I remember vividly the call that changed my life. It was Tuesday, February 18. When the 1 rang in the kitchen of my Los Angeles, the 2 was Marty Banderas, a literary agent to whom I had sent a draft( 草稿 )of my novel three weeks earlier. “I have a couple of 3 .” Banderas saiD. “First, how old are you?” “I'm 48,” I replieD. “Are you in good 4 ?” “Yes, excellent. What’s this about? ” “I’ve sold your novels 5 one and a half million dollars.” I sat down in 6 . I had written fourteen novels in twenty years, but each one had been 7 by the publishers. I suppose many people would have been 8 , but not me. Each time, I just 9 writing another one. My husband advised me to find something else to do, but I refused to 10 up. Seeing this book 11 was the best thing that has ever happened to me. It's a mystery story (like all the others) and it was on the best-seller 12 two weeks after publication! I got my first lesson in story 13 from my grandmother. She used to read my stories. She was the one who gave me a 14 of words. She sparked (激发) my 15 and she has been a 16 influence on me. I always had stories running through my 17 and as soon as I could write, I 18 them down on paper. I married young and I have three children, but I never stopped writing. 19 novels between doing the diapers(婴儿的尿布) and dishes. I'm writing another novel now. Yes, my 20 has changed my life.
1. A. phone B. bell C. clock D. alarm
2. A. line B. step C. outside D. doorway
3. A. novels B. things C. questions D. problems
4. A. wealth B. health C. condition D. order
5. A. to B. for C. on D. in
6. A. need B. joy C. settlements D. shock
7. A. rejected B. received C. decided D. lost
8. A. worried B. encouraged C. discouraged D. excited
9. A. couldn't help B. got down to C. got used to D. went on
10. A. hold B. look C. give D. set
11. A. sold B. published C. printed D. passed
12. A. books B. shops C. record D. list
13. A. writing B. organizing C. telling D. reading
14. A. use B. love C. meaning D. respect
15. A. hope B. efforts C. novels D. imagination
16. A. lasting B. normal C. careful D. general
17. A. head B. mouth C. voice D. work
18. A. took B. put C. broke D. added
19. A. writing B. reading C. developing D. translating
20. A. friend B. call C. success D. work
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Once a young man, a horse trainer’s son, was dreaming of owning a horse ranch(养马场) of his own though his family wasn’t rich.
When he was a senior, he was asked to write a __ __ about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up. That night he wrote a seven-page paper _ _ his goal. He wrote it in great _______ and he even drew a ____________ of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables(马厩) and the track. But two days later he _________ his paper back with a large red ___________ on the front page and a note that reads, “See me after ____________.”
The boy with the __________ went to see the teacher after class and asked, “Why did I get an F?” The teacher said, “This is an unrealistic dream for a __________ young boy like you. You come from a family with no resources. Owning a horse ranch __________ a lot of money. There’s no __________ you could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “If you will _________ this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”
The boy went home and __________ about it long and hard. He asked his _________ what he should do. His father said, “Look, son, you have to ________ your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important ________ for you.” Finally, the boy turned in the same paper making no ___________ at all. He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.” Years later, the boy ________ his dream.
Later, his teacher admitted when seeing his ranch, “When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream ___________. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption(进取心) not to __________ yours.”
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完形填空,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。
You Did More Than Carry My Books
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him had dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with a baseball bat and several other things. Mark________ down and helped the boy pick up these articles.________ they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of them for him. As they walked Mark,_________ the boy's name was Bill, that he _________ computer games, baseball and history, that he was having a lot of ________with his other subjects and that he had just broken ________ with his girl friend.
They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was ________ in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed ________ with a few laughs and some shared small talk, and then Mark went home. They ________ to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both ended up from the same high school. Just three weeks before ________, Bill asked Mark if they ________ talk. Bill ________him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you ________ wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I _________ out my locker（寄物柜） because I didn't want to leave a mess （脏乱）__________anyone else. I had planned to run away and I was going home to ________ my things. But after we spent some time together ________ and laughing, I realized that ________ I had done that, I would have ________ a new friend and missed all the fun we would have together. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You ________ my life.”
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完型填空
A couple of months ago I was renting a house to work from. I was fairly well set up, _____ didn’t own a lawn mower(割草机) and after a week I realized I had to find some way to deal with the growing _____! But I was on a fairly ____ budget(预算) which couldn’t pay a lawn-mowing company.
I was thinking about this one Sunday as the “Mr. Whippy” ice cream van (货车) _____ outside on the street. I hadn’t had a Mr. Whippy ice cream for years, and I _____ my coin purse and headed _____. On the pavement were three young _____ playing. They may have been from next door, but I was new there and hadn’t really met anyone yet.
It was a _____ day and I asked them if they’d like an ice cream. “Yes, please,” they replied _____. At that moment a fourth boy ___ them from the neighboring house. And there was just enough change to cover _____ ice creams. As I left the van, I heard the lady serving the boys say, “that was a really ______ thing that lady did for you boys. Don’t forget to _____ her.” I smiled as I went inside to carry on ____.
I left for work that evening, and didn’t _____ until Tuesday morning. As I drove into the drive, I realized something was _____. Yes, my lawns had been mowed. I felt this huge _____ rush into my heart. I knew my _____had done this for me.
This act of _____ not only made a big difference to me, but it also ____ me to act further in our community. Thank you so much neighbors.
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完形填空
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。
Some people are afraid of starting a casual conversation with a stranger because of a fear of not having anything interesting to say. Fear of rejection is also a for keeping silent. Small talk in a conversation can as a way of warming up and getting to each other. Most people, no matter successful they are at work, will find the process of________ small talk uncomfortable, even pointless. , you will have a pretty small world _______ you refuse to let others in. Starting off with a casual comment or question will make others________ , and even just greeting them with a simple “hello” will often be enough.
Once you have made the first ________ , there is no turning back. You need to keep things ________ before you can gracefully say goodbye. Think about what you would like to ________ with a new friend and that is what you can ask the other person about. Work, family, hobbies or interests are some ________ points of discussion. To keep the ball rolling, you can show that you are really ________ in what they are saying. Once you find common ________ of interest, things will definitely ________ off from there.
Small talk can ________ out to be a pleasant experience. The conversation ________ be brief and casual without turning into a long and boring discussion. Do not let yourself ________ the conversation. Stop worrying about how big of a fool you may appear to be. You may ________ find out later on that you have the “ ________ ” of getting people to open up to you by engaging them in the small talk.
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完形填空
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
It was the last day of the final examination in a large eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors gathered, discussing the exam due to begin in a few ________ On their faces was confidence（自信）. This was their last exam—then on to ________ and jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they ________ get. With the certainty of four years of college, they felt ready and able to take ________ of the world.
The coming exam, they knew, would be a(n) ________ task. The professor had said they could bring ________ books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not________ each other during the test.
________ , they entered the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles ________on the students’ faces as they noted there were only five essay-type questions.
Three hours had passed ________ the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. Papers in hand, no one spoke as the professor faced the class.
He looked at the ________ faces before him, and then asked, “How many completed all five questions?” ________ a hand was raised.
“How many answered four?” Still no hands.
“Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly in their seats.
“One, then? Certainly somebody finished ________ .” But the class remained silent.
The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I ________ ,” He said. “I just want to impress upon you that ________ you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the ________ you don’t know. These questions you couldn’t answer are relatively________ in everyday practice.” Then smiling, he added, “You will all ________ this course, but remember—even though you are now college graduates, your education has just ________ .”
Over years they have ________ the name of his professor, but not the lesson he taught.
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