I used to be ashamed of my grandma. I know that's a 1 thing to say, but it was true until today, so I have to 2 it.
The 3 started when my friend Katy found Grandma's false teeth floating in a glass on the bathroom sink. I was so used to seeing them that I 4 took notice of them. But Katy shouted, laughing and 5 to talk to them. I had to get down on my knees and 6 her to shut up so my grandma wouldn't 7 and get hurt.
After that happened, I 8 there were a million things about Grandma that were embarrassing（令人窘迫）.
Once she took Jill and me out to Burger King. 9 ordering our hamburgers well-done, she told the person behind the counter, "They'll have two Whoppers (巨无霸) well-to-do. " Jill burst out laughing, but I almost 10 .
After a while, I started wishing I could 11 Grandma in a closet. I even complained to my parents. Both my parents said I had to be careful not to make Grandma feel 12 in our home.
Then last Wednesday, something happened that 13 everything completely. My teacher told us to help find interesting old people and 14 them about their 15 for a big Oral History project. I was trying to think of someone when Angie pushed me gently.
"Volunteer your grandmother," she whispered. "She's 16 and rich in experience."
That was the last thing I ever thought Angie would say about my grandma.
This is how I ended up on 17 today interviewing my own grandmother before the whole school assembly (集合). All my friends and teachers were listening to her 18 she was a great heroine. I was 19 of my grandma and hoped she would 20 know that I had been ashamed of her.
A．funny B．common C．terrible D．clear
A．admit B．receive C．refuse D．show
A．quarrel B．accident C．trouble D．adventure
A．already B．always C．simply D．hardly
A．enjoying B．pretending C．imagining D．continuing
A．warn B．demand C．advise D．beg
A．mind B．hear C．see D．fall
A．expected B．declared C．realized D．doubted
A．Because of B．Except for C．Such as D．Instead of
A．died B．cheered C．disappeared D．suffered
A．meet B．avoid C．arrange D．hide
A．independent B．inconvenient C．unwelcome D．unfamiliar
A．changed B．finished C．stopped D．Prepared
A．interview B．report C．tell D．write
A．news B．lives C．advantages D．achievements
A．free B．popular C．interesting D．embarrassing
A．show B．stage C．duty D．time
A．and then B．even if C．so that D．as if
A．sure B．proud C．ashamed D．afraid
A．never B．even C．still D．once
Instroduction to Letters to Sam
Dear Reader，
Please allow me to tell you something before you read this book. When my 36 ,Sam, was born, my heart was filled with joy. I had been sitting in a wheelchair for 20 years before then,and I have been 37 ill many times.So I wonderfuled if would have the 38 to tell Sam what I had 39 .
For years I have been hosting a program on the 40 and writing articles for a magazine.Being 41 to move freely,I have learned to sit still and keep my heart 42 , exchanging thoughts with thousands of listeners and 43 . So when Sam was born ,I 44 to tell him about school and friendship,Romance and work,Love and everything else. That’s how I started to write these 45 . I hoped that Sam would 46 them sooner or later.
However,that expedition 47 when Sam showed signs of autism(自闭症)at the age of two.He had actually stopped talking before the discovery of the signs.He 48 to communicate with others,even the family members.That was 49 for me but didn’t stop me writing on.I realized that I had even 50 now to tell him.I wanted him to 51 what it means to be “different ”from others,and learn how to fight against the misfortune he’ll 52 as I myself,his grandfather,did. I just 53 if I could write all that I wanted to say in the rest of my life.
Now, 54 the book has been published,I have been given the chance.Every chapter in the book is a letter to Sam:some about my life,and all about what it means to be a 55 .
Daniel GOttliebe
A．son B．Nephew C．brother D．grandson
A．seriously B．mentally C．slightly D．quietly
A．ability B．Time C．courage D．responsibility
A．written B．suffered C．observed D．lost
A．Radio B．Television C．stage D．bed
A．ready B．unable C．anxious D．eager
A．warm B．broken C．closed D．open
A．hosts B．visitors C．readers D．reporters
A．Began B．stopped C．forgot D．decided
A．Letters B．emails C．books D．diaries
A．find B．read C．collect D．keep
A．developed B．disappeared C．changed D．arrived
A．tried B．refused C．regretted D．hoped
A．exciting B．acceptable C．strange D．heartbreaking
A．less B．everything C．more D．nothing
A．understand B．explain C．believe D．question
A．fear B．face C．know D．cause
A．felt B．guessed C．saw D．doubled
A．as B．once C．though D．if
A．teacher B．child C．man D．writer
A friend of mine was sitting in the living room one day when his cat dragged in a little “gift” in its mouth—a dead animal of some sort. Taking a closer look, he was surprised to 36 it as the bunny(小兔子) that 37 Mary, the young daughter of the family next door. My friend felt 38 , believing his cat had killed Mary’s bunny.
My quick-thinking friend came up with a plan. 39 from the cat’s mouth the dead animal, which by now was a 40 mess, he put it in the kitchen sink. With a little warm water and some shampoo, he tried to 41 the dead bunny as best he could. Then he took a hair dryer and blowdried the bunny 42 it looked pretty good.
Finally, under the cover of darkness, he crept into the next-door garden and placed it 43 in the cage. He managed to make the bunny look very 44 there in his little box.
The next morning, my friend looked out of the window and noticed a crowd of people 45 around the rabbit hutch(笼). Everyone seemed to be talking and pointing. My friend 46 to go over and act like any normal 47 neighbor and find out what was going on.
When he got there, Mary’s mother said to my friend, “You won’t believe this! It’s a(n) 48 thing! Mary’s bunny 49 a few days ago, and we buried that little bunny right over there…”
Have you ever tried to cover up one wrongdoing with another? Covering up only makes matters 50 .
When we get caught doing something 51 , for example, we may 52 to cover it up with a lie. But just like Mary’s bunny, the result is 53 what we expected. We 54 looking foolish. We would have been better off admitting we were wrong and accepting the 55 . What do you think of it?
A．treat B．catch C．appreciate D．recognize
A．looked for B．got along C．belonged to D．resulted from
A．pleased B．terrible C．confused D．excited
A．Looking B．Removing C．Preventing D．Hearing
A．dirty B．lovely C．gifted D．strange
A．dress up B．bring up C．clean up D．make up
A．whenever B．though C．before D．until
A．carefully B．strangely C．espe cially D．wonderfully
A．serious B．accurate C．balanced D．natural
A．cheered B．gathered C．ran D．looked
A．wished B．decided C．hesitated D．meant
A．anxious B．discouraged C．wise D．curious
A．strange B．difficult C．committed D．annoying
A．passed away B．ran away C．set out D．went up
A．more B．worse C．better D．faster
A．exciting B．perfect C．strange D．wrong
A．refuse B．attempt C．promise D．pretend
A．often B．just C．always D．never
A．get down B．end up C．go through D．set out
A．consequences B．opportunities C．expectations D．choices
Driving to a store after a busy day at work, I saw a man standing near the store holding a sign that said, “Will work for food.” I knew at that moment that I was going into the store and 36 him something to eat.
As I 37 the car park, I saw in my car mirror a lady come out from a hairdresser’s and 38 the man. I thought she must be going to give him some 39 or something to help him out. In the store I was 40 to get the things I needed and also the chicken dinner and a soda that I wanted to give the man outside. I hurried out to my car and 41 that I was going to be able to hopefully help this man.
When I drove out of the car park, I couldn’t see the 42 . As I turned the corner I saw the man sitting in a 43 area away from the hairdresser’s and still 44 up the sign. I immediately 45 over and gave the man the dinner and soda and said, “ 46 this will get you through today.” He looked at me and said, “Thank you so much!”
As I got back into my car, I looked in the 47 and saw the man swallowing the dinner as if he hadn’t eaten for days.
I was so 48 that I was able to help him and at the same time I was so sad that the woman from the hairdresser’s, 49 , had asked the man to 50 from her shop. It’s sad to say that 51 I live in a small city where homeless is not as 52 as in larger cities, people are uncomfortable with these people in 53 . All they need to do is lend a helping hand 54 and it could make a huge 55in their lives.
A．cook B．buy C．pay D．serve
A．turned into B．got over C．called at D．pointed out
A．interview B．comfort C．blame D．approach
A．example B．space C．money D．comfort
A．preparing B．hurrying C．hesitating D．planning
A．explained B．wondered C．agreed D．felt
A．man B．food C．lady D．sign
A．different B．strange C．famous D．comfortable
A．making B．holding C．taking D．building
A．turned B．thought C．pulled D．looked
A．Hopefully B．Finally C．Luckily D．Naturally
A．store B．mirror C．square D．crowd
A．popular B．anxious C．pleased D．patient
A．immediately B．obviously C．carefully D．nervously
A．stop B．suffer C．move D．change
A．whether B．because C．though D．unless
A．poor B．visible C．selfish D．happy
A．danger B．action C．need D．moment
A．at times B．at the time C．at one time D．at a time
A．difference B．mistake C．decision D．living
Earlier this morning I e-mailed an old friend, Mark. We have been out of touch for 12 years, but the 36 is a wonderful thing. Finding his e-mail address 37 less than a minute. He is working on his doctoral paper in western America.
Mark and I met at a summer 38 that we both attended. I went every year from the time I was 8 or 9 until I was 15. I don’t 39 exactly, but I think Mark was there for as many years as I was.
We lived close to each other and 40 saw each other around the campsite, but not often. Mostly we stayed together for a week or two in the 41 and wrote letters back and forth during the rest of the first few years. I still have all of his letters in a box somewhere. I come across them occasionally and 42 to sit down and read through them, but I never have. He was a 43 and precious friend to me, and I am deeply 44 that we have drifted so far apart.
Mark was a very kind and incredibly bright and funny 45 . He loved Monty Python — I mean he was a fanatic(狂热者), and could 46 entire movies from memory. He was one of those kids who 47 such a unique and powerful mind 48 they never quite fit into the main stream of life. 49 Mark, who I believe realized that, never seemed to care about it. When I knew that Mark was working on his 50 (on a highly intellectual and fairly mysterious and difficult topic), I thought, “Well yes, of course.” He is just where I would
51 him to be.
I wonder if he will write me back. I wonder if he will be 52 by where I am. I wonder whether he and I can be 53 again, or whether these years have left us with 54
in common. I wonder whether he can ever be the man I 55 , or only remain the boy I knew.
A．world B．Internet C．life D．fax
A．cost B．paid C．took D．spent
A．train B．meeting C．camp D．holiday
A．remind B．recall C．remember D．realize
A．occasionally B．regularly C．usually D．commonly
A．neighborhood B．group C．holiday D．summer
A．manage B．advise C．intend D．prefer
A．likely B．friendly C．coldly D．dear
A．regret B．sorry C．excited D．satisfied
A．teenager B．adult C．reader D．camper
A．see B．recite C．write D．read
A．gained B．had C．got D．deserved
A．that B．as C．because D．so
A．Because B．Though C．Since D．But
A．book B．novel C．paper D．lesson
A．let B．lead C．expect D．allow
A．shocked B．surprised C．disappointed D．excited
A．classmates B．partners C．enemies D．friends
A．everything B．something C．nothing D．anything
A．value B．know C．dislike D．admire
The day before Father’s Day, Mrs. Berry asked her students to make a card for their fathers. She passed out paper and pieces of cloth.
Elizabeth looked for a while at the blue cloth and began to cut it. Then she 36 her paper in half and began writing. When Elizabeth finally looked at the message the teacher gave on the paper, she noticed something else. She felt her 37 grow hot — she hadn’t heard that anyone who didn’t have a father could make one for a grandfather or an uncle.
As her teacher walked to her, Elizabeth tried 38 her card with her arm, but Mrs. Berry gently 39 it so that she could read it. Elizabeth sat 40 , waiting for her to say something, but she saw a 41 roll down Mrs. Berry’s face. She had never made Mrs. Berry so upset.
When school was over, Elizabeth 42 until all the other kids left so that she could
43 . “I’m sorry for not listening. I’ll make another card 44 you want. I’ll do it 45 and bring it tomorrow.” “ 46 are you talking about?” asked Mrs. Berry.
“My Father’s Day card. I know you’re upset because I didn’t do it 47 .”
“Elizabeth, that was the __48 card in the whole class. It was so 49 that it made me cry.”
Elizabeth was so 50 that she ran out of the classroom.
When her mom came home from work that night, Elizabeth 51 to give her the card early. On the front of the card was a 52 of Elizabeth’s mom, with a blue piece of cloth cut like her hair. Inside the card she had written:
Dear Mom,
I know you work really hard to be both a mommy and a(n) 53 . I want to thank you and 54 you a happy Father’s Day!
Love,
Elizabeth
When her mom read the card she started 55 , just like Mrs. Berry did.
A．cut B．tore C．spread D．folded
A．heart B．face C．hands D．body
A．covering B．holding C．doing D．making
A．caught B．left C．lifted D．placed
A．alone B．still C．up D．down
A．tear B．smile C．hair D．sweat
A．worked B．waited C．stood D．sat
A．apologize B．stop C．understand D．stay
A．because B．until C．unless D．if
A．just here B．at once D．at school
A．Who B．Whose C．Which D．What
A．carefully B．quickly C．wrong D．right
A．worst B．best C．favorite D．simplest
A．wild B．useful C．sweet D．hard
A．happy B．regretful C．brave D．rude
B．decided C．refused D．promised
A．recording B．discovery C．drawing D．writing
A．teacher B．sister C．daddy D．aunt
A．wish B．hope C．want D．congratulate
A．laughing B．joking C．worrying D．crying