Love Is Just a Thread
Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to earn money in order to pay the 36 tuition for my brother and me. They don't 37 in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV. My father has a bad temper; it's easy for him to lose his temper.
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I 38 sat down beside her and looked at her.
“Is there any 39 between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice.
My mother stopped her work and raised her head with 40 in her eyes. She didn't answer immediately. Then she bowed her head and continued to sew the quilt.
41 at last I heard my mother say the following words:
“Susan,” she said 42 .“Look at this thread. Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt strong and durable(耐用的).If life is a
43 ,then love should be a thread. It can 44 be seen anywhere or anytime, but it's really there. Love is 45 .”
I listened carefully but I couldn't understand her until the next 46 .At that time, my father suddenly got sick seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. After they were 47 ,every day in the morning and dusk(黄昏),my mother helped my father walk 48 on the country road. My father had never been so 49 .Along the country road, there were many beautiful flowers, green grass and trees. The sun gently shone through the leaves. All of these 50 the most beautiful picture in the world. The doctor had said my father would 51 in two months. But after two months he still couldn't walk alone. We were all worried.
“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.
“Susan,”he said gently.“To tell you the truth, I just like 52 with your mom. I like this kind of life.” 53 from his eyes, I knew he loved my mother deeply.
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But from this 54 ,I understand that love is just a 55 in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.
36. A. expensive B. low C. cheap D. high
37. A. play B. talk C. act D. perform
38. A. silently B. carefully C. certainly D. happily
39. A. money B. love C. time D. distance
40. A. surprise B. pride C. disappointment D. satisfaction
41. A. So B. But C. And D. For
42. A. sadly B. excitedly C. regretfully D. thoughtfully
43. A. trouble B. pleasure C. quilt D. cloth
44. A. hardly B. often C. always D. ever
45. A. valuable B. inside C. true D. priceless
46. A. winter B. autumn C. summer D. spring
47. A. free B. back C. fine D. ready
48. A. continuously B. worriedly C. constantly D. slowly
49. A. gently B. perfect C. pleased D. thankful
50. A. put up B. took up C. made up D. set up
51. A. run B. recover C. Stand D. work
52. A. walking B. living C. sitting D. chatting
53. A. Examining B. Seeing C. Noticing D. Reading
54. A. practice B. observation C. experience D. activity
55. A. thread B. thing C. jewel D. light
阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In the era of high-tech today, face-to-face conversation is dying.
The New York Times published an article recently that shows great 36 for the “death of conversation”. It 37 that while technology such as cell phones, e-mails, and Internet posting makes us feel more 38 than ever, they’re also driving us away from people around us.
Users get final connectivity39 the price of 40 face-to-face conversation. Sherry Turkle, author of the article in The New York Times says people are 41 to a different way of being “alone together”.
Actually, 42 text messages or writing micro-blogs allows us to 43 thoughts. But bits and pieces of online cannot 44a “real conversation.” Lan Guo, 19, a freshman English major from Changsha University, said that she would like to hear people’s tone of voice and see their faces in a conversation. “The give and take of 45in a conversation sharpens our minds.” she said. She also mentions that 46 ourselves in mobile technology reduces our chance of starting conversations with strangers and 47 people.
Turkle mentioned the popular 48 of “I share, therefore I am.” among this generation. Liu Xuan, a young writer from Taiwan and psychology graduate from Harvard University, thinks it’s an attitude 49 by most young people. They are 50 busy creating or polishing their online persona (网络人格) that they forget how to live a 51 life.
However, experts remind us that it’s 52 to blame mobile technology. Chen Chen, a sociology expert at China Youth & Children Research Center, points out that 53 is still owners of tools who’re avoiding personal contact. We take advantage of these devices to hide ourselves from others. Texting messages or calling may be a(n) 54 to avoid contact with others, such as having eye contact. “Only by strengthening conversation can we understand each other. 55 throwing away the mobile phones is not a solution.” she said.
A.regret B.respect C.anger D.support
A.advises B.speaks C.suggests D.talks
A.received B.connected C.shared D.separated
A.with B.for C.in D.at
A.having B.risking C.sacrificing D.continuing
A.related B.committed C.limited D.accustomed
A.sending B.getting C.reading D.taking
A.change B.exchange C.explain D.develop
A.indicate B.replace C.cover D.involve
A.ideas B.letters C.chances D.gifts
A.imagining B.joining C.burying D.attaching
A.interviewing B.introducing C.recognizing D.meeting
A.feeling B.concept C.image D.truth
A.adapted B.confirmed C.handled D.adopted
A.so B.too C.very D.quite
A.real B.colorful C.daily D.meaningful
A.important B.necessary C.unfair D.uncomfortable
A.that B.this C.it D.one
A.problem B.excuse C.strategy D.explanation
A.Eventually B.Hardly C.Approximately D.Simply
One morning, my son, Chilly, found a carpenterworm(毛毛虫) unexpectedly and put it in a jar. Each day he couldn’t 36 to visit the little guest. Few weeks later we discovered it 37 in a cocoon (茧).
Chilly surely knew a moth (蛾) or butterfly was about to be 38 . He was 39 to know what gift nature was about to give him. Gradually we found it half transparent and we could 40 the wings of the unborn. Soon, a moth broke free, and then 41 eggs, completing its lifecycle.
The next day, I 42 Chilly it was time to set it free. He took it 43 and opened the jar. It circled the yard twice, came back, and 44 on Chilly’s arm. He picked it up and threw it in the air. The moth repeated its 45 pattern. He tried over and over, but each time it would 46 to his arm so that Chilly had to give up.
The next day he attempted to set it free again, and after a few repetitions the moth finally 47 into the grass.
Like a 48 , I believe the moth was afraid to 49 what it was comfortable with. It wanted to stay with something 50 , scared to move on and experience something unknown.
I was once that little moth. My cocoon was my mother’s 51 , in which I was comfortable, and hated to fly too far away from it. I was 52 when my first job required me to move to a new city. Humans are creatures of 53 . We resist change. However, if I hadn’t moved, I would not have experienced many 54 and wonderful things or met many of my friends. So each move gave me the 55 to learn and experience, but best of all, I met friends.
A.help B.leave C.stop D.wait
A.stuck B.wrapped C.developed D.protected
A.born B.changed C.raised D.created
A.upset B.content C.lucky D.curious
A.count B.feel C.identify D.imagine
A.laid B.lay C.put D.placed
A.confirmed B.convinced C.concluded D.contacted
A.back B.down C.aside D.outside
A.kept B.dropped C.landed D.lived
A.game B.flight C.adventure D.communication
A.return B.cater C.turn D.stick
A.walkedaway B.ran out C.fell down D.flew off
A.moth B.butterfly C.human D.pet
A.leave B.stay C.move D.forget
A.friendly B.similar C.pleasant D.familiar
A.instruction B.love C.requirement D.expectation
A.excited B.crazy C.afraid D.annoyed
A.community B.habit C.conscience D.ambition
A.odd B.funny C.new D.vital
A.courage B.pleasure C.ability D.purpose
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was a dark day, one of depression, sorrow and anger. As I climbed out of the 36 , after witnessing my time in the 100 yard freestyle, I did not feel like speaking to anyone. I saw the bright smiles of swimmers who had just 37 a best time. 38 , I had failed. Or at least that is what I thought at the time.
I was lying on my cool bed when an idea 39 me. Success is the 40 to go from failure to failure without losing your 41 . At practice the next day, I told my swimming teammates about my goal time and they all either laughed or replied with a 42 similar response like, “You can’t do it” or “Probably not”. Believe it or not, these are the responses that make my goal 43 .
Finally came the day when I had to 44 to myself and others that with 45 there is no limit to your achievements.
With the starting gun 46 , I dived with perfect form into the pool. I felt the cool water running 47 my back. I swam like a fish, bouncing off each 48 at the wall as if it was a spring board. On the 49 turn, I came back to the wall with every piece of strength I had. I 50 the final wall with my fingertips and I knew that I had swum the 51 race.
I had done it! I had achieved my best time! Joy filled my 52 like water does a cup. I saw the 53 on all of my friend’s face as I 54 out of the pool; their jaws dropped to the ground. I began to laugh and gave them the thumbs up.
I have 55 in life that having belief in yourself opens all gates. Never forget that anything the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.
A.pond B.sea C.pool D.river
A.made B.achieved C.reached D.realized
A.Otherwise B.However C.Besides D.Overall
A.occurred B.broke C.came D.hit
A.opportunity B.action C.cause D.ability
A.enthusiasm B.interest C.strength D.friendship
A.somehow B.somewhat C.anyhow D.anywhere
A.available B.reasonable C.reliable D.achievable
A.promise B.provide C.present D.prove
A.consideration B.Impression C.belief D.desire
A.setting out B.going off C.breaking out D.getting off
A.through B.above C.across D.to
A.turn B.jump C.struggle D.shoot
A.next B.previous C.very D.last
A.pushed B.reached C.got D.touched
A.whole B.perfect C.first D.best
A.heart B.head C.mind D.mood
A.expressions B.emotions C.feelings D.responses
A.ran B.climbed C.stood D.jumped
A.acquired B.dreamed C.learned D.Remembered
“Scotty!” Mr. Brown, my Year 11 English teacher, called me by my nickname (绰号) across the classroom. His eyes were bright and a secret 36 was half hidden behind the beard.
Once he finished joking over my unbearable 37 , I realized he was going to read my story aloud to the class. I turned red, feeling at once both embarrassed and 38 . I had my very 39 reading audience! Though my classmates were a ‘passive audience’, it didn’t weaken my feeling of being 40 .
After that, I came to 41 those Year 11 English classes. Throughout school I had always studied hard and achieved well in my school subjects. But creative 42 was a passion, and it was not an assignment, but a way of understanding the world and of 43 my thoughts and feelings about events and attitudes.
Mr. Brown was the first to 44 me for my writing so openly. My scores were always 19/20 or 20/20. My stories were often read out to the class. He even 45 one with the respected Head of English teachers, which was the most 46 part that is impressed on my memory. But 47 that, he offered a belief in me that no other teacher had.
My school 48 often stated, ‘Candice is a quiet achiever.’ I thought it was meant as a(n) 49 for being hard-working. I was someone that no one really 50 before, but Mr. Brown managed to 51 all that by bringing me to the attention of the world. Though it was the relatively 52 world of school, it put the seed of belief in myself that some day I could be an 53 person rather than the person who faded into the background.
I 54 touch with my teacher long ago, as we do when we move away from the school system and enter life. I wish I could tell him now how much he 55 me.
A.trick B.fear C.surprise D.smile
A.sadness B.shyness C.weakness D.kindness
A.ashamed B.calm C.thrilled D.depressed
A.unfriendly B.devoted C.small D.first
A.special B.intelligent C.famous D.diligent
A.love B.hate C.attend D.miss
A.thinking B.reading C.writing D.speaking
A.organizing B.collecting C.expressing D.hiding
A.train B.recommend C.criticize D.acknowledge
A.compared B.shared C.composed D.exchanged
A.interesting B.shocking C.challenging D.exciting
A.more than B.other than C.instead of D.in spite of
A.days B.efforts C.books D.reports
A.praise B.urge C.reason D.competition
A.believed B.noticed C.supported D.respected
A.forget B.compensate C.change D.prove
A.developed B.limited C.preserved D.disturbed
A.important B.educated C.honest D.optimistic
A.sought B.regained C.lost D.ignored
A.owed B.influenced C.satisfied D.attracted
I graduated from a small public school in Michigan. One day,Mr. Ledy,our football coach,asked me to play football. I couldn’t help36 :me,play football? I was six feet tall and was not much __37__ a hundred pounds in weight. I thought that they might just need 38 fool to increase the number of the players. However,he was persistent(坚持的) and __39__I joined the football team. That 40 to be one of my best decisions as a kid.
Our worst game __41__ was the one against Crystal Falls. They beat us 56 to 6. Yeah! That was a football not a basketball _42__. We played them again when we were seniors. They __43__ us again but the score was much more _44_,30 to 20.
Coach Ledy would not let that __45__ again. He encouraged us to beat them,to pay them back. And we did so in the last game we played before __46__. I had scored 6 points alone in the game. Coach Ledy praised me. It was a huge _47 for me.
Was I a football hero? Ha! Ha! No,I couldn’t __48__ it without our team. The thing I learned through football was __49__. We won as a team and we __50__ as a team.
I think Mr. Ledy would be __51__ of me if he knew that I had broken the athletic __52__ at the University of Michigan. I’m __53__to him as I would not have today’s honor without him. I’ll __54__life’s final war with pain to win the victory;I’ll seek the lights of glory wholeheartedly and I’ll __55__ working hard so as not to let him down.
A.shouting B.screaming C.laughing D.applauding
A.up B.over C.more D.out
A.another B.other C.some D.any
A.immediately B.secretly C.personally D.finally
A.took out B.turned out C.gave off D.gave out
A.never B.once C.ever D.again
A.game B.team C.story D.score
A.won B.met C.beat D.fought
A.accessible B.comfortable C.sensitive D.acceptable
A.happen B.succeed C.spread D.develop
A.liberation B.closing C.graduation D.school
A.honor B.hope C.success D.surprise
A.take B.manage C.solve D.explain
A.courage B.devotion C.teamwork D.contribution
A.united B.appeared C.prepared D.lost
A.proud B.fond C.full D.kind
A.time B.record C.date D.ability
A.pleased B.grateful C.hopeful D.loyal
A.fight B.join C.desire D.enjoy
A.take on B.put on C.rely on D.keep on