I did very badly at school. My headmaster thought I was 21 and when I was 14 he said, “You’re never going to be 22 but a failure.”
After five years of 23 jobs, I fell in love with a very nice middle-class girl. It was the best24 that could have happened to me. I 25 I wanted to do something positive (积极的) with my life because I wanted to prove to26 that what people said about me was 27. Especially her mother, who had said to me, “Let’s28 it, you’ve failed at everything you’ve ever done.” So I tried hard with my29 and went to college. My first novel (小说)30 while I was at college.
After college I taught during the31 in high schools and attended evening classes at London University, where I got a 32 in history. I became a lecturer at a college and was thinking of33 that job to write full time 34 I was offered a part-time job at Leeds University. I began to feel proud of myself — 35 was a working-class boy who’d 36 school early, now teaching at the university.
My writing career (职业) took off when I discovered my own style. Now I’m rich and 37 , have been on TV, and met lots of film stars. 38 what does it mean? I39 wish all the people that have put me down had 40 : “I believe in you. You’ll succeeD．”
21．A．bright B．useless C．simple D．hopeful
22．A．anything B．something C．everything D．nothing
23．A．low B．poor C．good D．useful
24．A．support B．happiness C．surprise D．thing
25．A．admitted B．decided C．planned D．told
26．A．me B．them C．her D．it
27．A．wrong B．right C．stupid D．faulty
28．A．see B．know C．understand D．face
29．A．experiment B．practice C．writing D．composition
30．A．came on B．came in C．came out D．came back
31．A．day B．night C．month D．year
32．A．graduation B．pass C．degree D．success
33．A．giving in B．giving back C．giving out D．giving up
34．A．while B．if C．when D．or
35．A．there B．here C．it D．that
36．A．left B．attended C．changed D．graduated
37．A．tired B．calm C．nervous D．famous
38．A．And B．But C．However D．Well
39．A．just B．exactly C．so D．very
40．A．praised B．said C．answered D．advised
I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us 36 chasing the same thing.
One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell 37 . I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $ 56. I 38 the countryside for some place I could rent for the 39 possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road 40 the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was 41 , full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and 42a corner to camp in.
The locals knew nothing about me, 43 slowly, they started teaching me the 44 of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began 45 around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a 46 American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of 47 .
What I had believed in, all those things I thought were 48 for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. 49 on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my 50 with my neighbors.
Four years later, I moved back into 51 . I saw many people were having a really hard time, 52 their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to 53a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I’ve had nine people come in and move on to other places. We’d all be in 54 if we hadn’t banded together.
The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It’s not so much about what I can get for myself; it’s about 55 we can all get by together.
A．separately B．equally C．violently D．naturally
A．off B．apart C．over D．out
A．crossed B．left C．toured D．searched
A．fullest B．largest C．fairest D．cheapest
A．at B．through C．over D．round
A．occupied B．abandoned C．emptied D．robbed
A．turned B．approached C．cleared D．cut
A．but B．although C．otherwise D．for
A．benefit B．lesson C．nature D．art
A．sticking B．looking C．swinging D．turning
A．wild B．real C．different D．remote
A．neighborliness B．happiness C．friendliness D．kindness
A．unique B．expensive C．rare D．necessary
A．Up B．Down C．Deep D．Along
A．cooperation B．relationships C．satisfaction D．appointments
A．reality B．society C．town D．life
A．creating B．losing C．quitting D．offering
A．put in B．turn in C．take in D．get in
A．yards B．shelters C．camps D．cottages
A．when B．what C．whether D．how
I used to be a very self-centered person, but in the past two years I have really changed. I have started to think about other people__36__I think about myself. I am happy that I am becoming a__37__person.
I think my __38__started when I was at Palomar College. At first, I just wanted to get my__39__and be left alone. I thought I was smarter than everyone else, so I hardly ever__40__ to anyone in my classes. By the end of my first semester, I was really__41__. It seemed as if everyone but me had made friends and was having fun. So tried a(n) __42__. I started asking people around me how they were doing, and if they were having trouble I__43__ to help. That was really a big__44__for me. By the end of the year, I had several new friends, and two of__45__are still my best friends today.
A bigger cause of my new__46__, however, came when I took a part-time job at a Vista Nursing Home. One old lady there who had Alzheimer’s disease became my__47__ . Every time I came into her room, she was so __48__ because she thought I was her daughter. Her real daughter never__49__her, so I took her place. She let me __50__that making others feel good made me feel good, too. When she died, I was__51__, but I was very grateful to her.
I think I am a much__52__ person today than I used to be, and I hope I will not__53__ these experiences. They have __54__ me to care about other people more than about myself. I __55__who I am today, and I could not say that a few years ago.
A．since B．before C．or D．unless
A．famous B．simple C．different D．skilled
A．education B．career C．tour D．change
A．balance B．homework C．degree D．interest
A．talked B．wrote C．lied D．reported
A．careful B．lonely C．curious D．guilty
A．argument B．game C．experiment D．defence
A．dared B．offered C．hesitated D．happened
A．dream B．problem C．duty D．step
A．us B．which C．them D．whom
A．attitude B．hobby C．hope D．luck
A．friend B．partner C．guide D．guest
A．polite B．happy C．strange D．confident
A．bothered B．answered C．visited D．trusted
A．explain B．guess C．declare D．see
A．homeless B．heartbroken C．bad-tempered D．hopeless
A．quieter B．busier C．better D．richer
A．forget B．face C．improve D．analyze
A．forced B．preferred C．ordered D．taught
A．miss B．like C．wonder D．expect
If you want to learn a new language, the very first thing to think about is why. Do you need it for a ___36___reason, such as your job or your studies?___37____ perhaps you’re interested in the ___38____ , films or music of a different country and you know how much it will help to have a ___39____ of the language.
Most people learn best using a variety of ___40____, but traditional classes are an ideal（理想的）start for many people. They___41__an environment where you can practice under the __42___ of someone who’s good at the language. We all lead ___43___ lives and learning a language takes __44___. You will have more success if you study regularly, so try to develop a ___45___. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long. Becoming fluent in a language will take years, but learning to get by takes __46__.
Many people start learning a language and soon give up. “I’m too __47___, ” they say. Yes, children do learn languages more __48___ than adults, but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ___49___. And learning is good for the health of your brain, too. I’ve also heard people ___50___ about the mistakes they make when ___51___. Well, relax and laugh about your mistakes __52____ you’re much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language is never ___53___. But with some work and devotion, you’ll make progress. And you’ll be __54___ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ___55___ own language. Good luck!
A．technical B．political C．practical D．physical
A．After B．So C．Though D．Or
A．literature B．transport C．agriculture D．medicine
A．view B．knowledge C．form D．database
A．paintings B．regulations C．methods D．computers
A．protect B．change C．respect D．provide
A．control B．command C．guidance D．pressure
A．busy B．happy C．simple D．normal
A．courage B．time C．energy D．place
A．theory B．business C．routine D．project
A．some risks B．a lot less C．some notes D．a lot more
A．old B．nervous C．weak D．tired
A．closely B．quickly C．privately D．quietly
A．age B．speed C．distance D．school
A．worry B．hesitate C．think D．quarrel
A．singing B．working C．bargaining D．learning
A．if B．and C．but D．before
A．tiresome B．hard C．interesting D．easy
A．blamed B．amazed C．interrupted D．informed
A．their B．his C．our D．your
A Leap（跳跃）to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola 36 for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive, 37 she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _38 how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom39 that even though she couldn’t see 40 , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the 41 right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more 42 for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her _43 stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest 44_ is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to 45_ your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go,” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most46 for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall 47 the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be 48 differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision _49 _. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her _50 attitude.
Lola never thinks about 51__. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her52 is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids53 she grew up.
Lola is 54 of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her 55 for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．Responsibility
Michael GreenBerg is a very popular New Yorker. He is not famous in sports or the arts, But people in the streets 36 him, especially those who are 37 .
For those people, he is "Gloves" GreenBerg. How did he get that 38 ?
He looks like any otner Businessman, wearing a suit and carrying a Briefcase (公文箱). But he's 39 _. His Briefcase always has some gloves。
In winter,Mr.GreenBerg does not 40 like other New Yorkers,who look at the sidewalk and 41 the street.He looks around at 42 .He stops when he 43 someone with no gloves.He gives them a pair and then he 44 ,looking for more people with cold 45 .
On winter days,Mr.GreenBerg 46 gloves.During the rest of the year,he 47 gloves.People who have heard aBout him 48 him gloves,and he has many in his apartment.
Mr. GreenBerg 49 doing this 21 years ago. Now, many poor New Yorkers know him and 50 his Behavior. But people who don't know him are sometimes 51 him. They don't realize that he just wants to make them 52 .
It runs in the 53 .Michael's father always helped the poor as he Believed it made everyone happier. Michael GreenBerg feels the 54 .A pair of gloves may Be a 55 thing,But it can make a Big difference in winter.
A．know aBout B．learn from C．cheer for D．look after
A．old B．Busy C．kind D．poor
A．ioB B．name C．chance D．message
A．calm B．different C．crazy D．curious
A．act B．sound C．feel D．dress
A．cross over B．drive along C．hurry down D．keep off
A．cars B．people C．street numBers D．traffic lights
A．helps B．chooses C．greets D．sees
A．holds up B．hangs out C．moves on D．turns around
A．hands B．ears C．faces D．eyes
A．searches for B．stores up C．gives away D．puts on
A．Borrows B．sells C．returns D．Buys
A．call B．send C．lend D．show
A．delayed B．rememBered C．Began D．enjoyed
A．understand B．dislike C．study D．excuse
A．sorry for B．satisfied with C．proud of D．surprised By
A．smart B．rich C．special D．happy
A．city B．family C．neighBorhood D．company
A．honor B．pain C．same D．cold
A．small B．useful C．delightful D．comforting