．increased D．started
A．holder B．follower C．supporter D．carrier
A．gift B．honor C．treasure D．responsibility
A．patience B．respect C．pride D．confidence
A．on my way B．in my way C．by my way D．to my way
A．For B．By C．With D．In
A．suddenly B．hurriedly C．certainly D．finally
A．permitted B．introduced C．announced D．admitted
A．explained B．realized C．complained D．told
A．weak B．light C．warm D．strong
A．cheering up B．giving up C．turning up D．holding up
A．courage B．independence C．success D．support
A．requested B．noticed C．reminded D．mentioned
A．confused B．impressed C．taught D．inspired
A．chances B．choices C．challenges D．competitions
My wife, Kathy and I moved with our two-year-old son, Nate, to a small native village in Alaska. The small three- and four-passenger plane we took so our little boy that he took his favorite blanket and covered his head until we on the small dirt landing strips. During the months that followed, my son carried his security everywhere. He couldn’t fall asleep until he had it.
The second year, I had a chance to guest speak in Seattle. While I was for the trip, my son followed me around the room. Fine-tuning my speech in my mind, I was a little distracted. My son seemed most about my having to fly out in bad weather on one of those small planes he so much. I reassured him that I would be .
When I got to the hotel in Seattle, I didn’t have time to until later that evening, and I was when I opened my luggage and found my son’ssecurity blanket inside. I my wife trying to find the lost blanket as she prepared our son for . I immediately to the phone to call Kathy.
When I began to explain that I had no idea how the blanket had been packed, Kathy me down with the news that she already knew where the blanket was.
She told me that she had held Nate by the window to let him me drive away from the house. She had suggested that they pray for “Daddy to have a safe .” Knowing that our son would be most the small plane ride, she prayed, “Dear Lord, please help Daddy feel on the little plane.” When the prayer was over, our son Nate his mom，“Don’t worry, Mom, I gave Daddy my blanket to keep him safe.”
A．attracted B．cheered C．impressed D．terrified
A．set about B．set down C．set in D．set out
A．plane B．books C．blanket D．prayer
A．packing B．reading C．writing D．discussing
A．curious B．excited C．worried D．confused
A．enjoyed B．feared C．prayed D．flew
A．fine B．happy C．hard-working D．easy
A．call B．rest C．unpack D．examine
A．shocked B．satisfied C．amused D．disappointed
A．thought B．pictured C．talked D．hated
A．gladly B．sincerely C．hurriedly D．desperately
A．food B．school C．bed D．work
A．asked B．rushed C．ordered D．walked
A．accidentally B．inaccurately C．deliberately D．casually
A．let B．calmed C．took D．blew
A．bless B．think C．watch D．check
A．speech B．hotel C．job D．trip
A．afraid of B．tired of C．worn out D．interested in
A．wonderful B．excellent C．safe D．great
A．annoyed B．answered C．pleased D．comforted
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