题文
What I noticed first about my new parrot, Chico, was that he couldn’t fly. His wings had been cut short and he was stuck on the 1 just like us humans. When the weather turned nice, I took Chico outside. I sat him on a branch of a tree, hoping to make him 2 . At first he seemed 3 . He walked back and forth on the branch looking anxious or nervous. He didn’t even flap his wings in an attempt to fly. Somehow he knew he was 4 .
One day Chico got especially excited . He paced back and forth and made an incredible amount of 5 . Then all of a sudden he stopped and let out an even louder scream. He started 6 flapping his wings for the first time ever － then he lifted off the 7 like a space shuttle! I was amazed and 8 . Little did I know his feathers had been growing back, and Chico had been 9 until the moment was ripe for escape!
Two days later Chico 10 . First I tried to trick him back with food, but he would not come near me. Then I took his 11 and put it away—still he would not come. Finally, I made him a firm promise that I would let him 12 every day the weather was nice if he did come back. 13 , he flew onto my shoulder.
From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him out early and he would fly around and be back before dark. The 14 lasted for two months before suddenly Chico became 15 . The vet said that he had been infected with a disease from the pigeons in the neighborhood. Within a few days he died.
I was very sad. The 16 crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly, he would be still alive. But what 17 is there in being a bird if you can’t fly?
Chico made his first break for 18 on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a 19 when the conditions are right, knowing you too, in your own way, were built to fly. If you don’t 20 , what will be the purpose of your life?
小题1:A．floorB．earth C．scene D．road小题2:A．smarter B．healthier C．happierD．stronger小题3:A．disappointedB．determinedC．frightenedD．confused小题4:A．incapable B．disabled C．wrongD．stupid小题5:A．noise B．progress C．energyD．consideration小题6:A．slowly B．gently C．madlyD．gracefully小题7:A．ground B．tree C．cage D．branch小题8:A．movedB．shocked C．delighted D．excited小题9:A．strugglingB．pacing C．flying D．waiting小题10:A．left B．returned C．survived D．recovered小题11:A．cage B．feather C．chain D．food小题12:A．in B．out C．off D．alone小题13:A．As usuallyB．At that momentC．once in a whileD．At the same time小题14:A．action B．attempt C．routine D．effort小题15:A．active B．injured C．sad D．ill小题16:A．fact B．concern C．thought D．detail小题17:A．sense B．mistake C．interest D．problem小题18:A．life B．freedom C．fun D．food小题19:A．breakB．holiday C．chance D．look小题20:A．keep yourself busyB．cheer yourself upC．let yourself downD．set yourself free 题型：未知难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:D
小题4:A
小题5:A
小题6:C
小题7:D
小题8:B
小题9:D
小题10:B
小题11:A
小题12:B
小题13:B
小题14:C
小题15:D
小题16:C
小题17:A
小题18:B
小题19:C
小题20:D
解析
本文讲述了一只鹦鹉为了自由而努力飞翔，说明我们人类也应该有生活的目的，有自己的追求，并为之努力。小题1:名词辨析。指这只鹦鹉和人类一样不会飞，只能呆在地上。
小题2:上下文串联。天气好的时候，我带它到外面，并把它放在树枝上希望它能开心。
小题3:形容词辨析。根据后面鹦鹉在树枝上来来回回的走很紧张说明它很困惑不知道做什么。
小题4:形容词辨析。根据上文鹦鹉设置都没有拍动翅膀，最后它知道自己没有飞行的能力，而不是残疾，错误或者愚蠢。
小题5:名词辨析。前文提及鹦鹉在树枝上来来回回地走，自然是发出很大的噪音。
小题6:副词辨析。鹦鹉第一次飞行，应该是疯狂的拍打翅膀。
小题7:上下文联系。由前文可知鹦鹉是在树枝上的。
小题8:形容词辨析。我很震惊因为鹦鹉会飞了。
小题9:动词辨析。由上下文可知英语是等着逃跑的时机。
小题10:上下文串联。根据后文可知鹦鹉回来了。
小题11:上下文串联。前文提及我用食物引诱没有效果，所以我拿出鸟笼并把它扔掉，想通过这个方法让鹦鹉靠近。
小题12:上下文联系。我答应它在天气好的时候让它出来。
小题13:介词短语辨析。那时候，鹦鹉终于落到我的肩上。
小题14:名词辨析。在天气好的时候让鹦鹉外出是我制定的方针。
小题15:上下文串联。由后文可知这里的鹦鹉病了。
小题16:名词辨析。是这样的想法一直在我的脑海里。
小题17:名词辨析。作为一只鸟不会飞行又有什么意义呢？
小题18:上下文辨析。鹦鹉是在为自由而奋斗的。
小题19:固定词组。Take a chance抓住机会
小题20:上下文串联。由整个故事可知没有了自由生活就没有了目的和意义。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“What I noticed first.....”主要考查你对 [日常生活类阅读 ]考点的理解。日常生活类阅读
日常生活类阅读的概念：
日常生活这一话题主要涉及人们衣食住行等方面的活动。这一话题的选材主要针对人们日常的工作，生活以及学习情况。做这一类题时，最主要的是要把握好人物的活动内容，时间和地点。
日常生活类阅读题答题技巧：
【题型说明】
该类文章内容涉及到人们的言谈举止、生活习惯、饮食起居、服饰仪表、恋爱婚姻、消遣娱乐、节日起源、家庭生活等。文章篇幅短小，追根溯源，探索各项风俗的历史渊源，内容有趣。命题也以送分题为主，如事实细节题、语义转换题、词义猜测题和简单推理判断题等。虽然这类文章读起来感觉轻松，试题做起来比较顺手，但绝不能掉以轻心。因为稍不留神，就会丢分。
【备考提醒】
为了保证较高准确率，建议同学们做好以下几点：
1、保持正常的考试心态。笔者在教学中发现，越是容易的试题，同学们越是容易失分。为什么呢？因为在这种情况下，同学们极易产生麻痹思想，认为题目好做，就不引起高度重视，于是思维不发散、不周密。而命题人就是利用同学们的这一弱点，设计陷阱题。所以，无论试题难易与否，我们都要保持正常的考试心态。试题容易，不欣喜；试题难，不悲观。
2、根据前面讲到的方法，认认真真、细细心心做好事实细节题。
3、做好语义转换题。这类题是根据英语中一词多义和某些词语在文中能表达一定的修辞意义的原则而设计的。要求同学们解释某生词的含义，确定多义词或短语在文中的意思，确认文中的某个代词所指代的对象，或者对英语中特有的表达、格言、谚语进行解释。这种题要求同学们一定要根据上下文猜测词义或理解句子，切不可望文生义。
4、做好简单推理判断题。简单推理判断题要以表面文字为前提，以具体事实为依据进行推理，做出判断。这种推理方式比较直接，只要弄清事实，即可结合常识推断出合理的结论。
