When I was 17，I read a quote that went something like：“If you live each day as if it were your last，someday you’11 most certainly be right．”It made a deep 36 on me．and since then。for the past 33 years，I have 37 in the mirror every morning and asked myself：“If today were the last day of my life， 38 I want to do what I am about to do today?”And whenever the answer has been“No”for too many days in a 39 ，I know I need to change something．
Remembering that I’ll be 40 soon is the most important tool I’ve ever known to help me make the big 41 in life because almost everything falls away in the face of death， 42 only what is truly important
About a year ago I was 43 with cancer My doctor even advised me to go home and get my affairs 44 order，which is a doctor’s way of telling people to prepare to die．I 45 with that diagnosis all day． 46 ，at last an advanced test showed that i。。t was a very rare cancer that is 47 with surgery．I had the surgery and I’m fine now
48 wants to die．Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there And yet death is the destination we all 49 ．No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be，because death is very likely the single best invention of 50 ．It is life's change agent It clears out the old to 51 for the new．Right now the new is you．but someday not too 52 from n6w，you will．gradually’become the old and be cleared away．Sorry to be so dramatic，but it is quite true．
Your time is 53 ，so don’t waste it living，someone else’s 1ife．Don’t be 54 by dogma（教条） —which is living with the results of other people’s thinking．Don’t let the noise of others’opinions drown out your own inner 55 ．And most importantly，have the courage to follow your heart
36．A．impression B．curse C． decision D．joke
37．A．seen B．looked C．found D．1ost
38．A．would B．should C．might D．could
39．A．hurry B．1ine C．moment D．row
40．A．successful B．rich C．dead D．frustrated
41．A．apologies B．fortune C．impressions D．choices
42．A．proving B．leaving C．confirming D．telling
43．A．diagnosed B．cured C．treated D．round
44．A．on B．for C． in D．at
45．A．met B．got C．did D．1ived
46．A．However B．But C．Therefore D．So
47．A．incurable B．curable C．fatal D．changeable
48．A．Anyone B．Someone C．No one D．Everyone
49．A．want B．avoid C．share D．escape
50．A．destination B．1ife C．science D．disease
51．A．make up B．make for C．make our D．make wav
52．A．distant B．short C．long D．away
53．A．1imited B．rare C．enough D．1ost
54．A．wasted B．cheated C．excited D．trapped
55．A．voice B．love C．direction D．confusion
I’m a straight-A student and have been my whole life. When you come from a family of educators, it just seems .
With high academic standards and a competitive , I don’t just like losing and I also can’t it. I need to beat the students, perfectly in everything. I’ve even gone so far as to define myself by my , saying how outstanding I am. If I don’t get the grade I then I am lost.
Today I was sitting in class trying to the last minutes studying for a test in which I had to get full marks. the girl behind me started talking to me, I tried to listen while still glancing at my study sheet . When I thought the conversation required it, I smiled, nodded and . And then I found myself wishing she would be so I could study. After a while, she said, “You know, you’re a really good . You’re so easy to talk to. ”I froze.
I replayed the praise in my head before smiling and accepting it . But inside, I knew it wasn’t true. She’d made every effort to have a conversation and I wasn’t even trying to .
I passed the test excellently despite my of lost study time, but the one thing I needed to learn most wasn’t on that test. I had being the best student so that I had failed at just being normal. So what to me most? What I have is all about my personal and about me being too self-centered. There can only be so many scholars, but there is enough sympathy. I want that to be what matters to me—sympathy.
A．usual B．helpless C．unfortunate D．natural
A．spirit B．sport C．school D．market
A．take B．recommend C．stand D．help
A．ordinary B．top C．handsome D．strong
A．strength B．appearance C．grades D．tricks
A．invent B．expect C．copy D．hide
A．save B．spend C．collect D．cost
A．When B．After C．Because D．Before
A．rudely B．bitterly C．excitedly D．politely
A．in no time B．on time C．for a long time D．now and then
A．refused B．worked C．agreed D．waited
A．quiet B．gentle C．pretty D．safe
A．talker B．listener C．lecturer D．teacher
A．angrily B．carelessly C．disappointedly D．gladly
A．alarm B．gather C．participate D．shout
A．fear B．joy C．worry D．possession
A．given up B．focused on C．complained of D．dreamed of
A．happens B．matters C．appeals D．devotes
A．success B．failure C．depression D．health
A．always B．ever C．much D．never
Dear son,
The day that you see me old, have patience and try to understand me. If I get when eating, if I can not dress, have patience. Remember the hours I spent it to you. If, I speak to you, I repeat the same things thousand and one times, do not me. Listen to me . When you were small, I had to read thousand and one times the story until you get to sleep. When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me scold me. Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I , in order that you wanted to bathe. When you see my on new technologies, give me the necessary time and not me by mocking smiles. I taught you how to do so many things: to eat good, to dress well, to life. . . When at some moment I lose the in conversation with you, do not become annoyed, as the most important thing is not my but surely to be with you and to you listening to me. When my legs do not allow me to walk, give me your hand, the same way I when you gave your first steps. And when someday I say I do not want to live any more and that I want to die, do not get angry. Try to understand that my age is not lived but .
Some day you will discover that, my mistakes, I always wanted the thing for you and tried to prepare the way for you. Help me to walk, help me to end my way with love and . I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you, son!
Your father
A．angry B．satisfied C．tidy D．dirty
A．teaching B．mentioning C．warning D．talking
A．before B．when C．unless D．until
A．disturb B．interrupt C．upset D．break
A．finally B．soon C．instead D．too
A．good B．interesting C．difficult D．same
A．or B．nor C．and D．but
A．invented B．realized C．spotted D．imagined
A．view B．prejudice C．favor D．ignorance
A．look down on B．look into C．look up D．look through
A．overcome B．confront C．defeat D．challenge
A．sight B．theme C．memory D．touch
A．narration B．conversation C．statement D．thought
A．have B．make C．get D．force
A．exhausted B．broken C．folded D．injured
A．made B．worked C．did D．tried
A．wasted B．spent C．counted D．survived
A．in spite of B．regardless of C．rather than D．other than
A．worst B．least C．most D．best
A．mercy B．support C．enthusiasm D．patience
I consider myself something of an expert on apologies. A quick temper has me with plenty of opportunities to make them. In one of my earlier , my mother was telling me“Don’t watch the when you say, ‘I’m sorry’. Hold your head up and look at the person in the , so he’ll know you it. ”
My mother thus made the key point of a(n) apology: It must be direct. You must never to be doing something else. You do not a pile of letters while apologizing to a person in position after blaming him or her for a mistake that turned out to be your . You do not apologize to a hostess, whose guest of honor you treat , by sending flowers the next day without mentioning your bad .
One of the important things we should do for an apology is a readiness to the responsibility for our careless mistakes. We are used to making excuses, which leaves no for the other person to us. Since most people are open-hearted, the no-excuse apology leaves both parties feeling about themselves. That, after all, is the of every apology. It little whether the apologizer is wholly or only partly at fault. Answering for one’s encourages others to take their share of the blame.
A．provided B．mixed C．compared D．treated
A．dreams B．courses C．memories D．ideas
A．side B．ground C．wall D．bottom
A．mind B．soul C．face D．eye
A．imagine B．enjoy C．mean D．regret
A．useful B．successful C．equal D．basic
A．pretend B．forget C．refuse D．expect
A．hold on B．put away C．look through D．pick up
A．poorer B．weaker C．worse D．lower
A．fault B．reason C．result D．duty
A．cruelly B．freely C．roughly D．foolishly
A．manners B．excuses C．efforts D．roles
A．active B．effective C．extra D．easy
A．raise B．perform C．admit D．bear
A．situation B．need C．sign D．room
A．advise B．forgive C．warn D．blame
A．wiser B．warmer C．better D．cleverer
A．purpose B．method C．end D．advantage
A．cares B．matters C．depends D．remains
A．facts B．states C．rights D．actions
The purpose of a letter of application(求职信)is to help you to“sell”yourself. It should state the job you want, and should tell what your abilities are and what you have . It should be simple, human, personal and brief without out any necessary facts.
In writing a letter of application, keep in that the things a possible employer is most to want to know about are your qualifications(条件), your achievements and your aims. The opening paragraph is perhaps the most important part. the first few sentences fail to the reader’s attention, the rest of the letter may not be at all. Try to key your opening remarks to the needs or interests of the employer not your own need or desires. For example, instead of beginning with “I saw your in today’s newspaper”, you might say“I have made a careful of your advertising during the past six months”or“I have made a survey in my neighborhood to find out how many housewives your product and why they like it. ”
Try to generalities(概述). Be clear about the kind of job for which you are now . College graduates looking for their first positions often ask“What can I in a letter? Employers want experience—which, naturally, no has. ”The answer is that everything you have ever done is .
It is important to write a good strong closing for your letter. a specific request for an interview or give the possible employer something definite to do or expect. An excellent is to enclose(内附)a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your letter. That makes it for a possible employer to get in touch with you.
A．easily B．carefully C．obviously D．clearly
A．done B．found C．known D．heard
A．sending B．leaving C．taking D．picking
A．brain B．sight C．mind D．order
A．probable B．possible C．able D．likely
A．While B．Although C．If D．As
A．win B．pay C．show D．fix
A．kept B．read C．written D．continued
A．from B．for C．into D．to
A．article B．report C．advertisement D．introduction
A．watch B．study C．search D．discussion
A．use B．make C．sell D．change
A．gain B．remember C．protect D．avoid
A．applying B．losing C．preparing D．fitting
A．offer B．supply C．provide D．mean
A．worker B．manager C．owner D．beginner
A．success B．experience C．practice D．development
A．State B．Ask C．Make D．Get
A．result B．idea C．promise D．decision
A．easier B．happier C．cheaper D．safer
The “Doorman”
On a trip to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man, with a beard and dirty hair, jumped up from a bench and opened the door for us. Regardless of his , he greeted us in a friendly way.
Once inside, my daughters whispered, “Mom, he . ”After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look the dirt. We then watched other customers approach the restaurant but many him. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me. The day I became a mother, I had resolved to set a good to my children. Yet sometimes when things didn’t go right, being a good example was . When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so I myself from the meal and went to get them.
Just then, the “doorman” was opening the door for a couple. They rushed past him without even acknowledging his . Letting them in first, I said a loud “thank you” to him as I .
When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside he purchased food. I went back and told my family his . Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked as we had already eaten, but when I said the order was for the“doorman”, they smiled. When it was time to our trip, I noticed the“doorman”enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes—tears of . What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the“doorman”a . He pulled away, with tears down his face.
Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can’t choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude(感恩). I said thanks to a man who had help open a door for me, and also said thanks for that to teach my children by example.
A．heavy B．long C．messy D．grey
A．service B．appearance C．status D．attitude
A．smokes B．smiles C．sniffs D．smells
A．beyond B．over C．around D．into
A．hated B．ignored C．missed D．refused
A．target B．rule C．record D．example
A．stressful B．authentic C．awkward D．tough
A．excused B．freed C．prevented D．withdrew
A．company B．presence C．effort D．attempt
A．quitted B．marched C．exited D．approached
A．before B．unless C．though D．since
A．story B．deed C．experience D．demand
A．concerned B．shocked C．puzzled D．bored
A．make B．start C．take D．continue
A．lifted B．washed C．raised D．waved
A．approval B．affection C．sympathy D．gratitude
A．hug B．nod C．lift D．clap
A．slipping B．streaming C．rushing D．breaking
A．firmly B．instantly C．simply D．politely
A．journey B．wisdom C．opportunity D．challenge