A. Her brother. B. A classmate. C. A pen friend.

第二部分 阅读理解 (共两节，满分40分)

第一节 (共12小题；每小题2.5分，满分30分)

　　阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light, I looked sadly at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff (东西) they call "books"in front of me.

　　I was going to have my examination the next day. "When can I go to bed?" I asked myself. I didn't answer. In fact I dared not.

　　The clock struck twelve. "Oh dear" I cried. "Ten more books to read before I can go to bed!" We pupils are the poorest creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He didn't have to work so hard when he was a boy.

　　The clock struck one. I was quite sad now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, "Oh, God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen." My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep.

21. The author was preparing for the exam, while all the others in the house were ________.

　　A. outside B. asleep C. working in bed D. reading

22. Why couldn't he go on reviewing his lessons that night?

　　A. It was too late at night.

　　B. He was tired of his lessons.

　　C. The lessons were too difficult to understand.

　　D. His eye lids were so heavy that he couldn't keep them open.

23. What do you think happened to the author?

　　A. He went to a church to pray again. B. He was lucky to pass the exam.

　　C. He failed to pass the exam. D. He was praised by his teacher.

24. What's the main idea of the passage?

　　A. I'm a slow man.

　　B. I worked far into the night.

　　C. How I often go over my lessons.

　　D. How I spent the night before the examination.