Paloma sat at a computer in the school library.She stared at the blank screen and the blinking cursor.She rummaged around in her backpack for a rubber band，and then she pulled her hair into a thick ponytail.Paloma looked at the computer screen.It was still blank.She sighed and flipped through her notebook to reread the assignment Mr.Molina had given the class three weeks ago.It was due in just two days，and Paloma knew that she couldn't procrastinate any longer.
   Write a creative short story using an experience that you have had recently，Paloma read.Your story should include two examples of figurative language.
   Paloma and her family had recently taken a trip along North Carolina's coast.They had visited four different lighthouses，and Paloma wondered what it would be like to live in a lighthouse.She knew that before lighthouses were automated，they were run by a lighthouse keeper who lived on the premises.Paloma thought she'd love to be a lighthouse keeper.Without thinking about it any longer，Paloma began to write the story.
   I sat with my cat Sadie curled on my lap and looked out the window at the crashing waves.The heavy rain beat against my lighthouse like a thousand footsteps racing up and down the walls.I held Sadie closer，and she let out a small meow of displeasure.I knew that the coming storm could not be too dangerous if Sadie was still acting normally.I had read that animals can sense changes in weather and will seek shelter from a tornado or hurricane.I was relying on Sadie's calmness to get me through my first hurricane on the island.
   I knew that my lighthouse was sturdily built.It had survived more than one hundred years' worth of hurricanes and tropical storms.There was no reason to believe that it couldn't survive another.I looked up at the staircase that spiraled above me and worried as I felt the tower sway slightly in a gust of wind.
   Paloma stopped and reread what she had just written.She smiled to herself in delight，saved her story，and then settled into her chair to continue writing.She wasn't sure what was going to happen next，but she knew that if she kept going，the story would continue to tell itself.Paloma couldn't wait to find out where it would take her.

（1）Why is Paloma feeling anxious at the beginning of the passage？

A

A

A．She hasn't much time left to do her writing task.
B．She doesn't know the details of her writing task.
C．She has completely forgotten about her writing task.
D．She doesn't know what is wrong with her computer.
（2）What is the inspiration for Paloma's story idea？

C

C

A．Her cat.
B．Her teacher.
C．Her trip.
D．Her dream.
（3）In Paloma's story，how does the lighthouse keeper decide if the storm is dangerous？

C

C

A．By listening to the weather report.
B．By watching the crashing waves.
C．By observing the cat's behaviour.
D．By measuring the movement of the lighthouse.
（4）As described in the final paragraph，how does Paloma feel after she has written the first part of her story？

B

B

A．Confused.
B．Excited.
C．Relieved.
D．Determined.