I first met Paul Newman in 1968，when George Roy Hill，the director of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid，introduced us in New York City.When the studio didn't want me for the film—it wanted somebody as well–known as Paul—he stood up for me.I don't know how many people would have done that；they would have listened to their agents or the studio powers.

The friendship that grew out of the experience of making that film and The Sting four years later had its root in the fact that although there was an age difference，we both came from a tradition of theatre and live TV.We were respectful of craft(技艺)and focused on digging into the characters we were going to play.Both of us had the qualities and virtues that are typical of American actors：humorous，aggressive，and making fun of each other—but always with an underlying affection.Those were also at the core(核心)of our relationship off the screen.

We shared the belief that if you're fortunate enough to have success，you should put something back—he with his Newman's Own food and his Hole in the Wall camps for kids who are seriously ill，and me with Sundance and the institute and the festival.Paul and I didn't see each other all that regularly，but sharing that brought us together.We supported each other financially and by showing up at events.

I last saw him a few months ago.He'd been in and out of the hospital.He and I both knew what the deal was，and we didn't talk about it.Ours was a relationship that didn't need a lot of words.

【语篇解读】　本文是一篇记叙文。作者讲述了与Paul的相识及与其建立友谊的原因，两人虽不常见面但是却因共同的信念而保持着友谊。

1．Why was the studio unwilling to give the role to the author at first?

A．Paul Newman wanted it.

B．The studio powers didn't like his agent.

C．He wasn't famous enough.

D．The director recommended someone else.

C　[细节理解题。根据第一段中的“When the studio didn't want me for the film—it wanted somebody as well–known as Paul—he stood up for me.”可知，摄影棚起初不愿意给作者角色的原因是想找一个与Paul一样著名的人物。故可知作者当时不够有名。该题选C项。]

2．Why did Paul and the author have a lasting friendship?

A．They were of the same age.

B．They worked in the same theatre.

C．They were both good actors.

D．They had similar characteristics.

D　[推理判断题。根据文章第二段中的“We were respectful of craft(技艺)and focused on digging into the characters we were going to play.Both of us had the qualities and virtues that are typical of American actors”可知，作者与Paul之所以拥有持久的友谊是因为他们有相似的性格特征。故D项符合题意。]

3．What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Their belief.

B．Their care for children.

C．Their success.

D．Their support for each other.

A　[代词指代题。根据第三段中的“We shared the belief that if you're fortunate enough to have success，you should put something back”可知，下文的内容是对the belief的解释，that引导同位语从句，解释说明the belief的具体内容。下文提到了我们并不经常见面，但是分享这个信念把我们带到了一起。故选A项。]

4．What is the author's purpose in writing the text?

A．To show his love of films.

B．To remember a friend.

C．To introduce a new movie.

D．To share his acting experience.

B　[写作意图题。根据全文内容，尤其是第一段中的“I first met Paul Newman in 1968”以及最后一段中的“I last saw him a few months ago”可知，该篇文章的写作目的是回忆一位朋友，所以选B项。]

When she was a little girl，Margarita Engle spent her summers in Cuba，where she says she fell in love with nature.

Engle，66，was born to a Cuban mother and an American father.Her annual visits to the Caribbean island from her home in California shaped her life and inspired her to become a poet and writer.The Poetry Foundation recently named her its Young People's Poet Laureate，a role Engle plans to use to encourage children and teenagers to write down their feelings.

“Magic happens when you put your emotions in writing，”she said.

Engle says she has always liked poetry.At age 6，she wrote her first poem about nature.After looking around while taking a walk one day in California，she wrote a rhymed poem about the shapes of hills.As a teen，she wrote sonnets(十四行诗)about nature and stories about people in Cuba.

Some of her books explore the island，its people，markets and landmarks.Her new picture book，All the Way to Havana，features American cars from the 1940s and 1950s.Forest World，a new novel，introduces Edver to readers，an 11yearold who lives in Miami，Florida，with his mother and is shipped off to Cuba to see his birthplace and meet his Cuban family.When he arrives in Havana，the capital，he learns he has an older sister，Luza，who stayed on the island with her father and grandfather.The two go on an adventure into a Cuban forest.

“The emotions of the characters are similar to what many children feel when they are separated from loved ones，”Engle said.She hopes that people facing similar challenges can find support and comfort in poetry.

【语篇解读】　本文是一篇记叙文。Engle童年时每年往返于古巴和美国，这让她得以亲近自然，并激发了她的创作热情，使她最终成为一位知名的诗人和作家。

5．What made Engle a poet?

A．Her visits to Cuba.

B．Days spent in California.

C．Magic skills in practicing writing.

D．Encouragement from the Poetry Foundation.

A　[细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Her annual visits to the Caribbean island from her home in California shaped her life and inspired her to become a poet and writer.”可知A项正确。]

6．We can learn from the text that young Engle probably ．

A．enjoyed indoor games

B．found inspiration in nature

C．liked exploring cities in Florida

D．made friends with Cuban people

B　[推理判断题。根据第一段和第四段中的“At age 6，she wrote her first poem about nature...she wrote sonnets(十四行诗)about nature”可知，儿时的Engle爱上了大自然，还写了关于大自然的诗，因此可推断她从大自然中获得了创作灵感，故选B。]

7．What is TRUE about Forest World?

A．It is a new picture book.

B．It is based on a reallife event.

C．It talks about an adventure story.

D．It describes family ties between countries.

D　[推理判断题。根据第五段提到的小说Forest World的内容可知，该书描写的是Edver离开美国佛罗里达州前往古巴哈瓦那探亲的故事，揭示的是分隔在两个国家的家庭亲情，故选D。]

8．What does Engle stress in the last paragraph?

A．The frequent changes of emotions.

B．The challenges in writing poems.

C．The separations from family members.

D．The links between life and literature.

D　[推理判断题。根据最后一段可知，Engle认为无论是在作品中还是在现实中，孩子离别亲人时心底迸发的情感是相似的，她希望面临这种处境的人能从诗歌中寻觅到支持和慰藉。故Engle在此强调生活与文学作品的联系。]

Ⅱ.读后续写

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I should have been born with my fingers permanently glued to a keyboard.Since I was five，I've known that I want to be a professional writer：a journalist，a novelist，a modernday Shakespeare，maybe.In my freshman year I tried to figure out what A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar were about.Macbeth was much easier to understand in my sophomore year(大二年级)．

However，I'm practically addicted to books，whether I'm reading or writing them.I can't go a single day without writing something.I have made it a rule to pick up a pen and just let my thoughts out every day.

I can be inspired by anything：an expression，a song and a movie.Once I get inspired, it's like the wheels turning faster and faster as I think out one possible story after another.

My family is so widespread that whenever I meet with a cousin or an aunt I only vaguely(模糊地)remember；I tell him or her I'm a writer because I know it will distinguish me from all the other kids in the family and make me memorable.I told my relatives about the stories I used to write as a child，the projects I'm working on now，and why I'm working so hard to make a breakthrough in the competitive world of publishing.One aunt hugged me and told me，“Just don't forget about the rest of us when you become the next J．K.Rowling.”

Smiling，I replied，“Don't worry，I won't.” I am confident that I will become the next J．K.Rowling.I have the ambition, the means，and the talent.My English and history teachers don't praise my writing and tell me I have an innate(与生俱来的)writing talent even though they know how passionate I am about writing，and how that passion slips through my fingertips to the paper.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；

2．请按如下格式作答。

Paragraph 1：

I don't really know why I love writing so much.

Paragraph 2：

Maybe I just want to leave my mark on the world since I can't sing to create a great work of art.

【参考范文】　

Paragraph 1：

I don't really know why I love writing so much.I just do.I always feel that there is something in my mind about putting a story down on paper for friends across the globe to read and understand, and about finding just the right words to describe what I can see so clearly in my head，which attracts me like a beautiful song.Writing makes me who I am.Through writing I have found true happiness.

Paragraph 2：

Maybe I just want to leave my mark on the world since I can't sing to create a great work of art.Although I am a pretty good actor，acting doesn't seem like the right path for me，so I've chosen writing to make a breakthrough in this world.I am a novelist，journalist and graduate from Columbia University.How nice it sounds!